23rd Annual RPL–GSBC Genealogy Lock-In
Saturday, 24 October, 4 pm—9 pm
Library-wide, Ridgewood Public Library
125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ, 07450
Registration Required >
Co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, the 23rd Annual Genealogy Lock-in offers genealogists of all levels the chance to:
- Spend the evening researching, learning and sharing
- Ask the Experts your brick wall questions
- Attend workshops such as Beginner Genealogy, Tracing Your Revolutionary War Ancestors, AI for Beginners, DNA Roundtable, Jewish Genealogy Roundtable and more!
- Receive individual assistance from a genealogy expert
A light supper will be provided.
Please see more information and register at, https://ridgewoodlibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/23rd-annual-genealogy-lock-in-3/
GSBC General Meeting
What’s New at the New Jersey State Archives?
Catherine Stearns Medich, MA, MLIS, New Jersey State Archives.
Monday, 26 October 2026 @ 7:00 pm
In-Person at The Hermitage Meeting Room, 335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423
Free and open to the public; Presentation replay available to GSBC Members
Note: We hope you will join us at The Hermitage’s Meeting Room, which is ADA accessible. (The Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium is under construction.) There is ample parking on-site; please reserve the spots closest to the door for those who need them most.
If you’ve been to the New Jersey State Archives’ (NJSA) website lately or followed them on Facebook, you may have noticed some changes! The NJSA has been working hard behind the scenes to digitize collections, coordinate with other hosting organizations, and revamp their research website portal. Join us as we welcome Catherine Medich, Reference Archivist and head of Reference Services at the New Jersey State Archives, to discover what is new, how to access in-person records and microfilm, and how to make the best of your research time in Trenton.
Catherine Stearns Medich, MA, MLIS, is a Reference Archivist and head of Reference Services at the New Jersey State Archives. With more than 25 years of public service, she is integral in managing the reference section of the Archives, and assisting users with the many, varied collections maintained at the State Archives. Catherine has particular knowledge of the military collections, including the State’s Civil War collections, and the New Jersey State Militia records, which she was also responsible for processing and organizing. She is a frequent guest speaker at local genealogical conferences and clubs, where she reviews and explains the types of records held at the New Jersey State Archives, and how to access them. Catherine is a graduate of Dickinson University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and holds two Master’s Degrees from Rutgers University, in Art History and Library Service.
Before the presentation, we will also take a peek at two groundbreaking exhibits at the New Jersey State Archives and New Jersey State Museum featuring artifacts from the State Archives vaults.
The Power to Change: Revolutionary Stories from the New Jersey State Archives. will be on view until January 10, 2027. In celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial and New Jersey’s 250th, the New Jersey State Archives, in collaboration with the New Jersey State Museum, presents The Power of Change: Revolutionary Stories. The exhibit highlights rarely seen foundational federal and state government documents. Visitors will also explore how revolutionary ideals, fought for by our founders, influenced the newly established government and continue to allow for reinterpretation and adaptation today. https://www.nj.gov/state/museum/explore-exhibits.shtml
Revolutionary Lives: Living the American Experiment Then and Now is on view on the ground level of the State Archives building at 225 West State Street in Trenton. The American Revolution created dramatic disruptions and opportunities for the people of New Jersey. While much is known about the challenges faced by the leaders of the conflict, most Americans are less familiar with the experiences of ordinary people. Visitors are invited to explore their lives and how their experiences, views, and choices were shaped by their unique circumstances. The exhibition is an expanded version of the RevolutionNJ traveling exhibit, supplemented with original archival material and period artifacts. https://nj.gov/state/archives/about-current-exhibitions.shtml
GSBC Annual Meeting + Presentation
Ellis Island after “the Line:” What Happened Next?
Jim Peskin, Educator, Ellis Island and The Tenement Museum
Monday, November 16 @ 7pm
The Hermitage Meeting Room, 335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423
Free and Open to the Public—All are Welcome | Refreshments Provided
Hundreds of pictures of Ellis Island show stoic immigrants anxiously awaiting the feared ”Line Inspection.” Terrified they would be excluded, aka deported; returned to the country they had used up all their worldly possessions to leave. As terrifying as the prospect was, very few arrivals were sent back. In fact, less than 2% of arrivals were ever sent back, which means 98% made it through Ellis Island in a few hours.
Join us as we explore the 98% who passed the medical examination by the doctors, survived the grilling of the Immigration officer, and continued their journey into the US. Where did they go next? How did they get there?
Jim Peskin was a Mentor/Educator for the Save Ellis Island Foundation leading Hard Hat tours of the abandoned hospital complex. His job included continuing to research the history of Ellis Island’s Hospitals. Currently he is an Educator at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum where he gives tours of the tenements and the surrounding neighborhood. In addition to his work as an Educator, Jim is also a volunteer researcher in the Ellis Island Archives.
Before his work at Ellis Island Jim had a 30-year career in the Theater as a director, dramaturg, administrator. He was an adjunct professor at Drew University where he taught Acting, Directing, and Theatre History. Since retiring from the Theater Jim has applied his theater skills to the discipline of Interpretation.
Please Note: Due to a renovation of the Ridgewood Library Auditorium this event will take place at the Old Paramus Church Fellowship Hall.
The Traitor and the Spy: Benedict Arnold, Major André, and the Plot to Surrender West Point
Friday, November 20 @ 11 am
Old Paramus Reformed Church Fellowship Hall, 660 E Glen Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Prepare for the definitive story of Revolutionary betrayal!
This lecture dissects the stunning conspiracy between American hero-turned-villain Benedict Arnold and British Intelligence Chief Major John André. Together, they hatched the high-stakes plot to sell West Point—the strategic key to the entire American Revolution—to the enemy.
Trace the secret, desperate midnight meetings and coded correspondence between the two men. Explore André's daring undercover mission and the agonizing moments of his capture—when the plans for the fortress were found hidden in his boot. This near-miss not only exposed Arnold as America's most infamous traitor but directly sealed the tragic fate of the charismatic British spy.
Discover how one man's wounded pride and another's dedication to duty led to an act of treason that almost crushed the American cause. This is the pulse-pounding, human drama behind the treason that shook George Washington to his core.
Registration for this event opens Monday, August 3 at 9:00 am. Registration encouraged >
