Upcoming GSBC Presentations, Events, Programs, and Classes
Presentations: GSBC General Meetings + GSBC Extras!
The GSBC regularly holds two types of educational meetings:
GSBC General Meetings are held the 4th Monday of the month (except holidays and December) at 7pm. The General Meeting begins with a brief society business meeting before the main presentation begins. The meeting may be help in-person at the Ridgewood Public Library or online—or both!
GSBC Extras! was introduced during the 2020 lockdowns and are presented entirely online. GSBC Extra! presentations most often occur on a Monday @ 2pm (Eastern) and registration for the online presentation is required.
Both the General Meetings and GSBC Extra! presentations are free and open to the public—and researchers of all skill levels are encouraged to join us at our events.
Please see the individual event below for details on day, time, venue, and registration.
GSBC Seminars, RPL-GSBC Lock-Ins, and Special Events
The GSBC holds several special events throughout the year—most often an additional ticket price, and generally discounted for GSBC members.
The GSBC Annual Seminar is often a day-long event where a select speaker, or a few select speakers, will deliver educational presentations organized around a theme or topic.
The annual RPL–GSBC Lock-In is an always-fun event that welcomes family historians to the Ridgewood Public Library after the doors are closed to the general public. At the Lock-In, genealogists can attend talks on a variety of subjects, collaborate on problems, receive one-on-one research assistance, and enjoy a light supper and snacks. It’s always a fun and popular event—and almost always sells out!
Sign-up for the GSBC eNews or watch this calendar or our Facebook page for upcoming events!
GSBC Tech Classes, Workshops, In-Depth Courses at BCC, and SIGs
GSBC Tech Classes are organized in conjunction with the Bolger Heritage Center at the Ridgewood Public Library. Please check the full RPL calendar for class information, fees, registration, cancellations, and for classes on other topics.
GSBC Workshops are occasional GSBC Extra! online presentations where experts can share their screen and show you the steps to tackling tech problems or explain specialized software. Watch the GSBC calendar for these events—which are free and open to the public.
GSBC’s in-depth courses are held at Bergen Community College’s Institute for Learning and Retirement (BCC-ILR, for those 55 and older). These courses are multi-week sessions and often focus on a particular aspect of family history research (e.g., DNA and Genetic Genealogy tools, getting started, intermediate skills).
GSBC SIGs (Special Interest Groups) are small gatherings where researchers meet and discuss particular topics and work through problems—and especially popular are our SIGs on technology and DNA.
For more information, see GSBC Genealogy Classes, Workshops, Courses, and SIGs >
Upcoming Events from the GSBC, Ridgewood Public Library, and Events of Note from Other Societies
Use the Category filter below to hide the events in a specific category.
Presentation by Laura Cubbage-Draper
Monday, 25 Sept 2023 @ 7pm Eastern
In person at Ridgewood Public Library
Records created about military service are an important resource in our genealogical research, providing valuable details about our ancestors and families. This program will provide an overview of U.S. military records for both veterans and for those ancestors who did not serve in the military. Emphasis will be on a survey of military resources available and where to search for records.
Laura has been engaged in genealogical research for over 20 years. A native of New Jersey with deep Pennsylvania roots, she is a genealogical researcher, presenter, volunteer and the owner of LCD Genealogy Services.
Laura enjoys collaborating with clients and helping them to understand their unique family history. She has expertise in exhaustive genealogical research and compiling detailed written reports, both of which are essential to expanding your family tree.
How to Write Your Family History, Presented by Susan Amsterdam
Thursday, September 28th
Two Sessions—11am and 7pm (In-Person)
The Ridgewood Historical Society
650 East Glen Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
This talk is not a lesson in genealogy, but Susan offers suggestions for organizing what may seem like a mass of overwhelming information obtained from many sources, dealing with sensitive family information, selecting the most suitable format, finding one’s authentic “voice” for narrating the story, relating the story in an interesting manner, writing the manuscript, and creating the finished books. Susan wrote her own family story and will bring the book created as an example.
Susan is a trustee/secretary of the Ridgewood Historical Society. She has been a teacher of English in college and business schools, a journalist, a published poet, and had a career of over 25 years as an arts administrator in Passaic County.
The talk will be held at the Schoolhouse Museum, 650 East Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.
Space is limited, so reservations are required. To make reservations, call 201-447-3242 or email museum@ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org
$10 for members, $15 for non-members
Tickets to be paid at the door.
20th ANNUAL GENEALOGY LOCK-IN
Saturday October 14 from 5-10pm
Ridgewood Public Library
Co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, the 19th Annual Genealogy Lock-in offers genealogists of all levels the chance to:
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Spend the evening researching, learning and sharing
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Ask the Experts your brick wall questions
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Attend workshops such as Irish Genealogy, DNA Roundtable, Explore the Hidden Archives and more
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Receive individual assistance from a genealogy expert
Registration Required: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=5615&EventID=496448&PK=
Registration Required. $10 fee per person (make check payable to Genealogical Society of Bergen County) and mail it to:
Genealogical Society of Bergen County
P.O. Box 432
Midland Park, NJ 07432
Registration deadline: October 6, 2023
Please arrive by 4:30pm to check-in (doors lock at 5pm). Light supper will be served.
Any questions contact Sarah Kiefer at 201-670-5600 x135 or skiefer@ridgewoodlibrary.org
GSBC Genealogy Consultants
GSBC Genealogy Consultants offer complimentary assistance to researchers—on-site and online. Consult the calendar below for available consultants, and learn more about this service under the “Get Help” section.
