GSBC Meetings + Presentations
GSBC Meetings are held every 4th Monday of the month (except holidays and December). General Meetings include a brief business meeting. Meetings start promptly at 7pm in the Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium, 125 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ. Phone (201) 670-5600 (see map, above), unless otherwise noted. Your membership dues directly supports this programming and allows us to host speakers on a wide variety of topics — thank you!
GSBC Special Events + Seminars
The GSBC holds several special events, including our day-long Annual Seminar and late-night RPL Lock-In—where genealogists can attend talks on a variety of subjects, collaborate on problems, and receive one-on-one research assistance. Additional event fee may apply. Discount for GSBC members.
GSBC Classes + Ridgewood Public Library Programs
The Bolger Heritage Center at the Ridgewood Public Library holds events on local history and genealogy-focused computer classes. Ridgewood residents and GSBC members receive a discount on these events. Included in the calendar below are RPL classes of interest to genealogists and local researchers. Please check the full RPL calendar for class information, fees, registration, cancellations, and for classes on other topics. All registration is through the Ridgewood Public Library calendar or by calling (201) 670-5600.
Additionally, the GSBC holds in-depth courses, for those 55 and older, at Bergen Community College, Institute for Learning and Retirement (BCC-ILR). Please check our calendar for registration dates, visit the BCC-ILR website, or contact BCC-ILR at 201-447-7156.
Below is our complete calendar showing all Meetings, Events, Seminars. Library Programs and Classes. Use the Category filter below to hide the events in a specific category.
Specialties:
AncestryLE
Canadian Records (French and English)
State and Federal Census
Advanced Research
New York City Research
City Directories
For July 2018: by appointment
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
Specialties:
AncestryLE
Internet Research
Advanced Research
Netherlands
Available by Appointment
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
Specialties:
Ancestry
Census
Ireland
Immigration
New York City and New Jersey
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
GSBC 2021 Seminar
Intermediate DNA: A Four-Lecture Program with Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., The Genetic Genealogist®
Saturday, 20 March 2021, 9:30 am–4:00 pm, US Eastern
Online Seminar! ($25–$35)
Please join the Genealogical Society of Bergen County (GSBC) as we welcome Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., The Genetic Genealogist®, for a day of intermediate DNA sessions!
On Saturday, 20 March 2021, Blaine Bettinger will present the following four live sessions and end with a Q&A period.
- Session 1: Using Y-DNA and mtDNA to Explore Your Ancestry
Y-DNA and mtDNA testing have helped genealogists break through thousands of stubborn brick walls. Learn about the unique inheritance of Y-DNA and mtDNA in your family, how these tests can be used to explore your ancient ancestry, and how the results can identify your relatives both close and distant. - Session 2: Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries
Even though our 18th and 19th century ancestors have been dead for decades, their DNA still survives in their descendants. Learn how to use autosomal DNA to attack and potentially solve genealogical mysteries and brick walls for ancestors who were born or lived in the 1800’s, 1700’s, and beyond. - Session 3: Using DNA Painter to Map and Analyze Your Autosomal DNA
DNA Painter is an easy-to-use third-party tool that enables you to assign segments of DNA shared with cousins to a map of your chromosomes. Together we’ll look at this powerful new tool, and how you can use it in your research. - Session 4: Evaluating a Genealogical Conclusion Including DNA
Someone tells you that they’ve proven their connection to a genealogical ancestor using DNA, but have they really proven it? Did they avoid the known pitfalls? Together we will discuss the most common pitfalls when using DNA evidence and propose the minimum requirements for a genealogical proof comprising DNA.
There are a limited number of “seats” for this event. By presenter’s request, this event will NOT be recorded.
Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., has been using traditional genealogical research to learn more about his ancestry for nearly 20 years. He has a Ph.D. in biochemistry with a concentration in genetics and is extremely interested in the recent developments in genetic genealogy. Bettinger is and instructor and lecturer, the co-author of “Genetic Genealogy in Practice” (NGS, 2016), and the author of “The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy” (2016), and was the former editor for "The Journal of Genetic Genealogy" (2010–2012) and authors a blog at https://thegeneticgenealogist.com.
Seminar Schedule
(All times US Eastern time. Live event, schedule subject to change.)
| 9:30 am | Webinar sign-on begins—introduce yourself in the chat window! (We recommend joining us early so you can test your connection and get familiar with the interface buttons.) |
| 9:45 am | Welcome, Announcements, and Introduction |
| 10:00 am | Session 1: Using Y-DNA and mtDNA to Explore Your Ancestry |
| 11:00 am | Short Break |
| 11:15 am | Session 2: Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries |
| 12:15 pm | Lunch Break + Door Prize Raffle—“Genetic Genealogy in Practice” (NGS, 2016) by Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D. and Debbie Parker Wayne, CG, CGL |
| 1:00 pm | Session 3: Using DNA Painter to Map and Analyze Your Autosomal DNA |
| 2:00 pm | Short Break |
| 2:15 pm | Session 4: Evaluating a Genealogical Conclusion Including DNA |
| 3:15 pm | Q&A and Seminar Wrap-up |
| 4:00 pm | Goodbye and Sign-off |
Registration
Tickets are $25 for GSBC Members; $35 for non-members. (Join today and save $10 on your Seminar registration!) [The GSBC Members' discount code was provided in the 14 January Members' email.]
Register online at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4751466244456660496.
Registrants will receive a link upon registration as well as a reminder about a day before the seminar.
Questions?
If you need assistance, would like to join the GSBC and receive your discount, or have other questions, contact us.
Specialties:
All computer applications
Advanced Research
Local History
Bergen County
Available by Appointment
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
Stitches in Time
Wednesday, 24 March @ 7:30pm
Virtual Event
Presented by Peggy W. Norris
American quilts have decorated our beds and kept us warm for two centuries. Peggy W. Norris explores the great variety of quilts from 1800 to 1976, with a special look at quilts made in Bergen County. Get a sneak peek at the quilts to be displayed at the Bergen County Quilt and Coverlet Show.
Peggy W. Norris, better known for her study of local history, has also made a study of American quilts, especially those made in Bergen County. She is a member of the local Brownstone Quilters Guild and of the national American Quilt Study Group and a quilt-maker herself. She and other local historians are planning a quilt and coverlet show for June 11 and 12, 2021, in Ridgewood. There will be an exhibit, special tours and lectures, and an exhibit catalog.
Co-sponsored by the Bolger Heritage Center at the Ridgewood Public Library and the Ridgewood Historical Society.
Registration required: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=5615&EventID=427124
Art, From the Decorative to the Functional (Exhibit Tour)
Thursday, 1 April @ 7pm
Virtual Tour
Presented by Vicky Herbert
We welcome you to join the Schoolhouse Museum and Ridgewood Public Library for this virtual tour of their exhibit, Art, From the Decorative to Functional.
From the high art of a fine early 19th century oil portrait to the low art of handmade crafts, people have long incorporated art into their daily lives. This exhibit examines how artisans have embellished even the most functional items used in the home and celebrates centuries of art, artists and creativity.
Beginning with pieces from Ridgewood Historical Society’s Lenape Collection, this exhibit traces the development of pottery in the U.S., showcases quilts, coverlets and an array of needlework common in the 19th century and highlights the variety of ways artists made portraits using paper and scissors and early photography.
Co-sponsored by the Bolger Heritage Center at the Ridgewood Public Library and the Ridgewood Historical Society.
Registration required: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=5615&EventID=427112
Specialties:
AncestryLE
Canadian Records (French and English)
State and Federal Census
Advanced Research
New York City Research
City Directories
For July 2018: by appointment
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
A Home Divided: The Hermitage during the American Civil War with Victoria Harty
Monday, 12 April @ 7pm
Virtual Event
While the battlefields of the American Civil War never reached Northern New Jersey, it was a grim and turbulent time for the Rosencrantz family at the Hermitage. As Northern "peace" Democrats with a deep entanglement with enslavement, the Rosencrantz family was caught between both sides of the Civil War. It was a time marked by deep family division, economic hardship, and personal reckoning. Drawing from the personal accounts of the Rosencrantz family spread between Virginia, Philadelphia, and Bergen County, this presentation explores the varied experiences of a local New Jersey family during an era that defined not only the nation, but the Hermitage as well.
Co-sponsored by the Bolger Heritage Center at the Ridgewood Public Library and The Hermitage.
Registration required: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=5615&EventID=427412
Specialties:
AncestryLE
Internet Research
Advanced Research
Netherlands
Available by Appointment
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
Specialties:
Ancestry
Census
Ireland
Immigration
New York City and New Jersey
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
Specialties:
All computer applications
Advanced Research
Local History
Bergen County
Available by Appointment
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
Specialties:
AncestryLE
Canadian Records (French and English)
State and Federal Census
Advanced Research
New York City Research
City Directories
For July 2018: by appointment
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
Specialties:
AncestryLE
Internet Research
Advanced Research
Netherlands
Available by Appointment
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
Specialties:
Ancestry
Census
Ireland
Immigration
New York City and New Jersey
On-Site GSBC Genealogy Consultations at the Ridgewood Public Library (RPL)
GSBC Members and others receive complimentary on-site consultation with our Genealogy Consultants at the Bolger Heritage Center. All our consultants can help beginners through experienced researchers, guide you in the use of the Genealogy and Local History Reference collections at the Bolger Heritage Center, and help you break through your brick-walls. If you need assistance with a specific area not listed, contact us and we will match you as best we can with an expert in that area.
To make an appointment, email contact@njgsbc.org to reserve your consultation window.
