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 Seminar + Special Event
The GSBC holds several special events, including our day-long Seminar and late-night GSBC-Ridgewood Public Library Lock-In—where genealogists can attend talks on a variety of subjects, collaborate on problems, socialize over a light supper, and receive one-on-one research assistance. Additional event fee may apply. Discount for GSBC members.
GSBC Classes + Genealogy Courses at Bergen Community College
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.
18th Annual RPL–GSBC Genealogy Lock-In
Saturday October 23 from 1-6pm
Online Event
You are invited to the 18th Annual Genealogy Virtual Lock-In, co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, on Saturday, October 23, from 1-6pm. Please register by Friday, October 8, 2021. Zoom login details will be sent closer to the date.
Co-sponsored by the Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, the 18th Annual Genealogy Lock-in offers genealogists of all levels the chance to:
- Spend a few hours learning and sharing
- Attend our opening panel and ask our experts your brick wall questions
- Sit in on our workshop sessions
- Ask your brick wall questions during each session’s Q&A time
- Win a raffle prize
- Ask the experts your brick wall questions
- Attend workshops such as:
- Beyond the Basics;
- Researching FamilySearch.org;
- DNA Testing, What's It All About; and
- What's Hidden in the Census.
(Times and titles subject to change; registrants will be notified of changes.)
If you have a brick-wall question for the expert panel, please email skiefer@ridgewoodlibrary.org
If you have any questions about the event, the sessions, or need assistance using Zoom, please contact Sarah Kiefer at 201-670-5600 x135 or skiefer@ridgewoodlibrary.org.
Registration required: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=5615&BranchID=&EventID=440370&PK=
Questions? Contact Sarah Kiefer at 201-670-5600 x135 or skiefer@ridgewoodlibrary.org
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.
GSBC General Meeting
Inferential Genealogy
Presented by Russ Worthington
Monday, 25 October 2021 @ 7:00 pm, Eastern
Free online webinar—all experience levels are welcome. Registration required.
Inferential Genealogy is how family historians can accurately deduce ancestors’ identities and many aspects of their lives by digging below surface information” in genealogical records and combining information from several sources. Useful in many situations, inferential methodology is especially helpful where records do not state relationships. A case study.
REGISTRATION LINK: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1785646882345968398
Russ Worthington, aka “Cousin Russ” is indeed a real cousin of “Dear Myrtle”, Pat Richley-Erickson. A Family Tree Maker expert, he is serious about locating and using original documents. He is a student of genealogical methodology, a Find-A-Grave volunteer, a public speaker, and a serious student of genealogical technology. Russ served in the US Coast Guard in Vietnam.
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.
The Secret History of the Jersey Devil—Virtual Author Talk
New Hersey State Library welcomes author Dr. Brian Regal
October 28 @ Noon–1:00 pm
Free, Online, Registration Required
Join us for a new look at an old myth. The real story of the Jersey Devil’s birth is far more interesting, complex, and
important than most people—believers and skeptics alike—realize. Brian Regal, co author of the book, The Secret History of the Jersey Devil: How Quakers, Hucksters and Benjamin Franklin created a Monster, will deconstruct and reevaluate this old New Jersey folklore to get to the historical reality of the Garden State’s favorite monster. We will leave the Pine Barrens turning instead to the varied political and cultural roots of the Devil’s creation.
Dr. Brian Regal is Associate Professor of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine at Kean University, New Jersey, where he teaches classes on science and medical history as well as pseudoscience, alchemy, and book history.
His most recent work is The Secret History of the Jersey Devil: How Quakers, Hucksters, and Benjamin Franklin created a monster (2018) written with co-author, and Kean University professor, Dr. Frank J. Esposito. He is also the author of Searching for Sasquatch: Crackpots, Eggheads, and Cryptozoology (2013). Earlier works include Henry Fairfield Osborn: Race and the Search for the Origins of Man (2002), and Pseudoscience: A Critical Encyclopedia (2009). He has appeared on the History Channel and Science Channel talking about monsters in the series True Monsters and Mythical Beasts, and 2021s HULU special Sasquatch. He was an invited panel speaker at Comic Con NYC, 2018, and an NBC TV special on Harry Potter and alchemy.
He is also author of numerous articles and Op Ed pieces and is currently working on a book on American discovery myths tentatively titled, Waiting for Columbus which will be published by Palgrave-Macmillan in 2022.
REGISTRATION: https://www.njstatelib.org/event/october-28-the-secret-history-of-the-jersey-devil-virtual-author-talk/
Class: Internet Genealogy
Ridgewood Public Library (On-Site at the Library)
Thursday, October 28th, 6:30pm [Rescheduled]
Registration required, space limited to 10 people (begins July 26th)
Internet Genealogy, using the Internet to find records, family information and known and unknown relatives. Instructor Steven Gabai of the Genealogical Society of Bergen County will begin this program with a short slide show explaining the records that are important to your family history research. He will then go onto the Internet and show you how to find those records, family information and known and unknown relatives. Bringing a laptop or tablet is optional and is not necessary. But be prepared to take notes.
Registration required. Class fee is $5 for Ridgewood residents and GSBC members; $10 for visitors.
Register Here: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=5615&EventID=444181
Questions? Contact Sarah Kiefer at 201-670-5600 x135 or skiefer@ridgewoodlibrary.org
Sponsored by Genealogical Society of Bergen County.
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.
Class: Using Spreadsheets for Genealogy (Virtual)
Guest Instructor: Fred Voss, GSBC Education Chair
GSBC-Ridgewood Public Library Genealogy Tech Class
Virtual Class
Being organized is critical to being a successful genealogist. Some people find spreadsheets to be a valuable tool in this regard. Spreadsheets can be used to help a genealogist with data gathering, data organizing, and data manipulation. This class will look at using spreadsheets for those varying purposes.
Registration Required for Virtual Class: http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=5615&EventID=439807
Fred Voss is a professional genealogist, researcher, and educator. He has been doing personal genealogy for over 25 years and is a Trustee and Education Chair for the Genealogical Society of Bergen County. His areas of interest are Germany, Switzerland, and New Hampshire, with special interest in DNA, Immigration, and Naturalization. Mr. Voss is a certificate holder of the Boston University Genealogical Research Certification program (OL13). He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the International Society of Genetic Genealogists as well as various regional societies.
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 Members-Only Seminar: A Day with Steve Morse and Joel Weintraub: 1950 Census and More!
Saturday, 13 November 2021 @ 10:00 am–3:30pm, Eastern
Registration open to GSBC Members only—join us to receive access to this Seminar!
The Genealogical Society of Bergen County (GSBC) is proud to announce our all day Members-only Seminar—featuring two legendary genealogical researchers who will join us online for four presentations!
Note that this Seminar is a Member's benefit—you must be a member in order to attend.
Renew your membership or sign-up for a new Membership through this registration form below and you will be automatically registered for this Seminar for no additional charge!
Note: If you have ALREADY paid for your GSBC 2021–2022 Membership AND would like to attend this seminar, please drop a note to contact@njgbsc.org with your name and membership number.
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
9:50 am — Welcome (Join us online early to test your internet connection)
10:00 am — Stephen P. Morse, “Searching the 1950 US Census with and without a Name Index”
11:15 am — Joel Weintraub, “More 1950 U.S. Census Resources for New Jersey Genealogists”
12:30 pm — Lunch Break
1:00 pm — Stephen P. Morse, “One-Step Website — A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools”
2:15 pm — Joel Weintraub, “Finding Difficult Passengers on the Ellis Island Manifests”
(Schedule may be subject to change.)
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Stephen P. Morse is the creator of the One-Step Website for which he has received both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies.
Joel Weintraub, a New Yorker by birth, is an emeritus Biology Professor at California State University, Fullerton. He has published articles on the U.S. census and the 72-year rule, the name change belief, and finding difficult passenger records at Ellis Island, and searching NYC census records with the problems of NYC geography.
REGISTRATION
NOTE: REGISTRATION IS OPEN TO 2021–2022 GSBC MEMBERS ONLY!
The Genealogical Society of Bergen County offers a SINGLE membership ($20/year) or a FAMILY membership ($25/year)—join us to receive access to this program. Follow the link below to sign-up.
IMPORTANT: During checkout, enter the word SINGLE or FAMILY in the Discount Code field to indicate your choice. (If the Discount Code is left blank, you will be charged for a FAMILY membership.)
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6253768567936552971
Thank you for supporting all of our future endeavors!
1950 Census Form [U.S. Census Bureau]
1950 Census Enumerator Interviewing a Family [U.S. Census Bureau]
1950 Custom-built Machines and Computers [U.S. Census Bureau]
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.
GSBC Annual Meeting
Government for the People: Leveraging Freedom of Information Laws to Procure Novel Records
Alec Ferretti, Member Reclaim the Records Board of Directors
Monday, 22 November @7pm, Online!
Free online webinar—all experience levels are welcome. Registration required.
Learn how state and federal Freedom of Information (FOI) laws work, and how genealogists can use them to uncover novel records. Alec will discuss how to make FOI requests in various states, and will outline case studies in which he used FOI laws to obtain specific types of records pertaining to an ancestor. These diverse records range from alien files held by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, to burial permits held by local town clerks, to occupational licensing applications held by the State. Discover records previously thought to be locked away from the public forever!
REGISTRATION LINK: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7480000010411979278
Alec Ferretti is a New-York-City-based professional genealogist, who works for the Wells Fargo Family & Business History Center. He specializes in the genealogy of 20th century immigrants to the United States and serves as the President of the New York Genealogy & Technology Group. A member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists, he also serves on the Board of Reclaim the Records.
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:
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:
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.
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.
