Grow Your Genealogical Education This Spring
- At March 21, 2016
- By admin
- In education, events
- 0
Spring is a time of new birth – flowers are blooming, days are longer and the weather is warming.
Spring also provides new opportunities to grow your genealogical education. Now is the perfect time to delve into a new research area or develop a new research technique!
Here is a sampling of free and fee-based one and two day genealogy events in the New Jersey and New York area coming up over the next few months.
» April 23rd, 2pm to 4pm, Open House, Sparta Ward Building, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 95 Pinkneyville Rd, Sparta Township, NJ (Free Event)
» April 30th, 9am to 4:30pm, Genealogy Federation of Long Island, Bethpage Public Library (NY), visit freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ for details (Free Event)
» May 14th, 11am to 5pm, Spirit of the Jerseys, Monmouth Battlefield State Park (NJ), visit http://www.njhistoryfair.org/ for details (Free Event)
» June 4th, Genealogical Society of New Jersey Spring Program, East Brunswick Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Ward Building (NJ), visit www.gsnj.org for details
» June 8th and 9th, New Jersey History and Historic Preservation Conference, Thomas Edison National Historical Park (NJ) (June 8th), Seton Hall University (NJ) (June 9th), visit http://www.njpreservationconference.org/ for details
» June 18th, New York Public Library Family History Day, New York Public Library (NY), visit http://www.nypl.org/familyhistoryday for details
» Various dates, Ridgewood Public Library Programs & Classes, Bolger Heritage Center at the Ridgewood Public Library (NJ), visit http://njgsbc.org/upcoming-events/ for details
» Various dates, Central Jersey Genealogical Club Programs, Hamilton Public Library (NJ), visit http://www.cjgcnj.com/schedule.html for details (Free Event)
Enjoy cultivating new research skills that will help you Discover UR History!!
And if you happen to run into one of those pesky brick walls, do not hesitate to contact us.
CLICK HERE for a listing of our genealogy and family history services.
DURH Researcher Elected as Trustee to Genealogical Society of New Jersey
- At December 29, 2015
- By admin
- In news
- 0
DiscoverURhistory (DURH) is excited to announce that Joan E. Betancourt, one of DURH’s genealogists and family history researchers, was elected as a trustee of the prestigious Genealogical Society of New Jersey (GSNJ). Joan was elected to a three year term at GSNJ’s 2015 Annual Meeting & Fall Lecture held this past November at Rutgers University’s Alexander Library in New Brunswick, NJ.
The Genealogical Society of New Jersey (GSNJ) was founded in 1921 by a group of genealogical scholars dedicated to the preservation of New Jersey family history. GSNJ’s mission is to discover, procure, preserve and publish information pertaining to families and individuals associated with New Jersey.
The Society is the publisher of The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, a national leader among genealogical journals and recognized as the preeminent resource for transcribed primary source material from New Jersey.
Joan joins GSNJ’s proud tradition of service through volunteering and adherence to the ideals of accuracy and scholarship in genealogical research, which continue to guide the ninety-four year old Society’s endeavors.
“I look forward to working with the other GSNJ trustees to further the Society’s mission to promote New Jersey history and genealogy to an ever broadening audience,” said Joan.
Joan E. Betancourt, a former project leader for a Department of Defense contractor to the US Army, has been researching her own family’s history for close to fifteen years in New Jersey, New York and surrounding areas. She is now a full-time professional genealogist and family historian providing genealogy and house history research services throughout New Jersey.
For more information on the Genealogical Society of New Jersey (GSNJ) visit their site at: http://www.gsnj.org/.
For more information on DiscoverURhistory and its services, check out our About Us page.
10 Great Research Questions To Ask A Genealogist
- At November 09, 2015
- By admin
- In genealogy
- 0
Interested in Family History? But not sure what to ask a Genealogist?
Then check out this great list we prepared just for You.
10 Great Research Questions To Ask A Genealogist.
Who are my ancestor’s parents?
We all have that one ancestor that no one seems to know where they came from or who their parents were. It’s as if they just appeared one day. Searching for an ancestor’s parents can be a great research project for a genealogist who has the local knowledge and expertise to extend your family tree further back in time and shed light on some of those unanswered questions.
Where did my ancestors come from?
Most of our immigrant ancestors arrived in the US in the 19th and early 20th Century during one of the many waves of immigration. We may know where they lived here in the US, but aren’t exactly sure where they started out in life. You may know an ethnicity, or possibly a country – but maybe the town, commune, townland, parish, or shtetl still remains elusive. Searching for an ancestor’s origins can be immensely rewarding – reconnecting you to a culture and history that may not have made it down through the generations.
How long has my family lived in the US?
Some people have ancestors that arrived as early as the Mayflower and others may only be second generation Americans. Discovering when your ancestors arrived in the US and how long they have been here helps to connect them to the historical events in America’s past. Adding this historical context can broaden your understanding of your ancestors and help paint a picture of the times within which they lived.
What professions did my ancestors have?
What we do for a living is a huge part of our lives. The same was true for our ancestors. Delving into the professions of your ancestors can provide a certain depth to who they were and how they lived. Tales of hardships and struggles or stories of success and fame can make your ancestors more relatable and help you understand how successive generations were influenced. You may even discover interesting connections between your ancestors’ professions and your own.
What did my ancestors die from?
You may have a general idea of how some of your ancestors died, but getting specific details can be intriguing and, even more importantly, life saving. Knowledge of the diseases, ailments, or sicknesses that affected your ancestors could help you take preventive measures for you and your family’s health. Uncovering a pronounced history of heart attack or stroke among your ancestors could make a tremendous difference in your own life.
Did my ancestors serve in the military?
Military service can reveal a great deal about an ancestor – stories of courage, strength, fortitude and sacrifice. Whether the Revolutionary War or the Vietnam War, these events impacted everyone in the US at the time – both the soldier and their families. Discovering your ancestor’s military service can provide a way for you to honor them and keep their memory and sacrifice alive for future generations to appreciate.
How many siblings did my ancestors have?
Too often beginner family historians only focus on their direct ancestors. Many families had multiple children. Branching out to the siblings of your ancestors can put you in touch with extended members of your family. Second, third, fourth and fifth cousins could be out there right now waiting to be discovered. These new-found cousins could provide you with new family relationships, stories, research leads or even pictures you never knew existed.
Where are my ancestors buried?
Locating the final resting place for ancestors can provide a great opportunity to show your respect, honor and gratitude for all they accomplished, achieved and overcame to pave the way for you to live the life you now have. Visiting that cemetery and seeing that headstone often brings your family’s story full circle and allows for a certain sense of closure.
Did my ancestors own a house or land?
Land ownership was an important goal for most of our ancestors – whether it was several hundred acres in the woods or a small corner lot in town. Tracking the land your ancestors may have bought and sold could reveal a lot about their entrepreneurial spirit and their economic status. Each story we discover can further bring your ancestors to life – stories of success along with the failures. The loss of a house during the depression can be just as interesting as an ancestor who received a 160 acre land grant in the Midwest.
What religion were my ancestors?
You may assume that your ancestors practiced the same religion you currently do, but that may not be the case. Each of us has 32 great-great-great grandparents – that’s a lot of ancestors. It’s likely some of them differing faiths. Determining the religion of your ancestors can reveal a lot about their traditions, culture and even their everyday lives. You may even find ancestors of different faiths who inter-married. Marrying outside your faith at a time when it was frowned upon could say a lot about those ancestors and the love they shared.
Now that you have read through these questions, which one do you want to ask us?
As genealogists we want to provide more than just facts and figures. Our goal is to discover the stories and moments that enrich the narrative of your ancestors’ lives. You are connected to a rich tradition of love, faith, perseverance and survival. Your roots run deep.
You can check out all our genealogy and family history services here: GENEALOGY.
We wish you the greatest success in Discovering UR History!
Genealogy Research in New Jersey
- At October 06, 2015
- By admin
- In genealogy
- 0
Researching Your New Jersey Family
While access to genealogical information has increased exponentially with the internet, many of the clues needed to find your ancestors aren’t online. They are still waiting to be discovered in archives, historical societies, libraries and special collections.
New Jersey can offer a wealth of information for those researching their recent and more distant ancestors. The trick is knowing where to look and what to look for.
As New Jersey genealogists, our research has taken us everywhere from the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, to county historical associations, and even to small town public libraries. Each repository offers its own unique resources that can open new research avenues and sometimes break through the hardiest of brick walls.
The main hub of genealogical research in New Jersey is, of course, the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton. Its collections of birth, deaths and marriages are an invaluable resource. Yet, the Archives offers so much more than the standard BDMs. Newspaper collections, court records, divorce records, early colonial records, and a host of county records – deeds, mortgages, naturalizations and wills – are a few of the collections we have searched through first-hand. These additional records can provide important clues and often paint a much broader picture of your ancestors’ lives.
While the Archives is one of the first stops for any researcher, New Jersey also has a network of special collections, archives and historical associations throughout the State. Researchers can access bible and family records at Rutgers’ Special Collections, search through the Archdiocese of Newark’s microfilm collections at Seton Hall, look through early Paterson family files at the Passaic County Historical Society’s Library or locate an early 19th century deed at the Monmouth County Archives in Freehold.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with these great institutions. Many of them provide finding aids and collection descriptions on their website. Knowing ahead of time what you are looking for will make your trip that much easier. Calling ahead or e-mailing the staff before your visit is a great idea too.
One of the most underutilized resources in New Jersey are local public libraries. Many have great collections of obituaries, biographies, city directories, and even high school yearbooks. The New Jersey Rooms at the Newark and Jersey City Public Libraries and the impressive collections at the Plainfield Public Library are just a few examples. There are many more libraries throughout the State with great collections for genealogists and family historians.
To get you started here are links to a few New Jersey archives, societies and libraries:
Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives
Seton Hall Archives & Special Collections
Their collections are just waiting to be discovered. Happy hunting!