Sally Pellegrini's blog

One of the best secrets is the New York Historical Association's annual conference always held the first weekend in June. I attended this past weekend and as usual, was not disappointed. The conference is always held near a college campus for both conference space and for dormitory rooms. For $70 registration fee, you can attend two and a half days of pure New York State history. It's wonderful!!

Speakers from both academia and the public sector present papers organized by subject. Examples this year included Demystifying Digitization, new directions in New York History, a talk on cemeteries about Harlem African Burial Ground and Westchester cemeteries. One of the most fascinating was a talk about the Rochester Riots delivered by Alexander Aldrich, first cousin to Governor Nelson Rockfeller and his deputy assistant. His recall of the activities during those riots was outstanding.

On Saturday, May 14, please join the Genealogy Society of Rockland and the library as they offer a joint double program. Beginning at 10:30 AM, Sharon Hodges, researcher and genealogist, will diiscuss, "How Did Your Family Get There and Why Did They Go?" Early settlers in the region moved a lot more than you might think and often, researchers are stumped about their move. Come to this talk and perhaps Sharon will help shed light. Sometimes understanding the migration routes may lead you toward unsolved queries.

Bring your own lunch and stay for the afternoon as society members offer mini-workshops on some genealogy basics. There will be tables set up around the room. Visit the table of interest and when the bell rings after 15 minutes, move to another. Topics such as census interpretation, cemetery records and vital records will be presented. This program is intended to offer a glimpse at what is involved in researching these important areas. Afterwards, you can visit the Rockland Room and learn a lot more.

The New State Archives recently announced the creation of two tools, called pathfinders, to help genealogists and researchers locate naturalization and probate records created throughout New York. from the colonial period ro the present.

The time line for the naturalization abstracts  begins in 1664 and included is a description about a book, "Denizations, Naturalizatons and oaths of allegiance in colonial New York" by Kenneth Scott and Kynn Stryker-Rodda. A copy of this may be found in the Rockland Room.

Probate pathfinder descriptions begin prior to 1787.

To view this web site, go to www.archives.nysed.gov?a/research/res_tools_pathfinders.shtml OR if you go to

www.archives.nysed you will be directed to research and then to the pathfinders link.

One week a year, libraries across the country sit back and bask in the spotlight. The focus is on National Library Week, and this year it is April 10 through 16. At the New City Library you will want to check out some of the fun activites we have planned. Community businesses are supporting us with great prizes. Several stores will give 10% discount at the time of purchase. You will need to show your New City Library card. Those participating stores are:

                Anna's Bakery in Congers                    

                Back To Earth - New City Store (good for supplements)

                New City Florist in New City

                Rhoda's Cafe in New City

There is increased interest in researching old newspapers as they become digitized.This eliminates those blackened fingers, crumbly pages and musty smellsl! The time saved by keyword searching has also enhanced researchers' finding.

At the February meeting of the Genealogy Society of Rockland, two members discussed digital newspaper web sites that were very helpful to them. The first is offered by the Northern New York Historical Newspapers and the address is nnyln.net. Through this you can look at many of the newspapers in north western and central New York. The articles appear and you can reduce the full page to the article. The member speaking mentioned that he was looking for information on a relative and could never find anything about her. Voila!! He found a bunch of social notes that described tea and other social meetings at her house.