Hello Oneida: I am curious as to your opinions on the NYGBS? Is it worth the membership fee? Do they just concentrate on New York City or is there enough information on the other counties (ie; Oneida, Cayuga, etc) to make it worth the investment? The New England Historical Society was definitely worth the $$$ for my Mother's English side of the family where I have traced ancestors back to 1692. NY (Oneida and Cayuga counties) is the home of my Father's side. They were Irish and German and did not arrive here until 1843-1850. Slainte, Susan <A HREF="http://www.nygbs.org/aboutnygb/membership.html#types">http://www.nygbs.org/aboutnygb/membership.html#types</A> Work as if you had no need for the money. Love as if you had never been hurt. Dance as if nobody was watching you. Sing as if nobody was hearing you. Live as if it was Heaven on Earth.

Susan: The state counties that kept vital statistics are likely to be found. Of course, to look at census documents you must go to the physical site in NYC. You will find NY City and the counties represented. In a few instances, records may not be found because they burned or were otherwise destroyed. For example, you will not find 1845 state census because they burned in Albany. Some counties, however, may have made their own copies. To get maximum value, you need to use its web site and the on-site holdings. Ken > Hello Oneida: > > I am curious as to your opinions on the NYGBS? Is it worth the membership > fee? Do they just concentrate on New York City or is there enough information on > the other counties (ie; Oneida, Cayuga, etc) to make it worth the investment? > The New England Historical Society was definitely worth the $$$ for my > Mother's English side of the family where I have traced ancestors back to 1692. NY > (Oneida and Cayuga counties) is the home of my Father's side. They were Irish > and German and did not arrive here until 1843-1850. > > Slainte, > Susan

Susan, I may be prejudiced because I am a member of NYG&B, but I've found it extremely useful and I research families who settled in Oneida and Lewis counties. First, they cover the entire state, not just NYC. Their website www.nybgs.org contains many free and useful guides to NY State research. For example, their listing of NY State Censuses (http://www.nygbs.org/info/articles/NYGB_NYS_census.html) could answer many of the census questions I see posted on this list. Their library in NYC contains the microfilm for almost all extant NY State censuses (as well as federal). They also are regularly adding county deed books and have many religious records statewide (e.g., Quaker meetings, and the early ms. transcriptions of church registers by Vosburgh). The library is of most use to members who can visit it regularly, but in the last year the society has added a members' area to their website that provides access from home to the ProQuest edition of the NY Times, which is indexed back to the 1800s. They also provide home access to HertitageQuest Census images and the HeritageQuest library of historical works. Finally, they are hosting a genealogical conference on Western NY State this September in Buffalo. The details are on their site. Roy -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 10:44 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [NYONEIDA-L] Opinions: New York Genealogical & Biographical Society?? Hello Oneida: I am curious as to your opinions on the NYGBS? Is it worth the membership fee? Do they just concentrate on New York City or is there enough information on the other counties (ie; Oneida, Cayuga, etc) to make it worth the investment? The New England Historical Society was definitely worth the $$$ for my Mother's English side of the family where I have traced ancestors back to 1692. NY (Oneida and Cayuga counties) is the home of my Father's side. They were Irish and German and did not arrive here until 1843-1850. Slainte, Susan <A HREF="http://www.nygbs.org/aboutnygb/membership.html#types">http://www.n ygbs.org/aboutnygb/membership.html#types</A> Work as if you had no need for the money. Love as if you had never been hurt. Dance as if nobody was watching you. Sing as if nobody was hearing you. Live as if it was Heaven on Earth. ==== NYONEIDA Mailing List ==== Contact the List Manager at [email protected] Oneida Co Surname page http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~myplace/oneida.html List Rules http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~myplace/mailing.html Oneida Co Genealogical & Historical Site http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyoneida/