Nancy: Let me add another resource about which many people may not be aware. Nearly a month ago I learned that there is an organization called The New York State Genealogy and Biographical Society located in NYC on 58th street. Here's the web site (http://www.ngsgenealogy.org). Last week I spent several hours there to learn of the holdings. While you can obtain general information on the web site, your best bet is to become a member, which is a little steep, namely $60 a year. It has a computer area where you can look at NYS census reports for each county. Living in central NJ that permits me easier access than for those in northern NY and it is certainly faster than ordering microfilm from your local LDS center. For those searching for their ancestors in NY City, you will find membership worthwhile although I cannot speak with much experience behind me as yet. When I start doing my mother's tree, it will be a key source. On the fourth floor of the building is the library. The card index will tell you where to find printed documents that might make reference to your ancestor(s). Many of the publications are "unpublished," meaning these are private books that individuals may have prepared for their families and donated to the organization. The library is fairly substantial in size. You may also find information about adjoining states, but that is not their focus. Here is the address and tel. no.: 122-126 East 58th St., New York, NY l0022-l939. Tel.: 212-755-8532. Ken > As a rule, I expect to find vital records -- births, marriages and deaths -- in the NYS Health Department indexes beginning in 1881. Those indexes do not > include the vital records in New York City. Certain cities are exceptions, either because of their policies or because of lax clerks. Some cities have earlier records. While you're looking for birth records, don't forget the death records. We might assume that someone born in 1850 could have lived until after 1881, > when the vital records begin. > For records earlier than 1881, I start with the rule of putting their feet on the ground. For that, I look to census enumerations and city directories > to help define the time frames of people's lives as well as to place them in families and neighborhoods. Once you know where they live, you can make a > knowledgeable guess about what churches they attended and what cemeteries might hold their remains. Once a family is located on U.S. censuses, NYS censuses in the years ending with 5 give a different set of information that can be just dandy. > Another good source is probate records at the county level, which may give good details about the will-maker (or intestate person) and the heirs. > Tax records in the county office buildings can also turn up information, as will the land records and deeds. The NYS Library is just one repository that has DAR cemetery records on the shelves. Perhaps you all know that DAR cemetery censuses are not limited to DAR family lines, so you never know what might be found in those books. > I have a long list of possible sources to check, but those are a good beginning for finding family connections. Nancy Johnsen Curran > http://pages.prodigy.net/nancycurran > The Continuum > Genealogy research and photography in the capital region of New York State

Hello, Ken and others, The NYG&B is a gem, isn't it? I've been a member for several years. The building is a research heaven set in bustling Manhattan. The publications are so valuable! I like being in a repository, as you apparently do too. The NYS Library & Archives are my research retreat. You might like to browse through their on-line catalog and salivate! Nancy Johnsen Curran http://pages.prodigy.net/nancycurran The Continuum Genealogy research and photography in the capital region of New York State

Nancy and All: We certainly do agree. Others who bring family or friends along will be close to the rich shopping area. Two and a half blocks away is Bloomingdale's Department Store. 57th St. is only a block away with more fine stores, and the famous Fifth Avenue has many fine stores such as Saks. Ken > Hello, Ken and others, > The NYG&B is a gem, isn't it? I've been a member for several years. The > building is a research heaven set in bustling Manhattan. The publications > are so valuable! > I like being in a repository, as you apparently do too. The NYS Library & > Archives are my research retreat. You might like to browse through their > on-line catalog and salivate! > Nancy Johnsen Curran > http://pages.prodigy.net/nancycurran > The Continuum > Genealogy research and photography in the capital region of New York State

Hi Nancy Thanks for sharing your site. There is always someone in need of a professional genealogist so I will save your web address. In fact, someone just contacted me last evening who may be a possible candiate. Another person named Everett is located in northern Michigan who may be interested as well. Her great grandfather, James Everett, cam from New York and doesn't know where to begin in finding him. Of course, whether she and her father would be interested or could afford to hire someone is beyond my knowledge. Incidentally, what is your fee structure? Ken > Hello, Ken and others, > The NYG&B is a gem, isn't it? I've been a member for several years. The > building is a research heaven set in bustling Manhattan. The publications > are so valuable! > I like being in a repository, as you apparently do too. The NYS Library & > Archives are my research retreat. You might like to browse through their > on-line catalog and salivate! > Nancy Johnsen Curran > http://pages.prodigy.net/nancycurran

Hi Ken, About NYG&B, you say "It has a computer area where you can look at NYS census reports for each county." Are these computer images or do you use microfilm viewers? Thanks for the information. Virginia -----Original Message----- From: Ken Everard [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 1:59 PM To: [email protected] Subject: NYS & NYC Resources Nancy: Let me add another resource about which many people may not be aware. Nearly a month ago I learned that there is an organization called The New York State Genealogy and Biographical Society located in NYC on 58th street. Here's the web site (http://www.ngsgenealogy.org). Last week I spent several hours there to learn of the holdings. While you can obtain general information on the web site, your best bet is to become a member, which is a little steep, namely $60 a year. It has a computer area where you can look at NYS census reports for each county. SNIP