The program is set for the free Long Island Genealogy Conference scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Terryville FamilySearch Center in Port Jefferson Station.
The conference is free, and includes lunch, but you still need to register. To register, go to: https://www.timelesstaleevents.com/event-details/long-islands-genealogy-conference
There are four sessions with each session having multiple programs. Here is a listing of the scheduled programs and speakers:
SESSION 1 – 9:30-10:30 am
A: Using the Wiki and Catalogue Searches on FamilySearch
FamilySearch.org has various ways to search for genealogical records, both on FamilySearch and on other sites. This talk will use live examples to introduce you to using both the Wiki and Catalogue to expand your searches in order to make sure you are not missing much in building out your family history.
Presenter: Eileen Swanberg, Volunteer Terryville FamilySearch Center, Genealogist, MS Ed
Eileen Swanberg has been researching her family histories for over 30 years in places such as New York City, New Jersey, and abroad. Her years of experience has led her to volunteer at, first, the Plainview FamilySearch (then Family History) Center and now at the Terryville FamilySearch Center. She currently assists patrons with their research, whether they are just starting out or trying to break down that brick wall.
She also teaches workshops at libraries and organizations on how to use FamilySearch. She is an active member of the German Genealogy Group and the Hudson County (NJ) Genealogical and Historical Society, where she helps edit their respective newsletters and is a mentor for US research for the German Genealogy Group. She writes a monthly article for her website, Steps Back In Time Genealogy and shares those articles in an early release to Terryville FSC patrons on the appointment email list.
B: Newspapers Sites to Help in Your Research
Librarian and genealogist Jean King will discuss free and subscription newspaper sites for genealogy research, including library databases and specialized New York resources.
Presenter: Jean King, MLS
Jean is a part-time adult reference librarian in South Huntington where she also leads a monthly Genealogy Drop-In program. She has over 35 years of experience researching her own family and has taught a variety of genealogy classes at public libraries and for local genealogy societies.
Jean runs the free website, “New York Genealogy Links.” She is also a board member of the German Genealogy Group, creates the monthly events calendar for the Genealogy Federation of Long Island, and is a member of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society.
C: Finding Where Your Family Fits into America’s Fight for Independence
Did your ancestors support the Revolution or remain loyal to the Crown? Whether you’re just getting started or digging deeper into your family history, this introduction to researching Revolutionary War-era family history will show how ordinary people left extraordinary paper trails and potentially open the doors for you to lineage-based historical organizations like the Daughters/Sons of the American Revolution.
Presenter: April Lynne Earle, Library Faculty, Genealogist
April Lynne Earle is a member of the Library Faculty at Farmingdale State College, a college of Technology in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. In addition to her primary role as the cataloger, she provides reference service and information literacy instruction. She received both her Masters in Library Science and Master of Arts in Public History from St. John’s University, where she now teaches as an adjunct in their Library Science course on Genealogical Sources & Services.
With over 40 years of genealogy research experience, her real joy is helping others discover their family history.
D: Beginning Genealogy
Learn how to get started on your genealogy search for your family history.
Presenter: Susan Jaycox, President Genealogy Federation of Long Island, Genealogist
Susan Jaycox is the President of the Genealogy Federation of Long Island as well as a volunteer genealogist at the Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum in Uniondale and the Plainview FamilySearch Center. She has presented at regional and local workshops and conferences. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
SESSION 2 – 10:45-11:45 am
A: Germany in New York: Kleindeutschland on the Lower East Side
This talk will present a fairly detailed history of the development of both the German community in New York City and its Lower East Side, within the larger context of 19th century German immigration as a whole. Various aspects of society and day-to-day life in the first major German community in New York will be explored, providing insight into this particular immigrant experience in the city, some physical remnants of which still remain well over a century after the community’s gradual transition, displacement, and dispersion.
Presenter: Richard Haberstroh, PhD, AG
Richard Haberstroh is a native New Yorker of mixed European ancestry, whose six German ancestral lines arrived in New York City between 1835 and 1852 and resided in the city’s Little Germany (Kleindeutschland) in what is now called the Lower East Side. Richard is an accredited genealogist (AG), who has been involved in German research both locally and abroad since 1984, and who regularly lectures on topics in family and local history, including German immigration and settlement in New York City.
He has published a variety of genealogical material, including his own German lines New York City genealogy in the NYG&B Record. He is also the author of the book, The German Churches of Metropolitan New York: a Research Guide, also published by the NYG&B.
B: Hidden Gems In Newspapers at GenealogyBank
Newspapers offer a unique insight into your family stories and histories. This workshop will look at using newspapers for family history work; best search practices when researching newspapers; and what makes GenealogyBank different from other newspaper websites.
Presenter: Melony Young, Sr. Director of Consumer Support, NewsBank, inc. / GenealogyBank.com
Melony Young is an experienced Customer Experience Expert and Corporate Trainer across many industries. She joined NewsBank / GenealogyBank in 2020. Melony’s love of Genealogy and Family History comes from a strong appreciation for the family research done by her grandmother who was dedicated to preserving her family stories. Melony has been a RootsTech speaker for the past two years and presents regularly to genealogical societies across the nation.
C: Using Full Text Search and Simple Search on FamilySearch
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making large strides in the genealogy world, and it is no different on FamilySearch.org. What started out in the “FamilySearch Labs” as a trial using AI in searching unindexed records, Full Text soon became a permanent fixture on the Search function tab. The available records on Full Text continues to grow greatly on a regular basis, allowing users to find those pesky unindexed and sometimes handwritten records more easily. The next logical step was to add Simple Search to FamilySearch Labs, allowing users to search using a more user-friendly method. Knowing how to do the searches in these AI driven search functions helps the user to save time and find records with relative ease.
Presenter: Eileen Swanberg
D: Jewish Genealogy
Learn the resources and ins and outs of Jewish genealogy.
Presenter: Chuck Weinstein, director of JewishGen.org Ukraine Research Division
Chuck is a genealogist and researcher who specializes in Jewish research as well as Shoah related research.
SESSION 3 – 1:15-2:15 p.m.
A: Irish Genealogy Records
Looking at US records will help track down where your Irish family may have lived in Ireland. Learn about naming patterns to help you figure out ancestors. Then, jump “across the pond” to find out why so many older censuses and other records may or may not exist. Learn about Griffiths Primary Valuation and Tithe Applotment Books. Hear about the websites dedicated to Irish research. Maybe you’lll find your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
Presenter: Eileen Swanberg
B: African American Genealogy: Records for the Enslaved and Previously Enslaved Person
Records of those enslaved and previously enslaved persons in the US can be broken down into three time frames: 1) Post-war: the Early Years – 1864-1880; 2) Pre-end of war – Antebellum; 3) Beyond Post-war – after 1880
The workshop will look at how to find the family histories during each of these time periods in hard-to-find, newly discovered and/or forgotten records.
Presenter: Stephanie Caputo, Author
Stephanie Caputo, a computer programmer/systems analyst for 25 years, started to research her family lines in 2012, learning new techniques and methods for uncovering not just the facts, but the stories behind her ancestors.
About 6 years ago, she used that knowledge to assist her father in researching the Scott Joplin family for an article they wrote and published together about Robert Joplin, Scott’s young brother who was also in the music business. This led to a second article about Scott’s parents, who had been enslaved. It was through this research she learned about the African American genealogy of enslaved persons. She gave a Symposium at the Scott Joplin Festival in Sedalia, Missouri in 2024. Stephanie has also appeared in a Podcast about the tips and techniques to find the hard-to-find records.
C: Italian Genealogy
Learn how to start your Italian genealogy research, and what steps you need to be able to bring your research to the next level.
Presenter: Kelly Bodami, Italian Genealogy Group, APG accredited Genealogist
Kelly Bodami is a professional Italian genealogist, specializing in the Italian diaspora, Sicilian research, and Italian Dual Citizenship. Her United States expertise is in New York research and records, but she is well versed in other areas worldwide.
Session 4 – 2:30-3:30 p.m.
A: Goldie May and Family Tree Validator : Two Free Extensions to Use with FamilySearch.org
Goldie May was developed by Richard Miller as a research log for genealogy specifically. With contractual agreements with FamilySearch, he has been able to simplify your research on FamilySearch with Projects, Research Logs, Screenshots, Citations, AI, and more! Learn how to use the basic functions and how to find more help with Goldie May.
Family Tree Validator was developed by Robert Scott as a way to “clean up” the issues that arise on our saved information on FamilySearch. With a few simple keystrokes you can fix non-standardized locations (such as the ever popular “Same Place” as a residence in 1935 on the 1940 Federal Census) on each person’s page; add married surnames as an alternative name to married women; and standardize dates. You will also be notified of date inconsistencies, multiples of the same sources, and more!
Presenter: Eileen Swanberg
B: Ask the Experts
Bring your questions to this workshop and our experts will do their best to provide the answers. It could be where to find particular records, how do you cite a source, or any other question you may have.
Please keep in mind that it is an hour-long workshop and others will have questions too. So, please be respectful of others in the workshop so that we can answer as many as possible.
C: Newspapers for Family History: Beyond the Obituary
Obituaries are just the start. Newspapers document lives, not just events, recording the marriage license that never became a wedding, the sheriff’s sale, the perfect-attendance list, the one-line social mention that unravels into a whole social network.
This session covers 56 kinds of newspaper finds beyond the obituary, 15 ways your ancestor’s name got misprinted, and a method for turning a single throwaway sentence into a scene from a real life.
Presenter: Heather Haunert, Associate Marketing Manager, Genealogist for Storied
Heather Haunert is on a mission to empower others to discover and preserve their family’s legacy through storytelling. With a degree in education, she spent more than two decades creating and delivering content and instruction to people of all ages. She understands the importance of connecting with one’s past, and through her work, she is committed to helping others embark on their genealogy journey and uncover their family stories.
D: Software Programs for Genealogy
Learn about the different software programs available to you and what they each can offer in your genealogy research.
Presenter: Chuck Weinstein