There’s Gold in Federal Government Records

Our March meeting will be virtual and will be on Sunday afternoon March 10.

Not all the Federal records are online, some you need to request. Four records sets are discussed, how to request those records, and what you can find. Social Security, CCC, Railroad Retirement Board and National Personnel Records Center will be discussed.

Mark White is the president of MCGS and a member of our Education and Speakers Groups. He has been a member of MCGS since 1992. He has been researching his family history since 1991.

Registration closes on Thursday, March 7. The meeting link and handouts will be emailed on Saturday, March 9.

Jon Bozard from the New Jersey State Archives presents “Taking Advantage of the New Jersey State Archives”

 Jon will discuss the types of records available at the New Jersey State Archives that will help with genealogical research of New Jersey ancestors. These records include vital records, wills, state census, court records and military records among others. He will discuss the difference in records available in person and what is available to customers by mail reference.

Jon Bozard is a Senior Library Assistant with a degree in History from Rutgers University. He has been working at the New Jersey State Archives for 18 years. He has represented the Archives over the years at various events and given many presentations around the state.

To expand access to the State Archives collections Jon has entered thousands of death records for online databases. He is currently working on data entry for a future database of New Jersey Tax Ratables 1772-1822. A lifelong Civil War enthusiast, he has organized and processed the Civil War Regimental Records and  completely reorganized the Muster Rolls by Congressional District, 1863-1865.

This meeting will be in person at the Middletown Public Library, 55 New Monmouth Road, Middletown. No registration is necessary

AI & Genealogy

Steve’s talk dives into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in genealogy, focusing on the utility of chatbots like ChatGPT. The talk emphasizes both the growing potential and ethical considerations in using AI for genealogical research. It equips genealogists with practical strategies for interacting with chatbots, urging human guidance in leveraging AI's efficiency and capabilities. Steve concludes with a future-forward outlook, signaling that human-AI partnerships will increasingly empower genealogists to focus on high-value tasks.

AI has been used by major genealogy websites for years. We have been hearing AI in the news lately attend the meeting and find out how it can impact your research.

You must register to attend the meeting, limited to 150 people. Registration closes November 9. Meeting link and handout will be emailed on Saturday November 11.

Nancy is professional genealogist and has worked in libraries and archives for four decades. A graduate of The Catholic University in Washington D.C. she was able to intern twice at the Smithsonian during her college years. Nancy currently lives in California where she continues to work managing archive and library special collections. In 2010 Nancy started Sassy Jane Genealogy, where she has a blog, ebooks, monthly newsletter and presentations. She has assisted hundreds of people with their family research in the United States, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Germany, and Prussia (Poland). Nancy has presented at NGS, RootsTech and at conferences in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Registration closes September 7 . Limited to 150 people. Meeting link and handout will be emailed to registrants on Saturday September 9.

David Fryxell presents Researching Colonial Ancestors before the Revolutionary War

David Fryxell will discuss key record groups to research if your ancestors arrived in colonial America between the early 1600s and the American Revolution.   

David A. Fryxell founded Family Tree Magazine, the nation’s most popular genealogy publication, and continues to write for the magazine as a contributing editor and “Now What?” columnist. He is the author of eight books, including The Family Tree Guide to Scandinavian Genealogy, MicroHistory, and Good Old Days, My Ass!. He edited The Family Tree Guide Book and The Family Tree Guide Book to Europe and contributed to The Family Tree Resource Book for Genealogists. He has given genealogy presentations in Tucson, Rancho Vistoso, and Saddlebrooke, Ariz., and Albuquerque, NM, as well as online for Family Tree University. He lives in Aurora, Colo. See his website for a complete resume: www.davidfryxell.com

Registration will end on Thursday July 6th, the handout and meeting link will be emailed to registrants on July 8th.

MCGS June Fireside Roots Presents

Just Imported from Ireland: Irish Indentured Servitude in New Jersey

This exciting program explores the history of one of the state's little-known labor sources: imported men, women and children from Ireland who signed on to work as indentured servants. It's thought that over 3,000 immigrants worked in the state of New Jersey from the early years of European settlement until the 1840s. Although indentured servants were English, Scottish, German, and Dutch, the majority of those working as indentured servants were the Irish. The talk includes first-person accounts by 18th century indentured servants as well as a look at information gleaned from period newspaper advertisements.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. EDT on June 20th, please click on the link below to join the meeting

Improving Your Italian Research: Not the Same Old Thing!

Researching American and Italian families over 40 years with a focus on PA and NJ, Southern Italy and Sicily. Studied under the tutelage of Sr. Giulio Salemme here and in Italy; served as a volunteer at FHC in Cherry Hill, NJ. Along with genealogical research services, she has provided seminars and workshops for private groups, libraries, historical societies, Sons of Italy lodges, and community colleges throughout northern Maryland and New Jersey. She also offers mentoring services for individuals and volunteer services for the local Family History Center. Loretta translates Italian civil and church records.

Loretta’s website http://www.genealogyyourway.com/

Registration closes May 18th the meeting link and handout will be sent on Saturday May 20th.

Learn about the resources available at these four large research facilities and their websites: AmericanAncestors.org, FamilySearch.org, NARA.gov, NYPL.org. We will have 4 sessions each lasting about 60 minutes with a Q & A session. The cost for the workshop is $15.00 for members and $20.00 for non-members. Presenters will be Katherine Willson, Karen Fortin, NYPL’s Serena Dressler & NARA’s Meredith Doviak. Program starts at 9 am eastern

You must register to attend this online event. Handouts and meeting link will be emailed on Friday March 17. Registration closes March 15

Finding Your Roots in the Land Records of Monmouth County

Joe Grabas

MCGS is lucky to have Joe speak to us about land records. He has researched historical land records in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties and in other states. Joe is one of only a few dozen individuals in the State of New Jersey who hold the designation of Certified Title Professional and is one of the first five individuals in the United States to be designated as a National Title Professional by the American Land Title Association. He is the author of the award winning book Owning New Jersey: Historic Tales of War, Property Disputes and the Pursuit of Happiness. Joe is a Commissioner on the Monmouth County Historical Commission. Joe will explain lands records in simple terms, and how to find genealogical information in those records. Joe is passionate about land records and how they tie into our history, his talks are both humorous and informative.

The meeting registration is closed. Handout and meeting link will be emailed on March 11th.

Before Facebook and Twitter, the local paper was the place to get the scoop on your neighbors. Historical newspapers are indispensable to genealogy research and learning about your ancestors and their community. This program will highlight the importance of this resource as well as the range of details that can be discovered, including how and where to access digitized newspapers, plus search techniques and tips.  

Laura has been engaged in genealogical research for over 20 years. A New Jersey native with deep Pennsylvania and German roots, she is a genealogical researcher, presenter and volunteer. What began as an interest in her own family history grew into research projects for friends and a local historical society. She has a passion for understanding family histories and sharing with others.  This led to her creating LCD Genealogy Services.

In addition to being a member of the MCGS, Laura belongs to the Association of Professional Genealogists, and to genealogical societies in New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Please use the link below to access the meeting on Feb. 22 at 7:30 EST.

Putting Things in their Place: Paying It Forward in the Digital Age

Have you ever found an old photograph, scrapbook, or family keepsake from someone else’s family, and wondered how you might track down a descendant? Michael’s talk explores the many fascinating ways in which people are doing just that – helping to preserve our unique heritage and return things to the family.

Michael Cassara is a professional genealogist and lecturer with over 25 years of experience. He is based in New York City and specializes in Italian/Sicilian genealogy, 20th century US immigration and genealogical technology. He has frequently presented at national conferences.

Michael has served on the board of the Italian Genealogical Group for a number of years and currently serves as its President. In his “other” life, Michael is a leading casting director for theatre and film, having cast over 500 musicals, plays, and movies – in New York City and worldwide. He blogs about his research at DigiRoots.net and can be found online at @DigiRoots.

You must register to attend the meeting. Registration will close on January 5. Meeting link and handout will be emailed to registrants on Saturday January 7

“Revolutionary and Civil War Research: New and Overlooked Resources”

Explore the resources available, online and off, getting to know more about your Revolutionary and Civil War ancestors—and if they were from New Jersey, you may be in for some surprises. Michelle D. Novak will share her favorite collections and sites for researching records including Fold3/Ancestry and the National Archives, the New Jersey State Archives, the DAR Library in Washington DC, and the New York Public Library, among others; and share some examples from her personal research files.

Michelle is a brand-designer (mnd.nyc), historian, genealogist, and teacher. She holds a master’s degree in Archives and Preservation from Rutgers University, a BFA from RISD, a Certificate of Genealogical Research from Boston University’s CE program, and certificates from Gen-Fed and GRIP. Michelle is a Trustee for the Genealogical Society of Bergen County (GSBC), NJ, and a former Trustee of the Genealogical Society of New Jersey (GSNJ). She also served as Grant Administrator for the GSNJ New Jersey Early Land Records Project at the New Jersey State Archives; as editor of the GSBC’s national award-winning newsletter, “The Archivist;” and is involved with numerous transcription, indexing, publicity, and digitization projects.

You must register to attend, meeting registration will close on November 10, the meeting link and handout will be emailed on November 12.

October Fireside Roots Meeting

Lisa Alzo’s “No Easy Button: Using Immersion Genealogy to Understand Your Ancestors”

Family history is so much more than just names, dates, and places, or boxes, lines, and charts. For 21st century genealogists, it is easy to limit our research to the documents or other facts we find online, or to what others tell us to be true. Learn how to take your research a step further to understand your ancestors’ lives through “immersion genealogy”—the process of discovering where they lived, worked, and worshipped, and experiencing those customs and traditions they passed down through the generations. Key resources, methodology, and tips for reaching out to relatives and repositories, and how to make the most out of a trip to your ancestor’s hometown (whether in North America or across the pond) will be discussed.)

Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A., is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer, specializing in Eastern European research and writing your family history She is the author of eleven books and hundreds of magazine articles.

Lisa works as an online educator and writing coach through her website Research, Write, Connect, <https://www.researchwriteconnect.com>.and developed the Eastern European Research Certificate Program for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.  Visit <https://www.lisaalzo.com> for more information.

Meeting is October 19 at 7:30 pm eastern, click on the link below to join the meeting.

MCGS September 11 General Meeting with Karen Fortin

We’ve all heard the story of the Mayflower and the founding of Plymouth Colony in 1620 but who were these intrepid souls, what did they believe, why did they come to New England, and who left descendants? This presentation explores these topics and provides information on resources available for learning more about our Pilgrim ancestors.

Use this information to find out how many of us are related.

Karen worked for many years as a librarian before becoming interested in genealogy. Karen’s lectures help individual understand the historical context in which their ancestors lived.

Meeting registration will close on September 8. Meeting link and handout will be emailed to registrants on Saturday September 10

MCGS June Fireside Roots with Rick Geffken

Author Rick Geffken will present Hidden History of Monmouth County Families, Rick has authored and co-authored five books and written numerous articles for the local newspapers, historical societies. Rick is a trustee of the Shrewsbury Historical Society, and the Jersey Coast Heritage Museum at Sandlass House, member of Monmouth County Historical Association, and Monmouth County Genealogy Society

MCGS presents Melissa Ziobro’ s

The History of Fort Monmouth, New Jersey

Melissa Ziobro is the Specialist Professor of Public History at Monmouth University. Melissa is the adminstatror of the Monmouth Memories Oral History Program and the Department’s social media and newsletter. currently serves as the President of Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region and as the editor for New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, a joint venture of the NJ Historical Commission, Rutgers University Libraries, and Monmouth University. She is currently a trustee of the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, InfoAge Science and History Learning Center, and Ocean County Historical Society. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Preservation NJ, and works regularly with other public history organizations such as the Monmouth County Park System, Monmouth County Historical Association, Monmouth County Historical Commission, Monmouth County Archives, Asbury Park Historical Society, Asbury Park Museum, Middlesex County Office of Culture and Heritage, National Guard Militia Museum of NJ, Princeton Preservation Group, to name a few. She worked as a command historian at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, NJ from 2004-2011.

Registration for the meeting will close on Thursday, May 12th.

On Saturday May 14, the meeting link will be emailed to everyone who registered

MCGS April Fireside Roots presents Dr. Nathaniel Lane Taylor

MCGS is pleased to present Dr. Nathaniel Lane Taylor, Dr. Taylor holds Ph.D. in medieval European history from Harvard University. He has been researching his family for many years, and his writing and speaking interests include: medieval kinship consciousness; cultural and legal systems of kinship, inheritance and probate; the evolution of personal names; the history of genealogy as a discipline and literary form; and artistic and diagrammatic representation of families, including heraldry.

Dr. Taylor is a fellow with the American Genealogy Society, editor of the The American Genealogist and has a blog http://nltaylor.net/sketchbook/

March General Meeting with Nancy Loe

Nancy is professional genealogist and has worked in libraries and archives for four decades. A graduate of The Catholic University in Washington D.C. she was able to intern twice at the Smithsonian during her college years. Nancy currently lives in California where she continues to work managing archive and library special collections. In 2010 Nancy started Sassy Jane Genealogy, where she has a blog, ebooks, monthly newsletter and presentations. Nancy has presented at NGS, RootsTech and at conferences in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Registration closes March 10. Limited to 150 people. Meeting link and handout will be emailed to registrants on Saturday March 12.

From the earliest memorials used by Native Americans to the elaborate structures of the present day, Dr. Richard Veit uses grave markers to take an off-beat look at New Jersey and Monmouth County history that is both fascinating and unique.

Dr. Veit presents a culturally diverse account of historic burial places from High Point to Cape May and from the banks of the Delaware to the ocean-washed Shore, to explain what cemeteries tell us about people and the communities in which they lived. The evidence ranges from somber seventeenth-century decorations such as hourglasses and skulls that denoted the brevity of colonial life, to modern times where memorials, such as a life-size granite Mercedes Benz, reflect the materialism of the new millennium. Also considered are contemporary novelties such as pet cemeteries and what they reveal about today’s culture. To tell their story the authors visited more than 1,000 burial grounds and interviewed numerous monument dealers and cemetarians.

Richard Veit is Professor of Anthropology and Interim Dean of the School Of Humanities And Social Sciences at Monmouth University. He received his B.A. from Drew University in 1990, his M.A. in Historical Archaeology from the College of William and Mary in 1991 and his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. In 2007 he was the recipient of Monmouth University’s distinguished teacher award and in 2012 he received Monmouth University’s Donald Warnecke Award for outstanding university service. At Monmouth he teaches courses on archaeology, historical archaeology, New Jersey history, Native Americans, and historic preservation. He has authored or co-authored numerous articles and reviews and five books including Digging New Jersey’s Past: Historical Archaeology in the Garden State (Rutgers Press 2002), New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones History in the Landscape (co-authored by Mark Nonestied, Rutgers Press 2008), New Jersey: A History of the Garden State (co-authored with Maxine Lurie, Rutgers Press 2012), Historical Archaeology of the Delaware Valley (co-edited with David Orr, U. Tennessee Press 2014) and The Archaeology of American Cemeteries and Gravemarkers (co-authored with Sherene Baugher, U. Florida Press, 2014).

His first book, Digging New Jersey’s Past, received awards from the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, New Jersey Academic Studies Alliance, and the New Jersey Center for the Book at Rutgers University. Two of his books, Digging New Jersey’s Past and New Jersey: A History of the Garden State are listed on the New Jersey State library’s 101 Great New Jersey books list. He serves on the New Jersey Historical Commission and on the boards of the Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology, Crossroads of the American Revolution, and the Archaeological Society of New Jersey. He is the President of the Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference. His work research has been featured on NPR, in Archaeology Magazine and at TEDx Navesink in 2014.

Registration closes November 11. Limited to 150 people. Meeting link and handout will be emailed to registrants on Saturday November 13.