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If your genealogical searches take you to even the smallest communities in the state of New York, rejoice. You’ll have a knowledgeable friend to help you.
Thanks to a far-sighted government policy, every community in that state has an appointed historian. This unique system is overseen by the Office of the State Historian and includes 1,640 historians, generally based in their towns’ libraries.
Important caveat: these historians do not do genealogy, but they can help with information valuable to genealogists.
Recently I spoke with Julie Breen Madlin, the city of Ogdensburg historian. She works out of the public library in Ogdensburg, county seat of St. Lawrence County in northwest New York, along the St. Lawrence River. She is one of 38 official historians serving the various towns throughout that county.
“The Ogdensburg Public Library is a great repository of family histories, the federal census and church records,” she said. “I can search the archives for family names. I don’t do extensive research for people, but I can point them in the right direction.”
Her work, she said, is advocating and promoting the history of her community in several ways: researching and writing, aiding history study in schools, consulting for community groups, advocating historic preservation, identifying historic structures and supporting tourist promotion.
But she’s also right at the center of an excellent body of local information and can advise a genealogist on accessing it.
A town historian’s services are free.
A good way to find the historians for the towns in a New York county is to type in the county name and add “historian.”
Genealogy Society News: Want to take a DNA test and find out where your ancestors really came from? Stop by the DNA Interest Group at 6 p.m. on March 1 at the headquarters of the Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society. Their building is on the grounds of the Hanover Green Cemetery, Main Road, Hanover Township. Members will explain all about the testing and help you get set up to take it.
Basically, the test involves analysis of a saliva sample to determine what nationalities and ethnicities have made up your personal DNA. Results can confirm family stories or surprise you, or perhaps both. The event is held once a month.
The group’s research library is open Thursdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on the second Saturday of the month, noon to 4 p.m. You’ll find out what the society has to offer and meet folks who can offer all kinds of knowledgeable advice to keep your genealogy moving.
Facebook: A pair of Facebook pages could be of interest to anyone researching ancestors in this area. They are “History of Wyoming Valley’s West Side” and “You Know You’re from Wyoming Valley.” Members (particularly the Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society) post some fascinating photos of old local sites and buildings, often with very good background about dates and ownership. Even if you don’t get your genealogical questions answered, you’ll probably have a good time rummaging around in the community’s past and seeing some sights from your ancestors’ lives.
If you check around, you’ll find additional Facebook sites that might be of interest, such as the one dedicated to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, one of the most important lines ever to serve Wyoming Valley and once a significant employer of local people.
Don’t stop there. Look for Facebook sites serving even the most distant communities where your ancestors lived. At the very least you’ll learn about organizations doing research there.