The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) was founded on February 27, 1869, at the home of Dr. David Parsons Holton. The organization's original focus was "to discover, procure, preserve and perpetuate whatever may relate to Genealogy and Biography, and more particularly to the genealogies and biographies of families, persons and citizens associated and identified with the State of New York."[1] New York’s largest genealogical organization, it’s publication The Record has been published since January 1870 and is the “second-longest running publication in the field of genealogy and biography.”[1]
Unlike similar societies, NYG&B allowed both men and women to become members. The first woman to be a member was the founder's wife, Frances K Forward Holton. A list of early women members can be found on the Society's website.
Services
NYG&B provides various services to members and non-members. Members are invited to visit the Society’s headquarters at 36 West 44th Street, New York City, New York, by appointment.
Please note that while some content and events are available to the general public, many services are only for members.
Records
The NYG&B's website includes an online catalog of records. Records can be searched and browsed using filters. Approximately 30 record categories exist, including Account Books, Census, Court records, Directories, Immigration, Mortuary Records, Naturalization, Newspapers, Town Records, and Vital Records. The NYG&B lists their most popular online records as:
- The entire run of The Record, available for researchers to search and browse.
- Religious records including baptisms, marriages, and others for over 120 congregations throughout the state.
- Cemetery abstracts, collected from NY cemeteries that no longer exist or have been moved.
- The New York Times Obituaries Index, the New York State Death Index, and dozens of other fascinating and useful collections.”[2]
One of their initiatives is Digitize New York. The NYG&B’s Digitize New York initiative seeks to empower and educate communities across New York State in the preservation of at-risk historical documents. NYG&B partners with repositories throughout New York to preserve records. Many historical societies, churches, and town hall offices as well as researchers hold at-risk documents that they are unable to digitize because of lack of staff or financial resources. Through this project, repositories can visit one of NYG&B’s digitization centers or request a digitization kit. Projects can be submitted from the NYG&B website.
Research guides
Research guides help familiarize researchers with New York records. Free resources include guides on research topics such as:
- How to find a New York birth, marriage or death certificate
- Using Maps for New York State Research
- A Selection of Major Cemeteries in New York State
- Essential Resources for African American Research on the NYG&B Website
- New York Roman Catholic Records Online
- Researching Irish Ancestors in New York”[2]
Publications
NYG&B publishes two periodicals. Both publications are a benefit of membership. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, also known as The Record, is the second oldest genealogical journal in the United States. Its goal is “the scholarly preservation of the history of families who have contributed to the rich diversity of what is now New York States.”[3] The New York Researcher is a quarterly magazine. "Covered subjects include informative articles on New York genealogy, news, book reviews, announcements, and NYG&B programs."[3]
Educational Programs
The NYG&B sponsors numerous events, including educational webinars on New York research subjects and an annual conference. Consult the Events tab at the top of their website for their most recent offerings.
Membership
Aside from online record databases and educational guides, the NYG&B offers educational programs and publications. Members have access to all databases and records, while non-members have limited access. Researchers can become a member and receive benefits beyond just access to the NYG& B records. Current membership benefits include:
- Access to exclusive digital record collections, including religious records, colonial records, cemetery records, and more
- Hundreds of New York State research help articles, authored by experts in the field
- Priority registration and discounted tickets for NYG&B research trips, workshops, and special events
- Subscriptions to The NYG&B Record and New York Researcher
- Exclusive discounts on select NYG&B publications and research services
- 10% off tuition for Boston University’s Genealogy Studies Program
- 25% discount on the purchase of JPASS from JSTOR”[4]