Past Society Events - 2026
To learn more about joining the Society and accessing our library of past event webinars and podcasts, visit our membership page.
January 10, 2026
11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET - Location: Zoom Webinar
Resources for Genealogical Research in Other Countries (CANCELED - WILL BE RESCHEDULED)
Katherine Wilson
Explore the rewarding but sometimes tricky world of researching family history outside the United States. Learn how to find free resources and use practical strategies for tracing immigrant ancestors, from sorting out name changes and spelling variations to understanding foreign records and dealing with shifting borders and place names.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Katherine R. Willson of Dexter, Michigan is an engaging & dynamic genealogy lecturer at local, regional, and national conferences; an educator teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced genealogy classes in Michigan since 2001; the author of The Genealogist’s Guide to Grand Rapids, Michigan (published in 2018 by The In-Depth Genealogist), and a professional researcher for private clients. Her research specialties include solving difficult genealogical problems in the Great Lakes region (including Michigan Territory’s pre-statehood settlers), 19th century social reform movements, and America’s westward expansion in the 18th and 19th centuries.
*Registration Required. Society members only. Not a member? Learn more about joining today!
February 14, 2026
11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET - Location: Zoom Webinar
Breaker Boys and Spinner Girls – Child Labor Laws and Their Records
Judy Russell
Modern labor laws protecting the health and safety of children are a relatively recent development. By exploring the evolution of these statutes and the documentation they generated, we can recover the lost stories of the youngest workers in our family trees—tracing their difficult journeys through mills, mines, and factories.
Don't miss Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist, as she explores this compelling history. Learn how to locate and integrate these unique records to add depth and context to your genealogical research.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree who writes and lectures on topics ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠ from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®.
*Registration Required. Society members only. Not a member? Learn more about joining today!
March 14, 2026
11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET - Location: Zoom Webinar
Ireland’s Hidden Boundaries: Using Administrative Divisions to Unlock Family History Sources
Jillian Van Turnhout
Ever wondered why finding Irish ancestors can feel like solving a puzzle? The secret lies in understanding Ireland's unique administrative divisions—especially townlands.
Together, we'll journey through Ireland's hierarchical landscape, from the sweeping counties established under English rule, through the ancient baronies with their medieval origins, to the Poor Law Unions that provided relief during Ireland's darkest hours. We'll demystify the often puzzling relationship between civil and ecclesiastical parishes, before highlighting the townland—Ireland's smallest and arguably most genealogically valuable land division.
You'll discover why knowing your ancestor's townland is like having a GPS for Irish genealogy, helping you pinpoint them in census records, church registers, and valuation books, and breaking through research brick walls you might otherwise never overcome.
Whether you're just starting your Irish research or looking to dig deeper, you'll gain practical tools and strategies to make your ancestor hunt more successful.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Jillian Van Turnhout is the founder of Genealogy.ie with over 18 years of experience in tracing Irish family histories. She is passionate about genealogy and understands the richness and fulfilment that goes with finding out about your ancestors and their lives. She is also a respected children’s and human rights expert and a former Senator in the upper house of the Irish Parliament. Jillian has also been a member of The Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society since 2018. Learn more about Genealogy.ie at https://genealogy.ie/
*Registration Required. Society members only. Not a member? Learn more about joining today!
April 11, 2026
11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET - Location: Zoom Webinar
Make Your Photos Come Alive with Artificial Intelligence Tools
Joe Mann
One way or another, artificial intelligence technology is finding its way into nearly everything we do or experience. In this presentation, you'll learn about tools and methods you can use to make your family photos "pop" to bring the past to life.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Joe Mann is a lifelong genealogist, marketer, and graphic designer with an interest in applying artificial intelligence (AI) thoughtfully to solve problems. Joe is also one of the founding members of the Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society and its website developer. He can be reached at his consultancy, MannPower Marketing & Design, www.mannpowerdesign.com.
*Registration Required. Society members only. Not a member? Learn more about joining today!
May 9, 2026
11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET - Location: Zoom Webinar
Genealogical Resources at the New Jersey State Library and Revolutionary War Information
Regina Fitzpatrick
Unlock the secrets of your ancestry and discover the hidden stories of the American Revolution in our upcoming webinar, "Genealogical Resources at the New Jersey State Library and Revolutionary War Information." This session from Regina Fitzpatrick offers a guided tour of the library’s premier genealogical collections and specialized Revolutionary War archives.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Regina Fitzpatrick is the Genealogy Librarian at the New Jersey State Library (NJSL), specializing in NJ genealogical research, including Revolutionary War records, land records, and map collections. She assists researchers, leads webinars on NJ genealogy, and manages a 18,000+ item collection of local history and family histories.
*Registration Required. Society members only. Not a member? Learn more about joining today!
June 13, 2026
11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET - Location: Zoom Webinar
Doing Time – Prison Records as Genealogical Resources
Judy Russell
Prisoners in jails were documented in many ways, and those records can help you break down family history brick walls. Join us as Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist, unlocks how you can learn more about your incarcerated relatives and where to find these records.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree who writes and lectures on topics ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠ from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®.
*Registration Required. Society members only. Not a member? Learn more about joining today!
September 12, 2026
11:00 am - 1:00 pm ET - Location: Zoom Webinar
5 Tips to Effectively Use FamilySearch
Michelle Tucker Chubenko
Join us as Michelle Tucker Chubenko shares how to effectively navigate FamilySearch, the world’s largest genealogical virtual resource. In this presentation, Michelle will share five tips for you to successfully use FamilySearch with all your research.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Michelle Tucker Chubenko is the Europe Research Team Manager and professional genealogist with Legacy Tree Genealogists. With over 30 years’ experience researching her paternal ancestral roots in colonial America and the 20th century flair of her maternal Eastern European ancestry (Ukrainian and Hungarian); she specializes in New Jersey and Eastern European research. She is a founding member with the “Nashi Predky/Our Ancestors” Family History Group at the Ukrainian History and Education Center. She has presented locally on Eastern European research and volunteers as co-coordinator for the Facebook group “Our Ancestors - Наші Предки / Ukrainian Genealogy.”
She was a researcher on TLC’s Who Do You Think You Are? (Season one) and appeared in the Brooke Shields episode, which aired in April 2010. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, local and ethnic genealogical societies, and is active in local history organizations. Michelle has presented genealogical lectures to audiences on a local, regional (NERGC 2017), national level (FGS 2008/Philadelphia and GRIP 2017), internationally (Ontario Ancestors 2019) and attended Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR), and Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and a ProGen17 graduate. Visit her website at: https://genealogy.chubenko.us/
*Registration Required. Society members only. Not a member? Learn more about joining today!