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Upcoming Events

September 22, 2018	Kate Feighery Records of the Archives of the New York Archdiocese Are you looking for a baptism or marriage record? Do you need to research an ancestor who was a priest? Want to consult the papers of Archbishop Hughes, aka Dagger John? Kate Feighery, director of archives for the Archdiocese of New York, will kick off our fall season by discussing the holdings of the archives, including the sacramental records available online. Feighery will also talk about be the archives’ library and online and physical collections. A certified archivist, Feighery holds an M.A. in Irish and Irish American Studies. She previously worked with the Archives of Irish America at New York University. Note: This meeting is on the fourth Saturday of the month.
October 27, 2018	Kathleen McGee Ireland’s Encumbered Estate Records Our Education Director, Kathleen McGee, will discuss the effect of the Famine on Ireland’s landed estates. She will also talk about the records that were kept as a result of the proceedings of the Encumbered Estates Courts established in 1849. Catalogs created for the sale of these estates describe the lots and terms of tenancy of the lot owners, and include maps of the estates. The brochures also include a list of the tenants with their agreements of tenancy, some having a lease of lives, which helps genealogists make a connection to family who lived before civil registration began. McGee is a librarian at the Family History Center in Plainview and presents the Forum’s monthly Genealogy Tips and Tricks sessions. 10:00 AM Marie Scalisi will discuss Genealogy 101, our online guide to researching your Irish ancestors. 10:45 AM Refreshment Break 10:45 AM Ask the Experts 11:15 AM Featured Speaker Note: This meeting is on the fourth Saturday of the month.
November 17, 2018	Tom Riley The Orphan Train Tom Riley was researching a book about the orphanage he grew up in when he happened upon 26 boxes of Americana hidden in a hayloft. Material within the boxes was dated from 1832 to 1929 and told the story of the 273,000 children who were transported out of New York City by rail across the U.S. over a period of 75 years. It was the largest mass relocation of children in American history. About one in four of them were Irish. Two of the Orphan Train riders became governors. Tom Riley has presented his lecture/video in over 200 venues.
December 15, 2018	Annual Christmas luncheon, noon to 4 p.m. to be held at the Irish American Center in Mineola.
January 19, 2019	Marie Scalisi FamilySearch Features, Foibles, Tips, and Tricks Marie Lollo Scalisi, a professional genealogist and the Forum’s Recording Secretary, will show you how to maximize your use of the free and essential genealogical website FamilySearch. Scalisi, a researcher, consultant, speaker, and writer with more than thirty years’ experience, has written for NEHGS Register, the American Genealogist, and other journals. She is a graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Research and a former contributing editor for the NYG&B Record. Marie belongs to the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and numerous other societies. As a volunteer librarian at the Plainview Family History Center, Marie has helped hundreds of patrons find their ancestors.
February 16, 2019	Annual Show-and-Tell Is the family bible in your possession? Did you inherit a family heirloom—a christening gown, a wedding ring, a letter, a book, a photo? Do you have a heartwarming tale about one of your ancestors? A fascinating research story? If you’ve been looking for the opportunity to tell your fellow Forum members about it, then don’t miss our annual show-and-tell. You can speak for five seconds or five minutes; nothing formal is expected. And if you are stage shy, let us know. We can arrange to have someone present an object, or speak, on your behalf. To sign up, please email Patricia Phelan at programs@ifhf.org.
March 16, 2019	tba
April 20, 2019	Joan Koster-Morales, Behind the Institutional Walls of 19th-Century New York City What’s to Be Found?  Koster-Morales will discuss how to access institutional records, when available, online and in archives. She will also talk about the impact of the Health, Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on records access and current New York State Freedom of Information law.
May 18, 2019	Maureen Taylor, Identifying Old Photographs