Dutchess County Genealogical Society

Topics of Meetings Held in 2004-2005

September 21, 2004








 
"Using DNA in Genealogical Research" - Anita Anderson Lustenberger, CG

DNA analysis can pick up where the paper trail ends. It is not a substitute for traditional research but is a very useful new tool that can supplement it. If the studies are constructed correctly, DNA analysis can test hypotheses, confirm lineages and variant surnames, strengthen weak paper trails, eliminate “wrong” lines, and suggest where the genealogist should focus future research.

Anita Anderson Lustenberger, CG, is a professional genealogist specializing in the Hudson Valley. She is also a certified genetic counselor. She has lectured at many national conferences, as well as at regional conferences and local societies, and has had articles published in national journals. She is a trustee of NYG&B, NEHGS and a former trustee of APG. One of her current projects is co-authoring a book on early (pre-1790) New York taxpayers.

November 16, 2004 "Orphan Trains" - Tom Riley

The orphan trains era 1854-1929 was the largest mass relocation of children in American history. Over 400,000 children were shipped out of New York City, Boston and Chicago on trains and sent across America and adopted by farm families and professionals in every state. 2 became Governors of states and 5 became senators. The orphan trains were the brainchild of Charles Loring Brace, Connecticut minister who was appalled at the conditions he saw in New York City. On any given day 10,000 orphans wandered the streets of the city.

Tom Riley is a writer/photographer who used to work for the Rockland County Times and other papers. He has written 6 books, mostly self-published, with a new one on Orphan Trains soon to be published by Heritage Books.

January 18, 2005 The meeting will be an informal, open forum where attendees can discuss their research problems and see if others have suggestions to help them. Attendees are also invited to share research breakthroughs and tell how they made them.
We also hope to have demonstrations for small groups of the computer programs available in the LDS Church library.
March 15, 2005

 
"Ten Things Every Family Historian Should Know " - Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer

Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer will discuss ten basic rules that all family historians, beginning or advanced, should keep in mind when researching their family tree. Attendees are welcome to contribute stories of how following these maxims has helped them in their research.

Ms. Crawford-Oppenheimer is the Vice-President for Programs of the Society, and the author of the book Long-Distance Genealogy: Researching Your Family History from Home. She is also the reference librarian at The Culinary Institute of America.

May 17, 2005

 
"The German Palatine Emigrations to America" - Dudley Schneider

The talk will include information on the pre-1710 settlement of East and West Camp; Palatines to Ireland and Newburgh, New York; and the 1710 immigrants to East and West Camp. The last section will include discussion of the emigration from the Palatinate to Holland, then to England, and then to New York City, and to the East and West Camp settlements, followed by the scattering of the Palatines.

IBM retiree Dudley Schneider is a long-time resident of the Town of Poughkeepsie who discovered his Palatine ancestors in 1995.