Regional & National Programs
Regional & National Conferences
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Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)—Virtual Spring Sessions 2026 ($)
Feb-May 2026: Virtual
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National Genealogical Society - Family History Conference ($)
May 27-30 2026: In-person (Fort Wayne, IN)
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NYG&B: New York State Family History Conference ($)
Sept 18-19, 2026: In-person (New York, NY)
Sept-Nov 2026: On-demand recorded sessions
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Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)—1-Week Course ($)
Jan 25-29, 2027: Virtual
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Mar 4-6, 2027
Where: Salt Lake City, UT
Virtual - Free
In person ($)
This annual genealogy conference is the largest genealogy conference in the world. It is a hybrid event, meaning you can participate online or in person. In-person RootsTech includes exclusive classes and personal interaction with exhibitors in the expo hall. Online attendees can enjoy hundreds of virtual sessions in many languages, and online participation is free! Keynote speakers will excite and motivate you in all things genealogy and family history. This conference covers an extensive variety of topics and is appropriate for all levels of genealogy researchers.
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New England Regional Genealogical Conference ($)
April 14-17, 2027: In person (Portland, ME)
Western New York Genealogy & History
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
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Monthly Special Collections Tour
[In-person event - Central Library, Buffalo, NY]
Take a guided tour of the Grosvenor Room, the Central Library’s Special Collections Department. Learn about the history of the library and get an inside look at our Local History, Genealogy, Map and Rare Book Collections, as well as the Mark Twain Room and other exhibits.
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Join library staff on the 4th Saturday of each month, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Meet in the Grosvenor Room, the Library’s Special Collections Department, located on the main floor of the Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203
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Roots & Relax
Dates: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 and Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
A casual hour for genealogy & connection. Bring a family history activity to work on and at the end, we will share our accomplishments. Read, write, research, organize, create a genealogy craft, cook a family recipe, ask our genealogist questions, or anything else!
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Family History Conference
[In-person event - Central Library, Buffalo, NY]
Dates: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm EST
Join the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library for a Family History Conference on Saturday, May 2, 2026 hosted by the Grosvenor Room. The event will take place in the Central Library’s Ring of Knowledge and the Grosvenor Room. This day-long gathering welcomes anyone interested in genealogy—from beginners to experienced researchers. Attendees can explore research resources, meet local history and genealogy organizations, and connect with fellow family historians from across the region. This year’s conference will feature several new interactive elements designed to encourage sharing, collaboration, and hands-on learning within the genealogy community:
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Poster Session: Family historians share research projects, family tree visualizations, and genealogy case studies.
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Technology Petting Zoo: Try hands-on demonstrations of genealogy tools such as portable scanners, family tree software, photo restoration tools, favorite research websites, and AI tools. Learn from others and share your own tips. Have a skill you'd like to share? We are looking for volunteers!
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Memory Lab Demonstrations: Learn how to digitize photos, documents, and audiovisual materials to help preserve and share your family history.
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The conference will also include Grosvenor Room tours, demonstrations, presentations by local experts, and networking opportunities throughout the day.
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Keynote Speaker: Mark Goldman will discuss the craft of writing local history nonfiction and biographies. Mark Goldman is a prominent historian and author specializing in Buffalo, New York's history, urban development, and cultural life. His notable books include:
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City on the Edge: Buffalo, NY 1900-Present
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High Hopes, The Rise and Decline of Buffalo
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City of My Heart: Buffalo 1967-2020
Registration is encouraged, but not required. Registrants will receive a small library themed gift!
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Breaking the Brick Wall
[In-person event - Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch, Buffalo, NY]
Dates: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm EST
Genealogy Program, part of the Community Curation Project sponsored by National Museum of African American History & Culture, and the Smithsonian.
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