Date/Time
20-Oct-2026
6:45 PM - 9:00 PM Eastern
6:45 PM - 9:00 PM Eastern
Event Type(s)
General Meetings
Event Description
Newspapers offer a treasure trove of information that can unlock rich details about your ancestors’ lives and the communities they lived in. In this session, participants will explore the wide-ranging value of newspaper archives in genealogical research, including how to uncover obituaries, birth and marriage announcements, social events, court cases, business ads, and more.
Attendees will gain practical tips on effective search strategies, learn how to navigate both free and paid newspaper databases, and explore tools and techniques for organizing and preserving newspaper discoveries. The session will also include a live case study demonstrating how newspaper research helped uncover a lost family connection, including step-by-step methods and lessons learned. New in this workshop, we will introduce AI tools and techniques to enhance your research process. Learn how AI can assist with:
• Transcribing difficult-to-read historical newspaper scans,
• Summarizing lengthy articles, obituaries, etc.
Whether you're just beginning your genealogical journey or looking to enhance your research methods, this interactive program will equip you with tools and inspiration to take your family history research to the next level.
Attendees will gain practical tips on effective search strategies, learn how to navigate both free and paid newspaper databases, and explore tools and techniques for organizing and preserving newspaper discoveries. The session will also include a live case study demonstrating how newspaper research helped uncover a lost family connection, including step-by-step methods and lessons learned. New in this workshop, we will introduce AI tools and techniques to enhance your research process. Learn how AI can assist with:
• Transcribing difficult-to-read historical newspaper scans,
• Summarizing lengthy articles, obituaries, etc.
Whether you're just beginning your genealogical journey or looking to enhance your research methods, this interactive program will equip you with tools and inspiration to take your family history research to the next level.
Location
Setting: Hybrid
Nazareth University, Otto A. Shults Community Center
4245 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618
UNITED STATES
Click here for Google Maps
Nazareth University, Otto A. Shults Community Center
4245 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14618
UNITED STATES
Click here for Google Maps
Contact Person
Tawnya Post
tpost@nyrgs.org
tpost@nyrgs.org
Details
For over 25 years, Eric Vaughn has been a passionate genealogist dedicated to uncovering, preserving, and sharing family histories.His journey began as a personal quest to understand his own roots from his great-grandparents’ settlement in Fulton, New York, to his great-grandmother’s Scottish heritage. It quickly grew into a lifelong commitment to helping others connect with their past.
As a frequent speaker and educator, Eric co-founded RGS’s introductory genealogy courses and regularly presents on topics including newspaper research, photo analysis, Find-A-Grave, and the use of technology in genealogy. He is especially passionate about using photobooks as a creative way to document and share family history, helping connect generations through stories and images that preserve a family’s legacy.
Eric's genealogical training includes coursework at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) and completion of the Research Like a Pro e-course. He has presented for numerous organizations, including the Genesee Area Genealogists, Fairport Public Library, and the Genealogical Forum of Oregon. Eric has also traveled and visited the National Archives in DC, the Salt Lake City FamilySearch Center, The Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library, and many regional and local historical archives and libraries.
Professionally, Eric serves as a career coach at the University of Rochester, where his expertise in communication strategy and digital engagement directly informs his work in genealogy education and society leadership. He is also a regular contributor to RGS’s quarterly newsletter, Hear Ye Hear Ye, and recently published his first article in New York Researcher, highlighting RGS’s efforts to preserve and share local family histories.
As a frequent speaker and educator, Eric co-founded RGS’s introductory genealogy courses and regularly presents on topics including newspaper research, photo analysis, Find-A-Grave, and the use of technology in genealogy. He is especially passionate about using photobooks as a creative way to document and share family history, helping connect generations through stories and images that preserve a family’s legacy.
Eric's genealogical training includes coursework at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) and completion of the Research Like a Pro e-course. He has presented for numerous organizations, including the Genesee Area Genealogists, Fairport Public Library, and the Genealogical Forum of Oregon. Eric has also traveled and visited the National Archives in DC, the Salt Lake City FamilySearch Center, The Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library, and many regional and local historical archives and libraries.
Professionally, Eric serves as a career coach at the University of Rochester, where his expertise in communication strategy and digital engagement directly informs his work in genealogy education and society leadership. He is also a regular contributor to RGS’s quarterly newsletter, Hear Ye Hear Ye, and recently published his first article in New York Researcher, highlighting RGS’s efforts to preserve and share local family histories.
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