Webinars
As a member of the Polish Genealogical Society of Connecticut and the Northeast, you will have the opportunity to attend our upcoming webinars and view previously recorded ones. Our webinars cover a wide variety of topics related to Polish genealogical research and Polish culture.
We also provide time at each webinar for an open Q&A forum where members can bring up questions related to their research. This is a great place to have other experts share their knowledge with you!
Below are some recent webinars we’ve hosted.
Finding Polish Graves Online
How to Obtain Vital Records from the Civil Registration Office - USC
Overview of The Arolsen Archives
Cadastral Maps and Their Ancillary Records
Writing Your Family History – Step by Step
Acclaimed author and genealogist Lisa Alzo covers how to bring your family tree to life by placing your own family stories in historical context, how to divide your writing tasks into smaller steps, and ways to sustain creative momentum throughout the process.
Getting Started With Genetic Genealogy
Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist, accomplished speaker and author, specializing in DNA evidence. He shares how to understand and interpret your DNA results and use them the improve your genealogy research.
My Polish Family Discoveries in the PA Coal Region
In making his family discoveries, Michael Miscoski had to use almost all the tools in the genealogist’s toolbox: Unscrambling Americanized surnames, wild card searches, using Soundex, luck, using foreign sites, calling on researchers, DNA, and more. Join us as Mike shares the story of his research journey and the winding road he took to break down walls to push his research further.
A Polish Country Christmas
Understanding and Using Geneteka
Europe’s WW II Displaced Persons
Tom Sadauskas, a noted speaker at at various genealogy conferences, has been actively conducting genealogy research since 2000, with a special focus on Eastern Europe.
Lists of Parishioners and Confession Lists in Galicia
Alan Jakman, a native of Poland, presented information on the lists of parishioners (Latin: Libri status animarum) as a source for genealogical research.
In the former Galicia, these books have been preserved in many places. In many cases, when vital statistic registers are lost, this is the only source for genealogy.
These books often included information about the dates of births, weddings and deaths of parishioners, but also, for example, notes about changing religion or emigration to the United States. It can be said that parishioners’ lists are a “shortcut” in ancestral research.
Flavors of Poland – Historic and Culinary Travels through Poland
Renata C. Vickrey, University Archivist at Central Connecticut State University, discusses traditional foods in Poland and their regional differences and similarities, and how geography and politics impacted culinary evolution from the Middle Ages to current times.
Renata is a member of the Advisory Board of the Stanislaus A. Blejwas Endowed Chair of Polish and Polish American Studies at CCSU, a member of the New England Archivists (NEA).
Her professional interest is the history of Poland and history of Polish immigration.
Q&A Webinar with PGSM
We have assembled a panel of highly respected genealogy experts to answer the questions you submitted for this webinar jointly sponsored by the PGSCTNE and the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan (PGSM).
The panel includes:
- Jonathan Shea (President of PGSCTNE and author of Going Home: A Guide to Polish-American Family History Research and co-author of a series of language guides with William F. Hoffman on translating documents of genealogical value)
- Valerie Koselka (PGSM President, PGSCTNE member and moderator for the Polish Culture, Food and Traditions Facebook page and the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan Facebook page)
- Michelle Tucker Chubenko (PGSCTNE member and professional genealogist with Legacy Tree Genealogists)
- Theresa Leszcz (PGSM Vice President and PGSM Research Projects Director)
- Daniel Bućko (Polish professional genealogist from Kraków)
Polish Genealogy Online Databases
Kinga Urbańska is a genealogist, historian, archivist and the founder and co-owner of Your Roots in Poland – the largest genealogical company in Poland.
She received a master’s degree in history, archival and historical sources at Pedagogical University of Kraków.
She assisted with uncovering Polish roots in the TV show, Finding Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr, where she had a chance to work on the family research for (among others) Dustin Hoffman, Juliana Margulies, Tea Leoni, Gloria Stainem and Bernie Sanders.
Genealogy is her job and passion.
Polish Herbs, Flowers and Folk Medicine
Join us as acclaimed Polish-American author Sophie Hodorowicz Knab takes us on a historical tour of herbs and flowers used in Poland throughout the centuries.
Learn about plants that were used in healing as well as in the daily life of your ancestors.
Genealogy is so much more than just collecting names and dates. Learning about how your ancestors lived is an important part of your family history!
Finding Clues to Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Origins in U.S. Records
Sara Allen is Genealogy Librarian and Assistant Manager of Local & Family History Services at the St. Joseph County Public Library in South Bend, Indiana. In 2013, she became Genealogy Librarian for The Genealogy Center.
MyHeritage Overview
Dedicated to Genealogy since 1986, he was the teacher and the study guide editor of the family history project “Searching for My Roots” in Venezuela for 15 years.
Daniel is involved in several crowdsource digitization and transcription projects and holds a board level position at the Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA).
Using FamilySearch for your Eastern European Genealogy
Researching overseas can be expensive and a trip to the “old country” might not be feasible for some. This does not mean it is impossible to research records in the “old country.”
Chris discussed the most useful features on FamilySearch for eastern European genealogy and demonstrate site navigation while providing tips for searching for records.
Chris Bukoski is currently the Program Chair of the East European Genealogical Society. She has written several articles for the EEG and given a number of presentations to the membership and other organizations.
This program was presented in partnership with PGSM (Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan).
Polish Citizenship – Are You Eligible?
For almost three years he has been dealing with the issue of confirming Polish citizenship by descent. Thanks to hundreds of analyzed civic matters and continuous work with public offices, he knows many nuances of civil law and what documents are needed to successfully carry out this procedure.
This program was presented in partnership with PGSM (Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan).
From Palm Sunday to the Resurrection in Polish Traditions
Sophie Hodorowicz Knab is a noted lecturer and author whose books include Polish Customs, Traditions and Folklore; Polish Country Cottage Cookbook; and her most recent release is titled Polish Herbs, Flowers and Folk Medicine.
This program was presented in partnership with PGSM (Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan).
Polish Cemeteries Online
Kinga Urbańska is a genealogist, historian, archivist and the founder and co-owner of Your Roots in Poland – the largest genealogical company in Poland.
She received a master’s degree in history, archival and historical sources at Pedagogical University of Kraków.
This program was presented in partnership with PGSM (Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan).
A Genealogist’s Holiday – The 1950 Census
For those of us devoted to genealogy, “Census Release Day” is an informal but long-anticipated holiday every ten years. As genealogists, we eagerly await each new release of the Census and the treasure trove of information it will bring.
How can we find our ancestors? What is the best way to navigate the information? Now we that the Census has been out for more than six months, what are we missing from it?
Presented by Allison DePrey Singleton, MA, MLS, the Genealogy Services Manager at the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Szukaj w Archiwach – Step By Step
During this webinar, Kinga will provide you with information regarding what she calls the most important platform for Polish genealogy research – Szukaj w Archiwach. She will cover the Polish archival system, the type of sources you can find there, and how to navigate the site.
Kinga Urbańska is a genealogist, historian, archivist, and the founder and co-owner of Your Roots in Poland – the largest genealogical company in Poland.
She received a master’s degree in history, archival and historical sources at the Pedagogical University of Kraków.
This program was presented in partnership with PGSM (Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan).
Spirit of Place – The Roadside Shrines of Poland
It is said that every country has its own genus loci or “spirit of place.” Poland’s distinct character can be found in the tens of thousands of roadside chapels, crosses and shrines that dot both its cities and countryside. A thousand years of Christianity, and the Polish Catholic tradition in particular, have left their mark on the country’s landscape. It is impossible not to notice the religious statues and little chapels that seem to be everywhere.
Polish-American author Sophie Hodorowicz Knab will explore the origins and purposes of Polish roadside shrines, examining the different types of shrines and the significance of the various religious figures represented in them to the people of Poland.
This program was presented in partnership with PGSM (Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan).
MyHeritage – Polish records, DNA and New Features
Daniel Horowitz is a Genealogy Expert at MyHeritage, providing key contributions liaising with genealogy societies, bloggers and media, as well as lecturing, and attending conferences around the world.
Dedicated to Genealogy since 1986, he was the teacher and the study guide editor of the family history project “Searching for My Roots” in Venezuela for 15 years.
Daniel is involved in several crowdsource digitization and transcription projects and holds a board level position at the Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA).
Footprints of Polonia
The innumerable contributions of Polish immigrants and their descendants on communities in North America can be seen on monuments, bridges, churches, cultural centers, and cemeteries across the continent. These “footprints” of Polonia (the Polish diaspora), commemorating towering events and figures from history that are a source of pride among Polish Americans, are cataloged for readers in this unique volume.
Ewa Barczyk is president of the Association of Polish American Librarians; 1st Vice President of Polanki, Polish Women’s Cultural Club of Milwaukee; 2nd Vice President of Polish American Historical Association; serves on the Cultural Committee of the Polish Center of Wisconsin.
Using Gazetteers and Maps for Polish Genealogy
History and geography are inextricably linked, so genealogical research requires an ability to accurately identify and locate places mentioned in historical documents. This lecture introduces a variety of different digitized gazetteers (geographical dictionaries) and databases that are useful for identifying places which are presently or formerly located in Poland, including two phonetic gazetteers which are helpful when place names are misspelled in historical records.
Julie Roberts Szczepankiewicz is a genealogist, writer, and speaker with nearly 30 years of experience in researching her family’s origins in Poland, Germany, the U.S. and Canada. She currently serves as President of the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State, and Vice-President for the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc, volunteers as administrator to several genealogy-related Facebook groups, and is a member of PGSCTNE.
Research at Polish Civil Registries
This month our webinar will feature Daniel Bućko, a professional genealogist joining us from Krakow. He has over 20 years of experience as a genealogical researcher and as a genealogy guide in Poland where he escorts people serving as their researcher, driver and interpreter (he speaks English, Russian, Belarussian in addition to his native Polish).
Daniel can be contacted at danielbucko@gmail.com
Join the FAN Club! Using Cluster Research to Break Down Your Brickwalls.
Can’t find the names of your great-grandparents? Not sure from where your ancestor immigrated? Don’t know of any relatives beyond your direct ancestors? Try using FAN Club (Family/Friends, Associates, and Neighbors) methodology to break down that tricky brick wall. Dr. Adina Newman will discuss how to conduct cluster research through various case studies and highlight the benefits of this practice to expand research techniques and better understand our ancestors.
Adina can be contacted at https://www.myfamilygenie.com/
Research Recharge: Turning Old Clues into New Leads
Have you hit an impasse in your genealogy research? Are you searching the same databases or record groups and getting the same old results? Learn fresh ways of looking at data you’ve already collected, strategies for smarter searching your favorite databases (and new ones) for clues, and tips for identifying what you may have missed the first time around.
Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A., is a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer, specializing in Slovak genealogy research and creative non-fiction writing.
Lisa can be contacted at https://lisaalzo.com/
Using Geneteka, Skanoteka, and Szukaj w Archiwach in 2025
Websites are always updating and adding new content. How to navigate them can at times be very challenging. Lucjan Cichocki, a genealogist based in Przemyśl, Poland, will describe Geneteka, Skanoteka and Szukaj w Archiwach, how to use them, how they are related, and how they are different.
Lucjan’s work involves searching for records at Diocesan and State Archives, searching for records at parishes, finding living relatives, driving people to the villages that their ancestors lived in, and translating vital records.
Lucjan can be contacted at lucekcichocki@gmail.com
Digital Resources for Research
Explore the rich array of online tools available to genealogists researching Polish ancestry in this session on Digital Resources for Research. We’ll highlight digital map collections that span historical and modern eras, offering visual context for tracing villages, dealing with shifting borders, and locating geographic landmarks across Poland.
Michelle Tucker Chubenko, AG®, AGL™, specializes in the Mid-Atlantic region and Eastern European research. She serves as a Board Member for the Foundation for East European Family History Studies (FEEFHS).
Michelle can be contacted at https://genealogy.chubenko.us/
The Power of Shared Matches
Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence. In 2007 he started The Genetic Genealogist (https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/ ), one of the earliest blogs on the topic.
Blaine is the author of The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, and co-author with Debbie Parker Wayne of the award-winning Genetic Genealogy in Practice, the world’s first genetic genealogy workbook. He also co-authored “Genetics for Genealogy” with Judy Russell in 2018’s Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards (ProGen PPS) (Elizabeth Shown Mills, Author and Editor).
Blaine can be contacted at https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/
Techniques for Polish Genealogy in the Prussian Partition
Genealogist and author Jason Kruski will give you the tools that you need in order to take your family tree backwards in time in Poland to learn more about the lives of your ancestors. He will discuss a wide variety of records that are available for research, including the internet databases and tools that are out there for use.
Genealogy in the Prussian partition of Poland can be challenging, but thanks to all of the recent advances in the field, it has never been easier.
Tracking Emigration from Partitioned Poland: Resources Online and Onsite
Alina has a BA and MA in Social Studies and Politics. She studied in TN (sponsored by the US government) and participated in UNESCO projects from 2009. She has extensive experience as a court expert, probate genealogist, and forensic genealogist. She established KGS (Khuda Genealogical Services) in 2016 and manages a team of 50 onsite genealogists across Europe.
She is an expert criminal genealogist for US courts and a course editor for the Institute of Genealogical Studies in Canada. Alina is obtaining an MBA from the National College of Ireland.
Return Migration: When Polish Immigrants Went Back
The “Return Migration” theme likely draws on historical patterns of Polish Americans moving back to Poland, especially after World War II. Research shows that post-war Polish immigrants often faced complex adjustment processes—learning new languages, adapting to U.S. norms, and redefining national identity—while some later returned to Poland due to political, economic, or personal reasons.
Alina has a BA and MA in Social Studies and Politics. She has extensive experience as a court expert, probate genealogist, and forensic genealogist. She established KGS (Khuda Genealogical Services) in 2016 and manages a team of 50 onsite genealogists across Europe.
