The Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club Program Schedule for 2001 ~ 2002
The Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club holds regular meetings beginning at 10:00 am the second Saturday of each month at historic Lambert Castle, Valley, Road, Paterson, NJ 07503 (973) 247-0085 or (973) 247-0087. All are welcome to attend.
For directions to Lambert Castle, see “PCHS Genealogy Club Information - Castle Directions” on our Main Page.
Saturday, September 8th - "Avoiding Tangles In The World Wide Web"
Following a brief business meeting and light refreshments, Mr. John Konvalinka will present an informative lecture titled "Avoiding Tangles in The World Wide Web or Successful Ways of Using Computers in Genealogy Research" at 11:00 am.
The talk will demonstrate how computers and The Internet can be used successfully in conjunction with traditional genealogy research methods. We will visit several important Web Sites and use case studies to illustrate approaches and techniques which have proven successful.
Mr. Konvalinka ( [email protected] ) has been actively involved in genealogy for the past 20 years. He is particularly interested in the effective use of computers and The Internet in supporting (not replacing) traditional genealogical research. He has worked with The Internet since the 1980’s and with computers since 1955, first as a US Navy pilot and then in two successful computer related careers in the industry--as a managing partner of Arthur Andersen & Co./Andersen Consulting, and as Chief Information officer of Comcast Corporation.
In his genealogical researches, John has worked extensively in The British Library, The Library of Congress, The New York Public Library, and other major genealogical libraries in the US, UK and other countries, as well as in the Public Record Office and Society of Genealogists (London), The (US) National Archives, The New York City and New Jersey State Archives, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, many smaller libraries, record offices, and private collections.
He holds active memberships in the National Genealogical Society, The Federation of Genealogical Societies, The Association of Professional Genealogists, The Society of Genealogists (UK), The New York G&B, The Genealogical Societies of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, The New England Historic Genealogical Society, The Genealogy Speakers Guild, The Sons of the American Revolution, The Association of One Name Studies, and several other state and local genealogical societies. In addition to other speaking engagements, he made a presentation on "Finding Living Relatives" at GENTECH 2001, a national organization promoting the use of computers and technology in genealogical research.
Mr. Konvalinka’s lecture is free, and all are welcome to attend.
Saturday, October 13, 2001 – “Norwegian Genealogy”
Lecturer Shirley Pedersen Keller, a folk singer, local radio and cable television host, and avid genealogist, will combine her singing, performing, and elevation documentary know-how in her program, “Norwegian Genealogy.” Her presentation will include Norwegian folk songs, an informative archival video documentary explaining the peculiarities of tracing family names in Norway, and interesting examples of her own search for family records.
Keller, celebrating her 40th year as a professional folksinger, has produced many television documentaries for cable television, recorded her search for genealogical information on videotape, showing how she used Norwegian Archives and interviewing archive personnel. Viewers of any ethnic origin will find the presentation of interest.
After 12 years, Keller’s “The Folk People,” a one-hour, weekly radio show heard over Fairleigh Dickinsen University radio station, became a TV documentary series shown on cable in New Jersey and New York until June of 2000.
In 1991, Shirley joined The Sons of Norway in Pearl River, New York to further explore her Norwegian roots by learning the customs, history, and songs that were not actively passed onto her by her Norwegian parents.
After visits to Norway searching for her ancestry, she produced her television documentary series “Viking Heritage,” consisting of visits to historic sites, exploring folk dancing, music of the churches, and places one could trace genealogy (the Norwegian Archives of Stravanger and Oslo, Norway).
The seeds of the family tree were sown, and she started hoeing and cultivating her “garden.”
In 1997, Ms. Keller was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the New Jersey Folk Festival (sponsored by Douglass College of Rutgers University), for “compiling an archive of valuable interviews with knowledgeable persons which will be a resource for future scholars investigating the folk festivals, folk clubs, and folk concerts of our era.”
A member of the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, The Pascack Historical Society, and Project Impact (an arts in education resource), Keller has documented historic events in New Jersey, New York State, and New York City.
She is a recording artist and has performed in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Belgium, England, Haiti, and Puerto Rico.
Shirley appears in performances at the Hans Christian Andersen Statue Storytelling programs in the summer and has done so for the past 29 years in New York’s Central Park. The upcoming pchsgc program on Norwegian archival information will include songs, and informative archival video documentary explaining the peculiarities of tracing family names in Norway (and U.S.), and where to find this information.
Sunday, October 14, 2001: "Unlacing the Victorian Woman."
PCHS at Lambert Castle, 2:00 p.m. When a Victorian woman said she was going to dress for dinner, it may well have been her fourth change of clothes that day! And did you ever wonder what they wore under those fancy, cumbersome dresses? You can find out by attending this unusual program that has been described as a one-woman fashion show, a social history lesson, a conceptual performance/lecture, and a Victorian striptease! Throughout the program, as Ms. Barbara Meyer Darlin changes – on stage – into outfits worn by a turn-of-the-century lady, she will explain women’s roles in Victorian society, daily routines, social customs, and etiquette. Limited seating. Admission: $10.00 (10% discount for PCHS members) Call 973-247-0085 for additional information. (Tickets also sold at the door.)
Saturday, November 10, 2001 – “The 1930 Census”
The club will welcome guest speaker John Celardo, Assistant Director of the National Archives Northeast Regional Branch and a Senior Archivist. His topic will be “The 1930 Census” which will be released to the public for the first time in April, 2002.
Celardo, who is also a member of the New Jersey Ellis Island Commission and the New York Archivist Roundtable, has published many papers relevant to genealogical and historical research, will provide an overview of census information available at the Archives. He will review questions covered on the 1930 census and explain how to use Enumeration Districts, directories, available indexes, and the Soundex system to track information about ancestors in any census.
Saturday, December 8, 2001 – Holiday Brunch and Silent Auction
Plans are being formulated for the annual Holiday Brunch and Silent Auction, with gifts donated by the members. Additional details will be provided following a meeting of the Program Committee.
Saturday, January 12, 2002 – Program to be announced
Saturday, February 12, 2002 – Program to be announced
Saturday, March 11, 2002 – Program to be announced
Saturday, April 8, 2002 – Program to be announced
Saturday, May 13, 2002 – Program to be announced Copyright ©2001 by The Passaic County Historical Society Genealogy Club. All rights reserved. This site may be freely linked to, and information found on these pages may be used for personal use and by libraries and genealogical societies. Commercial use of this information is strictly prohibited without prior permission. If any pages are copied, this copyright notice must appear with the information.