On September 18 and 19, I attended the 2026 New York State Family History Conference in person at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society headquarters in Manhattan.

I had already registered for the conference’s many on-demand sessions, so I certainly could have stayed home and watched the live program there too, as I have for many years. But I am very glad I did not.

As it turns out, attending a genealogy conference in person is about much more than watching presentations.

I Paid Attention

Let’s begin with an uncomfortable truth: when I watch a webinar at home, I multitask.

I check my email. I look something up. I start following a promising research trail. Before I know it, the speaker is discussing something important and I have no idea how we got there.

Sitting in the room at NYG&B, I paid attention. I listened closely, took notes, and remained engaged. That alone made attending in person worthwhile.

The conference followed a single stream, so I did not have to choose between competing sessions. That made life much easier. I could settle in and follow the program without worrying that I was missing something even better in the next room.

Do Not Judge a Session by Its Title

The presentation that surprised me most was D. Joshua Taylor’s Beyond the Empire State: Records of New Yorkers Found Elsewhere.

I had looked at the title and thought that the subject probably would not be particularly relevant to my research.

I was wrong.

The presentation helped me understand how records created outside New York might contain valuable information about people who once lived there. It gave me a different way to think about where my ancestors and relatives might have left records and where I should look next.

That was a good reminder not to decide too quickly that a presentation has nothing to offer me. Sometimes the session I least expect to need is the one that changes how I approach my research.

The People Matter

One of the greatest benefits of attending in person was simply being with other genealogists.

I met several people whom I enjoyed speaking with. We had lovely conversations, and then we went our separate ways.

Next time, I want to be better prepared for that. I would like to bring a few simple business cards with my name, email, and blog address. If I make a connection, I want to have an easy way to continue it.

I also spoke with an NYG&B employee who showed me the organization’s digitization station. That conversation may lead to our working together on a future digitization project (if I hear back from her, lol). I certainly would not have had that opportunity while watching from my desk at home.

Oh, Those Books!

Having the conference at NYG&B headquarters was wonderful.

The gathering was relatively small, and I would have enjoyed meeting a few more people. Still, there was something special about being in the organization’s own space, surrounded by its collections.

During the conference, several of us admired the books together. We all recognized that we were looking at potential genealogical gold mines.

I am now compiling a list of books and resources I would like to examine and have inquired about returning for a research visit. I just have to free up some time. That should be easy, right?

I could have stepped out during a less relevant session to spend more time looking at the books. I did not think to do that at the time. Next time, I will give myself permission to be flexible. If something unexpected attracts my attention, I do not have to remain glued to my chair simply because a presentation is underway.

Lunch Is Part of the Conference

Leaving the building for lunch also meant leaving the conversations.

In the future, I would bring lunch or arrange to have it delivered. Staying at the venue during the lunch hour would give me more time to speak with other attendees, compare research interests, and perhaps discover another useful connection.

Those informal conversations are not interruptions to the conference experience. They are part of it.

Prepare for the People, Not Just the Program

Before my next in-person conference, I want to identify which speakers will actually be there. I met Jane Wilcox for the first time, and could say nothing other than my name.

For each speaker, I could note something interesting, thoughtful, or relevant that I might ask about if an opportunity arises. I do not need to prepare an interrogation! One genuine question or point of connection would be enough to make starting a conversation easier.

I also discovered that if I make the effort to attend in person, I want the speakers to be there in person too. Recorded or remotely delivered presentations can be excellent, but I already have plenty of those among the conference’s on-demand offerings. Part of the value of traveling to a conference is the chance to experience the speakers and their ideas in the room.

The organizers did an excellent job of keeping the program on schedule. I simply would have preferred the in-person portion to feature in-person speakers throughout.

Next Time, Add a Research Day

My ideal plan for a future NYSFHC would be to arrive a day early and devote that day to research at NYG&B.

Yes, that would mean paying for an additional hotel night in Manhattan. It would not be inexpensive. However, it would allow me to explore the collection without trying to squeeze research into conference breaks. It would also ensure that I began the conference rested rather than arriving after early morning traveling.

Looked at that way, the extra day might be a net positive rather than merely an added expense.

My Notes for Next Time

Before my next in-person genealogy conference, I want to remember to:

• Bring lunch or arrange for delivery.
• Bring business cards with my email and blog.
• Identify the speakers who will attend in person.
• Prepare one possible question or conversation topic for each speaker.
• Exchange contact information with people I enjoy meeting.
• Leave room in the schedule for unexpected discoveries.
• Step out of a truly irrelevant session if something more valuable awaits.
• Avoid deciding that a session is irrelevant based only on its title.
• Consider adding a separate research day before the conference.
• Follow up promptly on promising conversations and possible projects.

The presentations gave me new information, but attending in person gave me something more. It gave me conversations, possibilities, shelves full of future discoveries, and the pleasure of standing among other genealogists who also recognized a room full of books as a room full of treasure.

That is an experience that no on-demand recording can quite reproduce.

Have you attended a genealogy conference in person? What do you do to make the most of the people, resources, and unexpected opportunities around you?

AI disclosure: I used artificial intelligence to help organize and polish my reflections for this post. The experiences, opinions, and lessons are my own.