BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. You might have more in common with Walter Law, the Vanderbilts, Shepards, Hardens, Rockefellers, Astors or Speyers than you might think.
The Briarcliff Public Library and the Briarcliff Manor/Scarborough Historical Society are set to host a Family Discovery Seminar from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the library, 1 Library Road. Historian Larry Fermi is scheduled to give a presentation to help village residents get on the path to tracking genealogy records far past Briarcliff Manors 110-year history.
We figured we ought to make it easier for people to get started and lay the ground work on their own histories so when they come in we can help fill the gaps and get them the rest of the way, said Historical Society co-president Tom Vincent. We get people coming in all the time who dont even know where to begin so we want to reach out and give everyone that opportunity before they even walk in our door. The Historical Society is also scheduled to host another history session in April that focuses on tracing home history.
There are a lot of homes that date back more than 100 years and theres a lot of interest from people in that, Vincent said. We wanted to do one on the family and the home but we figured it was way too much information to give in two hours so we wanted to break them up and give people a chance to really get into it.
Vincent said the seminar was originally scheduled for November 2011, before Hurricane Irene caused massive flooding and damage to the Historical Societys headquarters in the basement of the Briarcliff Public Library. The extra time has only made people more interested, Vincent said.
Its great that were getting so many people asking us about this, he said. Were probably going to have to do another one of these with how many people were getting.
Space for Sundays session is limited to the first 60 people. Reservations for the event can be made through the library at 941-7072. Mimi Boe, Historical Society's co-president, recommended residents register even if space is gone because overall interest will help decide whether a second session should be scheduled.
Right now were thinking we may have to turn people away, which is a good thing, Boe said with a laugh. Its nice to have a lot of interest in these and I think were going to have to do another one with the way this one is going.
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