Ridgewood Public Library

Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County A Shipwrecked Tale: The Identification of Captain Henry Goodsell After 180 Years Off the New Jersey Coast Presentation by Julian Rebelo, Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, Ramapo College Monday, 20 April 2026 @ 7pm In-Person at the Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium Free and Open to the Public
<h4>Join us as we welcome Julian Rebelo who will share how his team at Ramapo College utilized investigative genetic genealogy—an emerging field which has revolutionized the ability to identify unknown individuals—to give a name to the 19th-century human remains found along the New Jersey shoreline more than 30 years ago.</h4>
<h4>Julian Rebelo is Ramapo College’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center’s current Staff Investigative Genetic Genealogist, having provided leads in numerous cold cases. A practicing genealogist since a teenager, his professional background includes a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from Monmouth University, as well as a graduate of Boston University’s Genealogical Certificate Program, and Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Certificate Program.</h4>
<h4>“… A skull washed ashore in Longport in 1995, and more bones were found in Margate in 1999, both in Atlantic County. In 2013, additional remains were found in Ocean City, Cape May County. Scattered Man John Doe went without a name for 30 years since traditional methods of investigation could not deliver an identification.</h4>
<h4>“In the fall of 2023, the New Jersey State Police partnered with the Ramapo College IGG Center to see if they would be able to use investigative genetic genealogy to solve the mystery of the scattered bones along the New Jersey beaches. That November, a sample was sent to Intermountain Forensics who uploaded the sample to GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA in February of 2024.</h4>
<h4>“That is when Ramapo College undergraduate students conducting field studies and IGG Center certificate program students began their research. They found ancestry dating back to the 1600s, with genetic relatives hailing from Litchfield and Fairfield Counties in Connecticut. …”</h4>
Bone Fragments Found on New Jersey Beaches Linked to 19th Century Shipwreck, Ramapo College <a href="https://www.ramapo.edu/news/press-releases/bone-fragments-found-on-new-jersey-beaches-linked-to-19th-century-shipwreck/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Read More &gt;</a>

Local Event: A Shipwrecked Tale: The Identification a Captain after 180 Years Off the New Jersey Coast

Bergen County

Ridgewood-Glen Rock

New Jersey

A Shipwrecked Tale: The Identification a...

Ridgewood Public Library and the Genealogical Society of Bergen County A Shipwrecked Tale: The Identification of Captain Henry...

A Shipwrecked Tale: The Identification a Captain after 180 Years Off the New Jersey Coast

GSBC General Meeting Part Two: The Slow Abolition of Slavery in New Jersey Presentation by Kathleen Walter, Educator and Glen Rock Borough Historian Monday, 27 April 2026 @ 7pm In-Person at Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium Free and Open to the Public
Description The Slow Abolition of Slavery in New Jersey examines New Jersey in the post-post-Revolutionary War era, a period marked by reconstruction and growing sectional divisions within the United States. It addresses the state’s gradual emancipation laws, the Van Winkle Slave Ring, and the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln. In addition, it analyzes New Jersey’s distinctive position within the broader context of national political developments during this transformative period.—— Kathleen Walter is a veteran high school history teacher who has been bringing American history to life for Glen Rock students for more than 25 years. Kathleen is a published author, known for her unique talent of showing how small, local New Jersey histories connect to the grand American narrative. Her commitment to her community extends beyond her writing: she serves as a trustee at the Glen Rock Public Library, the Borough Historian of Glen Rock, and is the President of the Glen Rock Historical &amp; Preservation Society, where she manages the Museum at the Station. Born in Paterson, grew up in Fair Lawn, and raised three daughters in Glen Rock, Kathleen’s profound local pride informs every aspect of her historical work.

See Kathleen’s upcoming Glen Rock events at <a href="https://www.glenrockhistory.org/about-3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.GlenRockHistory.org &gt; Road2Liberty</a>

Local Event: The Slow Abolition of Slavery in New Jersey

The Slow Abolition of Slavery in New Jersey

GSBC General Meeting Part Two: The Slow Abolition of Slavery in New Jersey Presentation by Kathleen Walter, Educator and Glen...

<h3>GSBC 2026 SEMINAR A Deep-Dive into New Jersey Research Melissa A. Johnson Saturday, 2 May 2026, 9:15am–3:30pm In-Person @ The Ridgewood Public Library Tickets $40–$50; Add-on Catered Lunch Option Available for $8</h3>
<a href="https://njgsbc.square.site/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Register at njgsbc.square.site &gt;</a>
<h4>Please join us for our 2026 Seminar, featuring renowned genealogical speaker Melissa A. Johnson. It will be a full day of learning about New Jersey research including four lectures, door prizes, conviviality, one-on-one sharing of genealogical hints and tips, morning refreshments, and extended Q&amp;A time with our speaker.</h4>
Catered lunch available as an add-on option for $8—or bring your own! Make selection when registering.
<hr>
<h3>SEMINAR PRESENTER</h3>
Melissa A. Johnson is a genealogist, writer, and editor. Her work currently focuses on personal projects involving families from New Jersey, England, American Samoa, and Lackawanna County, PA. Melissa's research and writing has been published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly,&nbsp;New York Genealogical &amp; Biographical Record,&nbsp;NGS Magazine,&nbsp;Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly,&nbsp;Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, and numerous other publications. Melissa is currently the Program Director for Boston University’s genealogy studies programs, and has taught at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. She has previously held several leadership positions locally in New Jersey and nationally on genealogy boards and organizations, and has served as an editor and columnist for Association of Professional Genealogist, National Genealogical Society, and local publications.
<hr>
<h3>SEMINAR SCHEDULE</h3>
9:15 am—Welcome and Refreshments (Included with your ticket!) Coffee/tea and assortment of breakfast snacks.
<h4>SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS</h4>
SESSION 1 Proprietary and Colonial New Jersey Research
SESSION 2 Land, Tax &amp; Estate Records in the Garden State
SESSION 3 New Jersey Vital Records, Adoption &amp; Divorce
SESSION 4 Case Studies in New Jersey Genealogy
<h4>REGISTRATION</h4>
All registrations include morning refreshments (coffee/tea, snacks), lunch, and assorted beverages. The auditorium at the Ridgewood Public Library is handicapped-accessible. Seminar seats are limited, so register early!
GSBC Members = $40 per person Non-Members = $50 per person Optional Add-On for Catered Lunch = $8 per person
<h3><a href="https://njgsbc.square.site/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Register at njgsbc.square.site &gt;</a></h3>
Note: – Complete a separate form for each registrant. – GSBC Family Members (two individuals residing at the same address) will receive the Membership rate for each Family Member, up to two registrations, at the GSBC Member rate.
Questions?&nbsp;<a href="https://mailto:contact@njgsbc.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">contact@njgsbc.org</a>

Local Event: GSBC 2026 Seminar: A Deep-Dive into New Jersey Research

GSBC 2026 Seminar: A Deep-Dive into New Jersey...

GSBC 2026 SEMINAR A Deep-Dive into New Jersey Research Melissa A. Johnson Saturday, 2 May 2026, 9:15am–3:30pm In-Person @ The...

GSBC 2026 Seminar: A Deep-Dive into New Jersey Research

GSBC Extra! The Archives Project, Garretson Forge and Farm Presentation by Gwynne Keresty, April Barth, and Noel Schulz, Garretson Forge and Farm Archives Committee Monday, 11 May 2026 @ 7:00 pm In-Person at the Ridgewood Public Library Free and open to the public
<h3>Noel Schulz and members of the archives committee at Garretson Forge and Farm will present The Archives Project, a presentation and discussion about our work to review, organize, and catalog the mountain of records from the Garretson/Van Wagenen family and property.</h3>
<h3>The first half of the presentation will describe the process of this work. The second half will show some of the documents found on the property, as well as documents and newspaper articles found elsewhere about the Garretsons.</h3>
Join us for this wonderful presentation that opens a new collection for researchers.
About the Speakers Gwynne Keresty, April Barth, and Noel Schulz did not have prior experience processing archive materials before taking on this project, only an interest in this history. They sought expert advice on how to organize and protect these documents and tackled the project with the help of other volunteers.
About Garretson Forge &amp; Farm Garretson Forge and Farm, listed on the National and New Jersey State Historic Registry, is one of the oldest historic sites in Bergen County, New Jersey. Settled in 1719, this Dutch Colonial homestead was home to six generations of the Garretson family. Their homestead remains a rare surviving example of a simple farming life that was prevalent in the 1700s and 1800s. Refer to our website, <a href="https://www.garretsonfarm.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">www.garretsonfarm.org</a>, for information about our events and tours.

Local Event: The Archives Project, Garretson Forge and Farm

The Archives Project, Garretson Forge and Farm

GSBC Extra! The Archives Project, Garretson Forge and Farm Presentation by Gwynne Keresty, April Barth, and Noel Schulz,...

GSBC General Meeting @ Ridgewood Public Library Women and Naturalization in the United States Presentation by Joy Kestenbaum, MA, MLS Monday, 22 June 2026 @ 7pm Eastern In-Person at the Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium Free and open to the public; Presentation replay available to GSBC Members
This presentation will provide an overview of the history of citizenship&nbsp;acquisition for women in the United States and the records that were generated from the Federal period to post–World War II. It will&nbsp;review key federal and state laws which&nbsp;shaped the naturalization of women and focus on examples of women—married, widowed, and single—who sought, obtained,&nbsp;or lost citizenship. Significant laws pertaining to naturalization for both men and women will be addressed, with a focus on laws specifically affecting women,&nbsp;including the&nbsp;Cable Act&nbsp;of 1922 (also known as the&nbsp;Married Women's Independent Nationality Act). Beginning in the mid–19th century, eligible immigrant women automatically derived citizenship through their American spouses. The presentation will also examine cases of women, both naturalized and native-born, who lost their citizenship after the implementation of the 1907&nbsp;Expatriation Act&nbsp;due to marriage to non-citizens—and how some were able to regain it in subsequent decades.
Speaker Joy Kestenbaum, MA, MLS, is a professional genealogist and historical&nbsp;research consultant. She has been the Vice President of Programming of the Jewish&nbsp;Genealogical Society, Inc. (New York) since 2015 and is a consulting genealogist at the Peter&nbsp;and Mary Kalikow Jewish Genealogy Research Center at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in&nbsp;New York City. She has lectured on family and local history, Jewish artists and architects, and&nbsp;historical buildings and landscapes at international conferences in the United States, England, and&nbsp;Germany, as well as for organizations in the Northeast. She previously served on the library and teaching faculty at Queens College (CUNY), Pratt Institute, and Purchase College (SUNY), and was also Director of the Gimbel Art and Design Library at The New School.

Local Event: Women and Naturalization in the United States

Women and Naturalization in the United States

GSBC General Meeting @ Ridgewood Public Library Women and Naturalization in the United States Presentation by Joy Kestenbaum,...

GSBC

Caren Lissner

New York City Metropolitan Area

Paramus

Fair Lawn-Saddle Brook

Westwood-Hillsdale

Wyckoff

River Dell

New Milford

Ramsey

Passaic County

 Jack Slocum

Wayne

Oakland

Rockland County

Pearl River

New York

Bergen

Hackensack

Experience Howdy Stranger’s hilarious sketch comedy show, Scripted, on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th, 8:00 p.m....

Howdy Stranger Scripted | Sketch Comedy Show

Join us for a free and informative day dedicated to your well-being, featuring free health screenings, giveaways, prizes, and...

Town Square Health & Wellness Fair

Putting a new spin on rock.  Join us for this unique reinterpreted approach to the music of the Beatles and various artists.

The Arts at St. Bart's Presents-Jeff Lake and the Cellophane Flowers

Step behind the bar for an exclusive mixology class at Stone & Rail. For $50 a person, you can master the art of crafting...

Cocktail Class - Behind The Bar Mixology Class

Renowned for their “amazing technical finesse and overwhelming musical insight” (BBC Music Magazine), the Jerusalem String...

Parlance Chamber Concerts Presents The Jerusalem String Quartet

Englewood-Englewood Cliffs

Help teach children and youth how to ride safely and responsibly. Led by Pediatric Injury Prevention experts, understand the...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

GSBC, Neighbor

Posting Activity

A Shipwrecked Tale: The Identification a Captain after 180 Years Off the New Jersey Coast

APR

20

7:00 PM

Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ

The Slow Abolition of Slavery in New Jersey

APR

27

7:00 PM

Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ

GSBC 2026 Seminar: A Deep-Dive into New Jersey Research

MAY

2

9:15 AM

Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ

The Archives Project, Garretson Forge and Farm

MAY

11

7:00 PM

Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ

Women and Naturalization in the United States

JUN

22

7:00 PM

Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ

Howdy Stranger Scripted | Sketch Comedy Show

Town Square Health & Wellness Fair

The Arts at St. Bart's Presents-Jeff Lake and the Cellophane Flowers

Cocktail Class - Behind The Bar Mixology Class

Parlance Chamber Concerts Presents The Jerusalem String Quartet

Learn ways to teach your child how to ride e-bikes safely