Judith A. Herbert, Certified Genealogist® specializes in records and research in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, from the Colonial period to the early twentieth century. A seven year member of the Editorial Board of The Record, the quarterly peer reviewed journal of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society (NYG&B), she also teaches genealogy courses and is a guest lecturer on genealogical topics. Judith served as mentor for the ProGen 38 Study Group. She lives in New York’s Capital District and has been taking client work since 2009.
Judith worked as a Sr. Project Manager/Analyst in the technology sector where the successful design, implementation and security of systems requires process, methodology, analysis and risk mitigation skills. When executed properly genealogical work utilizes those same skills.
As a child Judith peppered her great-grandmother with questions about her ancestors, starting a life-long passion for genealogy. In 1979 she started examining microfilm at her local Family History Center and writing letters requesting vital, cemetery and church records. In the early 2000s she began helping adoptees to locate their birth families. From 1999 to 2014 she served as a volunteer staff member at her local Family History Center, helping others to plan their research and teaching them how to accurately locate their ancestors.
Recent Instruction & Lecture Examples
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2023: Connecticut Society of Genealogists: “Location, Location, Location: The Oblong of Dutchess, Putnam & Westchester Counties, NY”
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2023: Irondequoit Public Library, Rochester, NY: “Getting Started with Your Family History Research: Laying a Solid Foundation”
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2020: Schenectady Co. Historical Soc.: “Complex Evidence, Untangling Multiple Same-Name Individuals”
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2020: Heritage Hunters of Saratoga Co., NY: “Researching Ancestors of Meager Means and Even Less Fame in the 19th Century”
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2019: Guilderland, NY, Public Library: “Small Footprint, Big Apple, Researching Ancestors of Meager Means & Even Less Fame in the 19th Century”
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2018: NY Genealogical & Biographical Society Webinar Series: “Proving Parentage Through Indirect Evidence – The Importance of Sibling Records”
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2018: NYS Fam. Hist. Conf., Tarrytown, NY: “Small Footprint, Big Apple: Researching Ancestors of Meager Means & Less Fame in 19th Cent. NYC”
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2018: “Genealogy 101-102: Discovering Your Family History,” Schenectady Co. Historical Society (SCHS), Rotterdam, NY
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2018: “Genealogy 103-104: Immigration, Naturalization, Land & Probate,” SCHS, Rotterdam, NY
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2017: “Complex Evidence: But Which Samuel Gates?” Capital District Genealogical Society, Albany, NY
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2016: “Complex Evidence Part 2: Surname Studies,” Maine Genealogical Society, GPC
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2015: “Complex Evidence Part 1: Untangling Multiple, Same-Name Individuals,” Maine Genealogical Society, GPC
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2011: “Publishing a Family History,” Czech Genealogy Symposium, Minnesota Genealogical Society*
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2010: “Publishing a Family History,” Family History Center Annual Seminar, Oakdale, Minnesota*
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2007: “U.S. Census Records: Federal, State, & Special Censuses,” Family History Center Annual Seminar, Oakdale, MN