Genealogy at the BPL
Family History Lectures and Genealogy Classes
All BPL events are free and open to the public. Registration is required to attend the events listed below.
Check out some of our previously recorded lectures and classes on the BPL's YouTube channel- http://tinyurl.com/mv8c8y3x.
Introduction to Genealogy: How to Start Your Journey into Your Family's History
Thursday, September 11, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online Class
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us
Are you interested in researching your family history but don’t know where to begin? This class will provide information about some of the best ways to do your research, talk about some of the basic records you can use, and provide a quick overview of available genealogy resources at the BPL and beyond.
Skill level: Beginner
This program will be recorded.
Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom.
Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.
Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the Library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website.
History of the Hub: Resources for Local & Family History at the City of Boston Archival Center (COBAC)
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online Lecture
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us
The City of Boston Archives houses thousands of records covering over 300 years of history and documenting the city's government, schools, buildings, residents, parks, and more. Archivist Meghan Capone will provide an overview of the Archives' collections and tips for uncovering your own family's history within city records.
Meghan Capone is the Archivist for Outreach and Reference at the City of Boston Archives. She graduated with a Masters in Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives Management from Simmons University in 2017. Capone worked on archival projects at Draper Laboratories and the MIT Museum before joining the City Archives team in 2019. Her goal is to make archives as accessible as possible.
Skill level: Intermediate
This program will be recorded.
Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom.
Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.
Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the Library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website.
Researching Chinese Ancestry with My China Roots
Thursday, October 16, 2025
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Online lecture
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us
My China Roots is a Chinese genealogy database available for free at the BPL. Join Clotilde Yap as she provides an introduction to Chinese family history research and how to get started using the tools on My China Roots. Participants will learn about key challenges in Chinese genealogy research, how to find their village in China, and how to find records of Chinese ancestors.
Clotilde Yap is the Head of Global Collections at My China Roots, where she researches untapped archives of Chinese communities across the globe.
Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate
This program will be recorded.
Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom.
Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.
Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the Library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website.
Genealogy: Researching Your Italian Ancestors
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online class
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us
Millions of Italian immigrants came to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with many of them settling in Boston. This class will provide an overview of basic resources you can use to get started on researching your Italian ancestors in Boston and beyond.
Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate
This program will be recorded.
Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom.
Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.
Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the Library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website.
Genealogy: Using MyHeritage to Research Your Ancestors
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online class
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us
Do you want to do genealogy research from home with your BPL card? Then you should try the MyHeritage database! This class will show you how to search through the many collections in this resource, and we’ll see some of the different kinds of records available.
Skill level: Intermediate
This program will be recorded.
Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom.
Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.
Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the Library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website (https://bplfund.org/).
Finding the Stories of Your Ancestors: Using Social History to Bring Your Ancestor's History to Life
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online lecture
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us
This talk illustrates how to move beyond the traditional sources of just names and dates and use social history to learn about what a typical day, or not so typical day, was like in your ancestor's life. What did your ancestors eat or wear, what was their daily life like, why did they do the things they did? Discover where to find a variety of resources that answer these questions and provide rich context to bring your ancestor's history to life.
Pamela Guye Holland is a professional genealogist and specializes in Irish and Genetic Genealogy. She lives in Swampscott, Massachusetts, and has been researching for over twenty years. Pam works for Research Services at American Ancestors (New England Historic Genealogical Society) and as the US-based genealogist in the Green Room at https://youririshheritage.com/. Her website is www.GenealogyByPamHolland.com.
Skill level: Intermediate/Advanced
This program will NOT be recorded.
Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom.
Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.
Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the Library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website (https://bplfund.org/).
Genealogy: Finding Your Ancestors in Boston's Historic Cemeteries
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online class
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us
If you had ancestors who lived and died in Boston, you may be interested in finding their final resting places. In this class we’ll learn about some of Boston’s oldest cemeteries and find out how you can find your ancestors in them.
Skill level: Intermediate
This program will be recorded.
Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom.
Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.
Programming at the Boston Public Library is funded through private support. To learn more about supporting the Library, please visit the Boston Public Library Fund's website (https://bplfund.org/).