CNYGS GIG February 23, 2026 Presentation
Arpino to the Empire State: A Look at 20th Century Italian Immigration
Presented by Janeen Bjork
While preparing a recent program about her maternal (Quadrini) DNA matches for the Westchester
County Genealogical Society, Janeen was surprised to discover multiple connections between men who
were born in Arpino, Italy who settled in Westchester County (mostly Mamaroneck) and Onondaga
County (Jamesville), sometimes with other stops of several years in between. The presentation will
include records from both sides of the Atlantic, as well as newspaper articles and photos from various
family collections.
BIOGRAPHY
Janeen Bjork applied the skills she developed in a 30+ year career as a television programmer and
researcher to Genealogy when her sister-in-law recruited her to fill in the Bjork family tree. The same
sister-in-law saw Janeen's early efforts and said, "You need to teach or write a book, you're doing
things I haven't done in four years of Genealogy." Since then, Janeen has taught scores of Genealogy
classes and written or edited four private family histories.
Do you have an Arizona Pioneer?
Missing an Ancestor? Look West
Many times, while researching our ancestors, they just "disappear" from where they "should be" located. Is this true with your ancestor? Perhaps the young man or woman in your lineage decided to heed Horace Greeley's quote, "Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country."1 Opportunities abounded with cheap land, the lure of gold / silver / precious gems, religious freedom, or just the opportunity to start a new life. Perhaps your ancestor came to Arizona for one of these reasons?
The Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board (AzGAB) is honoring those people and their descendants who lived in the geographical area of what is now Arizona prior to statehood on 14 February 1912 with an Arizona Pioneer Descendant certificate. Certificates will be awarded to a descendant who submits evidence acceptable to AzGAB (vital records, territory or federal census, church records, brand books [livestock markings], city directory listings, etc.). Records showing relationship from the pioneer to the applicant is required for the certificate. (https://azgab.org/cpage.php?pt=14).
For those ancestors / relatives who lived in Arizona from statehood until 01 April 1950, a Second Wave Certificate is available. (https://azgab.org/cpage.php?pt=51). The same chain of descendancy is required.
Not sure if your ancestor "was" in Arizona on their way to California, Nevada or other points West? Please use the Arizona Pioneers Database on the AzGAB website, https://azgab.org/cstm_pioneer.php, to see if their names appear. Female names as well as male names are mentioned.
This is a meaningful way to honor your ancestors and have a preserved record of it. The approved application forms, photos and accompanying documentation are housed in the Arizona State Archives. A modest fee for the certificate is expected at the time of submission. If two certificates are requested for the same ancestor from different descendants, there is a reduced fee for the second certificate. Questions? Contact the Arizona Pioneer Descendant
Administrator, Peggy Morphew at certificates@azgab.org.
ATTENTION:
All publications, with the exception of 5 decades on flash drive, are now only available DIGITALLY.
Please make sure you have included a valid email address on your order.
A volunteer will send an email with links to the CNYGS DropBox account.
Click on the link and download the publication to your hard drive.
Links to Even More Free Webinars
Georgia Genealogical Society
Wisconsin State Genealogical Society
Links to More Free Webinars
Southern California Genealogical Society 2021 jamboree free webinar extension series
Appleton, Wisconsin Library Presents a FREE "Find Your Ancestors" Webinar Series
Legacy Family Tree Webinars -Monthly live webinars in 2021 - especially for Canadian genealogist!
Links to free genealogy webinars
A link to the Castle Rock Colorado Genealogical Soceity Programs and Events
A link to the January 2021 list of library classes presented by Family Search
