The Polish Genealogical Society of New York State

03/12/2026

Please join us in person at our monthly meeting tonight, Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 pm. Erie 1 BOCES, 355 Harlem Road, West Seneca, New York. After our business meeting there will be a presentation “Polish Census Records: Then and Now,” by Tadeusz Pilat. This webinar will cover census records in the three partitions of Poland and some after WWII as well. Examples of census-like records of pre-partitioned Poland are included into this lecture, and information will be provided on where to find these records.

03/11/2026

https://pgsnys.online/beyond-ancestry-finding-your-western-new-york-polish-ancestors/

If you have Polish ancestors from Western New York, the PGSNYS databases are an indispensable—and often overlooked—research tool. We host 48 individual databases containing unique, indexed records you won’t find on Ancestry, FamilySearch, or other commercial platforms. Despite their value, man...

03/10/2026

The Polish Genealogical Society of New York State (PGSNYS) extends its sincere gratitude to Erie County for its generous support through the Cultural Grant Program.

This important funding enables PGSNYS to continue conducting genealogical and historical research while expanding access to programs that help preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of Erie County and New York State. Through these efforts, we are able to support community engagement, historical preservation, and educational opportunities for current and future generations.

We are truly thankful for Erie County’s commitment to supporting cultural organizations and helping ensure that our shared history and traditions remain accessible to all.

Thank you, Erie County, for your continued partnership and support.

03/09/2026

Please join us in person at our monthly meeting on Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 pm. Erie 1 BOCES, 355 Harlem Road, West Seneca, New York. After our business meeting there will be a presentation “Polish Census Records: Then and Now,” by Tadeusz Pilat. This webinar will cover census records in the three partitions of Poland and some after WWII as well. Examples of census-like records of pre-partitioned Poland are included into this lecture, and information will be provided on where to find these records.

03/06/2026

Unlock Exclusive Resources for Polish Genealogy!

Becoming a member of the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State (PGSNYS) gives you access to valuable tools and support you won’t find on most genealogy sites.

🔎 Members-Only Benefits Include:
• Recordings of our society meetings
• The latest 5 years of Searchers
• A directory of surnames our members are researching
• A request form for one-on-one research assistance
• The first video in our growing “how-to” series on getting started with Polish genealogy

Whether you're just starting or digging deeper into your family roots, PGSNYS members gain resources designed to help you succeed.

👉 Join today:

By purchasing a membership to PGSNYS you will receive our Society’s newsletter, Searchers, three times a year as well as an information packet to help you get started with your genealogy research. Your membership dollars also help support our mission to promote the study of Polish genealogy in the...

03/06/2026

03/02/2026

If you have Polish ancestors from Western New York, the PGSNYS databases are an indispensable—and often overlooked—research tool. We host 48 individual databases containing unique, indexed records you won’t find on Ancestry, FamilySearch, or other commercial platforms. Despite their value, many researchers remain unaware of these collections or the optimal strategies needed to search them effectively.
To help bridge this gap, we’ve created a new tutorial that demonstrates how to navigate our databases and locate digital images of historical records. Beyond the databases, this video offers a complete walkthrough of our website, showing you how to take full advantage of the assistance PGSNYS provides—including our curated research links, personalized member research support, and our ongoing projects to collect and preserve rare historical records.
There has never been a better time to dive in and discover your family history. Watch the tutorial today and see what you’ve been missing!

02/12/2026

For our monthly meeting tonight, February 12, we will have our second Solving Members' Brick Walls Research Night in a new, interactive, collaborative format, in which YOU, our members, are the focus! We held our August meeting in this format, and our members really enjoyed it. Join us at Erie 1 BOCES, 355 Harlem Road, West Seneca, New York from 7:00 pm–9:00 pm.

02/09/2026

Join us for Research Day at the Grosvenor Room, Central Library, with the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State, Saturday, March 21 from 1-5pm. Seating is limited so you must register at https://pgsnys.online/research-day-at-the-becpl-with-pgsnys/.

Saturday, March 21, 2026 1:00 – 5:00 pm The Grosvenor Room Buffalo & Erie County Public Library 1 Lafayette Square Buffalo, New York Join the Grosvenor Room and the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State for our second annual Research Day at the B&ECPL! The day will start out with a tour of...

02/02/2026

Join the Grosvenor Room and the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State for our second annual Research Day at the B&ECPL! The day will start out with a tour of the Grosvenor Room, then an orientation to the library’s digital family history resources in the library’s computer lab, followed by open research in the Grosvenor Room. Seating for this event is limited to 20 participants; registration is now open! For more information, click here. To register, please visit the library’s website by visiting:

Saturday, March 21, 2026 1:00 – 5:00 pm The Grosvenor Room Buffalo & Erie County Public Library 1 Lafayette Square Buffalo, New York Join the Grosvenor Room and the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State for our second annual Research Day at the B&ECPL! The day will start out with a tour of...

01/27/2026

https://www.wnygs.org/buffalo-ny-deaths

Preserving and Documenting Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties since 1974.

01/27/2026

What to do when metrical records don't exist?
Free webinar recording.