Join the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library for a Family History Conference on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 11 am-3 pm, hosted by the Grosvenor Room. The event will take place in the Central Library’s Ring of Knowledge and the Grosvenor Room.

This day-long gathering welcomes anyone interested in genealogy—from beginners to experienced researchers. Attendees can explore research resources, meet local history and genealogy organizations, and connect with fellow family historians from across the region.

This year’s conference will feature several new interactive elements designed to encourage sharing, collaboration, and hands-on learning within the genealogy community:

Poster Session: Family historians share research projects, family tree visualizations, and genealogy case studies.

Technology Petting Zoo: Try hands-on demonstrations of genealogy tools such as portable scanners, family tree software, photo restoration tools, favorite research websites, and AI tools. Learn from others and share your own tips. Have a skill you'd like to share?  We are looking for volunteers!

Memory Lab Demonstrations: Learn how to digitize photos, documents, and audiovisual materials to help preserve and share your family history.

The conference will also include Grosvenor Room tours, demonstrations, presentations by local experts, and networking opportunities throughout the day.

Keynote Speaker: Mark Goldman will discuss the craft of writing local history nonfiction and biographies. Mark Goldman is a prominent historian and author specializing in Buffalo, New York's history, urban development, and cultural life. His notable books include:

• City on the Edge: Buffalo, NY 1900-Present
• High Hopes, The Rise and Decline of Buffalo
• City of My Heart: Buffalo 1967-2020

Registration is encouraged, but not required. Registrants will receive a small library themed gift!

Interested in participating in the Poster Session or the Technology Petting Zoo? Fill out this form to receive additional details about setup and scheduling: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUmNvIKZlCeT10rLiXqIF610nkrbNgeYE0Z52zvGRaMm4OzA/viewform?usp=publish-editor