Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans

08/19/2026

Join GRSNO by Sept 30 2026 to get your copy of our publication, Genesis!

07/06/2026

05/30/2026

Summer lunch coming up! If you are not a member, go to grsno.org to join first for $40.

04/29/2026

I've Tested My DNA - Now What?
with Jari Honora, CG@

7pm, Jeff Regional Library, Monday, May 18, 2026: More than 1-in-5 Americans have completed an ancestral DNA test. DNA combined with traditional documentary research can help to confirm family lines and unravel mysteries. With multiple testing companies and multiple types of DNA tests and results, Jari Honora will cover how to effectively use one’s DNA results in family history research.

Jari C. Honora, a Certified Genealogist®, works as Family Historian at the Williams Research Center of the Historic New Orleans Collection. He also does historical and genealogical research professionally, including previous research for the TV programs “Finding Your Roots” and “We’ll Meet Again.” He is a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and a board member of the Louisiana Historical Society and Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Society of the War of 1812, and the Sons and Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage.

04/02/2026

We can't wait to see you next Saturday. In addition to our exciting programs, you will also have the opportunity to talk to and learn from some amazing institutions and organizations.
nolacityarchive.org/genfest

04/01/2026

03/31/2026

Monday, April 20, 7 p.m.
EMILY FORD
"Tomb Ownership And Deeds"
In this presentation, (at the East Jeff Regional Library 4747 W Napoleon Ave, Metairie) Emily Ford will give a clear and practical overview of how tomb and cemetery plot ownership works in New Orleans. The talk is designed for anyone who has an original cemetery deed, has lost one, or is trying to reestablish family ownership of a tomb. It will explain how to identify your family tomb and lot number, where to find deed books and cemetery records, and what counts as a valid tomb title. She also breaks down the difference between owning a tomb and simply having the right to be buried there, and explains how family members may qualify as for right of burial even if the title has never been formally updated.

The presentation also walks through how Louisiana law allows cemetery property to pass through wills, affidavits, or court orders, and how different cemeteries apply these rules in practice. Attendees will learn how to contact cemetery authorities, what documents may be needed to prove heirship, and how to officially update the title holder of record. The talk also covers more complicated situations, such as unclear or abandoned ownership, perpetual care requirements, and servitude rights of use, giving families practical guidance for protecting their burial property across generations.

GRSNO Members may Zoom. Join for $40 a year at grsno.org.

03/17/2026

Thank you to Marguerite Scully for her illuminating presentation on Organizing Your Genealogy. Over 30 people attended in person, with another 15 online. Marguerite brought her binders as examples. Join GRSNO next month on April 20, 2026.

02/19/2026

Monday, March 16, 7 p.m. Free to Public
"Organize Your Records And Organize Your Research"
There comes a point in almost everyone’s genealogical research efforts when the lack of organization of the information we have collected is hindering our ability to make any further progress. If family historians become aware of this problem, it is usually because we discover we have spent time collecting records that we already have or we find ourselves having to go back again and again through our records to figure out what we already have and what we are still missing.

GRSNO’s March 16 speaker, Marguerite Scully, believes strongly that organization is the key to progress with genealogical research. She will describe a way to organize the family history information you already have so you can avoid “spinning your wheels” and getting nowhere. She will demonstrate how your organized information can be used to identify the records and information you are still missing and keep track of the sources you have already searched.

The talk will take place at Jefferson Parish East Bank Regional Library (Jefferson Room, 1st Floor), 4747 West Napoleon Ave., Metairie, with optional Zoom participation provided by GRSNO for members. Membership dues are $40 a year - see grsno.org.