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A Center for Excellence in Family History Programming

The Brue Family Learning Center is dedicated to introducing family and local history to national and international audiences. Founded by Nord and Suzanne Brue, the Center supports the creation of programming aimed at helping anyone start or advance their family history journey. 

Located on Newbury Street in Boston’s Back Bay, American Ancestors, founded as the New England Historic Genealogical Society, is the nation’s oldest and largest genealogical society. The Brue Family Learning Center is part of a capital expansion project to introduce family and local history to wider audiences.

Philanthropic leadership from the Brue Family also supports the creation of unique program content for American Ancestors' online education offerings. 

Image of the Brue Family Learning Center
I felt like I had hit a wall in my research and your class showed me the door to continue. Thank you so much! I appreciate it more than words can express.
Jean L.

Founders Suzanne and Nordahl Brue

In 2019, Bruegger’s Bagels co-founder Nordahl Brue and his wife Suzanne Brue gave $1.5 million to American Ancestors to endow a family history learning center to help anyone learn more about their ancestry. 

The Brue Family Learning Center produces hundreds of family history programs each year, which reach many thousands of people around the world.

 

Suzanne and Nord Brue

Upcoming Lectures

Lecture
Online
Free

Best Published Resources for German Research in America

German immigrants first arrived to American shores in large numbers in the late 17th century, and today nearly 45 million Americans have German heritage. Join Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure as she shares her go-to published resources for German family history research in America.

June 12, 2025
Lecture
In Person
Free

Tour of the Brim-DeForest Library at American Ancestors

The Brim-DeForest Library at American Ancestors serves as a center for research, learning, and discovery, where history comes to life through archival collections and expert guidance. Learn more about the collections, services, and other library offerings during a brief tour.

June 14, 2025
Lecture
In Person
Free

Roots & Branches: A Research Club for American Ancestors Members

Share your genealogical finds, hot tips, and research stories while gaining new avenues of research and encouragement from fellow family historians and members of American Ancestors. Senior Genealogist Melanie McComb will be on hand to answer questions and lend support during the discussion.

June 21, 2025 and July 26, 2025 and August 23, 2025
Lecture
Online
Free

On the Ground: Top Repositories for Researching Upstate New York

Finding information about New York ancestors can be tricky. In this online lecture, Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert will discuss go-to repositories for research in the Empire State—including the New York State Library and Archives, the New York Public Library, and more. 

July 10, 2025
Lecture
Online
Free

Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers

For Queen Victoria, the personal and the political were closely intertwined, and this affected her relations with her ten prime ministers. Join Anne Somerset, author of Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers, as she shares a fascinating new perspective on Victoria’s reign through the bitter clashes—sometimes comic, sometimes shocking—and affectionate interactions she had with her prime ministers.

July 11, 2025

Arts & Architecture

Lecture
In Person
Free

Tour of the Brim-DeForest Library at American Ancestors

The Brim-DeForest Library at American Ancestors serves as a center for research, learning, and discovery, where history comes to life through archival collections and expert guidance. Learn more about the collections, services, and other library offerings during a brief tour.

July 12, 2025
Lecture
In Person
Paid

Getting Started in Family History Research

Anyone can do family history research! In this one hour lecture, you will learn about key resources, strategies, and first steps to discovering and recording your family history. We will also demonstrate how to use important organizational tools, such as the multi-generational chart, family group sheet, and research log. And you will learn how to create a solid research plan.

July 26, 2025
Lecture
Online
Free

Strangers and Sojourners: The Jews of Colonial Boston

As the Jewish Heritage Center continues to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking book, The Jews of Boston, and looks ahead to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we are hosting the book's co-editor, historian Ellen Smith, for a webinar about Boston's earliest Jewish history.

 

July 29, 2025

Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center

Lecture
In Person
Free

Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center Open House

Visit the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at American Ancestors in our new space and meet our expert staff, tour the Family Heritage Experience and JHC office, have a nosh and chat!

August 7, 2025

Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center