|
MSOG, Inc.
PO Box 215
Ashland, MA 01721-0215 |
|
Saturday, May 10, 2025
See May 31 Meeting
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Attend in person or virtually via Zoom
See the event for May 31st, this will be a Hybrid meeting of two Chapters, Middlesex and Merrimack Valley. You can attend in person at the Georgetown Peabody Library, in Georgetown, MA or virtual via Zoom.
Marian Burk Wood will present Bring Family History Alive in Bite-Sized Projects |
|
|
|
Thursday, May 8, 2025
"Brick by Brick: Tracing Your Home’s History” with Tina Beaird
7:00 pm Virtual
Was your home moved, damaged by fire or enlarged to accommodate a growing family? Tina will provide strategies for researching the history of your home by using government records, newspapers, phone directories, maps and other resources. Every home tells a story, what does yours say?
In celebration of Preservation Month, Tina Beaird, owner of Tamarack Genealogy, will be giving a webinar titled Brick by Brick :Tracing your Homes History. Tina is the genealogy & local history librarian at a mid-sized Chicagoland public library. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science degree with a specialization in Archives/Preservation from Dominican University in River Forest, IL Tina has won multiple research and digitization grants over the years to preserve and digitize historic documents and photographs.
She lectures nationally on topics including genealogical methodology, military records, Scottish research, plus photo and archival preservation. Tina has assisted researchers for over 20 years, and occasionally still finds time to conduct her own family research, which she has been pursuing for over thirty years.
Tina is the First Vice-President of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, and board director for the Oswegoland Heritage Association, She is also an active member of the American Library Association and the Society of American Archivists. She volunteers her time, when available, with several Chicagoland historical and genealogical societies.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
7:00 pm Virtual
Annie Barrows once again evokes the charm and eccentricity of a small town filled with extraordinary characters. Her new novel, The Truth According to Us, brings to life an inquisitive young girl, her beloved aunt, and the alluring visitor who changes the course of their destiny forever.
In the summer of 1938, Layla Beck’s father, a United States senator, cuts off her allowance and demands that she find employment on the Federal Writers’ Project, a New Deal jobs program. Within days, Layla finds herself far from her accustomed social whirl, assigned to cover the history of the remote mill town of Macedonia, West Virginia, and destined, in her opinion, to go completely mad with boredom. But once she secures a room in the home of the unconventional Romeyn family, she is drawn into their complex world and soon discovers that the truth of the town is entangled in the thorny past of the Romeyn dynasty.
At the Romeyn house, twelve-year-old Willa is desperate to learn everything in her quest to acquire her favorite virtues of ferocity and devotion—a search that leads her into a thicket of mysteries, including the questionable business that occupies her charismatic father and the reason her adored aunt Jottie remains unmarried. Layla’s arrival strikes a match to the family veneer, bringing to light buried secrets that will tell a new tale about the Romeyns. As Willa peels back the layers of her family’s past, and Layla delves deeper into town legend, everyone involved is transformed—and their personal histories completely rewritten. (Amazon Review)
Upcoming Book Club Readings:
June 3, 2025 - King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict by Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias
July 1, 2025 - The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Badani
August 5, 2025 - The Counterfeit Countess: The Jewish Woman Who Rescued Thousands of Poles During the Holocaust by Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa
|
|
|
|
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Trial of Susan B. Anthony: Voting Rights for Women
Hybrid - Gleason Public Library and Zoom
Joint Meeting of the Merrimack Valley and Worcester Chapters
Judge Dennis Curran presents:
Trial of Susan B. Anthony: Voting Rights for Women
In 1873, Susan B. Anthony was indicted by a grand jury for "knowingly, wrongfully, and unlawfully voting ... the said Susan B. Anthony being then and there a person of the female sex." Her trial, in which Anthony was convicted of breaking the law by casting a vote in a Presidential election, became one of the most famous trials of the nineteenth century.
Far from defeating the fledgling movement for women's suffrage, the trial brought more publicity to the issue, largely due to Anthony's clever stratagem of publishing the trial proceedings, and then shrewdly using it for a public relations campaign to rally women to the cause.
About Judge Curran:
The Honorable Dennis J. Curran, retired Massachusetts Superior Court Justice, has taught law at Tufts University, Roger Williams University of School of Law, and Brown University.
Location - Hybrid:
10:00 am EDT Library opens
10:30 am EDT Socializing and business meetings
11:00 am EDT Presentation
12:15 am EDT A light lunch will be provided
Zoom: Pre-registration is required to attend via Zoom at
In-Person: Pre-registration is not required if attending in person, but is recommended so we can plan for lunch. Please email worcester@msoginc.org or merrimackvalley@msoginc.org.
Gleason Public Library
Hollis Room - 3rd floor - accessible via elevator
22 Bedford Rd (Rt 225)
Carlisle, MA
Parking:
There is a limited amount of parking at the library. The Library asks individuals attending programs to consider parking at adjacent lots. These are within a very short walking distance of the library.
Church St.:
At town center, on 225 (Bedford Rd coming west or Concord Rd coming east), near the rotary, turn onto School St going up the hill. Take the first left onto Church St. You will see the School parking lot to the right. Across from this parking entrance is a path through the trees to the Library. You can park across the street from this path on Church St.
Lowell St.:
At town center, at the rotary on 225, turn onto Lowell St. Pass the store Ferns (big yellow building on the corner). There is parking to the right in a small town lot.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, April 26, 2025
See May 3 Meeting
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Attend in person or virtually via Zoom
See the event for May 3rd, this will be a Hybrid meeting of two Chapters, Worcester and Merrimack Valley. You can attend in person at the Gleason Public Library, in Carlisle, MA or virtual via Zoom.
Judge Dennis Curran will present Trial of Susan B. Anthony: Voting Rights for Women |
|
|
|
Saturday, April 19, 2025
DNA for Beginning Genealogists
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Virtual
Changed to Virtual Only
Presented by Terry Dugan
This presentation will provide an overview of DNA testing terminology with highlights of what you can expect to see if you test with each of the major testing platforms. The presentation will also include an updated comparison of the top DNA testing sites and will address recent events regarding privacy concerns with DNA testing. Terry will also show an example on how to use these DNA testing results to identify ancestors when you have exhausted traditional genealogy research methods.
Terry Dugan grew up in Philadelphia and is descended from Irish and Polish-German immigrants who emigrated to this country from 1840 to 1905. The challenges of finding immigrant ancestor records in Ireland and present-day Poland encouraged him to try DNA testing as an alternative way to find his ancestors.
He took his first DNA test in 2008 at the urging of a distant cousin using the Family Tree DNA yDNA test. Since then, Terry has tested at 23andMe and AncestryDNA for both himself and his late father. He has also transferred DNA test results from AncestryDNA to both Family Tree DNA and MyHeritage.
Terry has been a member of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists (MSOG) since 2013 and took on the position of Secretary in Bristol Chapter of MSOG. He was elected President of MSOG in 2022.
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolApr2025 |
|
|
|
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Training for War: A WWI Pilot's Letters to Home
10:30 am to 12:00 pm Virtual
Middlesex Chapter Meeting
Presented by Anne Borg
Philip Carret was a well-known investor and founder of one of the U.S.’s original mutual funds; he died in 1998 at the age of 101. Before his financial career, Phil Carret was a motivated, eager, and often homesick 21-year-old pilot-in-training in France during World War I. From September 1917 to February 1919, Carret wrote over 200 letters to his family in Cambridge.
Carret’s letters convey a fascinating mix of concern for his family and friends, frustration with military rules and the slow pace of aviation training, his friendships with other cadets, instructions to his parents on how to invest his pay, interactions with the local townspeople, and his thrill at learning to fly. His letters provide a firsthand timeline of the training for WWI aviation cadets.
Carret’s writing is full of personality, humor, and keen observations, offering an unfiltered perspective on military life, cultural differences, and the war itself.
Anne Borg has been researching her family history for over 30 years. She holds the BU Certificate in Genealogical Research, has completed ProGen, GenProof, and numerous genealogy institute courses, and is a member of several genealogical and historical organizations. Anne is a former editor of MSOG’s Past Times newsletter.
Anne is her family’s archivist, with a collection of five generations of letters, photographs, diaries, scrapbooks, and other documents and ephemera, some going back to the early 1800s. She will share highlights of her grandfather’s WWI experiences through excerpts of his letters, cablegrams, and postcards to his family. Anne will describe her experiences using AI to transcribe the letters. She will also talk about she used these family letters as a tool to further her family history research.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This meeting will be online via Zoom.
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at: MXAPR2025
|
|
|
|
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Becoming a Genealogist: Education, Certification and Professional Designations
7:00 pm Virtual
Learn the alphabet of professional genealogy designations and the options to gain credentials for Professional Standards
Angela Harris, CG, is a board-certified professional genealogist specializing in forensic genealogy focusing on probate research and family reconstruction. Her work has included complex cases from New England, the Midwestern US, Canada, and Italy. Angela holds a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies from the National Institute of Genealogical Studies and has enhanced her education with several certificates in forensic and genetic genealogy through the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh/GRIP Genealogy Institute and the Applied Genealogy Institute. Angela has served as Secretary for the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists since 2023 and is a Director-at-Large of the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists.
You must be logged in as a Member to participate in the event. Log-in at https://msoginc.org/members.php. Go to "Event Registration" to register for the webinar. |
|
|
|
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Member Sharing
9:30 am to 11:30 am Virtual
This month will be Member Sharing. Three of our members will give short presentations on some interesting topics.
Paul Brueggemann will present From a Missing Person to Major Discoveries: How a Local 1899 Newspaper Headline Broke a 30-Year Brick Wall in my Research.
Greg Paris will present Organizing Communities within Ancestry: Making your Tree More Manageable.
Sara Campbell will present Broaden Your Search: The Wealth of Repositories I Found for a (Nearly) Famous Person.
9:30 am EDT Socializing
9:45 am EDT Business Meeting
10:00 am EDT Presentations
This meeting is free and open to the public. |
|
|
|
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
7:00 pm Virtual
Maia D’Apliese and her five sisters gather together at their childhood home, “Atlantis”—a fabulous, secluded castle situated on the shores of Lake Geneva—having been told that their beloved father, who adopted them all as babies, has died. Each sister is handed a tantalizing clue to her true heritage—a clue that takes Maia across the world to a crumbling mansion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Once there, she begins to put together the pieces of her story.
Eighty years earlier in the Rio of the 1920s, Izabela Bonifacio’s father has aspirations for his daughter to marry into the aristocracy. Meanwhile, architect Heitor da Silva Costa is devising plans for an enormous statue, to be called Christ the Redeemer, and will soon travel to Paris to find the right sculptor to complete his vision. Izabela—passionate and longing to see the world—convinces her father to allow her to accompany him and his family to Europe before she is married. There, at Paul Landowski’s studio and in the heady, vibrant cafes of Montparnasse, she meets ambitious young sculptor Laurent Brouilly, and knows at once that her life will never be the same again.
In this sweeping, epic tale of love and loss—the first in a unique, spellbinding series—Lucinda Riley showcases her storytelling talents like never before. (Amazon Review)
Upcoming Book Club Readings:
May 6, 2025 - The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
June 3, 2025 - King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict by Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias
Jul 1, 2025 - The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Badani
|
|
|
|
Saturday, March 22, 2025
What It TakesTo Volunteer For A Chapter Board
10:00 am 2 Maple ST , Georgetown Peabody Library Georgetown, MA
HYBRID. Come join in person or on Zoom.
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at MVMAR2025
We are pleased to present a discussion on what it involves from our persepectives on being a volunteer for the board positions on the Merrimack Valley Chapter. We also will be reviewing our MSOG website and some of the features you may not be aware of.
We hope you will join us, Carol, Bonnie and Nancy.
VOLUNTEERING!
Georgetown Peabody Library
2 Maple St,
Georgetown MA
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Tracing Your Immigrant Ancestors
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Attend in Person or Virtually via Zoom
Presented by Margaret R. Fortier
Your ancestors may have arrived in the United States with the great waves of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Or they may have emigrated before the Civil War. While there are specific strategies for each ethnic group, there is also a systematic process that applies to any search for immigrants. Margaret will guide you through each step of the process with examples. Discover your immigrant ancestors and tell their stories!
.
Named after her grandmothers and inspired by her mother’s phenomenal memory, Margaret Rose Fortier is a Board-certified genealogical researcher, writer, and lecturer. She specializes in immigrant ancestors to New England. A graduate of Boston College and Bentley University, she holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. She serves on the board of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She is co-editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and an instructor for the Spring 2025 course, "Tracing Your French-Canadian Ancestors" at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.
"This program has applied for support from the Somerset Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency."
SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1464 County Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolMar2025 |
|
|
|
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Unlocking Your Irish Family History
7:00 pm Virtual
Irish research has a reputation for being challenging. You might have heard that many Irish records were lost, creating gaps in records that appear unsurmountable. Don’t give up before you get started! Learn about the history of Ireland, the different jurisdictions (religious, civil, health) and where to find records for different periods in history. Find out strategies to overcome obstacles and work around missing records.
Claire Smith is a professional genealogist with more than 20 years of experience in research, teaching, and lecturing. Her extensive research experience spans Ireland, New England, Atlantic Canada, England, and the West Indies, and includes both traditional and DNA research. A former high-tech executive, Claire applies her technology skills to optimize her research, continually applying new tools and innovative methodologies to her genealogy research.
Claire was formerly the Director, Seminar Program Chair for the Massachusetts Genealogical Council. She is a graduate of the ProGen professional genealogy study group and holds certificates in “Genealogical Research” from Boston University and in “Genealogy and Family History” from the University of Washington. Claire is former President of the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society. She splits her time between the Greater Boston Area and Ireland.
You must be logged in as a Member to participate in the event. Log-in at https://msoginc.org/members.php. Go to "Event Registration" to register for the webinar.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Mild-Mannered Businessman or Secret Service Agent? - Investigating a Family Legend
10:30 am to 12:00 pm Virtual
Middlesex Chapter Meeting
Presented by Erica Voolich
Investigating a family legend of a possible Secret Service Agent led to fascinating unexpected stories and documents. The asking of questions and the resulting follow-up can be applied to others’ searches behind the fantastical stories your own families might have told. We will look at leads that would be useful to the descendants of not only the secret service agent, but also to those of the criminal or even the landlady involved.
Erica Dakin Voolich, PLCGS, is an author, blogger and teacher who has transitioned from using her problem solving skills in the mathematics classroom to solving family history problems. Erica has written articles in Crossroads (Winter 2015) and TIARA Journal (Winter 2013) and published seven family history books. She currently serves as the secretary of the Massachusetts Genealogical Council and formerly served as the secretary of the Middlesex Chapter of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists (MSOG). She was an award winning math teacher and now is the founder and president of the Somerville Mathematics Fund.
Erica has run numerous weaving and mathematics workshops in local, regional, national and international conferences in past decades. Currently she is focusing on genealogy.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This meeting will be online via Zoom.
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at: MXMAR2025
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
American Bloods: The Untamed Dynasty That Shaped a Nation by John Kaag
7:00 pm Virtual
The Bloods were one of America’s first and most expansive pioneer families. They explored and laid claim to the frontiers—geographic, political, intellectual, and spiritual—that would become the very core of the United States. John Kaag’s American Bloods is the account of a remarkable American family, of its participation in the making of a nation, and of how its members embodied the elusive ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. Inspired by the discovery of a mysterious manuscript in an old Massachusetts farmhouse, Kaag follows eight members of this family from the British Civil Wars in the seventeenth century through the founding of the colonies, the American Revolution, transcendentalism, the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, and the rise of first-wave feminism, all the way to the beginning of the twentieth century.
The Bloods were active participants in virtually every pivotal moment in American history, coming into contact with everyone from Emerson and Thoreau to John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Victoria Woodhull, and William James. The genealogy of the family tracks the ebb and flow of what Thoreau called “wildness,” an original untamed spirit that would recede in the making of America but would never be extinguished entirely. American Bloods is an enduring reminder of the risks and rewards that were taken in laying claim to the lands that would become the United States, and a composite portrait of America like no other. (Amazon Review)
Upcoming Book Club Readings:
April 1, 2025 - Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
May 6, 2025 - The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
June 3, 2025 - King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict by Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias
|
|
|
|
Saturday, March 1, 2025
Doing Genealogy Without Breaking the Bank
9:30 am to 11:30 am Hybrid: Gale Free Library and virtual
Sara Campbell presents:
Doing Genealogy Without Breaking the Bank
The number of genealogy websites, organizations, and publications can be daunting. This session explores techniques to save money on subscriptions and genealogy education. Learn how to find free resources, how to take advantage of trial memberships, and how to target your genealogy dollars. The most valuable genealogical sources are the ones that contain information about your family. Learn how to find them. This session covers the pros and cons of the top sites for searching genealogical databases, as well as in-person research.
About Sara Campbell:
Led by genealogist Sara Campbell. Lecturer, educator, author and editor, Sara has experience teaching non-credit courses in various genealogical topics at local colleges, and speaking to societies and library groups around the New England region. She has presented at the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium's conferences since 2017.
9:00 AM EST Library opens
9:30 AM EST Socializing
9:45 AM EST Business meeting
10:00 AM EST Presentation
The in-person location is:
Gale Free Library
23 Highland St
Holden, MA
Second floor program room, accessible via stairs or elevator
We invite you to join us for lunch after the meeting at a local restaurant.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Exploring ChatGPTs Created for Genealogy
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Attend in person or virtually via Zoom
Presented by Thomas MacEntee
Many genealogists are familiar with ChatGPT - the leading artificial intelligence platform for business and personal use. What most don’t know is that specialized ChatGPTs have been created to help expand your genealogy experience. Learn how to find these special tools and how they work.
Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community.
Georgetown Peabody Library
2 Maple St,
Georgetown MA
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at: MVFEB2025
|
|
|
|
Saturday, February 15, 2025
9th Annual Ancestors Day
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Attend in Person or Virtually via Zoom
Presented by Bristol Chapter Members
Every year, several members from the “Bristol Chapter” volunteer to share interesting stories and research anecdotes about their family. Members will enlighten attendees with their triumphs, journeys, family stories and roadblocks in their quest to find their ancestors.
In an entertaining way, you will learn fascinating facts about our members and their families. Not all the research will result in a happy ending but nevertheless everyone will leave enlightened and energized to solve a family lore. Regardless of what you learn, the day will prove to be fun and educational.
SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1464 County Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolFeb2025 |
|
|
|
Thursday, February 13, 2025
DNA Success
7:00 pm Virtual
This talk will cover some basics but include finding a genetic network and how to use subnetworks (like Enhanced Shared Matches from Pro Tool) to figure out your matches. Did you get a DNA kit recently? Kelli can answer all your questions and more.
Kelli Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and international genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s in Business Management. Kelli is the Director of Curriculum and Assessments for Blue Kayak, a K-12 textbook company. She also works as the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide. Kelli runs a small business—Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is the facilitator for Genetics, Genealogy, and You, an online DNA Interest Group. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speaker's Guild.
You must be logged in as a Member to participate in the event. Log-in at https://msoginc.org/members.php. Go to "Event Registration" to register for the webinar. |
|
|
|
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Taken with a Large Grain of Salt - Verifying Family Stories
10:30 am to 12:00 pm Virtual
Middlesex Chapter Meeting
Presented by Erica Voolich
We are told to collect the family stories while we can. Once you collect your family stories, you need to verify the facts. Of course you first check the vital records, census reports and then move onto probate, religious, immigration/naturalization/passenger lists, land, military, court records. Using the case of the Richardson family stories, we look at some other sources to use when searching to verify the given information.
Erica Dakin Voolich, PLCGS, is an author, blogger and teacher who has transitioned from using her problem solving skills in the mathematics classroom to solving family history problems. Erica has written articles in Crossroads (Winter 2015) and TIARA Journal (Winter 2013) and published seven family history books. She currently serves as the secretary of the Massachusetts Genealogical Council and formerly served as the secretary of the Middlesex Chapter of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists (MSOG). She was an award winning math teacher and now is the founder and president of the Somerville Mathematics Fund.
Erica has run numerous weaving and mathematics workshops in local, regional, national and international conferences in past decades. Currently she is focusing on genealogy.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This meeting will be online via Zoom.
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at: MXFEB2025
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are by Libby Copeland
7:00 pm Virtual
You swab your cheek or spit into a vial, then send your DNA test away to a lab somewhere. Weeks later you get a report that might tell you where your ancestors came from or if you carry certain genetic risks. Or the report could reveal a long-buried family secret and upend your entire sense of identity.
Soon a lark becomes an obsession, an incessant desire to find answers to questions at the core of your being, like “Who am I?” and “Where did I come from?” Welcome to the age of home genetic testing.
The Lost Family delves into the many lives that have been irrevocably changed by home DNA tests—a technology that represents the end of family secrets. So much can come out when you use biology to find out “the truth”:
- Adoptees who’ve used the tests to find their birth parents
- Donor-conceived adults who suddenly discover they have more than 50 siblings
- Hundreds of thousands of Americans who discover their fathers aren’t biologically related to them, a phenomenon so common it is known as a “non-paternity event”
- Individuals who are left to grapple with their conceptions of race and ethnicity when their true ancestral histories are discovered
In The Lost Family, journalist Libby Copeland investigates what happens when we embark on a vast social experiment with little understanding of the ramifications. Copeland explores the culture of genealogy buffs, the science of DNA, and the business of companies like Ancestry and 23andMe, all while tracing the story of one woman, her unusual results, and a relentless methodical drive for answers that becomes a thoroughly modern genetic detective story.
Throughout these accounts, Copeland explores the impulse toward genetic essentialism and raises the question of how much our genes should get to tell us about who we are. With more than 30 million people having undergone home DNA testing, the answer to that question is more important than ever. Gripping and masterfully told, The Lost Family is a spectacular book on a big, timely subject. (Amazon Review)
Upcoming Book Club Readings:
March 4, 2025 - American Bloods: The Untamed Dynasty That Shaped a Nation by John Kaag
April 1, 2025 - Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
May 6, 2025 - The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
|
|
|
|
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Stolen: Women Inventors Lost & Found
10:30 am to 12:30 am Virtual
Dr. Bill Thierfelder presents:
Stolen: Women Inventors Lost & Found
Throughout history, women have often been sidelined, often through lack of opportunity or out-right sexism. And many times, women who invented items — from disposable diapers to Monopoly — weren't given credit for their work. Women are responsible for early sketches of the computer, the discovery of the DNA double helix, and even fire escapes. But often men claimed those advancements as their own--or the woman was simply unacknowledged. This program explores 21 things most people don’t know were invented or discovered by women.
About Dr. Thierfelder:
Dr. Bill Thierfelder is a retired college professor who taught a variety of Arts and Humanities courses for 32 years at several New York universities and colleges, including St. John's University and Dowling College. He holds a Ph.D. in English, with minors in theater, art history and music history.
Please note that the meeting starts one hour later than usual.
10:30 AM EST Socializing
10:45 AM EST Business meeting
11:00 AM EST Presentation
This presentation will be Virtual via Zoom. Pre-registration is required if you are attending virtually at:
|
|
|
.jpg)
|
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Collins Family of Fall River, MA
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Virtual only
Presented by Carol Katsulis
I imagine you have heard of the Family, Associates and Neighbors, aka "FAN" which is sometimes an important avenue to work with on your research. The "FAN" will send you messages if you listen to them. In my research story I did just that. Come join me as I present to you my story about my maternal Third Great Grandfather, John Eagan Collins and his family. I had began my genealogy interest with this family about 34 years ago. He was born here in Massachusetts. He was a Irish Catholic, wealthy for those times and from what I discovered, he became a strong hardworking entrepreneur. He and his wife Mary had many children, however they suffered many losses of many of these children did not live past their prime. I will share abut the times when I found living cousins, whom shared with me, their genealogy research, antidotes and their family lore, and especially a special piece of family heirloom that was handed down to me by one of these cousins. I will share my new found evidence which bring them into my world of today. We have more in common with our past relatives than we realize.
I have been researching my family since 1990's with my mom as my sidekick. It began with a curiosity of finding our ancestors from New Hampshire. Mainly the above Collins family which was her side of the lineage. I have always enjoyed the research and finding new details about all my ancestors. I joined the MSOG and the MV Chapter about 8 years ago. I had attended my first meeting and the rest is history as they say. I have been on my chapters board, as Secretary, Vice President and have served two terms concurrent as President. I acquired my Genealogy Certificate in 2013 from Boston University.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This meeting will be online via Zoom.
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at: MVJAN2025
|
|
|
|
Saturday, January 18, 2025
Genealogy Resources at the New Bedford Public Library
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Attend in Person or Virtually via Zoom
Presented Virtually by Jodi Goodman and MaryEllen Cecil
New Bedford Free Public Library
The main library has a collection of 373,000 items in print, audio and video format for Adult, Young Adult and Children. It is home to significant historical holdings including the third largest collection worldwide of American Whaling materials, early 19th century Quaker materials, museum quality art and an extensive genealogy collection. Portuguese language materials are available at the Casa da Saudade branch and Spanish language materials are available at the Howland Green branch.
Jodi Goodman, Special Collections Librarian and MaryEllen Cecil, Special Collections Assistant work as a team in the Paul A. Cyr History Room at the New Bedford Free Public Library, where they support collection management and reference activities for the Historical collection (printed works, graphics, manuscripts).
SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1464 County Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolJan2025 |
|
|
|
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Explore Your DNA
10:30 am to 12:00 pm Virtual
Middlesex Chapter Meeting
Presented by Elizabeth Handler
Find out what you’re made of. Everyone seems to have had their DNA tested! But what does it mean? Learn how to better understand your DNA test results and why they’re different for different family members and from different testing companies. And who knew you had so many fourth to sixth cousins? That will be explained too. You’ll get an overview of the different kinds of DNA tests and testing companies, ethnicity results, cousin connections, and privacy concerns. Whether you’ve taken a DNA test or are just curious, join us to learn more about this rapidly expanding field.
Elizabeth Handler has been researching her ancestry for over 30 years and her husband’s Jewish ancestry for almost as long. She holds the Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research and is a member of several genealogical organizations and is a past Recording Secretary of MSOG. She first took a DNA test in late 2011 and has tested her DNA (as well as DNA of family members) at all four of the major DNA testing sites. She has been blogging about family history at From Maine to Kentucky ( https://frommainetokentucky.blogspot.com/) and A Jewish Genealogy Journey ( https://jewishgenealogyjourney.blogspot.com/) since 2011.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This meeting will be online via Zoom.
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at: MXJAN2025
|
|
|
|
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Finding the Stories of Your Ancestors- Using Social History to Bring Your Ancestor's History to Life
7:00 pm Virtual
This talk will help illustrate how to move beyond the traditional sources of just names and dates and use social history to learn what a typical day, or not so typical day, was like in your ancestor's life. What did your ancestors eat or wear, what was their daily life like, why did they do the things they did? Discover where to find a variety of resources that answer these questions and provide rich context to bring your ancestor's history to life.
Pamela Guye Holland is a professional genealogist located in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Her research specialties are Irish and Genetic Genealogy. She also has expertise in New England, New York (both city and state) and German research.
She has been conducting genealogical research since 2001 and works with private clients, as a Research Services genealogist at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and as a Green Room genealogist for Your Irish Heritage.
Pamela is a member of many organizations including the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, The Irish Ancestral Research Association (RIARA), The New England Historic Genealogical Society, and the Massachusetts Genealogical Society.
She was a First Place winner in the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists Writing Contest, in 2012; for the article “It Started with a Cough: A Month of Mourning for the Ritter and Blackett Families Living in Boston Highlands, Massachusetts,” published in MASSOG 36 (Fall 2012): 83-92.
You must be logged in as a Member to participate in the event. Log-in at https://msoginc.org/members.php. Go to "Event Registration" to register for the webinar.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Book Club - Remembering Peasants: A Personal History of a Vanished World by Patrick Joyce
7:00 pm Virtual
“What the skeleton is to anatomy, the peasant is to history, its essential hidden support.”
For over the past century and a half, and most notably over the last seventy years, the world has become increasingly urban, and the peasant way of life—the dominant way of life for humanity since agriculture began well over 6,000 years ago—is disappearing. In this vital history of peasantry, social historian Patrick Joyce aims to tell the story of this lost world and its people, and how we can commemorate their way of life. In one sense, this is a global history, ambitious in scope, taking us from the urbanization of the early 19th century to the present day. But more specifically, Joyce’s focus is the demise of the European peasantry and of their rites, traditions, and beliefs.
Alongside this he brings in stories of individuals as well as places, including his own family, and looks at how peasants and their ways of life have been memorialized in photographs, literature, and in museums. Joyce explores a people whose voice is vastly underrepresented, and is usually mediated through others, in human history—and now peasants are vanishing in one of the greatest historical transformations of our time.
Written with the skill and authority of a great historian, Remembering Peasants is a “first-class work” (Kirkus Reviews), a richly complex and passionate history written with exquisite care. It is also deeply resonant, as Joyce shines a light on people whose knowledge of the land is being irretrievably lost during our critical time of climate crisis and the rise of industrial agriculture. Enlightening, timely, and vitally important, this book commemorates an extraordinary culture whose impact on history—and the future—remains profoundly relevant. (Amazon Review)
Upcoming Book Club Readings:
February 4, 2025 - The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are by Libby Copeland
March 4, 2025 - American Bloods: The Untamed Dynasty That Shaped a Nation by John Kaag
April 1, 2025 - Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
|
|
|
|
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Social Impact of Tea in Our History
9:30 am to 11:30 am Virtual
Social Impact of Tea in our History
This lecture provides an engaging discussion on the social impact of tea in our history and society. We will begin with the discovery of tea and learn first about the spread of tea throughout Europe. The tea trade with China and the Opium Wars, its impact on the US and European industrialization, and the current status of tea today. Throughout the presentation, enjoy sipping teas from the major tea producing countries.
About Danielle Beaudette:
Danielle Beaudette is one of the first 15 in the world to be certified in all levels as a Tea Specialist through the Specialty Tea Institute, NY and has completed over 95 tea seminars at the World Tea Expo. She has researched and learned first-hand about the production of tea through her Asian tea travels and relationships with Chinese, Indian, Sri Lankan, Japanese, Nepalese, and Taiwanese tea growers. Danielle sources only the finest, high quality, freshly imported teas, earning The Cozy Tea Cart the title of “Best of NH” from New Hampshire Magazine. Just as important as the quality of her tea, she promotes excellence in service and pride in educating her customers.
9:30 AM EST Socializing
9:45 AM EST Business meeting
10:00 AM EST Presentation
This presentation will be Virtual via Zoom. Pre-registration is required at:
|
|
|
|
Saturday, December 28, 2024
December - No Meeting
No meeting this month.
We want to wish you Happy Holidays.
We hope you enjoy the most joyous and wonderous time this Holiday Season with those who mean so much to you.
See you in January 2025
|
|
|
|
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Gee I Wish I’d Known That From the Start - Search Tips and Tricks
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Attend in Person or Virtually via Zoom
Presented Virtually by Carol Ansel, Director at the Godfrey Memorial Library
Carol Ansel, Director at the Godfrey Memorial Library in Middletown, will share a number of hints to make your online genealogy searching easier and more effective. Some of these are general practice for experienced online searchers, but some are not nearly so obvious. In fact, Carol learned many of them from other genealogical researchers. The kind of tips that will make you think, "Gee, I wish I'd known that from the start!" Join Carol and up your searching game.
Carol Ansel is the Director of the Godfrey Memorial Library. She has worked as both a public and school librarian; when she got bitten by the genealogical research bug she took the genealogical certificate program at Boston University and soon thereafter landed a job at the Godfrey, a genealogy and local history library in Middletown, CT. The combination of running a library, helping others with their research, and writing genealogical reports is a dream job for her.
SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1464 County Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolDec2024 |
|
|
.png)
|
Saturday, December 14, 2024
The Sipe Family Saga: You Never Know What You Might Discover in Your Research Journey!
10:30 am to 12:00 pm Virtual
Middlesex Chapter Meeting
Presented by Jeff Schiebe
Jeff Schiebe is an avid genealogist who has researched his family roots both in the US and abroad and has given many presentations on numerous topics. In this very informative session, Jeff will take you through his journey to find answers about one particular puzzling line of his ancestry. He will share some of the tools and techniques used along the way and will describe some of the startling facts he discovered about these ancestors. Jeff will weave some interesting historical aspects very relevant to this journey from Germany in the early 1700’s until today.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This meeting will be online via Zoom.
|
|
|
.jpg)
|
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The Good and the Very Very Bad
7:00 pm Virtual
How can your great-grandmother have had three children shortly after she died at age 87? Do you automatically believe the online family trees that others have created, or do you double and triple check the information to confirm you know who is on that tree and the information is correct? Learn how with expert genealogist Dave Robison.
Dave Robison, owner of Old Bones Genealogy of New England, is a professional genealogist from Western Massachusetts. He holds a Certificate of Genealogical Research from Boston University and has completed the 18-month ProGen course in Professional Genealogy. He is an active member of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists (MSOG) Worcester Chapter, Central New York Genealogical Society (CNYGS), the Alabama (ASG) and Tennessee Society of Genealogists (TSG).
Dave is the former President of both the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society (WMGS) and the Connecticut Society of Genealogists. He is a past President of New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Dave was heavily involved in the biennial conferences of the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium (NERGC) 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 (President) and 2023 (President). He was a member of the Chicopee (Mass) Historic Commission from 2019 to 2023 and also, a member of the Chicopee Historic Society.
As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Dave is the former President of the Pomeroy Chapter as well SAR State Registrar/Genealogist.
Dave is a resident of Chicopee, Massachusetts where he lives with his wife Karen, a retired RN for the Chicopee School System. Between them, they have 5 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
You must be logged in as a Member to participate in the event. Log-in at https://msoginc.org/members.php. Go to "Event Registration" to register for the webinar. |
|
|
|
Saturday, December 7, 2024
A History of Marrying for Reasons Other than Love
9:30 am to 11:30 am Virtual
Marcia Zug presents:
A History of Marrying for Reasons Other than Love
Why have people married through history besides for love? Arranged marriages? Marriages of convenience? Dowries? Join us for this enlightening conversation with Professor Marcia Zug as she discusses the history of marriage, how it's affected so many of our social norms, and if there is a benefit to taking economics and politics out of marriage so it can just be about love.
About Marcia:
Zug, a family law professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, is the author of You'll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love.
9:30 AM EST Socializing
9:45 AM EST Business meeting
10:00 AM EST Presentation
This presentation will be Virtual via Zoom. Pre-registration is required at:
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Book Club - The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von Trapp
7:00 pm Virtual
With nearly 1,500 Broadway performances, six Tony Awards, more than three million albums sold, and five Academy Awards, The Sound of Music, based on the lives of Maria, the baron, and their singing children, is as familiar to most of us as our own family history. But much about the real-life woman and her family was left untold.
Here, Baroness Maria Augusta Trapp tells in her own beautiful, simple words the extraordinary story of her romance with the baron, their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria, and their life in America.
Maria Augusta Kutschera was born on a train en route to Vienna just before midnight on January 26, 1905. Her mother died when she was only two years old and her father left her with an elderly cousin so that he could be free to travel. She experienced a lonely and very strict upbringing without any siblings or other children in the household. She was raised a socialist and an atheist and was actively cynical towards all religions. It was during a visit to a church to hear a Bach concert that her mind was changed when she heard the words of a well-known priest, Father Kronseder. Her meeting with him led to her entering a convent to become a nun. While she was devoted to the convent life, she was taken away from the outdoor activities she once thrived on. Her doctor, concerned that her health was failing, helped the nuns to decide to send Maria to the home of retied naval captain Georg Von Trapp, to be governess to his bedridden daughter. On November 26, 1927, Maria and Georg were married. The rest is history. (Amazon Review)
|
|
|
|
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Chapter Meeting Workshop
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Georgetown Peabody Library 2 Maple St, Georgetown MA
In PERSON ONLY workshop.
We had a great time at our last workshop and broke down a brickwall or two. Bring along your laptop, your research papers and of course yourself to this fun morning of conversation with like minded Genealogy enthusiasts. You will have a great time.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC |
|
|
|
Saturday, November 16, 2024
Acadian/Cajun Church and Census Records Found in Canada, American Colonies, France and Louisiana
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Attend in Person or Virtually via Zoom
Presented In-Person by Sindi Broussard Terrien
Discover the interesting history of Acadians and Cajun descendants while learning about the resources available for your genealogy research.
Sindi Broussard Terrien is a research genealogist, specializing in Acadian and Cajun women. Her blog My Many Mothers features biographies of her many great-grandmothers. She recently published Genealogy Fun While Developing New Genealogists and Fun with Genealogy Activity Book 1 which can be purchased on Amazon.com. She has written nine articles for the American-French Genealogical Society’s publication Je Me Souviens Magazine where she is an associate editor. Sindi Broussard Terrien received a certificate in genealogical research from Boston University. Her passion for genealogy spans over twenty years.
Sindi also hosts Finding A Publisher, another emerging website, to help genealogy writers connect with publications.
SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1464 County Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolNov2024
|
|
|
|
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Researching Colonial New England Ancestors: The Best Resources
7:00 pm Virtual
The talk will focus on a fifteen or so specific research resources which have been shown to be the most valuable. As we start getting closer to the 250th Celebration in 2026, there is renewed interest in Early American genealogical research, whether a family relative or someone from the towns and graveyards of New England, Albert Fiacre will discuss some of the best resources of Colonial New England Research.
Albert E. Fiacre, a staff member of the Godfrey Memorial Library since 2009 and Board member since 2015, is a retired financial executive with a BA degree from Middlebury College and an MBA degree from New York University. In 2018, he was the winner of the National Genealogical Society’s competition: “Award for Excellence: Genealogy and Family History Book.” He also was the winner of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists Certificate of Achievement for the best genealogy in 2019. Al earned his Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University in 2016.
You must be logged in as a Member to participate in the event. Log-in at https://msoginc.org/members.php. Go to "Event Registration" to register for the webinar.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Paleography
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Virtual
Edwin Strickland II Presents: Paleography- Reading Old Hand Writing
After only a little research, we all have to begin to read original documents. Often our eyes glaze over after the first few lines or we skip through the document looking for names and overlooking many important details.
This short course in paleography explores the development of the Roman alphabet and the cursive hand (including the pesky thorn). We will cover the Five Steps to Understanding Old Documents, and Transcriptions and Special Characters and Translation. Where wi-fi is available, there is a short interactive test of our skills.
About Edwin:
Edwin W. Strickland II, has over 40 years’ experience as both an amateur and professional genealogist. He was raised by his grandparents on a farm owned by the Strickland Family since 1789. Being surrounded by family artifacts and stories, he developed a sense of heritage at an early age. By age 24 he was off on his own, seeking out missing ancestors and their descendants. In 2000, he began to take on clients. Since 2006, he has shifted his focus to teaching and lecturing.
6:30 pm EST Socializing
6:45 pm EST Business meeting
7:00 pm EST Presentation
|
|
|
.png)
|
Saturday, November 9, 2024
November - No Meeting
Middlese Chapter -
No meeting this month.
See you in December 2024
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Book Club - The Mayflower: The Families, the Voyage, and the Founding of America by Rebecca Fraser
7:00 pm Virtual
The voyage of the Mayflower and the founding of Plymouth Colony is one of the seminal events in world history. But the poorly-equipped group of English Puritans who ventured across the Atlantic in the early autumn of 1620 had no sense they would pass into legend. They had eighty casks of butter and two dogs but no cattle for milk, meat, or ploughing. They were ill-prepared for the brutal journey and the new land that few of them could comprehend. But the Mayflower story did not end with these Pilgrims’ arrival on the coast of New England or their first uncertain years as settlers. Rebecca Fraser traces two generations of one ordinary family and their extraordinary response to the challenges of life in America.
Edward Winslow, an apprentice printer, fled England and then Holland for a life of religious freedom and opportunity. Despite the intense physical trials of settlement, he found America exotic, enticing, and endlessly interesting. He built a home and a family, and his remarkable friendship with King Massassoit, Chief of the Wampanoags, is part of the legend of Thanksgiving. Yet, fifty years later, Edward’s son Josiah was commanding the New England militias against Massassoit’s son in King Philip’s War.
The Mayflower is an intensely human portrait of the Winslow family written with the pace of an epic. Rebecca Fraser details domestic life in the seventeenth century, the histories of brave and vocal Puritan women and the contradictions between generations as fathers and sons made the painful decisions which determined their future in America. (Amazon Review)
Upcoming Book Club Readings:
December 3, 2024 The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von Trapp |
|
|
|
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Annual Meeting
2024 Annual Meeting and Program
Registration is closed
When: Saturday, November 2, 2024 8:30am to 3:30pm
Where: Marlborough Country Club, 200 Concord Rd. Marlborough, MA
Speaker: David Allen Lambert
|
|
|
|
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Basics of Genealogical Research
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Tyngsborough Old Town Hall, Tyngsborough, MA
Hybrid meeting, Zoom or in person at the Old Town Hall located at
10 Kendall Rd, Tyngsborough, MA
(see below for parking information)
Basics of Genealogical Research
Names, Dates, Places, and Events make up the core of genealogical research. Let’s discuss the importance of each piece of data on your family as well as the various relationships you may encounter. We’ll also talk about both on and off-line places to research as well as furthering your genealogical education.
Seema-Jayne Kenney is an experienced software instructor and a professional genealogist. Her known roots are deep in New England as well as England, Germany, and Sweden, with DNA research adding a line in the Netherlands. She has a certificate in Genealogical Research from BU, completed ProGen and is an active member and officer of several societies. She has served as Treasurer and President of the Worcester Chapter of MSOG as well as at the State level as past President and is currently co-editor of the MASSOG Journal.
Free and Open to the Public
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/MVOCT2024
Parking:
Across the street in the public parking lot and on Winslow Rd there is street parking.
At the Meeting House on the corner of Kendall and Middlesex.
Do not park in the dirt parking lot on Flint Pond Rd or the Driveway next to the Old Town Hall.
https://www.tyngsboroughma.gov/195/Old-Town-Hall
|
|
|
|
Saturday, October 19, 2024
Whaling Wife Lucy Roberts Gifford
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Attend in Person or Virtually via Zoom
Presented In-Person by Sara Campbell
Lucie Gifford left New Bedford in 1857 on the whaling ship HOPE as a newlywed. When she returned 7 1/2 years later, she was a mature wife who had experienced long months at sea and made friends on many South Pacific islands. She had given birth to 4 children and became a true partner of her husband. Captain Leonard Gifford. We will learn about her life using the best of primary records, personal correspondence, as well as newspaper reports, and other legal documents. This case study will leave you wishing you could have known this brave local woman.
Sara Campbell is an author, educator, and editor. She started studying whale ships while living on a Pacific island herself. She is a member of the Historical Commission in her hometown of Erving, MA.
"This program has applied for support from the Somerset Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency."
SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1464 County Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolOct2024 |
|
|
|
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Messages from the Grave: Listening to your Ancestor’s Tombstone
7:00 pm Virtual
This colorful photographic lecture not only gives tips for finding cemeteries, reading worn tombstones, and the meaning of the carved symbols, but also illustrates common problems which are encountered and what might be done to overcome them. Following these techniques allows the gravestone inscriptions to “speak” to you about your ancestor’s life.
Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, was co-director of GRIP, coordinated the "Genealogy as a Profession" course at IGHR, authored two chapters in Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice and Standards, created and instructed part of BU’s Certificate course, and past-president BCG. She has been involved in ProGen Study since the beginning, being the mentor for groups 1, 25, and 50.
You must be logged in as a Member to participate in the event. Log-in at https://msoginc.org/members.php. Go to "Event Registration" to register for the webinar.
|
|
|
|
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Filling in the Gaps with US Censuses and City Directories
10:30 am to 12:00 pm Virtual
Middlesex Chapter Meeting
Filling in the Gaps with US Censuses and City Directories
We will explore how to find your ancestors in the US Federal and State Censuses and City Directories. Look at the information that can be found that may help fill in the gaps in your family tree. If you are having trouble finding your Ancestors in these records, bring your questions to this meeting and if time allows, we will try to help you find them.
Diane Laferriere has been a member of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists since 2010. When the Merrimack Valley Chapter was formed and was the Chapter Treasurer until 2021. She has also attended and volunteered at many of the New England Regional Genealogical Conferences, or NERGC (pronounced “nerk”), a gathering of genealogists from all over the U.S. and other countries: three days’ worth of all thing’s genealogy. The next conference will be in 2025 from October 29th through November 1st in Manchester NH.
Diane began researching her family in the late 1970s after a school project to create a family tree could only be completed back to her grandparents. In the beginning her research consisted of looking at the US Federal Census at the National Archives in Waltham on microfilm readers, visiting libraries to look at city directories and writing letters. Today she has subscriptions to most of the online genealogy sites.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
This meeting will be online via Zoom.
|
|
|
.jpeg)
|
Saturday, October 5, 2024
A Visit with Longfellow House
9:30 am to 11:30 am Hybrid: Millbury Public Library and Virtual
Park Ranger Emily Levine presents:
A Visit with Longfellow House
What does a home reveal about its occupants, and about our shared history? Join Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site public programs manager Emily Levine for a presentation and conversation about the remarkable history and unique collections of the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House in Cambridge. This site bears witness to the history of slavery in New England and the early free Black community of Cambridge, and George Washington’s development as a leader. In the 19th century, it became the home of famed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and a hub of literary and artistic life. The house also reveals a rich history of the historic preservation movement and LGBTQ+ community. Today, Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters is an active site of arts, scholarship, stewardship, and community.
About Emily:
Emily Levine has been the Supervisory Ranger for Interpretation and Education at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters since March 2020. She previously worked at Lowell National Historical Park (MA), and as the Interpretive Supervisor on Alcatraz Island and at Muir Woods National Monument (CA). Emily holds a BA in history and a master’s degree in museum education from Tufts University.
9:00 AM EDT Library opens
9:30 AM EDT Socializing
9:45 AM EDT Business meeting
10:00 AM EDT Presentation
The presentation is free and open to the public.
In Person Location:
Millbury Public Library
128 Elm St
Millbury, MA
The library requests no food in the meeting room.
We invite you to join us for lunch at a local restaurant after the meeting.
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Book Club - Judge Sewall's Apology by Richard Francis
7:00 pm Virtual
The Salem witch hunt has entered our vocabulary as the very essence of injustice. Judge Samuel Sewall presided at these trials, passing harsh judgment on the condemned. But five years later, he publicly recanted his guilty verdicts and begged for forgiveness. This extraordinary act was a turning point not only for Sewall but also for America's nascent values and mores.
In Judge Sewall's Apology, Richard Francis draws on the judge's own diaries, which enables us to see the early colonists not as grim ideologues, but as flesh-and-blood idealists, striving for a new society while coming to terms with the desires and imperfections of ordinary life. Through this unsung hero of the American conscience -- a Puritan, an antislavery agitator, a defender of Native American rights, and a Utopian theorist -- we are granted a fresh perspective on a familiar drama. (Amazon Review)
Upcoming Book Club Readings:
November 5, 2024 The Mayflower: The Families, the Voyage, and the Founding of America by Rebecca Fraser
December 3, 2024 The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von Trapp
|
|
|
|
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Writing Your Family History
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Georgetown Peabody Library Georgetown MA
Hybrid meeting, in person at the Library or via Zoom.
Speaker: Kelli Bergheimer
Using the backdrop of Kelli’s eight great-grandparents, learn how to write the stories of your own ancestors. Sometimes the hardest part is getting started! Learn what makes a good story while still capturing the genealogical details and facts. Each session will focus on telling a story in a different way to spark ideas on how to tell your story. Imagine you found a box and inside it was a story written by your great-grandfather—where he lived, his job, his family. Would you care about misspellings? Would it matter if the penmanship was poor? Or the grammar wasn’t perfect? Stop making excuses! Your descendants will be grateful for anything you write and compile, so let’s get started!
Kelli Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and international genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s in Business Management. Kelli is the Director of Curriculum and Assessments for Blue Kayak, a K-12 textbook company. She also works as the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide. Kelli runs a small business—Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is the facilitator for Genetics, Genealogy, and You, an online DNA Interest Group. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild.
Free and Open to the Public
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/MVSEPT2024
|
|
|
|
Saturday, September 21, 2024
The 15 Habits of Highly Frugal Genealogists
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Attend in Person or Virtually via Zoom
Presented Virtually by Thomas MacEntee
Who said genealogy and the hunt for your family history has to be expensive? Just as in any other industry, there are some tricks to getting the best deals and bargains in the genealogy marketplace. With "The 15 Habits of Highly Frugal Genealogists" you’ll learn the tricks and also how to think like a savvy frugal genealogist! Learn how savvy genealogists are finding success with 15 basic habits of frugality. You’ll not only find a list of key resources but more importantly you’ll learn how to embrace the “mind set” of finding the best ways to save money while researching your ancestors.
Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community.
SOMERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1464 County Street
Somerset, MA 02726
Business Meeting 11:00-11:30 am
Member Sharing 11:30-11:55 am
Presentation Begins at Noon.
This program is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information contact: bristol@msoginc.org
Schedule of Events Available at: https://msoginc.org
Those who wish to attend virtually, can pre-register at https://tinyurl.com/BristolSep2024 |
|
|
|
Saturday, September 14, 2024
State of the Middlesex Chapter
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Virtual Only
Middlesex Chapter Members,
Please join us on Saturday September 15th for a State of the Chapter meeting. Kathy Kaldis is dealing with some medical issues right now. Kathy, Eric and George could use your help with the future state of your Chapter.
Please join us for an open discussion and bring your ideas.
|
|
|
|
|
