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Past TimesMASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS, INC.
President's Message
Volume 8, Issue 7, March 2017 www.msoginc.org
The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. 1
Note: On Thursday, 9 March,from 7–8:30 p.m., I will berepresenting MSOG at a free ThursdayNight Genealogy Series at the ReubenHoar Library in Littleton,Massachusetts. My topic is“Documentation Without Tears.” Ifyou are able to attend, please registerin advance on the Events Calendar atlittletonlibrary.org or call978-‐540-‐2600. I would love to see youthere. Please come and show theLittleton group what they are missingby not being part of our Society!
“In like a lion, out like a lamb.”Here we are at the very beginning ofMarch, and howmany times have youheard that adage already? Weatheraside, there is certainly a great deal ofenergy now around the New EnglandRegional Genealogical Consortiumconference, NERGC 2017, taking placein April. Whether you already knowthat you’re going, can’t decidewhether you’re going, can go for onlypart of the conference, or just can’t goat all, there are still ways toexperience at least a little of theexcitement. As long as you have ahome internet connection, you don’teven have to get out of your bunnyslippers—at least not right away.
The genealogical “press” in NewEngland has been stirring upexcitement by interviewing some ofthe speakers who will be at NERGC2017. Yours truly was interviewedrecently by Dan Young of Access
Nashua in New Hampshire about mypresentation “French-‐CanadianImmigrants and Catholic SacramentalRecords.” View that interview anytime at http://discoveringyourpast.com,Episode 4. It is a bit of a preview ofmy talk.
On Friday, 28 April, there will bea total of five talks on French-‐Canadian ancestry, in fact. MSOG’sMembership Director, MargaretFortier, begins in the morning with“French-‐Canadian Genealogy: GettingStarted.” Michael Leclerc, CG, who asmany of you know used to work atthe New England HistoricGenealogical Society, will present twomore-‐advanced lectures. Wrappingup, George Findlen, CG, who is on theeditorial board of the NationalGenealogical Society Quarterly andhas published there on French-‐Canadian research, will present“Tracking Your Ancestor Across theBorder into Quebec.”
Online you can read manyinterviews with NERGC 2017speakers as well. Elizabeth PyleHandler, who is Tech Director for theMiddlesex Chapter, is one of theofficial bloggers for NERGC 2017. (Ifyou listen to Episode 4 above you willhear Heather Wilkinson Rojo, aMerrimack Valley member, talkabout the official bloggers.) Elizabethrecently published an interview withDiahan Southard, who calls herselfthe “DNA Guide,” and with Maureen
Taylor, the “Photo Detective.” Readboth interviews atfrommainetokentucky.blogspot.com.
“The day before” NERGC 2017,Wednesday, is separate from themain conference and has separateregistration. There are five specialtracks—Librarians, Technology, DNA,Professionals, and Societies—as wellas special workshops. MSOG issponsoring a workshop that morning,“Getting Started on Your FamilyHistory Research.” State TreasurerMichael McClellan, Middlesex ChapterPresident Deborah Stewart, and I willbe leading that workshop. We wouldlove to help you get going on the righttrack. The fee for the three-‐hourworkshop is only $30.
As you can infer, NERGC 2017offers something for genealogists ofall levels and at many price points.Additional offerings are described inthis issue of Past Times and online atnergc.org. And I’ll let you in on evenmore next month.
Denise Picard LindgrenPresident
Past Times Volume 8, Issue 7, March 2017
The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. 2
WORCESTERSaturday, March 4
10:00 AM
Julie Roberts Sczepankiewicz
"I Found My Village! NowWhat?Locating Vital Records in Poland
Using Online Resources"
Saxe RoomWorcester Public Library
3 Salem SquareWorcester, MA
BRISTOLSaturday, March 18Gravestone Girls
11:00 AM Business Meeting
11:30 AMMember Sharing
12:00 Presentation
Somerset Public Library1464 County StreetSomerset, MA
MIDDLESEXSaturday, March 11
1:30 PMCheryll Toney Holley
“Native American Genealogy: AnIntroduction”
Acton Memorial Library486 Main StreetActon, MA
MERRIMACK VALLEYSaturday, March 25
10:00 AMJeff Carpenter &
Sandra Murray
"Understanding Y-‐DNA &Autosomal DNA Tests"
Georgetown Peabody Library2 Maple StreetGeorgetown, MA
MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS, INC.MSOGINC.ORGP.O. Box 215
Ashland, MA 01721-‐0215
Statement of PurposeThe Society’s mission is to promote and encourageMassachusetts genealogical research at all levels—beginner,amateur, and professional. The Society is a Massachusettsnonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The corporation wasformed for the following reasons:
• “To bring together all persons interested in genealogy,beginner, amateur, and professional;
• To set standards of conduct; to insure public access torecords; to provide education in genealogicalresearch;
• To act in whatever manner needed to promotegenealogy and family history; and
• To bring together families both past and present.”
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,6 June 1975
Past TimesEditor: Diane Brooks-‐Sherry
Past Times is published monthly (except for July & August)by the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., and isavailable free to all at msoginc.org.
Membership InformationMembers receive the Past Times newsletter, free issues ofMASSOG, free queries, access to webinars, and participation inthe Members’ Surname Project.Membership is from September 1 to August 31, withmembership renewals due by July 1.
• INDIVIDUAL dues are $25.00 per year• FAMILY dues are $30.00 per year
Membership applications received July 1st and thereafter will beapplied to the following year’s membership.Membership choices are:
• BR/Bristol• MV/Merrimack Valley• MX/Middlesex• WR/Worcester
Chapter affiliation is at the complete discretion of themember, regardless of residence. The membershipapplication is on our website.Join using PayPal online or mail your application and check.
Address any questions to [email protected] or to theappropriate officer, committee chair, or delegate; emailaddresses are listed on page 5.
WEBINARTuesday, March 21, 7:00 PM
Sara Campbell“Did Grandma Have a Filling Station?
Using Married Women's Business Certificates”For Members Only
Register at msoginc.org.
NERGC* 2017April 26-‐29
MassMutual Convention CenterSpringfield, MA
Investigate the complete conference brochure and register atwww.nergc.org.
*The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., is a Charter Member of
the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc.
ContentsCalendar 2New Members 3New Legacy QuickGuide 3Chapter Nominations Open 3MSOG Speakers at NERGC 4Webinar Series 2017 Call for Speakers 5Volunteer for MSOG 5Advice for Attending NERGC 2017 6
CALENDAR
Past Times Volume 8, Issue 7, March 2017
The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. 3
Nominating Chapter Officersfor 2017 Elections
By Carol Gafford, Bristol ChapterIn any organization, officers preserve the formal structure that allows efficientand ordered running of the group. One of the reasons we still use Robert’s Rulesof Order or some variation of it is to keep meetings organized and coherent.Chapter officers are important for many of the same reasons. Picking the rightleadership is key, as these leaders will shape the future of a group.
The four traditional officers are the President, Vice-‐President, Secretary andTreasurer. The president's role is vital because his or her vision sets the tone andaids the group in achieving its goals. The president's purpose includes growingthe organization and steering the direction it will take. The vice president's job isimportant as he or she provides back-‐up for the president, but it also comes withits own duties -‐-‐ including, many times, organizing the monthly programs. Thesecretary is vital for the keeping of the records, and we all know how importantdocumentation is. The written record becomes the historical record and whatpeople will read in the future. And key to any organization is the role of thetreasurer, the money person. Finding a good treasurer is usually, I find the mostdifficult.
As nominating committees begin looking for people to fill these importantpositions, they have their work cut out for them. What do they look for? BristolChapter’s nominating committee consists of members Richard Reid and LyndaMartel. As Richard noted, “An officer is someone willing to use their talents orskills or be willing to learn how to move the chapter forward." The question athand is this: Are you willing to be that member?
Diane LaFerriere, who is serving for the first time on the Merrimack Valleynominating committee with Kelly Fox, said, “I look for someone who attends mostof the meetings, mingles and gets involved. It shows interest and availability.”
As all four chapters nominating committees start the hard task of findingdedicated officers, we wish them well and support them in this crucial and pivotalaspect of committee work.
Contact your Chapter President or Nominating Committee if you are able to serve.
New MembersBristol
William Desmarais
Merrimack Valley
Ellen Hawkins
Middlesex
Ariana Fiorello
Deborah Keyes
Danielle Mahaney
We have 326 registeredmembers.
Bristol 70
Merrimack Valley 60
Middlesex 108
Worcester 88
Please send any changes incontact information [email protected].
Thank you.
• 227 links in all!• Timeline of Massachusetts history• More than 1.5 pages of research
strategies for Massachusetts• 27 new links in 12 different
categories• Covers more of Western
Massachusetts
• More on-‐line access too Vital recordso Census reportso Catholic recordso Cemeterieso Maps of assorted typeso African American
resourceso Native American resourceso Historical museumso Archives and libraries
New Version of the Massachusetts Genealogy Legacy QuickGuide
Available NOW!
Past Times Volume 8, Issue 7, March 2017
The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. 4
Pam HollandBy Pam Holland, Merrimack Valley Chapter
I’m proud to announce that I’ll be presenting two lectures at the NERGC Convention being held April 26to 29 in Springfield, Mass. The first is on Wednesday during a special add-‐on Technology Day in Track 1-‐ Research with Technology. If you are visually oriented, you will love "Using Pinterest for Genealogy."I’ll be demonstrating how Pinterest is a great way to display and share your genealogy. If you are notfamiliar with Pinterest, think of it as a virtual bulletin board. Instead of a cork board on your wall,where you stick things you like to look at or might need for later, you are putting (“pinning”) imagesfrom the web onto an online board. I’ll have lots of examples I’ve created for surnames and families,research locations, timelines of ancestor’s life events, and more. For a sneak peek seewww.pinterest.com/pamelagholland/.
My second lecture is on Friday in the Technology Classroom, where participants can follow along on their laptops ortablets. In "Mapping Irish Locations Online," I’ll be showing how to use online mapping tools to locate Poor Law Unions,Civil Parishes, Catholic Parishes, and Townlands. And for each jurisdiction I’ll provide information on what Irish recordswere created in it and how to access the records. The different layers of jurisdiction and where to find records can befrustrating for Irish researchers, but after this lecture I’m sure you will have the tools to find what you are looking for.
MSOG Sponsored Speaker
Seema-‐Jayne KenneyBy Diane Brooks-‐Sherry
Seema is a very active, involvedprofessional genealogist. In additionto operating her own business, sheserves as the Historian/Archivist forthe Society, is President of theWorcester Chapter, and is Co-‐Chair ofNERGC 2017.
On Saturday, April 29, Seema willpresent "Social History of Early Massachusetts" as part ofthe theme Social History Might Hold the Key. Sheincludes information from the arrival of Europeansettlers through the early twentieth century.Seema includes information about themigration that occurs within New England,the formation of the state and countyborders, and the effects ofindustrialization.
The growth and changesexperienced in Massachusettsand New England affectgenealogical research. Historicalchanges affect the types of records keptand who has custody. Several events notalways included in school history books willbe described and may have impacted yourancestors anywhere in what is now known as NewEngland.
MSOG Sponsored Speaker
Michael J. HallBy Diane Brooks-‐Sherry
Michael J. Hall, a proud member of theBristol Chapter who does not reside inMassachusetts, is passionate aboutgenealogy and collaboration. As DeputyChief Genealogical Officer forFamilySearch.org International, he workswith organizations around the world. Hisresearch specialties include Portuguese-‐American ancestry, local history, and military records.
Michael will lead a three-‐hour workshop, "PortugueseResearch," on Saturday, April 29. This workshop isthe longest offered at NERGC 2017. Theextended time allows him to include moredetails about Portuguese-‐Americanbaptism, marriage, death, and passportrecords. Each record type containsmany details beyond what itssimple title suggests. Michaelwill demonstrate throughexamples how to closely examine
each record and capture every cluepossible.
The workshop requires a $25 fee inaddition to the conference registration. Your
investment of funds is wise. Spending threehours in a small group with Michael is similar to
being able to take a master class with an outstandingmusician. You are able to ask questions important to youand get professional advice on your skills in a short time.
MSOGMEMBERS
SPEAKING ATNERGC
Past Times Volume 8, Issue 7, March 2017
The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. 5
ADVICE FOR ATTENDING NERGCBy Denise Cross, Worcester ChapterAre you new to NERGC? Neverattended a genealogy conferencebefore? It can be overwhelming ifyou arrive without a plan.I learned about NERGC 2015 while Iwas enrolled in the BostonUniversity certificate course ingenealogical research two years ago.I had never been to a genealogy-‐focused conference before, andalthough it was short notice for meto get time off, I was able to attendfor one day.As a first-‐time attendee with someconference experience, I knew toexplore the day’s offerings andchoose the sessions I would like toattend before I arrived. I found a
variety that fit my interests, researchneeds, and education goals.If you’ve never attended, readthrough the schedule and makenotes of session times to help younavigate the conference venue. Ifthere is no session that interests youduring a time block, pick somethingon an ethnic group or location youhave had little exposure to. You willlearn something new and perhapshave a new perspective to apply toyour areas of research.Leave some time for exploring thevendor exhibits. The vendor hall ismore crowded during the scheduledunopposed time. When sessions arerunning it is less crowded. But I dofind myself popping in and out
between sessions often. There is somuch to see.Another conference feature I tookadvantage of was a 20-‐minuteconsult with a volunteer genealogistat the Ancestors Road Show. Ibrought my research notes and asummary of what I had and myresearch questions to discuss. It wasvery helpful to get a new perspectiveon my research and formulate somenext steps in my research.One day was a great introduction,but there was so much more Imissed. As soon as registrationopened for NERGC 2017, I signed upfor the full conference plus programson Wednesday. I can’t wait to be inSpringfield in April.
STATE OFFICERS & BOARDMEMBERS
President Denise Picard Lindgren [email protected] President C. Yvonne Hickey [email protected] Michael McClellan [email protected] Secretary Patricia Stano-‐Carpenter [email protected] Secretary Lynda Page [email protected] Director Margaret R. Fortier [email protected]/Archivist Seema-‐Jayne Kenney [email protected] Chapter Kathleen Rubano, President [email protected] Valley Chapter Karen Trearchis, President [email protected] Chapter Deborah Lee Stewart, President [email protected] Chapter Seema-‐Jayne Kenney, President [email protected] Editor George D. Martin [email protected] Times Editor Diane Brooks-‐Sherry [email protected] Hope Tillman [email protected]
COMMITTEES & CHAIRS
Annual Meeting C. Yvonne Hickey [email protected] Robert Farmer [email protected] & Education Seema-‐Jayne Kenney [email protected] Hope Tillman [email protected] Contest Editorial Board [email protected]
DELEGATES
FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) [email protected] (Massachusetts Genealogical Council) Charlene Sokal [email protected] (New England Regional Margaret Fortier, Seema-‐Jayne Kenney, [email protected] Consortium, Inc.) and Charlene Sokal
THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS, INC.
The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. 6
Past Times Volume 8, Issue 7, March 2017
P.O. Box 215
Ashland, MA 01721-0215
http://www.msoginc.org
Webinar Series 2017 Call for SpeakersThe Massachusetts Society of Genealogists (MSOG) is committed togenealogical education and has offered members a monthly webinar seriessince 2015. The members-‐only benefit provides free additional learningopportunities participants can access from their own computers. Webinarrecordings are available to members for 1 month after the livepresentations. Topics include (but are certainly not limited to)Massachusetts and New England research.
We are currently scheduling speakers through May 2018. If you have atopic you believe would be of interest to our members, please email us [email protected] with details of your presentation. We are always onthe lookout for new and interesting topics and welcome any and allsuggestions!
CONTACT US
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.msoginc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkaboutgenealogy/
MSOGMEMBERVOLUNTEERS NEEDEDAT NERGC APRIL 26-‐29
MSOG Booth: [email protected] if you areable to help. The Exhibit Hall will beopen Thursday and Friday, April 27 &28, from 9:00 to 5:00, and Saturday,April 29, from 9:00 to 3:30. Greetvisitors and share information aboutthe Society’s mission.
Conference Volunteers: Dozens ofvolunteers are needed from April 26to the 29. If you have a bit of time,contact Mary Choppa [email protected] to find outmore about the tasks that are needed.Tell her you are a MSOG member andlet your Chapter President know thatyou are volunteering.
