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X-WR-CALNAME:Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc.
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc.
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250806T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250806T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20250729T170028Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250729T170028Z
UID:41549-1754503200-1754508600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS August Monthly Meeting: More than a Will - Using Probate Records
DESCRIPTION:Probate records can be a gold mine for genealogical research! They often contain wills\, estate inventories\, guardianship records\, and other legal proceedings related to a deceased person’s assets. What types of information can be uncovered? Names and relationships\, residences and property details\, occupations\, financial status\, community connections\, and countless more valuable genealogical clues! \nAt our August 6 monthly meeting\, Ed Strickland will be with us to present More than a Will: Using Probate Records. The bulk of the work of a probate court is the settlement of an estate. After examining the three record formats used by the court\, we will look at the types of documents generated and the clues they provide. We will then turn to other matters which may be handled by the court\, such as guardianships and minor trusts\, mental competence\, adoptions\, separations\, divorces\, and insolvent estates.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-august-monthly-meeting-more-than-a-will-using-probate-records/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ed-Strickland.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250903T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250903T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20250729T170238Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250729T170238Z
UID:41551-1756922400-1756927800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS September Monthly Meeting: Born to be Filed - Delayed Birth Records in the U.S.
DESCRIPTION:Have you struggled to locate a birth record for one of your ancestors or discovered a birth record created long after the birth itself? If your relative was born at home or in a rural area with slow registration practices\, they may be listed in a delayed birth record. These records often hold rich genealogical clues waiting to be uncovered. \nTo start off our 2025-2026 membership year\, Sunny Morton will join us to present Born to be Filed: Delayed Birth Records in the U.S. She’ll explain why these records were created\, what kinds of details they contain\, and where you can find them.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-september-monthly-meeting-born-to-be-filed-delayed-birth-records-in-the-u-s/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Sunny-Jane-Morton.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251001T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251001T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20250818T194621Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T194621Z
UID:41577-1759341600-1759347000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS October Monthly Meeting: Alienation of Affection - Divorce in the United States
DESCRIPTION:Many of us have encountered ancestors who mysteriously disappeared from records\, only to discover they were divorced. Or we’ve found information that suggests another\nmarriage or separation. Uncovering the official documentation behind those earlier marriages or separations can be a challenge. \nJoin us at our October monthly meeting as Christine Cohen returns to present “Alienation of Affection: Divorce in the United States.” \nAs Christine explains in her presentation description\, “[Divorce] case files can include marriage date and place\, names and ages of children\, current and former residences\,\nand affidavits by the spouses about their marriage and reason for divorce. Clues are in the census\, city directories\, military pensions\, county histories\, county courthouses\, and especially in newspapers. This could be the reason for a ‘lost spouse.’”
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-october-monthly-meeting-alienation-of-affection-divorce-in-the-united-states/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Christine-Cohen.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20250926T130057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T135000Z
UID:41622-1762365600-1762371000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS November Monthly Meeting: Finding Aids and the National Archives
DESCRIPTION:We’re delighted to welcome nationally known genealogist Craig R. Scott to present  Finding Aids and the National Archives on November 5. \nCraig will guide us through the structure of our National Archives. He’ll also explain how to use finding aids — guides\, indexes\, catalogs\, and more — to navigate its vast\ncollections. \nCraig describes his talk this way: “The National Archives of the United States documents American history from the time of the First Continental Congress. That is a lot of paper\, pictures\, and other things\, so much in fact that it requires organization.” \n“Organization means that there are rules about how things will be filed and how they  can be located once they are stored\,” Craig says. “Finding aids is a term that describes the various publications\, such as guides and indexes\, microfilm catalogs\, reference information papers\, inventories\, preliminary inventories\, special lists\, checklists\, descriptive pamphlets\, and other tools that have been created to assist either the researcher or the archivist in locating records.”
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-november-monthly-meeting-finding-aids-and-the-national-archives/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Craig-R-Scott.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20251022T131349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T131349Z
UID:41652-1764784800-1764790200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS December Monthly Meeting: 10 Genealogical Brick Walls You Will Face (and How to Demolish Them)
DESCRIPTION:At our December monthly meeting\, genealogist Robert Cameron Weir will present “10 Genealogical Brick Walls You Will Face (and How to Demolish Them).” \n“In genealogy\, a brick wall is an ancestor who seemingly refuses\, despite repeated attempts\, to reveal their origins\,” Rob explains. “No matter how hard you try\, you are unable to connect them to your family tree. They remain the stubborn puzzle piece who refuses to fit in.” \nRob will survey the most common kinds of brick walls and teach us some tricks for  tearing them down. We’ll learn about brick walls related to immigrants\, paupers\, sojourners\, pioneers\, name shifters\, and people with hushed-up family secrets. \nWhether you’re just beginning your genealogy research or have been doing it for a long time\, we’ll all benefit from this presentation. \n“The beginner will learn about some brick walls they will eventually face; the intermediate researcher will learn how to tackle some that they are already facing; and the more advanced genealogist will learn a different way to think about what they are probably already doing\,” Rob says.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-december-monthly-meeting-10-genealogical-brick-walls-you-will-face-and-how-to-demolish-them/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Robert-Cameron-Weir.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260107T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20251122T173600Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251122T173814Z
UID:41704-1767808800-1767814200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS January Monthly Meeting: Who Needed It Anyway? Getting Around the Missing 1890 Census
DESCRIPTION:The 1890 census was uniquely detailed\, including household relationships\, occupations\, literacy\, housing conditions\, and special schedules for Union Civil War\nveterans and widows. Nearly the entire 1890 census was destroyed in a 1921 fire and subsequent water damage at the Commerce Department. Only fragments covering  about 6\,000 individuals survived out of over 62 million enumerated. \nAt our January monthly meeting\, genealogist Sara Cochran will present “Who Needed It Anyway? Getting Around the Missing 1890 Census” and tell us some of the resources that may be available to address this gap. \nAs Sara describes her presentation\, “The loss of the 1890 Federal census is a source of great frustration for American genealogists\, but all hope is not lost! Learn strategies and gather tips for success in locating your family in other records between the 1880 and 1900 Federal censuses.” \nSara will present a follow-up presentation to explore even more resources and complete a case study at our April 1 monthly meeting.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-january-monthly-meeting-who-needed-it-anyway-getting-around-the-missing-1890-census/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sarah-Cochran.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260204T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20251223T002805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251223T002805Z
UID:41730-1770228000-1770233400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS February Monthly Meeting: Ancestors on the Move: Migration from Farms to Cities\, 1870-1920
DESCRIPTION:We’re delighted that nationally-known genealogist\, Annette Burke-Lyttle will join us again to present Ancestors on the Move: Migration from Farms to Cities\, 1870–1920. \nBetween the Civil War and World War I\, Americans faced dramatic changes that shaped where and how they lived. Push and pull factors\, financial panics\, the reality of daily life\nin rural areas\, and the rise of manufacturing were some of the factors that led to decisions to move from farms to cities. \nAnnette will guide us through the records that capture thosemovements — from census schedules and land deeds to city directories\, newspapers\, military files\, and other sources. We’ll learn what factors influenced our ancestors’ choices and discover practical strategies to locate the documents that bring their journeys to life.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-february-monthly-meeting-ancestors-on-the-move-migration-from-farms-to-cities-1870-1920/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Annette-Burke-Lyttle.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260304T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20260205T195055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T195055Z
UID:41795-1772647200-1772652600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS March 2026 Monthly Meeting: Eddie Wench - The Case of a Little Lost Boy
DESCRIPTION:A good genealogist needs the instincts of a detective —our research often unfolds like a compelling mystery. But how much can we trust the records and sources we find? When the facts don’t line up\, what might be hiding beneath the surface? Can documents or titles simply be wrong? \nAt our March 4 monthly meeting\, Julie Miller presents “Eddie Wenck: The Case of a Little Lost Boy.” Eddie Wenck was a forgotten child. His story was a mystery\nfor many years until research exposed an error made over 20 years ago and uncovered the hidden past of a well-known landmark. This lecture is about the importance of using original records and historical context and about following our instincts when things don’t seem right.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-march-2026-monthly-meeting-eddie-wench-the-case-of-a-little-lost-boy/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Julie-Miller.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260401T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260401T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20260321T145705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260321T145705Z
UID:41858-1775066400-1775071800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS April Monthly Meeting: Why We Still Don't Miss 1890. Much.
DESCRIPTION:We’re pleased to welcome Sara Cochran back to WMGS on April 1\, when she will present Why We Still Don’t Miss 1890. Much. This talk is a sequel to her January\npresentation about the 1890 census. \nFinding ancestors that lived in the U.S. between 1880 and 1890 can be a challenge. In 1921\, nearly the entire 1890 census was destroyed by fire and subsequent water\ndamage. Only fragments covering about 6\,000 individuals survived out of over 62 million people enumerated. \nIn January\, Sara provided resources to bridge the ten-year gap caused by the loss of that census. In April\, she’ll share even more research strategies and complete a case study she started in January. \nNote: Sara’s January presentation was called Who Needed It Anyway? Getting \nAround the Missing 1890 Census. If you missed it\, you can find the recording and\nhandout in the Members Only section of our website until April 1.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-april-monthly-meeting-why-we-still-dont-miss-1890-much/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sarah-Cochran.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260506T193000
DTSTAMP:20260430T100253
CREATED:20260321T145915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260321T150129Z
UID:41860-1778090400-1778095800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS May Monthly Meeting - Friend or Foe: Researching  Colonial Ancestors During the American Revolution
DESCRIPTION:At our May 6 monthly meeting\, noted genealogist David Allen Lambert will present Friend or Foe: Researching Colonial Ancestors During the American Revolution \nto our society. \nNearly 250 years ago\, America declared its independence from the British Empire\, changing the course of history. While many took up the cause and supported revolution\,\nothers remained loyal to the British government — turning friends into foes and pitting neighbor against neighbor. David will discuss how to research your colonial ancestors and determine if — and how — they may have served the cause of the American Revolution.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-may-monthly-meeting-friend-or-foe-researching-colonial-ancestors-during-the-american-revolution/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/David-Allen-Lambert.jpg
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