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SUMMARY:WMGS September Monthly Meeting: Orphan Trains and the Children Who Rode Them
DESCRIPTION:Do you have children in your family lines who seem to have vanished or who turn up in unexpected places\, such as in the Midwest or western part of our country? \nThe orphan train movement (1854-1929) relocated over 200\,000 children to foster homes across the country\, in hopes of providing them with better lives. Historians estimate that only about one-third of the children placed on orphan trains had no living parents. Who were these children and why were they sent away from their families? \nTo kick off our 2026-2027 membership year\, genealogist Karen Fortin will present “Orphan Trains and the Children Who Rode Them.” \nThe story of the orphan trains\, which relocated children from the eastern cities to rural farmlands\, has become a part of American popular culture. Karen’s presentation  explores the facts behind the legends\, follows a group of children “placed-out” in 1880\, and provides information on resources available to learn more about the orphan trains and their riders.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-september-monthly-meeting-orphan-trains-and-the-children-who-rode-them/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Karen-Fortin.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T180000
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SUMMARY:WMGS October Monthly Meeting: ChatGPT for Genealogists
DESCRIPTION:At our October monthly meeting\, Robert Cameron Weir will return to WMGS to present “ChatGPT for Genealogists.” Rob will explore how ChatGPT can become a powerful ally in your genealogical research. After a quick introduction to how this AI tool works\, Rob will dive into a series of hands-on examples that showcase the full range of its capabilities. ChatGPT can tackle an impressive variety of tasks\, such as suggesting source material\, interpreting images\, and translating records. \nJoin us to see how AI can revolutionize your research\, save you time\, and reveal new insights in unexpected ways. \nRobert Cameron Weir is a genealogical researcher\, educator\, and author who specializes in New England genealogy. He is a member of the Association for Professional Genealogists and is the Publications Director for the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists. He’s also the author of the new book ChatGPT for Genealogists: From First Prompts to Advanced Workflows. \nWe hope you’ll join us on Wednesday\, October 7 at 6 p.m. ET on Zoom. Members will receive an email to register for the Zoom link. \n(This presentation will be archived in the Members Only section of our website for\n90 days.)
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-october-monthly-meeting-chatgpt-for-genealogists/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Robert-Cameron-Weir.jpg
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