WMGS April Monthly Meeting: Border - What Border? Our Ancestors Who Called Both Canada and the USA Home
2024-04-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Many of us have ancestors who seem to disappear for periods of time. For those ancestors who lived in New England, New York, and the Upper Midwest, have we considered that they might have periodically lived and worked in Canada?
At our April 3rd monthly meeting, nationally known genealogist Annette Burke Lyttle will present “Border — What Border? Our Ancestors Who Called Both Canada and the USA Home.”
Movement from the United States to Canada was unrestricted and unrecorded until April 1908. The U.S. began recording the entry of Canadians along its northern border in 1894. Before that, many thousands of people lived cross border lives, without visas, work permits, passports, or immigration records. Learn how to find these elusive ancestors.

WMGS May Monthly Meeting: Overlooked Municipal Records
2024-05-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
At our May 1st monthly meeting, we will be welcoming back Sara Campbell for a presentation titled “Overlooked Municipal Records.”
Whether you’re searching for clues about your ancestors or looking to enhance what you know about their lives, municipal records may contain helpful information. Annual town reports, lists of jurors, tax records, property value records, and pauper records might hold clues as well. Understanding how these records are organized and where they are likely to be found are necessary first steps to finding your ancestors.

WMGS Annual Meeting
2024-05-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Our annual meeting will be held on May 1st, following our presentation by Sara Campbell. At the meeting, our Treasurer will give a brief financial report, announce the results of our annual audit, and provide membership numbers. In January, the Board recommended a slight increase in our annual dues, which will be discussed and voted on at the meeting.
The Board has also proposed a revision to the WMGS Bylaws regarding the date that a membership will be considered inactive and the date that the Members Only password will be changed. Members can review both our current bylaws and the bylaws with the
proposed changes in the Members Only section of our website.
We will then conduct our annual elections. The Nominating Committee, consisting of Skip Taylor, Cara Seitchek, and Jeanne Leblond, will present the slate of candidates for election as officers and directors of our society. Nominations will also be accepted
from the floor.

WMGS Monthly June Meeting: Was Your Ancestor Truly Gone Or Just Hiding in the Records?
2024-06-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States

WMGS July Monthly Meeting: Teaching Grannies: Changing Farm Girls into Schoolmarms
2024-07-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
At our July 10 monthly meeting, one of our favorite presenters, genealogist and WMGS member John Putnam will join us to present “Teaching Grannies: Changing Farm Girls into Schoolmarms.” John’s talk chronicles five of his six grandmothers and great-grandmothers from their rural upbringing into the Massachusetts Normal Schools, a process that continued in late 19th-century America as many farms no longer employed women.
John’s presentation will address many of the issues and challenges that our female ancestors faced during that time period. We’ll also learn the research process that John
undertook to learn about his grandmothers and to tell their stories.

WMGS August Monthly Meeting: Westmoreland: Connecticut's Lost County
2024-08-14 18:00 - 19:30
Early in our nation’s history, as states tried to expand their land holdings, new territories were claimed, often by more than one group. The lost county of Westmoreland is one such example. Who founded it, where was it located, what happened to it? Changes in names and boundaries of towns and villages may be one reason why we can’t find our
ancestors.
At our August 7 monthly meeting, Ed Strickland will present “Westmoreland: Connecticut’s Lost County.” Ed’s presentation will cover Connecticut’s claim on the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania from the Connecticut Charter of 1662, the Susquehanna Land Company, the Treaty of Trenton, and the aftermath. He’ll explain why learning the history of locations where our ancestors lived may help us find records about them.

WMGS September Monthly Meeting: AI and Genealogy - Trouble Ahead
2024-09-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
We’re starting our new membership year with one of our most popular presenters, Tom MacEntee! Tom will be presenting “AI and Genealogy: Trouble Ahead,” a topic
that you won’t want to miss!
Tom notes that while AI (artificial intelligence) might be the current hot buzzword, many genealogy vendors and even genealogists have already been using this technology for
years. The AI industry is at a crossroads, and within the next five years, it will permeate almost every aspect of business and society. We’ll learn how AI is currently being used to improve the genealogy experience and whether or not you should seek out other uses of artificial intelligence for your own genealogy research.
Tom will cover the basics of AI, data, reliability, copyright issues, source citations, and
current uses, such as text translation, and more.

WMGS October Monthly Meeting: Pinning Down Your Ancestors' Locations with Pam Vestal
2024-10-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
By popular request, we’ve invited genealogist Pamela Vestal to return to WMGS as her presentation last spring was both engaging and filled with detailed information to help our research.
At our October meeting, Pamela will help us find the answers to a critical genealogical research question as she presents “Pinning Down Your Ancestors’ Locations.” Where did your ancestors come from? Where did they disappear to? Although finding locations can be the key to following our ancestors back in time, we often slam up against brick walls. In this talk, Pamela will explore practical strategies for tracking down our ancestors’ whereabouts by using collateral research, gazetteers, the law, image searches, maps, and loads of unexpected and underused resources.

WMGS November Monthly Meeting: “Changing New England Records in the 1800s.”
2024-11-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Whether you’re just starting your research on your New England ancestors or are a seasoned veteran, you’ll enjoy our November meeting. As a sequel to her presentation to us last spring, Diane MacLean Boumenot, CG, will present “Changing New England Records in the 1800s.”
Just as some New Englanders left their declining farms and headed west, industrialization arrived in New England and our ancestors’ lives and records changed forever. The days when deeds and probate would solve genealogical problems gave way to a dizzying array of new census collections, state mandated vital records, poorhouse, prison and asylum records, sturdier cemetery markers, and military pensions. Let’s reteach ourselves as we trace our 1800s ancestors.
Diane MacLean Boumenot, CG, specializes in southern New England family history research and publishes genealogical guidance on her website, One Rhode Island Family. In 2018 she and Maureen Taylor coauthored the National Genealogical Society’s book “Rhode Island” (part of the NGS Research in the States series). She is currently serving as the editor of Rhode Island Roots, the quarterly journal of the Rhode Island Genealogical Society.
Join us on Wednesday, November 6 at 6 p.m. as we welcome Diane back for a virtual presentation on Zoom.
(This presentation will be recorded and archived in the Members Only section of our website for 60 days.)

WMGS December Monthly Meeting: Court Records Research Without the Law Degree
2024-12-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Court records are an underutilized genealogical resource. While courthouses hold common records like marriage, divorce, naturalization, and probate items, you might be
surprised to find that your ancestor had a criminal record. Was he involved in a lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding or something more sinister?
At our December monthly meeting, Kate Townsend will present “Court Records Research Without the Law Degree.” Kate will explore the types of court records that might be available, the various courts in which they might be found, how to find them, and what resources might be available to help you.

WMGS January Monthly Meeting: Mysterious Codes - Passenger Manifests Letters and Numbers
2025-01-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
You’ve found your ancestors listed in a ship’s passenger list and are thrilled to learn where they came from, how much money they brought with them, and who they were going to meet. But did you know that much more information is recorded on their entry?
At our January monthly meeting, genealogist Christine Cohen will present “Mysterious Codes: Passenger Manifests Letters and Numbers” and tell us how we might learn so
much more from the record.
On her website, Christine describes her presentation this way:
“What do those letters, numbers, stamps, and pencil marks mean on Immigration Passenger Manifests? Does your ancestor have the letter ‘D’ or ‘X’ next to their name? Do you know what V/L, # 404, USB, Transit, CL, N.O.B, C/A, LPC, SI, NQIV, BSI, PV or C-XXXXX mean? We will learn if and when to contact the US National Archives or USCIS to get more genealogical information from these codes. Plus, what insight we can learn about your ancestor’s immigration experience based on these notations.”
(Note: USCIS stands for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.)

WMGS February Monthly Meeting: Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using AI
2025-02-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
At our February 2025 meeting, Tom MacEntee will join us to present “Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using AI.” Tom introduced us to this technology last September when he presented “AI and Genealogy: Trouble Ahead.” AI (artificial intelligence) can improve our genealogy research, and who better to tell us how but one of our favorite presenters?
As his workshop description explains, Tom will teach us how to “harness the power of artificial intelligence to assist in translating, transcribing, and summarizing a variety of genealogy records. A handwritten baptismal record from the 1800s? No problem. A faded newspaper obituary? No problem. We’ll cover the best AI platforms as well as how to craft a solid prompt to get you the results you need.” Tom will also offer tips and tricks to increase our success.
If you missed Tom’s September presentation introducing us to AI (or if you want to review it), the recording and handout are available in the Members Only section of our website.

WMGS March 5 Monthly Meeting: Deconstructing Obituaries
2025-03-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
At our March 2025 meeting, we’ll welcome back Susan M. O’Connor, who will present “Deconstructing Obituaries.”
Obituaries are treasure troves of genealogical information, offering insights into family and social relationships, community ties, and even historical events. In this presentation, we’ll explore the wealth of details obituaries can provide, from vital records to clues about extended family and friends. Learn where to find obituaries — both online and offline — and discover techniques for analyzing the information
within them to piece together a fuller picture of your ancestors’ lives. Whether you’re just starting your family history journey or looking to enhance your research skills, this talk will equip you with practical tools to uncover hidden stories and connections.

WMGS April Monthly Meeting: Dark as a Dungeon - Researching Mining Records
2025-04-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
From mining iron ore in the colonial period to searching for copper, iron, tin, coal and precious metals, many of our ancestors were miners. Do you have ancestors who participated in the Gold Rush? Or immigrant ancestors who worked in coal mines or perhaps Native American ancestors who worked in the mineral mines out West?
At our April 2 monthly meeting, Peggy Clemens Lauritzen will present “Dark as a Dungeon: Researching Mining Records.” As Peggy says, “This is the real Minecraft. As the song goes, it truly was ‘dark as a dungeon’ in just about any mine. Fortunately, there are records that may have been kept on your mining ancestors.”
Peggy adds, “Mining is hard work. Starting from the children that worked in mines up to the adults of today, mining records may provide a clue to your ancestors’ lives.”

WMGS May Monthly Meeting: "Creating an Ancestor Sketch"
2025-05-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
We’re excited that Tom MacEntee will be joining us again in May to present another useful feature: “Creating an Ancestor Sketch.” Tom will describe the essential elements
of an ancestor biography sketch and explain different sketch formats. He’ll also tell us how to incorporate genealogy facts and family research information, and he’ll provide other tips, tricks, and tools to make the process easy.
“Face it: Most genealogists never get around to publishing that family history book based on their genealogy research,” Tom says in his program description. “How about a different approach — producing short 3 to 5 page ‘sketches’ about an ancestor? You’ll learn how to include a cover, photos, facts, family stories, source citations, and more! And guess what, once you get a few of these ancestor sketches done, you can compile
them together for one big book!”

WMGS June Monthly Meeting: Think Like an Archivist - Finding Genealogy Records in Libraries & Archives
2025-06-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
While many of us rely on the databases of popular genealogy companies and large organizations to research our ancestors, we may be overlooking a wealth of information available in libraries and archives. For those with limited experience searching these resources, navigating their systems can sometimes be frustrating or less productive than we’d hoped.
At our June 4 monthly meeting, Nancy E. Loe will return to WMGS to present “Think Like an Archivist: Finding Genealogy Records in Libraries & Archives.”
At this presentation, we’ll learn how to locate genealogy records housed in archives across the United States and around the world, using online archival portals and digital finding aids. We’ll gain insights into how archivists work to make these collections accessible. And we’ll learn how to craft effective search terms, with specific URLs provided for regional, state, national, and global archival resources.

WMGS July Monthly Meeting: Roots and Ridges - Families' Journeys Through Western Massachusetts Hilltowns
2025-07-09 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
For many current residents of Western Massachusetts, it isn’t easy to imagine that the hilltowns of Becket, Blandford, Chester, Granville, Huntington, and Middlefield were once vibrant and larger. They were deforested mainly during the 19th century to support their traditional agricultural economy. At our July 2025 monthly meeting, John Putnam will present “Roots and Ridges: Families’ Journeys Through Western Massachusetts Hilltowns.”
John will share his research into several family branches that lived in these towns during the 19th century, whose whole world was impacted by many historical forces over which they had little control. He’ll integrate three primary genealogical sources into his story — traditional genealogy databases and records, local historical events, and social history — to understand better the undercurrents his ancestors underwent during their 19th and early 20th century lifetimes. In addition, he will weave newspaper data, family memorabilia, and AI information to enrich the stories of the families that once lived there. Finally, he will identify specific themes that impacted his ancestors and yours.
Note: To make this more interactive, John will share a couple of specific stories he has written as a handout, incorporating all this information, both as a template for your stories and as a conversation about how these towns differ today from the 19th century.

WMGS August Monthly Meeting: More than a Will - Using Probate Records
2025-08-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
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!
At 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.

WMGS September Monthly Meeting: Born to be Filed - Delayed Birth Records in the U.S.
2025-09-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
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.
To 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.

WMGS October Monthly Meeting: Alienation of Affection - Divorce in the United States
2025-10-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
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
marriage or separation. Uncovering the official documentation behind those earlier marriages or separations can be a challenge.
Join us at our October monthly meeting as Christine Cohen returns to present “Alienation of Affection: Divorce in the United States.”
As Christine explains in her presentation description, “[Divorce] case files can include marriage date and place, names and ages of children, current and former residences,
and 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.’”

WMGS November Monthly Meeting: Finding Aids and the National Archives
2025-11-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
We’re delighted to welcome nationally known genealogist Craig R. Scott to present Finding Aids and the National Archives on November 5.
Craig 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
collections.
Craig 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.”
“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.”

WMGS December Monthly Meeting: 10 Genealogical Brick Walls You Will Face (and How to Demolish Them)
2025-12-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
At our December monthly meeting, genealogist Robert Cameron Weir will present “10 Genealogical Brick Walls You Will Face (and How to Demolish Them).”
“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.”
Rob 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.
Whether you’re just beginning your genealogy research or have been doing it for a long time, we’ll all benefit from this presentation.
“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.

WMGS January Monthly Meeting: Who Needed It Anyway? Getting Around the Missing 1890 Census
2026-01-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
The 1890 census was uniquely detailed, including household relationships, occupations, literacy, housing conditions, and special schedules for Union Civil War
veterans 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.
At 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.
As 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.”
Sara will present a follow-up presentation to explore even more resources and complete a case study at our April 1 monthly meeting.

WMGS February Monthly Meeting: Ancestors on the Move: Migration from Farms to Cities, 1870-1920
2026-02-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
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.
Between 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
in rural areas, and the rise of manufacturing were some of the factors that led to decisions to move from farms to cities.
Annette 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.

WMGS March 2026 Monthly Meeting: Eddie Wench - The Case of a Little Lost Boy
2026-03-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
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?
At 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
for 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.

WMGS April Monthly Meeting: Why We Still Don't Miss 1890. Much.
2026-04-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
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
presentation about the 1890 census.
Finding 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
damage. Only fragments covering about 6,000 individuals survived out of over 62 million people enumerated.
In 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.
Note: Sara’s January presentation was called Who Needed It Anyway? Getting
Around the Missing 1890 Census. If you missed it, you can find the recording and
handout in the Members Only section of our website until April 1.

WMGS May Monthly Meeting - Friend or Foe: Researching Colonial Ancestors During the American Revolution
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
At our May 6 monthly meeting, noted genealogist David Allen Lambert will present Friend or Foe: Researching Colonial Ancestors During the American Revolution
to our society.
Nearly 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,
others 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.

WMGS June Monthly Meeting: From Local Militia to the Continental Line
2026-06-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
With the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution approaching, interest in Revolutionary era genealogy is surging. So we’re pleased to welcome Bryna O’Sullivan to our June meeting.
Bryna will present a timely topic on American Revolution ancestors: “From Local Militia to the Continental Line.”
Did your ancestor serve on the local level, the state level, or the federal level in the American Revolution? How can you tell? Understanding the three distinct types of military service — local militia, state troops, and the Continental Army — is essential for accurate research and lineage documentation.
These categories determine what records exist, how reliable they are, where they’re held, and how much personal detail they contain.
This program will explain the different types of Revolutionary War army service and
how the differences in service might have impacted where your ancestor was recorded. It will cover militia and Continental Line structures, the federal pension system, and more.

WMGS July Monthly Meeting: Sacred Honor, Frozen Feet: Finding Your Ancestors in the 'Times That Try Men's Souls'
2026-07-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
What happened after the ink dried on the Declaration of Independence? For many of our ancestors, the Spirit of ’76 was immediately tested by the grueling reality of the New
York campaign and a desperate winter retreat across the Jerseys.
At our July monthly meeting, John Putnam will present “Sacred Honor, Frozen Feet: Finding Your Ancestors in the ‘Times That Try Men’s Souls.’”
This presentation explores the pivotal 14-month window from the spring of 1776 to the summer of 1777. John will trace the political courage required to sign a document of
“high treason” and the physical endurance of the Continental soldiers who saved the Revolution at Trenton and Princeton.
Designed specifically for genealogists, this talk goes beyond the history books to focus
on the records. John will discuss how to locate your Revolutionary ancestors in NARA
record groups, interpret pension narratives of the Ten Crucial Days, and find the hidden stories of those who risked their lives during the nation’s darkest hour.

WMGS August Monthly Meeting: Unraveling the Mystery of Louis White Strickland
2026-08-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Two newspapers — published miles apart in separate counties — announced the baptism of Louis White Strickland in the Congregational church in Cold Spring,
Massachusetts.
The notice named Louis’s parents as Mr. and Mrs. Warren Strickland, and local records confirmed that the church and minister were correctly identified. Yet a thorough search of vital records turned up no birth record for Louis, nor any evidence that his parents ever lived in Massachusetts.
Who were Louis and his parents? And where, exactly, was Cold Spring? WMGS member Ed Strickland unraveled this intriguing genealogical mystery. At our August meeting, he will share the twists and turns of his research journey, including the false
leads and unexpected detours.
