Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc.

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-01-08 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street, Agawam, MA, 01001, United States
In January, our presenter will be Katherine R. Willson of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Katherine is an engaging and dynamic lecturer at local, regional, and national
conferences. She’s the founder and president of the Virtual Genealogical Society, a
member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Professional Genealogists, the
Publicity Chair for the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2019 Conference, and a
member of the National Genealogical Society. In addition, she is the author of The
Genealogist’s Guide to Grand Rapids, Michigan (published in 2018 by The In-Depth
Genealogist). A noted expert on the use of Facebook for genealogy, she’s continually
updating her list of Facebook genealogy/history links on her website, with a current total of over 14,500 links.
She also maintains a list of 160+ links to instructional genealogical channels on YouTube on her site. Her website at https://socialmediagenealogy.com/resources/ contains those lists, as well as a variety of other resources.
Katherine’s presentation to us at the Agawam Senior Center is titled “They Didn’t All Come Through Ellis Island! Finding & Analyzing Passenger Arrival Lists.” As Katherine says, “If as many ancestors came through Ellis Island as families are led to believe, the island would have sunk!” She will explain the multiple points of departure from Europe, ports of entry into the U.S., how to find passenger arrival lists online, and how to analyze these lists as a means of filling in your ancestors’ life stories.
Be sure to join us for Katherine Willson’s presentation on Wednesday, January 8th, 2020!

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-02-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street, Agawam, MA, 01001, United States
Our February 5th monthly meeting will feature Kathryn Lake Hogan, live from Ontario,
Canada. Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS is a Canadian professional genealogist who
revels in teaching people how to find their ancestors in Canada. She is the founder and
owner of the Canadian-based genealogy business, Looking4Ancestors. The author of
research guides featuring Canadian genealogy, Kathryn has written articles for Family
Tree magazine, The In-Depth Genealogist, and the Association of Professional
Genealogists journal, APG Quarterly. Kathryn is the past Dominion Genealogist of the
United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (UELAC), a past board member of the
Association of Professional Genealogists, and the past virtual chat coordinator of
Canadian studies with National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Most recently,
Kathryn was the producer, host, and presenter of the weekly webinar series, “Genealogy with a Canadian Twist.” Recognized for her knowledge of Canadian genealogy, Kathryn is a popular speaker and instructor at regional and national genealogical conferences and institutes throughout North America.
Kathryn’s presentation is titled, “What’s in Your Canadian Genealogy Toolbox?” Explore the top websites for researching your ancestors in Canada. Learn where to find the best online resources for Canadian and provincial record groups, history, newspapers, maps, photographs and more to help you fill your Canadian toolbox.
You might be surprised to discover that many of our ancestors spent time in Canada. Do you have Loyalist ancestors? Or provincial, Eastern Townships, or ancestors who immigrated through Canadian ports? Did your American ancestors go back and forth across the border for employment or to get married? If so, you won’t want to miss Kathryn’s presentation.

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-03-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street, Agawam, MA, 01001, United States
Lisa Louise Cooke is CEO of Genealogy Gems, a genealogy education company
featuring The Genealogy Gems Podcast, available at iTunes, and the Genealogy Gems app. Her books include Mobile Genealogy, The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox Second Edition, How to Find Your Family History in Newspapers, and she has published 100+ videos at the Genealogy Gems YouTube Channel. She also produces The Family Tree Magazine Podcast, regularly writes for the magazine, and teaches for Family Tree University.
Lisa will be our featured speaker at our Wednesday, March 4, 2020 meeting. Her presentation is titled “Get the Scoop on Your Ancestors with Newspapers.” Yearning to “read all about it?” Newspapers are a fantastic source of research leads, information and historical context for your family history. Learn the specialized approach that is required to achieve success in locating the news on your ancestors. Lisa’s presentation includes 3 Cool Tech Tools that will get you started.
Everyone will want to check the incredible resources available at Lisa’s website at https://lisalouisecooke.com.
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for an exciting presentation!

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-04-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street, Agawam, MA, 01001, United States
At our April 1st monthly meeting, we’ll be welcoming back Sara Campbell. Sara is a popular lecturer and educator in Western Mass where she has been active in the genealogical community for over 25 years.
Sara is the author of a recently released book, Six Generations in Otsego, the story of the Colman family, spanning 150 years from the early years of the Republic in the late 1700s, to the mid-twentieth century. She maintains a blog about history and genealogy at http://rememberingancestors.blogspot.com.
An expert on maps and their historical significance for genealogists, Sara has a background as a civil engineer, which gives her a unique perspective on her research. Sara will be presenting “Historic Massachusetts Maps” to our society at our Wednesday, April 1st meeting. Mark your calendars for an interesting presentation!

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-05-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Our May 6th monthly meeting will feature a live webinar with genealogist and author
Michael John Neill. His topic will be “Researching the Entire Family.” Focusing only
on a direct line can cause significant information to be overlooked and larger patterns to
go unnoticed. Michael discusses, via examples, the importance of researching the
siblings and at least first cousins of a direct ancestor.
Michael has been an active genealogical researcher since the early 1980s and has researched his or his children’s families in most states east of the Mississippi River and several European countries. He has lectured nationally, gives day-long seminars, and regularly leads research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Michael has a master’s degree in mathematics and has been on the math faculty of
Carl Sandburg College in Illinois since the early 1990s. His research interests
include methodology, land records, the immigrant experience, chain migration,
and researching female ancestors.
In addition to hosting several blogs and Facebook sites, including Rootdig and Genealogy Tip of the Day, Michael has recently published a collection of his most popular daily tips titled Genealogy Tip of the Day. It’s a must read for all genealogists – guaranteed that you’ll learn something new.

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-06-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We’re looking forward to bringing back nationally- and internationally-known genealogist, Thomas MacEntee, Founder and CEO of High-Definition Genealogy,
LLC to our June 3rd virtual meeting.
Thomas is the author of over 10 genealogy books and editor of over 100 publications.
After spending over 25 years in the information technology field, Thomas branched off into genealogy education and marketing. Known as one of the most generous genealogists in the field, he shares many of his articles and videos for free through his Abundant Genealogy.com website and Facebook groups. He also runs the popular GenealogyBargains.com and DNABargains.com websites to keep us updated on the latest in genealogy offerings and bargains in the marketplace. Some of you may also remember Tom as he was a keynote speaker at NERGC 2017 in Springfield.
Tom will be presenting “Genealogy Pit Stop: Research in 15 Minute Increments.” Tom will teach us what race car driving teams already know: you can accomplish important, detail-oriented work in a short amount of time. You’ll learn how to leverage to-do lists, research logs, tracking systems, clue-gathering tricks and more to actually do genealogy research every day! No more saving that research for when you have a large block of time . . . which never seems to happen.
Join us for our virtual monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 3rd at 6 PM.

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-07-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Our July 1st monthly meeting will feature John Putnam, who will join us live from Colorado!
A Southwick native, John is a UMass graduate with a degree in government/political science and a past president of the Pikes Peak Genealogical Society. His interest in genealogy started at a young age when his two grandmothers would tell family stories. As John is a twelfth generation New Englander, there were many stories to be told. John’s Putnam ancestors lived in Salem/Danvers, MA where they were very involved in the Salem Witchcraft incident. Both his parents were active in their local historical society and frequently added to John’s interest in Western Massachusetts’ local history.
The title of John’s presentation is “Untangling Your New England Roots: An Overview from Settlement to the Seven Years War.”
John will discuss the history and migration patterns that our ancestors experienced during pre-Revolutionary times. Many present-day Americans can trace their ancestry back to the Great Migration. John will share the importance of understanding New England’s history, its settlement patterns, and its town structure to improve your chances to tackle New England brick walls. It’s often difficult to know where to look for records unless you know the area’s history, not to mention the formative activities that our ancestors undertook, which provide rich stories for your family histories.

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-08-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
At our August 5th monthly meeting, we will be welcoming back Sara Campbell for a new presentation –“Using Land Records in Genealogical Research.” Sara is a popular lecturer and educator in Western Mass where she has been active in the genealogical community for over 25 years. As many of you know, Sara’s background as a professional civil engineer provides her with a unique perspective on her research.
Sara is the author of a recently released book, Six Generations in Otsego, the story of the Colman family, spanning 150 years from the early years of the Republic in the late 1700s, to the mid-twentieth century. She maintains a blog about history and genealogy athttp://www.rememberingancestors.com.
Sara describes her presentation as follows: “Land records take us a step beyond the top two sources we search when beginning genealogical research: vital records and census records. Deeds can help us understand our ancestors’ movements when buying and selling land, identify neighbors, and sometimes uncover an elusive spouse. Digging into these records should not be any more intimidating than any other source. The terminology may sound confusing, but we can get through it together. We will review a variety of deeds and explore what can be found online as well as in person in repositories.
“I find that some of the institutes and national webinars focus on ‘platting’ and land in the west that was based on ‘ranges’ and everything is square. That is not the case in New England.”
Mark your calendars, as you won’t want to miss Sara’s presentation on Wednesday, August 5th at 6 PM.

WMGS Monthly Meeting
2020-09-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Stephen Morse is the creator of the One-Step Website for which he has received both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, the Award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society, the first-ever Excellence Award from the Association of Professional Genealogists, and two awards that he cannot pronounce from Polish genealogical societies.
In his other life, Steve is a computer professional with a doctorate degree in electrical
engineering. He has held various research, development, and teaching positions,
authored numerous technical papers, written four textbooks, and holds four patents.
He is best known as the architect of the Intel 8086 (the granddaddy of today’s Pentium processor), which sparked the PC revolution nearly 40 years ago.
The One-Step Website started out as an aid for finding passengers in the Ellis Island database. Shortly afterwards it was expanded to help with searching in the 1930 census. Over the years it has continued to evolve, and today it includes about 300 web-based tools divided into 16 separate categories ranging from genealogical searches to astronomical calculations to last-minute bidding on eBay. Steve’s presentation will describe the range of tools available and give the highlights of each one.
Whether you’re looking for passenger lists, census records, information on Soundex or phonetic matching to find elusive ancestors, searching for living relatives, or even converting script written in several other languages to English, Steve’s One-Step Webpage is the place to find tools to help you.
Steve will be presenting, “One-Step Website: A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools,” live on Wednesday, Sept. 2nd at our 6 PM meeting.
*Note: This lecture will be live and will not be recorded. If you miss this presentation, the handout will be available in the Members Only section of our website.

WMGS October Monthly Meeting & Annual Meeting
2020-10-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
John Putnam will be joining us again at our October 7th meeting for an intriguing
presentation: “The Salem Witchcraft Hysteria: A Cauldron of Religious, Economic, Social, and Political Ingredients Gone Awry.”
As a descendant of both the protagonists and antagonists of those involved in the
Salem witchcraft trials, the historical story of this event becomes a genealogical
story for John as well. His direct Putnam ancestors were involved in most aspects
of the witchcraft hysteria that occurred in his ancestral hometown of Salem Village
(now Danvers, MA). John will share many genealogical, historical, religious,
social, economic, and political factors that led to and followed the horrific events
in 1692. Whether you have Salem ancestry or not, witchcraft hysteria affected
many of our ancestors in countries around the world.
This is the second in a series of lectures on New England genealogy that John will be presenting to WMGS.
Annual Meeting
Since there is no end in sight to our quarantine, the Board has decided to proceed
with an abbreviated Annual Meeting which will be held virtually via Zoom.
Following our speaker’s presentation on October 7th, we will hold the Annual
Meeting. The agenda will include a budget report by the Treasurer, discussion and
vote on proposed Bylaws revisions, and an election of a vice-president, secretary,
assistant treasurer and one director. A Nominating Committee has been appointed
and they will present a slate of candidates at the meeting. Nominations will also be
accepted from the floor.

WMGS November Monthly Meeting
2020-11-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
At our November 4th monthly meeting, Edwin Strickland II, will be presenting “The Rise and Fall of Hampshire County (Massachusetts).” Following a discussion of the steps from exploration to incorporation in New England, Ed will follow the history of Hampshire county (which at times extended from Worcester, Massachusetts west to
the Hudson River and from within present Connecticut into Vermont) from its creation in 1660 onward. He will cover the various state boundary disputes, discuss the division of the four present counties of Western Massachusetts, and provide a guide to finding their records.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Using Emigrant Guides for Genealogical Research
2020-12-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Emigrant guides provided essential information and practical advice to our ancestors about travel routes, weather, opportunities, and much more. Learn how to use emigrant guides for insight into the how’s and why’s of an ancestor’s preparation and journey across an ocean or the country.
If you have ever wondered how your ancestors managed to venture across our country, perhaps in a covered wagon, or wondered how they were able to navigate from tiny villages in distant countries to come to the United States, you’ll want to attend this presentation.

WMGS Monthly Meeting - What It Does Not Say
2021-02-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We’re excited that Michael John Neill will be joining us again at our February meeting. Michael’s presentation to us last May on Researching the Entire Family was so well received that we’ve asked him to return. Michael will be presenting another live webinar
titled “What It Does Not Say.” Many times, a record only scratches the surface of what
was going on when that record was created. This lecture looks at why a record was
created and how state statute, common practice, economic situations, family issues, and other factors may be the “real story” behind any document. Michael will also discuss how to determine (when possible) what those “unwritten” issues were.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Understanding Massachusetts Vital Records
2021-03-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We’re looking forward to our March 3rd, 2021 meeting, as we’ll be joined by Marian
Pierre-Louis, who will present a highly anticipated presentation titled “Understanding
Massachusetts Vital Records.”
Marian Pierre-Louis is a genealogy professional who specializes in educational outreach through webinars, internet broadcasts, and video. Her areas of expertise include house history research, southern New England research, and solving brick walls. Since the rise in interest of genetic genealogy, Marian has become addicted to using DNA to help solve genealogy mysteries. Marian is the host of the Genealogy Professional Podcast. She has also produced and hosted 100 episodes of Fieldstone Common, a history podcast. Marian is the Online Education Producer for Legacy Family Tree Webinars where she produces online genealogy education classes. Once a month you’ll find her as the evening host of Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
Most people know that Massachusetts has rich vital records dating back to the 1600s. Making the most of Massachusetts vital records requires understanding the nuances of the records. Marian will talk about original sources, such as town record books, as well as the many printed and database options. Learn how to use the “tan books,” vital records from 1841, and all the lesser-known resources available.
Mark your calendars so you won’t miss this important presentation on Wednesday, March 3rd at 6 PM.

WMGS April Meeting: Migration Trails Across America
2021-04-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
On Wednesday, April 7th, we’ll be welcoming nationally-known genealogist Peggy Clemens Lauritzen for a presentation titled “Migration Trails Across America.”America has been a nation on the move since the first landings in the colonies. From
buffalo traces and Native American trails to rivers and canals, America has found a way
to keep pushing “west.” This presentation focuses on the most common means of travel
in the New World. Migration trails and patterns will be discussed, as well as the many
rivers and canals that interconnected us as a nation. Peggy’s presentation will feature a
case study of a “lost ancestor” from Essex County, Massachusetts

WMGS Monthly Meeting - Don't Chop Off That Branch! A Genealogy Arborist's Handbook
2021-05-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Thomas MacEntee will be presenting “Don’t Chop Off That Branch! A Genealogy Arborist’s Handbook.” Many of us will relate to this dilemma. You’re at a crossroads when it comes to years of genealogy research: should you delete an entire branch of your family tree due to faulty research? Or is there a better way to correct family
history research errors and salvage information that took years to find? Tom will address the problem of bad research, help you decide if your research is bad or just sloppy, help you map out a correction plan, and help you salvage that branch.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Backing Up Your Genealogy Data
2021-06-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Have you ever experienced a data loss when it comes to your genealogy research? Not yet? Well, if not, have you prepared for what might happen if your hard drive fails? What if your laptop is lost or stolen? Learn the basics of backing up all your genealogy data including identifying data, common backup methods, and how to use free online programs to help you make sure your data will always be available!

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Peopling Colonial New England 1620-1787
2021-07-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
From several small coastal settlements in the early 17th century, the early settlers and their descendants, as well as new immigrants, migrated to other parts of the New England frontier over the next 150 years. Many reasons led to these migrations, which infilled the settlement of most areas of New England by the time that the new Republic was established in 1787. As this presentation will demonstrate, there were many ebbs and flows in this process over this time period. Why should this matter to genealogists? If you had ancestors in this region, this presentation will help you understand why your ancestors were part of this dynamic process, where and how to look for your ancestors in this area, and how the population pressures in colonial New England continually pushed the borders outward. If your ancestors lived elsewhere, this New England settlement model became a template for the future development of the rest of the country and fueled the settlement of many areas of the remaining U.S.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Warning Out and Settlement Law in Early New England
2021-08-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Come find out about “strangers taken in” records, “warning out” records, and settlement law. Settlement law impacted all New Englanders whether rich or poor, transient or long-time resident. Discover what records were created as a result and why. You will be surprised at the level of detail you can find about your ancestors. Marian Pierre-Louis will take you into the depths of these rarely discussed New England records to reveal a wealth of information about your ancestors.

WMGS Monthly Meeting - Navigating Naturalization Records
2021-09-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We are kicking off our 2021-2022 membership year with a fantastic presentation by Lisa A. Alzo! Lisa will be presenting a lecture titled “Navigating Naturalization Records,” a difficult area of research for many of us. First papers, petitions, certificates, and registrations are some of the key documents for naturalization – the process of becoming an American citizen. Due to changing laws and an evolving process over time, locating the appropriate official paperwork can be a challenging task for family historians. Lisa will explain how to navigate naturalization records and what information they contain about your ancestors.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: New Englanders Become Americans
2021-10-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We’ve got another great presentation with John Putnam lined up for our October meeting. John will be presenting a lecture titled “New Englanders Become Americans.” This lecture is the 2nd part of John’s earlier presentation to us, “Untangling Your England Roots,” in July 2020. (If you missed it, it’s archived in the Members Only section of our website.)
John will discuss the genealogy and history of New England from the French and Indian War to the 1800s. Did you have ancestors living in New England immediately before, during, or after the American Revolution or in the early years of the new republic? Do you know their history and how they coped with the many historic disruptions during this time? Even though you may not share any roots from this geographical area, there are many factors that started here that still impact us all.
In many respects, New England was a catalyst of the revolution — very active in the formation of the new republic, the site of the start of the American industrial revolution. It was also the source of many people who emigrated west during this time. John will share the importance of understanding these events and the very stressful times in which our ancestors lived, helping to improve your chances of tackling New England brick walls. While records are important to prove your genealogical past, it is often difficult to know where to look for these records unless you know the area’s history, not to mention the formative activities that our ancestors undertook, which provide rich stories for your family histories. Certainly, events as disruptive as these can also disrupt the records, too.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Misbegotten Children: Tracing the Family Lines of the Illegitimate
2021-11-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, FOGS will be joining us again on November 3rd for another not-to-be-missed presentation! Her topic will be “Misbegotten Children; Tracing the Family Lines of the Illegitimate.” Nearly all families have children with seemingly missing fathers. Yet there may be clues and resources to help us determine their ancestry. Illegitimacy can be both a surprise and an embarrassment as we discover more and more about our family’s history. Treated with care and sensitivity, we can use many available resources to help us in our research.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: "European Immigrant Ancestors: Why They Left and How They Got Here, 1865-1920"
2021-12-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Have you wondered why your European ancestors decided to emigrate to the United States, beyond hearing they were told the streets were paved in gold?
Many factors pushed or pulled our European ancestors to emigrate to the United States. Genealogist Nancy E. Loe, MA, MLS will help us follow in the footsteps of ancestors who arrived between 1865 and 1920.
What did they experience when they decided to leave their homes and communities to sail to America? What was the voyage like? Discover essential and unusual resources for migration research for all United States ports.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Navigating Naturalization Records
2022-02-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We’ll finally get a chance to welcome Lisa Alzo to WMGS! Lisa was originally scheduled to present at our September 2021 kickoff meeting, but the aftermath of Hurricane Ida interfered with those plans.
Lisa will be presenting a lecture titled “Navigating Naturalization Records,” a difficult area of research for many of us. First papers, petitions, certificates, and registrations are some of the key documents for naturalization – the process of becoming an American citizen. Due to changing laws and an evolving process over time, locating the appropriate official paperwork can be a challenging task for family historians. Lisa will explain how to navigate naturalization records and what information they contain about your ancestors.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Marriages Here, There, and Nowhere: Finding Gretna Greens
2022-03-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We’re thrilled that we’ll be joined by J. Mark Lowe for a presentation titled “Marriages Here, There, and Nowhere: Finding Gretna Greens” on March 2nd.
Throughout history, many couples chose to marry in a location away from their home. Often there were reasons why it was a more convenient location to tie the knot. Sometimes, this decision was based on a romantic location or a place that would allow them to marry quickly without a three-day waiting period. These locations are often referred to as Gretna Greens, named for the historic town in Scotland where thousands of English couples ran because of Scotland’s sympathetic marriage laws. We will consider the reasons for a different marriage location, alternate sources to determine the location, and a few of the towns known as “Gretna Greens” in the United States.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Bring Your Ancestors to Life: Connect via Social History
2022-04-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We’ve all wished that we could go beyond the names and dates for the ancestors we’ve found through research. If only we had asked our most recent ancestors questions about their lives, we would know them better. But what about our more distant ancestors?
Lori Lynn Price, MAS, MLA will help us transform our ancestors from names and dates on a piece of paper to people who led full and interesting lives through social history. She will help us learn how to incorporate local history and other sources of social history—such as occupation, military service and war, daily life, and recreation—into our genealogical research to gain a great understanding of our ancestors.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Adoption Research in America: History, Genealogy, Legacy
2022-05-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
One of the most difficult challenges in genealogical research is the area of adoption. At our May 4th meeting, forensic genealogist Michael Brophy will be joining us to present “Adoption Research in America: History, Genealogy, Legacy.”
Adoption has been practiced in America since its founding. This presentation explores many aspects of adoption, including the history, genealogical research practices, current issues, and legislation. Join us as Michael describes methods that may help your research and move it beyond roadblocks.

WMGS' 50th Anniversary Virtual Celebration
2022-06-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
It’s been 50 years since Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc. was founded!
We’re looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the formation of our society with our members. We are thankful for the work begun by our Founders and proud of all that WMGS has become through the efforts of those who followed. From the beginning, WMGS has been devoted to helping others discover their ancestors and preserve their stories. We can proudly say that we have stayed true to our mission for over 5 decades!
Our 50th anniversary committee will host a virtual celebration where we share the story of our society, from its humble beginnings to the present. As the field of genealogy has changed over the past 50 years, so has our society. We’ll share a timeline of how WMGS has developed over the decades to become the wonderful and well-respected organization it is today. We’ll be sharing photos, memorabilia, historical material, and more, as we tell the story of WMGS through the years.
Please join us on Wednesday, June 1st at 6 p.m., as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and toast to the future of WMGS!

WMGS July Meeting: Change and Industrialization in Antebellum New England
2022-07-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Join us at our July 6th meeting, as perennial favorite John Putnam presents the next topic in his history of New England series: “Change and Industrialization in Antebellum New England.”
John’s presentation describes the incredible economic and social changes in New England from the Industrial Revolution to the start of the Civil War. New England was ideally suited for industrial growth with its many rivers and streams. Waterpower led to rapid change in New England as grist mills, sawmills, textile mills, firearm and shoes manufacturers, and more developed and expanded. Every person and family in New England were affected by the growth and expansion of industry.

WMGS August Meeting: No Stone Unturned: Getting the Most from the Graveyard
2022-08-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Summer and fall are perfect for cemetery research! To help your research be successful, member Ed Strickland will present “No Stone Unturned: Getting the Most from the Graveyard” at our August 3rd meeting.
Starting with the evolution of the burial ground to memorial park, Ed’s presentation will cover a wide range of topics related to cemetery research. He’ll cover the history of gravestones, including materials used, symbolism, gravestone transcriptions, military graves, military and fraternal emblems, and cemetery, sexton, and funeral home records. He’ll also discuss how to clean and photograph graves and take us on a tour of some confusing or misleading gravestones.
