WMGS Monthly Meeting: Adoption Research in America: History, Genealogy, Legacy
2022-05-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

WMGS September Meeting: "Apprentices, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners: White Servitude in America"
2022-09-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
We’re excited to kick off our new membership year in September with a presentation by Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, FOGS, one of our favorite speakers.
Peggy will be presenting “Apprentices, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners: White Servitude in America.”
An estimated one-half of early immigrants came to America as indentured servants. People came to the colonies by various means; some desired to come, and some came against their will. This lecture will examine indentureship in early America and will follow a case study of the story behind Peggy’s own ancestors’ arrival.
Peggy has noted, “This is by no means a comparison of indentureship and slavery. Though they may have worked alongside each other, and even ran away and married each other, their lives were vastly different. One had hope of a piece of land, and perhaps money and implement. The other had no hope at all; their service was perpetual.”

WMGS October Meeting: "I've Found It: Now What?"
2022-10-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
At our October 5th meeting, popular genealogist Michael John Neill will be returning for another visit to present “I’ve Found It: Now What?”
This lecture looks at a dozen or so documents found in actual research and sees what additional sources and methods are suggested by each individual document. Part of finding something is completely analyzing it.
After searching and finally finding a document, you certainly want to make the most of your discovery. If you’re familiar with Michael’s work, you know that he will provide information and tips that will help you analyze your discovery and more.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Indirect Evidence: Putting the Pieces Together
2022-11-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Do you need a new way to solve an old research problem? Are you stuck because the vital records you need can’t be found, don’t provide enough information, or perhaps don’t exist for that time period?
At our November 2nd monthly meeting, Pauline Merrick will present “Indirect Evidence: Putting the Pieces Together” and teach us strategies to help solve such problems by gathering evidence and clues to prove a conclusion.
In a Connecticut-based, indirect evidence case study of a woman whose maiden name is known, but whose parents haven’t been found, Pauline demonstrates that researching friends-family/associates/neighbors (FAN principle) can provide evidence to connect this woman back to her family. She’ll demonstrate how various types of records, such as deeds, probate, church, court, and census records, can provide enough clues to help you solve that problem.

WMGS Monthly Meeting: The Pilgrims: Persistent and Resilient
2022-12-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
At our December meeting, John Putnam will return to present “The Pilgrims: Persistent and Resilient.” John will discuss the challenges and successes of the Plymouth Colony from its settlement until its merging with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692.
After facing and surviving challenges on their journey, the Pilgrims faced further hardships once they arrived on the shores of America. The list was long and included housing, food, disease, weather, conflicts with Native American tribes, economic issues, and more. How did they deal with these challenges and what were the outcomes of their efforts? Where did their strength and resilience originate?

WMGS Monthly Meeting: Introduction to U.S. Church Records: Why We Care Where Grandma Went to Church
2023-01-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Popular genealogist and author Sunny Jane Morton will help us kick off the new year! At our January 4th meeting, Sunny will present “Introduction to U.S. Church Records: Why We Care Where Grandma Went to Church.”
As Sunny has noted, U.S. church records of many denominations can reveal ancestors’ vital events, maiden names, family relationships, overseas birthplaces, and other information such as our ancestors’ religious practices and residences. Sunny will help us learn what these records may look like, how to identify an ancestral church, locate extant records, and tell us where we might locate them.
Sunny’s acclaimed book on this topic, “How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records” (co-authored with Harold Henderson), has become a bestseller. Sunny is a popular speaker at genealogy conferences and seminars around the U.S. and world. She’s especially known for expertise in tracing U.S. ancestors, her unique comparisons
of the industry’s largest websites, and inspiring presentations on how to reconstruct
and tell meaningful stories from the past.

WMGS February Monthly Meeting: Pinpointing Ancestors Using Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
2023-02-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Where did your ancestors live? How did they live? What was their dwelling like? As genealogists we can generally find the addresses of our ancestors on census records, marriage licenses, death certificates, and other sources. But the next question should be: Where exactly is this address? What was the dwelling like? How far did ancestors live from their place of work, other relatives, or their place of worship? Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are one resource to locate where your ancestors lived and bring detail to their story.
At our February 1st meeting, Susan J. O’Connor will be presenting “Pinpointing Ancestors Using Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.” Susan’s presentation will include
examples from her ancestors who lived in Chicopee, MA, making her presentation
especially important for our members.

WMGS April 2023 Monthly Meeting: Using Tax Records in Genealogy - How Taxes Can Be a Good Thing!
2023-04-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Many dread tax day, but old tax records provide valuable clues to our ancestors’ lives. Since the early days of America, people were taxed to create roads, to support wars,
and to provide needed revenue. Learn the types of records available, where to find
them, and how they help solve genealogy problems.
Join us on Wednesday, April 5th at 6 p.m. for a virtual presentation with Dr. McCoy.
You can participate on Zoom from home or attend the presentation in person at the
Chicopee Public Library conference room.

WMGS Annual Meeting & Tech Talk with Dave
2023-05-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Our annual meeting will be held on May 3rd at 6 p.m. This will be a hybrid meeting.
Members can choose whether to attend in person in the Chicopee Public Library conference room or participate virtually on Zoom.
At the meeting, our Treasurer will give a brief financial report. Next, the Nominating
Committee will present the slate of candidates for election to open positions as officers
and directors of our society. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. Voting
will be conducted in person and virtually through an anonymous poll on Zoom.
The following positions are up for election to two-year terms:
• President
• Treasurer
• Director (Two positions)
A Nominating Committee consisting of Dave Lapierre and Cara Seitchek has been appointed. If any member is interested in running for election to a position and/or wishes to know the requirements for the position, please send an email to the Nominating Committee at westmassgen@gmail.com with Nominating Committee in the subject line. Please include a brief description of your qualifications and experience for the position you are seeking.
We’ll also announce our Founders Award recipient and review our plans for the
upcoming year.
Following the business portion of our May 3rd annual meeting, we will be hosting “Tech Talk with Dave.”
Dave Lapierre will field and (hopefully) answer your technology questions. Rather than giving a prepared presentation, Dave will answer questions from the audience.

WMGS June Monthly Meeting: An Introduction to the Courthouse with Michael John Neill
2023-06-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Now that we can get back to in-person research, many of us will be heading to a courthouse to research our ancestors. Michael will present an overview of the records typically found in a county courthouse: land, probate, court, and vital records. He’ll talk about the basics involved in courthouse research, including how to prepare for a visit, what you need to know before you make that trip, what records you might find, and what to expect from the courthouse and its staff.

WMGS July Monthly Meeting: War and Change in the Post-Civil Ware Era Until World War I
2023-07-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
At our July 5th monthly meeting, genealogist John Putnam will join us to present War and Change in the Post-Civil War Era Until World War I.
This presentation is part four of John’s New England series and covers the incredible immigration and growth from the Civil War until World War I.
Following the Civil War, there were many changes in New England society. Reconstruction, immigration, advances in travel, burgeoning industries, and other issues contributed to the vast changes that affected our ancestors and their families
prior to World War I. Knowing about these factors will help you understand their lives
and expand your research.

WMGS August Monthly Meeting: Genograms for Genealogists
2023-08-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Have you ever noticed common threads in your family tree and wondered why they happened? At our August monthly meeting, genealogist, and member, Edwin Strickland II will present an intriguing and useful topic for our members, “Genograms for Genealogists.”
Edwin will show us how the concepts behind the genogram (McGoldrick-Gerson Studies or Lapidus Schematics), typically used in counseling and therapy, can be applied to genealogy to open a third dimension to our research. Going beyond the family group sheet and pedigree chart, you can extend patterns of behavior and medical history beyond the family into the community. Genograms can help explain some of the hows and whys we encounter. They can also be used as predictors to focus further research.

September Meeting: Mining Information from City Directories
2023-09-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Before phone books, many municipalities had city directories. Updated annually, the directories were comprehensive listings of adult residents, along with their addresses,
their occupations, names of spouses, and other helpful facts. Initially intended for salesmen and merchants who wanted to contact people in the area, city directories
are a gold mine for genealogy research.
Participants in this session will learn about the variety of information contained in city directories and how to use this information to find their ancestors and learn what
they were really like. Through the use of a case study, a portion of the presentation will focus on how to use spreadsheets to record, organize, and manipulate the data and to use city directory information as a gateway to other resources.

October Meeting: The Hub of the Wheel: How Tracing a Brother With No Children Connected Ten Siblings
2023-10-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Chicopee Public Library & Online, 449 Front Street, Chicopee, MA, 01013, United States
Finding the origins of immigrant ancestors can be challenging for sure. For anyone with Irish ancestors, finding their origins in Ireland can be especially difficult. Most of our ancestors left few clues to where they were born and where they lived prior to
immigration. However, we know that most immigrants followed family and friends to travel across the ocean and settle near each other in their new country. That knowledge and good research skills can help us solve those challenges.
At our October 4th monthly meeting, nationally known genealogist Mary Kircher Roddy will join us to present “The Hub of the Wheel: How Tracing a Brother with no Children Connected Ten Siblings.” Mary will use a case study showing how a family from Ireland emigrated in a chain migration scheme to western Pennsylvania between 1825 and 1845 and how using the standards for researching connected the siblings and their descendants and led to their origins in County Tyrone.

November Monthly Meeting: Forensic Genealogy: Law and Order Meets Family History
2023-11-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Have you ever wondered what forensic genealogists do? How they use genealogical research techniques to find both living and deceased individuals to solve legal issues? At our November meeting, genealogist Michael Brophy will return to WMGS to present “Forensic Genealogy: Law and Order Meets Family History.”
Forensic genealogy is an emerging field involving cases with legal ramifications. This fascinating area of research includes heir research, adoption, citizenship, immigration
casework, and military repatriation involving living people.
We hope you’ll join us on Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 at 6 p.m. for a virtual
presentation on Zoom.

WMGS December Monthly Meeting: An Introduction to the Courthouse by Michael John Neill
2023-12-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online

WMGS January Monthly Meeting: Was Your Ancestor Truly Gone or Just Hiding in the Records? with Pamela Vestal
2024-01-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
We all have ancestors who don’t seem to have any records that confirm their existence. We spend hours looking for them without any results. We know where they might have been born, lived, married, and died, but still, we can’t seem to locate them anywhere.
Why haven’t you found your ancestors in the records? Documents are often hidden from view, with information that is present but concealed, stored in a place or a manner that is unexpected, misspelled, indexed incorrectly, or separated from the other similar records. We’ll explore strategies for tracking down these elusive ancestors so that we don’t miss a single detail.

WMGS February Monthly Meeting: Getting the Most Out of a Census Record
2024-02-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
The first database we usually consult when we research an ancestor is one containing census records. Are we taking advantage of all of the information available in them?
We’re very excited that Thomas MacEntee will be joining us again at our February 7th meeting to present “Getting the Most Out of a Census Record.”
Census records are one of the most important types of genealogical records, containing a wealth of information you may not find in vital records and allowing you to track your ancestors’ progress over time. Join Thomas for a deep dive into census records and learn some tips and tricks for extracting as much information as possible from each record.

WMGS March Monthly Meeting: The Real Life of New England Vital Records
2024-03-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Understanding when, where, and why vital records were created and the changes in those practices over the years can help us find those records today. At our March meeting, Diane Boumenot will present “The Real Life of New England Vital Records.” Diane will explain how to use copies, abstracts, indexes, and “substitutes” on the path to the best record. You’ll improve your family history research today by maximizing your ability to locate the records that tie generations together.
This presentation will be helpful for genealogists at all levels, as Diane will walk us through how such records are made and explain how to tell what we are actually looking at today. While suitable for those less experienced, there is also much information for skilled folks who might like to keep drilling down to find the best version of a record, but need to see some methods for doing that.

WMGS April Monthly Meeting: Border - What Border? Our Ancestors Who Called Both Canada and the USA Home
2024-04-03 18:00 - 20:00 | 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 | MA
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.
