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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260618T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260618T203000
DTSTAMP:20260519T212854Z
CREATED:20260519T212854Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T212854Z
UID:41913-1781809200-1781814600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS June Training Session: Tech Talk with Dave - - Using YouTube for Genealogy
DESCRIPTION:At our next Tech Talk with Dave session\, we’ll look at the world’s largest video site and how you can use it to enrich your genealogy journey. Dave Lapierre will show how YouTube is far more than entertainment — it is a vast\, free library for genealogists and family historians. \nDiscover genealogy channels offering free\, clear tutorials; locate vintage films; find solutions for tough research roadblocks; view archival footage; and learn to organize\nyour favorite videos and control playback speed. Dave will guide us step-by-step through navigating the website easily\, adjusting settings for comfortable viewing\, and safely saving videos to watch later.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-june-training-session-tech-talk-with-dave-using-youtube-for-genealogy/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DavidLapierre.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260708T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260708T193000
DTSTAMP:20260519T212617Z
CREATED:20260519T212617Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T212617Z
UID:41911-1783533600-1783539000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS July Monthly Meeting: Sacred Honor\, Frozen Feet: Finding Your Ancestors in the 'Times That Try Men's Souls'
DESCRIPTION: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\nYork campaign and a desperate winter retreat across the Jerseys. \nAt our July monthly meeting\, John Putnam will present “Sacred Honor\, Frozen Feet: Finding Your Ancestors in the ‘Times That Try Men’s Souls.’” \nThis 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\n“high treason” and the physical endurance of the Continental soldiers who saved the Revolution at Trenton and Princeton. \nDesigned specifically for genealogists\, this talk goes beyond the history books to focus\non the records. John will discuss how to locate your Revolutionary ancestors in NARA\nrecord 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.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-july-monthly-meeting-sacred-honor-frozen-feet-finding-your-ancestors-in-the-times-that-try-mens-souls/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T193000
DTSTAMP:20260627T131749Z
CREATED:20260627T131749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260627T131749Z
UID:41965-1785952800-1785958200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS August Monthly Meeting: Unraveling the Mystery of Louis White Strickland
DESCRIPTION:Two newspapers — published miles apart in separate counties — announced the baptism of Louis White Strickland in the Congregational church in Cold Spring\,\nMassachusetts. \nThe 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. \nWho 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\nleads and unexpected detours.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-august-monthly-meeting-unraveling-the-mystery-of-louis-white-strickland/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ed-Strickland.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T193000
DTSTAMP:20260721T000551Z
CREATED:20260721T000500Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T000551Z
UID:41991-1788372000-1788377400@westmassgen.com
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:20260917T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260917T203000
DTSTAMP:20260721T001350Z
CREATED:20260721T001205Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260721T001350Z
UID:41994-1789671600-1789677000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS September SIG: Explore Your Western Mass Roots
DESCRIPTION:If you missed our first Western Mass Ancestors Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting in May\, another opportunity is just around the corner. Our next session will take place on Thursday\, September 17 at 7 p.m. \nAt our first session\, members enjoyed short presentations on local companies and uncovered Quabbin-area ancestors\, as well as a demonstration of how AI prompts can\nsupport genealogical research. We also tackled two brick wall challenges submitted by\nmembers with roots in Chester\, Massachusetts. The conversation was lively\, informative\, and could easily have continued well into the night. \nAs we prepare for our September session\, we’re inviting contributions from members.  This gives you time to gather materials\, organize your thoughts\, and decide how you’d like to participate. \nWe welcome: \n\nShort presentations (5–15 minutes). Discuss your Western Mass ancestor\, family line\, or research topic. Please highlight the resources you used — databases\, archives\, websites\, books\, maps\, or tools.\nBrick wall challenges. Have a research puzzle you can’t crack? Share a brief summary of the ancestor or problem\, along with any clues or documents you’ve\ncollected\, and we’ll add your challenge to the agenda.\nHelpful resources and tools. If you’ve discovered a useful website\, updated database\, research technique\, or practical tip\, we’d love for you to share it with\nthe group.\n\nThe deadline for submissions is Wednesday\, September 9. To offer a presentation\, submit a brick wall challenge\, share a recent breakthrough\, or highlight a resource or\ntechnique\, please email us at westmassgen@gmail.com. \nIf you’re unsure about format\, we can provide a suggested outline and are happy to help with creating PowerPoint slides. Submissions will be added to the agenda in the\norder received\, so if you have something you’d like discussed\, now is the time.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-september-sig-explore-your-western-mass-roots/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Special Interest Group (SIG)
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
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