Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc.

WMGS May 16th Training Session: Paleography - Reading Old Handwriting Part 2
2024-05-16 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Online

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 June Board Meeting
2024-06-10 18:30 - 20:30 | Online

WMGS June Training Session - Virtual Skills Night
2024-06-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Online

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 September Training Session: Tech Talk with Dave, Session 4- Gravesites to Websites - Find A Grave, BillionGraves, and Interment.net - Let's Dig In
2024-09-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
In the 4th Tech Talk with Dave session, Dave will review and demonstrate websites for finding graves. Specifically, Dave will showcase FindAGrave, Billion Graves, and will touch on Interment.net. All three of these sites are free to use, and two of them have a mobile version – – an app you can download to your smart phone. Dave will explain how they are similar, how they differ, and how to use them.

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 October Training Session: Too Much Stuff: A Case Study
2024-10-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
Have you ever searched for a piece of information you know you
have but can’t find? Have you ever wanted to gather all the
information you have on one individual in one place? Have you
ever been overwhelmed with “stuff” and struggled with organizing
and archiving it?
In “Too Much Stuff: A Case Study” WMGS member Angus Dun will describe how he uses Clooz software to organize his research. He will also discuss a system that provides consistent identification, storage, and retrieval of information. Using real data, he will explain how Clooz helped him meet his goals and how it might help you.
Angus Dun is a retired educator and education technology consultant who currently manages the historical artifacts collection of the Shelburne Historical Society in Shelburne Falls. His genealogical journey started over 50 years ago, when he inherited an extensive collection of family letters, documents, and artifacts. He has
self-published, primarily for family, one book, “Catherine Whipple Pew: Life in Her Own Words,” and has several others in the queue.

WMGS Volunteer Information Night
2024-10-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
Have you ever thought about volunteering with WMGS? We’d love to have you on the team!
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our society, and there are many opportunities for our members to contribute and bring in new ideas. Some tasks require specific skills, but most do not. Some routine tasks require only a few hours each month, but we also need help with specific projects. Most, if not all tasks, can be done from home. All of our meetings are held on Zoom so that no matter where you live, you can help.
There are many benefits to volunteering for WMGS. You’ll meet other members who are passionate about our society and genealogy, gain experience for your resume, develop new skills, and help to secure the future of WMGS.
Ready to learn more? We’re hosting an informational event on Zoom to tell you about our volunteer opportunities and society needs, and we’ll answer your questions about
them. There’s no commitment required, and we won’t pressure you to volunteer if you
attend.

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 November Training Session: Tech Talk With Dave: Cemetery Websites
2024-11-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
At our September 19th training session, Dave Lapierre reviewed and demonstrated three popular websites for finding our ancestors’ resting places: Find A Grave, BillionGraves, and Interment.net. All three of these sites are free to use, and two of them have a mobile version — an app you can download to your smartphone. Dave explained how the sites are similar, how they differ, and how to use them.
Many of us have searched for ancestors on these sites but were pleasantly surprised by the extensive features of these sites. Many of us also haven’t used the apps at cemeteries and are eager to learn more about them.
Members had more questions than Dave had time to answer, so we will offer a follow-up session at our November training session. This gives members a chance to explore the websites, jot down follow-up questions, and download and practice using the mobile apps beforehand. If you weren’t able to attend the training or need a refresher, the recording and handouts are available in the Members Only section of our website under Trainings.
If you would like to submit questions in advance, please send them to Dave at westmassgen@gmail.com. Of course, you can also ask your questions at the session. We hope you’ll join us for this helpful presentation.

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 Annual Virtual Holiday Party
2024-12-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
We’re inviting all our members to join us at our genealogy-focused holiday Zoom party on Thursday, December 19 at 7 p.m.! This will be our third virtual holiday party, and it’s quickly becoming a much-enjoyed tradition. (Note: Dates changed for party & photo
submissions.)
Just like our first two fabulous virtual holiday events, we’ll dive into several genealogy-related holiday topics to get the conversation flowing. We’ll share stories about holiday traditions, favorite heirlooms, cherished memories, and take a nostalgic stroll down memory lane through local newspapers.
One of the highlights of our virtual parties is when members dig into their archives or family collections to share their holiday photos and traditions. Do you have a photo of yourself sitting on Santa’s lap? A picture of your family Christmas tree or a family holiday gathering? A favorite holiday photo from your childhood?
Send in photos of your treasured holiday decorations or family heirlooms that you display every year. Any holiday-related photos can be submitted, and we’ll create a slideshow of them for everyone to enjoy!
And yes, we’ll have another exciting holiday genealogy trivia game to challenge your
knowledge!
It’s BYOB — hot chocolate, hot mulled wine, hot cider, or something stronger if you’d like! Dress up in your holiday finery or your ugliest holiday sweater if you wish. Get ready to celebrate the holidays in a genealogical way.
Please send your photos to westmassgen@gmail.com by Friday, December 13. We hope you’ll join us at this virtual event and get in the holiday spirit with us!

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 January Board Meeting
2025-01-13 18:30 - 20:00

Special Interest Group (SIG): Canadian Genealogy Research
2025-01-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Kick off the new year with our inaugural virtual Special Interest Group (SIG) session in January! This month, we’re diving into Canadian genealogy research.
What to Expect:
Knowledge Sharing: Connect with members researching ancestors from across Canada.
New Resources: Discover helpful tips and new databases.
Research Assistance: Discuss your research questions and get help with those tricky brick walls.
Focus Areas: From the Eastern Provinces to Quebec, Ontario, the Western provinces, Loyalists, Irish immigrants, and more.
We’ll explore a wealth of resources for Canadian ancestry research, covering both well-known and exciting new databases that might provide the breakthroughs you’re looking for.
Leading the group will be Jeanne Leblond, who has over 25 years of experience researching Canadian ancestors. Members can send their research questions in advance or ask them at the meeting.

An Evening with Sybil J. Gilchrist: "Comrades of World War I”
2025-01-30 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
Massachusetts resident Sybil Gilcrist discovered five brave World War I African American patriots from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in her extended family. Bound by community ties, these men and their families shared a vibrant social, religious, and commercial life. Through compelling research, Sybil will delve into the soldiers’ military tours, share the records that revealed their stories, and recount her own journey to uncover this poignant history.
This presentation is free, but registration is required!
For more information, go to www.massgencouncil.org/m-o-r-e

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 February Training: Murder, Mayhem, and Mystery!
2025-02-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Join us at our February training session for another thrilling edition of Murder, Mayhem,
and Mystery! Do you have a famous or infamous ancestor in your family tree? Someone with an unusual occupation or career or perhaps someone who made headlines for a
scandalous event? Whether it’s a horse thief, a bank robber, or another colorful character, we’d love to hear their story.
Have you solved a mystery about an ancestor’s disappearance, uncovered a secret that was hushed up by the family, or disproved a family myth? Share the discoveries that have intrigued, fascinated, or shocked you and tell us how you uncovered these intriguing stories.
These events are a great way to gather your documents and share your discoveries or
stories with fellow members. They’ll also be ready to share with your own family later. We hope you’ll consider sharing one of your findings with us. This will be an informal
event, so it isn’t necessary to provide tons of background information, research documentation, or other material.
Short (5 minutes or so) presentations about your ancestor and research will be
combined with others from WMGS members for an enjoyable event.
If you’d like to share photos, documents, or digital material (limit of 10 scanned
items/slides please) along with your story, please send the items to us at westmassgen@gmail.com by Friday, February 14 and we’ll have them ready to
share on the screen.
Whether you’d like to present or not, we hope you’ll join us on Thursday, February
20 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

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 March Special Interest Group (SIG): Canadian Research...continued
2025-03-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Join us for our next Canadian Special Interest Group meeting on Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. In our inaugural session, we explored Canadian genealogy
resources available through Library and Archives Canada and FamilySearch. This time, we’ll delve into resources on Ancestry, including the Drouin Collection, U.S.-Canadian
border crossings, census records, and many others. We’ll also explore additional websites as time permits.
What to Expect:

Knowledge sharing: Connect with members researching ancestors from
various regions of Canada.
New resources: Discover helpful tips and explore new databases.
Research assistance: Share your research questions and receive help with
challenging brick walls.
Focus areas: Covering topics from the Eastern Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, and
the Western Provinces to Loyalists, Irish immigrants, and more.

We’ll uncover a wealth of resources for Canadian ancestry research, covering both well-known and new databases that could provide the breakthroughs you’re seeking.
Leading the group will be Jeanne Leblond, who has over 25 years of experience researching Canadian ancestors. Members are encouraged to send their research questions or brick wall problems in advance to westmassgen@gmail.com or ask them
during the meeting.

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 April Training Session: Our Ancestors' Clothing
2025-04-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
We’re very happy that Howard Vincent Kurtz will be joining us again at our April 17 training session for another presentation of “Our Ancestors’ Clothing”!
If you have participated in Professor Kurtz’s previous visits to WMGS, you’ll know what a unique opportunity he provides our members. If you have photographs of people that you can’t identify, if you’d like more information about their clothing, or if you think other
members would find them intriguing, please send them to us. Prof. Kurtz will research the clothing worn and other photographic details to help identify the time and place the photos were taken, among other characteristics.
Prof. Kurtz’s analysis may help to identify ancestors, solve family mysteries, and add
details and context to family stories. In addition, his visits provide our members with an opportunity to gain skills in photograph analysis from an expert.

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 2025 Annual Meeting
2025-05-07 19:00 - 19:30 | Online
Our annual meeting will be held on May 7, following our presentation by Thomas MacEntee. At the meeting, our Assistant Treasurer will give a brief financial report, announce the results of our annual audit, and provide membership numbers.
We will then conduct our annual elections. The Nominating Committee will present the slate of candidates for election as officers and directors of our society. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. Voting will be conducted electronically by an anonymous poll.
The following positions are up for election to two-year terms:
• President
• Treasurer
• Director (two positions)
A Nominating Committee consisting of Dave Lapierre and Kris Verny has been appointed. If any member is interested in running for election to a position and/or
wishes to know the requirements for each 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.
Following the election, we will review the status of our society and review our plans for the upcoming year.
We encourage you to attend our annual meeting.

WMGS May Training Session: Genealogy Neatly - Organizing Your Family History Research
2025-05-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
How do you organize your genealogical research? Do you use physical storage (binders, papers, hanging files, notebooks, etc.), digital storage (genealogy program, Microsoft Word/Excel, PDF files, your laptop, the cloud, etc.), or a combination of both physical and digital?
Is your current organization system working for you? Can you find that document or photograph when you want to? Can you quickly locate that 1920 census document that you downloaded and saved?
Organizing our genealogical data is a challenge many of us deal with. There are various options and methods available. We’ve all seen the ads on social media from vendors promising that if we buy their product or subscribe to their organizational system, all our challenges will be solved. The only organizational system that works is the one that works for you!
At our May 22 training session (starting at 7 p.m.), Dave Lapierre will present “Genealogy Neatly: Organizing Your Family History Research.” He will review both physical and digital genealogy files and discuss methods for organizing both types, file naming conventions, folder structure, and how to maintain organization over time. This will be the fifth session of our Tech Talk with Dave series.

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 June Training Session: Enriching Your Ancestor's Story Using Occupational Records, An Introduction
2025-06-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
At our June 19 training session, Diane Romanowsky will present “Enriching Your Ancestor’s Story Using Occupational Records, An Introduction.”
Occupational records are helpful in genealogy as they provide insights into an ancestor’s daily life, socioeconomic status, possible education, and skills. An ancestor’s occupation often shaped their lifestyle, finances, and even where they lived.
Your ancestor’s occupation can tell you so much about their day-to-day life. In this presentation, you will:

Learn how occupational information can advance your research.
Learn how to find your ancestor’s occupation(s).
Learn sources of occupational information and records.
See examples of occupational records and learn how the information they contain
enriches the ancestor’s story.

The occupations of coal miner, farmer, railroad worker, Catholic priest, and textile worker will be highlighted. Diane will share her success in using occupational records to advance her research and enrich her ancestor’s stories.
