Vol. 4, No. 5
Whole #61
March 8, 2002
Contents:
• New Search Capabilities on NewEnglandAncestors.org
• NEHGS Weekend Seminar in Philadelphia
• Genealogy 201: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Researching At NEHGS
• The Christian Science Monitor Looks at Genealogical Publishing
• New Research Articles on NewEnglandAncestors.org
• Genealogical Bargains
• Upcoming "Genealogy in a Nutshell" Lectures
• Personal Tutorials Available with Gary Boyd Roberts
• "A Woman's Work is Never Done": An American Antiquarian Society Online Exhibition
New Search Capabilities on NewEnglandAncestors.org
NewEnglandAncestors.org now features over 1.9 million names in three major databases:
- the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1847–1994
- The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620–1633
- Massachusetts Soldiers in the Colonial Wars
A new master search now allows you to search any or all of the databases at one time. In addition, you have the option of performing a soundex search which might provide ancestral spelling variations that had not previously occurred to you.
NEHGS Weekend Seminar in Philadelphia
April 12–13, 2002
Presented by New England Historic Genealogical Society; co-sponsored with the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.
NEHGS is pleased to announce a weekend seminar on April 12–13, 2002, at the Holiday Inn Express Midtown in central Philadelphia. This event will feature two days of intensive genealogical instruction with NEHGS genealogists Henry B. Hoff, David Allen Lambert, Gary Boyd Roberts, and George F. Sanborn Jr. We will present a series of dynamic and informative lectures on a variety of topics, focusing on New England research, research methodology, and migration patterns.
The seminar includes a panel discussion at the end of each day, during which participants may interact with all lecturers by participating in an active "Question and Answer" period. As with all NEHGS education programs, you will also have the chance to meet other researchers from around the country with a variety of genealogical interests. Genealogical books and CDs will be available for purchase throughout the conference.
Attendees can also choose to apply their knowledge by taking advantage of Philadelphia's genealogical treasures, which include the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the National Archives, the Philadelphia City Archives, and Philadelphia City Hall.
For more information about this program or to register, please call the education department, toll-free, at 1-888-286-3447, ext. 202, or email education@nehgs.org.
Genealogy 201:
Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Researching At NEHGS
NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts
April 3, 10, 17, 24, 2002, 1–2:45 p.m.
If you are looking to advance your genealogical skills towards the next level, we invite you to join us for this year's presentation of Genealogy 201. Offered every Wednesday during the month of April, this course assists all beginner and intermediate genealogists in becoming better acquainted with genealogical resources. The first hour of each session will be spent in a lecture provided by an experienced NEHGS staff genealogist. The lectures will guide you in effectively using our library resources, step-by-step. Afterwards, our staff will provide half-hour hands-on workshops and tours designed to show you how to apply what you have learned within the library.
At the completion of the course, you will be better acquainted with our library and staff and feel more confident in your abilities to conduct genealogical research. In addition, our intimate class size will allow us to provide you with extra special attention.
Lectures include:
• "A Roll Call of Resources in the Microtext Department: An in-depth look at microforms and computer technology @ NEHGS" by David Allen Lambert
• "A Closer Look at the International Collection" by George Sanborn and Marshall Kirk
• "Delving Deeper: Fully Utilizing the NEHGS Manuscripts Collection" by Timothy Salls and Tim Hughes
• "From Family Genealogies to the Register: Making the Best Use of our Reference Floor" by David C. Dearborn
Participants will also have the option of attending our free "Genealogy in a Nutshell" classes offered earlier in the day.
Course fees: $80 for members, $85 for non-members. Because class size is limited, we encourage you to register early. Please note: Genealogy 101 is not a prerequisite for attending this course.
To register or inquire further, please contact the NEHGS Education Department by email at education@nehgs.org or toll-free at 1-888-286-3447.
The Christian Science Monitor Looks at Genealogical Publishing
The Wednesday, March 6, 2002, issue of The Christian Science Monitor featured an article entitled, "Genealogy Goes Beyond All Those 'Begats'" by staff writer Mary Wiltenburg. The article discussed the motivating factors behind publishing a genealogy and outlined several different approaches and options. While researching the story, Ms. Wiltenburg met with several NEHGS staff members and the article contains quotes by Christopher Hartman, Newbury Street Press Project Supervisor, and Gabrielle Stone, NEHGS Book Publications Supervisor.
The complete article can be found on The Christian Science Monitor online at http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0306/p16s01-lifp.html.
New Research Articles on NewEnglandAncestors.org
Massachusetts
Three Little-Known Massachusetts Organizations: The Historic Bostons' Partnership, the Boston History Collaborative, and the Bay State Historical League
By Maureen A. Taylor
"The city of Boston, with its rich history, is home to a plethora of organizations with a historical purpose. Yet the majority of citizens are unaware of most of them and what they do. In this article I will profile three unique groups linked by an educational mission that are worth knowing about. One of these organizations focuses on students and tourism, another works to educate individuals working with museums, historical societies, and historic houses, while the third intends to awaken tourists to Boston's exciting history."
Maine
Research in Machias, Maine
By Russell Farnham
"Genealogical research in Machias, Maine, in the county of Washington, poses some unique challenges. Machias has been subject to a number of divisions in its history, which have resulted in fragmentation of vital records. Therefore, Machias researchers must pay special attention to the dates these events occurred, which are outlined in chart 1 below.
Connecticut
Connecticut Microfilms at NEHGS, Part 2
By Barbara Mathews
"This is the second installment of my discussion on the microtext records for Connecticut research available at the NEHGS Research Library. Part one covered vital records and church records. This column will cover the general index to probate records and the probate packages as well as the Connecticut Military Census, and those bits of Connecticut treated in the Corbin and Cooke collections. All of the microtext covered in this article can be found on the fourth floor microtext room in the NEHGS Library in Boston."
Coming Soon
Vermont
Vermont Military Records
By Scott Andrew Bartley
Canada
Sources for Canadian Research on Microfilm at NEHGS
By Michael J. Leclerc
Royal Descents, Notable Kin, and Printed Sources #56
Notable Descendants of Rev. John Lathrop/Lothropp, Founder of Barnstable, Massachusetts
By Gary Boyd Roberts
Special Topic: Boston
Boston in Print, Part 2: Town Records and Annexations
By Ann S. Lainhart
Personal Reflections
The Family Fortune
By Richard H. Benson
Genealogical Bargains
Are you looking for a genealogical bargain? Visit the "Damaged Books and Clearance" section of the NEHGS Online Store to discover some great deals on genealogical books and CDs.
Upcoming "Genealogy in a Nutshell" Lectures
This season's "Genealogy in a Nutshell" series continues with two new lectures:
• "Explore Vital Records before 1900" by David Allen Lambert on Wednesday, March 13
• "Find Your Irish Ancestors" by Marie Daly on Saturday, March 16
Both lectures take place at 10 a.m. There is no need to register in advance.
To register or inquire about our programs, please contact the Education Department, toll-free, at 1-888-286-3447, ext. 202, or email education@nehgs.org.
Personal Tutorials Available with Gary Boyd Roberts
Sign up today for a personal tutorial at our Boston headquarters with renowned genealogical author Gary Boyd Roberts. Mr. Roberts will review your charts and quickly guide you to the printed and manuscript sources at NEHGS that can extend your ancestry. He is well-known for his expertise in notable kinships, English origins, royal descents, Mayflower and 17th century research, colonial New England, parts of the mid-Atlantic, and the South.
For more information, please contact Ruth Wellner at research@nehgs.org or at 617-226-1233.
"A Woman's Work is Never Done": An American Antiquarian Society Online Exhibition
If, during Women's History Month, you are interested in learning more about the lives and times of your female ancestors, then a visit to the American Antiquarian Society website is in order. An online exhibition entitled "A Woman's Work is Never Done" features images from the American Antiquarian Society collections and illustrates many facets of American women's work, from the beginning of the American Revolution through the Industrial Revolution.
The exhibit is organized around the following themes: domestic work, women as merchants, women and war, teaching and education, factory workers, performers and artists, and miscellaneous occupations. The fascinating images, which were taken from photographs, trade cards, newspapers, and magazines of the time period, are complimented by interesting explanations and commentary. To view the exhibit, visit http://www.americanantiquarian.org/Exhibitions/Womanswork/.
The American Antiquarian Society is an independent research library founded in 1812 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The library's collections document the life of America's people from the colonial era through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Collections include books, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, broadsides, manuscripts, music, children's literature, graphic arts, genealogy and local histories. The website of the American Antiquarian Society is located at http://www.americanantiquarian.org/.