Join us at CONNECTIONS 2022

 

The MGC's 2022 Virtual Seminar focusing on Massachusetts Genealogical Research

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Connect online April 2-30, 2022

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Connect...with expert speakers in live chats and interactive workshops.

       Connect...with other attendees and genealogists in Topic Talks group discussions.

             Connect...with your Massachusetts ancestors by exploring new sources and applying new skills.

 

The seminar has two live speakers, nineteen presenters, twenty streaming on-demand presentations, four workshops, and thirteen live events during April. It is followed by an additional month of on-demand access to presentations during May. Access to the full two months is available for only $49.

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Live events open on April 2nd at 11:00 AM with a Keynote by Massachusetts Archivist, Dr. John Warner, speaking about “Riders on the Storm: Researching Your Civil War Ancestors.” He will draw on the resources uncovered writing his book on the Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry, the third African-American regiment raised in Massachusetts during the Civil War.

 

SPECIAL LIVE PRESENTATION:  April 25, at 7:00 PM, Dr. Stephen Morse presents “Getting Ready for the 1950 Census: Searching With and Without a Name Index.” Genealogists will have had access to the 1950 census for three weeks, meaning that we can look to Dr. Morse for the types of skills we need to find elusive relatives.

 

TRACKS AND LECTURES: Five topical areas allow genealogists to focus their on-demand streaming on particular research issues.

• Ethnic/Cultural: African-American, French-Canadian, Tribal, and Jewish genealogy research.

• Repositories: Massachusetts State Archives, Boston City Archives, the American Antiquarian Society, and the Boston Public Library.

• Technology: Ancestry.com search strategies, online Sanborn Maps, and making DNA connections.

• Town & County: Massachusetts town records, colonial cemetery records, and uncovering hidden family secrets.

• Records: Massachusetts Catholic records, Revolutionary War records, 1950 census records, and how to crowdsource information.

 

WORKSHOPS: Four of the presenters will also participate in a new format for workshops. The attendees can listen to the lecture, try using the strategies and methodologies learned, and meet with the presenter in a live format to review the exercise and learn more. There’s nothing to cement your learning like getting your hands into it and then talking to others about the new things you’ve learned. Four presentations will have optional workshop projects: Catholic records, Revolutionary War records, Massachusetts town records, and Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. Workshop attendance is limited to twenty-five people, so early registration is suggested.

 

CONNECTING WITH OTHERS THROUGH LIVE EVENTS: The speakers for each of the five tracks will gather together for weekly live chats during April. Additional Topic Talks take place at 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 7th and 21st. They will feature breakout rooms in which attendees share their experiences with topics covered in the conference.

 

SOCIETY SHOWCASE: Member societies of MGC will debut their Society Showcase booths during a live event on Saturday, April 9th. Society representatives will be available on that day to answer your questions. Their booths will remain up for the entire conference. Each booth will have a pre-recorded video, informational downloads, and helpful links.

 

MASSACHUSETTS GENEALOGICAL COUNCIL: The Massachusetts Genealogical Council was among the first genealogy groups to go to a virtual conference format in April 2020. MGC is an umbrella organization of Massachusetts genealogical and historical societies and libraries. We provide educational seminars and conferences to the members of those organizations. We also monitor legislative and administrative activity that might impact genealogists and historians.

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CONTACT INFO: Claire Smith, Program Director, seminar@massgencouncil.org

 

Register Now!