NERGC

FGS - The AI-Powered Genealogist: Working Smarter, Not Harder in Family History Research - Talk
2025-07-12 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
The AI-Powered Genealogist:
Working Smarter, Not Harder in Family History Research
with Jennifer Zinck, CG
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth
Free talk. Open to the Public. Live Speaker. In-Person and Zoom. For the Zoom credential, contact fgspresident@gmail.com no later than July 11.
The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.
The AI-Powered Genealogist: Working Smarter, Not Harder in Family History Research will be presented in person by Jennifer Zinck, CG. Zinck will highlight how AI tools can transcribe and translate historical documents, organize and analyze large sets of data quickly, refine search strategies for better results, identify patterns and connections in family history records, and assist in problem-solving for tricky genealogical questions.
Zinck is a Certified Genealogist with more than 20 years of research experience. She is a researcher, writer, and speaker who specializes in Connecticut resources and DNA evidence for genealogy. She is a graduate of the Boston University Genealogical Certificate Program and has taught for the program. Zinck is serving her fifth term as the President of the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council and her second term on the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists.

ACGS - Webinar - What to Do With Your Stuff – Planning for the Future of Your Genealogy and Artifacts
2025-07-26 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
ACGS is excited to be working with Peggy Jude
for the Summer 2025 Webinar!
Peggy Jude’s presentation will be
What to Do With Your Stuff – Planning for the Future of Your Genealogy and Artifacts
Every year, countless genealogical documents and cherished family heirlooms are tragically discarded, lost to future generations. This session offers practical strategies to safeguard your invaluable research and family treasures, ensuring their preservation for years to come. Through methods for organizing, documenting, and digitizing irreplaceable records and stories, we’ll explore proven approaches to prioritize and protect your research. You’ll leave with clear steps to preserve and share your family’s legacy for generations to come.
Join us on July 26, 2025, at 4 pm (ET)
Session will be recorded if you are not able to make the live presentation, and will be available for 30 days.
About the Presenter: Peggy Jude

Peggy is a speaker, educator and researcher who specializes and teaches multiple times each month in five areas of genealogical interest: DNA, Genealogical Technology, Preserving Family History and Family Heirlooms, Genealogical Methods and Records, and Swedish Genealogy.
She is an instructor in the DNA Foundations course at the Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research. She leads both the DNA and Technology Special Interest Groups for the Manatee Genealogical Society (FL) where she is also VP and member of the board.
Peggy holds a BS in Zoology from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Following a successful career as a Global Human Resources Executive, she opened her genealogical business centered on the west coast of Florida. She is a graduate of ProGen and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild. She is a graduate of ProGen, and an alumnus of multiple advanced genealogical institutes.

FGS: Finding the Living: Doing Descendancy Research Talk
2025-08-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
Finding the Living: Doing Descendancy Research
with Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist, American Ancestors
Saturday, August 9, 2025, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth
Free talk. Open to the Public. Zoom Speaker. In-Person and Zoom. For the Zoom credential, contact fgspresident@gmail.com no later than August 8.
The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.
Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist with American Ancestors, presenting via Zoom, will discuss how descendancy research, i.e. tracing all descendants of an individual to the present, can help you further your research. While family historians most often focus on tracing their ancestry further and further into the past, there are cases when doing the opposite—tracing lines forward is required. Whether you are building out your ancestors’ network of extended family, hoping to understand DNA connections, working on a study project, creating a family association, or just want to connect with distant family, this talk will provide the tools and strategies for finding living relations.
Rhonda McClure is a nationally recognized genealogist and lecturer. She is the editor of the recently released 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research. Her areas of expertise include: immigration and naturalization, late 19th and early 20th Century urban research, and New England and Mid-West research.

NHSOG - Fall Conference
2025-09-20 09:30 - 14:30 | Zoom
To Register for NHSOG Fall Conference Click Here

ACGS - Fall Conference - All Welcome
2025-09-27 10:30 - 16:00 | Zoom
Virtual Fall Conference and Annual Meeting
September 27, 2025 – 10:30 A.M. – 3:45 P.M.
Conference Speakers:
Luc Baronian, PhD
Hugo Saint-Amant Lamy
Pierre Gendreau-Hétu
Click Here to Register for the Fall Conference Today!
Registration closes on September 20th, 2025
All Presentations will be recorded and available for paid attendees for 30 days after the conference.
For Details on speaker bio’s and descriptions of presentations, please go to https://acgs.org/fall-conference-2025/ . All are welcome, members and non-members.

The Falmouth and Cape Cod Genealogical Societies Present Two Talks
2025-11-15 10:30 - 13:30 | St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 421 Wianno Avenue, Osterville, MA, 02655, United States
The Falmouth and Cape Cod Genealogical Societies Present Two Talks
Data Collection: Mastering Techniques in Genealogical Research
Broad Context: How to Find It and Use It! with Jill Morelli, CG
Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10:30 am–1:30 pm
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 421 Wianno Avenue, Osterville
The Falmouth and Cape Cod Genealogical Societies will hold their annual joint meeting on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 10:30 am-1:30 pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 421 Wianno Avenue, Osterville.
Jill Morelli, CG, CGL is a writer, lecturer, and co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute (Learn by Doing) and founder of the award winning (2) Certification Discussion Group that demystifies the BCG portfolio process by sharing techniques learned personally and from others. She lectures and has written articles for NGSQ, The Sept and others. She is past president of Seattle Genealogical Society and is program director for the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Jill Morelli, CG will present two talks.
Data Collection: Mastering Techniques in Genealogical Research
As genealogists, the foundation of our work lies in the careful collection and accurate interpretation of data. Ensuring that we follow best practices not only enhances the quality of our research but also upholds the ethical standards of our field. This presentation will provide you with the tools and techniques to manage and interpret genealogical data effectively and assure confidence in your response to tough genealogical problems.
Broad Context: How to Find It and Use It!
By understanding the broad context of our geographic area and the era, we can interpret the evidence more accurately and thereby understand the decision-making of our ancestors more clearly. We sometimes view context as just the historical events that affected our ancestor. We will broaden that definition and explain the difference between it and social history. Examples clarify meaning and illustrate how this is a project-long process rather than applied at the end.

These talks are free and open to the public. They are also available via Zoom.
Pre-registration is required for Zoom access: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jZZv2cAqRy6uNeQrx0LBBw
Bag lunches will be available at a modest cost by pre-order only. Visit the FGS website at www.falgen.org for full program details, Zoom registration instructions, and lunch ordering information.

FGS - Naturalization & Citizenship Records in U.S.
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
Naturalization and Citizenship Records in the United States
with Christine Cohen, Whittier (CA) Area Genealogical Society
Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth

The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.
Christine Cohen, Program Director with the Whittier (CA) Area Genealogical Society, will present via Zoom: Naturalization and Citizenship Records in the United States.

Naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes an American citizen. Naturalization records can provide a researcher with valuable information such as an ancestor’s birth date, birth location in the country of origin, occupation, immigration year, marital status, spouse information, and witnesses’ names and addresses. Naturalization and the individual steps to citizenship could be done at any “court of record” of which there were 5,000 in the United States.
This talk is free and open to the public. It is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact fgspresident@gmail.com by December 12, 2025.

JGSGB - Jewish Genealogy: Discover Your Family History
2026-01-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston(JGSGB) will teach its award-winning course, Jewish Genealogy: Discover Your Family History via ZOOM on 8 Wednesday evenings between January 7, 2026, to March 18, 2026 7pm – 9pm.
Through lectures and individual help sessions, learn basic research skills, how to use online genealogy resources, finding immigrant ancestors in the U.S. and European records, Holocaust research, DNA testing and much more.
Tuition is $250 and includes a 1-year membership to the JGSGB.
For more info and to register, go to https://www.jgsgb.org/course/

FGS Talk - I Knew I Was Adopted — How I Filled in the Story with Research
2026-01-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
I Knew I Was Adopted — How I Filled in the Story with Research
with FGS Member Mary O’Keeffe
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth
The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.
FGS Member Mary O’Keeffe will present in person: I Knew I Was Adopted — How I Filled in the Story with Research. She will share the evolution of her research which began in the late 1990s and resulted in obtaining her original birth certificate. She’ll detail her adoption research and DNA testing and matches, and the creation of her biological family tree. And, with this research success, she took a trip to County Leitrim, Ireland in June 2023 to further explore her roots.
Mary’s passion for genealogy started more than 25 years ago. A self-described “detective” by nature, she used these skills to research and solve her genealogical puzzle. Mary worked in the telecommunications field for more than thirty years. In retirement, she has turned her attention to supporting many local non-profit organizations, serving on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Cape Cod and the Family Table Collaborative and volunteering for Cape Kid Meals.
This talk is free and open to the public. It is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact fgspresident@gmail.com by January 16, 2026.

ACGS -Winter Webinar w Kathryn Lake Hogan
2026-01-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
ACGS is excited to be working with Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS
for the Winter 2026 Webinar!
Kathryn Lake Hogan’s presentation will be
Making the Most of the Canadian Census Records

Canadian census records from 1851 to 1931 offer invaluable details for family historians, but each census presents unique content and challenges. By tracing three families—Canadian, French-Canadian, and Black Canadian—through these records, practical strategies are demonstrated. Discover how surname variations, enumerator instructions, and changing census questions influence your research, and learn the best websites for accessing these collections. From the nation-building 1871 Federal Census to the Prairie Province special returns and the modern 1931 release, attendees will gain the tools to effectively interpret census data and enhance their Canadian genealogy research.
Register at link below. Deadline to Register is January 17, 2026
About the Presenter: Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS
A native of Southwestern Ontario, Canada, Kathryn Lake Hogan, UE, PLCGS, is a professional genealogist and educator with deep roots in Canada through her five Loyalist ancestors. Since founding Looking4Ancestors in 2007, Kathryn has helped family history researchers discover their Canadian ancestry, blending her expertise with an approachable and insightful teaching style.
Kathryn graduated from ProGen 4 and the International Institute for Genealogical Studies, earning professional learning certificates in English and Canadian genealogy. She is currently pursuing accreditation with ICAPGen.
Kathryn has written articles featuring Canadian genealogy for CrossRoads, Family Tree Magazine, The In-Depth Genealogist, and the APG Quarterly. Having served in leadership roles for notable organizations such as Ontario Ancestors, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada, she continues to champion greater accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity in family history.
Kathryn is a sought-after speaker who captivatingly engages audiences at genealogy society meetings and regional and national conferences. As a course coordinator and instructor of the Ontario and Quebec course at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), she helps researchers sharpen their skills and dive deeper into their Canadian family history.

FGS - Falmouth’s Whaling Heritage with Joe Mattingly
2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
Falmouth’s Whaling Heritage
with Joe Mattingly
Saturday, February 14, 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth
The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.
Falmouth was the home port of 13 whaling ships that made 52 whaling voyages, mainly to the Pacific, between 1820 and 1864. Six whalers were built in Falmouth, most of them at Bar Neck Wharf in Woods Hole, under the oversight of the patriarch of Falmouth whaling, Elijah Swift. With a total population of no more than 2,600, Falmouth produced an astounding 65 ship captains, some of whom took their wives on whaling voyages of three to five years and had children born at sea. In this presentation, you will compare the Falmouth boys’ dreams of glory and adventure with the hard, punishing realities of whaling.
Joe Mattingly is a docent at Falmouth Museums on the Green and a volunteer at the Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center with a special interest in the history and culture of New England and Falmouth whaling. Joe is a native of Maryland, a long-time docent for Historic Annapolis, and a retired lawyer. Joe and his wife Eileen first came to Cape Cod in the late 1960s when he was a U. S. Air Force officer at Otis AFB. They returned from Maryland part-time in 2011 and have been year-round residents of Bourne since 2019. Joe received his formal education from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Saint John’s University School of Law, and Georgetown University Law Center.
Joe cannot claim to be a Mayflower descendant. However, he is a direct descendant of George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore and founder of Maryland, and Leonard Calvert, the first provincial governor of Maryland (1634-1647).
This talk is free and open to the public. It is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact fgspresident@gmail.com by February 13, 2026.

For more information, visit the FGS website at falgen.org.

NERGC BOD Meeting
2026-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom

NERGC Delegates Meeting
2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
This will be the first Delegates Meeting for the 2027 conference.

Call for Presentations Deadline
2026-03-15 23:58 - 23:59 | MA
Presentation proposals are welcome from now until midnight March 15, 2026, eastern standard time for the 19th New England Regional Genealogy Conference to be held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland, Maine, April 14-17, 2027.
We are looking for:

60-minute conference sessions that include 15 minutes of Q & A (about 35 sessions, predominantly on Saturday)
75-minute conference sessions that include 15 minutes of Q & A (about 40 sessions)
Mealtime presentations of 45 minutes.
Two-hour workshops, a session in which all participants get the opportunity to utilize tools, website, or techniques under the tutelage of the presenter with hands on activities in one of these formats.

Guided Research.
Flipped Classroom.
I do, We do, You do.

Workshops are offered all four days of the conference, and we are seeking them for all levels of genealogical researchers.

All in keeping with our conference theme: Genealogy in the Age of AI: Innovation Meets Responsibility.
Presenters will receive a one-day complimentary conference registration for each selected presentation or workshop. NERGC does not cover travel or hotel expenses. Remuneration considers the length of the presentation with a bonus for timely submission of syllabus material that meets NERGC guidelines.
A partial list of suggested topics from our 2025 attendees is on the next page. Specific ethnicity focused presentations are always requested.
We are also asking that you consider carefully the audience level you associate with your presentation. Our portal offers the following level options:

Novice, someone new to this topic.
Intermediate, someone with some experience to this topic.
Advanced, someone with general experience to this topic.
Experienced, someone with widespread knowledge of this.
General Interest, more informative and not related to research experience.

You must submit your lecture and workshop proposals through the NERGC program portal. This permits you to enter up to six presentation proposals.
For more information and for the link to send in your proposals, please go to https://nergc.org/call-for-presentations-2027/.

FGS - Planning a Trip to Your Ancestral Home — A Case Study to a German Town
2026-03-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
Planning a Trip to Your Ancestral Home — A Case Study to a German Town
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth
The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.
Jeff Schiebe, presenting in person, will use a recent trip to Germany to describe the tools and activities for effectively planning and implementing a successful journey. Included will be pre-trip planning and research, how to ensure the best possible visit, and most importantly, finding new genealogical records, documents, and photos. The processes and tools presented will be applicable to any visit to your international or domestic ancestral home — even a virtual visit.
Jeff is an avid genealogist and has been doing genealogy research on his family, both in the USA and abroad, for over 40 years. Jeff eagerly shares the tools and techniques he has used along his genealogical journey. He has given many presentations on numerous topics to genealogy clubs, senior centers, libraries and family foundations in Massachusetts and across the country both in person and via Zoom. Jeff is also active and on the board of directors of the Cape Cod Genealogical Society and launched a genealogy club in his hometown of Southborough, MA in 2023.
This talk is free and open to the public. It is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact fgspresident@gmail.com by March 20, 2026.

For more information, visit the FGS website at falgen.org.

MGC - Webinar
2026-03-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Bay State Bonanza 400 Years of Vital Records with Margaret R. Fortier

FGS - How to Get Your Town Engaged in Cemetery Care with Robbin M. Kelley
2026-04-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
How to Get Your Town Engaged in Cemetery Care
with Robbin M. Kelley
Saturday, April 4, 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth
The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 10:00 am-12:00pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth. This talk is free and open to the public. It is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact fgspresident@gmail.com by April 3, 2026.

For more information, visit the FGS website at falgen.org.
Robbin Kelley, presenting in person, will highlight the importance of cemetery care and local engagement in the preservation of historic cemeteries. Historic cemeteries serve as important cultural landscapes that preserve local history, honor veterans and community members, and provide peaceful public spaces for reflection. Proper care and preservation help ensure that these sites remain protected for future generations.During the presentation, attendees will learn about:

Why cemetery care matters for preserving local heritage
Massachusetts laws related to cemetery maintenance and protection
Opportunities for towns to support cemetery care through Community Preservation funds

Cemetery preservation plays a vital role in maintaining community identity. Historic gravestones and burial grounds document the lives of early residents, veterans, and families who helped shape the region. “Cemeteries are outdoor history books,” according to Kelley. “By maintaining them properly, communities protect their shared heritage while honoring the individuals who came before us,” she adds.
The program will also address some of the challenges historic cemeteries face today, including aging monuments, storm damage, limited funding, and the growing need for volunteer support. Community members interested in local history, genealogy, preservation, or civic engagement are encouraged to attend and learn how they can help support cemetery care efforts in their town.
Robbin M. Kelley is a Certified Professional Genealogist who completed the Genealogical Research Program at Boston University. She has been working as a genealogist for over thirty years and is the owner of Cape Genealogy, a business she has been operating for the past twenty-one years. Her work specializes in proof of lineal descent as well as missing and unknown lineage research.
Robbin originally attended Northeastern University for computer engineering and worked in the computer field for ten years as the Network Administrator for Cape Cod Computers. Her passion for genealogy eventually led her to leave the computer field and pursue genealogy as a full-time career.
Since 2004, Robbin has served as the Cemetery Administrator for the Town of Harwich, overseeing the care and management of sixteen cemeteries and 100 acres. She is a member of the Cape Cod Genealogical Society (CCGS), the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), and the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). She also serves as a Board Member of the Massachusetts Cemetery Association and is a Past President and Board Member of the New England Cemetery Association. In addition, she is a member of the Garden Club of Harwich.

NERGC Delegates Meeting & Hotel Walkthrough
2026-04-18 11:00 - 15:00 | Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME
We will be having a walkthrough of the venue in Portland, ME for the 2027 conference and will be followed by the Delegates meeting at the Maine Historical Society.
Holiday Inn by the Bay at 11am to 12pm – 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME
Maine Historical Society 1pm to 3pm – 489 Congress Street, Portland, ME

NHSOG - Spring Conference
2026-04-25 09:30 - 14:30 | NHSG – Zoom, New Hampshire

CAS - “Mysterious Codes – Passenger Manifest Letters and Numbers” with Christine Cohen
2026-04-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Virtual Meeting
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.
Christine’s interest in genealogy began in 1977 with the airing of the TV mini-series “Roots”. Her enthusiasm was piqued when she was given a typed pedigree chart, commissioned by her maternal grandfather, of her Dutch heritage from the New Netherlands in the 1650’s.
She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Daughters of the Revolution and the Society of Holland Dames.
The native Californian is a graduate of UCLA in Political Science and has recently retired to pursue her genealogy interest full time.
Please visit their website to register for this event.

ACGS Spring Conference - Virtual
2026-04-25 11:00 - 15:30 | Zoom
ACGS Spring Conference 2026
100% Virtual
April 25, 2026 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

Discover, Connect, and Be Inspired at the ACGS Spring Conference

Every family story begins with a spark of curiosity—and this spring, the American‑Canadian Genealogical Society invites you to fan that spark into something extraordinary. Whether you’re tracing deep Acadian roots, navigating complex DNA puzzles, or simply hoping to understand your ancestors with greater clarity, this year’s conference brings together three remarkable speakers whose expertise, generosity, and passion for teaching will guide you every step of the way.
Join us for a day of learning that blends history, culture, science, and community. You’ll explore the intertwined worlds of Acadians and Mi’kmaq with Judy Nimer Muhn, gain confidence working through challenging genetic genealogy cases with Kate Penney Howard, and discover the power of collaborative research through Cindy Bourque Cooper’s work with the WikiTree Acadians Project.
This is more than a conference—it’s an opportunity to deepen your skills, connect with fellow researchers, and uncover new pathways into your family’s past. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or have been researching for years, you’ll leave energized, informed, and inspired.
We can’t wait to see you there.

Click Here to Register for the Spring Conference Today!
Registration closes on April 18, 2026
All Presentations will be Recorded and Available for 30 Days after Conference for Paid Attendees
Our speakers will be Judy Nimer Muhn, Kate Penney Howard, and Cindy Bourque Cooper.
To see the speaker biographies and the write up on each of their planned presentations, please go to https://acgs.org/spring-conference-2026/ .

JGSGB - Piecing Together History: Using Maps and Directories to Rediscover Eastern European Towns and Understanding Eastern European Geography: Borders, Peoples, and Histories
2026-04-26 13:30 - 15:30 | New Art Center
Michelle Tucker Chubenko – Piecing Together History: Using Maps and Directories to Rediscover Eastern European Towns
and
Spotlight Talk: Understanding Eastern European Geography: Borders, Peoples, and Histories

April 26, 2026 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm EDT
– at New Art Center (hybrid meeting)

JGSGB members: Program is free. Members do not need to register.
Join us in person, or you can find the Zoom link by logging in to your JGSGB Membership account. Once logged in, use the “What would you like to do” dropdown to locate the Members-only Page for the Zoom link. You will also receive an email with the Zoom link the morning of the program.
Non-members: Pay $5.00 at the door to attend in person, or click here to pay $5.00 fee to receive the Zoom link.
If you do not receive an email with the link to the program within 15 minutes, please check your Spam folder.

Both programs will be recorded and available for 3 months on the member’s page.
Main Program Description:
Our ancestors’ lives were more than the events of birth, marriage, and death. Information about the places where they lived isn’t always readily available. The presentation will demonstrate how to use published materials such as gazetteers, schematisms, directories and maps to pinpoint your ancestral town or village. Using examples from Central and Eastern Europe, Chubenko will also show you how to use the statistical data and incorporate visual details to create historical vignettes for these places.
Spotlight Program Description:
In this session, Chubenko will help you navigate the complex history of the shifting borders in Eastern Europe. You will learn how empires and key historical events from the 18th century through the Cold War shaped our ancestral landscape and you will receive practical tips for locating towns, interpreting multi-language records, and accessing relevant archives.
Speaker Bio:
Michelle Tucker Chubenko is an accredited Professional Genealogist and specializes in the Mid-Atlantic region and Eastern European research. She serves in leadership positions for the Foundation for East European Family History Studies (FEEFHS), and a Family History Group at the Ukrainian History and Education Center (Somerset, New Jersey). In 2023, she coordinated the institute course Researching Your Ancestry in the Crownland of Galicia, Austria-Hungary.

FGS - Colonial American Migration Routes and Modes of Travel with Annette Burke Lyttle, CG®
2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
Colonial American Migration Routes and Modes of Travel with Annette Burke Lyttle, CG®, Heritage Detective, LLC
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth
The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, May 9, 2026, from 10:00 am-12:00pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.
When our Colonial ancestors arrived on the shores of North America in the 1600s and 1700s, many of them very quickly began migrating west. They followed rivers and created roads into the wilderness to found new settlements on the frontier. Learn about where they traveled and how they got there, as well as how to uncover the stories of their lives.
Annette Burke Lyttle, CG® will present via Zoom. Lyttle owns Heritage Detective, LLC, providing professional genealogical services in research, education, and writing. She speaks on a variety of genealogical topics at the international, national, state, and local levels and loves helping people uncover and share their family stories. Lyttle is a course coordinator for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the British Institute. She is a published writer whose research interests include Quaker ancestors and ancestral migrations in the US. She is past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists and editor of The Florida Genealogist.
This talk is free and open to the public. It will be held in person and is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact fgspresident@gmail.com by May 8, 2026.

For more information, visit the FGS website at falgen.org.

CAS - “Leaving Connecticut, Shaping America” with Walter Woodward
2026-05-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Fairfield Museum & History Center, 370 Beach Rd, Fairfield, CT, 06824
Leaving Connecticut, Shaping America” with Walter Woodward
Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking at 12:30 pm
Hybrid Event via Zoom and in person at the Fairfield Museum & History Center.
Between 1780 and 1830, tens of thousands of Connecticans left our state to “begin the world anew” in places like Pennsylvania, Vermont, western New York, and especially, the Connecticut Reserve of what is now Ohio. In the process, they took the culture of their home state with them, and gave the nation a strong and indelible Connecticut character.
In this fast-paced and copiously-illustrated talk, Walt Woodward discusses the reasons behind Connecticut’s massive outmigration, the distinctive attributes of the people who chose to leave, and the very serious concerns their removal raised for those they left behind.
Given the very serious concerns state leaders have today over the outmigration of Connecticut’s younger generations, this is a timely topic that will leave you with much to talk about.
Walter Woodward, Ph.D., was Connecticut’s State Historian and a member of the History Department at the University of Connecticut from 2004 to 2022. Although retired, he continues to keep Connecticut’s history alive and vital with his lectures, videos, and blogs. Dr. Woodward is a scholar of Early American and Atlantic World history, with an emphasis on Connecticut and New England. He is the author of five books. Before becoming a historian in midlife, he had successful careers in both the music and advertising industries. Walt’s work in all three of his chosen fields has been lauded and won multiple awards.
Connecticut Ancestry Society, Inc.’s brief annual meeting begins at 1 pm with the lecture by Walt to immediately follow.

CSG - Annual Meeting & Program
2026-05-16 11:00 - 14:30 | Hilton Garden Inn Wallingford, 1181 Barnes Road, Wallingford, CT, 06492, United States
Connecticut Society of Genealogists
Annual Meeting & Program
Saturday, May 16, 2026
11:00 AM – 2:30 PM
In person only: Hilton Garden Inn Wallingford
1181 Barnes Road, Wallingford, CT 06492
Registration: https://csginc.org/csg-annual-meeting/
“Geology, Decrees & Deposits: Connecticut Unrest Beyond the Thames” with James King
In 1775 Elijah Backus, Norwich Iron Works, cast anchors and cannon for the newly formed Connecticut Navy. From its founding Parliament decreed that the refining, smelting or forming of metallic substances was forbidden. The Iron to cast cannon and anchors was discovered in Salisbury Connecticut. Join us as Jim King discusses the iron deposits in Connecticut and its journey to Norwich to be forged into the tools of revolution.
Bio:
James King received his training in archaeology and geology at the University of Texas at Austin in 1982. After working as a field archaeologist in central Texas and Arkansas, he turned his interest in geology to mineralogy, then mining, finally settling on the study of historic mines and mining techniques. His interest in Colonial mines of Connecticut began in 1984 as the archaeological monitor of The Wallingford Copper Mine, the oldest commercial mine in America. This led to his interest in the Colonial iron industry in the state. Presently living in Preston, he has been a historic restoration technician since 1986.

JGSGB - An Overview of Genealogy Resources at the Boston Public Library
2026-05-17 13:30 - 15:30 | Beth El Temple Center, 2 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA, 02478, United States
Jessy Wheeler – An Overview of Genealogy Resources at the Boston Public Library

May 17, 2026 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm EDT
-at Beth El Temple Center (Hybrid Meeting)

This program will be recorded and available on the member’s page.
Jessy Wheeler will guide us through the Boston Public Library’s (BPL) distinctive and extensive collection of local and family history materials to help you research your family history, whether or not you have local roots. This includes published genealogies, vital records, town histories, immigration records, passenger lists, newspapers, and access to some of the most comprehensive genealogy databases available. The BPL’s collection includes materials covering all of Massachusetts and most of New England, making it unique among public libraries with local and family history collections.
Speaker Bio:Jessy Wheeler serves as the Research Specialist in Genealogy at the Boston Public Library. While she is not a professional genealogist, Jessy has always been interested in family history and has been assisting library patrons with their genealogical research for most of her professional career. She holds a BA in English from Skidmore College and a MLIS from Simmons University.

CAS - “Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries” with Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD
2026-06-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
“Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries” with Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Networking at 10 a.m.
Virtual Meeting
Even though our 18th and 19th century ancestors have been dead for decades, their DNA still survives in their descendants. Learn how to use autosomal DNA to attack and potentially solve genealogical mysteries and brick walls for ancestors who were born or lived in the 1800’s, 1700’s, and beyond.
Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in both DNA evidence and AI for Genealogy. He has been a leader in the field of genetic genealogy and has contributed to several aspects of genetic genealogy methodology and analysis through his research, his lectures, the books he has written, and the social media groups that he founded and oversees.

FGS - Revolutionary War Research Using Lineage Society Resources
2026-06-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth, MA, 02540, United States
The Falmouth Genealogical Society Presents Talk:
Revolutionary War Research Using Lineage Society Resources with David W. Powell
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth
The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10:00 am-12:00pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth. The FGS Annual Meeting will precede the talk.
David Powell will present in person, and his talk will be centered on using lineage society websites to research one’s ancestor’s military service in the Revolutionary War. Specifically, he will discuss the Patriot Research System (PRS) operated by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. This database includes the Patriot Search, Member Search, Descendant Search, and Cemetery Search features. He will also discuss the online resources of the Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogical Research system including Ancestor Search, Descendant’s Database and the GRC. In addition, Powell will briefly discuss the resources of the Society of the Descendants of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge and the use of the Valley Forge Park Alliance Muster Roll Project.
David Powell served four years as the Syracuse, NY Chapter President followed by four years as a Vice President and then two years as State President of the Empire State (NY) Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is currently one of the Vice Presidents of the SAR in Massachusetts. He was also the New York Brigade Commander of the Society of the Descendants of Washington’s Army at Valley Forge and is currently the Interim Brigade Commander of the New England Brigade. David is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), the Sons of the Revolution (SR), The Sons of American Colonists, The Sons and Daughters of Colonial Militia Officers (1775-1783) and the General Society of the War of 1812.
Powell retired from working for 41 years in the forensic field. He began his genealogical research in 1991. He has been a presenter across the United States on Revolutionary War and genealogy topics such as the pension system and its records, the money used during the Revolution, the Defense of Fort Mifflin and the use of DNA for Genealogy.
This talk is free and open to the public. It will be held in person and is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact fgspresident@gmail.com by June 5, 2026.

For more information, visit the FGS website at falgen.org.

JGSGB - Clued-In: Cases from Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist and Personal Photo Analysis for Key Volunteers
2026-06-07 13:30 - 15:30 | Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward Street, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Ava Cohn – Clued-In: Cases from Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist
and
Personal Photo Analysis for Key Volunteers

June 7, 2026 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm EDT
at Temple Emanuel (Hybrid Meeting)

This program will be not be recorded.
Ever have questions about the old family photos you’ve found hiding in your shoeboxes, jewelry boxes, photo albums, closets or basements? In this program, Ava Cohn will use new cases to illustrate the methodology of Photo Genealogy with tips on how to get the most information from your old photographs. This presentation will help you decipher the clues in your family photographs: accurately dating of a photograph, identifying individuals in photographs, and determining the correct generation.
Following her presentation, Ava will analyze the personal photos of several key JGSGB volunteers, as a special appreciation gift for their many hours of help to our Society.

Speaker Bio:
Ava Cohn, aka Sherlock Cohn, The Photo Genealogist, is an internationally-known expert on Jewish family photographs. A Brandeis University graduate, her background includes the study of decorative arts, photography history, and costume/theatre history. Since 2009, she has specialized in accurately dating and placing photographs and identifying individuals in photographs with an emphasis on immigrant and Eastern European culture and traditions.

NERGC Annual Meeting
2026-06-27 08:00 - 17:00 | MA
This will be the NERGC annual meeting, Board meeting, and Delegates meeting with elections for new officers.

Times and location of meetings will be announced once they are determined.
