Unlock Your Genealogical Potential at NERGC 2025!
Dive into a world of discovery with a packed schedule of presentations, workshops, and interactive sessions designed to elevate your genealogical journey. Explore topics that inspire, learn from expert speakers, and connect with fellow enthusiasts who share your passion.
To find out when these presentations will take place during the NERGC 2025 Conference, click the ‘Brochure’ button below to view the complete schedule of events and presentation times.
Want to be part of this exciting event? Click here to learn how to register.
This chart can be sorted by any of the column headers in ascending or descending order. Click any column header to sort the data, or use the search function to quickly find specific presentations. Locate presentations of interest, then check the brochure for their day and time slots.
NERGC Program 2025
| Track # | Speaker | Title | Speaker Bio | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-201 | Michael Brophy -sponsored by Godfrey Library | Adoption Research in New England: History, Genealogy, Legacy | Michael Brophy is a nationally known professional genealogical researcher, heir search specialist, and lecturer from the Boston area. He is a past of President of the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) and the first Treasurer of the New England of Association of Professional Genealogists. Mike earned an MBA degree from Suffolk University and a BBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. | Adoption has been practiced in America since its founding. The history, genealogical research practice, current topics and issues and legislation are explored. |
| F-202 | Diane Boumenot | Rhode Island State Census for Genealogists | Looking for Rhode Islanders in the Revolutionary War era, or 1865-1935? The Rhode Island colonial and state census collections offer amazing and unique details, but each enumeration is quite different. Learn how to navigate the arrangements online and match family members to their records. | Looking for Rhode Islanders in the Revolutionary War era, or 1865-1935? The Rhode Island colonial and state census collections offer amazing and unique details, but each enumeration is quite different. Learn how to navigate the arrangements online and match family members to their records. |
| F-203 | Sara Campbell | You Can Do Genealogy Without Breaking the Bank | Sara E. Campbell is an educator, author, editor, and researcher. She is a frequent lecturer at conferences and societies in the New England Region. A member of the Historical Commission in Erving, MA she has dug into the origins of her Town. Her background as a Civil Engineer brings a unique viewpoint to her research. | The number of genealogy web sites, organizations and publications can be daunting. This session explores techniques to save money on subscriptions and genealogy education. We will talk about finding free resources, and how to target your genealogy dollars. The most valuable genealogical sources are the ones that contain information about your family. This session covers the pros and cons of the top sites for searching genealogical databases, as well as in-person research. |
| F-204 | Michael F. Dwyer – Sponsored by GSV | French-Canadian Names Lost in Vermont | Michael Dwyer is a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists and has published many articles in journals including the Register, American Ancestor, Vermont Genealogy, The Maine Genealogist, among others. Named Vermont Teacher of the Year in 2004, he continues to research Irish and French-Canadian immigrants and DNA relationships. | Several dozen case studies will reveal how early French-Canadian immigrants to Vermont lost both their first and last names. Although close to a third of Vermonters in the 1990 Census disclosed French-Canadian ethnicity, many faced a brick wall in fully identifying their Québec ancestor. Presentation focuses on the steps taken and resources use to discover hidden identities. |
| F-205 | Kate Penney Howard -sponsored by CAS | Solving Maternal Surname Mysteries with DNA | Kate Penney Howard is a genetic genealogist, specializing in brick wall work, HighRoH, and endogamy. During a bout with cancer, she discovered that she loves sharing her knowledge with other genealogists. She has presented at National and international conferences as well as local library and genealogical society gatherings. Kate studied vocal music and earned a Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis in 2011, and has been pastor of North Christian Church since her ordination in 2012. | We all have that ancestor with a first name, but no family name. When traditional genealogical techniques fail to turn up an answer, we can turn to DNA to find more opportunities to discover clues. Follow along as Kate explains how she used traditional genealogy,and DNA clustering to write her ancestors’ surnames in their family tree! |
| F-206 | Diahan Southard | Eight Ways Your DNA Test Impacts Family History | Diahan Southard, has been helping people use DNA to explore their roots for over 20 years. She started her career at the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, which created the DNA database that became AncestryDNA. After witnessing the power of DNA for family history–and the difficulties people face in using it effectively–she launched a pioneering career in DNA education. | With so many people finding parents and siblings and long-lost grandparents thanks to the power of DNA testing, you may have the impression that genetic genealogy is only for those with limited genealogical information. However, that is not the case! Those with especially conspicuous ancestors can still benefit from the results of DNA testing. We will cover how to use your test results to verify your known family history, how to use it to get younger generations involved in family history, how to use it to explore your health, and much more! |
| F-207 | Judy G. Russell | The Law from Common to Uncommon | Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠ from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com. | As families migrated from New England westward, the law migrated as well. Common law principles that so impacted our ancestors’ lives in old colonial jurisdictions gave way to uncommonly egalitarian concepts in some ways-and more limiting rules in others. From dividing an inheritance to drawing racial lines, the law impacted the migrants, and often even explained why they migrated. |
| F-208 | Peggy Lauritzen | Entering the Old Northwest Territory | Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, AGL, FOGS, is a member of the APG Executive Committee. In 2018, she was awarded the title of Fellow of the Ohio Genealogical Society and received the Laura G. Prescott Award for Exemplary Service in Genealogy. Peggy is an instructor at Ancestry Academy, Family Tree University, a former columnist for Reminisce magazine, and a former researcher for Ancestry ProGenealogists. She and her husband Kerry are FamilySearch Center Directors in Mansfield, Ohio. | When we think of settling the West, our minds will often turn to the broad expanses of the American West that conjures up scenes of broad prairies and herds of buffalo and antelope. Such was not the case in the First American West. We also may think of the Canadian provinces of the same name. After the signing of the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, Britain ceded land that would eventually comprise the Northwest Territory. Just five years later, the first settlers would leave their homes in New England and begin their journey to the “Territory Northwest of the River Ohio” and establish their first city – Marietta. Eventually the states of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota would be included. |
| F-209 | Bonnie Wade Mucia | Uncovering Pre-1900 New England Church Records for Genealogy | Bonnie Wade Mucia owns Keeper of the Past Genealogy and is the Mayflower Families Silver Books Project Director for the Mayflower Society (GSMD). She has published articles in several respected genealogical journals. Bonnie is actively pursuing accreditation with ICAPGen specializing in the New England region. | Discover how to locate New England church records from before 1900, including those hidden in unexpected places. This talk explores the history of colonial religious groups, key repositories, and strategies for finding records in archives, libraries, and private collections. Learn to use essential reference sources and uncover records that may be stored outside New England, providing valuable insights for genealogical research. |
| F-210 | Sunny Jane Morton | U.S. Church Records: Congregationalists, Catholics and More | Sunny Jane Morton (www.sunnymorton.com) is Content Director at YourDNAGuide.com; Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine; co-author of the NGS-award-winning How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records; and author of a guide to archives of Catholic women’s religious orders. She has taught at GRIP, SLIG, NGS, and elsewhere. | U.S. church records of many denominations can reveal ancestors’ vital events, family relationships, overseas birthplaces and other residences and religious lives. From the co-author of How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records, learn what’s in church records, how to identify an ancestral church, locate extant records and access them. |
| F-211 | Jill Morelli | Just Do It! Self-Publishing Your Family History | Jill Morelli, CG, CGL, is a writer, lecturer, co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute (Learn by Doing) and founder of the Certification Discussion Group (strategies for a successful portfolio). She lectures and has written articles for NGSQ, The Sept and others. She is past-president of Seattle GS. | Publishing a book can intimidating, as it requires learning how to move your family history into a self-publishing site, and stepping through to publication. This presentation should relieve some of the angst. We will discuss your first decisions, how to make a professional looking book and getting to a finished project you can be proud of. Congratulations! |
| F-212 | Jenifer Kahn Bakkala | Writing a Compelling Family History | Jenifer Kahn Bakkala is a professional genealogist and author. Her 2021 publication, The Maynard, North, and Deforest Families, was the 2023 winner of an NGS Award for Excellence. Jenifer sits on the board of the Association of Professional Genealogists and is a past-President of APG’s New England Chapter. | Do you want to share the story of your ancestors with friends, family, or the world? This talk will guide you through the process of creating an accurate but compelling family history— from how to expand on traditional research, to how to present a finished product that will be picked up off of coffee tables for years to come. |
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Want to be part of this exciting event? Click here to learn how to register.