Workshops are a much loved part of the NERGC conference experience. Our workshops are two-hour sessions, with a smaller audience, giving an opportunity for more hands-on interaction than the traditional one-hour presentation.
You can attend a Wednesday workshop even if you do not have a registration for the Thursday-Saturday conference. However, attending a workshop on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday does require that you have a conference registration for that day.
If you have already registered for NERGC 2023 but forgot to include a workshop, you can go back into the registration system and enter an order for the workshop(s). Just use the same email address you used for your original order and everything will be corrected linked in our records.
Wednesday Workshops (4:30pm-6:30pm)
Prove It! Writing a Winning Proof Argument – Nora Galvin
What can you do when records do not clearly and directly state the answer to your research question? Put together a body of indirect evidence that adds up to proof. In this workshop we will review published proofs and work on writing up your own case. Bring your project notes and evidence, and any writing already done.
Getting to the Heart of Land Records (New New England) – Sara E. Cambell
Is it math anxiety? Why do some genealogists panic when faced with a deed description? We will read old New England deeds together and revel in the information they can contain. We will talk about how to find them: Town, County or State. Sara will bring her surveying petting zoo of equipment used to develop deeds. Understanding the surveyor will help us understand how maps are made. We will use a simple program already on your computer to develop a deed sketch.
Solving Photo Mysteries: Approaches & Analysis – Maureen Taylor
Photographs can reveal previously unknown family history if you know how to read the clues and follow the breadcrumbs. Using photo analysis, timelines, photo research, and charting you’ll rediscover your family’s past. Photo collections represent family and social networks from the past.
Bridging The Decades: Little-Used Clues From The Census – Elissa Scalise Powell, CG
You’ve found the census records, now what? In this hands-on workshop, explore genealogy methods and avoid pitfalls when using them to bridge the gap to further your family research.
Thursday Workshop (8:00am-10:00am)
Getting Into Genealogy – Denise Cross, CG
Just how does one get started researching their family tree? This program is meant to answer that question and provide additional information on local resources for that research.
Friday Workshop (8:30am-10:30am)
Principles Of Source Documentation Made Easy – Michael J. Leclerc, CG
One of the most important parts of writing is documenting our work, yet it can feel like one of the most dreaded. Learn the core parts of documentation and easy methods for ensuring that you can confidently document your work. Students will practice creating citations and reviewing them in this workshop.
Saturday Workshop (1:45pm-3:45pm)
US Catholic Records – Margaret Fortier, CG
Catholic records can be a game changer revealing relationships and pointing to new avenues of research. Learn what treasures they contain and get practical experience with Catholic records with exercises on how to interpret them and how to locate them.