Meetings

Past Programs

April 1, 2022 - Franco-American History and Genealogy with a Quebec to New England Focus

presented by Craig Siulinski, M.Ed., Professional Educator, Writer and Personal Historian

This presentation provided a detailed history of the Franco-American experience with references to where genealogical records can be found. We cannot begin the Franco-American story without providing historical perspectives of New France and in particular, the Province of Quebec. Other aspects to the story include the important topics of immigration and the influence of the mills on the lives of our Franco-American ancestors. 

March 4th,2022  - Backstairs Initiative, Tracking Down the Servants and How to Use that Information to Build Their Story presented by Michelle Josepheson, Site Manager at the Victoria Mansion in Portland.

The Victoria Mansion is a Portland treasure. Visitors can see ninety percent of the original 1860 architecture, artwork and furniture, and learn about the two families who called the house home. For many years, however, there was not much known about the people who worked at the house as domestic servants. This volunteer initiative, in conjunction with the Maine Irish Heritage Center, seeks to bring their stories back into the narrative.

Nov. 5, 2022 - The challenge reveal!

Remember those challenges we offered on our home page for the summer? Come to this Zoom meeting and tell us which one you did and what you learned. This meeting will be a sharing of our results.

Oct. 1, 2022 - Using Blogs for Preserving and Sharing your Family's History

Blog Writing can be easy, enjoyable, and an effective way to share family history content. Speaker Craig Siulinski is an experienced educator and writer and researching and writing family histories has been his passion since 2007. This meeting will be held via Zoom.  

Sept. 10, 2022 - A Cemetery Tutorial

Eastern Cemetery (224 Congress Street, Portland). Members enjoyed a tour of Eastern Cemetery led by Ron Romano. Ron has written four books about cemeteries and gravestones. He told us how to read a stone. 

June 4, 2022  - Share your research  and organization tips -Via Zoom

Members shared their latest research and organizational tips.

May 7, 2022 - Using Maps in your Research - via Zoom

Archivist Louis Miller presented on 19th century wall maps and atlases and how to analyze these sources for historical/genealogical research. By focusing on various examples, mostly from counties and towns in Maine, Louis showed the myriad ways these sources can be utilized. 

April 2, 2022 - Malaga Island - via Zoom

Bob presented the fascinating story of Malaga Island. What was written in newspapers across the coutry and what actually happened!

March 5, 2022 - Identifying Birth Parents Using Clues & DNA - via Zoom

Presented by Jesse Casas. A case study on a successful search for an adoptee's birth family, using internet resources, family lore and documents, paper genealogy, and DNA genetic genealogy. Jesse Casas shares how he identified his father's biological parents, and the twists, turns, and surprises along the way.

February 5, 2022 - Freeze Frame - via Zoom

Presented by Star Pelsue. Yearbooks are more than photos and signatures. We looked beyond the photo and mascot and learned the information that can be gleaned from the pages of those popular annuals. A lot can be learned from those pages and other school records.

January 8, 2022 - Original Immigrants

Diane Brakeley, Star and Seteve Pelsue and Margaret Perkins presented short talks about their "original immigrants", an idea that came from "Gateway Ancestors".  After that, those attending online had a chance to participate, telling us about one of their “original immigrants”. 

Nov. 6, 2021 - Scanners

Don Taylor and Lois Knight explained what they use for scanning douments for genealogical purposes. Books, photos, slides and negatives were discussed.

Sept. 11, 2021 - Putting the Genes in Genealogy:Why DNA provides insights into our past

Stephen Pelsue treated us to a Zoom presentation. Nearly everyone doing genealogy research has heard about DNA testing for genealogy, and most of us have done at least one DNA “ancestry” test.  He examined the various tests and analysis methods that are being used to hunt down our lost relatives. By looking at some of the basic science behind DNA testing, he provided us with a better understanding of how it can be used in genealogical research.

June 5, 2021 - Genealogy Websites and "Using a Genealogical Process"

Brother Albert led a discussion regarding the websites that he uses. He will provide the slides to Don to distribute to members. Brother Albert had many websites that most of us had never heard of.

Don Taylor presented a talk regarding “Using A Genealogical Process”. This was very informative.

May 1, 2021 - Organizing your stuff

Rob Roy spoke about an online software “The Next Generation of Genealogy Site building”. Building a website to share your family genealogy with other members of your family.  Also, Kerry Porter led a discussion on “Genealogy Do-Overs”.

April 3, 2021 - Organizing your stuff

Pam Beveridge  reported on her work “bringing heirlooms to light: i.e. letters, diaries, documents, Bibles, autograph albums, and photographs, particularly of hardscrabble folks who might otherwise have left little record” that she documents in her blog “Heirlooms Reunited”. Also, Diane Holden demonstrated how she organizes all of her genealogical photos and memorabilia.

March 6, 2021 - Let's visit Sweden - Lois Knight and Carol Hanley

Lois Knight spoke about Sweden and Carol Hanley told us about what's going on with the Stockholm Historical Society Museum in Stockholm, Maine. This meeting was held via Zoom.

Feb. 6, 2021 - What have you been up to? - Don Taylor, Diane Brakeley and Margaret Perkins

Don Taylor spoke about his photography project giving access to photographs by Ethel Wright. Diane Brakeley spoke about a book she made about her husband's family's Brakeley Canning Company. Margaret Perkins spoke about tracking down all the people who attended a wedding in her family in 1927.  This meeting was held via Zoom.

June 6, 2020 - Occupations: Sources and Discoveries - by Deb Locke

Finding occupation information develops a more complete profile of who your ancestors were and their life-time journeys. We’ll take a quick look at some of the most common sources and then discover more unique sources and records pertaining to specialized professions. This meeting was held via Zoom.

February 1, 2020 - Love Story - by Margaret Perkins

To celebrate the month where Valentine's Day falls, we shared love stories from our ancestors.

January 4, 2020 - How to start your genealogy research - by Don Taylor

Don Taylor offered his presentation of “Getting To Know You”, Ancestors Through Genealogy, A Family History process. This was a great help to those getting started with genealogy, and offered new tips to everyone currently working on their families.

November 2, 2019 - Tell us about an important document you've discovered.

Members spoke about a document they had discovered that helped them break down a brick wall or unlocked a door in their research.

October 5, 2019 - Tell us about the most intriguing person you've discovered

Each attendee spent a few minutes telling us about the most interesting, intriguing or unusual person they had found in their genealogical research. After a short break for refreshments, we watched a 45-minute vieo on the Early Families of New England Study Project by Alicia Crane Williams.

September 7, 2019 - Navigating Wills And Probate Records on Ancestry     

We watched a video titled, "Navigating Wills And Probate Records on Ancestry" with Anne Gillespie Mitchell. This video presented the basics. We then worked together after the video.

June 1, 2019 - When you hit a Brick Wall, Develop Foundational Thinking

This  meeting featured a video from the "Ancestry Academy" by J. Marke Lowe titled, “When you hit a Brick Wall, Develop Foundational Thinking”

May 4, 2019 - What records exist and where do I find them?

This meeting featured a video by the Barefoot Genealogist, Crista Cowen, on “What records exist and where do I find them?”

April 6, 2019 - What you don't know about Ancestry

This meeting featured a video from RootsTech 2019 by the Barefoot Genealogist, Crista Cowen, on “What you don’t know about Ancestry.”

March 2, 2019 - A "How-To" Helping Round Table

February 2, 2019 - A "How-To" Helping Round Table

January 5, 2019 - 12th Volunteer Regiment of Maine during the Civil War

Debra Ann Gorneault is currently writing a book on the role of the little-known 12th Volunteer Regiment of Maine during the Civil War. She shared her extensive knowledge about the soldiers she now calls "her boys." Her digital presentation, photographs and books all presented a fascinating account of a forgotten but valuable regiment.

December 1, 2018 - Holiday Party