Finding Your Ancestors in Courthhouse Records
with Diane Rapaport
Was a huge success! Here are a few images from the workshop submitted by Janice Gower:
click on any of the above for a larger view
Learn how to find and use court records, from the 17th through the 20th centuries, in courthouses, archives, books, microfilm, and the latest digital/electronic sources.
With this all-day workshop format we have a great opportunity to go into depth learning about these records.
About Diane Rapaport
Diane Rapaport, a former trial lawyer, has made a new career as an
award-winning author, speaker and publisher. She brings history
to
life with true stories from colonial New England, and she uses her legal
training to help people find ancestors and trace regional history in
underutilized court records. Her special interests include
colonial new England, American legal history, and Scottish heritage.
She is currently working on a historical novel about 17th-century New
England and Scotland. She lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Diane is author of the highly acclaimed New England Court Records: A
Research Guide for Genealogists and Historians (Quill Pen Press, 2006),
winner of the 2007 Benjamin Franklin Awards for excellence in independent
publishing, from PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association, first place
for Best History Book and Best Reference Book, and finalist for
Best New Voice (Nonfiction), as well as the 2007 Literary Award for Best
Genealogical Resource from Connecticut Society of Genealogists.
She is also the author of the recently released The Naked Quaker: True Crimes
and Controversies from the Courts of Colonial New England (Commonwealth
Editions, 2007).
Readers of New England Ancestors, the quarterly publication of New England Historic Genealogical Society, will recognize Diane as the author of the "Tales from the Courthouse" column which brings colonial history to life with true stories from court records.
The Workshop Schedule
8:00 - 9:00
Registration
9:00 - 10:30
Introduction to Court Records
U. S. Legal System
(Sources of Law, Trial and Appellate Courts, State Courts, Federal Courts)
Reading Early American Handwriting
10:30 - 10:45
Break
10:45 - 12:00
The Litigation Process - Stages of a Lawsuit
Types of Civil and Criminal Court Records
Other Court Proceedings and their Records
12:00 - 1:00
Buffet Lunch (included with registration)
1:00 - 3:00
Where to find Court Records
"Hands On" Practice with Court Records
Questions and Brainstorming about Research Issues
3:00 - 4:00
Individual Questions
Book Sales and Signing
Registration
Early Registration (Must be postmarked by March 31st)
MGS Members: $35.00 (US Funds)
Non-MGS Members: $40.00 (US Funds)
Not a member? Send in your membership application with your registration and receive the member discount. Click here for a membership application.
Late Registration will be accepted as space allows: $50.00 ((US Funds)
Registration includes buffet lunch.
Click here for Registration Brochure and Registration Form.
or
Email mainegenealogical@yahoo.com to have one mailed to you.
Accommodations
Holiday Inn Civic Center, 110 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine
A limited number of rooms have been set aside for Friday night, April 18th, for workshop attendees. The Holiday Inn is located next to the Augusta Civic Center.
The workshop rate is $125 for a single/double room. Rate does not included taxes. For reservations, call 1-800-694-6404 or 1-207-622-4751. Mention that you are with Maine Genealogical Society. The reservations deadline for this rate is April 9, 2008.
Consider arriving a day early and researching in Augusta - home of the Maine State Archives and the Maine State Library.
Directions
Need directions to the Augusta Civic Center?
