Arrive early and reunite with old friends over coffee and refreshments. This is also a great time to check out the conference's exhibitors and vendors.
All members of Maine Genealogical Society are invited to attend the annual meeting - get caught up with the society's business and participate in the election of officers.
MGS President Dale W. Mower kicks off the conference with welcoming remarks and presentation of the 2009 awards.
Oral History
- Marcia Melnyk
We all know how important family stories can be to our
research, but how often have we put off talking to that older
relative until it's too late? How can you jump start the
communication with relatives, young and old? Family secrets,
skeletons in the closet and hurt feelings can hamper your success
unless you know how to approach your interview. Using special
techniques and compassion can provide you with a wealth of clues as
well as make your story one worth passing on.
Widowed Mothers, Metes and Bounds, Marks and Dowers,
Witnesses and Executions: Getting the Most Out of Deed
Research
- Joseph C. Anderson
The true value of a deed is not always seen in a quick
reading. The crucial information is often found in the subtle
details we tend to overlook. This lecture will examine how to
obtain maximum benefit from deeds, by showing how to abstract and
analyze all information found on the deed. We should never
assume that a deed cannot help us because it contains no explicit
statement of relationship. Often it is the minutiae buried
deep within the legal jargon of the deed that may turn out to be the
vital clue to solve our toughest problems. These points will
be made through examination of several case studies.
Handle with Care: Getting the Most From Your
Library Visits
- Betsy Paradis
Visiting a library, large or small, to do genealogical
research can be intimidating if you don't know what to expect.
It can also seem like a frustrating waste of time if you don't
prepare properly before you arrive. The resources, both human
and paper, available in libraries can provide you with gems of
important information if you take the time to learn how to cultivate
and handle them. You will come away from the presentation with
some tools and guidelines that will help make your next library
visit a successful and enjoyable experience.
Tracing Your French-Canadian Roots
- Dennis Prue
Dennis will summarize all the basic sources of information
available today from published books to personal research into
original church records to the internet. He will discuss the
advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses of each.
The Immigant's Experience: Sailing to America
- Jack Battick
Disease, hunger, storms, perils, what it was like to sail
to America from the days of the Mayflower to the steamships of the
20th century.
Catered by Spectacular Events
Choice of Sweet Apple Cornbread Chicken, House Baked Filet with
Chef's Signature Stuffing, or Pasta Primavera.
Not to mention assorted cheesecake for dessert!
Getting the Whole Family Involved in the Search
- Marcia Melnyk
We all know the frustration that comes from talking to
relatives who don't seem interested in our obsession with our
ancestors. How can we get the whole family, elders,
contemporaries, and children involved in a meaningful way?
Every generation has something to contribute and we as family
historians should know the techniques to use to "spark their
interest" in our research. Using today's current technologies,
as well as some old-fashioned ones, we can often make our research a
family affair.
We are happy to set aside a little time after lunch to allow attendees an opportunity to visit with exhibitors and vendors.
Forms, Forms and More Forms
- Marcia Melnyk
As genealogists we use standard forms every day to record
our lineage and the facts we accumulate. But are you using all
of the many forms available or to their best advantage? Come
and see what forms are available, how to create custom forms for
your research, how to keep your research organized, and why this is
so important to the success of your search.
Maine's Early Churches and the Location of Their Records,
with Research Case Studies
- Joseph C. Anderson
Maine's early church records are an important resource for
genealogists. They should not be overlooked, as they are often
more complete than the corresponding town's vital records.
This lecture will discuss the growth of the Congregational churches
in Maine, the locations of extant records for some of the early
churches, and the types of information useful to genealogists found
in the church records, with case study examples.
Let's Google The Family Tree
- Dale W. Mower
Break from the major genealogical websites and discover
what other genealogical treasures are waiting to be discovered.
Google has evolved into one of the major search tools, but its power
is underutilized. We will discuss tips and techniques to
make your searches more successful, as well as tricks to help you
get only the results you really want. Learning the power
tools in Google's toolbox will enable you to search smarter
and to zero in on information directly related to your family tree.
Unearthing the Genealogical Treasures at the University
of Maine's Fogler Library
- Melvin Johnson
This presentation will cover holdings which include
microfilm census records, printed government documents, the large
microfilm collection of Maine newspapers, town and city directories,
and books and manuscripts in the Special Collections department as
well as the library's general collection.
Immigrant Research Strategies
- Marcia Melnyk
Who were your ancestors? Where did they come from?
How and when did they arrive in their adopted country? Did
they leave extended families behind? These and many more
questions arise when you research your immigrant ancestors.
Knowing how to approach this type of research before you begin is
the key to success. Learn how to squeeze every ounce of
information from every record you encounter and how to ensure that
you use every possible record available.
Breaking Through Brickwalls
The return of our top notch panel - Joseph C.
Anderson, Marlene A. Groves and Jerry Gower
offers tips to help you with your worst brickwall problems.
Native American Genealogy in the Northeast
- Nancy Lecompte
A program for family historians interested in researching
their "Indian" heritage. This program should be of interest to
beginning genealogists as well as those who have experience with
family history research. The program will include a brief
history outline, an overview of what types of records are available,
and suggestions on how to work through current roadblocks. A
handout will be included so you don't need to take notes!
Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of their current Native
line research, and Nancy will follow up after the conference with
assistance.
The Great Irish Potato Famine
- Janet TeBrake
Dr. TeBrake will focus on conditions prevalent in the Irish
countryside prior to the potato crop failure in 1845, the ensuing
"Great Hunger" which it is estimated caused the deaths of over a
million people, and the massive emigration of Irish to this country.
The impact of those terrible years and resulting sense of exile
helped to coalesce the Irish community here, forming perceptions
which are still active in parts of the Irish-American community.
We close another conference with the highly popular passing out of door prizes!
Throughout the day, make sure to take time to visit our supporting vendors and exhibitors.
This year's conference will include
Maine Genealogical Society
and more to be announced!
For more information on our vendors,
please visit the vendor
page.