Summer Genealogy ideas

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During the long hot summer, it is an excellent time to plan genealogical field trips. Visiting cemeteries is best done in good weather. Take photos of headstones instead of rubbing, and try taking pictures from multiple angles. Consider visiting indoor Repositories to enjoy the air conditioning while researching (although some local ones may not be equipped in New England at least).

I have planned vacations around stopping at specific towns where ancestors lived and/ or were buried, and historical societies. Or bring along some journals for beach reading! There are also many helpful webinars online, so you can brush up on a variety of genealogical topics in the comfort of your home.

Of course, if you are having family parties or get togethers, don’t forget to take a few photos and write down some shared memories or stories from your elders.

NERGC 2019

mehalbrooks

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the Saturday sessions for NERGC, the New England Regional Genealogical Conference, which is held bi-annually. This year it was held in Manchester, NH, and in 2021 it is scheduled to be held in Springfield, MA. I was thrilled to attend talks held by Thomas W. Jones and Blaine Bettinger. I especially enjoyed the DNA chromosome mapping talk by Blaine Bettinger, as I delve more into the study of DNA.

The luncheon, sponsored by NEHGS, featured the Great Migration Study Project and it was an honor to hear Robert Charles Anderson discuss his 30 years of work on it and his hopes for the future of it. This included the introduction of a new interactive map feature available through American Ancestors which eventually plans to track early settlers from their places of origin in England to New England.

Looking to the past

mehalbrooks

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 “Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.” — Deuteronomy 32:7

Welcome to my web site! I will include blog entries on current genealogy events as well as some interesting examples I come across in my own research.

It is a very exciting time to be involved in genealogical research, with many records becoming readily available online, and DNA knowledge and technology rapidly expanding. It is also a time to think of preservation of materials that are not online, and are perhaps sitting in your own attic, for future generations.

An important thing to keep in mind when researching: don’t trust any one source at face value, but many unique sources that add up together can help to prove compelling cases.