Massachusetts!Society!! of!Genealogists,!Inc.! · PDF fileHarvard’s’CUPID’project.’In’2007,’Yvonne’was’awarded ... from’Ghana,’Zimbabwe,’and’Myanmar.’She’is’also’a

P a s t T i m e s Volume 8, Issue 1, September 2016

The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. 1

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Dear Members,

Welcome back from a rich summer of genealogy trips, classes, conferences, family reunions, and various summer projects. I’m always amazed at how quickly the time goes by.

Remember when our school year started in September and we would write our reports about what we did over the summer months? In 2016, my report would begin and end with working on projects such as updating memory books and putting together timeline books. This year I had the pleasure of presenting a four-‐week genealogy program to residents of an assisted living facility. Halfway through the program, I showed the attendees a memory book I was updating for a family member’s birthday. Little did I know the importance that memory book would have for them. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

It all started with knowing I needed to update the memory books and knowing I would be attending family get-‐togethers. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to collect new information, so I put together a family

Past Times P r e s i d e n t ’ s M e s s a g e

Calendar 2

New Members 3

2016 Election Procedures 3

2016 Candidate Biographies 4

Webinars Return 5

Writing Contest Information 6

Annual Meeting 7

State Board & Officers 7

Renewals Due for 2016-‐ 2017 8

A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e

M a s s a c h u s e t t s S o c i e t y o f G e n e a l o g i s t s , I n c .

“Advancing Collaboration, Education & Preservation”

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update packet that consisted of templates showing the pages that would be added to each memory book and a family group sheet asking everyone to update their information. Several family members, who are used to my constantly gathering information and asking questions, teased a bit about what I was up to this time. When they saw one of the templates asking for pictures of what they looked like as a child and what they look like now, they started telling stories of their childhood and sharing those moments in time with each other. That, I told them, is exactly what I would like them to do when they send me their pictures: tell me the date, say how old they were in the pictures, and provide a story about each picture. (Never wanting to miss an opportunity, we took pictures that day.)

There were a few other templates in the family update packet; however, the “Then and Now” template caught the most attention. It also caught the attention of the attendees at the genealogy program. Cameras clicking, stories being recorded, and information being updated. Well,

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need I say more? It was a wonderful summer.

What did you do over the summer? I’m looking forward to seeing you at chapter meetings to hear all about your summer activities.

Patricia Stano-‐Carpenter President



THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS, INC. MSOGINC.ORG P.O. Box 215

Ashland, MA 01721-‐0215

Statement of Purpose The Society’s mission is to promote and encourage Massachusetts genealogical research at all levels—beginner, amateur, and professional. The Society is a Massachusetts non-‐profit 501(c)(3) organization. The corporation was formed for the following reasons:

• “To bring together all persons interested in genealogy, beginner, amateur, and professional;

• To set standards of conduct; to insure public access to records; to provide education in genealogical research;

• To act in whatever manner needed to promote genealogy and family history; and

• To bring together families both past and present.”

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 6 June 1975

Past Times Editor: Diane Brooks-‐Sherry

Past Times is published monthly (except for July & August) by the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., and is available free to all at msoginc.org.

Membership Information Members receive the Past Times newsletter, free issues of MASSOG, free queries, access to webinars, and participation in the Member’s Surname Project. Membership is from September 1st to August 31st, with membership renewals due by August 31st

• INDIVIDUAL dues are $25.00 per year • FAMILY dues are $30.00 per year

Membership applications received July 1st and thereafter will be applied to the following year’s membership. Membership choices are:

• BR/Bristol • MV/Merrimack Valley • MX/Middlesex, • WR/Worcester

Chapter affiliation is at the complete discretion of the member, regardless of residence. The membership application is on our website. Join using PayPal online or mail your application and check. Address any questions to [email protected] or to the appropriate officer, committee chair, or delegate; email addresses are listed on page 7.

MIDDLESEX Saturday, September 10th,

1:30 PM Richard Wiggin

“Embattled Farmers: How Farmers from Lincoln and Surrounding

Towns Helped Start the American Revolution”

Bemis Hall 15 Bedford Road Lincoln, MA

WORCESTER Tuesday, September 13th,

7:00 PM Diane Brooks-‐Sherry

“What is the DPLA? How Do I Use It for Genealogy?”

Saxe Room Worcester Public Library

3 Salem Square Worcester, MA

BRISTOL Saturday, September 17th,

Judy Barrett “Passenger Lists”

11:00 AM Business Meeting 11:30 AM Member Sharing

12:00 Presentation Somerset Public Library 1464 County Street Somerset, MA

MERRIMACK VALLEY Saturday, September 24th,

10:00 AM Peg Plummer

“Best Practices: Finding, Documenting, and Organizing

Your Family History” Georgetown Peabody Library

2 Maple Street Georgetown, MA

2016 Election Polls are open from October 2nd -‐16th. Ballots will be sent out to all members

in good standing. Voting may be done either online or by mailing in an official ballot.

Each member may only cast one vote. Results will be reported to the membership in November.

WEBINAR Tuesday, October 18th, 7:00 PM

Mary Roddy “A Decree of (Temporary) Divorce: My Life Without Ancestry.com”

For Members Only Register at msoginc.org.

Annual Meeting Saturday, November 5th, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Marlborough Country Club 200 Concord Road Marlborough, MA



Dear MSOG Members,

The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the 2017-‐2018 slate of Society Officers for the upcoming Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., elections to be held in October 2016. The candidates are:

President – Denise Picard Lindgren

Vice President – C. Yvonne Hickey

Corresponding Secretary – Patricia M. Stano-‐Carpenter

Recording Secretary – Lynda Page

Archivist/Historian – Seema-‐Jayne Kenney

Treasurer – Michael McClellan

Membership Director – Margaret R. Fortier

Society Board Officers serve a two-‐year term, January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018. To learn more about the candidates, read their biographies in this issue.

The election will be held in October 2016. Prior to the election, electronic ballots (paper where appropriate) will be sent to all members in good standing with the Society. The following is an overview of the election proceedings:

• ELECTION PROCESS: Each eligible MSOG member will be sent an electronic ballot (paper ballot where appropriate) prior to the voting period. The ballot will have information about where to cast your vote. Members may vote only one time. Electronic ballots will be sent to members on October 2, 2016; paper ballots for members without email will be mailed on October 1, 2016.

• ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE: All members in good standing with the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., are eligible to vote. Member renewals must be received before October 1, 2016 in order for them to be eligible to vote.

• VOTING PERIOD: Polls will be open from October 2 through October 16, 2016. Paper ballots must be postmarked by October 16, 2016.

• ELECTION RESULTS: Election results will be reported to the membership in November at the annual meeting, posted on the MSOG website, and published in Past Times.

• The successful candidate will serve a two-‐year term in office. For more information about a specific position on the board, see the MSOG Bylaws and the MSOG Policies and Procedures Manual on the MSOG website.

Karen Trearchis, Nominating Committee Chair, Merrimack Valley Chapter

Kathleen Rubano, Bristol Chapter Deborah Stewart, Middlesex Chapter Charlene Sokal, Worcester Chapter



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NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT DENISE PICARD LINDGREN

LEXINGTON Denise Picard Lindgren is active in genealogy locally, regionally, and

nationally. She holds the Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and is an alumna of three major educational programs in our field: • Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research

(IGHR, 1X) • Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG, 2X) • Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh

(GRIPitt, 3X) She has lectured at the New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC) and won first place in the 2015 MSOG Writing Contest. She is a member of the Middlesex Chapter and is a longtime member of several genealogical societies: • Life Member of the National Genealogical Society

(NGS) • Life Benefactor of the New England Historic

Genealogical Society (NEHGS) • Life Member of the American-‐Canadian

Genealogical Society in Manchester, NH • Ten-‐year member of the Norwegian-‐American

Historical Society at St. Olaf College She currently serves as an editorial assistant for the National Institute of Genealogy Quarterly (NGSQ). Born in western Massachusetts, Denise has a BA from Clark University in Worcester. For almost twenty years she was an editor at MIT then was sole proprietor of her own technical-‐writing business. Denise’s goals as president are to continue to advance MSOG’s mission areas of collaboration, education, and preservation, as well as to ensure that the Society remains a welcoming, affirming, inclusive organization for all levels of genealogists, from beginners to professionals.

NOMINATED FOR VICE PRESIDENT C. YVONNE HICKEY NORTH ATTLEBORO

Yvonne Hickey is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts, born and raised in Cambridge, MA. She is the GM for the

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Public Sector Center of Excellence for Xerox Corporation, serving clients in the Northeast for the past decade and a half. Yvonne has a strong history of innovation and investment in the community in which she works and lives. In 1994, she was awarded the “Innovator of the Year” Award by Xplor International as an active team member on Harvard’s CUPID project. In 2007, Yvonne was awarded the Edwin L. Cooper Award by the Mayor’s Office of Boston for her work with the elderly. Since 2011, Yvonne has volunteered as a Senior Judge in regional robotics competitions for the non-‐profit FIRST. Yvonne was selected as a mentor for the Fortune Magazine/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, in which Xerox previously participated as a Fortune 500 company, hosting women from Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Myanmar. She is also a member of the Xerox Woman’s Alliance. In 2015 Yvonne served as Co-‐Ambassador for Live Green CT. Yvonne is incredibly proud to be a founding and active Board Member for Horizons at Sacred Heart University (SHU), now entering its 5th year. Yvonne is a supporter of WGBH. She is a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) and Historic New England and many of the other great institutions our region has to offer – respecting the rich cultural history of the region, while simultaneously investing in its future. Yvonne’s voice can also be heard via Social Media outlets – including Twitter. Please follow her at @yvonne_hickey and root for the Red Sox, her favorite team!

NOMINATED FOR TREASURER MICHAEL McCLELLAN NORTH ATTLEBORO

Michael A. McClellan, a Connecticut native, has deep roots in the Bay State that go all the way back to the First

Settlers of Newbury on his maternal side and the early 1700s on his paternal side. He has been researching his family tree for over 10 years now and the passion keeps growing. Michael has just retired from the building restoration trade where he spent the last 28 years maintaining and restoring many significant buildings, including The Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, MA, Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, and many

Biographies (continued on p.5)



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historical churches around the New York and New England area. Michael holds degrees in Accounting and Computer Programming and is currently attending Boston University’s Genealogical Research Certificate Program in hopes of someday becoming a Certified Genealogist. In his spare time, Michael enjoys reading, woodworking, golfing, researching ancestors, traveling, and watching baseball, especially the Yankees. He volunteers at NEHGS and is a member of several other genealogical/historical societies throughout southern New England, with his favorite being MSOG. Michael lives in North Attleboro with his beautiful (future wife) girlfriend, Yvonne Hickey, her mother, Norma, and her son, Kevin. He has two other children, Marissa and Kenny, from a previous marriage with whom he enjoys spending time whenever he can.

NOMINATED FOR RECORDING SECRETARY

LYNDA PAGE TEWKSBURY

Who says you can’t go home again? After decades of living elsewhere in

Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Lynda Page returned to her childhood home, in Tewksbury. She has been interested in genealogy since age 12, when she began interviewing relatives and writing information on scraps of paper. Lynda only wishes she knew then what she knows now, regarding the breadth of questions to ask. On her maternal side, she can trace her lineage from Quebec to 16th century France, and DNA from her mother’s first cousin validates anecdotal reporting of First Nation ancestry. Lynda’s paternal line includes Irish, Bavarian, and Prussian ancestry and likely Scottish and French. One satisfying discovery was introducing her father to a man many years his junior who was a first cousin they never knew about. Lynda made a career change from high tech to social work. She has a master’s in social work from Boston University. Lynda likes to say she will keep doing research until she finds an unclaimed inheritance and/or royal title. In her high tech days, Lynda travelled to Europe, Asia, and Australia. She looks forward to returning to Europe to take her search efforts to the next level.

Biographies (continued on p.6)

Biographies (continued from p.4)

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The Research & Education Committee, so successful in its inaugural year, has prepared another fantastic year of webinars that begin in October. This small group of volunteers has doubled the learning opportunities for those members who typically attend nine or ten chapter meetings per year. In addition, the webinars provide instructional opportunities for those who are unable to attend local meetings .

The first webinar of the year allows members to learn from Mary Kircher Roddy, a genealogist, writer, and lecturer based in Washington, without having to travel west or to one of the many conferences at which she appears. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers

Guild, The Association of Professional Genealogists, and the National Genealogical Society. Her extensive research in the United States, Ireland, and Australia provides rich, detailed experiences she shares through her blog, Searching for Stories, as well as through the numerous webinars she has created. On Tuesday, October 18th, Mary will share one of her newer presentations, “A Decree of (Temporary) Divorce – My Life Without Ancestry.com,” with us. Trying to balance her budget with her pursuit of genealogy led her to seek new avenues for her research. During her hiatus she found free resources for records and new sites to utilize. This exploration inspired her to gain new insight into her research; her webinar focuses on these sources and explains how they changed her perspective. Registration for the webinar will open in early October and will remain open until the webinar begins. Handouts are available for download a few days before the event. To register for the webinar, sign into the Members Only section of the website and click on “Current Monthly Webinar Series.” Follow the prompts to register. GoToWebinar allows up to 1,000 to participate, so there will be plenty of room. You will receive an email with a link that will take you to the GoToWebinar website. If you do not have the proprietary software, download it for free. Sunday or Monday before the webinar, sign in to the Members Only section of the website and download the handouts. These will be removed the next Saturday. Fifteen minutes before the webinar begins, click the link from your

WEBINARS RETURN !

Webinars (continued on p.6)



Webinars (continued from p.5)

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NOMINATED FOR CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

PAT STANO-‐CARPENTER MARLBOROUGH

A long time member of MSOG, Patricia Stano-‐Carpenter has served the society since 2004, as the state membership chair and currently as president. She has worked with teams, worked with various forms of media to communicate a message, and communicated with the membership and the public. Pat holds a masters degree in education and has many years of professional experience as a business owner, trainer, facilitator, and photographer. Pat is an experienced genealogist and family historian who has been researching family history for family, friends, and the public since the 1980s.

NOMINATED FOR MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR MARGARET R. FORTIER

MEDFORD Margaret R. Fortier is a researcher, writer, and speaker, residing in Medford, specializing in immigrant ancestors. She has been a member of the Merrimack Valley chapter since 2013. She is currently serving as MSOG Vice President.

NOMINATED FOR

HISTORIAN/ARCHIVIST SEEMA-‐JAYNE KENNEY

UPTON A wife, mother of 3, and entrepreneur, Seema is an experienced software instructor and a professional genealogist. Based on over 20 years of research, her known roots are deep in New England as well as England, Germany, and Sweden. She has a certificate in Genealogical Research from BU, completed ProGen, and is an active member of genealogical societies in MA, CT, and ME, currently President of the Worcester Chapter of MSOG, Treasurer of NEAPG, Secretary for NERGC, and Tri-‐Chair for NERGC 2017. Seema is also certified as a Guided Autobiography Consultant and a Legacy Planner.

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email and log in to the session. You may be asked to check your audio connection to make sure it is functioning. Once you are logged in, just follow the directions from the facilitator and enjoy your session. After the session, you will receive a form to provide feedback about the session. Responses will be shared with the speaker. Most, though not all, webinars will be recorded and will be available on the website for up to one month.

2016 WRITING CONTEST

The Judging Committee is busy reading all of the entries received over the summer. As they judge each entry for accuracy of documentation and clarity of interpretation, they will decide which entry is the winner. Since they use “blind judging,” even they will not know who won until the end. The winners will be announced at November 5th’s Annual Meeting, on our website, and in Past Times.

1st Prize $100

2nd Prize $50

3rd Prize $25

THANK YOU , MEMBERS ! The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc., has just received our first check from the AmazonSmile program, thanks to those who enrolled through our website. All donations of time and/or money are important to help the Society continue its mission to promote and encourage Massachusetts genealogical research at all levels – beginner, amateur, and professional. Contributing through the program is open to the general public, so ask all of your family and friends who already shop with Amazon to consider enrolling. Amazon will donate 0.5% of all of your AmazonSmile purchases to the Society.

Biographies (continued from p.5)

Photograph by Ed Karvoski, Jr.



T H E M A S S A C H U S E T T S S O C I E T Y O F G E N E A L O G I S T S , I N C . STATE OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS

President Pat Stano-‐Carpenter [email protected] Vice President Margaret Fortier [email protected] Treasurer Diane Laferriere [email protected] Corresponding Secretary Robert J. Bartlett [email protected]

Recording Secretary Elizabeth “Liz” Grube [email protected]

Membership Director Janice “Jan” Murphy [email protected] Historian/Archivist [email protected] Bristol Chapter Kathleen Rubano, President [email protected] Merrimack Valley Chapter Karen Trearchis, President [email protected] Middlesex Chapter Deborah Lee Stewart, President [email protected] Worcester Chapter Seema-‐Jayne Kenney, President [email protected] MASSOG Editor George D. Martin [email protected] Past Times Editor Diane Brooks-‐Sherry [email protected] Webmaster Hope Tillman [email protected]

COMMITTEES & CHAIRS Annual Meeting Margaret Fortier [email protected] Audit Robert Farmer [email protected] Research & Education Seema-‐Jayne Kenney [email protected] Technology Hope Tillman [email protected] Writing Contest Editorial Board [email protected]

DELEGATES

FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) [email protected]

MGC (Massachusetts Genealogical Council) Charlene Sokal and Karen Trearchis [email protected] NERGC (New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc.)

Margaret Fortier, Seema-‐Jayne Kenney, and Charlene Sokal

[email protected]

R e g i s t r a t i o n B e g i n s S o o n !

Vice President Margaret Fortier and the Annual Meeting Planning Committee have gathered an exciting group of speakers for this year’s Annual Meeting. They are seeking additional help to create the program and volunteers to serve as photographers during the event. The committee is proud to announce the list of speakers and topics listed below. Pride, Shame, and Silence: Family Histories, Race, and the Archive Kendra Field Directory, Center for the Study of Race and Democracy, Tufts University Her research and teaching areas include race, slavery, freedom, migration, and social movements in the long nineteenth century; African-‐American family history, memory, and public history. She is Interim Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at Tufts. Our Whaling Ancestors Mark Procknik Librarian, New Bedford Whaling Museum His expertise includes collections archivist for genealogical studies. Mark has presented at the Museum’s lecture series, to the Museum's 2015 Cartography Conference, to the Rhode Island Library Association's Annual Conference, and at an international conference in Iceland. On the Job: Ancestors Who Worked in the Public Sector and the Amazing Records They Left Behind Margaret Sullivan Manager and Archivist for the Boston Police Department Her research includes documenting line-‐of-‐duty officers, early African American officers, and pioneer women police. She is a Fellow at the Massachusetts Historical Society and former Vice President of TIARA, The Irish Ancestral Research Association.



The Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. P.O. Box 215 Ashland, MA 01721-‐0215 http://www.msoginc.org

M a s s a c h u s e t t s S o c i e t y o f G e n e a l o g i s t s , I n c . Membership Fees are due now for the year September 1st, 2016 to August 31st, 2017

Please give your completed form and check, made payable to MSOG, Inc., to your chapter treasurer or mail to :

Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc. P.O. Box 215

Ashland, MA 01721 Join/Renew with PAY PAL. www.msoginc.org/membership/membership_form.php

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2016 -‐ Renewal/Join -‐ 2017

Name(s) ___________________________________________ Membership #___________

___________________________________________ Membership #___________ Address____________________________________________ City_______________________________ State________ Zip Code +4__________ Telephone#_________________________ E-‐mail __________________________________________ Choice of membership: q Individual $25.00 q Family $30.00 q Organization $25.00

Chapter affiliation: please check one q Bristol q Merrimack Valley q Middlesex q Worcester q Organization

Choice of method to receive: please check one in each category MASSOG (journal) q Electronically q Mail Past Times (newsletter) q Electronically q Send no copy

Documents

Massachusetts!Society!! of!Genealogists,!Inc.! · PDF fileHarvard’s’CUPID’project.’In’2007,’Yvonne’was’awarded ... from’Ghana,’Zimbabwe,’and’Myanmar.’She’is’also’a