Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 2, 2016
The Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society will hold their next meeting from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at
the Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main Street, Agawam, Massachusetts.
Jennifer Alford will present "The Basics of Land Records." Have a difficult family that you are researching and not sure where to go? Land records could provide the information that could clarify which John Smith is which and who his heirs were. We’ll discuss the history of land records in the United States, information found within, terminology, and the many sources to examine.
Jennifer Alford, PE, PTOE, is a Traffic Engineer by day and a genealogy professional and lecturer by night. Her business, Jenealogy, creates engaging family history treasures to enhance the bond between generations. Jen serves as newsletter editor for the Indiana Genealogical Society and has served in the position of associate editor of the Federation of Genealogical Society’s ‘FORUM’ magazine. As a partner with The In-Depth Genealogist she is publisher of The In-Depth Genealogist’s magazine, ‘Going In-Depth’, and several books written by their contributing writers.
Mark Your Calendars - 2016 WMGS Monthly Meeting Dates:
April 6: Maureen Taylor will present "Buns, Beards, Bodices and Bustles: Understanding Ancestors Through Clothing." Please note: This is a virtual presentation.
May 4, June 1, July 6
August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, December 7
Upcoming dates for genealogy in the Agawam Senior Center Computer Lab:
WMGS is proud to introduce Ancestry Library for our member's use!
New this year we will be offering Ancestry Library Edition at our research clinics. This is only available during our clinics so be sure to mark them on your calendar. We have added more days to the clinics to accommodate more people.
Thursday, January 28, 2016 from 6-8 p.m.
and
Thursday, February 18, 2016 from 6-8 p.m.
and
Thursday, February 25, 2016 from 6-8 p.m.
Members have free use our Ancestry Library subscription and other research sites while seeking assistance from experienced WMGS family researchers. Non-members may participate for only $10 per session...or join for $25 per year!
Sessions are held on the third and fourth Thursdays of the month in the computer
room of the Agawam Senior Center.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016 from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
NEW - note our new afternoon time. Can't make it to the Thursday night research clinics? We are exploring additional days during the week. Join WMGS members Susan Leverson and Katy Krause as they lead a hands-on genealogy session in the computer lab. They will expand on the WMGS monthly meeting by reviewing applicable websites and offering genealogy tips and strategies. Attendees will also have time to use the computer for their own research, including use of the AncestryLibrary Edition, and Susan and Katy will be available to provide assistance. Sessions are free for WMGS members. There
is a $10 fee per session for non-members. Annual WMGS membership is just $25.
Inclement Weather Policy
In case of bad weather, please check the following areas for a cancellation of our monthly meeting or genealogy research clinics:
1. If the Agawam Senior Center is closed, then our meeting is canceled. This information can be found on most local tv stations such as WWLP Channel 22 and WGGB Channel 40. It will be posted at the bottom of the screen, along with the other school and activity cancellations.
2. WestMassGen.com – We will post cancellation information on our website.
3. Email – We will send an email out to our mailing list, if time permits.
4. Facebook – We will post a note to let you know if our meeting will be canceled.
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Click on the links below for more information:
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Surname Project
October 2015
We are in the process of updating our Surname List. Our goal is to connect fellow genealogists who are researching the same family names, so that they may share information on common lines.
Click on the link below to read more about this project and print your own Surname Form:
May 4, June 1, July 6
August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, December 7