Boston: Upcoming NEHGS programs, tours

The New England Historic Genealogical Society has several upcoming events on its calendar. Readers in Boston, or those who may be visiting, may be interested in these programs.

Events are at the NEHGS building, 99-101 Newbury Street, Boston, unless otherwise noted.

June New Visitor and Welcome Tour: Wednesday, June 1, 10-11am

Kick start your research with a 30-minute lecture and tour of the library and its holdings.

Come Home to New England: June 13-18, 9am-5pm

One of NEHGS’s most popular programs, “Come Home to New England,” is a fun-filled week of family history discovery and education. It features research, individual consultations, interesting lectures, group meal, and other activities.

Talking Back to Your Ancestors: Reweaving the Family History: June 22, 6-7pm

Dr. Barbara B. Reitt will describe what she learned in a four-year search for truths long hidden by the family and what compelled her to respond to her late father’s memoirs by researching and writing a biography of his grandmother.

Other locations:

A Tour Through Ireland and Irish History: July 5-15
Join NEHGS as it explores Irish immigrant ancestors’ native land, the rolling hills of Ireland. Discover scenery and enjoy Irish hospitality in famed hotels, restaurants and private homes. Email for more information.

Weekend Research Trip to Albany, New York: July 13-17

Join NEHGS to explore the vast resources of the New York State Archives. The weekend includes individual consultations, lectures and a group dinner.

English Research Tour: September 25-October 2

Discover the wealth of information available in London's repositories as NEHGS returns to London. Participants take part in two group dinners, consultations and guided research tours through the Society of Genealogists (SOG) and the National Archives (UK).

For more information about these events and tours, click AmericanAncestors.org for the registration form and instructions, call 1-888-296-3447, or send an e-mail.

Three conferences in 10 days!

Tracing the Tribe has just arrived home after speaking at three conferences in two countries in 10 days!

Each was very different in format and topics addressed, and Internet access - on a personal level - varied, significantly curtailing communications. Jet lag, surprisingly, wasn't an issue on this trip. Along with the events themselves, Tracing the Tribe also connected with family, old and new friends.

The Society of Genealogists' Centenary Conference (London, UK; Saturday, May 7), was followed by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain's Northern Regional Conference (Manchester, UK; Sunday, May 8). Just two days later, I flew to the exciting National Genealogical Society's event in Charleston, South Carolina.

At the SOG and NGS, my topic was the IberianAshkenaz DNA Study as a case study - administered by Judy Simon of New York and myself - at FamilyTreeDNA.com. Each time this topic is presented, there is more to update on results and participants. It aways changes.

In Manchester, I spoke on social media for 21st-century genealogists, also an evolving topic.

At SOG and NGS, DNA was an interesting topic as the number of Jewish attendees is traditionally rather small, although there were more who had Jewish ancestry, some recently discovered. It was a different audience, with different questions, and we believe that these two opportunities helped to raise awareness of genetic genealogy - and FamilyTreeDNA.com.

From questions asked in session Q&As to those fielded during the rest of the events (and later emails), it was obvious that people are fascinated by this rather amazing tool available to us. The presentation includes the nuts and bolts of creating a DNA project applicable to any ethnicity, religion or geographic region.

At the JGSGB event - with some really excellent topics presented - it was a privilege to help explain how genealogists (as well as genealogy societies and other institutions) can benefit from today's social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and more.

Watch for separate posts on each conference.

Now back home in New Mexico, I still have a few weeks before the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree 2011 (speaking on creating online ancestral communities) and the Association of Jewish Libraries' event in Montreal (speaking on Sephardic research) soon after.

What do I do when at home, other than reading accumulated email, getting some needed sleep and generally not travel farther than the supermarket? Well, there are articles to write, a stack of books to review, and local genealogy goings-on, including genealogy presentations at local senior centers.

The schedule includes even more as I am genealogy co-chair of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society, and involved in the creation and organization of the new general Sandoval County Genealogical Society.

Tracing the Tribe firmly believes that all Jewish historical societies should join the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), as the NMJHS has recently done. It always seems that genealogists understand the connection between what we do and history, but that historical societies don't always see that essential connection. More cooperation between local genealogical and historical societies provides more learning opportunities for members of both.

What's on the menu for these two societies? We'll soon begin working on the new program year for both groups and contacting prospective speakers.

The Sandoval County society will be meeting the first Saturday of each month, from 10am-12.30pm, and we are working on the timing for the NMJHS events, which will be on Sundays (to be scheduled) at the Albuquerque JCC.

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