Schedule: April 23-25, 2025
Wednesday, April 23 | Thursday, April 24 | Friday, April 25 | |
9:00 am | |||
9:15 am | |||
10:00 am | Ribbon Cutting | ||
11:00 am | The Brim-DeForest | or Alternate Presentation: Behind the Scenes of the Family Heritage Experience | |
12:00 pm | |||
12:45 pm | or Alternate Presentation: A Year Later: A National Genealogy Curriculum for Grades, 4-8 | ||
1:45 pm | or | ||
2:15 pm | |||
3:30 pm | Annual Meeting | ||
6:00 pm | 2025 American Stories, |
April Details and Registration
WEDNESDAY, April 23
The Brim-DeForest Dedication Ceremony & Open House
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The Brim-DeForest Library
American Ancestors headquarters
97 Newbury St. Boston, MA 02116
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Open house
Enjoy free access to The Brim-DeForest Library for the day!
11 a.m. - Dedication Ceremony of The Brim-DeForest Library
11:30 a.m. - Library Tours and Collection highlights
11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. - Reception
THURSDAY, April 24
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
American Ancestors
97 Newbury St. Boston, MA 02116
After a multi-year renovation project, American Ancestors is re-opening its doors. Our expanded headquarters is home to The Brim-DeForest Library, R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, the Brue Family Learning Center, museum store, staff offices, and the new Family Heritage Experience—a series of dynamic exhibits and interactive displays that introduces visitors to the joys and possibilities of family history.
Celebrate the launch of this expanded cultural institution!
10:00 a.m. - Remarks and Ribbon Cutting
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Reception and Building Tours for VIPs
Registration required
THURSDAY, April 24
2025 American Stories, American Lives Gala
6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Participants: Open to all members and guests with paid registration or sponsorship
Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel
138 St. James Avenue Boston, MA 02116
6:00 - 6:45 pm Reception
6:45 - 9:00 pm Dinner and Program
Coat and tie required for gentlemen; cocktail attire for ladies.
Celebrate the launch of our expanded cultural institution at the annual American Stories, American Lives Gala!
Engaging in family history enriches lives. It is a source of joy, education, inspiration, empowerment, and a means of healing and repair. It is an undertaking that can profoundly influence the lives of individuals and holds the power to impact society positively. American Ancestors aims to encourage and support new audiences as they explore their family histories—their ancestors' triumphs, struggles, cultures, and traditions—bringing context and meaning to the world in which we live.
The American Stories, American Lives gala celebrates the work of American Ancestors and the contributions of those in the fields of genealogy and history.
Registration required
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Continental Breakfast
Brue Family Learning Center
Participants: All Trustees, Councilors, and Honorary Trustees; registration required
FRIDAY, April 25
9:15 a.m. Eastern Time
Orientation Session for all new Trustees, Councilors, and Candidates
Brue Family Learning Center
Participants: All new Trustees, Councilors, and Honorary Trustees; registration required
FRIDAY, April 25
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Development Committee
Brue Family Learning Center
Participants: Development Committee Members; registration required
Click here to register for Development Cmte.
Development Committee members:
| M. David Sherrill (Chair) | Rebecca Madsen (Councilor) |
| Robb Aley Allan (Trustee) | Rebecca M. Rogers (Councilor) |
| Brady Brim-DeForest (Trustee) | Susan Van Allen (Councilor) |
| Susan Carlson (Trustee) | Tawny Welch (Councilor) |
| Richard Batchelder (Councilor) | David M. Trebing (ex-officio) |
| Peter Brown (Councilor) | Ted MacMahon (Chief Advancement Officer) |
| Mark Ferguson (Councilor) | Ryan J. Woods (President & CEO) |
FRIDAY, April 25
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Back Bay Walking Tour with Curt DiCamillo
Front entrance of 97 Newbury Street
Join architectural historian and American Ancestors Curator of Fine Art Curt DiCamillo for a lively and informative walking tour of one of America’s most historic neighborhoods—Boston’s famous Back Bay! Focusing on Commonwealth Avenue, we will see some of the finest that the Back Bay has to offer: from Trinity Church, the most praised church in American architectural history, to a remnant of Paris’s destroyed Tuileries Palace, to an example of the long-lost Vanderbilt mansions of New York’s Fifth Avenue. There will be beautiful houses at every turn enhanced by historical and whimsical tales! Please meet us in front of the 99 Newbury Street entrance by 9:45 a.m.
Click here to register for this tour
FRIDAY, April 25
11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Finance Committee
London Boardroom
Participants: Finance Committee Members; registration required
Click here to register for Finance Cmte.
Finance Committee members:
| John E. Corcoran (Treasurer and Committee Chair) | Michael Dunn (Councilor) |
| Nordahl L. Brue (Trustee) | Cheryl L. Edwards (Councilor) |
| Mark Thomas Cox, IV (Trustee) | Sarah Gunderson (Councilor) |
| Gerard A. Halpin, III (Trustee) | Beverly L. Hamilton (Councilor) |
| Brenda L. Johnson (Trustee) | Edmund D. Kellogg (Councilor) |
| Andrew P. Langlois (Trustee) | Alice B. Schroeder (Councilor) |
| Thomas B. Hagen (Trustee) | Roger T. Servison (Councilor) |
| Jo Anne Makely (Trustee) | David N. Smith (Councilor) |
| M. David Sherrill (Trustee) | Thomas R. Wilcox, Jr. (Councilor) |
| Jonathan B. Treat (Trustee) | Frank C. Ripley (Honorary Trustee) |
| Brent J. Andersen (Councilor) | David M. Trebing (ex-officio) |
| Sumner E. Anderson (Councilor) | Bruce Bernier (CFO) |
| Marc E. Chardon (Councilor) | Ryan J. Woods (President & CEO) |
| Prudence S. Crozier (Councilor) |
FRIDAY, April 25
11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Behind the Scenes of the Family Heritage Experience
Presented by Ginevra Morse, Chief Learning & Interpretation Officer
Brue Family Learning Center & Family Heritage Experience
Get an in-depth tour of the just-launched Family Heritage Experience! Hear about the planning and process that went into its creation and our goals for its first year. Meet in the Brue Family Learning Center, 2nd floor. No registration needed.
FRIDAY, April 25
12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Luncheon
Brue Family Learning Center
Participants: All Trustees, Councilors, and Honorary Trustees; registration required
Click here to register for Lunch
FRIDAY, April 25
12:45 p.m. Eastern Time
Investment Committee
London Boardroom
Participants: Investment Committee Members; registration required
Click here to register for Investment Cmte.
Investment Committee members:
| Jonathan B. Treat (Chair) | Bill Griffeth (Councilor) |
| John E. Corcoran (Treasurer) | Jay Goetschius (Councilor) |
| Mark T. Cox, IV (Trustee) | Beverly L. Hamilton (Councilor) |
| Gerard A. Halpin, III (Trustee) | Stephen J. McCarthy (Councilor) |
| Andrew P. Langlois (Trustee) | David M. Trebing (ex-officio) |
| Mark Kimball Nichols (Trustee) | Bruce Bernier (CFO) |
| Ryan D. Taliaferro (Trustee) | Ryan J. Woods (President & CEO) |
| Eric N. Ward (Trustee) |
FRIDAY, April 25
12:45 p.m. Eastern Time
A Year Later: A National Genealogy Curriculum for Grades 4-8
Presented by Dustin Axe, Youth Genealogy Curriculum Coordinator
Brue Family Learning Center
Join Youth Genealogy Curriculum Coordinator Dustin Axe for an update on our national family history curriculum and learn more about our plans for expansion over the next five years. Meet in the Brue Family Learning Center, 2nd floor. No registration needed.
FRIDAY, April 25
1:45 p.m. Eastern Time
Executive Committee
London Board Room
Participants: Executive Committee Members Only; registration required
Click here to register for Executive Cmte.
Executive Committee members:
| David Trebing (Chair) | Mark Kimball Nichols (Corresponding Secretary) |
| M. David Sherrill (Vice Chair) | Nordahl L. Brue (Trustee) |
| Bonnie A. Reilly (Second Vice Chair) | Susan E. Carlson (Trustee) |
| John E. Corcoran (Treasurer) | Eric N. Ward (Trustee) |
| Gerard A. Halpin, III (Secretary) | Ryan J. Woods (President & CEO) |
FRIDAY, April 25
1:45 p.m. Eastern Time
Upcoming Databases
Presented by Theresa Giard, Database Project Manager
Brue Family Learning Center
Hear from Database Projects Manager Theresa Giard about upcoming and ongoing database projects. Meet in the Brue Family Learning Center, 2nd floor. No registration needed.
FRIDAY, April 25
2:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Board of Trustees Meeting
London Boardroom
Participants: Trustees Only; registration required
Click here to register for the Trustees' Meeting
Board of Trustees:
| David M. Trebing (Chair) | Andrew P. Langlois |
| M. David Sherrill (Vice Chair) | Keli D. Levine |
| Bonnie A. Reilly (Second Vice Chair) | Jo Anne C. Makely |
| John E. Corcoran (Treasurer) | Nancy S. Maulsby |
| Gerard A. Halpin, III (Secretary) | John S. Rando, Jr. |
| Mark Kimball Nichols (Corresponding Secretary) | Helen E.R. Sayles |
| Robb Aley Allan | Ryan D. Taliaferro |
| Brady Brim-DeForest | Jonathan B. Treat |
| Nordahl L. Brue | Elizabeth B. Vitton |
| Susan Carlson | Eric N. Ward |
| Mark Thomas Cox, IV | Brenda M. Williams |
| Thomas B. Hagen | Ryan J. Woods (President & CEO) |
| Brenda J. Johnson |
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
3:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Annual Meeting
Emmanuel Church
15 Newbury St.
Boston, MA
Participants: All Trustees, Councilors, Honorary Trustees, Candidates, & Staff; registration required
Click here to register for the Annual Meeting
Future Meeting Dates
JULY 2025: Boston, MA | OCTOBER 2025: Boston, MA | JANUARY 2026: Boston, MA |
Thursday, July 24: | Thursday, October 23: Fall Reception & Dinner | |
Friday, July 25: Plenary, Committees, Executive,
97 Newbury St. | Friday, October 24: Plenary, Committees, Executive,
97 Newbury St. | Friday, January 23 2026: Plenary, Committees, Executive,
97 Newbury St. |