Come Home to New England 2025

Thank you for registering for Come Home to New England, taking place at American Ancestors in Boston July 15 – July 19, 2025!

American Ancestors has been gathering information about families in America for more than 175 years. Our collections span the globe and cover the United States, especially New England and New York. Devote almost a full week to leveraging the resources and expertise at the newly expanded National Center for Family History, Heritage and Culture. In addition to daily lectures, one-on-one consultations, and orientations, this special “Come Home” program will also include a walking tour of Revolutionary Boston.

Program includes: 

• Tour and orientation to collections of American Ancestors Research Center
• Daily lectures
• Three, thirty-minute consultations with expert genealogists (one virtual pre-tour consultation, two on-tour consultations)
• Group meals (daily breakfast, opening reception, and closing dinner)
• Pre-program preparatory webinar and resources

Live broadcast: Friday, June 20, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Presented by: David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist, and Kathleen Mackenzie, Education & Programming Manager. 

Learn how to prepare for your time at American Ancestors make the most of your one-on-one consultations, and more! 

Participant Form 1 - For Pre-Tour Zoom Consultation - Due June 30

Please fill out this Participant Form by Monday, June 30, 2025. Your answers on this form will assist our genealogists in preparing for your pre-tour consultation! It also allows you to submit emergency contact information, dietary restrictions, and more.

Participant Form 2 - For On-Site Consultation at American Ancestors - Due July 11

Please fill out this Participant Form by Friday, July 11, 2025 your answers on this form will assist our genealogists in preparing for your on-site consultation during the tour at American Ancestors! 

If you have any questions about filling out these forms, please contact Education and Programming Manager, Kathleen Mackenzie at kathleen.mackenzie@americanancestors.org. Please note that you have the option to save your form and return to it by clicking the "Save" button at the bottom of the page. 

Subject to Change

Come Home to New England Schedule

Come Home to New England Participant List

Expert Bios

Navigating Boston

Participant Research Interests (Digital Only)

Lecture Handout: Overview of American Ancestors Collections
Lecture Slides: Overview of American Ancestors Collections

Lecture Handout: Thinking Outside the Box: Breaking Down Brick Walls in 17th Century New England
Lecture Slides: Thinking Outside the Box: Breaking Down Brick Walls in 17th Century New England

Lecture Handout: The F.A.N. Approach
Lecture Handout: The F.A.N. Club Spreadsheet (Digital Only)
Lecture Slides: The F.A.N. Approach 

Lecture Handout: Researching Colonial and Revolutionary War Soldiers
Lecture Slides: Researching Colonial and Revolutionary War Soldiers

Lecture Handout: Using DNA to Identify Ancestral Origins
Lecture Slides: Using DNA to Identify Ancestral Origins

American Ancestors is located at 97 Newbury Street in Boston, MA 02116. We are in the heart of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, close to many restaurants, the Boston Public Library, the Boston Public Gardens, the Boston Common, and more. It's a very fun and safe area to explore! If you have any questions about the local area please feel free to reach out to Education & Programming Manager Kathleen Mackenzie at kathleen.mackenzie@americanancestors.org. 

Directions & Parking

American Ancestors is located very close to the Copley T stop on the green line, as well as the Back Bay stop on the orange line. You can find detailed directions here. If you are driving, you may wish to park at the end of an MBTA line and take the T in. Otherwise, there are parking garages nearby.

Accommodations

If you are travelling from afar, you may wish to book a hotel in the area. You can find a detailed list of local accommodations on our website here, categorized by price type. American Ancestors members also receive special offers at a few local hotels, which are specified at the top of the list. 

Dining

There are many dining options close to American Ancestors to keep you fueled while you're busy researching! Here are just a few notable options that are especially close:

• Caffè Nero, next door to American Ancestors
• Thinking Cup, just a couple doors down from American Ancestors
• Trader Joe's at 500 Boylston Street, a 4-minute walk from American Ancestors