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Fall Research Getaway 2022

Thank you for registering for the Fall Research Getaway program, October 13-15 at the American Ancestors Research Center in Boston, MA!

Please reach out to education@nehgs.org if you have any questions prior to the program. 
 

PRE-TOUR WEBINAR

Live broadcast: August 31, 2022, 3:00 PM Eastern Time  
Presented by: Ann G. Lawthers

Learn how to prepare for your time at the American Ancestors research center, make the most of your pre-tour consultations, and more.


SCHEDULE

Thursday, October 13

9:00 a.m. Refreshments; welcome and introductions
10:15 a.m. Collections at American Ancestors Research Center: Digital and Non-Digital, Ann G. Lawthers
11:15 a.m. Library Tour (optional), meet on 7th floor
11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Personal Research
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Wine and cheese reception, 1st floor

Friday, October 14

9:00 a.m. Refreshments
9:15 a.m. Lecture: Using Maps in Your Family History Research, Hallie Borstel
10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Personal Research
5:00-6:00 p.m. Dinner, 2nd floor

Saturday, October 15

9:00 a.m. Refreshments
9:15 a.m. Lecture: Follow the Money: Breaking Down Brick Walls Using Financial Records, Melanie McComb
10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Personal Research

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION FORM

Please complete this form by Friday, September 23 at the latest. NOTE: Consultations will be held virtually prior to your arrival at the American Ancestors research center.

REPOSITORY INFORMATION, DIRECTIONS, & ACCOMMODATIONS

 

EXPERT BIOS

Hallie J. Borstel, Genealogist has a B.A. in History with minors in Art History and German Language and an M.A. in Historic Preservation. She joined American Ancestors in 2019 after several years of working in architectural restoration and preservation in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her previous work experience includes the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, the West Virginia Railroad Museum, and Bender Library at American University. While at the NYG&B, she was part of the research team who compiled the popular New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer. She is also a long-time volunteer for Unclaimed-Persons.org, assisting coroners in locating next-of-kin of deceased individuals. Her areas of expertise include 19th-century America, Germany, New York, New York City, Norway, Italy, westward migration, immigration history, and descendancy research.

Sheilagh Doerfler, Genealogist joined American Ancestors as a member of the Research Services team in 2013. She received her B.A. in History and Communication from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Sheilagh is a frequent contributor to American Ancestors magazine and the American Ancestors blog, Vita-Brevis. Her areas of expertise include: DNA, adoption, New England, New Netherland, Ireland, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Norway, and Sweden.

David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist has been on the staff of American Ancestors since 1993 and is the organization’s Chief Genealogist. David is an internationally recognized speaker on the topics of genealogy and history. His genealogical expertise includes New England and Atlantic Canadian records of the 17th through 21st century; military records; DNA research; and Native American and African American genealogical research in New England. Lambert has published many articles in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, the New Hampshire Genealogical Record, Rhode Island Roots, The Mayflower Descendant, and American Ancestorsmagazine. He has also published A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries (American Ancestors, 2019). David is an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, Mass., and a life member of the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati. He is also the tribal genealogist for the Massachuset-Punkapoag Indians of Massachusetts.

Ann G. Lawthers, Genealogist helps members and not-yet members with their family history research by providing lectures, courses, and hands-on workshops at the American Ancestors Research Center, at genealogical conferences across the country, and online. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Harvard School of Public Health, with Masters and Doctoral degrees in Health Policy. Her areas of particular interest include New England and New York, the Mid-Atlantic states, the southern colonies, Ireland, and migration patterns.

Judy Lucey, Senior Archivist oversees the management and preservation of the American Ancestors Special Collections. She received a B.S. in Education from Northeastern University and an M.S. in Library Science from Simmons College. She is co-author of the Genealogist's Handbook for Irish Research and frequently contributes to American Ancestors magazine. Her areas of expertise include, Irish genealogy, the Atlantic Canadian Provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and New England.

Melanie McComb, Genealogist assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She also provides lectures on a variety of genealogical topics. Melanie holds a bachelor of science degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. Her areas of research interest include Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Kansas, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Ireland, and she is experienced in DNA, genealogical technology and social media, Jewish genealogy, and military records.

Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer. Before joining American Ancestors in 2006, she ran her own genealogical business for 18 years. She was a contributing editor for Heritage Quest Magazine, Biography magazine, and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of twelve books including the award-winning The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Genealogy, Finding your Famous and Infamous Ancestors and Digitizing Your Family History. She is the editor of the newly released 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research. Her areas of expertise include, immigration and naturalization, late 19th- and early 20th-century urban research, missionaries, State Department Federal records, New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research as well as Internet research, genealogical software and online trees.