Maine Genealogical Society’s fall event
well worth drive to Bangor
Family Searcher
by Nina Brawn
It’s conference time! The Maine Genealogical Society’s (MGS) annual fall conference will be held in Bangor again this year.
The venue will be The Spectacular Event Center (on the Griffin Road) and it promises to be a spectacular event. If you have not already done so, you will want to get your workshops reserved since they are filled on a “first come, first served” basis.
The featured speaker will be Mel Wolfgang, the founder of Jonathan Sheppard Books. Mel has been researching for over 40 years, and is a popular speaker on topics ranging from cartography and cluster research to newspapers and 19th century research. He will also be presenting workshops on using newspapers in research (beyond the basics) and research in public and private assistance records. That last is one area I’ve not yet searched, and I suspect I may find some relatives there.
Other workshop sessions are: “More than Wills: Using Probate Records”, “The Role of Women in the Civil War,” “Using Social Media in Genealogical Research,” and “Often Overlooked: What the Census Tells You.”
The conference is also a great place to pick up some genealogical goodies. I have found some of my favorite books there, as well as unique tools that you won’t find in the office supply store (such as the “Stuck on Sources” post-it notes that I find so invaluable for research). There are usually one or more rare or secondhand book dealers, and you never know when you might spot a real treasure such as a family Bible or local history. Our Maine publishers, such as Picton Press will be well-represented, too.
For the best experience I recommend that you bring a friend to compare notes on the ride home.
Early registration, which saves you $10, ends Saturday, Sept. 10th (postmarked by that date). MGS members $40, non-members $50, luncheon $5. For registration forms or more information the official conference website is www.maineroots.org. You may also e-mail mainegenealogical@yahoo.com or call Celeste Hyer at (207) 627-7147.
Editor’s note: This regular column is sponsored by the Aroostook County Genealogical Society. FMI contact Edwin “J” Bullard at 492-5501. Columnist Nina Brawn of Dover-Foxcroft, who has been doing genealogy for over 30 years, is a freelance genealogy researcher, speaker and teacher. Reader e-mails are welcome at ninabrawn@gmail.com.
