You can maximize your potential by taking advantage of all the resources available to you, especially other researchers.
Combine all that is available online with physical research at “hometown” facilities, and meetings and conferences with other researchers. It is exciting to attend a workshop or conference where you come face to face with others who share your interests and have solved problems like those you are facing.
An important website for Maine researchers is the home site of the Maine Genealogical Society (MGS). MGS will link you to some of the most significant Maine websites and show you where to connect with genealogists in your area of the state through the societies in Bangor, Belfast, Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Caribou, Dover, Ellsworth, Farmington and Winslow. MGS also sponsors learning opportunities thru its annual spring workshop and fall conference.
This year’s spring workshop is co-hosted by MGS and the Maine Historical Society and features Maureen Taylor the “Photo Detective.” She is an internationally recognized expert on photograph identification and genealogy. She will present a 10-step process for identifying who is hiding out in family photographs; tips on preservation, and information on Civil War and yes, even Revolutionary War soldiers and stories in photos. For an additional fee, you can set up a personal appointment with Ms. Taylor to discuss up to three of your own photos. The workshop will be Saturday, April 5, in Augusta. Registration can be done online, or print and mail the registration form by April 1. Information is available on the MGS website: www.maineroots.org
The Greater Portland MGS Chapter is sponsoring a day-long conference Saturday, May 31, with Joe Anderson as keynote speaker presenting: “Documenting Grandma’s Stories: Turning Gossip into Genealogical Fact.” There will also be three workshops throughout the day. It will be held in Portland from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Further information is posted at their website: http://gpcmgs.brakeley.net
May 30, 31 and June 1 and 2 the Maine Old Cemetery Association (MOCA) will be hosting a four-day hands-on cemetery restoration and conservation workshop led by Joe Ferrannini from Grave Stone Matters of Hoosick Falls, N.Y. It will be held in St. George, a town just outside of Rockland. It is recommended, but not required that you attend all four days of the workshop. There is no fee but donations are requested to help cover costs. You must pre-register for the days you plan to attend.
The MOCA website is www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~memoca/moca.htm and click on the “Workshops” link. If you wish to be notified as more details become available, you can sign up by sending an email to cwpatten@tds.net with the subject line “2014 Workshop”.
For some great hands-on research, you can spend time at the Maine State Library and Archives. The Archives are once again open all day long. One of my genealogist friends told me that he recently visited the State Library and it is newly organized; with new microfilm printers and the same microfilm as the Archive! Wassebec, the Dover area genealogy society is sponsoring a field trip to the Archive/Library building in Augusta, May 9. If you wish to join us, email me, and we can work together to set that up.
Spring is a great time to refresh your research strategies.
Columnist Nina Brawn of Dover-Foxcroft is a longtime genealogy researcher, speaker and teacher. Reader emails are welcome at ninabrawn@gmail.com. Her semimonthly column is sponsored by the Aroostook County Genealogical Society which meets the fourth Monday of the month except in July and December at Cary Medical Center’s Chan Education Center at 6:30 p.m. Guests are always welcome. FMI contact Edwin “J” Bullard at 492-5501.
