Seema-Jayne Kenney Ancestral Books, Legacy & Education [email protected] Researching at an Historical Society Presenter Bio: Seema has 15 years experience as a software instructor and 4 years as a professional genealogist. Her known roots are deep in New England as well as England, Germany, and Sweden. She is a BU and ProGen graduate and is active in many genealogical societies. Lecture Description: Genealogical Research away from the computer. Looking at the real items of an Historical Society and the story they can help create about your ancestors' lives. Syllabus Description: These pages are intended as a supplement to my talk and do not include the details of my searches or my findings as discussed in the presentation. Genealogical Research Genealogy is the study of family in genetic and historical context. It is the study of the people who compose a family and the relationships among them. At the individual level, it is biography, because we must reconstruct each individual life in order to separate each person's identify from that of others bearing the same name. For many, Genealogy is the study of communities. Historical Society A group of volunteers, sometimes called "townies", interested in and dedicated to preserving local history. A room or building where artifacts of local lifestyle are save, preserved, and revered. A collection that includes written, physical, ephemeral, and photographic resources about a local geographic area including information on the people, industry, folklore, and customs. Benefits of Combining the Two People Similar Interests Local Knowledge Renamed Streets Nicknames Migration Patterns Community Traditions Family Connections Knew your ancestor Completed research on your family Others researching the same surname This material is protected under copyright law and is not to be shared without the express written permission of the owner. Page 1 UNIQUE Resources Clothing Maps Photographs Newspapers Furniture & Furnishings Audio & Video Recordings Industry Perceived Problems Live far away Not Open Impossible to Reach No Catalog of Holdings Staff are not Researchers My Ancestor was an 'Ordinary Citizen' Tools Ephemera GAR Records Town Records Business Records Industry Records Organization Records Find a place closer to home with a similar background. Request an appointment! Despite what you see and hear - not everyone uses a computer or has a cell phone. Write a letter! Make a suggestion after your research - send a copy of what would attract other researchers for their website. No - they are historians; they are volunteers. Your visit is a chance to learn about resources that you haven't seen before. Most of our ancestors were. Life was different - little things were in the newspaper; there were more social organizations; terms meant different things than they do today. Personal Success Stories Grandma's High School Magazine (1909-1913) with three of her short stories. Cousins in the Town Report for Perfect Attendance (1879-1882 ) Great Grandma's High School Graduation Ceremony Program (1855). Resources Consulted: Photos were taken at the following local Historical Societies: Grafton, MA, One Grafton Common, open 2-4 every Sunday and by appointment Upton, MA, 2 Main Street, open Tues, Weds, Thurs from 9-11, Thurs 6:30-8:00, Sat 9:30-11, and by appointment This material is protected under copyright law and is not to be shared without the express written permission of the owner. Historical Society Ancestral Books, Legacy & Education Seema-Jayne Kenney Page 2