Genealogy

All BPL events are free and open to the public. Registration is required to attend the events listed below.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online event
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us

Join Ian Spangler and Megan Nally from the Leventhal Map & Education Center as they discuss the use of historic maps for genealogical research. They will provide a demo of Leventhal Center's Atlascope tool, which overlays historic maps on top of modern-day ones so you can easily compare past and present.

Ian Spangler is a cultural & economic geographer with interests in digital mapping, historical geographies, and race & landscape in the US. He is a geography PhD candidate at the University of Kentucky, and Assistant Curator of Digital & Participatory Geography at the Leventhal Map & Education Center.

Megan Nally is a recent graduate from Wesleyan University and holds a B.A. in Government and Hispanic Literatures & Cultures as well as a certificate in International Relations. As Public Engagement Coordinator at the Leventhal Center, Megan has a strong interest in public education and hopes to explore the dynamic between historical narratives, contemporary issues, and public attitudes.

Accessibility Notice
We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org, by September 27, 2023. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Please note that we are requiring registration, as this event is happening over Zoom.

Thursday, October 19, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online event
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us

Church records can often be a valuable substitute for or supplement to government produced vital records. They can contain information about births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, and funerals. This class will provide a brief overview of where to find and how to access church records in Massachusetts, with an emphasis on Boston.

Accessibility Notice
We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org, by October 5, 2023. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Please note that we require registration as this event is happening over Zoom.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online event
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us

Newspapers can contain a wealth of information about our ancestors beyond what can be found in obituaries. This class will provide information about how to use newspapers for family history research, with a focus on resources that can be accessed online via a BPL database or the Internet.

Accessibility Notice
We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org, by October 25, 2023. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Please note that we require registration as this event is happening over Zoom.

Thursday, November 16, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Central Library in Copley Square
Register here- https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events

Join us to hear Anthony Sammarco delve into the history of cranberries. Registration recommended but not required.

Native Americans introduced European settlers to cranberries near what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. The name cranberry derives from the German kraanbere (English translation, craneberry), first named as cranberry in English by the Reverend John Eliot of Roxbury in 1647. The humble cranberry was used as a versatile fruit for food, dye, as well as medicine. The settlers learned to harvest wild cranberries and came to rely on them for nutrients and for bartering with their Native American neighbors. By the late 18th century, they were used to cure scurvy and by the 20th century cranberries were big business from juice as well as sauce and would become inseparable from turkey at Thanksgiving.

Anthony M. Sammarco is a noted historian and author of over seventy books on the history and development of Boston, and he lectures widely on the history of his native city. His books Lost Boston, The History of Howard Johnson’s, Jordan Marsh, The Baker Chocolate Company, and Christmas Traditions in Boston have been bestsellers.

Accommodations
To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Diane, 617-536-5400-x4115 or research@bpl.org as soon as possible. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Thursday, November 30, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online event
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us

Many records were created when immigrant ancestors became American citizens. Learn what they are and how to find them.

Rich Venezia is an expert in the research of 20th-century immigrant ancestors, especially in underutilized record sources and federal records. He was a member of the research team of Genealogy Roadshow (PBS) for two seasons and also consulted on Follow Your Past (Travel Channel). He has researched family histories for private clients, TV shows, attorneys, and other genealogical research firms. He is a recognized leader in his field in the research of immigration and naturalization. He currently serves as a Member At Large on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists. He received his Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University in 2015, and is the Immediate Past-President of North Hills Genealogists in Pittsburgh.

Accessibility Notice
We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org, by November 16, 2023. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Please note that we require registration, as this event is happening over Zoom.

Thursday, December 14, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online event
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us

This presentation provides fundamental skills to conduct Jewish genealogical research. Strategies to locate ancestral origins and understand nuances found in Jewish genealogy will be discussed.

Dr. Adina Newman specializes in Jewish genetic genealogy. She volunteers as a moderator for a popular Jewish DNA group on Facebook and is regularly called on in other genetic genealogy forums when questions arise. Her comfort with social media platforms has prompted her to serve as Social Media Coordinator for the NextGen Genealogy Network. A trained educator, Dr. Adina lectures on various genealogical topics related to Jewish genealogy, DNA, New England, and more. She is also a 2020 AncestryProGenealogists Scholarship winner and participant and co-chat leader in ProGen 50.

Accessibility Notice
We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org, by November 30, 2023. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Please note that we require registration, as this event is happening over Zoom.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Online event
Register here- https://boston-public-library.zoom.us

Vital records are some of the most basic records that can be used in genealogy; they can provide numerous leads for further research. This class will provide information about what vital records are, how they are useful, and how to access them. We will be focusing primarily on accessing vital records in Massachusetts.

Accessibility Notice
We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, please contact: Jessy Wheeler at jwheeler@bpl.org, by December 6, 2023. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange for accommodations.

Please note that we require registration as this event is happening over Zoom.