Massachusetts Genealogical Council

07/17/2026

Join our friends at MSOG this August for DNA workshops in Natick!

You do not need to be an MSOG member to register for these workshops with Diahan Southard. Learn more about how DNA can help you with your Family History Research.

There is limited seating so don't wait too long to register and miss out on this opportunity.

Thursday, August 20, 2026 at the Hampton Inn Boston/Natick 319 Speen St. Natick, MA

07/15/2026

Do you have relatives who spent time in a Massachusetts state hospital or school for the disabled? A new law just made it easier to find their story.

Join MGC Wednesday, July 29 at 7pm EST on Zoom as Samuel Edwards, Reference Archivist at Massachusetts Archives, explains how a new law makes it easier to find records of relatives who were in Massachusetts state mental hospitals and state schools for the disabled, including how to request records, what to expect, and tips for finding more.

The program is free, but pre-registration is required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CoGXVi1rTCWw6Q24gZLlrQ #/registration

07/15/2026

Be sure to support our friends at WMGS!

07/02/2026

📣Sharing an upcoming program from one of our NERGC participating societies:
Falmouth Genealogical Society

"Using Genealogy to Unlock Dual Citizenship: Beginner Strategies"
with Diane Henriks
Saturday, July 11, 2026, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth

The Falmouth Genealogical Society (FGS) will hold its monthly talk Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at the Falmouth Public Library, 300 Main Street, Falmouth.

Ideal for those new to genealogy and the dual citizenship journey, this presentation introduces the benefits of dual citizenship, walks you through the steps to gather essential genealogical evidence, and provides valuable resources to support your application process.

This talk is free and open to the public. It will be held in person and is also available via Zoom. For the Zoom credentials, please contact [email protected] by July 10, 2026.

More information and registration information at: https://www.falmouthgenealogysociety.com

06/30/2026

How much time do you spend looking for information you've already found before?

Professional genealogists develop deep expertise over time, but that knowledge often ends up scattered across research logs, spreadsheets, notebooks, bookmarks, and files. Join Bonnie Wade Mucia, AG®, AGL™, to learn how to create a digital personal research guide that brings your locality and record-based knowledge together in one organized, reusable system.

Learn what to include, how to structure it using tools like Excel and OneNote, and how it can help reduce duplicated effort, improve consistency, and make your research more efficient.

Join us on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern.

This free webinar is open to the public and underwritten by ProGen.

Register: https://members.apgen.org/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=200493

06/30/2026

A client may hire you for your research skills, but they'll often remember you for the report you deliver.

Join Jill Nock, AG® for "Client Communication: Writing Reports That Educate and Satisfy," at the 2026 APG Professional Management Conference.

Using a real three-phase case study, Jill will demonstrate how professional reports do more than summarize findings. They educate clients, manage expectations, communicate value, and build trust. Learn how thoughtful report writing can strengthen client relationships and encourage future business.

For new professionals, mastering report writing is one of the most important investments you can make in your business.

Registration for PMC 2026 is now open, and early-bird pricing is available through 31 August 2026.

Learn more and register at apgen.org/pmc2026.php.

06/29/2026

Have you made your NERGC Hotel Reservation yet?

A limited number of Mobility and Communication Accessibility rooms have been added to our block, so we encourage those who need them to reserve early. For questions about Mobility, Hearing, or Visual Accessibility at the conference, please contact [email protected].

NERGC 2027 will be held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland, Maine
If you like staying right where the action is, don't wait too long to book your room.

To make hotel reservations, go through our NERGC website. https://nergc.org/hotel-2027/

06/25/2026

What a busy few months it's been for MGC! From Capitol Hill to Boston College, to letter campaigns and conference prep, we’ve been busy advancing genealogy records access and protecting our shared heritage.

• In April, MGC President Susan O'Connor brought MGC's advocacy to Washington, DC for Family History Hill Day. Together with advocates from other genealogy societies, Susan met with members of Congress to champion funding for the National Archives, as well as local archives and libraries.

• On Beacon Hill, your letters WORKED! Thanks to MGC's advocacy campaign, restrictive language limiting access to Massachusetts vital records was removed from Gov. Maura Healey’s supplemental budget (H.5377). Our records remain open for genealogical research! 🎉

• We've already hosted three educational sessions on Massachusetts records. Three more are coming, starting with "Finding the Stories of Relatives in Massachusetts Mental Hospitals and State Schools for the Disabled" with Samuel Edwards on July 29. Pre-register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CoGXVi1rTCWw6Q24gZLlrQ

• MGC leadership was invited by the National Archives of Ireland to the exclusive release event of Census 1926 at Boston College. MGC President Susan O'Connor attended and had quite the day. The exhibit is showing in only three venues worldwide, and Boston is one of them!

• Mark your calendars, because NERGC - New England Regional Genealogical Conference 2027 is coming! It will be April 14-17 in Portland, Maine. The conference theme is "Genealogy in the Age of AI: Innovation Meets Responsibility." MGC Secretary Tina Mugnai-Price recently attended an exciting site walkthrough of the Holiday Inn by the Bay venue, checking out the spacious exhibit hall, flexible meeting spaces with state-named rooms (including our Massachusetts Room!), and top-notch A/V capabilities. We can’t wait to see you in Portland!

Thank you for being part of the MGC community. Together, we're preserving history and keeping records accessible. Without your support, none of this work would be possible. Become an MGC Supporter today by donating here: https://www.massgencouncil.org/support

06/25/2026

We can’t wait for NERGC 2027! Hope to see you there!

Meet our Partner Societies: Massachusetts Genealogical Council

Since 1980, the Massachusetts Genealogical Council (MGC) has served as the umbrella organization for Massachusetts genealogists, historical societies, and individuals concerned about records preservation and free and unfettered access to civil records.

Visit our website: https://www.massgencouncil.org/

05/07/2026

Massachusetts vital records are at risk! MGC is urging genealogists, researchers, and anyone who cares about access to historical records to take action on an important legislative development.

Governor Maura Healey’s supplemental budget proposal (H.5377) contains language in Section 43 that could significantly affect access to Massachusetts vital records. While MGC supports removing the outdated term “out-of-wedlock” from Massachusetts statutes, the proposed language in Section 43 goes further than intended and could create confusion and restrict access to records that researchers rely on.

MGC is asking that Section 43 be amended to a simple, targeted fix that removes only the offensive language without disrupting existing records access law.

What You Can Do:
Contact your Massachusetts state representative, state senator, and the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means. Ask them to support the MGC’s proposed amendment to Section 43 and to approve Sections 44 and 45 as submitted.

Not a Massachusetts resident? You can still contact the Committee Chairs directly and share why access to Massachusetts vital records matters to your research.

To find your legislators, visit the MA Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

The leaders of the Committees on Ways and Means are:

• House Chair: Aaron Michlewitz ([email protected], phone: 617-722-2990, fax: 617-570-6575)

• Senate Chair: Michael J. Rodrigues ([email protected], phone: 722-1114, fax: 617-722-1498)

• Senate Vice Chair: Joanne M. “Jo” Comerford ([email protected], phone: 617-722-1532)

For the full background on our concerns and the specific language MGC supports, visit our blog: https://www.massgencouncil.org/post/act-now-gov-healey-s-supplemental-budget-contains-both-good-and-very-bad-news-for-genealogists

Please share this post widely with your genealogical networks, societies, and colleagues. Time is of the essence!