Windsor Historical Society invites you to spend some cool summer evenings connecting with your family past by exploring genealogy, the fastest growing hobby in North America.  Starting Tuesday, July 7th and running four consecutive Tuesdays, each program takes place from 7 – 9 pm in the Society’s meeting room.   Each of the sessions deals with a different aspect of genealogy:  a particular group of people or set of records or resources.   The speakers assure us that everyone, from novice genealogists to more experienced searchers, will find their presentations useful.  Attend the entire series, or select from the following presentations:  

July 7:  Dan Lynch – Google Your Family Tree.  By learning how to search and filter more effectively, most researchers can drastically reduce on-line search time and will instead be able to review far more relevant results.  After fifteen years in the computer industry, Dan Lynch is now applying his skills to the field of genealogy.  His award-winning book, Google Your Family Tree, was published in October of 2008 and has been featured on television. 

July 14:  Laura Prescott – Diaries and Journals.  Learn about the advantages of using diaries, letters, and journals in compiling a comprehensive and appealing genealogy. Opinions and observations written by our ancestors or someone who knew them add a personal dimension to names, dates, and places.  Learn about the different types of journals and diaries available, where to find them, and how to apply what you find to your research and family history.  Laura G. Prescott is a professional researcher, writer, and speaker.  She worked for the New England Historic Genealogical Society for a number of years before starting her own research business.

July 21:  Marian Pierre-Louis – Early African American Communities.  This program will feature an overview of early African American communities in New England, their unique characteristics, and strategies for getting the most out of your research.  The program will focus on the 1630 – 1850 time period.  Marian Pierre-Louis is the principal researcher for Fieldstone Historic Research and specializes in the history of the Southern New England region.

July 28:  Jim Leatherbee – Various Town Records.  In this “show and tell” type program, you will encounter a variety of town records and learn how to make the most of them.  Not all town records are found in your town hall; discover where to find them.  Jim Leatherbee has been doing genealogy for more than 30 years. He is a four term past president of the CT Society for Genealogists. He belongs to several genealogical organizations including the DFAW. 

The Society’s research library will be open for an hour before each session and the Society’s librarian Barbara Goodwin will be on hand to guide and answer questions.  The cost for the series is $50, or $15 per session.  Advance reservations are required prior to each session and may be made by calling 860-688-3813 x. 102.