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Meetings 2025Date: November 18, 2025 – HYBRID MEETING – Hope Lodge, 42 Central Street, Gardner, MA & ZOOM
“Learnings from NERGC – Sharing new ideas from the conference”
Speakers: CMGS Members
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Date: October 28, 2025 – NO MEETING
CMGS MEMBERS WILL BE ATTENDING THE NERGC CONFERENCE IN MANCHESTER, NH
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Date: September 16, 2025 – IN-PERSON MEETING – Leominster Public Library, 30 West Street, Leominster, MA
“Meet Mrs. Hamilton”
Living history actress Anne Barrett portrays this fascinating figure and shares her story! From wealthy belle to family protector, Eliza’s indomitable spirit and unwavering devotion to Alexander enabled her to survive and thrive after tragedy, leaving a lasting legacy that has lived on for 200 years. This free program is open to the public. No registration required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Leominster Public Library in partnership with the Central MA Genealogical Society.
No Registration Required
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Date: August 26, 2025 – HYBRID MEETING – Hope Lodge, 42 Central Street, Gardner, MA & ZOOM
“Philly Museum of History with a film on historic sites”
Speaker: Philip Johnson
Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87678574509?pwd=rPrz0znGGgIGbJxup14wU0UCd8aRVG.1
Meeting ID: 876 7857 4509
Passcode: 307776
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Date: July 22, 2025 – HYBRID MEETING – Hope Lodge, 42 Central Street, Gardner, MA & ZOOM
“How History Helps Genealogy Research”
Speaker: Lucy Allen of Barre Historical Society
Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6Z7IaWMaSBuBqLKeK5vXRg
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Date: June 24, 2025 – VIRTUAL MEETING ONLY – 7:00 pm Presentation
Speaker: Bonnie Wade Mucia – Topic – “Identifying a Plantagenet King: Richard III”
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6Z7IaWMaSBuBqLKeK5vXRg
Richard III (1452–1485) was the last Plantagenet and Yorkist king of England. Born at Fotheringhay Castle, he seized the throne from his nephew Edward V in 1483. His reign was marked by controversy, including accusations of murdering his nephews, which tarnished his reputation. Despite his capable governance, these allegations overshadowed his rule. Richard III’s reign ended when he was defeated and killed by Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, leading to the rise of the Tudor dynasty. Modern scholars have reassessed his legacy, offering a more balanced view of his character and reign.
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Date: May 27, 2025 -Hope Lodge – HYBRID MEETING
Hope Lodge, 42 Central Street, Gardner, MA – 7:00 pm Presentation
Speaker: Michael Cassara – Topic: Postcards From the Past: Bringing Deltiology to Your Genealogy?
Postcards can be an overlooked and occasionally invaluable means of peering further into the lives of our ancestors, or those of our clients. Not only can they illuminate microhistory (in ways that may otherwise be lost to the ages), but both the front and the back of postcards can contribute mightily to any genealogical study. Images on the front of a card can offer illustrations of long-demolished places of interest, while messages on the back may shed light on an ancestor’s travels, giving the researcher a clearer sense of the writer’s concerns of a long-forgotten moment. These are only a few of the many ways in which genealogy and deltiology (the study and collection of postcards) can intersect.
Michael Cassara is a professional genealogist and lecturer based in New York City, specializing in Italian/Sicilian genealogy, 20th century US immigration, and genealogical technology. He has frequently presented at national conferences, including five years of presentations at RootsTech, a recent talk at the 2018 Association of Professional Genealogists Professional Management Conference, and a popular 2019 APG Webinar on genealogical technology, OGS, FGS, and many more. Additionally, he has given dozens of talks to local and regional societies throughout the United States and worldwide. Michael holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University (OL19) and is a graduate of the ProGen Study Group (ProGen 43).
Michael served three terms as President of the Italian Genealogical Group and continues to serves on its Board. In his “other” life, Michael is a leading casting director for theatre and film, having cast over 700 musicals, plays, and movies – in New York City and worldwide. He blogs about his research at DigiRoots.net and can be found online at @DigiRoots
Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6Z7IaWMaSBuBqLKeK5vXRg