Rhode Island Genealogical Society

Program Video Recordings

 
The videos provided below were recorded and edited for anyone who may not have attended or who wish to view the presentations again. Some of the videos may be posted for a limited time.
 
Note that you can view the videos in full screen by clicking the box at the lower right corner after you start the video.
 
 
 
 
January 20, 2024
 
Our January DNA event included two presentations. RIGS members can log in and access handouts for these two programs the Downloads (Members Only) page of the RIGS website at the following link: https://rigensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=59
 
Using Tools to Organize and Analyze Your Autosomal DNA Matches
Kelli Bergheimer
 
Now that you have your results, how do you organize it to make the most of the information? Learn how to make your matches work for you. Use tools like Excel and OneNote to get yourself organized and make progress in your search. Learn some tips and tricks to get the most out of your results.
 
 
 
DNA Painter and Chromosome Mapping
Pamela Guye Holland
 
DNA Painter is a colorful, easy-to-use tool for understanding the chromosome segments you received from an ancestor. This free programs lets you map DNA segments and assign or "paint" them various colors on your different chromosomes. Learn how to create a chromosome map for your own research using DNA results from FamilyTreeDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage or GEDmatch. Please note that AncestryDNA cannot be used in DNA Painter unless you have transferred your results to GEDmatch.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
November 18, 2023
 
Our November event included the following presentation:
(No recording was made of the "George E. Matteson: The Man and His Maps" presentation)
 
U.S. Cadel Nurse Corps
John Tew
 
RIGS Recording Secretary, John Tew provided a brief history of the creation and purpose of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. The location, content, and use of the Cadet Nurse database on  Ancestry.com will be reviewed with particular attention to what kind of genealogical facts and information may be gleaned from this little-known resource.
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 23, 2023
 
Our September event included two presentations:
 
FROM FINDING AID TO FINAL FILM: RESEARCHING BLOOD AND WATERSHED -
A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT RHODE ISLAND'S PRIMARY WATER SUPPLY (AND FAMILY)
Evan Villari
 
Independent filmmaker and university professor, Evan Villari, shares the archival research processes used to produce the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities supported documentary, Blood and Watershed – a film that traces the 100-year history of the supply which now provides over two-thirds of Rhode Island’s residents with their water. The film de-constructs the creation of the Scituate Reservoir, profiling the individuals responsible for the displacement of five villages in Scituate, while uncovering a number of tragic stories from those forced from their land. 
 
 
 
GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES AT THE CRANSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Edward Garcia
 
Edward Garcia, Director of the Cranston Public Library, discusses the Cranston Library’s holdings relating to genealogical research. Ed is an amateur genealogist and a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. He will provide information about the various local history and genealogy offerings available at the Cranston Public Library.
 
 
 
 
 
 
April 4, 2023
 
Our April event included two presentations:
 
ANDIAMO! FINDING YOUR ITALIAN FAMILY
Margaret Rose Fortier
 
This talk covers background on Italy, why they left, where they settled, why your grandfather has five cousins named Vincenzo. It includes examples of useful records in the US and Italy. Knowing what their life was like in the old country helps us understand their choices and behavior when they came to America: why they were slow to naturalize, why the family was the most important institution, why they worked as laborers, and why food was a source of celebration. Andiamo!
 
 The time limit for viewing this video has expired and it has been removed.
 
 
THE STEAMSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Astrid Drew
 
Astrid Drew is the archivist for the Steamship Historical Society of America, where she manages and organizes collections, digital media, and assists the public in learning more about the history of engine-powered vessels. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science, with a focus in archives and preservation, from Simmons College.
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 24, 2022
 
Our September event included two presentations:
 
RHODE ISLAND STATE CENSUS for GENEALOGISTS
Diane MacLean Boumenot
 
Looking for Rhode Islanders in the Revolutionary War era, or 1865-1935?
The Rhode Island colonial and state census collections offer amazing details, but each enumeration is quite different. Looking for all men 16 and over in 1777? Exact dates of birth? Civil War service? Name of school attended? Diane explains how to navigate the arrangements online and match family members to their records.
 
The time limit for viewing this video has expired and it has been removed.
 
 
THE FINAL BRICK WALL: DEATH RECORDS FOR YOUR RHODE ISLAND ANCESTOR
Cherry Fletcher Bamberg
 
We all know the exasperation of being unable to discover when and where an ancestor died. They couldn’t be still alive! What was the story? Did they move away? Join the witness protection program? Die in an institution? Cherry's talk will help you dive into the rich resources for Rhode Island deaths in different eras and locales.
 
 
 
 
 
THE KILLINGLY HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
March 26, 2022
Marjorie M. Weaver

The Killingly Historical & Genealogical Society is located in Danielson, CT. Its genealogical collection includes family files, printed biographies, military volumes, vital, church, and cemetery records, census microfilms, Windham County Transcript Microfilms with a focus on CT, RI, and MA.

Margaret M. Weaver is Killingly’s Town Historian. She is the co-author of Miles of Millstreams and author of Perspectives of Putnam. She has written the weekly column “Killingly at 300” for the Villager newspapers since 2007
 
 
 
 
 
THE SEARCH FOR ANTHONY COELHO
March 26, 2022
Chester Browning
 
Chet gives a brief history of the state pauper cemeteries located in Rhode island and discuss the process taken to discover where Antonio Coelho is buried.
Chet is retired from the State of Rhode Island in 2008 after being a photographer there for 34 years. He recently was President of Smith’s Castle in North Kingstown, and is an officer/Director in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and the Rhode Island Philatelic Society. He is a member of RIGS and enjoys reuniting families with old photos of their ancestors.
 

 
 
 
 
WELCOME
January 29, 2022
Helen Smith
 
RIGS Program Chair Helen Smith Welcomes RIGS members to the Zoom Program and offers some helpful genealogy tips.
 
 
 
 
 
 
GENEALOGY MAGAZINES AND THE PHOTO DETECTIVE
January 29, 2022
Maureen Taylor
 
Maureen has long been associated with the genealogy field. She is nationally known as the Photo Detective, as a conference speaker and an author of many books. She is even a former president of RIGS. Visit her website: at maureentaylor.com for more information.
 
Maureen covers two subjects. First, she speaks on Family Tree Magazine. Maureen is a regular contributor to Family Tree Magazine and she talks about the many reasons why it is so helpful to genealogists. Maureen will also talk about her work as the Photo Detective. She shares some tips about how to identify the people in those old photos you have and wondered who they were.
 
Maureen also provided us with a free copy of Family Tree Magazine during her talk.  If you are a member you can download it from the Program Handouts in the  Downloads (Members Only) section of this website but you must first log on.
 
 The time limit for viewing this video has expired and it has been removed.
 

 
On November 6th RIGS hosted its first combined In-Person/Virtual Event at the Cranston Public Library.  The following are the three presentations recorded at that event..
 
 
NEW BEDFORD LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
November 6, 2021
Jodi Goodman and Mary Ellen Cecil
Special Collections Department, New Bedford Public Library
 
Jodi and Mary Ellen talk about the great resources at the library that are available for genealogists. The library is in the middle of a technology upgrade and has many other new things to report. Jodi Goodman, MLIS, is the Special Collections Librarian.
 
 
 
 

 
INTERPRETING DNA REPORTS
November 6, 2021
Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz
Executive Director, South County Museum
 
Heather shows how to interpret commonly used DNA reports using online tools that will improve your research time and lead to better results. She is the Executive Director at the South County Museum. She specializes in Rhode Island and kinship reconstruction with atDNA. She is a frequent lecturer around the state on how to leverage atDNA information to improve traditional genealogical research. She successfully completed Boston University’s genealogy course last fall. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Rhode Island and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Library and Information Sciences.
 
 
 
 

 
WILLIAM CHATTLE HOWE: Breaking Down a Brick Wall
November 6, 2021
Jeff Howe
 
Jeff is a long-time RIGS member and contributor, who speaks on breaking down a brick wall. He is a 40+ year researcher, writer, genealogist and has written many published papers and books on local history. His presentation involves the discovery of his paternal grandfather's parents, a family history/mystery finally unveiled revealing an unusual twist. A true mystery solved.