Date & Time: April 6, 2022 12:00pm – 1:00pm Virtual REGISTER HERE
Old Houses Dos and Don’ts. As times change so do the needs and desires of families when it comes to modern living. Historic homes are often altered to realize these dreams, but it can be hard to know how to make changes that are sensitive to the existing character of the house. This online lecture defines “preservation” and how to apply its tenets effectively to old homes. Learn tips on how to read changes that have been made to old houses and identify those that were successful and those that weren’t. Discover ideas for how to recapture the historic character of an old house as well as improve its energy efficiency. Join us for this lecture presented by Elizabeth Paliga, Preservation Services Manager for Historic New England.
Date & Time: March 9, 2022 12:00pm – 1:00pm Virtual REGISTER HERE
Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Your Family Photos: Identifying African American Family Photos Join us for a workshop presented by Maureen Taylor, an internationally recognized expert on historic photograph identification and family history research, as we delve into the history of African American family portraits. Photo clues can be obvious or subtle from who’s in the picture to what’s being worn and who took the picture. We’ll explore the 5 basic questions to ask about your photos and how to figure out the story in the image. This interactive lecture will help you discover identity and connections to your family that you never knew you had.
Maureen Taylor is an internationally recognized expert on historic photograph identification, photo preservation and family history research. Sought out by clients all over the world, her pioneering work in historic research is unprecedented, evidenced by her success in solving photo mysteries. The author of several books, scholarly articles and online columns, Taylor appeared on the View and the Today Show to discuss her photo identification methods. She has been featured in numerous publications, including the Boston Globe, New York Times, and Better Homes and Gardens, and was dubbed “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by the Wall Street Journal.
Date & Time: August 18, 2021 3:00pm – 4:00pm REGISTER HERE
Research the History of Your Cambridge House Are you interested in learning more about where you live or the property you own? This hour-long, in-person workshop will guide you through a variety of online resources that will help you research your home. Discover when your building was built and by whom. Find out who lived in your house and how your neighborhood has changed.
Date & Time: August 11, 2021 3:00pm – 4:00pm REGISTER HERE
Research the History of Your Cambridge House Are you interested in learning more about where you live or the property you own? This hour-long, in-person workshop will guide you through a variety of online resources that will help you research your home. Discover when your building was built and by whom. Find out who lived in your house and how your neighborhood has changed.
We were fortunate to have Sharon Leslie Morgan, renowned genealogist and founder of Our Black Ancestry, help commemorate Juneteenth at the Cambridge Public Library. Morgan’s workshop, Healing the Historical Trauma of Slavery Through Genealogical Research, was recorded on June 17, 2021. The workshop was part of the Cambridge Room’s Lunchtime Virtual Lecture Series.
The following is a description of the workshop and a short bio of Sharon Leslie Morgan:
Juneteenth Commemoration: Healing the Historical Trauma of Slavery Through Genealogical Research Has your genealogical research forced you to confront the racial wounds of the past – from slavery to the many forms of racism it engendered? Facing “historical trauma” is as necessary for African Americans researching their ancestors who were enslaved as it is for White people who discover their ancestors were enslavers.
To commemorate Juneteenth, join us for a workshop with Sharon Leslie Morgan, renowned genealogist and founder of Our Black Ancestry, as we learn about historical trauma and how it affects people today. Morgan will introduce the STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) model for healing historical trauma and show how genealogical research can help heal the trauma of slavery.
Sharon Leslie Morgan is a writer and genealogist. She is the founder of Our Black Ancestry, an online community dedicated to providing resources for African American genealogical research, preserving historic materials and properties, and promoting healing of wounds that are the legacy of slavery.
A staunch advocate of racial justice, Morgan has taken STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) training at Eastern Mennonite University and is actively involved with Coming to the Table, an organization that promotes linkages between descendants of people who were enslaved and descendants of the families that enslaved them for the purpose of healing from the trauma of slavery.
Date & Time: June 17, 2021 12:00pm – 1:00pm REGISTER HERE
Juneteenth Commemoration:Healing the Historical Trauma of Slavery Through Genealogical Research Has your genealogical research forced you to confront the racial wounds of the past – from slavery to the many forms of racism it engendered? Facing “historical trauma” is as necessary for African Americans researching their ancestors who were enslaved as it is for White people who discover their ancestors were enslavers.
To commemorate Juneteenth, join us for a workshop with Sharon Leslie Morgan, renowned genealogist and founder of Our Black Ancestry, as we learn about historical trauma and how it affects people today. Morgan will introduce the STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) model for healing historical trauma and show how genealogical research can help heal the trauma of slavery.
Sharon Leslie Morgan is a writer and genealogist. She is the founder of Our Black Ancestry, an online community dedicated to providing resources for African American genealogical research, preserving historic materials and properties, and promoting healing of wounds that are the legacy of slavery.
A staunch advocate of racial justice, Morgan has taken STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) training at Eastern Mennonite University and is actively involved with Coming to the Table, an organization that promotes linkages between descendants of people who were enslaved and descendants of the families that enslaved them for the purpose of healing from the trauma of slavery.
Date & Time: June 10, 2021 12:00pm – 1:00pm REGISTER HERE
Interview Techniques to Tell Your Family’s History Join Alyssa Pacy, Archivist at the Cambridge Public Library, to learn the fundamentals of oral history. This workshop will prepare you to easily interview family members. We will cover an introduction to oral history, interviewing techniques, the use of a digital recorder, and methods to preserve your recording.
The following is a description of the workshop and a short bio of Drew Griffin:
American Treasures from the Cambridge Public Library’s Archives and Special Collections Join Drew Griffin, Cambridge Public Library’s Senior Librarian for Adult Services, as he takes us on a tour of the American Treasures in the Library’s Archives and Special Collections. This lecture will focus on letters from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, Margaret Fuller, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. and more. Discover all our Library has to offer with special, virtual trip into the vault.
Drew Griffin has worked at the Cambridge Public Library for the past 15 years in various capacities. Since 2016, he has served as Senior Librarian in the Adult Services Department. Drew’s area of expertise is genealogy and rare book librarianship. Over the past 3 years, Drew has taught many of the Library’s popular genealogy workshops, including beginner’s genealogy and DNA testing and genealogical research. Also, in his spare time, Drew is an avid rare book collector. He is a member several bibliophile clubs, including the Grolier Club in New York City and the Ticknor Society in Boston.
Date & Time: May 20, 2021 12:00pm – 1:00pm REGISTER HERE
Buns, Beards, Bodices and Bustles: Understanding Ancestors Through Clothing Ancestral fashions and the industry that produced them left behind a fascinating legacy of images and information. Join Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, to discover genealogical clues by looking closely at the clothing and accessories your ancestors wore. Come with your questions and learn the basics of photo detecting through the lens of fashion.
Maureen Taylor is an internationally recognized expert on historic photograph identification, photo preservation and family history research. Sought out by clients all over the world, her pioneering work in historic research is unprecedented, evidenced by her success in solving photo mysteries. The author of several books, scholarly articles and online columns, Taylor appeared on the View and the Today Show to discuss her photo identification methods. She has been featured in numerous publications, including the Boston Globe, New York Times, and Better Homes and Gardens, and was dubbed “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by the Wall Street Journal.
The following is a description of the workshop and a short bio of Sharon Leslie Morgan:
Linked Descendants: African American Genealogy Prior to 1870 Join us for a workshop with Sharon Leslie Morgan, renowned genealogist and founder of Our Black Ancestry, as we delve into African American ancestry before abolition. Researching African American families prior to the 1870 Census is a challenge that may be overcome by finding linked descendants – or the white families who enslaved most of the Black population. Learn new research techniques and use genealogy as a tool for confronting slavery and heal.
Sharon Leslie Morgan is a writer and genealogist. She is the founder of Our Black Ancestry, an online community dedicated to providing resources for African American genealogical research, preserving historic materials and properties, and promoting healing of wounds that are the legacy of slavery.
A staunch advocate of racial justice, Morgan has taken STAR (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) training at Eastern Mennonite University and is actively involved with Coming to the Table, an organization that promotes linkages between descendants of people who were enslaved and descendants of the families that enslaved them for the purpose of healing from the trauma of slavery.
The Cambridge Room 