The videos below are RIGS Program Member Events that were recorded and edited for anyone who may not have attended or who wish to view the presentations again. These videos are available for members who have signed on to the RIGS website. 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.
March 21, 2026
Our March Member Meeting included two presentations.
The Real Life of Vital Records: Secrets to Finding Them Today
Diane MacLean Boumenot, CG
Understanding when, where and why vital records were created, and the changes in those practices over the years, can help us find them today. What additional abstracts have been created? What forms of these records are available online? What kind of records might take the place of a vital record? Improve your family history research today by maximizing your ability to locate the records that tie generations together.
How the Mills Changed Everything: New England Mill Life 1795-1920
Diane MacLean Boumenot, CG
Textile and other mills changed the lives of many New England families, sometimes in ways that are not obvious. What was the experience in the mills? How did it change over time? What can we know about the buildings, the machines, and the products? And what records, at what points, help us learn about the mill families’ lives?
January 17, 2026
Our January Member Meeting included two presentations.
Genealogical Timelines for Organization, Analysis, and Problem-Solving
Laura Cubbage-Draper, CG
In researching our family, we gather extensive amounts of records and information to be compiled. Timelines are a tool that allows us to organize our data, and to visually identify patterns, gaps, themes, and relationships. This program will provide examples of genealogical timelines (migration patterns, research gaps, specific record type, historical perspective, etc.) as well as suggestions on creating timelines in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Using Historical Newspapers in Genealogical Research
Laura Cubbage-Draper, CG
Before Facebook and Twitter, the local paper was the place to get the scoop on your neighbors. Historical newspapers are indispensable to genealogy research and learning about your ancestors and their community. This program will highlight the importance of this resource as well as the range of details that can be discovered, including how and where to access digitized US newspapers, plus search techniques and tips.
November 8, 2025
Our November Member Meeting included two presentations.
The Black Warrior: Accounts of Citizens, Soldiers of Color, Rhode Island, and the Civil War
Caleb Horton
During the American Civil War, nearly 179,000 African American soldiers served in the Union Army, including almost 2,000 in a volunteer heavy artillery regiment from Rhode Island. These troops, led by white officers, faced high mortality rates—especially from disease—and their contributions have often been overlooked. Rhode Island authorized a “colored company of heavy artillery” in June 1863, which became the Fourteenth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery by September. Despite the regiment’s name, most of its members were not from Rhode Island, and was arguably one of the most diverse Union regiments of the war. This talk explores the broader involvement of Black Rhode Islanders, including those in the U.S. Colored Troops, the U.S. Navy, and escaped enslaved individuals who joined Rhode Island regiments. This lecture concludes with the examination of the African American community’s support on the home front and the post-war settlement of veterans in Rhode Island. Through detailed research, this presentation seeks to honor and illuminate the complex legacy of these soldiers and their families.
Resources in the Providence City Archives
Caleb Horton
Discover how tax records, vital records, city directories, and more at the Providence City Archives can help uncover your ancestors’ lives and neighborhoods in Rhode Island’s capital city.
September 20, 2025
Our September Member Meeting included two presentations.
Dissecting the Documents: UK Censuses from 1801 to Present
Dr. Penny Walters
Explore the evolution of UK censuses from early 1801 headcounts to the recent 2021 census. Dr. Walters will walk us through:
• Key differences across England, Scotland, and Ireland
• The value of maps, enumerator routes, and local history
• Census substitutes like the 1939 Register
• Insights from the 1921 and upcoming 1926 Irish census
• Tips for micro-analyzing census clues for lost locations
• Using census data alongside BMD records for rich narratives
Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy
Dr. Penny Walters
What could possibly go wrong with family history? Dr. Walters helps us explore:
• Discovering unexpected relatives or ethnicities
• The ethics of using DNA for genealogy and law enforcement
• Handling secrets, adoptions, enslavement, and criminality
• When (and how) to include sensitive info in your tree
• How to reflect with empathy, diplomacy, and integrity
• Where to find ethical guidelines and community standards
This talk will challenge and guide you toward being a more thoughtful, responsible genealogist. Are you ready?
March 22, 2025
Our March Member Meeting included two presentations.
Ask the Archivist: Caring for your Mini-Museum
Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz, MLIS
Are you bursting in binders? Bound up in books? Let’s be honest, we genealogists are a unique kind of hoarder “collector.” We cringed when someone “tossed it all” to clean out a loved-one’s, but how will they know what to save? As a professional archivist, Heather works in libraries, museums, and archives to determine the historical significance of an item, organize the material, then ensure it is properly stored for long-term preservation. She will share the standards and best practices to ensure the mini-museum in your house is prepared for the future. In this one-hour talk, you’ll learn why she hates paperclips, laughes at white gloves, and leave with the motivation needed to organize, display, and preserve your piles and files properly.
Rhode Island’s Relationship with Rum
Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz, MLIS
Rhode Island’s history provides a unique lens to examine how we relate to alcohol today. The colony became a global trade leader in the 1700s thanks to rum. The industrial revolution, started by Slater Mill, resulted in the national discussion of social reform, the temperance movement in response and influx of immigrant textile workers. Rhode Island passed then repealed prohibition of alcohol laws over 50 years before the nation ratified the 18th amendment because of lives lost due to enforcement. Join us for a talk that will explore Rhode Island’s conflicted relationship and history with rum, social reform, and rum running.
January 19, 2025
Our January Member Meeting included three presentations.
Getting to Know the RIGS Website
Deby Jecoy Nunes, RIGS Webmaster
As a member of RIGS, have you ever wondered exactly what you can do on our website? It’s not just about your member profile! And if you are not a member, what are you waiting for? You are missing out on a lot of what comes along with a RIGS membership! Learn everything the RIGS website has to offer for research guidance, surname connections, information about upcoming events, access to videos of past events, digital access to program handouts and our publications; Rhode Island Roots journal and our quarterly newsletter RIGS Reporter, along with other things available in our Members Only Downloads area.
Prepping Online for Rhode Island Research
Diane MacLean Boumenot, CG
Did you know a lot of valuable research can and should happen from home before making a research trip? Even if no research travel is coming up, there is more and more Rhode Island content coming online, on a wide array of websites. And while Rhode Island records on the major genealogy websites increase, they may be tricky to find. Let’s check out specific sites and searching strategies to dig deep into Rhode Island’s families from home. And for those interested in seeking an ancestor’s exact location in Rhode Island, several methods involving advanced planning will be offered, ranging from pretty easy to pretty complicated. Fingers crossed the easy stuff will work for you!
Planning a Research Trip
Michael J. Leclerc, CG
The most successful genealogists know that even in this age of technology and online access to records, many records are simply not available digitally and must be reviewed in their original format at repositories. Learn how to put together a research trip, whether near or far, alone or in a group. From before to during to after the trip, get ready for a great adventure to help you break down your brick walls.
November 10, 2024
Our November Member Meeting included three presentations.
To Fight for Freedom & Dignity: The Formation, Service, and Legacy of Rhode Island’s Black Regiment
Robert Geake
Robert Geake spoke about the events in America’s Revolutionary War that led New England States to consider allowing patriots of color to serve in the Continental Line. Though Connecticut nearly ratified such a plan in 1777, Rhode Island would be the first to offer freedom for enslaved blacks, indigenous servants, and mulatto servants who served at least three years in either of the State’s two Continental Regiments. We will also discuss the training and service of the 1st Rhode Island, or “Black Regiment”, and their later integration with the white soldiers of the 2nd Rhode Island; a move that brought Rhode Islanders together in the first integrated unit in the Army. Their story and their service became an inspiration for those who sought liberty, and the equality and justice promised in the Declaration of Independence to all Americans. Their legacy remains an important thread in the long history of black Americans in Rhode Island.
Mobile Military Museum
Daniel Garrita
Former history teacher Daniel Garitta brought the Mobile Military Museum to us. On display were uniforms and memorabilia from the World War II era and Dan shared stories about each veteran.
Military Appreciation Day: Show and Tell
RIGS Members
RIGS members honored our veterans family members with stories, documents, photos, and memorabilia. These were shared in a PowerPoint presentation featuring all the images submitted beforehand.
September 21, 2024
Our September Member Meeting included two presentations by Ray McKenna.
From Emyville to Federal Hill: A study in 19th Century Chain Migration
Ray McKenna
The parishes that straddle counties Tyrone and Monaghan provided Providence with between a third and a half of all its Irish immigrants in the years from 1845 to 1860. The presentation starts with conditions specific to that small patch of land that led to such a mass migration. While discussing events that took place there during the Great Hunger, the major focus will be about the newcomers’ lives in the first couple of decades following their arrival in Rhode Island.
Secrets of the Old Stone Bank
Ray McKenna
This extraordinary collection brings added dimension to the story of our ancestors’ lives. Introducing the work, Ray will discuss its value and suggest ideas for accessing and interpreting the data. With 525,000 records containing 800,000+ names, the OSB’s Signature Series offers far more than addresses, occupations, and birthplaces. Beginning with a few written words, entire profiles can be created.
May 18, 2024
Our May Annual Member Meeting included three presentations.
Writing It Up Right
Drew Bartley
Scott Andrew Bartley, is a genealogical researcher with twenty years of experience in colonial US, New England and eastern Canada. He will be presenting “Writing it Up Right.”and will discuss the ways in which you create your research to publish, the purpose, why it is important, and how to write it up. He will cover the various styles and the elements making them up.
Writing For Your Genealogy Journal
Michael J. Leclerc, CG
Michael Leclerc is a popular genealogical presenter, teacher, author, and editor worldwide and will discuss “Writing for your Genealogy Journal.” He has been a facilitator and instructor in Boston University’s Genealogy Studies Program for over a decade. He holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® from the Board for Certification of Genealogists.
Beyond Names and Dates: Using Social History to Color Your Ancestors’ Stories
Jenifer Kahn Bakkala
Jenifer Kahn Bakkala, is a professional genealogist and author who specializes in a biographical narrative approach to family history. Her talk, “Beyond Names and Dates: Using Social History to Color Your Ancestors’ Stories” will offer tips for all levels and experience. She is past president of the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She currently sits on APG’s Board of Directors.
March 24, 2024
Our March Member Meeting included two presentations.
Armenian Immigration Project Database
Mark Arslan
Mark Arslan presented an overview of his Armenian Immigration Project database, which is a free searchable online collection of abstracts of primary documentary sources relating to Armenians who came to the United States and Canada prior to World War II. The types of sources include ship manifests, naturalization applications, federal censuses, military draft registrations, passport applications, missing persons ads, and vital records. Most of the families who settled in the Rhode Island area during this timeframe are represented in the database.
The Gilded Age Rhode Island in Color
Keith Stokes
The story of Newport, Rhode Island in the Gilded Age (1865-1915) is anchored by the economic, social and civic achievements of many of America’s wealthiest individuals and families, notably the Vanderbilts, Astors, Belmonts, Oelrichses and Berwinds. These names represent the critical economic and cultural growth period of late 19th- and early 20th-century America. Newport also was home to many important African heritage business entrepreneurs who would leverage their commercial enterprises to promote economic security and build wealth to invest in and advance civic, recreational, social and political interests. Newport’s earliest African heritage doctors, dentists, teachers, hospitality entrepreneurs and elected officials appeared during the Gilded Age. This exhibition explores a largely unknown but important chapter in American history in which African heritage families could come together and promote their economic and social well-being through self-reliance, entrepreneurism, political advancement and cultural interchange.
January 20, 2024
Our January DNA event included two presentations.
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 Matching
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 two presentations:
(No recording was made of the “George E. Matteson: The Man and His Maps” presentation)
U.S. Cadet 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.
The time limit for viewing this video has expired and it has been removed.
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 Member Meeting 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.
January 28, 2023
Our January event included two presentations:
Much More Than Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org
Dave Robison
In a rut? So are most of us. Research habits are tough to break so let’s break them now! Is your “go-to” website Ancestry. com? FamilySearch.org? There are dozens upon dozens of alternative online sources, many no cost or low cost. Specialty websites for specific types of searches such as specific countries or localities, military records, etc. Websites that are compendiums of genealogical resources, social media, federal government sites, many that are little used but are powerful research tools. Dave is owner of Old Bones Genealogy of New England, and a professional genealogist from Western Massachusetts. He holds a Certificate of Genealogical Research from Boston University and has completed the 18-month ProGen course in Professional Genealogy.
Recording for this talk is not available
Rhode Island Sesquicentennial
Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz
RIGS’s member Heather Pouliot Kisilywicz share dinsight into the state’s sesquicentennial plans and will speak about Rhode Island’s pivotal role in the nation’s formation. The small but mighty colony was the first to declare independence from the King and last to join the new nation. Heather is a RI250 Commissioner. She will share insight into the state’s sesquicentennial plans and then facilitate virtual breakout sessions where members can share their research of Rhode Island revolutionary ancestors.
Recording for this talk is not available
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 time limit for viewing this video has expired and it has been removed.
May 15, 2022
Our May event included one presentation:
What To Do Once You Receive Your DNA Results
Seema Kenney
Receiving your first DNA test results is exciting. And confusing! This presentation addresses some things you should understand and a few decisions you should make before delving too far into those Ethnicity Estimates and DNA Matches, we all crave upon receipt of the test results
A wife, mother of 3, and entrepreneur, Seema is an experienced software instructor and a professional genealogist. Based on over 20 years of research, her known roots are deep in New England as well as England, Germany, and Sweden. Her DNA research has now added The Netherlands to that list. Seema has a certificate in Genealogical Research from BU, completed ProGen and is an active member of several societies and part of the NERGC planning committee.
The time limit for viewing this video has expired and it has been removed.
March 26, 2022
Our September event included two presentations:
The Killingly Historical & Genealogical Society
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
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.
January 29, 2022
Our January event included two presentations and an opening Introduction:
Welcome
Helen Smith
RIGS Program Chair Helen Smith Welcomes RIGS members to the Zoom Program and offers some helpful genealogy tips.
Discover Your Family’s Medical History Through Medical Research
Lisa Lisson is the head/only honcho over at Are You My Cousin? She has helped genealogy researchers around the world learn how to search for and find their ancestors. Through hundreds of genealogy blog posts, YouTube videos and online Master classes, she shares research strategies and how-to tutorials to take the overwhelm out of genealogy research. Visit her website lisalisson.com for more information.
Have you considered your ancestor’s medical histories? Genealogy records provide lots of information on an ancestor’s health if you know where to look. Discover information on your ancestor’s health and how their medical history impacted their lives.
The time limit for viewing this video has expired and it has been removed.
Genealogy Magazines and the Photo Detective
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.
The time limit for viewing this video has expired and it has been removed.
November 6, 2021
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
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
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.
Breaking Down a Brick Wall: William Chattle Howe
Jeff Howe
The most successful genealogists know that even in this age of technology and online access to records, many records are simply not available digitally and must be reviewed in their original format at repositories. Learn how to put together a research trip, whether near or far, alone or in a group. From before to during to after the trip, get ready for a great adventure to help you break down your brick walls.