This time I am writing to you from Boston.

I belong to many historical and genealogical societies, and one of them is the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS). Founded in 1845, it is the oldest society in the country. NEHGS is a must-visit for anyone with New England ancestry. (You may have also heard of this society being called “HisGen.”)

I have no direct New England ancestry, but find this a wonderful place to visit for many types of research. I have collateral Scottish ancestors who migrated backward to New England from the Midwest, another collateral Irish ancestors that settled in Boston, and my niece has many long New England lines. It has been two years since I was in Boston, and it is a great place to be.

The NEHGS building itself is located on historically trendy Newbury Street in the heart of Boston's Back Bay. When you stand and look at the building from the sidewalk you would never guess that it holds so much research space. It has the feel of a real library, not some modern glass and steel building.

Eating and Sleeping Are Important!
The library is surrounded by places to shop and eat, shop and eat, and shop and eat. The food prices range from quite reasonable to very “spendy.” Many of the restaurants have sidewalk table service. And the food--well, let's just say I won't be checking my scale when I get back to Minnesota. There are many hotels in the area, but some are expensive. However, there are a number of smaller, reasonably priced hotels not too far away. Bring along a friend or two and share the expenses. For the hardy traveler, you can stay further out of the area and take public transportation. Check the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority's website at www.mbta.com for help in getting around the area.

What You Will Find at 101 Newbury Street
Okay, so what is here for our research needs? Much of the collection of published material is on open shelves, which tends to make a genealogist's heart beat a bit faster. Copiers are self-service and researchers use copy cards; those heavy quarters are not needed. Bring small bills to add to your copy card.

The massive wooden research tables on the sixth floor give us plenty of workspace. Right in the middle of the long tables are outlets for plugging in your computer! I am always happy when I don't have to crawl under a table to find an outlet. Free wireless Internet access is available as well.

The collection includes over 200,000 volumes, well over a million items in the manuscript collection, and a technology center. The microtext collection, with over 45,000 reels of film, is superb. Recent issues of many genealogical and historical periodicals are placed on tables in the research areas. I sat and browsed through quite a few of these.

Not Just for New England
Of course, the collection is extensive in the records it holds for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Long runs of published New England town records and some now on CD-ROM are available. The collection of compiled family histories is impressive.

NEHGS also has excellent resources for those researching in Québec and Atlantic Canada, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Germany. In the local history area you will find published materials on most states in the U.S. including state, county, and town histories, cemetery transcriptions, and more.

As I usually do in a library, I browsed the Minnesota section and was pleased to see quite a selection. I also checked the New Books section and saw two new multivolume sets on the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records and Czech Immigration Passenger Lists. This shows you can do more than New England research at the NEHGS. I figure I will never get through my entire “to do” list on this trip.

Other Pluses for Onsite Research
Don't forget to ask question of the staff at the reference desks. The knowledge these folks have is another positive attribute of researching at the library.

An elevator can take you between floors, and stairs are there for the hardy folks. If you live in the Boston area, you can make use of the library to order microfilm from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. An onsite bookstore for many genealogy guidebooks, CDs, and other items is another plus. A snack room on the first floor has vending machines and a small refrigerator. There are bookshelves in this snack area with overstock items for sale and often some freebie items.

We Can't All Get There
Okay, so you don't live in or near Boston or don't plan to travel there soon. You do have other access to some neat NEHGS material. Log on to the Internet and go to www.NewEnglandAncestors.org and be prepared for several hours of fun. (Well, it is fun–-but only a fellow genealogist would understand that.)

The library catalog is online and anyone may consult that. You should also check the “Store” section of the website to see what books and CDs you can purchase. Then check the circulating library info to see about the thousands of books members may borrow by mail. NEHGS offers research and copying services that are greatly discounted for members.

The website has articles on New England and other research topics that members may consult. You can even submit your membership online. A few other helpful areas on the website include travel information, library hours, and over two thousand databases. You can do a general surname or locality search in all the databases--or you can specify particular ones. Most databases are for members only; one that is available for both members and non-members is the Social Security Death Index. When I enter some of my niece's ancestral surnames in a database search I am amazed at all the “hits” and know there is lots of work for me to do. Hmmm... I wonder when I can come back here.

If you are a member of NEHGS, that membership affords you some other special benefits. Of course, you receive the subscriptions to the longest published genealogical journal, the “New England Historical and Genealogical Register,” which has been published quarterly since 1847, and to the bimonthly magazine “New England Ancestors.” Members use the library for free and are the only researchers to have access to the well-known manuscript collection. NEHGS members are eligible for special lodging rates at the Charlesmark Hotel, which is just a few blocks away from the society. Some sections of the society's website are a member-only benefit.

Some educational classes and research tours are for members only. And there are more benefits for members only! Later this year the website will put forth a new look. The current things will still be there, but there will be some easy-to-navigate tabs and the screen display will be easier to negotiate. (Now, don't tell anyone I shared this advance information with you.)

No, I don't get anything for promoting this society--but maybe my research luck over the week I am here at NEHGS will now be blessed! I hope to see you here on my next trip eastward.

Paula Stuart Warren, CGRS, is a professional genealogist, consultant, writer, and lecturer. She has lectured all across the U.S. and is a coordinator of the Intermediate Course, American Records and Research at the annual Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is co-author of Your Guide to the Family History Library: How to Access the World's Largest Genealogy Resource, and a contributor to genealogical periodicals including Ancestry Magazine. She is a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, and spends many weeks each year on the road at the Family History Library and at the U.S. National Archives. Her roots include ancestors from seven different countries and researching them has given her broad experience and an occasional headache or two. Contact her at PSWResearch@comcast.net.

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