Monthly Program

Monthly Program

Join us for a presentation by Dave Robison. 

Session 1:  Effective, but Seldom Used Research Strategies

It becomes very easy to set up a research “system.” That’s especially true when we use 2, 3 or even four websites that have been reasonably useful. At times, it seems as though those sites have most of the data you’re looking for or simply no information at all!  But too often you run into a brick wall. I often say that “it’s not all on the internet.” Visiting a library or archive can be very productive. Church records, probate records, real estate transfers and many other resources can open many resources that you otherwise may never have thought of. We’ll certainly put effective strategies that you will find to be productive.

Session 2:  Deep Diving Back into Your Research

Here’s a very simple example: My surname is “ROBISON.” But if you’re always looking for “ROBINSON” not realizing that there are at least six variations of that name. You find yourself behind a brick wall that you inadvertently created on your own. Let’s go back to the unresolved brick walls that may have been languishing in a folder or file and see how we can overcome some very typical scenarios. 

I’m advocating a look at all of your research to seek out these areas of your research that may need another look, a good look! Starting with your most frustrating brick wall, the strategies we’ll discuss  may put a new light on an old, frustrating research challenge.

Presenter Bio:   Dave Robison, owner of Old Bones Genealogy of New England, LLC (www.oldbones.info), is 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. He is an active member of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists-Worcester Chapter and Central Massachusetts Genealogical Society, among others. Dave is the former President of the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society (WMGS), the Connecticut Society of Genealogists (CSG) and the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Dave has been heavily involved in the biennial conferences of the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium (NERGC) for 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. 

He was a “pioneer” of conducting virtual meetings starting with the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society in 2014. The concept of a remote speaker whose presentation could be recorded with permission and stored behind a member paywall was a new feature of conducting productive virtual education for society members.

Dave is also the President of the Pomeroy Chapter of the Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (MASSAR) and is pursuing several campaigns to attract new members. He was the past State Registrar/Genealogist for MASSAR, a post held for four years. 

He is a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants through William Brewster, among others.

Dave is a resident of Chicopee, Massachusetts where he lives with his wife Karen, a retired RN for the Chicopee School System. Between them, they have 5 adult children and 4 grandchildren.

Presenter Website:  Old Bones Genealogy of New England – Family Research – Classes – Workshops – Consultation