CAMDEN, MAINE -- The Camden Public Library Edward J. Walsh History Center (WHC) is hosting the annual Come Spring Conference this year on Saturday, May 9 starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m. Registration fee of $12.50 per person includes lunch. A public invitation is extended statewide to individual historians and genealogists and members of historical societies and museums.
Checks may be made out to the Camden Public Library and sent to: Come Spring Conference Registration, c/o Heather Bilodeau, Camden Public Library, 55 Main St., Camden, ME 04843. Register early, as the Picker Room is limited to 75 people. If questions about payment please contact Ms. Bilodeau at 236-3440 Ext. 21 or email hbilodeau@librarycamden.org.
In 1995 the Union Historical Society conceived the idea of hosting an annual conference for members of mid-coast Maine historical societies and museums to exchange contacts, information and inspiration. The conference has consistently attracted more than 60 people from local organizations, and it is hosted by a different historical society or museum each year in the Knox County area. Representatives from Lincoln and Waldo Counties also attend.
The first speaker on May 9 will be Carol McCoy - Family History & Genealogy Researcher. To learn more about Carol go to www.find-your-roots.com/bio.html
The topic will be “Creative Ways to Solve Genealogical Problems”. Have you hit the proverbial brick wall or roadblock in your genealogical research? Is an ancestor or two eluding you and hiding from the census taker or the town clerk? Writing your town history? Learn some solid strategies and ways to take a fresh look at what you’ve tried and what else you can do to find those pesky hidden ancestors and town founders. Her fascinating presentation will be of great help to individual researchers, professional genealogists, and librarians.
Helen Shaw of the Knox Chapter DAR will give a short talk about their project to locate the graves of Revolutionary Soldiers buried in Knox County.
After lunch Candance Kanes, Curator with the Maine Historical Society and Maine Memory Network will update us on the activities of the Maine Memory Network and how to get your historical images on the web. Check out their website at www.mainehistory.org and www.mainememory.net.
Kevin Johnson, photo archivist at the Penobscot Marine Museum, will talk about the 40,000 glass plate negatives of the Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company of Belfast, Maine. He will present images from the towns that will be represented at the conference from Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties: www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org/glass-plate-images.html
After 2:30 p.m. there will be tours of the Walsh History Center. The Center is open Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Tuesdays until 8 p.m. Search their extensive online collection at www.librarycamden.org. The WHC has digitized thousands of historical images and documents, and are very proud of the Center’s Edna St. Vincent Millay, Peyton Place, genealogy and local history collections.
Jackie Watts
Project Chairman for the Lincolnville Historical Society and contact person for the 2009 Come Spring Conference for the Camden Public Library Walsh History Center 244 Main Street, Lincolnville, Maine 04849 USA.
