The July meeting of the Skidompha Library Genealogy Club will be held Thursday, July 31 from noon to 1:30 p.m. The group will meet in the first floor Porter Meeting Hall of Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta.

This meeting’s topic will be “Using Photographs in Family History Research.” Kathleen Maclachlan and Beth Vetter will lead this presentation. Using examples from their own family photos and generously loaned heirlooms, Beth and Kathy will point out the clues that can help researchers begin to date photos and see details never noticed before — details which can help flesh out the bare bones of a family history narrative. Proper storage, preservation, display and final disposition of photos will also be discussed. Participants are welcome to bring a photo or two to share with the group. Resource lists will be distributed.

This group welcomes new participants of all levels of expertise. The club was formed in January, holding monthly meetings, at which participants share knowledge and experience as well as questions and frustrations. Participants include men and women of all ages including enthusiastic beginners and others with decades of experience in genealogy and family history research. The group is made up of visitors, seasonal folks, year-round residents, as well as those who have traveled specifically to do research on Maine’s Midcoast. Skidompha Library’s Genealogy Club is not limited to those researching Maine roots, but is open to all family history enthusiasts.

The group gathers monthly to learn from one another, to enjoy the camaraderie of other researchers, and to learn new skills. On August 28, Beth Vetter will discuss researching military records. The following month, on September 25, Ken Sparkes will share his experience of traveling to the upper Midwest for a family history research trip and the planning and flexibility involved in that. During the winter months, topics may include: writing narratives, interviewing, documenting and methods of sharing findings.

Skidompha Public Library’s genealogy and local history section is open for research and browsing year-round whenever the library is open. The majority of the materials in this section do not circulate, though genealogy how-to books and Maine non-fiction books may be checked out.

Several new genealogy resource books have been added to the collection this month, including the Map Guide to American Migration Routes, 1735 -1815, a number of local town reports, and several pamphlets pertaining to local town history and events.

Kathleen Maclachlan, the library’s genealogist, is available on most Thursday afternoons, 1-5 p.m., and will also meet for one-on-one consultations with researchers from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. with prior arrangement. Kathy can show you individually or in the group setting how to begin and expand your own family history research. She can also do limited genealogical research as part of the library’s service to their patrons. More involved research or research done beyond the library’s collections is offered by private arrangement with Kathy. For more information, email kmmac06@outlook.com.