Maine Educators Explore Genealogy as a Tool for Inquiry-Based Learning

Educators from across Maine gathered at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) on October 12 and 13, 2026, to explore how genealogy and local history can support inquiry-based learning.

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Teaching and Learning offered the professional learning opportunity in partnership with American Ancestors, the nation’s oldest genealogical research organization. The program focused on using research to strengthen students’ content literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

On October 12, Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Geoff Wingard and Dustin Axe, School Programs and Curriculum Director for American Ancestors, demonstrated how genealogy can connect students’ lived experiences to social studies and literacy instruction.

“Genealogy gives students the opportunity to move beyond memorizing historical facts and instead make personal connections to the past while learning to think, plan, and reason like historians,” Axe said.

Twenty-one educators participated in the workshop, with support from representatives from the Maine Historical Society and the Maine Genealogical Society. Participants explored publicly available resources and American Ancestors’ proprietary research databases to learn how these tools can support student research and inquiry. These materials include a rich collection of genealogical records, as well as access to the 10 Million Names Project, which is “dedicated to recovering the names of the estimated 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in pre- and post-colonial America.”

To explore how genealogy can support the study of local history, teachers examined curated case studies and primary source collections developed by American Ancestors. These resources featured American historical figures and civil rights leaders, along with Maine figures such as Samantha Smith, known for her peace outreach during the Cold War, and Hannibal Hamlin, who served as U.S. vice president under Abraham Lincoln.

As part of their learning, teachers will develop units or lessons that employ genealogy. Axe shared how teachers could use American Ancestors’ resources to develop their own investigations of local history, such as the story of Revolutionary War heroine Hannah Watts Weston of Machias or the history of Maine’s Malaga Island. The Maine Historical Society and Maine Genealogical Society shared additional resources teachers could use to deepen their investigations as they develop local case studies of their own aligned with the Maine Learning Results and local curricula.

“This training was great. It confirmed so much of what I believe is true about research and about my own experience learning about the history of Maine,” said Dr. Adam Leach, a social studies teacher at Bangor High School.

Participants will continue working with American Ancestors and Maine DOE staff through February 2027 to develop implementation plans for their classrooms and learning environments.

Funding from American Ancestors, through its generous donor network, provided participants with a free one-year membership, including access to genealogical databases, training, and educational resources. Participants are also eligible for $500 in implementation funding to support materials, field trips, and other costs associated with introducing genealogy-based learning.

Learning Extends to Future Educators

On October 13, 21 undergraduate education students at UMF participated in a separate genealogy workshop led by Wingard, Axe, and Dr. Kathryn Will, an assistant professor of literacy education at UMF.

The future teachers explored inquiry-based learning, curriculum development, and strategies for connecting history and literacy instruction with other subjects through genealogy.

Will described the workshop as an “example of how we at UMF value opportunities to work with educational professionals as we consider supporting our students’ growth and development of the career-long commitment to growth as a teacher.”

Although undergraduate participants are not required to participate in the online professional learning program, which continues through February 2027, they can access the same online resources and support available to practicing educators.

The Maine DOE looks forward to continuing its partnership with American Ancestors in the coming year, providing more educators with opportunities to bring genealogy and local history into their classrooms. Together, the organizations will support inquiry-based learning that connects students with the people, places, and stories that shape their communities.

For more information about the program and upcoming learning opportunities, contact Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist Geoff Wingard at geoffrey.wingard@maine.gov.

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