Forever 49 Club of Andover Sponsors Genealogy Workshop


Photo by Dennis Melahouris. Mary Papoutsy of Hellenic Historical and Genealogical Association presents introductory workshop on Greek genealogy to Andover's Foreover 49 Club.
Portsmouth, NH—The Forever 49 Club of Andover’s Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church sponsored an introductory workshop on Hellenic genealogy on Saturday, October 18, 2003. Coordinators of this event in Andover were Theophilos, Mary, and Harriet Kuliopulos, with photography by Dennis Malahouris.

Led by the founder of Hellenic Historical and Genealogical Association, Mary Papoutsy, the group covered topics essential for family research. Participants learned about completing family trees, guidelines for conducting research, techniques for transliteration, and about the unique challenges of investigations into Greek ancestry.

Hellenic cultural and linguistic differences present unique situations for researchers, making traditional genealogical practices difficult. Using a PowerPoint presentation and reproductions of actual records, Papoutsy recommended alternate steps, beginning with American-based records and databases. Researchers, Papoutsy stressed, need the full, original Greek surname and village name in order to continue investigations abroad.

Following the workshop, there was a brief question-and-answer period and reception hosted by the Forever 49 Club. Members of the group presented Mrs. Papoutsy with a gift—a Christmas ornament of Sts. Constantine and Helen church—at the conclusion of the program.

Photo by Dennis Melahouris. Forever 49 Club members of Andover's Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church and Mary Papoutsy, presenter of Introduction to Greek Genealogy Workshop.
Formed as a nonprofit entity in 2000, Hellenic Historical and Genealogical Association has been established through a grant from the Christos and Mary Papoutsy Charitable Foundation to promote the importance of Greek ancestry through educational programs and volunteer projects. Membership is free and open to all persons interested in learning how to research Hellenic family roots.

The next free introductory workshop will be held at Lowell, Massachusetts, on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at the public library, sponsored by the Lowell Hellenic Heritage Association and the Hellenic Culture Society in conjunction with their historical series on the Greek community in Lowell whose third exhibit, “Acropolis of America, 1940-1974,” is now on display. For more information about this upcoming workshop, contact Hellenic Historical and Genealogical Association at HellasGenealogy@aol.com, or visit the organization’s webpages hosted by Hellenic Communication Service at http://www.HellenicComServe.com/genealogy.html, or contact Erene Koukias of Hellenic Culture Society, 978-452-6442, or Dr. Charles Nikitopoulos of Lowell Hellenic Heritage Association, 978-452-2185.

Photographs by Dennis Melahouris