Join the Belfast Free Library and the Wawenoc Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m., in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library, for a genealogy presentation called “If Only Photos Could Talk.” 

One old glass plate photograph from Monson, Maine whispers a story that spans continents and generations. In it, three young men sit together — hats tipped just so, cigars in hand, full of confidence, mischief, and possibility. Their faces are lively, but their names are lost. Their stories, silent.

Join the Wawenoc Chapter for a talk that follows the trail that this image set in motion, reaching from Scandinavian homelands to Maine’s slate towns, through ship manifests, church records, census pages, and long‑quiet family memories.

"Unnamed faces become known. Forgotten lives and stories come back into view," said a Library news release. "This is the story of how one photograph can reconnect generations — and change the way we see the past."

Kari Williams is a retired information technology executive now living in Holden. After a career guiding infrastructure engineering at Travelers Insurance in Hartford, Connecticut, Williams has returned to Maine’s familiar landscapes, histories, and family stomping grounds. With family lines running through Piscataquis, Penobscot, and Aroostook counties, genealogy is more than a pastime — it’s a way of staying connected to generations of Mainers who came before.

When not researching family stories, Williams is often behind a camera, out on a hiking trail, paddling one of Maine’s quiet lakes, enjoying the snow, or piecing together quilting projects. Williams makes her home in Holden with spouse Susan and their standard poodle, Bode. 

This event is free and open to the public. It is an in-person event, with a Zoom option available. Please email spietryka@belfastlibrary.org to request the link.

The Wawenoc Chapter is the Belfast area’s chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society. It meets monthly on the third Wednesday at the Belfast Free Library. Genealogists of all abilities and skill-levels are encouraged to join. 

For more information, contact Sharon Pietryka at spietryka@belfastlibrary.org or 338-3884 ext. 25.