Saturday, February 23, 2013
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL
Oakland, California 94612
The California Genealogical Society (CGS) is partnering with the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC) to present a Black History Month panel discussion. Felicia Addison, Annette Madden, Vernester Sheeler, Nicka Smith, and Jackie Stewart are members of both societies. They will be discussing genealogy research in their respective home states: South Carolina, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi. The panel will share some of the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, including the use of DNA. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a strategy session.
The panel session is limited to thirty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the of the event.
Register online.
Preregistration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first thirty registrants. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.
Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.
Recent Posts
28 December 2012
Black History Month Panel Discussion – Saturday, February 23, 2013
29 November 2012
Gather at the Table Book Signing Event
Sunday, January 20, 2013
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Museum of the African Diaspora
685 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Two people, one journey, from slavery to healing.
DeWolf and Morgan will share the story of their journey and lead attendees through an interactive exercise.
Museum admission: $10 adults, $5 seniors (65 and over) and full-time students with ID. FREE for children 12 and under. Seating is limited to the first eighty people. Please arrive early.
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| Sharon Morgan and Tom DeWolf photo credit: Kristin Little |
Update: Authors Sharon Morgan and Tom DeWolf were interviewed on Christmas Day by Celeste Headlee on "Tell Me More" on NPR. You can read the transcript or listen to the program stream Descendants of Slaves, Slave Traders, Come Together.
Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
24 September 2012
African American Research Workshops Resume
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| “Our Ancestors Will Not Be Forgotten” |
2012 workshops are held the fourth Wednesday of each month beginning September 26, 2012, at the Oakland FamilySearch Library, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland. Classes are held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. Individual assistance is provided from 8:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
The workshops are presented in partnership with the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California. Sessions are free and pre-registration is not required. All are welcome!
For further information email workshop instructor Judith Collins.
Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
28 June 2012
July Membership Meeting – More than Three-Fifths: Myths and Truths About Slavery and African American Identity
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| Nicka Smith |
Genealogy rock-star Megan Smolenyak has been involved in a bit of controversy since the release of Rachel L. Swarns' new book, American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama. You can read Megan's response, Does Accuracy in History Matter? published in The Huffington Post.
Director Nicka Smith will be our July membership meeting speaker and her talk will be a "big picture" look at the elements common to the ancestry of Michelle Obama and other descendants of slaves. The history of the “peculiar institution” of slavery in the United States is complex. Learn about the myths, truths, and in-betweens that existed during a major part of U.S. history and how the use of DNA is creating a new family history for multitudes of Americans.
Nicka Smith’s interest in genealogy began at an early age when she became intrigued with a family tree that was prepared by her first cousin once removed. In 1999, she decided to continue his efforts and update his work which led to the formation of AtlasFamily.Org, and its affiliate websites. For eleven years, Nicka has lead the Atlas research team in tracing the lineage of nine generations across more than twenty-two states and four countries. She lectures and mentors both young and old on genealogical search techniques and serves as the chair of the Outreach and Education Committee for the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC). Smith has worked for Kaiser Permanente for the past eleven years in various roles, most recently, as project and communications coordinator. She is also a professional photographer whose work can be seen at ns2photography.com.
Nicka is the Project Manager for the successful Youth Ancestral Project. Smith joined the CGS board of directors in January of this year. She will be teaching a workshop on genealogy and youth at the International Black Genealogy Summit which will be held in Salt Lake City October 18-20, 2012.
Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
21 February 2012
Black History Month: Honoring Genealogist Electra Kimble Price
It isn't often that a large city newspaper devotes half a page to an article on genealogy, so kudos to the San Francisco Chronicle and columnist Brenda Payton for yesterday's feature about Electra Kimble Price.
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| Electra Kimble Price (right) at the CGS Black Family History program in February 2010. |
In case you missed it, the opinion piece on African American Genealogy "Digging Deep to Uncover Roots" is a detailed look at Electra's life and work. The online version bears a slightly different title but Genealogist Digs Deep to Uncover Blacks' Roots includes every word of Brenda Payton's glowing profile and several more photographs of Price.
Electra has been a member of the California Genealogical Society since 1994. She is an Oakland native and a local legend among Bay Area genealogists. I had the pleasure of meeting her at her home a few years ago when she donated books to the CGS library.
Price was one of the founding members of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC). She received the Distinguished Service Award of the Genealogical Society of Utah in 2000 in recognition of the countless hours she has devoted to helping family historians.
Many years ago Electra started an African-American genealogy research class (now taught by Judith Collins) at the Oakland California Family History Center. Price orchestrated a Black History Month event there this past Sunday where she was feted with another award and cake. Nicka Smith's report (and gorgeous photos) can be found on the AAGSNC blog Black Family History Day was a Success!
Congratulations Electra!
Photograph courtesy of Nicka Smith, 2/20/2010, Oakland, California.
Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
31 January 2012
Volunteers Needed for Youth Genealogy Program – Ancestral Project 2012
Pat Gallagher and Nicka Smith, two of the newest CGS board members, have put out a call for volunteers for Ancestral Project 2012 – the East Bay genealogy youth program that will run from February to June 2012. Nicka is the Ancestral Project manager and she is inviting California Genealogical Society members to participate.
I wrote last year about the program created by Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson that helps youth learn the value of knowing one’s family history and the skills needed to discover it. The program began in 2011 and included three sites where more than fifty youth were assisted, mentored, and supported by Supervisor Carson’s staff and volunteers from the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC) and the Oakland California Family History Center. 2011’s program was primarily focused on African-American genealogy research.
The Ancestral Project 2012 will expand to include youth from the Asian-American and Jewish-American communities, as well as youth in the Weekend Training Academy, a program of Alameda County’s Youth Probation Department. The California Genealogical Society is requesting that its members volunteer to be part of the 2012 project. Volunteering can be done in the following ways:
- Assist with teaching classes to youth;
- Attend one of the weekly workshops as support; or
- Attend one of the research trips to the Oakland Family History Center
The session dates are (choose one):
Monday, February 13, 2012, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. or Thursday, February 16, 2012, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.at the Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California
If you have any questions regarding volunteering or about the program, please email Ancestral Project Manager Nicka Smith or call 650-906-1145.
For more about Ancestral Project 2012, please visit the AAGSNC website for blog posts, photos, and news coverage.
Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
21 January 2012
Using Online Historical Black Newspapers for Genealogical Research
Saturday, February 25, 2012
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612
Many historical black and abolitionist newspapers are available online, with more being added. Most are on subscription sites, and some are free. This class will give an overview of the role of black newspapers, tell what is online and where to find it. Instructor Janice Sellers will suggest access strategies and show sample search results.
Register online.
The class is limited to thirty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop.
Preregistration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first thirty registrants. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.
Janice M. Sellers is a professional genealogist specializing in newspaper and Jewish research. She is the editor of two genealogy journals and is publicity director for the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society. Janice is a member of Association of Professional Genealogists, Genealogical Speakers Guild, California Genealogical Society, California State Genealogical Alliance, and Gesher Galicia. She has been on the staff of the Oakland California Family History Center for eleven years.
Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
07 February 2011
Special Black History Month Presentation - Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011,
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612
In celebration of Black History Month, the California Genealogical Society presents a special program by one of our newest members, Anita Wills. Her two talks on African-American history and research are free and open to the public.
1:00 p.m. African Americans in California
Anita will discuss the history and background of African-American settlers in California prior to and after the Civil War.
2:30 p.m. Mining Gold: Finding My Ancestor in Gold Country
Anita presents the story of her ancestor, William Penn Martin – a soldier, gold miner, and inventor. Martin was born in Pennsylvania and may have remained there had it not been for the Civil War. He joined the United States Colored Troops shortly after the war broke out. His unit traveled to Texas, where he mustered out. Family lore has it that he joined the Texas Rangers and went to California to mine gold. Wills will share some of his fascinating adventures.
Writer, author and speaker Anita Willis has been a genealogy researcher for over thirty years, specializing in free persons of color in Colonial Pennsylvania and Virginia. She is the author of two books: Pieces of the Quilt: The Mosaic of An African American Family and Notes and Documents of Free Persons of Color. Anita is a new member of CGS and hosts Anita Talks Genealogy, on Blog Talk Radio. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Monacan Indian Nation in Amherst County, Virginia, she is currently working on her third book, Minqua: People of the Welsh Mountains.
Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
31 May 2010
Juneteenth Celebration at the Museum of the African Diaspora Hightlights Genealogy
Join us for a day of reflection and an opportunity to trace your family’s lineage. Whether you’re a novice or an enthusiast, come participate in workshops designed to develop basic skills in gathering, preserving, and sharing your family’s history.
Saturday, June 19th, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), 685 Mission, San Francisco (415) 358-7200
EVENT costs: $10, free for MoAD members.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES - Visit the Education Center and work with a MoAD artist to create your own screen printed family tree. Also on view, a special screening of the PBS documentary, "Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom"
11:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. Researching Your Family History From Afar**
The workshop will show you how to find and access documents and databases from remote locations. County courthouses, state archives, local libraries may seem to be thousands of miles away, but with a few trusted tips and tricks, you can gain access to records from afar, and find even the most errant ancestors. Led by professional genealogist, Lisa B. Lee, PLCGS
12:30 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. African Genetic Ancestry
Gina Paige, President and Co-founder of AfricanAncestry.com, will lead an engaging and informative workshop that explores genetic ancestry tracing within historical, cultural, and scientific contexts. Learn how DNA technology can help you find your family’s roots, when the paper trail ends.
2:00 p.m. — 3:30 p.m. Beginning Genealogy for the 21st Century **
This workshop will show you how to make the most of online databases, what to avoid, and who to trust as you explore the internet to find your ancestral roots. Led by professional genealogist, Lisa B. Lee, PLCGS
**For purchase the Genealogy Starter Kit, $30 (includes materials for workshop and one year subscription to gotgenealogy.com)
1:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. Family Day Activities
Visit the Education Center and work with a MoAD artist to create your own screen printed family tree. In the Heritage Center, hear audio recordings from Bay Area locals who participated in our first session of the Share Your Stories program and then sign up to record your own story. Also on view, a special screening of the PBS documentary, Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom.
Juneteenth is a celebration of African American freedom and achievement. It was originated to commemorate the day that enslaved Africans in Texas received formal notification of their emancipation on June 19, 1865, more than two and a half years after the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation.
For more information, contact the MoAD: (415) 358-7200 www.moadsf.org
Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
26 February 2010
What We Missed and How Technology Saved the Day
Since I wasn't able to attend I've gathered some feedback from some of those present to give you an accurate accounting of the day.
The morning started with expertise from three long-time friends and colleagues from the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC). Past-President Juliet Culliver Crutchfield, Ed.D., Electra Kimble Price and Jackie Stewart fielded questions from the audience.
The panel of members of AAGSNC did something unexpected in that they started right out asking the audience what questions they had – there never was a "lecture" as such. That way none of the attendees were left at the end without hearing what puzzled them. The open format also allowed people in the audience, who had a lot of pertinent experience, to easily contribute their personal stories as examples.
The use of the Webex tool was an exciting new adventure that brought the presenter's voice and on-screen power point presentation in the room for all to experience. The technology has been around for some years so its use at CGS was a potential step into the 21st century.
The morning three person panel was terrific as each shared insights into their genealogy quest. A lesson learned was solid genealogy practices apply to any ethnic research along with an understanding of that culture.
One word Fabulous!! The CGS’s Black History program was wonderful. There were a couple of minor technical glitches but once resolved the session was great. Craig is a gifted and engaging presenter. He shared valuable tips, and tools to broaden my research. My employer uses WebEx for most of our project meetings however this was my first time to use it for something I value and enjoy!
04 January 2010
Special Black History Month Event
Four Experts on African-American Genealogy Research
Saturday, February 20, 2010
10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway at 22nd, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612
In celebration of Black History Month, the California Genealogical Society presents a special program featuring panelists from the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California and two lectures by Craig Manson, professor, lecturer and noted blogger.
Schedule
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Panel Discussion
Electra Price, Juliet Crutchfield and Jackie Stewart of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California will be on hand for an informal session to share their twenty years of research experience and to answer audience questions.
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Break for Lunch*
1:00 p.m. Finding African-Americans in Census Records Prior to 1870.
True or False: "No census taken between 1790 and 1860 contains even one slave's name." This bit of conventional wisdom is false! Craig Manson will share some of his tips for finding both enslaved and free African-Americans by name in pre-1870 census records.
2:15 p.m. Civil War: Military Research with Special Emphasis on African-American Soldiers.
Craig's second lecture will discuss available resources and where to find them, including tips on how to use the National Park Service's Civil War Soldiers and Sailors (CWSS) site.
*Lunch: Participants are encouraged to bring a brown-bag lunch or, if you prefer, there is a nearby deli where you can buy a sandwich and bring it back to the library.
PLEASE NOTE:
• FREE admission with pre-registration.
• Space is limited to forty attendees.
• Reservation form required.
To reserve your space, please download the registration flier.
04 February 2008
African American Lives 2
Dick Eastman wrote recently about the lack of genealogy-based television programming in the U.S. and the possibility of a new series. Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is doing his part to fill the void. Gates, recently named editor of a new African-American online magazine with a slice of genealogy, The Root, is back at PBS this week and next with another of his genealogical treats, African American Lives 2. Gates builds on the previous success of African American Lives (2006) and Oprah's Roots (2007) and returns as the series host with a new cast of prominent and celebrity African-Americans who journey into the lives of their ancestors. This time around Professor Gates examines the ancestry of poet Maya Angelou, actors Don Cheadle and Morgan Freeman and singer Tina Turner, among others.
In case you miss the broadcasts, snippets are available on the excellent companion Web site, launched last week, which is also set up for K-12 teachers to use the program for classroom instruction.
One of the twelve featured "lives," comedian Chris Rock, had an unexpectedly tearful response when learning that his ancestor had served in the Civil War. Said an emotional Rock, "Let's just hope that everybody learns where they come from so their lives can make more sense."
AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 airs Wednesdays, February 6-13, 2008, 9:00-11:00 p.m. PST on PBS local affliate KQED, Channel 9.
17 January 2008
African American Research Workshop
CGS member and expert African American genealogy researcher, Electra Kimble Price, sent along this announcement of an on-going class:
The next African American Research Workshop will be held Thursday, January 24, 2008, from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Oakland Regional Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California. The topic for discussion will be "Preparing the Search for 'The Last Slave Owner.'"
A portion of the anniversary film sponsored by the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH) will also be shown: Freedom's Song, 100 Years Of African-American Struggle And Triumph.
Price encourages workshop participants to come equipped with a three-ring binder for the handouts and to bring the names, location, and ages of five family members who were alive in 1900.
