SF History Days: History Comes Alive

What do you get when you combine period costumes, an historic building and enthusiastic organizations devoted to history?  Fun with a purpose!

What is SF History Days?  

From the SF History Days website, "...Join dozens of organizations celebrating and telling the stories of the City's unique past. Community historians, archivists, genealogists, archaeologists, researchers, educators, re-enactors and other history enthusiasts will enjoy a Free Community Open House on Saturday (March 4th) and Sunday (March 5th) at the historic site."

By the time I arrived, around noon on Saturday, the place was humming with people and excitement.  As you'll see from the photos, there were a cast of characters who love re-enacting the past and sharing their knowledge of the past.

Emperor Norton lives again!

How were we involved?

We had quite a few members who came to either speak or support the event on Saturday. Linda Okazaki, our President, Janice Sellers, Editor of The California Nugget, and Ron Filion of SFgenealogy presented "There is No History without Family History" to a large and engaged crowd.  Many questions were asked by the audience and quite a few stuck around at the end to get more detailed responses from Linda, Janice and Ron.  Rich Kehoe was also on-hand to enjoy the discussion. 

Janice Sellers

Linda Okazaki

A big thanks goes to Sandra Britt-Huber.  Sandra led our booth effort and was instrumental in getting us space for this year's event. She and her volunteers came up with creative ways to display all of our interesting historical artifacts.

What else was happening? 

A little gambling

Amazing gold ore stamping mill in the lower level.
Once used to stamp U.S. coins.

Shannon Reese hanging out with Adolph Sutro.
Thank you Sutro Library.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and supporters that attended the event.

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

Back from the Dead: SF History Expo is now San Francisco History Days

San Francisco History Days, formerly SF History Expo, will be held March 4-6 at “The Old Mint” in San Francisco.  For more details and transportations options, check out: http://sfhistorydays.org/about

What’s happening?  

A FREE Community Open House on Saturday and Sunday (Mar 5 & 6) at the historic “Old Mint” comprised of a series of pop-up, San Francisco history museums.   

They’re hosted by many local organizations that celebrate and tell the stories of the City's unique past and staffed by community historians, archivists, genealogists, archaeologists, researchers, educators, historical re-enactors and other history enthusiasts.  Past history weekends at the Old Mint have brought together dozens of organizations to celebrate and tell the City’s unique history, and have attracted several thousand participants. 

Note:  Friday, March 4, 2016 is set aside exclusively for students.  We are not participating in the Friday events.  

Schedule of Events 

11:00 AM to 5:00 PM for Saturday, March 5 

Theater One

12:00 PM: San Francisco History Association – Magic Lantern Slides

Speaker: Ron Ross

1:00 PM: Freedom Archives and the GLBT Historical Society Archives – Re-framing the Archive: From Preservation to Community Engagement

Speakers: Claude Marks and Nathaniel Moore of the Freedom Archives with Joanna Black and Jeremy Prince of the GLBT Historical Society

2:00 PM: AfroSolo Theatre Company – Dr. Carleton B. Goodlett: The Man, His Life, and the Street Named After Him (1914–1997)

Speaker: Thomas Simpson

3:00 PM: The Private Collector, Western Neighborhoods Project, and Open SF History – 100,000 Pictures

Speakers: Woody LaBounty, Nicole Meldahl, and David Gallagher

Theater Two

1:00 PM: Cable Car Museum – Cable Car Powerhouses and Car Barns, Their Design and Construction

Speakers: Don Holmgren and Mike Phipps

2:00 PM: Bernal History Project – How to Research your SF House—For Free!

Speakers: Vicky Walker and John Blackburn

3:00 PM: National Japanese American Historical Society – World War II Internment

Speaker: TBD

11:00 AM to 4:00 PM for Sunday, March 6

Theater One

12:00 PM: San Francisco History Association – Magic Lantern Slides 

Speaker: Ron Ross

1:00 PM: San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco History Center – Digital Preservation: Identify What You Have

Speaker: Christina Moretta

2:00 PM: Historypin – Mapping the Visual Histories of SF Neighborhoods

Speaker: Kerri Young, Historypin Community Officer

3:00 PM: Victorian Alliance – Northern California 19th Century Architecture 101 

Speakers: Professor Hank Dunlop and Author Paul Duchscherer

Theater Two

1:00 PM: Maritime Museum – The Ocean: A Highway or a Barrier?  An exploration of the historic ship collection at Hyde St. Pier

Speaker: Ranger Chris Edwards

2:00 PM: Living New Deal – San Francisco Transformed: The Coit Tower and Rincon Annex Murals, and What the New Deal Did for The City In Between

Speakers: Gray Brechin and Harvey Smith

3:00 PM: Treasure Island Museum – Pacific Pageant: Treasure Island and the Golden Gate International Exposition

Speaker: Anne Schnoebelen

  

How is The California Genealogical Society involved?  

Our exhibit theme is the California Gold Rush, featuring our genealogical publication, The California Nugget.  We'll have enthusiastic volunteers available to help provide San Francisco family history search information. 

Volunteers Needed!  Would you like to help?  

We need you to help with the following:  welcome visitors at our table exhibit, discussing the benefits of a society membership and genealogy library, describing our sponsored educational activities (classes, events) and the SF-SIG (Special Interest Group) research monthly group meeting.  A basic training session, given by Sandra Huber, will take place 30 minutes before your volunteer shift begins to make sure everyone is ready.

For more information, please contact Coordinator, Sandra Britt-Huber.  She’ll be there helping on both days and is currently looking for volunteers to fill our 2-hour shifts.  Sandra can be reached at sfsig@californiaancestors.org

What times are volunteers needed for each day (Sat & Sun)?

• 10:00 AM - NOON
• NOON - 2PM
• 2PM - 4PM
• 4PM - 5PM (Saturday only)

*Closing times:  Saturday the event closes at 5PM.  Sunday the event closes at 4PM.

Why is the event important?

It brings San Francisco's rich history to life and helps us understand what makes the city unique.   When it was known as the SF History Expo, it was well attended by those who have a love for all things San Francisco.  

It's important to us because it draws large and diverse crowds from around the Bay area that get introduced to us.  They learn about our society and our library's vast collection of genealogical research materials.  

In addition, past visitors to our table have expressed an interest in our SF-SIG, so they can learn more about their SF family connections.  

Ready to come and see what this event is all about?  Great, we hope to see you there!

Copyright © 2016 by California Genealogical Society

We're back... Announcing Extended Summer Hours & Discussion Schedule

Summer Night on Berkeley Pier. Photo: Ellen Fernandez-Sacco

For our fifth year, the California Genealogical Society will offer extended summer research hours, specially designed for our working members and patrons.

Starting mid-June and continuing every Thursday through August, the library will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 8:15 p.m. Library hours for the other two days were are open each week will remain the same: Friday and Saturday (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) 

We’re bringing back our popular weekly informal discussions. Participants with all levels of research experience are welcome to network and join the conversations here on Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Discussion schedule:

June 12: Open- no discussion group planned; Research assistance will be available.

June 19: Using FamilySearch.org facilitated by Jane Lindsey 

June 26: Got Questions? Bring your questions to discuss with our Research team

July   3:  NO EVENING HOURS  

July  10: Help finding information online for your genealogical research

July  17: What to do before beginning your foreign research

July  24: New England research questions  Facilitator: Jane Lindsey 

July  31: Got Questions? Bring questions to discuss with our Research team

August 7: San Francisco Researchers, bring your questions to an informal discussion on available  resources.  Facilitator: Sandra Britt-Huber    

August 14: German discussion group. Facilitator: Lisa Gorrell

August 21: DNA testing for genealogy. Facilitator: Pam Miller

August 28: Got Questions? Bring questions to discuss with our Research team

There is no need to RSVP or register – just come to take advantage of the many resources in the library. Non-members are welcome, and the library charges a $5.00 user fee for non-members. The user fee will be waived for those who arrive after 5:00 p.m. for the discussion sessions. 

If you plan to drive, the lot in the rear of the building has a reduced rate after 3:00 p.m., and the metered spaces in Oakland are free after 6:00 p.m. (but they fill up fast!) Traveling by BART is easier – get off at the 19th Street station. Group discussions will end by 8:00 p.m. to allow for everyone to walk to BART together before dark.

Come & spend a summer evening with us!

Copyright © 2014 by Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Field Trip to Haas Lilienthal House with the San Francisco Special Interest Group

Saturday, November 16, 2013
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Haas-Lilienthal Victorian Home
2007 Franklin Street
San Francisco, California 94109

For members only!

Take a step back to another time and tour the picturesque Haas-Lilienthal House for a glimpse of what San Francisco looked like 127 years ago.

Sandra Britt-Huber sends word that the San Francisco Special Interest Group (SF-SIG) will sponsor a field trip to the historic Haas-Lilienthal Victorian and hold their November meeting there. After the short SIG meeting there will be a presentation and private tour of the house.

The 1880s San Francisco home was named one of thirty-one national treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was designated a historic landmark in July 1973 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places (HLH # 73000438) in San Francisco for its architecture and engineering historical significance.

RSVP is required. Please email Sandra Britt-Huber if you would like to attend. Indicate the number in your party and include "Haas-Lilienthal House" in the subject line.

This event is sponsored by San Francisco Heritage and the California Genealogical Society and Library.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Announcing the San Francisco Special Interest Group

Join the Conversation! 

The California Genealogical Society is pleased to announce formation of the San Francisco Special Interest Group (SFSIG).

The San Francisco SIG welcomes all who have an interest in San Francisco genealogy research. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of level of research experience. The group is forming to help so bring your questions as well as your expertise. We may not have all of the answers, but we will pool our resources and learn together.

The group will focus on both pre-1906 and post-1906 San Francisco city and county.

On occasion there will be speaker presentations from professional researchers, librarians and archivists. Nancy Peterson’s book, Raking the Ashes: Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research will be the core research guide. Nancy had this to say about the new SIG:

The California Genealogical Society is the logical home for a San Francisco interest group since it holds a San Francisco based genealogical collection second only to the archives in the bowels of San Francisco Public Library. Not only can one access with experienced guidance the material available online, but almost all necessary and relevant Family History Library films are present onsite, as well as electronic databases and indexes that are not available elsewhere.

The first organizing meeting will take place on Saturday, September 22, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the California Genealogical Society Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland.

Going forward, the San Francisco SIG will meet on the third Saturday of the month. Meeting dates for the rest of the year will be:

• Saturday, October 20, 2012
• Saturday, November 17, 2012
• Saturday, December 15, 2012

Are you planning to attend? Please RSVP via email. Email reminders will be sent a few days prior.

Please note: the CGS Library is a benefit of membership but initial SIG meetings are open to the public. The library usage fee will be waived for the meeting but if non-member attendees want to stay to do some research after the SIG meeting, they will be charged the $5 fee.

Download the SF-SIG information flier.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library