Genealogy Roadshow Nashville Debuts September 23, 2013

The San Francisco "studio" was in the Old Mint.

I scored a ticket to the taping of the new PBS series Genealogy Roadshow in San Francisco this summer at the Old Mint (thank you, Wendy!) and was able to watch two segments being filmed – one hosted by Kenyatta Berry and one with Josh Taylor.

Like Who Do You Think You Are, the new series is an import from the British Isles. Ireland's The Genealogy Roadshow was itself a spin-off of the popular Antiques Roadshow series. In the Irish version, the show sets up "in an historic building in an iconic location" and people turn up from the surrounding area seeking verification of family legends instead of valuation of family heirlooms.

Kenyatta Berry shares information with Lisa Gates and her two sons.

The American version of Roadshow was taped in four cities on four consecutive Sundays. Participants were selected in advance from applicants who submitted their questions using an online form. This gave researchers time to do the digging necessary to answer the questions posed by the "winning" applicants.

Josh Taylor reveals what researchers found about Cecilia Chen's family.

The series will air on Monday nights on following schedule:

• September 23, 2013 – Nashville
• September 30, 2013 – Detroit
• October 7, 2013 – San Francisco
• October 14, 2013 – Austin 

Locally, the show will air on KQED Channel 9 at 9:00 p.m., following Antiques Roadshow.

Much more about the taping was revealed in the July 25, 2013, San Francisco Chronicle article by Katharine Schwab. [Access may be limited to subscription holders.]

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, 7/21/2013, San Francisco.


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

A Visit from KTVU Channel 2

Sometimes a quiet day in the library takes an unexpected turn. That’s what happened yesterday when Volunteer Coordinator Linda Okazaki fielded a phone call from a reporter on deadline.

KTVU’s Maureen Naylor was working on a story about the Miller twins whose remains were found in their Lake Tahoe home.

Gloria Hanson working the case.

Volunteers dropped everything to find additional information and Naylor arrived at the library but spent just a few minutes with her 3:00 p.m. deadline looming.

Naylor’s piece aired on Channel 2 at 6:00 p.m. and footage from the library made it into the final story. Linda had a brief on-camera interview and our gorgeous new sign (created by Judy Bodycote) was featured.

I took a few screen shots but you can view the two minute piece at SAN JOSE: Twins found dead in South Lake Tahoe.

Kudos to Linda Okazaki, Gloria Hanson, Laura Spurrier, Judy Bodycote and Kim Cotton for their efforts to find information on the family. It was great to have some media attention for the library!


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