Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

The Carnival of Genealogy (COG) is a bimonthly blog event invented by Jasia of Creative Gene in June 2006. Individual genealogy bloggers write about an assigned topic and post the articles on their blogs. Each carnival edition has a host who gathers the submissions and publishes a round-up of links to the articles. This is my submission to the 84th edition: What the Carnival of Genealogy has meant to me.

The COG was a fixture in the genealogy blogging world before I knew much about blogs or ever heard of Jasia. Ironically, I first learned about her from a print article in the July 2007 issue of Family Tree Magazine. In my first blog post, An Experiment, I reported on how Jasia's series Declining Membership in Genealogical Societies led directly to the start of this blog.

It was a few months before I found a topic that propelled me into the carnival fun. I have to admit that the COG has always presented a bit of a challenge to me as a writer of a genealogical society blog. It's the reason the CGSL blog has submitted only six articles:

43rd Carnival of Genealogy - Technology (3/4/2008)

44th Carnival A Tribute to Anne Robinson (3/18/2008)

45th Carnival Chronicling Events in a Horseless Carriage (4/4/08)

68th Carnival A Tribute to Dorothy Fowler (1927-2009) (3/15/09)

77th Carnival CGS and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire (8/1/09)

Carnival of Genealogy 82: Breaking Into Society (10/18/09)

But that's not to say that the COG hasn't played an important part in my blog upbringing!

My favorite contributions to the COG have been the tributes to women written the last two years in March for National Women’s History Month. It has been an honor to meet so many generous, talented members of the society and writing about them is the best part of the CGSL blog. I plan to write more tributes and more frequent member spotlight articles in the future.

One edition of the Carnival of Genealogy stands out for me from all the rest – the 77th Edition Disasters hosted by Miriam Robbins Midkiff at her award-winning blog, Ancestories: The Stories of My Ancestors. Miriam did a stellar job with the submissions, organizing them into themes and introducing each with a fitting quotation. The packaging was every bit as interesting as the articles themselves. I was amazed at much time and care she had put into the presentation. Her creativity inspired me to volunteer to host a future edition of the COG on the CGSL blog.

Of course hosting on this blog meant that the the theme would have to relate somehow to CGS – a rule that keeps me focused on my niche. That led directly to the idea to start a new blog carnival devoted to genealogical societies.

Now it is time for true confessions! I took credit for a new GenSo Carnival (coming in January 2010) and Jasia was a supportive co-conspirator. Just as she graciously announced the start of the CGSL blog to the world, she offered the COG as a launching pad so I could publicize the new carnival and Carnival of Genealogy 82: Breaking Into Society was the result.

But the fact is: Jasia came up with the idea! She may not remember (I didn't) that in post #8 of Declining Memberships: Promoting Your Organization With Technology she included using blog carnivals:

This is another ideal way for a genealogical society to advertise and promote their organization. Start a carnival and rotate hosts among group members. Other carnival watchers and bloggers will find it and you'll increase your group’s exposure. It's great advertising to sponsor a carnival!

Jasia, I apologize for usurping your idea. It was all you, as always! The fourteen articles you wrote have been a road map that I have been following for almost two years. To say that you have changed my life is NOT an exaggeration. I spend a part of nearly every day working on something for the California Genealogical Society that you outlined in that series.

Thank you for creating this edition of the COG so that I could publicly acknowledge your continuing support and encouragement. In this case, imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery. I know that COG means Carnival of Genealogy but I am sure that gen-bloggers everywhere will agree that it also stands for Community of Geneabloggers. I can't thank you enough for showing me the way.

Wordless Wednesday

NEHGS Seminar

Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center 

October 23, 2009

Photographs courtesy of Arlene Miles, Oakland, California.

Gen-Alum - Stanford Class of 1959

I've given up!

I tried – I really, really tried – to bring you a photograph of some amazing and accomplished women who were classmates at Stanford University fifty years ago and now find themselves active members of the California Genealogical Society.

It first came to my attention early in 2008 that Judy Avery, Mary Mettler, Nancy Simons Peterson, Susan Nourse Peterson and Marilyn Willats were in the same class at Stanford. They didn't all know each other then but they do now, and they share a passion for genealogy.

All were among the 7,500 Stanford alumni and their guests who returned to the Palo Alto campus for the annual Reunion Homecoming held Oct. 22 - 25, 2009. The Class of 1959 broke a 50th-reunion class record with nearly 800 alumni and guests in attendance, representing 45% of their Cardinal class.

It was the perfect opportunity to get them all together for a group photograph – something I've been trying to do for a year and a half. One of them admitted that they did meet up during the weekend but did they turn a camera on themselves for the blog? No!

So you will have to look elsewhere to see their photographs. They have all been generous volunteers to the society and you will find their names in the sidebar with links to previous blog articles (with photos) about their contributions to CGS.

And since the "Big Game" is almost upon us, I fully expect to hear from a few CGS Cal grads. Just make sure you send photos.

Wordless Wednesday

CGS member volunteer
Judy Zelver

Photograph courtesy of Jane Knowles Lindsey, 10/3/2009, Oakland, California

CGS e-News, November 1, 2009

The November 1, 2009 issue of the CGS e-News, volume 3, number 11 has been published and emailed to members and friends. As always, the e-News features timely information about the California Genealogical Society and our upcoming events. Each edition also includes Suggested Links From the Blogosphere and a photo feature: CGS Ancestors. This month's photograph is of the Turtle Mountain Hotel in Dakota Territory taken by well-known frontier photographer, George F. Blackburn. Be sure to read how the hotel figured into member Mary Mettler's family.

All past issues of the CGS e-News are available for viewing at the e-News ARCHIVE. The December 2009 issue will be e-mailed on 12/1/2009. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

CGS and NGS in SLC in 2010

In celebration of the tenth annual CGS Research Tour to Salt Lake City, the dates of the 2010 trip have been set to conveniently precede the start of the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference. The 2010 theme is Follow Your Ancestral Trail.


The spring tour will begin mid-week on April 21, 2009, and run Wednesday to Wednesday. Those interested in staying for the NGS conference (April 28 - May 1, 2010) can extend their stay at the Shilo Inn, located across the street from the Salt Palace, site of the NGS Conference. The block of rooms reserved by CGS for the NGS conference are for the exclusive use of those attending the CGS research week.


The CGS Salt Lake City Tour is always a highlight of the society's year – offering an intensive week of research at the Family History Library – with two experienced guides, Nancy Peterson and Jane Lindsey.

The trip is a popular one with members; several return year after year. The opportunity to attend a national meeting is expected to increase interest and space is limited. A $200 deposit will hold your place.

A limited number of rooms are available at the discounted CGS rate on a first come, first served basis for those wishing to continue their stay to attend the NGS conference. NGS conference registration is NOT included with the CGS SLC Research Tour registration and must be arranged separately. Online registration for the 2010 NGS Family History Conference will begin 1 November 2009 at the NGS Online Store.

Nancy Peterson, C.G., is Research Chairman for the library and is author of the CGS publication Raking the Ashes, which provides strategies for circumventing record loss from the 1906 earthquake and fire. Nancy has taught numerous genealogy classes and has published many articles including two in the NGS Quarterly. She has made many research trips to Salt Lake City.

Jane Lindsey, President of CGS, has led the SLC group for the past nine years. She does client research, lectures to local organizations and is a past NEHGS Trustee.

Questions: Call CGS at 510-663-1358 or email Jane Lindsey.

Download the registration flier for complete information.

San Francisco Pioneer Cemeteries

This week the co-founder of SFgenealogy.com (and CGS member) Ron Filion turned a media double-play just in time for Halloween. Last night KPIX anchor Ken Bastida asked another Good Question of Ron, this time: Are There Any Unmarked Graves in San Francisco? Be sure to watch the footage and learn the fascinating history of the burials at the Lincoln Park Golf Course.

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=57299@kpix.dayport.com

You can hear more from Ron, in person, this weekend at the San Francisco Main Library. Today's 96 Hours section of the San Francisco Chronicle features 'S.F. Pioneer Cemeteries': Where the dead lived stating the "presentation offers the chance to find out what neighborhood the City's dead used to reside in before they all up and moved to Colma." Ron's lecture about the earliest cemeteries in San Francisco is part of the One City One Book October Events.

Ron tells me that his talk will be a "fast romp through all the cemeteries in San Francisco." He will cover the cemetery locations, discuss how the City's growth affected them, and share stories about their relocations. The library's promotional material carries this warning: This presentation will not be for the faint of heart.

San Francisco Pioneer Cemeteries
Saturday, October 31, 2009
10:30 a.m.
San Francisco Main Library
Latino/Hispanic Room B
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102

Wordless Wednesday

NEHGS Comes West: 2009 Edition

Dinner, Holiday Inn & Suites, Oakland, California

Friday, October 23, 2009

All photographs used with permission: Copyright 2009 by Stephen J. Danko. (Thanks, Steve!)

Member Spotlight: Jim W. Faulkinbury, CG

Dick Eastman recently ran a press release from the Board for Certification of Genealogists announcing the retirement of two trustees, one of whom is CGS member Jim W. Faulkinbury:

Jim W. Faulkinbury, CG, of Sacramento, California, finished a three-year term on the Board of Trustees. His BA in Mathematics and his MBA are from California State University in Sacramento and he holds a certificate in project management from the University of California, Davis. He was first certified by the Board in 1980. A specialist in California records and a lineage genealogist, Jim is a member of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Genealogy Committee, State Secretary of the California Society SAR, Secretary, past Registrar, and past President of his local chapter of the SAR, Past State Genealogist and State Registrar of the California Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, and Registrar of the Sacramento Society Children of the American Revolution. His publications include The Foreign-Born Voters of California in 1872 (including names, ages, national origin, and naturalization data on over 61,000 voters on the voter rolls in 1872), and the California chapter in Ann S. Lainhart’s State Census Records. He has also produced an online index to his database of over 363,000 vital statistics he extracted from the San Francisco Morning Call newspaper for the years 1869 through 1900. This valuable resource helps researchers cope with the loss of those public records destroyed in the great earthquake and fire of 1906.

Jim has been a member of CGS since 1998. A professional genealogist with over twenty-eight years of experience with California records, he also has extensive experience in original German and Swedish church records and the preparation of lineage society applications. Faulkinbury's research services website includes his online indexes.

New York City: Insider's Guide to Research

A CGS Workshop with Steve Harris
Saturday, December 12, 2009
10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California

If you are like the majority of Americans, at least one of your ancestors spent time in New York City. Dr. Stephen Harris has an insider's knowledge of the many helpful data sources and indexes that are available for your NYC research. This workshop will focus on techniques for researching New York City ancestors in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries using the Internet, local resources and on-site research in the Big Apple. We will explore the wealth of online material accessible on NYC websites as well as that hidden deep within Ancestry.com and other subscription services.

Steve is also making his personal library of city directories for New York available for use by workshop participants.

Attendees are encouraged to bring laptop computers - the library has free Wi-Fi and the six CGS computers may not all be available for the program.

Bring a brown bag for lunch or, if you prefer, there is a nearby deli where you can buy a sandwich and bring it back to the library.

The workshop is FREE for CGS members but is limited to fifteen people. There is a sign-up fee of $10 for non-members. (This fee is non-refundable and can be applied toward membership on the day of the workshop.) Reservations are required - download the registration flier.

Steve Harris is a consulting genealogist with extensive experience assisting clients with their family histories. Born in Brooklyn, he has deep roots in New York City, but the siren call of California was too strong to resist. Steve is vice-president of the California Genealogical Society and Library. His office and 6,000-volume research library are in Oakland, just down the hall from CGS.


Photograph by Kathryn M. Doyle, 10/21/2009, Oakland, California.