Recap: The California Nugget, Spring 2020 issue

The California Nugget, mailed to all CGS members
and now available in digital form at our website

 

Amid all the tumult of the last few months—including but not limited to COVID-19, heat waves, power outages, and wildfires—we neglected to announce our Spring 2020 issue of The California Nugget, which was published and mailed out in early August.

Here is our Editors' Note from the latest issue:

To our members and readers, we hope you will enjoy this issue of the Spring 2020 Nugget, produced while we are all under quarantine. Perhaps it is appropriate that several members have shared anecdotes of their ancestors who lived through the 1918 flu pandemic. As they endured the challenges and disruption brought about by that global crisis, we can take heart from their examples.

Our articles in this issue illustrate how Americans of different eras took on the challenges and opportunities of their time and place. Melissa Kelley revisits the life of her distant cousin, Pearl Eubanks. Born into a troubled family and orphaned by age five, the young Pearl was the subject of a sex scandal, described as “incorrigible,” and sent to a reformatory school before embarking on the first of three marriages. However, she rose above her early misfortunes to carve out a happy and stable life.

In “The Rise and Fall of George Gray,” Robbie Johnson traces the successes and failures of George Gray, a humble farmer from Ontario who found fame and prestige in California in the last decades of the 19th century, but who was unable to navigate the politics of an increasingly urban society in his later years.

Lisa Gorrell offers a primer on using the FAN network (friends, associates, and neighbors) to expand our understanding and further trace the lives of ancestors.

It’s our hope that you will find some insights and inspiration in these pages.

The Editors

Table of Contents

Our Ancestors

• The “Incorrigible,” Indomitable Pearl Eubanks by Melissa Kelley
• From Canada to California: The Rise and Fall of George Gray by Robbie Johnson, CG
• 1918 Flu Epidemic Stories by our members

21st-Century Genealogy

• How the Probate File of Frederick Bishop Illustrates the Importance of FAN Research by Lisa S. Gorrell, CG
• Online Resources Recently Added to the Library Catalog

ALSO...

We are pleased to announce that digital issues of the Nugget are now available to members on our website. Currently you can access the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 issues. If you are a member and have not yet received your print copy in the mail, please let us know at nugget@californiaancestors.org

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Online genealogy, week of September 14-20

Our Events:
September 14: Our "Writing Your Family History" Series continues Tuesdays at 7 p.m. This week: Lois Elling talks about "Making Your Book Look Good: Page Layout and Software."

September 19: The "Exploring Military Records" series with Deborah Goss Johnston kicks off with a look at "Pension and Bounty Land Applications."

Conferences: [fee]

• September 14-17: Family Tree Academy Conference hosted by Family Tree UK
• September 16-18: Northern Great Plains History Conference hosted by University of Wisconsin 
• September 19: FREE Fall 2020 Seminar with Tom Jones by San Diego Genealogical Society German Interest Group
• September 19: Paths to Freedom: Essential Steps for African American Genealogy by Dallas Genealogical Society
  

Classes:

 
Numerous associations offer online genealogy events every week. Most are free. To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization. See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more.

American Ancestors

September 16-30: "Checking for Vitals: U.S. Vital Records Substitutes" (series: fee)

September 17: "Northern New England Resources at American Ancestors" by David Allen Lambert and Melanie McComb

 

BYU Family History Library

September 16: "Using German Periodicals and Periodical Indexes" with Larry Jensen

Family Search

September 19: Nordic Genealogy Research Seminar

Legacy Family Tree

September 15 & 16: "Reconstructing the Murphy Family Using DNA & Documentary Evidence" by Melissa Johnson

September 16: "Finding Genealogical Evidence in the Chinese Exclusion Act Files" by Trish Hackett Nicola

September 18: "Your DNA Questions Answered Live" by Diahan Southard

 

Southern California Genealogical Society 
September 16: "Putting America to Work: Records of the WPA and the CCC" by Peggy Lauritzen

Conference Keeper has a large calendar of events (too many to list) hosted by various genealogical organizations. New events are added often, so check back frequently. Here are some of the coming week's highlights:

September 14: "Scrivener for Professional Genealogists" by Kimberly Powell (Association for Professional Genealogists)

September 15: "Using Mortality Schedules in Your Research" (Allen County Public Library)

September 15: "Insider's Guide to Genealogical Cousin Bait" by Marian Burk Wood

September 15: "Swedes in Wisconsin and Beyond: Unlocking Your Swedish Family History" by Deanna E. Korte

September 15: "Getting Started in Genealogy Research" (New York Public Library)

September 16: "Civil War Pensions: A Closer Look" with Laura Congleton (Connetquot NY Public Library)

September 16: "Introduction to African American Genealogy" (New York Public Library)

September 16: "Researching Your House History" (Appleton WI Public Library)

September 17: "Family History for Health" by Diane Stepro (Jeffersonville IN Public Library)

September 17: "Hidden Gems: Materials in Digital Libraries for Family Research" by D. Joshua Taylor

September 18: "Seafaring Ancestors: Early 19th Century Port Records" by Diane Richard

September 18: "Virginia Genealogy to ca. 1850" (Library of Virginia)

September 19: "Explorations in Mexican Genealogy" by John Schmal

September 19: "Trails West: Crossing the Continent, 1840-1869" by Mary Kircher Roddy 

September 20: "Spinning Gold: Shaping Your Family Research into Compelling Stories" by author Christine Halvorson

 

Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Online Genealogy, week of September 7-13

Our "Writing Your Family History" Series continues Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
This eight-part series walks through the steps needed to produce a well-researched and handsome family history book, from the basics of storytelling to the finished product. Sign up for one, several, or all sessions! This week: Lois Elling talks about "Making Your Book Look Good: Type and Graphics."

Conferences: [fee charged, with the exception of German Genealogy Conference]

•  Institute for British Genealogy and Family History hosts a 2-day DNA Seminar with Maurice Gleeson, September 8 & 9.
• New York State Family History Conference: September 10-12.
• Utah Genealogical Association holds its 2020 Summit of Excellence, September 10 & 11.
• GeneaQuest hosts its biennial conference, "Frontiers in Genealogy," September 11 & 12.
  
• American Historical Society of Germans from Russia holds a FREE German Genealogy conference, September 11-13.
  
• The Association for African American Life and History holds a virtual conference, with events every Thursday and Saturday in September. Visit their website to register.
• Note: Southern California Genealogical Society has issued a call for virtual presentations for Jamboree and its other 2021 events. Submissions are accepted through September 30.
  

Classes:

 
Numerous associations offer online genealogy events every week. Most are free. See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more. To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization. 

American Ancestors

September 10: "Carville's Cure: Leprosy, Stigma, and the Fight for Justice" by Pam Fessler

September 11: "All Roads Lead to London" by Curt DiCamillo
 

BYU Family History Library

September 9: "Mysteries of the Change Log Revealed" with Kathryn Grant

Legacy Family Tree
September 8: "New Searching at MyHeritage" by Dana Drutman

September 8: "New Historic Records on MyHeritage" by Tal Erlichman

September 9 & 10: "Cyndi's List in Practice" by Cyndi Ingle

 

Southern California Genealogical Society 
September 12: "Let's Explore the LAPL Photo Archives" by Christina Rice

Conference Keeper has a large calendar of events (too many to list) hosted by various genealogical organizations. New events are added often, so check back frequently. Here are a few of the coming week's highlights:

September 7: "FamilySearch Catalog" (Family History Library)

September 8: "Take a Virtual Stroll Through the New Genealogy Center" (Allen County Public Library)

September 8: "Beginning Irish Genealogy Research" (New York Public Library)

September 8: "Westward Ho! The Impact of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787" by Dorothy Miller

September 8: "George D. Prentice: Scoundrel or Scapegoat?" (Louisville Genealogical Society)

September 8: "Restoring and Preserving Civil War Cemeteries" Willard Library (Evansville, Indiana)

September 9: "An Introduction to NYC Land and Buildings Research" (New York Public Library)

September 10: "World War II Records at the National Archives of Australia" (Queensland Family History Library)

Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

CGS September Classes and Events

The California Genealogical Society has adapted during the pandemic, moving many of our classes online. To judge from the response we've been getting, this is very popular with many of our members. As we move into our fall classes, you'll see some old favorites as well as exciting new offerings. We hope you'll check them out and consider joining us online!

September 5: 1st Saturday FREE "Intro to Genealogy," our popular monthly series. This month: Genealogy Basics.

September 1, 8, 15, 22: Our "Writing Your Family History" series continues on Tuesdays through September. Join us for tips on citation, graphics, layout, and indexing!

Two special multipart courses launch this month:

September 19: "Exploring Military Records" with Susan Goss Johnson, a 4-part course on alternate Saturdays.

September 29: "Introduction to DNA and Genetic Genealogy" with Mark McLaren, a 6-part course held Tuesday evenings.

National Hispanic Heritage Month spans September 15-October 15. We have two special presentations on the theme:

September 26: "An Introduction to Researching Your Mexican Ancestors" by Colleen Robledo Greene.

October 1: "Researching Mexican Land Grants in Alta California" by Susan Skilton.

All our Events can be found listed on our website
Or at the CGS Facebook page
Or at EventBrite.com (search for "California Genealogical Society")

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Online Genealogy: Week of August 31-September 6

Our "Writing Your Family History" Series continues Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
This eight-part series walks through the steps needed to produce a well-researched and handsome family history book, from the basics of storytelling to the finished product. Sign up for one, several, or all sessions! This week: Stewart Traiman talks about "Citation: Easier Than You Think."

Conferences:

• The Federation of Genealogical Societies holds a virtual conference beginning September 2, with recorded sessions available to participants until March 2021. Click here for details and to register. (fee)
• The Association for African American Life and History holds a virtual conference, with events every Thursday and Saturday in September. Visit their website to register. (fee)

Classes:

 
Numerous associations offer online genealogy events every week. Most are free. See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more. To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization. 

BYU Family History Library

September 2: "How to Ask Your DNA Question" with Bonnie Belza

Legacy Family Tree
September 1 & 2: "Wilkommen in Australien! Researching German-Australian Families" by Benjamin Hollinger

September 2: "Using Chromosome Browsers, Segment Data, and Triangulation" by Michelle Leonard

 

Southern California Genealogical Society 
September 5: "Who Needed It, Anyway? Researching Around the Missing 1890 Census" by Sara Cochran

Conference Keeper has a large calendar of events (too many to list) hosted by various genealogical organizations. New events are added often, so check back frequently. Here are a few of the coming week's highlights:

September 1: "A Genealogist's Guide to Digital Marketing" with David Ryan

September 2: "An Introduction to Ellis Island Genealogy" (New York Public Library)

September 3: "German Resources to Trace Your Roots" (Germanic Genealogy Society)

September 5: "Using Historical Maps to Research New England and Beyond" by Sara Campbell

September 6: "400th Anniversary of the Mayflower Voyage" (DuPage County Genealogical Society)

Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Two new medals honor World War II veterans: Chinese Americans and Merchant Marines

The history of Americans who served in World War II has been told many times by many different people. One ethnic group that has often been overlooked is that of the Asian Americans who fought for their country – even when that country did not grant them full citizenship. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prevented Asian immigrants from becoming naturalized and otherwise discriminated against them and their families, was still in effect during World War II. In 1943 the Magnuson Act repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Long-overdue recognition has come gradually to Asian American WWII veterans. Japanese American Nisei soldiers collectively received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2011. Filipino vets were awarded the medal in 2017. Bipartisan legislation to create a Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American veterans was introduced in 2017 and signed into law in December 2018. This medal was to be awarded collectively this spring at an April ceremony at Emancipation Hall in Washington, D. C., with a regional ceremony to follow in Hawaii. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has delayed those plans.

The front of the 3-inch medal depicts six men and one woman in various uniforms highlighting the fact they served in every branch of service and in every theater. Whether or not they were citizens during the war, the medal proclaims that each was "Proud to serve as an American."

Design for the Chinese American Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal*

There is also a new Congressional medal recognizing those who served in the Merchant Marine, previously unrecognized because they were not part of the military, although they served and supported the U. S. Navy during the war.

CGS member Justine Wong is the daughter of Leland Wong, who served in the Merchant Marine during WWII. “Growing up I heard my dad talk about his time as a Merchant Marine,” she remembers. “He did not talk much in detail but I do remember hearing about the booming of cannons and something about my dad standing up to an officer about turning a ship around because of a sick seaman.” She learned about the Congressional Gold Medal last year, but didn't consider making an application for her late father until encouraged to do so by a friend. Her mother had lots of documents that included slips of paper with names of ships and their departure and arrival dates. The application process turned up some happy surprises: although the family's copy of her father's record stated "no medals," Justine learned from the U. S. Maritime Administration Department that her father was due a Victory Medal and an Honorable Service Medal as well as several others. Her next research project is to try to confirm stories that Leland was at Iwo Jima as well as in China and the Phillippines during the war.

Leland Wong on Catalina Island during WWII

The Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group is trying to raise awareness about the Chinese American Congressional medal so that surviving veterans or their family members may apply to be recognized. Those who served in the Merchant Marine during WWII are also encouraged to apply for that medal. Tributes to Chinese American WW2 veterans are at baccg.org and caww2.org.

BACGG also is hosting several events commemorating the service of Chinese Americans. This year is the 75^th anniversary of the end of WWII. This coming Saturday, August 29, at 1:15 p.m., a webinar featuring a virtual panel discussion with filmmaker Montgomery Hom, Ret. Major General William Chen, and historian Connie Young Yu is open to all.

On September 26, an online Chinese Genealogy Workshop will help participants with tips on how to research their Chinese ancestry.  That same day, a one-hour virtual celebration will feature presentations from the State of California and from several U.S. military and Veterans organizations. A special short film by Montgomery Hom, co-produced with Chinese American Citizens Alliance, highlights Chinese Americans in military service from the Civil War to WWII. More events are planned for November. See the BACGG website at https://bacgg.org/.

 

Any WWII veteran may be honored with an online profile at the Friends of the WWII Memorial. Fill out the application here:

https://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/veteran-profile/

To apply for a Congressional Gold Medal, the veteran or next of kin should visit one of the following websites:

1.  Chinese American WWII Congressional Gold Medal Recipient. 

    Additional resources are listed at www.caww2.org.

2.  U. S. Merchant Marine WWII Congressional Gold Medal Recipient

    Additional resources are at http://usmm.org/contact.html.

Leland Wong and fellow Merchant Marines on Catalina Island

*Chinese American Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Images © United States Mint 2019. Non-journalism use requires U.S. Mint permission notwithstanding any terms of use.

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Online Genealogy: Week of August 24-30

Our "Writing Your Family History" Series continues Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

This eight-part series walks through the steps needed to produce a well-researched and handsome family history book, from the basics of storytelling to the finished product. Sign up for one, several, or all sessions! This week: Matt Berry leads a class on "Genealogical Numbering Systems."

Courses:
August 24-September 20: "U. S. Land Records: How to Use Them for Family History" (Family Tree Magazine) [fee]
August 25: "Finding Your Ancestors in International Censuses" (Family Tree Magazine) [fee]

Numerous associations offer online genealogy events every week. Most are free. To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization. See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more.

American Ancestors
August 25: "Jews in the Catskills During and After the Holocaust" by Phil Brown

August 25: "Say I'm Dead: A Family Memoir of Race, Secrets, and Love" Dolores Johnson discusses her book about her mixed-race family

BYU Family History Library

August 26: "2020 Update: Basics of FindMyPast" with James Tanner

Legacy Family Tree
August 25: "How to Use MyHeritage DNA Results to Enhance Your Family Tree" by Michelle Leonard

August 26: "Slack for Genealogy Projects" by Thomas MacEntee 

Conference Keeper has a large calendar of events (too many to list) hosted by various genealogical organizations. New events are added often, so check back frequently. Here are a few of the coming week's highlights:

August 25: "Using the Periodical Source Index (PERSI)" by Allen County Public Library
August 26: "Newspapers and Print Resources" by Boston Public Library

August 26: "Googling for Genealogy" by Irondequoit Public Library

August 26: "Family History Resources at the Library of Congress" by Homer (IL) Public Library

August 27: "Finding Pre-Immigration Records: a Three-Step Approach" by Jay Fonkert

August 27: "Hurra, wir fahren nach Amerika: Travel Patterns from the Age of Sail to the Age of Steam" by Wolfgang Grams

August 29: "Introduction to African American Genealogy: Let's Find Some Ancestors" by Annette Burke Lyttle

August 29: "75th Anniversary of the End of World War I" (Colorado Genealogical Society)

August 29: "Operation: WWII Chinese American G. I." (Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group)

August 30: "Out of the Whirlwind: Finding Your Family Lost in the Holocaust" by Deborah Long

Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Help Find Photos of These California Veterans

The California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Photo by Sarbjit Bahga (Wikimedia Commons)

CalVet Connect has been compiling photos of Vietnam War veterans from California with the aim of creating a "virtual wall" to put faces to the names on the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Sacramento. The task now is almost complete: just four more names need to be matched with photos. They are:

• Tommy R. Henderson, Los Angeles, U.S. Army
• John E. Magee, Los Angeles, U.S. Army
• Vernon P. Smith, Los Angeles, U.S. Navy
• Frank Spotwood Jr., San Francisco, U.S. Army

CGS Member John Ralls, who belongs to the Northern California post of the Scottish American Military Society, brought this to our attention in hopes that someone with genealogical skills might be able to locate a photo for these fallen servicemen. 

For more details about the project, see this blog post at the CalVet blog. If you are a relative of, knew, attended school with, or served with any of these men, please contact Mike Kennedy at mike3sps@verizon.net.

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Online genealogy, Week of August 17-23

Our "Writing Your Family History" Series continues Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

This eight-part series walks through the steps needed to produce a well-researched and handsome family history book, from the basics of storytelling to the finished product. Sign up for one, several, or all sessions! This week: Jennifer Dix leads a class on "Writing With Style."

 

Courses:

August 17-September 13 "Find Your Italian Ancestors" (Family Tree University) [fee]

August 24-September 20: "U.S. Land Records: How to Use Them for Family History" (Family Tree University) [fee]

Numerous associations offer online genealogy events every week. Most are free. To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization. See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more.

American Ancestors
August 20: "How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower's Biggest Decision" Susan Eisenhower discusses her book about her grandfather, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

BYU Family History Library

August 12: "How to Ask Your DNA Question" with Bonnie Belza

Legacy Family Tree

August 18 & 19:  "The Advance of Research Habits Over Recent Decades--And the Downside" by Tom Jones
August 19: "Getting to Know Mexican Church and Civil Registration Records" by Colleen Robledo Greene

Densho.org  concludes its "Finding Your Nikkei Roots" series.
August 20: "Recording Oral Histories" with Tom Ikeda

Conference Keeper has a large calendar of events (too many to list) hosted by various genealogical organizations. New events are added often, so check back frequently. Here are a few of the coming week's highlights:

 

August 17: "Building a Better Syllabus" (Association of Professional Genealogists)

August 18: "Bounty Land: It's Complicated" (Wisconsin State Genealogical Society) 

August 18: "Unlocking Notation Codes on Alien Passenger Lists" (New York Public Library)

August 18: "Enrich Your Research With Digital Primary Sources" (Allen County Public Library)

August 18: "Genealogy Research Using Southern Manuscripts" (Dallas Public Library) 

August 18: "Successful Strategies for Research Eastern European Ancestors" (Arlington Heights Memorial Library)
August 19: "The Most Prominent Citizens: Using County Histories" (Southern California Genealogical Society)

August 20: "Death By Undue Means: Coroners' Records" by Judy Russell (Florida State Genealogical Society)

August 20 & 21: "Researching Your Ancestors When You're Adopted" by Penny Walters (Utah Genealogical Association)

August 21: "Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy" by Penny Walters

August 22: "LGBTQ Genealogy" by Stewart Traiman (Kentucky Genealogical Society)

August 23: "Researching Displaced People" by Julie Goucher (Virtual Genealogical Association)
August 23: "Discovering Sephardic Roots Through DNA & Family History" by Shelley Talalay Dardashti

Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Online genealogy, week of August 10-16

Our "Writing Your Family History" Series continues Tuesdays at 7 p.m.: 

This eight-part series walks through the steps needed to produce a well-researched and handsome family history book, from the basics of storytelling to the finished product. Sign up for one, several, or all sessions!

 

Thursday, August 13: Grant Din presents "Genealogical Resources for Angel Island" a FREE webinar about immigrants who entered the country at this station between 1910-1940.

Conferences:

August 9-13: 40th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy [fee]

Courses:

August 9-September 6: "In Sickness and In Death: Researching the Ill-health and Death of Your Ancestors" Pharos Online course with Janet Few [fee]

Numerous associations offer online genealogy events every week. Most are free. See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to archived classes available at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more. To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization.

American Ancestors

August 11: "Driving While Black" with author Gretchen Sorin

August 13: "The ABC's of Using School Records in Family History Research" by David Allen Lambert

August 14: "Speed, Style & the English Country House: Auto, Horse, and Airplane Racing at England's Historic Houses" by Curt DiCamillo

 

BYU Family History Library

August 12: “How to Repair Incorrect Merges in Family Tree” with Kathryn Grant

FamilySearch (Family History Library)

August 10: "Chinese ZhongYuan Festival and Cemeteries"

August 11: "Switzerland Records: the Zürich Census"

August 11: "El Arbol Familiar para principiantes" (in Spanish)

Legacy Family Tree

August 11:  "Working with Different Family Tree Views on MyHeritage" by Uri Gonen
August 12 & 13: "Dissecting a Civil War Pension Packet—Union and Confederate" by Jill Morelli

Densho.org continues its "Finding Your Nikkei Roots" series.
August 13: "Writing Your Family History" with Linda Okazaki

Conference Keeper has a large calendar of events (too many to list) hosted by various genealogical organizations. New events are added often, so check back frequently.

Here are a few of the coming week's highlights:

 

August 11: "Genealogy Research with Maps" (New York Public Library)

August 12: "Getting Started in Genealogy Research (New York Public Library) 

August 13: "Evaluating Ancestry's Public Member Trees" (Allen County Public Library)

August 15: "2020 Summer DNA EConference" (Family History Fanatics) [fee]

August 15: "The Psychology of Searching" by Penny Walters

August 15: "Study Up on School Records for Success" (Chicago Public Library)

August 15: "Unraveling the Twisted Case of Angie Dodge" by CeCe Moore

Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Free Webinar about the Angel Island Immigration Station, August 13

Immigrants arriving at Angel Island dock. Department of Photographic Archives, State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation

Angel Island in San Francisco Bay is known as a place to enjoy a picnic or bike ride, or for some, for the Chinese poetry that immigrants carved into the walls of the barracks of the immigration station, which was used from 1910-1940. What is less known is that over 500,000 immigrants from 80 countries spent some time on the island during their immigration journeys.

CGS board member Grant Din worked for the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation for eight years and currently volunteers to manage its Immigrant Voices website, which has over 220 stories of West Coast immigrants, most of whom immigrated through the island. The site includes stories of immigrants from over thirty countries, including those from China, Russia, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Austria, Germany, the Philippines, and even a couple who escaped the Armenian genocide through Siberia and eventually made their way into the United States via Angel Island. Even composer Serge Prokofiev spent several days on the island.

“It’s not as well known as Ellis Island, and the immigrants’ entries into the U.S. were generally more difficult,” said Din. Whether trying to circumvent the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Asiatic Barred Zone, or fleeing Nazi-controlled Austria yet being labeled 'likely to become a public charge,' Angel Island immigrants often faced difficult obstacles to their admission to the United States.

Grant Din

 

Come join a free webinar on Thursday, August 13 at 4 p.m. Pacific time to learn more about these stories and the genealogical treasures that can be found about these immigrants. Register here and we’ll see you online!

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society

Online Genealogy, Week of August 3-9

Here is a list of online genealogy events for the coming week. Most are free. See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to archived classes available at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more.

Our "Writing Your Family History" Series begins Tuesday, August 4: 

This eight-part series walks through the steps needed to produce a well-researched and handsome family history book, from the basics of storytelling to the finished product. Sign up for one, several, or all sessions!

Conferences:

August 8: August Genealogical Society Symposium: "Honoring Our Female Ancestors"

August 7 & 8: Texas State Genealogical Society Virtual Conference

August 9-13: 40th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy

To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization.

American Ancestors

August 6-8: "Summer Research Stay-at-Home" a 3-day workshop (fee)

BYU Family History Library

August 5: "Raising Family Historians: How to Capture the Hearts of Future Genealogists" by Breanne Ballard

FamilySearch (Family History Library)

August 3: "Using the FamilySearch Catalog"

August 4: "Attaching Sources to Family Tree"

Legacy Family Tree

August 4 & 5: “Tracing Australian and New Zealand World War One Ancestors” by Helen V. Smith
August 5: “Using DNA to Solve Adoption and Unknown Parentage Mysteries” by Michelle Leonard
August 6: “Preparing a Portfolio: Applying to Become a Certified Genealogist” by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, Angela Packer McGhie, and Richard Sayre

Densho.org continues its "Finding Your Nikkei Roots" series.
August 6: "Preserving Your Family Archives"

Conference Keeper has a large calendar of events (too many to list) hosted by various genealogical organizations. New events are added often, so check back frequently.

Here are a few of the coming week's highlights:

August 3: "Researching Institutional Records" with Lisa Louise Cooke

August 4: "If You Build It, They Will Come: Creating a Website for Your Genealogy Business" by Elizabeth O’Neal

August 5: “How’d You Find That?!? Tips for Locating Obscure or Hidden Records” by Cari Taplin
August 7: "Research in East & West Prussia" by Ute Brandenburg
August 7: “African American Genealogy Virtual Workshop. Reconstructing Family: Post-Emancipation Records at the Library of Virginia” by Cara Griggs
August 7: "Land Documents for Genealogy" by Josh Goodman
August 8: "Using Newspapers for Genealogy" by Marcie Crocker

Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

Copyright © 2020 by California Genealogical Society