California Genealogical Society blog

05 December 2020

Online genealogy, week of December 7-13

Posted by Jennifer Dix

Conferences and Seminars:

Dec. 12: "Researching American Revolutionary War Patriots" (American Ancestors)

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.

American Ancestors
Dec. 7: The Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow by Nicholas Basbanes

Dec. 10: "Finding the Living: Doing Descendancy Research"by Hallie Borstel

Dec. 11: "Winter and Christmas at Castle Howard" by Christopher Ridgway

BYU Family History Library
Dec. 9: “English Church Records: Understanding the Basics” with Kathryn Grant

JewishGen
Dec. 9: "Roots of Jews from Eastern Europe: Names, Language, and History" by Alexander Beider

Legacy Family Tree
Dec. 8: "Find a Boatload of Passenger Lists on MyHeritage" by Sharon Monson

Dec. 9: "The Most Prominent Citizens: Using County Histories" by Cari Taplin

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

Dec. 7:

“Using Danish Family Search” (National Danish-American Genealogical Society)

“Federal Land Records” (Spartanburg County Public Library)

Dec. 8:

“Introduction to African American Genealogy” (New York Public Library)

“Using Discovery” (National Archives UK)

"Warrants & Patents & Deeds, Oh My!: Genealogy Land Records"(Schaumburg IL Township District Library)

Dec. 9:

“Government Records as Genealogical Resources” (Boston Public Library)

Dec. 10:

“How to Research the Courthouse” (Tennessee Genealogical Society)

“German Advent, Christmas and New Year's Traditions and Superstitions” (Germanic Genealogy Society)

Dec. 12:

“Funeral Home Collections” (Kentucky Genealogical Society)

“Getting Started in Italian Genealogy” (Appleton Public Library)

“Beginning German Genealogy: How to Get Started” (Sacramento Public Library)

See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more. Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

28 November 2020

Online genealogy, week of November 30-December 6

Posted by Jennifer Dix

Our Events

Dec. 5: First Saturday Free Intro to Genealogy. This month: "Organizing Your Family History."

Conferences and Seminars:
Dec. 4: "Researching American Revolutionary War Patriots" (American Ancestors)
Dec. 5 & 6: New Jersey Family History Research

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.

American Ancestors

Dec. 1: "Jewish and African American Cemeteries as Borders Uncrossed"

Dec. 3: "Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times" with David S. Reynolds

BYU Family History Library

Dec. 2: "Genealogy is a life and death matter: Moving beyond the obvious records” with James Tanner

Family History Library
Nov. 30: "Scottish Research Day" (4 classes)

JewishGen
Dec. 2: "The Genetic Origins of the Jewish People - Hanukkah 2020 Edition" by Adam Brown

Legacy Family Tree

Dec. 1 & 2: "Once upon a time: It’s all about the story" by Carol Baxter

Dec. 2: “Four ways DNA Painter can help with your family history research” by Jonny Perl

Dec. 4: “Your DNA questions answered live” with Diahan Southard

New York Genealogical & Biographical Society

Dec. 1: Day of Giving Back - 4 free lectures

"Release Your Inner Sherlock! Exploring genealogy for the first time" by Jennifer Baldwin

"'Deemed a Runaway'—Black Laws of the North" by Judy G. Russell

"The What’s New in DNA Update" by Blaine T. Bettinger

"Strengthen Your Analysis: Transcribing and Abstracting" by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson

Southern California Genealogical Society

Dec. 5: "Faith of Our Fathers; United States Church Records, Part 2" by Peggy Lauritzen

Dec. 1: "Family Stories" (Allen County Public Library)

Dec. 1: "Don’t Work for Free: How to Efficiently Manage Client Projects" by Cara Jones (Utah Genealogical Association)

Dec. 3: "Which DNA Test Should I Order?" (Allen County Public Library)

Dec. 4: Medical Genealogy: Defining Obscure Medical Terms Used by Our Ancestors" (Houston Public Library)

Dec. 5: "Finding Maiden Names - Let Me Count The Ways" (Bucks County Genealogical Society)

See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more. Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

21 November 2020

Online genealogy, week of November 23-29

Posted by Jennifer Dix

Many genealogical organizations (including CGS) are taking off Thanksgiving week, but there are still lots of online events and webinars coming up. For a look at the offerings, check out Conference Keeper, the largest online calendar of genealogical events. In the coming week there are multiple classes on DNA, on family quilts and how to date family photos, an introduction to tracing your lineage back to the Mayflower, and so much more.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

19 November 2020

An update on reopening the CGS Library from President James Sorenson

Posted by Jennifer Dix

I’m sure all of us are eager to see the CGS library reopen for use by the genealogical community. In May and June, the CGS Board discussed various issues and challenges related to reopening our library. Effective October 9, Alameda County said that libraries could reopen at 25% capacity with certain protocols. For CGS that meant: contacting our front desk volunteers about their willingness to come in; incorporating the County protocols with the ones we had already addressed; and developing a training program for our volunteers. We also contacted various area libraries about their reopening plans and learned that for various reasons, none of them had a definite date for reopening; and like us, most were looking at a reservation system for library use.

We thought we might be able to open in November. However, we contacted the County health folks for some clarifications and were told that CGS would have to meet not only library protocols but also those for offices (which have not been allowed to reopen in Alameda County), as well as the ventilation requirements for movie theaters (since we are windowless). After reviewing the above input, the Board has decided that we should not plan to reopen the library until next year, possibly by March 2021 but nothing definite. Since that decision, the County has officially closed the window on our reopening due to a resurgence of COVID cases. I’m also disappointed to say that I do not expect us to schedule any classes at our library before June 2021.

Another impact of the closure is that our annual meeting on 9 January 2021 will be held by video conference and although it is free, attendees will have to register ahead of time. We will all miss the opportunity to see each other in person and share our experiences of the past 8 months.

James Sorenson, CGS President

18 November 2020

1944 Genealogies Added to Website

Posted by Chris Pattillo

Cover page for the 1944 Genealogies

One more set of family history records has been digitized and added to our website. To see these records go to the CGS Home Page, click on the Research Menu tab and select “Online Resources.” From there, scroll down to the Members-Only section where you will find a list of “Resources Developed by CGS Members.” Click on the link labeled 1944 Genealogies.

This set of records is presented in an ahnentafel style format. There are twenty-three family histories that include at least thirty-three surnames.Each family history lists names, birth, death, and marriage dates, plus the names of children. Most also include a narrative. For example, the Briscoe family history includes notes about the Civil and Military Records, with references for William Briscoe followed by a sketch of his life. It includes a transcription of the text on his tombstone and a short poem.

Man is a glass – Life is a water,

That’s weakly walled about,

Sin Brings in death, and breaks the glass,

So runs the water out.

These records are one-of-a-kind. They are filled with family anecdotes that are fun to read even if not proven. The Pendergrass file, for example, includes a note about a son named Nathan "stolen by Indians," with another line, later crossed out, that reads "His descendants later found in Maryland." Most pages are typed, which makes them easy to read, and the hand-written notations on the pages are not likely to be in any copies that may exist elsewhere. As such they are unique treasures that, thanks to many current CGS members, are now broadly available to a much larger audience.

An example of a short biographical sketch found among these records

13 November 2020

Online genealogy, week of November 16-22

Posted by Jennifer Dix

Our Events

Nov. 21: "The Company They Kept: Enrich Your Family History Through Cluster Studies" by Annie Brenneis

Nov. 21: Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group

Conferences and Seminars:
Nov. 18: Discussing DNA: Finding Unexpected Results (American Ancestors)
Nov. 19: "Traveling the US Marine Highway" with Judy G. Russell and Patricia Walls Stamm (Florida State Genealogical Society)
Nov. 21: 20th-Century Immigration to America (American Ancestors)
Nov 21: Photo Detective Roadshow with Maureen Taylor (Clayton Library Friends Annual Meeting)
Nov. 21: Annual Genealogical Seminar with Elizabeth Shown Mills, David Dowell, Zachary Keith, Chuch and Sherrill (Middle Tennessee 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.

American Ancestors

Nov. 17: "Jewish Immigrants in the American Antiques Trade" by Briann Greenfield and Erica Lome

Nov. 19: "Navigating the Digital Library & Archives at AmericanAncestors.org" by Sally Benny

Nov. 20: "The Great Houses of Yorkshire" by Curt DiCamilo

BYU Family History Library

Nov. 18: "Finding and Using Cemetery Records Like a Pro" by James Tanner

Family History Library
Nov. 16: "Skimming the Surface: A Look Into Quebec Notarial Records"

Nov. 17: "Registros Migratorios: Migratory Records" (in Spanish)

Nov. 20: "Pre-1867 Emigration for Norway"

Legacy Family Tree

Nov. 17: "Separating and Merging Identities of Same-named Men" by Shannon Green

Nov. 18: "Surname Projects and DNA Projects" by Mags Gaulden

New York Genealogical & Biographical Society

Nov. 17: “Voyages of New Netherland”

Nov. 18: "Finding American Women’s Voices through the Centuries: Letters, Journals, Newspapers, and Court Records"

Southern California Genealogical Society

Nov. 17: "From Chernorudka to Chicago: Learnings From One Family's Immigration Path" by Jane Neff Rollins

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

Nov. 15:

“No Language Barrier: Immigrant Clues in Photographs” (Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society)

Nov. 16:

"Beginning Genealogy: Tracing Your Family Tree" (Chicago Public Library)

"Reclaiming Ancestral Citizenship: Responsibilities, Value, and Understanding the Law" by Melanie D. Holtz (Association of Professional Genealogists)

Nov. 17:

"How Research Plans Prevent Distractions" (Wisconsin State Genealogical Society free webinar)

Nov. 18:

"French-Canadian Genealogy: Getting Started" (Boston Public Library)

Nov. 19:

"Beyond Names and Dates: Filling in the Stories of Our Female Ancestors" (Utah Genealogical Society)

Nov. 20:

"Keeping Cemeteries Alive! Preserving Headstones and Monuments" (Historical Society of Michigan)

Nov. 21:

"Genealogy Pit Stop: Researching in 15 Minute Increments" with Thomas MacEntee (South King County WA Genealogical Society)

See our post "Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus" for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more. Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

09 November 2020

"This Land is Their Land": Virtual Author Talk, Tuesday, November 17

Posted by Jennifer Dix

The Sutro Library's final event of the year is a talk by historian David Silverman, author of This Land is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving. This presentation coincides with the 400th anniversary of the ship Mayflower, which arrived at Cape Cod on November 19, 1620. Silverman discusses the troubled history behind the national Thanksgiving holiday, which some modern Native people observe as a Day of Mourning. The virtual event takes place November 17 at 4 p.m. Pacific Time. For more information and to register, visit the EventBrite listing.