Special Black History Month Event

Four Experts on African-American Genealogy Research
Saturday, February 20, 2010
10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway at 22nd, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

In celebration of Black History Month, the California Genealogical Society presents a special program featuring panelists from the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California and two lectures by Craig Manson, professor, lecturer and noted blogger.

Schedule

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Panel Discussion
Electra Price, Juliet Crutchfield and Jackie Stewart of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California will be on hand for an informal session to share their twenty years of research experience and to answer audience questions.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Break for Lunch*

1:00 p.m. Finding African-Americans in Census Records Prior to 1870.
True or False: "No census taken between 1790 and 1860 contains even one slave's name." This bit of conventional wisdom is false! Craig Manson will share some of his tips for finding both enslaved and free African-Americans by name in pre-1870 census records.

2:15 p.m. Civil War: Military Research with Special Emphasis on African-American Soldiers.
Craig's second lecture will discuss available resources and where to find them, including tips on how to use the National Park Service's Civil War Soldiers and Sailors (CWSS) site.

*Lunch: Participants are encouraged to bring a brown-bag lunch or, if you prefer, there is a nearby deli where you can buy a sandwich and bring it back to the library.

PLEASE NOTE:
• FREE admission with pre-registration.
• Space is limited to forty attendees.
• Reservation form required.

To reserve your space, please download the registration flier.

CGS e-News, January 2010

The January 2010 issue of the CGS eNews, volume 4, number 1, 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 photographs and story were submitted by Jane Knowles Lindsey of her second great-grandparents, Andrew and Matilda "Ellen" (Wilson) Livingstone of McLeod's Crossing, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Andrew and Matilda "Ellen" (Wilson) Livingstone

All past issues of the CGS e-News are available for viewing at the eNews ARCHIVE. The Feburay 2010 issue will be e-mailed on 2/1/2010. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.


Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Blog Resolutions For 2010

Jasia at The Creative Gene is hosting the 87th Carnival of Genealogy: New Year's Resolutions! I've been a list-maker since I learned to write so setting goals became an annual ritual fairly early in my life. I went through a phase where I kept the yearly goal list posted on the refrigerator to keep it front and center. I've kept the old lists in a file and it's fun to look back and see what I've accomplished and how aspirations change over time.

My goals for the California Genealogical Society and Library blog grow out of my marketing responsibilities for the society. My one goal in 2008 (which carried over to 2009) was to get a local media outlet to take notice of CGS. Suddenly last week this item finally got crossed off the list when three of our members were featured on a popular live radio call-in program, Forum with Michael Krasny on KQED 88.5 FM on Christmas Eve. You can listen to the podcast of Prez Jane Knowles Lindsey, Craig Manson and Jeanie Low talking Genealogy 101 with substitute host Scott Shafer. Jane's brother was surprised to hear her on the local NPR affiliate in St. Croix!

Here are my blog goals for 2010:

1.) Final implementation of the CGS "brand" built around our new domain: CaliforniaAncestors.org/. Members of the Website and Publications/Marketing Committees have been working behind the scenes on a new, cohesive look for the website, blog, eNews, eNewsARCHIVE and other California Genealogical Society web locales. Since we are a 100% volunteer organization it is taking a little longer to accomplish than I anticipated but I am optimistic that the final results will be well worth the effort. I'll look forward to your feedback on our new look.


2.) Launch of a new carnival devoted to genealogical (and historical) societies. The first Call for Submissions is coming early in January and I hope all my fellow geneabloggers will help spread the word.

3.) January 2010 events have been posted to the San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar. This is a new venture which I inherited from Steve Danko. So far three fellow CGS members and bloggers Sheri Fenley, Bill George and Gene Pennington have stepped forward to help. I'm asking all Bay Area genealogical societies to contribute so we can develop a complete list of all gen-related events and post them on the 25th of each month. I know the it's not complete yet but it is still an impressive array!

4.) Last but not least: continue to share the society's news and our members' contributions. This year we will be publishing the annual committee reports on the blog and I have a plan to do follow-up stories on some of the connections that have been made through the blog.

Thanks to all who have contributed stories and photographs. Happy New Year!


 The COG poster provided courtesy of the footnoteMaven.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday
CGS Mail Call - Dick Rees

Photographs courtesy of Tim Cox, 8/8/2009, Oakland, California.

Wreaths Across America

Kathleen Todd Watson sent this report about her participation on December 12, 2009 in Wreaths Across America – the third year year that the ceremony was held for veterans at the Sacramento Valley VA National Cemetery. Kathy served as location leader through her involvement as First Vice-Regent of the Anne Loucks DAR chapter. Kathy's husband and fellow-CGS member, Marston Watson emceed the same event at the Golden Gate National Cemetery.

Over 1800 people attended the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery ceremony which culminated an annual project involving many volunteers from 4H, Civil Air Patrol, DAR, Patriot Guard, Missing in America, Cemetery Support Committee, and Friends of the Cemetery. Donations supplied 5,570 wreaths for the cemetery, one for every headstone. Rain did not deter placement of the wreaths to remember and honor the memory of all fallen heroes who served and sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. 

Wreaths Across America, a non profit 501-c3 organization, was formed as an extension of the Arlington Wreath Project, started by Morrill Worcester (Worcester Wreath) in 1992 with the donation and laying of 5000 Christmas wreaths in Arlington National Cemetery.


2009 Facts:

• 405 participating locations, including the 24 national cemeteries on foreign soil
• 161,000 total wreaths placed to honor our servicemen and women
• Over 100,000 volunteers participated in the wreath-laying events
• Over 7,500 in attendance at Arlington National Cemetery
• Approximately 15,000 in attendance at Houston National Cemetery - the single largest wreath-laying event nationwide
• 1,800 in attendance at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery

Photograph courtesy of Kathy Watson, December 12, 2009, Dixon, California.