The California Genealogical Society and Library (CGS) and the Oakland Regional Family History Center (ORFHC) present a four-week Spring Intermediate Genealogy Series beginning April 25, 2009.
Eight intermediate topics will be presented in four sessions on Saturdays at the CGS Library and repeated on Tuesdays at the ORFHC. All sessions will be held 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. The fee is $15.00 to cover the cost of materials. Notebook and class handouts will be provided. Free parking at both locations.
Session I
Saturday, April 25 and Tuesday, April 28, 2009 – Marge Bell
Probate and Guardianship Records
Church and Cemetery records
Session II
Saturday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 5, 2009 – Jane Knowles Lindsey
Immigration, Passenger Lists
Naturalization, Passports
Using Newspapers for Genealogical Research
Session III
Saturday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 12, 2009
U.S. Military Records – Susan Goss Johnston
Land & Property, Maps, Gazetteers – Lavinia Schwarz
Session IV
Saturday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Reading and Transcribing the Handwriting of Colonial America – Marge Bell
Other Resources, Solving your Biggest Genealogical Problems – Jane & Marge
Parking is free in the lot behind the Breuner Building at 2201 Broadway on Saturdays and there is adequate parking at the FHC on Tuesdays.
PLEASE NOTE:
• Class size is limited. Walk-ins allowed if space available.
• Nominal fee of $15 is charged for materials.
• Saturday classes: obtain a placard from lobby security for the lot behind the building.
• Visit the CGS website or the ORFHC website for complete class descriptions.
• $10.00 off a CGS membership if you join by May 19, 2009.
Download the registration flier and mail with a check for $15 to the ORFHC, Attn: Marge Bell, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602.
Recent Posts
30 March 2009
Spring Intermediate Series Begins April 25, 2009
27 March 2009
Internet Genealogy – It's Just the Tip of the Iceberg
CGS member Lisa Gorrell allowed me to share this fantastic graphic created by her daughter Elizabeth.
The idea sprang from a conversation at the society between Lisa and fellow CGS-member, Tim Cox. They were remembering the "old days" before the internet and Lisa was commenting that most of her work had been done the "hard way." She explains:
During the conversation I casually said that researching on the Internet was like the tip of an iceberg – that there was so much more out there in libraries, courthouses, cemeteries, etc. Tim thought a graphic would be an excellent way to explain the idea.
At Tim's urging Lisa decided to pursue the idea of a graphic and took the idea to her daughter Elizabeth, a sophomore studying Art and Graphic Design at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. Lisa reports that Elizabeth had fun with the concept and the result speaks for itself.
Lisa and Tim discussed using the graphic as a fundraiser for the society. Lisa shared this idea:
What would be nice is to have a poster of it in every research facility – especially those with computers – to remind them that so little of their research will be found on the internet.
I was so impressed with the outcome of this meeting of CGS minds that I asked if I could share it on the blog. Any suggestions out there for ways to spread the word and use the graphic? Please leave a comment.
Elizabeth Gorrell obviously has a bright future. Great job, Tim, Lisa and Elizabeth!
Graphic reprinted with permission of Elizabeth and Lisa Gorrell.
25 March 2009
Wordless Wednesday
A Typical Tuesday at the CGS Library
Lavinia Schwarz, Pat Smith and Lorna Wallace
Photograph courtesy of Jane Knowles Lindsey, 11/18/2008, Oakland, California.
23 March 2009
One-Day Beginning Genealogy Seminar - April 18, 2008
Beginning Genealogy Seminar
Saturday, April 18, 2009, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
CGS Library, 2201 Broadway Suite LL2, Oakland, CA
Back by popular demand, the California Genealogical Society and Library (CGS) and the Oakland Regional Family History Center (ORFHC) present a full day Beginning Genealogy Seminar – all the material presented in one day.
COST: $15 for cost of materials and continental breakfast
PROGRAM:
8:30 - 8:55 Registration and coffee
9:00 - 10:30 Introduction to the Science of Genealogy – Marge Bell
10:30 – 12:00 Secondary Survey – Jane Lindsey
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Break (bring your own lunch or local restaurants nearby)
1:00 – 2:30 Vital Records and the Calendar Change – Marge Bell
2:30 – 4:00 Census Records Including State Census – Speaker TBA
PLEASE NOTE:
• Class is limited to 30 participants.
• Free parking in the lot behind the building. Must get placard for car from security.
To register for the Beginning Genealogy Seminar, download the registration form from the CGS website and mail with a check for $15 to the ORFHC, attn: Marge Bell, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California 94602.
An eight class Intermediate Series starts the following week on April 25, 2009. It will be offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays for four consecutive weeks. Two classes will be presented at each session. For more information, download the Intermediate Series Flyer.
20 March 2009
Finding Fintan's Family
One of the most satisfying outcomes of the recent Scots-Irish Research Seminar involved turning the tables on one of our speakers and helping him to find his family.
It started on the drive from the San Francisco International Airport when Fintan Mullan mentioned that his mother's first cousin had come to Oakland and the families had lost contact with each other. Fintan and Dr. Brian Trainor, of the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast, Northern Ireland were here for the CGS Scots-Irish Seminar.
As soon as we saw CGS President Jane Lindsey I informed her of Fintan's missing cousin. I know how much Jane loves a search so I wasn't surprised to learn the next day that she had made considerable progress in a short amount of time.
Fintan was able to provide Jane with some details about Hugh Moreland who had left Ireland and went first to Australia but settled in Oakland. Hugh had made one trip back to Ireland to visit family but they lost contact after that. Hugh died in California and Fintan knew the names of Hugh's children.
Jane worked the California Death and Birth Indexes and checked the California passenger records. She found Hugh H. Moreland, born in Ireland, came from Australia to San Francisco in April of 1930. Kathleen DiGiovianni of the Oakland Public Library helped the cause by finding Hugh's obituary in the Oakland Tribune.
Jane was able to locate Fintan's first cousin once removed, Eileen, who lives in Napa. Fintan called his mother in Ireland to tell her the good news. Eileen and her husband drove to Oakland the next day to meet with Fintan after the seminar.
First cousins, once removed: Eileen and Fintan.
