Fourth Annual Beginning Genealogy Series Starts September 15, 2011

In celebration of October Family History Month, the Oakland Regional Family History Center (ORFHC) and the California Genealogical Society (CGS) are offering the fourth annual Fall Beginning Genealogy Research Series. Six 1-1/2 hour sessions includes a field trip to the California Genealogical Society Library. Enrolled students may attend Thursday afternoon or Tuesday evening sessions, or both. Come and learn the basics!

Where:  Oakland Regional Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602
When:   Thursday afternoons (1-2:30) or Tuesday evenings (7-8:30) – see specific dates below
Cost:     $30 for six sessions, includes syllabus – $5 to attend one class, if space available

Preregistration is necessary to ensure adequate handouts. Download the information flier for the full course schedule.

Register online.

Afternoon Sessions – Thursdays 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 15, 2011 – Introduction to Genealogy
Thursday, September 22, 2011 – Secondary Research
Thursday, September 29, 2011 – Getting the Most from the Census
Thursday, October 6, 2011 – Field Trip to the CGS Library
Thursday, October 13, 2011 – Vital Records and the Calendar Change of 1752
Thursday, October 20, 2011 – Orientation to the ORFHC

Evening Sessions – Tuesdays 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 – Introduction to Genealogy
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 – Secondary Research
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 – Getting the Most from the Census
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 – Orientation to the ORFHC
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 – Vital Records and the Calendar Change of 1752
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 – Field Trip to the CGS Library

PLEASE NOTE:

• Class size limited to the first thirty who register. 
• Walk-ins only if space allows. 
• Free parking at the Oakland Regional Family History Center 
• $10.00 off a CGS membership if you join by November 1, 2011

*All sessions at the ORFHC except Field Trip to CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Oakland.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

September Membership Meeting: Putting Flesh on the Bones with Ron Arons

Saturday, September 10, 2011
1:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612

Why limit yourself to simply expanding your family tree by looking for names, dates and places? Beyond the Who, When, and Where, it is possible to explore the far more interesting question: WHY?  Why did our ancestors behave the way they did?

After a short membership meeting at 1:00 p.m., Ron Arons' presentation will provide two related examples from his own research experience on how this process works. The unexpected benefit of this approach is that it allowed Ron to push back his family tree four more generations and find many living relatives he never knew before.

Born and raised in New York, Ron Arons has traced his roots to England, Poland, Romania, the Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. In researching his book, The Jews of Sing Sing, Ron took a genealogical approach, collecting a variety of original source documents. The book includes biographies of more than a dozen famous gangsters and lesser-known criminals and paints a broad canvas of Jewish criminality in New York City. Ron's latest book is Wanted! U.S. Criminal Records: Sources and Research Methodology.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

Research "Look-ups" Team

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Photographs courtesy of Arlene Miles, Oakland, California.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

“I’m Sorry, Those Records Were Lost” California Genealogical Society Publication Gives Researchers New Hope

The California Genealogical Society (CGS) is pleased to announce publication of Raking the Ashes: Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research, second edition, a guide to circumventing the enormous record loss in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.

This authoritative book by Nancy Simons Peterson, Research Director at CGS, is a must have for researching San Francisco ancestors, providing invaluable guidance on which records were lost in the 1906 earthquake and fire, which records survived, and where to find them.

Peterson alerts the reader to lesser-known sources, recently published references, and newly discovered documents. Sources are clearly identified and evaluated, while graphics, statistics, and historical background enrich the text. Not limited to San Francisco, Peterson's solutions for working around lost records and her emphasis on casting a much wider net than is customary will be especially welcomed by researchers wherever natural disasters have destroyed historical documents. First published in 2006, the second edition has been substantially updated and expanded.

ISBN 978-0-9785694-5-7
Format: Perfect-bound paperback, 242 pages
Dimensions (inches) 8.5 wide × 11.0 tall
Retail Price: $25.00
Publisher: California Genealogical Society

Additional information at: http://rakingtheashes.weebly.com.

About the author:
Nancy Simons Peterson is a certified genealogist and author of numerous articles. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University.

About CGS:
The California Genealogical Society, founded in San Francisco in 1898, maintains a library, gathers and preserves vital records, and offers research services and online databases. CGS disseminates information through publications, meetings, seminars, workshops and its website, CaliforniaAncestors.org.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

2011 Nominating Committee

In fulfillment of the California Genealogical Society Bylaws, Article VII, Section 1, President Stephen Harris has appointed the 2011 Nominating Committee. General members are Kim Cotton, Linda Okazaki and Pat Smith; director and past-president Jane Knowles Lindsey will act as the committee chair.

The committee is seeking nominees for three anticipated openings on the board of directors. They welcome suggestions of candidates or volunteers to serve. Nominees must be members of the California Genealogical Society. Please e-mail Jane Lindsey with your suggestions.

The full requirements as stated in the society bylaws, page 3, are as follows:

ARTICLE VII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three (3) members to be named not less that ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. The President shall appoint the Nominating Committee. The chairperson of the committee shall be from the Board of Directors and additional committee members from the general membership.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall submit its report to the Board of Directors and the Board shall give timely notice of nominations to the general membership prior to the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 3. Following the Nominating Committee’s report to the membership at the Annual Business Meeting, the floor shall be open to additional nominations, provided nominees have given consent to serve if elected.

Section 4. Nominees shall be members in good standing in the Society.

Section 5. Members in good standing who are present at the Annual Business Meeting shall elect the Directors. A plurality vote shall elect.

Section 6. If there is only one candidate for an opening, the ballot may be dispensed with by general consent and the election held by voice vote.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Do You Descend from a California Suffragette?

October 10, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of California women's right to vote and women all over the state are planning parades and other events to commemorate the centennial.

October 10, 1911 was election day when the men of California voted to allow what only five other states had done. Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Washington were the first five states to grand suffrage. By 1914, seven more states followed and a national campaign towards a federal suffrage amendment began in earnest. By the time of the 1916 presidential election the party platforms of both Democrats and Republicans had endorsed suffrage reform. Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919. It was ratified by three-fourths of the states the following year and became law.

One of the iconic images of the California campaign was taken on August 27, 1908 in Oakland. Three women – Lillian Harris Coffin, Mrs. Theodore Pinther, Jr. and Mrs. Theodore Pinther, Sr. – led a parade of 300 suffragists to the Republican state convention.

Lillian Harris Coffin, Mrs. Theodore Pinther, Jr. and Mrs. Theodore Pinther, Sr.

CGS member Carol Norberg brought the photograph to my attention. Carol is helping to plan a Centennial parade and she thinks it would be wonderful to find descendents of the Oakland marchers to take part in the celebration. She would like to honor the early California suffragists by reaching out to their descendants, including those who may not even know what their ancestors did.

In her research in Oakland newspapers, Carol has secured the names of thirty women who were mentioned there, but being new to genealogy, she has not been able to make much progress. She would especially like to locate descendants of Lillian Harris Coffin and the Mrs. Theodore Pinthers.

I had time to do just a little sleuthing and was able to find records for the Pinthers in San Francisco. While there was more than one Lillian Cofflin living in the Bay Area, records for a Lillian Harris Coffin point to her being the wife of Horace Coffin of Marin County.

If you descend from a California suffragette, have time to do some research or have other information to share, please email Carol Norberg.


Sources:
1. Silver, Mae and Cazaly, Sue, The Sixth Star: Images and Memorabilia of California Women's Political History 1868-1915, Ord Street Press, San Francisco, 2000, http://lwvc.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sixthstar00silv.pdf : accessed 17 July 2011.

2. Rodes, Donald Waller, "The California Woman Suffrage Campaign of 1911: A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Faculty of California State University, Hayward, In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in History,"  1974, http://lwvc.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/casuffrage.pdf : accessed 17 July 2011.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

I've Tested My DNA, Now What?

Saturday August 27, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

Join Katherine Borges for answers to these questions, and more!

• I have my results, what are the next steps I should take?
• How do I understand the results?
• What projects should I join?

This class is limited to forty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied toward membership only on the day of the class.

Preregistration is required. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty participants who register. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations. Walk-ins will not be admitted.

Register online.

Katherine Hope Borges is co-founder and director of The International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG), which promotes and educates about genetic genealogy. ISOGG has grown to over 8,000 members in sixty-six countries. Through ISOGG, Katherine has increased professional standards in the practice, research, and discussion of relevant issues in DNA testing, interpretation, and ethics. She organized a speakers bureau and has given many presentations on genetic genealogy to groups across the United States and in the United Kingdom. She administers several surname, regional, and haplogroup DNA projects, including one on the study of null alleles.



Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Greek Like Me by Cathy Paris

When Cathy Paris brought her new book Greek Like Me into the library everyone gathered around to marvel at her creativity. Cathy wrote the book so her children and grandchildren could learn about their Greek heritage and their roots in the Greek village of Koroni.

One of Cathy's acknowledgments is to her father-in-law for "enduring my relentless questions about his life in Koróni." From his recollections as a young boy, Cathy tells the story of his grandparents, Pavlos Psaropoulas and Irini. She describes how the events of history impacted the lives of the citizens of Koroni, especially the family of Pavlos and Irini.

Greek Like Me is a seventy-nine page illustrated children's book with an overview of Greek history from ancient times until the 1930s.

The book is filled with colorful images in which Cathy has magically added photographs of her grandchildren. I can only imagine their delight in seeing themselves inserted into the pages of their family history.

Greek Like Me was published on Lulu.com. She has also published a private version of the book for family only.


Photograph by Kathryn M. Doyle, 5/3/2011, Oakland, California.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

New Netherland Genealogy

Saturday, Aug 13, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

In 1624, the Dutch West India Company established settlements in what is now New York and New Jersey which they ruled for the next forty years. Known as New Netherland, its history is fascinating but unfamiliar to most Americans. Dutch customs and culture were established whose influence continues even today.

Many Americans have ancestors who were among the settlers of this colony in the 17th century. And though English settlements in New England and Virginia were founded during the same period, genealogical research for New Netherland involves different sources and research aids.

John Moore and Dorothy Koenig will present an overview of the New Netherland Colony and the genealogical sources that may be helpful in finding more information about the settlers of the colony during the Dutch period. There will be some emphasis on sources available on the internet.

The class is intended for those with only a general familiarity with the New Netherland colony, but are interested in researching their New Netherland ancestors. The scheduled class will include time for Q and A.

The class is limited to forty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop.

Preregistration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty registrants. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Register online.

John Moore will conduct the class with assistance and contributions from Dorothy Koenig. John is a retired corporate counsel, former NEHGS Trustee/Councillor and former CGS Board Member. He has researched his own Dutch ancestors for more than twenty years. Dorothy is a retired university librarian and was the editor of the quarterly, New Netherland Connections. She has an extensive background researching Dutch colonial ancestry in America.



Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

eNews July 2011, volume 5, number 7

The July 2011 eNews, volume 5, number 7,  has been published and emailed to members and friends. As always, the eNews 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: California Ancestors.

This month we pay tribute to Virginia Turner's great-grandparents enjoying a gathering at Fish Ranch, California in the San Gabriel mountains about 1918.

Samuel and Christina Ertel Bartholomew and family at Fish Ranch.

Past issues of the eNews are available at the eNews archive.

The August 2011 issue will be emailed on July 31, 2011. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

Photograph courtesy of Virginia Turner.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

New Shelves in the Library!

There's been lots of activity in the library this month as the contents of close to 600 shelves of books were moved over a period of just two weeks. This was the culmination of a space review and "remodel" that included the purchase of ten new shelving units paid by an anonymous donor.

Once the new shelves were installed the process of "shifting" books began. Many responded to a call for volunteers, including members of the Library, Look-ups and Desk Committees.

Special thanks to our librarians Laura Spurrier and Diana Wild for overseeing the project and to our member volunteers who worked tirelessly: Judy Bodycote, Nancy Fike, Steve Harris, Jane Lindsey, Arlene Miles, Shannon Reese, Lavinia Schwarz, Pat Smith, Roland Smith, Jim Sorenson and Judy Zelver.

Temporary signs have been put up to help patrons locate books until our exhausted librarians have time to create new permanent ones.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone!

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, 5/28/2011, Oakland, California.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Encore Presentation! Celtic Roots Online with Cath Madden Trindle

Friday, August 5, 2011
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway
Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612

Back by popular demand. If you missed Cath's presentation in March, you won't want to miss this one!

Contrary to popular belief, the records of Scotland begin long before the advent of statutory registration in 1855. In some cases it is possible to trace families back to the sixteenth century using easily available records. Scottish research and retrieval of the records of Scotland is completely intertwined with the use of the Internet. We will look at some of the basic records – statutory registers, census, old parish records, and testaments – and navigate the Scotland government web sites to retrieve them. Even if you have no research in Scotland, the government web sites of Scotland provide a model for any government body or society to use when putting their documentation on the Internet.

Ireland government web sites are not quite as complete, but the selection of records available online is growing. We will again look at some of the basic records available both online and off and discuss the records hiding in repositories that might help you further your research.

Cath will also explore other interesting genealogical and informational online sites for both countries and also touch of some genealogical resources online for those with Welsh ancestry.

This class is limited to forty participants and is one of the free benefits for members. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop. Preregistration is required.

Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty participants who register. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Register online.

Cath Madden Trindle is a certified genealogist in the San Francisco Bay area, and a national conference speaker. She earned a Certificate of European Research from BYU, and a Certificate in Genealogical Studies - Libraianship (NIGS.) Cath owned a bookkeeping consultation business for thirty years and is currently Treasurer of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. She writes regular copyright and society strategy solumns for the CSGA newsletter. As Publication Chair for SMCGS, she has edited the San Mateo County Naturalization Index Series, the Schellens indexing project, and coauthored the SMCGS Tree Climbing Guides.

Cath is a first generation Californian and has limited her client research to Northern California. Personal research and national speaking engagements focus on the records of Ireland and Scotland, Canada, Minnesota, and Michigan, and on storytelling.


Photograph by Kathryn M. Doyle, Drumcliff, Co. Sligo, Ireland, 2008.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Wordless Wednesday

Planning Meeting for the Salt Lake City Research Tour

Nancy Peterson and Jane Lindsey

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Photographs courtesy of Arlene Miles, Oakland, California.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

The California Nugget, Spring 2011, Volume III, Issue 1

Yesterday, Harold Henderson of Midwestern Microhistory: A Genealogy Blog, published State and Regional Genealogy Journals: The List. "The List" is a downloadable pdf file of genealogical periodicals published by genealogy organizations throughout the United States, compiled by Henderson and Michael Hait. They make the point that state journals "often contain high-quality genealogies of local families, utilizing a wide variety of local, state, and federal records."

The article was timely since the newest issue of The California Nugget has been printed and mailed to members. As always, the Spring 2011 Nugget includes exactly the kind of local genealogies Hait and Henderson describe.

I'm sure editor Jane Huff won't mind if I share her page one letter:

Dear Readers:

Do you feel like you are still just getting started in genealogy? Chris Pattillo had begun her family history research but felt like she still didn’t know what she was doing. The story of her headlong dive into genealogy when she unexpectedly had a month off from work and her emergence four weeks later with a treasure trove of new skills, resources and information is inspirational.

Finding the Laughran Sisters Part III wraps up, for now, the story of how the discovery of one online newspaper article revealed the names and relationships of an entire pioneer California family. Resources such as Newspaperarchive.com are truly goldmines of information. Be sure you are using the many online newspapers to further your research.
In our California Ancestors section, Virginia Turner and Georgia Lupinsky bring to life a treasure from the CGS manuscript collection, telling the story of the Covell family who settled near San Jose. Then Bill O’Neil shares the struggles of his Union soldier ancestors in the Civil War, a conflict that took a formidable toll on many families.

We have news for our members: now is the time to sign up for the August research trip to the Allen County Public library! Information is on the flier. Also, be sure to save November 5 for a spectacular day with Ancestry.com and the California Genealogical Society in San Francisco.

Capturing the story of any migration should be a focus of individual family histories as well as the work of genealogical societies. Now and then a best-seller, in this case Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns, reviewed in the book section, turns out to be a real addition to the literature of genealogy and family history research. Whether or not you are descended from the black southerners who made the journey north, this book speaks to every family that has ever set out for someplace better.

Jane Hufft, Editor

TABLE of CONTENTS
Twenty-First Century Genealogy
Finding the Laughran Sisters Part III by Jane Hufft
Thirty Days of Total Immersion in Genealogy by Chris Pattillo

California Ancestors
Frank Covell: California Pioneer and Family Historian by Georgia Lupinsky and Virginia Turner
Hill and Drinkwine: Civil War Ancestors by Bill O'Neil  
1883 Pensioners

For Our Readers
Save the Date! Ancestry and CGS Team Up!

News from the Society
Allen County Public Library Research Trip
Book Reviews
Recent Acquisitions from the Library
New Members
Index

The California Nugget, the magazine of the California Genealogical Society, is published twice a year. Its purpose is to share the unique genealogical material in the CGS library, add to the body of family history information about Californians, offer guidance and timely information to family researchers, and to provide a forum for members to share their expertise and findings. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the society. The magazine is distributed free to members and is available to non- members for $5.00 an issue, plus postage.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Chinese Genealogy Research for Beginners with Douglas Joe

Saturday, July 30, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

This class is for beginners without Chinese language skills to learn how to start researching their Chinese ancestry. The first half of the class is designed for the computer challenged and will emphasize the basics of Chinese genealogy, including nuances and taboos and how to overcome these obstacles.

In the second portion, Doug will discuss the internet and computer resources.

Learn how to:

• use digital resources and free programs to overcome Chinese language illiteracy
• how to archive and reference your findings
• what to expect in the future as China opens new online genealogy resources

For those uncomfortable with computers, Doug recommends bringing a tech savvy friend or family member.

This class is limited to forty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied toward membership only on the day of the class.

Preregistration is required. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty participants who register. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations. Walk-ins will not be admitted.

Register online.

Douglas Joe is a second generation Chinese American “baby boomer” who has been able to trace and document several hundred years of his heritage without Chinese language skills. He is a moderator for the Chinese Genealogy Forum and enjoys helping others worldwide in their search for their Chinese roots. Joe lives and works in Modesto, California and can be reached via email.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

Blogging 201 Workshop with Craig Siulinski

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Photographs courtesy of Kim Cotton, Oakland, California.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

July Membership Meeting: All About the CGS Library

Saturday, July 9, 2011
1:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

Join CGS librarians Laura Spurrier and Barbara Hill for So Many Books, So Little Time! Demystifying the California Genealogical Society Library – a discussion of the vast resources at the society's library.

Have you ever wondered...

• Why are there a lot of books on some geographical areas and only a few or none on others?
• What's in the Dorman Room?
• If there's an easy way to find books when browsing the aisles?
• Are there any tips or tricks for using the online catalog?
• If you can still use the old card catalog?
• How to donate genealogy books to CGS?

Laura and Barbara will answer these questions, and will take questions from the audience.

Laura Spurrier retired from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory after serving as a reference librarian and the head of cataloging. Among her M.A. degrees, she has an M.L.S. from U.C. Berkeley. Her interest in genealogy dates from her teenage years, with Quaker genealogy being a specialty. Laura has been a member of CGS since 1996 and is currently volunteers as the chair of Library Services.

Barbara Hill retired after thirty-three years of library work, with experience in a public library, a school library, a small scientific research library, and an academic library. Her last position, at UC Berkeley Library, involved ordering books from all over the world. She ascribes her interest in genealogy to "prenatal influence," as her mother was researching the family tree at the Library of Congress before Barbara was born. Although she did not begin active pursuit of her ancestors until after her marriage, she has been at it ever since, and has been a member of CGS since 1985.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Quick Report from Jamboree 2011

The California Genealogical Society and Library is well-represented this year at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree.

Our far-flung member Thomas MacEntee is presenting several talks and moderating two blogger panels. Amy Coffin, Elyse Doerflinger and I are participating in the Blogger Summits I and II.  Other member speakers include Cath Trindle and Ron Arons.

Ron Arons at his table in the exhibit hall

CGSL has a table in "Society Row" on Saturday. The table is just outside the exhibit hall and was offered free of charge by organizers. Thank you, SCGS!

Two blogger buddies and CGSL members at our table: Sheri Fenley and Elizabeth O'Neal.

Thanks to Kim Cotton, Sheri Fenley, Lisa Gorell, Laura Lee Karp, Virginia Kysh, Mary Mettler, Elizabeth O'Neal, Carolyn Sakkis, Jim Sorenson and Geri Willinger for staffing the table!

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Finding Your Ancestors Through Latino/Hispanic Genealogy, A Two-Part Series

Sheila Prader

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

July 23, 2011 and August 6, 2011
Both sessions 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Join professional genealogist Sheila Lee Prader and Dr. Ellen Fernandez-Sacco for two Saturday workshop sessions on finding your Latino/Hispanic ancestors.

Session I – Beginning Research in Spanish Records: An Introduction
Saturday, July 23, 2011, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Getting Started:

• Family and original sources: ecclesiastic, civil, immigration records

Getting Organized

• Handwriting, commonly used words and phrases, interchangeable letters
• Forms and extracts: family group sheets, parish records, civil records

Parish Records

• Determining location
• Overview of content
• Hands-on exercise: Sample extract. Try it yourself

Bring your questions, family group sheets and a document if applicable. Specific areas will be addressed based on registrant feedback and the time available.


Session II – Digging Deeper: Record Types and Specific Locations of Origin
Saturday, August 6, 2011, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Focus On Record Types

• Baptism/birth, death/burial, marriage, dispensas
• Other types of documentation

Focus on Records for Specific Locations

• California
• Mexico
• Caribbean & Latin America
• Spain

• Hands-on exercise

• Guided assistance in group setting

Bring your questions, your family group sheets and a document, if applicable. Specific areas will be addressed based on registrant feedback and the time available.

The workshop is limited to twenty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 for each session (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop.

Preregistration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first twenty participants to register. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Register online.

Sheila Lee Prader began researching her own early California and Mexican genealogy in 1983. She has conducted considerable research in the records of Spain, the Azores, Mexico and early California, and continues to research Hispanic ancestry for herself and for clients. She maintains a great interest in the local history of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and southern Santa Clara counties in California. She has the Certified Local designation from Professor/Historian Sandy Lydon.

Ellen Fernandez-Sacco’s involvement with genealogy started in 1999, when she began researching the oral history of her family in Moca, Puerto Rico. She has traced her background to Mallorca and Galicia, Spain and is also of Taino Amerindian descent. She has a Ph.D. in Art History and is a co-founder and chair of Sociedad Ancestros Mocanos, a Yahoo! Group, whose focus is the genealogy and oral history of Northwest Puerto Rico.  Dr. Fernandez-Sacco will provide support and assistance during the workshop.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

In the Library

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Photograph courtesy of Tim Cox, Oakland, California.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Mapping Madness with Ron Arons – Saturday, July 16, 2011

Saturday, July 16, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612


Member and author Ron Arons will discuss numerous websites where one can find historical maps and he will review two Goliaths of online mapping: Microsoft and Google as well as other interesting online, map-oriented tools including Microsoft's MapCruncher.

Hands-on learning: Ron will provide instructions/excercises for using a number of the online tools discussed during the lecture.

This class is limited to forty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the class.

Preregistration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty participants to register. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Register online.

Born and raised in New York, Ron Arons has traced his roots to England, Poland, Romania, the Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania. In researching his book, The Jews of Sing Sing, Ron took a genealogical approach, collecting a variety of original source documents. The book includes biographies of more than a dozen famous gangsters and lesser-known criminals and paints a broad canvas of Jewish criminality in New York City. Ron's newest book is Wanted! U.S. Criminal Records: Sources and Research Methodology.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Jeffrey Vaillant's Top Ten Reasons to Go to the Allen County Public Library

Here are Jeff's ten reasons you should sign up for the CGSL tour to the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

1. Six days of uninterrupted research!
2. A leader to help you with your research problems (Jeffrey Vaillant).
3. Talk non-stop genealogy to other participants to help solve problems.
4. Fantastic resources for the Midwest and other parts of the country. Search the Genealogy Center catalog at: http://smartcat.acpl.lib.in.us/?skin=genealogy.
5. Open stacks – the new library opened in February 2007.
6. A lecture by Curt Witcher, Manager, Historical Genealogy Department, Allen County Public Library.
7. ACPL is the creator of PERSI – the Periodical Source Index. You can do all your periodical research and all periodicals are there to use. (You can search PERSI at CGS or on HeritageQuest).
8. Unique resources due to their book binding service.
9. Great accommodations at the Courtyard Marriott, one and one-half blocks from library.
10. You chose this one:

• Get away from the kids
• Don’t have to cook
• Pick your own schedule
• See the TinCaps minor league baseball team
• Visit an auto museum
• Learn the tune to "Back Home in Indiana."

Download the registration flier or register online.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

eNews June 2011, volume 5, number 6

The June 2011 eNews, volume 5, number 6,  has been published and emailed to members and friends. As always, the eNews 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: California Ancestors.

This month we pay tribute to Lois Elling's family enjoying a gathering at the Robinson family home in 1916 Los Angeles.

Past issues of the eNews are available at the eNews archive.

The July 2011 issue will be emailed on June 30, 2011. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

Photograph by William Robinson, Jr., courtesy of Lois Elling.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Summer Evening Hours – Discussion Topics 2011

Tim Cox sent the schedule of discussion topics for Thursday evenings this summer at the library. These discussion groups are planned for 6:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. and they are open to members and to the public. Participants of all levels of research experience are welcome to network and join the conversation.

June 2, 2011 – Using Ancestry.com; Footnote.com; and AmericanAncestors.org
Helpful tips will be shared to more effectively use these free and subscription sites.

June 9, 2011 – Genealogy Gadgets: Digital Cameras, Flash Drives, Portable Scanners, etc.
What kind of technology are you using to help you capture the information as you find it? Discussion will focus on what is new on the market and what works well for genealogists.

June 16, 2011 – Social Networking: Facebook, RSS, Twitter and Blogs
Overwhelmed with all of the ways to communicate and network with other genealogists? We'll talk about the various ways to network and how to stay up to date with blogs.

June 23, 2011 – Using Google and other Search Engines
Is Google really the best search engine? There are other search engines that you may not be aware of. We'll discuss Google and the others.

June 30, 2011 – Help with Researching New Netherlands and New York
Our discussion will be focused on research in New Netherlands and current day New York.

July 7, 2011 – Research Problems and Possible Solutions (Session 1 of 2)
Have a research problem you've been working on for a while and can't seem to solve it? Bring your problem and let the group discuss options you may be able to employ.

July 14, 2011 – Census Research
Love it or not, the U.S. Federal Population Schedule is really a genealogist's best friend. Our group will discuss the various kinds of census records including agricultural, deaf/dumb/blind, veterans, mortality and state censuses.

July 21, 2011 – Ethnic Groups: Chinese; Hispanic/Latino; French-Canadian; German; Scandinavian
Join some experienced researchers who may be able to give some advice on your next steps in your research for any of these ethnic groups.

July 28, 2011 – Creative Ways to Share Your Research and Writing Family Histories
Ready to write your family history but need some help with deciding on the best way to share it or publish it? Come see what the group has to offer. You just might get that resolution to your dilemma.

August 4, 2011 – Genealogy Databases: RootsMagic, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, The Master Genealogist, Ancestral Quest, Reunion
Bring your questions and ask the group for advice on how to perform tasks, run reports, create charts, or overcome obstacles you are experiencing with any of these popular databases or join us to learn more about each them.

August 11, 2011 – Online newspapers
Millions of pages of the world's newspapers are now accessible online, but there is no one place to find them all. Join us for discussions on what is available and how to find it. You may learn some techniques to find your ancestors in the paper.

August 18, 2011 – Getting the Most from FamilySearch.org Including Mexican Research
Having problems with the new look of FamilySearch? We'll talk about it and discover some easy ways to it work for you and learn how to find the recently uploaded Mexican records database.

August 25, 2011 – Research Problems and Possible Solutions (Session 2 of 2)
Have a research problem you've been working on for a while and can't seem to solve it? Bring your problem and let the group discuss options you may be able to employ.

BYO dinner or buy something nearby. If you plan to drive, metered spaces in Oakland are free after 6:00 p.m. but they fill up fast. Traveling in by BART is easier – get off at the 19th Street station. Group discussions will end by 8:15 p.m. to allow for everyone to walk to BART together before dark.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Jeffrey Vaillant Talks Civil War Research on Blog Talk Radio

Jeffrey Vaillant

Be sure to tune in and listen to CGS Director Jeffrey Vaillant talk Civil War records on Geneabloggers Blog Talk Radio. Jeff was a guest of host Thomas MacEntee on the Friday, May 27, 2011 show Military Records and Genealogy.

Jeff discussed the basics of how to start researching your Civil War ancestor. He also describes the rich information that can be gleaned from Civil War pension files.

Geneabloggers Radio airs every Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Pacific time. Past shows are available to be listened to on demand.

Listen to internet radio with GeneaBloggers on Blog Talk Radio

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

A Visit from the Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County

Twenty-two members of the Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County (GSSCC) toured the library and the Stephen Harris city directory collection on Saturday, April 9, 2011, and had great success with their research.

Our member volunteers Kim Cotton, Barbara Hill, Dick Rees, Pat Smith, Laura Spurrier and President Steve Harris were on hand to assist our visitors.

Two members of the GSSCC became new members of CGS.

The California Genealogical Society welcomes interested groups to tour the library and spend time exploring our genealogy resources. Email the society or call 510-663-1358 to schedule a group visit.

Photographs courtesy of Kim Cotton, Oakland, California.


 Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Salt Lake City Finds 2011

The 11th annual tour to the Family History Library was another great success. Thirty-five members of the society (including leaders Jane Knowles Lindsey and Nancy Simons Peterson) spent the week of May 15 – 22, 2011, immersed in genealogy.

Kathleen Dunn Jones

One surprise was running into our "far-flung" member, Bette Kot, who was leading a group from Colorado. Bette is a former CGS librarian who led the tour with Jane in past years. It was great seeing you again, Bette!

Leader Jane Lindsey and Betty Kot

Carolyn Mowry Sinclair discovered the Automated Genealogy site and gave it high praise. She was working on her husband's Nova Scotia family.

Leader Nancy Peterson and Lavinia Schwarz

Irene Vega Kelly made some great discoveries using Border Crossings records from Mexico to Arizona. She was able to go back several more generations with the VEGA family.

Rita Anberg and Judy Greenwood Jones

Judy Greenwood Jones had a breakthrough researching her grandfather William FAWCETT in Ontario, Canada.

Cynthia Peterson Gorman and Tim Cox

Chris Pattillo was fact-checking during the week in order to finish a book she will be presenting as a wedding gift on June 18.

Jane Hufft, Jane Lindsey, Kathryn Doyle, Nancy Peterson, Nancy Fike and Pam Lewis

Linda Okazaki broke through a brick wall using 19th Century U.S. Newspapers when she found documentation that an ancestor changed his name.

Sandy Frye had luck researching her SMITHs and proved a move from Indiana to Missouri.

Laura Lee Karp

Alison Kern Shedd broke through a German brick wall researching SIEGLE/SIGLEN in Ditzingen, Wurtenburg.

Pam Lewis located the 1842 Church of England marriage record of her gg-grandfather and went back another generation on her EDWARDS family. The couple were both born in Hertsfordshire but they were married in Surrey – another mystery for another trip.

St. George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey, England 4 June 1842

Thanks to Tim Cox, Carol Brown Hoskins and Jane Lindsey for sharing photos.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

A Few Genealogical Favorite Things and What We Can Learn from the Pros

Friday, July 8, 2011
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

Join member Virginia Kysh for some genealogy fun and tips from the experts.

A Few Favorite Things
Virginia will start things off with a “poor genealogist’s” version of Oprah's famous give away. Kysh shares favorite websites, magazines, tools and other genealogical finds that have caught her fancy. Bring an empty bag so you can carry home some fun stuff! (But don't come looking for a new car or a trip to your ancestral home.)

Some Things We Can Learn from the Professionals
Next, Kysh will share some insights learned from working with two professional genealogists each year at Utah Genealogical Association problem solving classes. She’ll discuss the importance of using research logs and many other tips to help with researching.

The class is limited to forty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop.

Preregistration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty registrants. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Register online.

Virginia Kysh has served as Assistant Director of the Antioch Family History Center for many years. A graduate of Brigham Young University Provo with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Library Science, Virginia caught the genealogy bug while attending an introductory genealogy class at BYU. Kysh has attended Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) Institute at Salt Lake City for the past fourteen years and she is a frequent attendee at FGS and NGS conferences as well as those closer to home. Virginia has forty years of genealogy research experience. She has been teaching genealogy for ten years.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

Online Newspapers with Janice Sellers

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Photographs courtesy of Tim Cox, Oakland, California.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Two Member Coffees in June!

Saturday June 11, 2011, 9:30 a.m.
or

Thursday June 23, 2011, 11:00 a.m.

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

Attention, members!

Please choose a date and join us for a get-together at the library.

Who: Any member who would like to learn more about the library, see what the society has to offer, and compare notes with other members.

What: Tour the library, learn about what is going on at the society, meet other members, share research interests and get a little help with your research.

Membership Committee Chair Sandy Fryer and Volunteer Coordinator Jane Lindsey cooked up the coffee idea as a way to network and to learn more about how best to assist our members with their family history research. It is also a way for members to discover volunteer opportunities at the library.

The coffees last about an hour, but members are encouraged to stay and do some research.

Sandy plans to schedule member coffees twice a month so if you can't make a date in June, please watch the society calendar for future events.

The coffees are limited to fifteen members. Please RSVP online or by telephone at 510-663-1358.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

East Bay Teens on a Familiar Journey

Today's San Francisco Chronicle carries a story on page A-1 under a heading I've never before seen on the front page: Genealogy. The article, "Emotional Peeks at Family History" has a different headline in its online version: Genealogy Search Expands East Bay Teens' Worlds.

Chronicle staff writer Jill Tucker reports on Family Journey – an ancestry program that has East Bay high school and community college students meeting weekly to learn about their roots. The program launched in February during Black History Month and will conclude with a special presentation on June 4, 2011.

The Family Journey Ancestry project is a collaborative effort by the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC), the Oakland Regional Family History Center (ORFHC) and staff from the office of Alameda County's District 5 Supervisor Keith Carson. The supervisor's April 27, 2011 newsletter carries this quote from Carson:

A few years ago I had the chance to look into my family history and it gave me a deeper appreciation for what my parents and grandparents went through in their journey out of the South. I wanted youth in Alameda County to have that same chance to connect with a deeper sense of who we are.

I was curious about Supervisor Carson's "look" at genealogy so I called his office and learned that he took part in the 2007 Black History Month program at the ORFHC with then-mayor Ron Dellums.

You can read more about Family Journey Ancestry at the AAGSNC blog. Nicka Smith has written an insightful piece on the program's challenges and rewards AAGSNC Teams Up With County Supervisor for Program. Her use of Michael Jackson's ancestry as an example for the kids is brilliant. 

Kudos to Supervisor Carson and to Nicka Smith and our colleagues at AAGSNC and the ORFHC for introducing a new generation to their ancestors.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

Celtic Roots with Cath Madden Trindle

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Photographs courtesy of Kim Cotton, Oakland, California.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library