Where to Plant Your Family Tree in the Online Forest - September 29, 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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

Sharing your genealogical research online enables you to connect with others who share your ancestry. Sheri Fenley and Doug Joe will explore four websites in the forest of online trees, discuss the pros and cons of using online webtrees and give a demonstration.

All of these FREE websites allow you to build your tree on their site or upload a GEDCOM file from your genealogy software program:

Ancestry Member Trees at Ancestry.com
World Connect Family Trees and Websites at Rootsweb.com
Family Tree Explorer at FindMyPast.com
Family Tree Builder and Website at TribalPages.com

Register online.

The class is limited to thirty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable).

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

Sheri Fenley is a professional genealogist and historical research from Stockton who specializes in north central California research. She is a member of APG, NGS, ISFHWE, NSDAR, California State Genealogical Alliance, Global Alliance of Genealogy Professionals, San Joaquin County Genealogical Society and the California Genealogical Society. Sheri is an alumni of ProGen 1 (2009). She has done two years of coursework at the Institute for Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University and is "on the clock" with the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Fenley is the editor of the SJGS newsletter and author of the popular blog "The Educated Genealogist" which was voted one of Family Tree Magazine's Top 40 Blogs.

Doug 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 became interested in genealogy fifteen years ago and has since taken over the role of family genealogist from his uncle. Joe is an active contributor and 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 where his day job entails explaining complex systems and concepts to lay people.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Annual Fall Beginning Genealogy Series Starts September 18, 2012

In celebration of October Family History Month, the Oakland FamilySearch Library will host the California Genealogical Society's fifth annual Fall Beginning Genealogy Research Series. 

Seven ninety-minute sessions will focus on gathering family records, organizing them, and beginning to use libraries and online resources to document research. The series includes a field trip to the California Genealogical Society Library.

Come and learn the basics!

Where:  Oakland FamilySearch Library, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602.

When:   Tuesday mornings, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

Cost:     $40 for seven sessions, includes syllabus.

Please note: This is a technology-based class and knowledge of basic computer skills is required. Students will use a genealogical database program and do internet searches. Instructors and library volunteers will be available to help you put your knowledge into action. Students are are invited to bring lunch and work on class assignments in the afternoons.

Preregistration is necessary to ensure adequate handouts. Download the information flier for full course details, including class descriptions.

Register online.

Schedule of Classes 

September 18, 2012  Getting Started  Jane Knowles Lindsey

September 25, 2012  Using Census Records  Susan Goss Johnston

October 2, 2012  Documentation in the Digital Age  Susan Goss Johnston

October 9, 2012  Secondary Sources  Jane Knowles Lindsey

October 16, 2012  Vital Records, the SSDI and the Calendar Change of 1752   Janice M. Sellers

October 23 2012*  Field Trip to the CGS Library   Jane Knowles Lindsey

October 30, 2012  Where Do I Go from Here? 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Course includes mandatory weekly homework assignments.
• Class size limited to the first thirty who register.
• No walk-ins permitted.
• Free parking at the Oakland FamilySearch Library
• $10.00 off a $40 CGS membership if you join by October 30, 2012

*All classes meet at the OFSL except Field Trip to CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, on October 23, 2012.

QUESTIONS? 

Email the California Genealogical Society or phone 510-663-1358.

Email the Oakland FamilySearch Library or phone 510-531-3905.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Genealogy 101: Getting Started – A Program with the Society of California Pioneers

Saturday, September 8, 2012

1:00 – 3:00 p.m. 

Society of California Pioneers

300 Fourth Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

The California Genealogical Society is pleased to offer a class in collaboration with the Society of California Pioneers at their beautiful facility in San Francisco.

Genealogy 101: Getting Started is more than an introduction to the basics. Beginners will be given blank family group sheets and pedigree charts and will learn how to navigate in the genealogy world. But experienced genealogists, too, may pick up some pointers and be reminded of techniques to use and new places to search for their elusive ancestors. The handout includes some essential websites to use.

The class is free and open to members of both the California Genealogical Society and the Society of California Pioneers. Preregistration is required. Registration confirmations will be emailed to registrants.

Register online.


Lavinia Gilbert Schwarz was born and raised in the East Bay. She is a third generation northern Californian (and third generation Cal grad) who has traced her roots to France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Cuba, and San Domingue (now Haiti). She has been a member of the California Genealogical Society for twelve years, and spent five years on the Board. She presently coordinates the CGS Research and Lookups service. A genealogist since 1999, she completed the National Institute on Genealogical Research (N.I.G.R.) program in 2008 at the National Archives in Washington D.C. and College Park, Maryland. To hone her skills she has attended numerous National Genealogical Society conferences including those in Pittsburgh, PA; Raleigh, VA; Sacramento, CA; Durham, NC; Salt Lake City, UT, and Cincinnati, OH as well as visiting courthouses and genealogically significant sites in Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Louisiana, and California.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Now on YouTube! A Trip Worth Taking: the Family History Library

Is visiting a library fun? Really?

Yes! It's so much fun members of the California Genealogical Society make the trek to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City year after year after year.

This past April, Kathie Jones took her video camera to document the society's twelfth annual tour. The result is a light-hearted look at our most popular research trip. A Trip Worth Taking: the Family History Library is the newest video offering by Jones and Shannon Reese.

The video features tour leaders Jane Lindsey and Nancy Peterson and the success stories of two of our member volunteers, Linda Okazaki and Dr. Henry Snyder.

Directed by: Shannon Reese

Edited by: Kathleen Jones

Visit our YouTube channel: CAancestors.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Publications/Marketing Committee Meeting at the Society of California Pioneers

The California Genealogical Society has a long history of collaborative relationships that continues today.

Board members Pat Gallagher and Henry Snyder have been meeting with Patricia L. Keats, Director of Library and Archives at the Society of California Pioneers. They have been planning an introductory genealogy class for members of both societies to be held in San Francisco in the fall.

The Society of California Pioneers

When Henry mentioned the idea at a Publications/Marketing Committee meeting, the group expressed an interest in seeing Pioneer Hall and meeting there in lieu of our July meeting. Pat Keats approved the visit and our monthly committee meeting morphed into a field trip and site visit.

L. to R. Jane Hufft, Pat Gallagher, Henry Snyder, and Kim Cotton.

Kim Cotton, Jane Hufft, Pat Gallagher, Shannon Reese, and Henry Snyder met in the Alice Phelan Sullivan Library at the Society of California Pioneers, located at 300 Fourth Street, San Francisco.

Alice Phelan Sullivan Library

Pat Keats was a gracious host. After the Pub/Market Committee meeting, she gave a tour of the Joseph and Mildred Rolph Moore Gallery – their gorgeous space for exhibits and lectures. She filled us in on the current exhibit on "Singing in California," which highlights songs/music written about California over the years.

Joseph and Mildred Rolph Moore Gallery

The Joseph and Mildred Rolph Moore Gallery will be the venue for our upcoming joint venture, a beginning genealogy class on Saturday, September 8, 2012, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Pub/Mark Committee Chair Shannon Reese chronicled the day with photographs and sent this description, "We met in the bustling South of Market (SOMA) area of San Francisco. The Society of California Pioneers is a beautiful, modern building with gorgeous built-in wooden bookcases and views of Moscone Center and skyline."

Pat Gallagher, Henry Snyder and Patricia Keats.

Pat is justifiably proud of the facility and holdings of the Society of California Pioneers:

"I love when people get introduced to our collections here at the Society of California Pioneers. We have such a treasure trove of not only printed information, but visual information as well. Our manuscript collections (diaries, letters, etc.) are wonderful, but there is also the vast collection of other materials that researchers can use. Visual materials such as maps, printed broadsides, photographs, advertising ephemera and art can all be really informative in many ways for researchers.

Working at the Society is like working in a vast historical story – each day one can go from the Gold Rush to Japanese immigration at Angel Island, from rare books on early San Francisco to pamphlets on early California artists. One learns something new everyday!"

Keats summed things up: "We are looking forward to collaborating with the California Genealogical Society since both of our organizations have similar aims, and our collections complement one another quite a bit. I think this will be the beginning of something very beneficial, as well as interesting and fun, to both our organizations!"

Established in 1850, The Society of California Pioneers was created to cultivate social bonds, to collect and preserve information related to California history, and to perpetuate the memory of early pioneers. Today it is a not-for-profit museum, library, and cultural organization dedicated to advancing the knowledge and appreciation of early California history for the benefit of present and future audiences of all ages. The goals of the Society are to preserve the history of early families and pioneers, as well as events from pre-statehood and Spanish California up through the early 20th century. The collections are open to all researchers. One of the main aims since moving to the current location is to provide increased accessibility for patrons, both in person and online.

The Society of California Pioneers is still under the leadership of direct descendants of California pioneers. It serves as a venue for California art, history, and culture. Pioneer Hall has a museum with rotating exhibits and the Alice Phelan Sullivan library, which are both open to the public. It is the location of many exhibitions and programs related to California History. The Society emphasizes educational programs and the preservation of historical materials. It hosts book talks, musical programming, and lectures by members and others relating to early California.

Photographs courtesy of Shannon Reese, 7/10/2012, San Francisco.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: August 2012 Published

August 2012 events have been published on the San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar – a collection of local genealogical society classes, workshops and meetings within a 75 mile radius of San Francisco.

Many Bay Area societies take August off so the number of events is fewer than usual. The August calendar lists thirty-seven and events at various venues around the Bay Area, sponsored by thirty societies, libraries and archives.

If you would like to add your group's events to the calendar, please email the information by the 15th of each month. (Please include "SFBA Calendar" in the subject line.)

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

eNews July 2012, volume 6, number 7

The July 2012 eNews, volume 6, 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, CGS President Jeffrey Vaillant honors his maternal great-grandparents.

Thomas Lee Rader and Louise Douglas Mackintosh

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

The August 2012 issue will be emailed on July 31, 2012. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

Photographs courtesy of Jeffrey Vaillant.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Western States Complete! 1940 Census Indexing – June 2012 Update

The California Genealogical Society is part of the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project to create a free, online searchable name index of the 1940 U.S. Federal Census.

CGS currently has sixty-six indexers who are part of a team of more than 143,000 volunteers. Our team members indexed 14,299 names and arbitrated 6,970 during the month of June. The project is ahead of schedule and FamilySearch created the graphic above to show that indexing is more than halfway to completion.

In fact, by the end of June, 75% of the entire 1940 census was indexed and arbitrated! More than 105 million records have been indexed, twenty-nine states and territories are searchable by name, and the entire western U.S. is complete.

President Jeffrey Vaillant is our acting project coordinator and he is posting periodic "cheerleading" messages to our group participants.

Thank you to all of our hard-working indexing and arbitrating volunteers!

If you haven't signed on yet, this may be your last chance to participate. Join us and the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

July Membership Meeting – More than Three-Fifths: Myths and Truths About Slavery and African American Identity

Nicka Smith

Saturday, July 14, 2012

1:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library

2201 Broadway, Suite LL2

Oakland, CA 94612

Tim Cox is our Events Committee chair and he works hard to schedule talks that are relevant and of broad interest to our members. Sometimes he gets lucky and things happen in the world that make for a particularly timely talk.

Genealogy rock-star Megan Smolenyak has been involved in a bit of controversy since the release of Rachel L. Swarns' new book, American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama. You can read Megan's response, Does Accuracy in History Matter? published in The Huffington Post.

Director Nicka Smith will be our July membership meeting speaker and her talk will be a "big picture" look at the elements common to the ancestry of Michelle Obama and other descendants of slaves. The history of the “peculiar institution” of slavery in the United States is complex. Learn about the myths, truths, and in-betweens that existed during a major part of U.S. history and how the use of DNA is creating a new family history for multitudes of Americans.

Nicka Smith’s interest in genealogy began at an early age when she became intrigued with a family tree that was prepared by her first cousin once removed. In 1999, she decided to continue his efforts and update his work which led to the formation of AtlasFamily.Org, and its affiliate websites. For eleven years, Nicka has lead the Atlas research team in tracing the lineage of nine generations across more than twenty-two states and four countries. She lectures and mentors both young and old on genealogical search techniques and serves as the chair of the Outreach and Education Committee for the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC). Smith has worked for Kaiser Permanente for the past eleven years in various roles, most recently, as project and communications coordinator. She is also a professional photographer whose work can be seen at ns2photography.com.

Nicka is the Project Manager for the successful Youth Ancestral Project. Smith joined the CGS board of directors in January of this year. She will be teaching a workshop on genealogy and youth at the International Black Genealogy Summit which will be held in Salt Lake City October 18-20, 2012.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: July 2012 Published

July 2012 events have been published on the San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar – a collection of local genealogical society classes, workshops and meetings within a 75 mile radius of San Francisco.

The July calendar lists more than forty classes and events at various venues around the Bay Area, sponsored by thirty societies, libraries and archives.

If you would like to add your group's events to the calendar, please email the information by the 15th of each month. (Please include "SFBA Calendar" in the subject line.)

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

More Organizing in the Library: the CGS Vertical Files

It's hard to keep up with all of the volunteer projects that go on in the California Genealogical Society Library. Maintaining our collection is an endless task and volunteers step up to keep things organized and ready for our patrons.

One of the library's gems is our Manuscript Collection. Volunteers Pat Bonderud and Linda Darby catalogued and organized ninety linear feet of loose papers, research, and family history material donated to the society over the past 114 years. The manuscript collection is now being maintained by volunteers Georgia Lupinsky and Virginia Turner. The thirty-page inventory in pdf format entitled CGS Manuscript Collection can be downloaded from the society website on the Searchable Databases page.

Pat Bonderud and Linda Darby

Now Pat and Linda have turned their attention to another neglected collection in the library – the vertical files. The vertical files contain small items: clippings, reprints, and other miscellaneous materials. Over the years the two vertical file cabinets became a bit of a "catch all" for holdings that don't fit anywhere else in the library. Most are surname files.

Bonderud and Darby are examining the contents of each and every file. They are curating and creating brief descriptions of the files, including surnames, time frame, and location.

It is painstaking work that they hope to complete in the next few months.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

The California Nugget, Spring 2012, Volume IV, Issue 1

The Spring 2012 edition of The California Nugget has been sent to the printer and will soon begin arriving in members' mailboxes. Editor Jane Hufft and Production Editor Lois Elling have outdone themselves with another fantastic issue filled with interesting articles.

This is the spring letter from Jane:

Dear Readers:

We have a variety of articles for you, each one an exciting account of significant discoveries. Wayne W. Padgett found a forgotten Civil War soldier in a very unlikely place and uncovered the details of his battle experiences. What started out as a quest to answer a few questions concluded with a moving ceremony involving two countries.

Last spring Chris Pattillo shared with Nugget readers, in her enthusiastic account “Thirty Days of Total Immersion in Genealogy,” what it was like to dive into the sometimes cold waters of family history research. In November 2011 Chris took the next step when she joined other CGS members and friends for her first trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her newest discoveries are recounted in “One Week in Salt Lake.”

Linda Okazaki was on the same trip and she will agree the stars were aligned! The startling discovery of an ancestor’s true name in a San Francisco newspaper account sent Linda’s research in completely new directions, solved a long-standing mystery and provided an astonishing story for descendants.

Without Amy Coffin, many of us would not be aware of what is happening on the frontiers of genealogy. Her insider view of the 2012 RootsTech conference gives an update on the future of family research, and it most certainly involves technology.

CGS President Jeffrey Vaillant tells all in his account of the society’s August 2011 research trip to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Participants met Library Manager Curt Witcher, found genealogical treasures in the stacks and microfilm collection, and sampled Fort Wayne restaurants and Indiana weather.

Write your stories and send them to us. We’d love to hear about your research, your discoveries, and your aha! moments with technology. There is space reserved in The California Nugget for your family, and, please note, you do not have to be a CGS member to submit a manuscript. Having your family history in print in a journal that is archived in libraries across the United States guarantees permanency for your research. Email me at jhufft@comcast.net for the Submission Guidelines and then take the leap. Make 2012 the year you visit a new library, learn the latest technology skills, and write it all down! 

—Jane Hufft, Editor

TABLE of CONTENTS

Twenty-First Century Genealogy
A Tombstone for Ulrik by Wayne W. Padgett
One Week in Salt Lake by Chris Pattillo
RootsTech 2.0: A Report from the 2012 RootsTech Conference by Amy Coffin

California Ancestors
Who Was Emerson Corville? by Linda Okazaki
1883 Pensioners List: Dorsey, Eliz. Eleanor to Hayes, James Compiled by Jane Hufft

For Our Readers
CGS Visits the Allen County Public Library by Jeffrey Vaillant and Nancy Peterson
Boston, Massachusetts Research Trip Information

At the Society
Book Review by Laura Spurrier
Recent Acquisitions in 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 © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

SCGS Jamboree 2012 – Another Great Event

The 43rd annual Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree is in the history books and all agree it was a fantastic event with something for genealogy enthusiasts of every stripe.

California Genealogical Society members participated at every level: as speakers, exhibitors, and attendees.

Several CGS board members attended Friday's Society Workshop – four lectures on society management sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the California State Genealogical Alliance. The workshop speakers included our member Cath Trindle CG, Schelly Talalay Dardashti, George G. Morgan, and Josh Taylor. What was totally unexpected was Dardashti's use of the California Genealogical Society's website and blog as examples in her talk about publicity. She had only good things to say about our efforts. Thank you, Schelly!

Slide from Schelly Dardashti's talk "Publicity is the Society's Friend."

Another surprise that morning was from my blogger friend, Kim von Aspern-Parker, who joined CGS on her mobile phone while we were waiting for a lecture to begin.

Kim von Aspern-Parker affixing her new CGS member ribbon to her name tag.

It was mostly about fun Friday evening when Jamboree hosted their first Hollywood GALA sponsored by Ancestry.com. President Jeff Vaillant took the podium to announce the winner of our special membership raffle prize — Shelia Farmer. Jeff and SCGS President Alice Fairhurst also announced the new Memorandum of Understanding between our two societies. I'll have lots more to say about that next month.

CGS President Jeff Vaillant and SCGS President Alice Fairhurst at the Gala.

Three of my favorite people (and CGS members) Amy Coffin, Elizabeth O'Neal and Sheri Fenley, in their  Gala attire.

All day Saturday, the California Genealogical Society had a table outside the exhibit hall in the Jamboree "society row." It was the second year that the Southern California Genealogical Society made free tables available to non-profit groups and we were thrilled to take them up on the offer!

A special thank-you to Amy Coffin, Kim Cotton, Sheri Fenley, Laura Lee Karp, Debbie Mascot, Mary Mettler, Jim Sorenson, and Jeff Vaillant for setting up and staffing the table, and for the prep work to obtain the necessary permits and bring our materials down. It was a team effort and everything went smoothly. We sold several copies of Raking the Ashes and lots of our Insider's Guide to California Genealogy.

Members who made it for our group photo: Teresa Fraser, Duncan Tanner, Amy Coffin, Jim Sorenson, Denise Levenick, Sheri Fenley, Elizabeth O'Neal, Cath Trindle, Sandra Benward, Kathryn Doyle and Natalie Levinson.

We tried to get everyone together for a group photo of CGS members but there were too many other things going on. Other members in attendance were: Ron Arons, Patricia Burrow, Kim Cotton, Shelia Farmer, Paul Hawthorn, Laura Lee Karp, Lisa Lee, Sita Levy Likuski, Thomas MacEntee, Debbie Mascot, Mary Metter, Cheryl Palmer, and Kim von Aspern-Parker. If I missed anyone, please leave a comment so I can add your name.

Kathryn and newest member (and raffle winner) Shelia Farmer.

It was great spending time with so many of our members. Hope to see you all at next year's Jamboree June 7—9, 2013.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

Consultations with Maureen Taylor

and A Day with the Photo Detective

June 5-6, 2012

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, 6/5 and 6/6/2012, Oakland and Lafayette, California.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

eNews June 2012, volume 6, number 6

The June 2012 eNews, volume 6, 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, CGS member Virginia Kysh, honors her husband's great-grandmother Hannah Marie (Job) Avery. 

Hannah Marie (Job) Avery – aka "Fannie H. Avery"

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

The July 2012 issue will be emailed on June 30, 2012. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

Photograph courtesy of Virginia Kysh.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Congratulations California! 1940 Census Indexing – May 2012 Update

The California Genealogical Society is part of the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project to create a free, online searchable name index of the 1940 U.S. Federal Census.

The CGS umbrella now has sixty-four indexers who indexed 28,656 names and arbitrated 10,400 during the month of May.

President Jeffrey Vaillant is our acting project coordinator and he is posting periodic "cheerleading" messages to our group participants.

Amazingly, 1940 census indexing for the entire U.S. is already more than half completed! FamilySearch Indexing is reporting the following statistics:

• 51.88% of the entire project has been completely indexed. 
• More than twenty states are at or above 85% complete. 
• Six states — Delaware, Colorado, Kansas, Oregon, Virginia, and New Hampshire — are now indexed and searchable by name, location, and family relations. 

California is almost finished! The Golden State is 97% indexed, thanks largely to more than forty California genealogical societies that are part of the community project. But don't stop, there is still much to be done in other states, and, as we all know, Californians come from everywhere.

To see the status of each state, visit FamilySearch.org/1940census.

Thanks to all of our hard-working indexers!

If you haven't signed on yet, join CGS and the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Time Sensitive Offer: Family History Enthusiasts of All Levels Wanted

Archives.com, locally based in Redwood City, California, is looking for Bay Area residents to participate in user testing. They are seeking genealogists and have contacted me to give CGS members a chance to be among the chosen few. Participants who meet the criteria will earn a $150 Amazon gift card for their feedback and for about one hour of their time.

Here’s how it works:

Participants will be asked to join representatives from Archives.com in either San Francisco or Redwood City, on June 7 or June 8, 2012. Archives.com will email chosen participants directly with the exact time and location details. In each session participants will be reviewing materials provided by Archives.com and asked for feedback.

Archives.com needs a total of eight participants for this study. Participants will be chosen only if they fulfill the requirements below and are quick to respond. Each session will be no longer than one hour in length.

Participant requirements:

• Must travel to downtown San Francisco or Redwood City on June 7 or 8, 2012.

• Must have experience using online family trees, preferably (but not necessarily) on the website Archives.com.

• Must sign a non-disclosure agreement.

If you’re interested in this time sensitive opportunity, please email research@archives.com as soon as possible. Archives.com will respond to those who qualify.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Announcing the CGS Boston Research Tour to NEHGS September 23-30, 2012

It's time to sign up for the California Genealogical Society and Library Research Trip to the New England Historic Genealogical Society library September 23-30, 2012.

Jane Lindsey, former CGS president and past NEHGS Trustee, leads our biennial trip to Boston, Massachusetts. Accommodations are at the Boston Common Hotel and Conference Center in the Copley Square area of downtown Boston, located about three blocks from NEHGS.

The tour begins Monday morning with a brief orientation. Since the NEHGS library is closed on Monday, participants will have the option that day of visiting the Massachusettes State Archives, Suffolk or Middlesex County courthouses, Massachusettes Historical Society or Boston Public Library.

The Tour Package includes:

• Hotel room (7 nights, single occupancy)
• Monday morning orientation
• Free day Monday to visit your choice of several repositories or sight-see in Boston
• Tuesday orientation at NEHGS
• Daily continental breakfast
• Two group dinners (Monday and Saturday) at local restaurants
• Optional pre-trip consultations with Jane Lindsey
• On-site lectures - to be announced

Linda Darby and Sandy Fryer at NEHGS in 2008.

The cost is $1674.00 (airfare not included). A deposit of $300 is required by July 15, 2012, to hold one space. Download the tour flier for full details and cancellation and refund policy. Tour participants must be members of both the California Genealogical Society and the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

Register online.

The first group dinner will be on Monday evening. NEHGS is open 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. The Boston Public Library, near the hotel, is open until 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and has an excellent microtext department with a wonderful newspaper collection.

Photographs courtesy of Jane Lindsey, Boston, MA, 9/22/2008.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Summer Best Genealogy Websites Series Starts Thursday, July 19, 2012

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

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday evenings, beginning July 19, 2012
(See specific dates below.)

The California Genealogical Society will present our first summer series of evening classes – Best Genealogy Websites – Tips & Tricks – at the library.

Seven weekly 90-minute sessions will give you the skills you need to navigate your way to better and more efficient search results on the best sites for family history research.

The course costs $40 for seven weeks, including materials; $50 for non-members.

Week 1:  July 19, 2012 – Google.com I, Kim Cotton
Week 2:  July 26, 2012 – Google.com II, Kim Cotton
Week 3:  August 2, 2012 – FamilySearch.org, Jane Lindsey
Week 4:  August 9, 2012 – Ancestry.com, Jane Lindsey
Week 5:  August 16, 2012 – Fold3.com, Susan Goss Johnston
Week 6:  August 23, 2012 – Rootsweb, USGenWeb and Newspaper Sites, Susan Goss Johnston

PLEASE NOTE:

• Class size limited to the first twenty-five who register
• Walk-ins will not be permitted 
• Located just three blocks from BART 19th Street Station
• Free street parking after 6:00 p.m
• No refunds once the series begins
• $10.00 off new CGS membership if you join by August 30, 2012

Download the course flier.

Register online.   



Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

On the Street Where We Live: A Case Study Using the 1940 Census

Saturday, June 16, 2012
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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

Michael Nolan, Marty Combs, and Julie Laguard are neighbors in the Bernal Heights district of San Francisco. They used recently released 1940 census data to look back in time at the street where they live. Join us for this fascinating comparison of then and now. The neighbors will present their research on the 200 Block of Elsie Street. They will compare and contrast who lived there in 1940 with data about who lives on the block today, including:

• How many people lived under one roof? 
• What were their origins? Did they migrate or immigrate from somewhere else? 
• What did they do for a living? 
• How much did they earn? What was their length of employment? 
• Vertical study of one house on the block over time 

They will discuss the role the research played in binding the block together through frequent potluck dinners, mutual support in time of need, celebration in time of joy, and a stellar annual block party.

Michael Nolan and Marty Combs will present, with research assistance from Elsie Street neighbor, Julie Lagarde.

The presentation is free and open to all. Please let us know you are coming.

Register online.

Michael Nolan was born and bred in Brooklyn, the son of an Irish Catholic father and a Polish Jewish immigrant mother. He thinks his fascination with genealogy thus began in the womb. He convenes regular family reunions for both sides of his family and maintains sites for both on Facebook and MyFamily. He recently convened a 50th anniversary reunion for his eighth grade class at PS99 in Brooklyn and used various research tools to find missing classmates. He has a long history in journalism in NYC and San Francisco as a researcher, producer and editor for CBS News, the Public Broadcast Laboratory, and the San Francisco Business Times. He currently researches and develops family trees for individual clients. More information at Give the Gift of Family History on Facebook.

Marty Combs is from northwestern North Carolina where his family has been living since the late 1790s. Having only one living grandparent who was already 82 by his birth, and parents who grew up during the Great Depression, he was exposed early to discussions of “the good ol' days” and how families and homes transition through time. He has often exchanged stories with neighbors regarding the history of his neighborhood and home. Marty's day job is a unix system administrator. In his spare time, he cares for a nearby community garden, does woodworking, metalworking and relaxes on his front stoop socializing with neighbors.

Julie Lagarde is a social historian, policy analyst and advocate. A native of France, she obtained a Masters degree in Public Policy at the Institut d'Etudes politiques de Bordeaux. Growing restless with unemployment, she decided to apply her thirst for research to her home. Michael and Marty will present her “vertical study” on who has lived in her house over the past century, since it was built.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

A-Files Opening Ceremony and Dedication of the Tom Lantos Research Center

As chief blogger for the California Genealogical Society, I've been to many family history events and reported on lots of genealogy achievements, but none have been as moving and significant as today's A-Files Opening Ceremony and Dedication of the Tom Lantos Research Center at The National Archives at San Francisco.

Jeanie W. Chooey Low

For more than a decade, CGS member Jeanie W. Chooey Low has been a tireless advocate for the Alien Case Files. She and her colleague, Jennie Lew, co-chairs of SONA "Save Our National Archives," a coalition of more than thirty community non-profit and academic organizations and interested individuals, worked closely with the late U.S. Representative Tom Lantos to save the files from scheduled destruction. In early 2008 SONA achieved their two goals:

1. Having the A-files re-designated as records of permanent historic value.
2. Keeping local records at the San Francisco NARA.

In June 2009, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS and the National Archives and Records Administration NARA held a formal joint signing ceremony in Washington, D.C. to "designate as permanent the immigration files created on the millions of aliens residing in the United States in 1944, as well as those arriving since then."

Today, three years later, NARA-SF officially opened over 40,000 of the case files and dedicated its research room to the late Tom Lantos.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier

Taking part in the ceremony was U.S. Representative Jackie Speier, who continued the work of Tom Lantos after his death in early 2008 and her election to his seat. Among the other speakers was CGS member and San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society President Jeremy Frankel.

Commemorative plaque presented to the grandchildren of Tom Lantos.

Other CGS members in attendance were Christine DeVillier, Grant Din, Nancy Peterson, Kay Speaks, Laura Spurrier, and Cath Trindle. Cath has written two reports on the day for the San Mateo Genealogical Society Blog and the California State Genealogical Alliance Blog.

 

Three researchers were the first to view their ancestors' A-files.

What are the A-Files?
The immigration files, known as “Alien Files” (commonly referred to as “A-Files”), were transferred from U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They are among the first of millions of case files that will eventually be opened to the public.


In 1940, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the predecessor of USCIS, started issuing Alien Registration Numbers to resident aliens in the United States.  On April 1, 1944, INS began to assign these numbers to a new series of immigration case files called A-Files. A-Files are a genealogical wealth of information, containing documents such as photographs, personal correspondence, affidavits, vital records, interview transcripts, and visa applications.

A first look at an A-File.

How can one access A-Files for genealogical research?
A-Files may be viewed in person by appointment or copies may be ordered for a fee. Researchers may contact National Archives staff at AFiles.SanBruno@nara.gov to search A-Files holdings for a particular file. Beginning Tuesday, May 29, 2012, an online database will be available through the National Archives at San Francisco website at http://www.archives.gov/pacific/san-francisco.

The National Archives at San Francisco is one of twenty-two facilities open to the public nationwide where the public can access Federal archival records in person. Its holdings total over 60,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the 1850s to the 1990s, created by more than 100 Federal agencies and courts in northern and central California, Nevada (except for Clark County), Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the American Territories. The facility is located at 1000 Commodore Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066. The National Archives at San Francisco is open Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (until 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.) Appointments are strongly encouraged.


Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, San Bruno, California, 5/22/2012.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Writing Your Family History: Start Now!

The California Genealogical Society is offering an intense writing course to help you begin writing your family history. By the end of the course, you will be ready to start writing, or will be already writing, a family history with confidence and style!

Who Should Take this Course?
This course is for genealogists and family historians who are ready to transform their research into a quality family history.

Course Details
This course will meet for a five-hour session one Saturday a month at the library in the Learning Center. Class size is limited to fifteen participants. All sessions are on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with one hour break for lunch.

The course will provide participants with all the information and assistance needed to get started on writing a family history. The course includes

• a copy of the class text Producing a Quality Family History
• helpful course materials organized in a binder
• step-by-step instruction in organizing and writing your history
• a variety of lecturers on topics to expand on reading assignments
• experienced instructors
• editing and writing help

Session dates:

• July 7, 2012
• August 25, 2012
• September 15, 2012
• October 13, 2012

The course has been created by a team of dedicated volunteers – Tim Cox, Lisa Gorrell and Jane Hufft – who have different and complementary skills. Events Chair Tim Cox is the organizer and leader. He also  a vast store of feedback data collected after every class at the library. Tim knows what members want! Board Recording Secretary Lisa Gorrell has taught several course and has curriculum experience. California Nugget Editor Jane Hufft brings her experience as an educator, writer, and editor.

NOTE: This course will NOT focus on research techniques or evidence procedures.

Course Fee*
CGS Members: $50
Non-CGS Members: $75

Register online.


Registration Requirements
Attendance is required at all four sessions.
There is no registration for individual sessions.
Participants must be willing to commit a reasonable amount of time to the homework assignments, which consist of reading assigned chapters in the provided text and working on individual writing projects.

This course is expected to fill very quickly, so register now!

*All course fees are non-refundable.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Private Tour of Mountain View Cemetery Sunday, June 3, 2012

Sunday, June 3, 2012
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Mountain View Cemetery

5000 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94611

Member Gaye Lenehan will lead a special Sunday tour of an Oakland gem. Docent-led walking tours of Mountain View Cemetery are normally held on Saturday mornings so this is a great opportunity for those who have had a conflict with the usual schedule.

The tour will start promptly at 1:00 p.m. so come in time to find the meeting place.

Come the main gates of Mountain View at the end of Piedmont Avenue and bear right around the fountain and continue up the main drive. On your right will be the Main Mausoleum (a large building) where the group will gather on the front steps of the Mausoleum.

Map:  http://goo.gl/maps/mSy9

Gaye Lenahan leading a tour in 2010.

Founded in 1863, Mountain View was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, renowned landscape architect of New York City's Central Park. The historic, not-for-profit cemetery is nestled in the foothills of Oakland and Piedmont. Gaye will tell a bit of history of the cemetery and lead the group past the final resting places of some interesting people. She's including a climb up the hill to Millionaires' Row.

Please note: Walking shoes are recommended; the tour covers almost two miles on hilly terrain. It is not suitable for those with walkers, canes or the need to sit down frequently. There is plenty of parking along the roads in the cemetery.

Photograph courtesy of Jane Knowles Lindsey, 3/24/2010, Oakland, California.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

Aging and Disability Technology Summit

San Francisco City Hall

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle and Shannon Reese, San Francisco, 5/15/2012.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: June 2012 Published

June 2012 events have been published on the San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar – a collection of local genealogical society classes, workshops and meetings within a 75 mile radius of San Francisco.

The June calendar lists fifty classes and events at various venues around the Bay Area, sponsored by thirty societies, libraries and archives.

If you would like to add your group's events to the calendar, please email the information by the 15th of each month. (Please include "SFBA Calendar" in the subject line.)

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library