Wordless Wednesday

San Francisco History Expo

Old San Francisco Mint

March 2-3, 2013

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, San Francisco, CA, 3/3/2013.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Using DNA to Solve Your Genealogical Mysteries

Saturday, April 27, 2013
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Nile Hall
Preservation Park
668 Thirteenth Street
Oakland, CA 94612

Do you have more questions than answers about how DNA can help with your genealogy research Are you eager to let DNA help you overcome a brick-wall?

Join the California Genealogical Society for a day of DNA and learn how to connect with living cousins around the world.

Schedule

9:00 a.m. Registration, coffee /tea

9:30 – 10:30 Crash Course in DNA, Katherine Borges
Katherine will describe the types of tests and what they reveal, where to get them, what to do with the results.

10:45 - 11:45 Hoskins Y-DNA Case Study, Tony Hoskins
Tony will talk about what happens when your DNA does not match while sharing the twists and turns his DNA research has taken.

11:45 - 1:15 Network during lunch. Visit a local restaurant or order a boxed lunch when you register.

1:15 - 2:45 How Are CGS Members Using DNA?
Ken Haughton will discuss mutations found in his research and how he is using them to break down some of his brick walls. Pam Miller will show how DNA has provided the final irrefutable evidence in proving lineage.

3:00 - 3:30 Panel discussion – questions from the audience.

Register online.

Download the seminar flier.

Katherine Borges

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 70 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. 

Tony Hoskins

Tony Hoskins manages and heads the Sonoma County History and Genealogy Library. A frequent lecturer in the Bay Area, he is also the Sonoma County Archivist managing the Sonoma County Archives at Los Guilicos that houses many of the county's original land, probate, tax, naturalization, vital, and court records. Tony’s interest in genetic genealogy began three years ago when he compared his DNA to that of a fifth cousin and found they did not match. He discovered it was his line that was the problem.


Photograph of Katherine Borges used with permission of Dick Eastman.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Celebrating 115 Years with our Updated Bookmark!

Ancestor photographs courtesy of our members.
Graphics and design by Lois Elling.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

eNews March 2013, volume 7, number 3

The March 2013 eNews, volume 7, number 2, 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.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, we pay tribute to Irish-born Jennie McCormick Fitzgerald, great-grandmother of member Cathy Paris.

Jennie McCormick Firzgerald (1861–1935)

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

The April 2013 issue will be emailed on March 31, 2013. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

Photograph courtesy of Cathy Paris.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Juan Bautista de Anza Traveling Exhibit: Discover the Diversity of Early California

CGS Vice-president Ellen Fernandez-Sacco visited the de Anza exhibit at Oakland City Hall and sent this report:

A small bilingual traveling exhibit on the de Anza Expedition of 1775-1776 was on view at the City Hall in downtown Oakland. Organized by the National Parks Service and the Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, it also included a film screening of “The Anza Expedition” and a panel discussion by representatives of the Oakland Black Cowboy Association, the Peralta Hacienda Historical Park and the Juan Bautista de Anza National History Trail part of the National Park Service. 

The De Anza Expedition led 240 men, women and children over 1200 miles and was intended to populate and colonize Alta California and establish a supply route between Sonora to the San Francisco Bay. The settlers founded San Francisco and San Jose. The De Anza National Heritage Trail extends from Nogales on the U.S. Mexico border through Southern California, through the Coast region to San Francisco. Native people guided the expedition over their trade routes comprised of trails and landscapes they knew for centuries. Profound changes ensued. 

Eventually, the establishment of the Mission system destabilized and destroyed Native ways of life in California. Settlers and Native people interacted and intermarried to create a unique California culture.

Of particular interest to readers interested in California genealogy and family history are the documents on the National Parks Service Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail website, which includes a 268-page Historic Resource study with a bibliography and an Ethnography of the settlers of San Francisco.

Some primary source documents (original journals) and other resources are on the Web de Anza site.

California Spanish Genealogy at SFgenealogy chronicles the story of the soldiers of the De Anza Expedition.

A free, 22-page downloadable supplement on impact of the expedition on Native peoples along the trail, Native People, the Anza Expedition, and the Settlement of California, was originally published in 2008.


Photographs and links courtesy of Ellen Fernandez-Sacco.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: March 2013 Published

March 2013 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 March calendar lists fifty-eight classes and events at various venues around the Bay Area, sponsored by thirty-five societies, archives, and libraries.

The California Genealogical Society will be exhibiting at the San Francisco History Expo at the Old Mint on Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3, 2013, with SFgenealogy.com and the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society.

There are two events of note in Sacramento this month. The 8th Annual African-American Family History Seminar Celebrating 150 Years of Emancipation will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 and the Annual Spring Seminar with Thomas MacEntee will be on Saturday, March 16, 2013, sponsored by Root Cellar, the Sacramento Genealogical Society.

If you would like to add your group's events to the calendar, please email the information by the 15th of each month for publication on or before the 25th. (Please include "SFBA Calendar" in the subject line.)

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Lavinia's Report from the Researcher Forum with Bill Mayer at the National Archives at San Francisco

The National Archives at San Francisco hosted a public Researcher Forum on Monday, January 28, 2013, at 4:00 p.m., with NARA Research Services Executive Bill Mayer from College Park, Maryland. Mayer oversees fifteen facilities of the National Archives nationwide, but this was his first visit to our regional facility in San Bruno.

The NARA forum was designed to gather feedback from researchers who visit the San Francisco facility on a regular basis. He came to answer questions and discuss issues related to the National Archives as a whole as well as to the San Francisco archive specifically.

Lavinia Schwarz and Judy Bodycote-Thomas represented the California Genealogical Society. Lavinia sent this report:

Judy Bodycote-Thomas and I attended the public researcher forum at the National Archives at San Francisco (which is actually in San Bruno) with Bill Mayer who was hired in May of 2012 as Executive of Research Services at NARA. 

Mr. Mayer is traveling to meet and talk with researchers and constituents at all fifteen facilities of the National Archives nationwide. The Seattle-based manager of the western NARA facilities was also in attendance as well as the San Bruno staff and a variety of researchers and historians, individual writers including representatives of Angel Island, Chinese genealogists, and others. Judy and I were pleased to represent the CGS. Mr. Mayer began by thanking the staff for its good service and asking for our input on what we would like the future NARA to be. 

Black and White vs. Color 

He told us of ongoing discussions about color vs. black and white digitizations; whether old microfilm should be recopied; concerns about minimal handling of old documents; space limitation of the various facilities (Cape Canaveral data is now being transferred north). Attendees prefered color – especially for maps and building plans which are often color coded. We pointed out that the earlier black and white microfilming was done when color procedures were not yet available, but to fulfill NARA's goal of preserving documents we preferred the preservation of the original color as opposed to changing original documents to black and white. 

One attendee asked if it is possible to digitize a front page with maximum information and indicate that a certain number of pages follow, e.g., an Angel Island file might have a name, date, photo, and say that the person's file consists of 30 more pages. Apparently, this would be quite hard as the information is dispersed throughout the file so creation of the front page would be labor intensive. 

Another asked why the photos of Pearl Harbor, which used to be housed at San Bruno, have never been returned after they were borrowed while text documents have? Apparently all these docs were sent to Pearl Harbor at one point with the intention of their being returned for permanent housing at San Bruno, but the photos have been retained in a warehouse in Hawaii which is difficult for researchers to get access to. There was discussion of a trio of possible "owners" of the photos – The USS Arizona group, the US Navy, and the US Park Service. Without agreement among them, the photos have not been copied nor returned. This is an ongoing issue.

Another question was why are copies priced by the linear foot? Some maps, plans, Chinese scrolls, etc. are quite long. However, a flat fee, say $5 for simple text might suffice for other items. Mr. Mayer mentioned discussion of having researchers use NARA flash drives to make their copies, and those digitizations being added to the NARA files as they are made. This might be a way to expand the digitization process organically. We were amendable until he mentioned that we'd have to fill out forms as we made our copies. And there were questions about how labor intensive this would be for the staff each day to add the new digitizations to the database. Clearly NARA is trying to figure out how we can help them. 

Mr. Mayer gave us his card and encouraged us to email him with specific suggestions. It was very good  we were there.

William A. Mayer was appointed Executive for Research Services for the National Archives and Records Administration in June 2012 when he was the University Librarian at American University in Washington, D.C. Previously, he served as the Associate University Librarian for Information Technology and Technical Services at George Washington University and as an adjunct faculty member for the School of Library and Information Science at Catholic University. Prior to his twenty-year career in academic libraries, Mayer worked in a variety of occupations, including vineyard management, cattle ranching, and residential construction. His interests include ocean ecology, music, and next-generation learning systems. He earned a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Washington and a M.L.S. from Simmons College in Boston.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Advanced Genealogy Series with Susan Goss Johnston

April 18, 2013 – May 16, 2013
Five Thursday Sessions
6:30-8:00 p.m.

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

Serious about your family history?

Is this you? You’ve searched census records, military records, and every probate and land record you can find, but still can’t seem to solve that frustrating research problem. If so, you’re ready to enter genealogy’s case-building research phase. This series will give you an opportunity to advance your skills in research methodology and practice the Genealogical Proof Standard.

The five-week course includes homework assignments! Each student will be expected to write a research report and a 1½-generation family history in an approved style.

Instructor: Susan Goss Johnston

SCHEDULE:

• April 18: Context – The Key to Thorough Analysis
• Examine all records in context: historical context, inherent context, logical context, and life context.
• April 25: Transcribe, Abstract, Think, and Plan
• Learn transcription techniques, abstract purpose, identify inferences, and plan your research from every document.
• May 2: The Research Report and Proof Summary
• Begin with a plan, document each step, and write the results in an appropriate research report format.
• May 9: Writing an Interesting Family History
• Study different formats and practice writing: a formal research report, a proof summary, and a 1½-generation family history.
• May 16: Genealogy and the Law
• Legal acts may be record sources and they affect your interpretation of the records. Learn more about the importance of law in your research.

Prerequisites: The student must be familiar with the basic record groups: census, military, vital, probate, and land records - and must have used them all.

Fee: Course is $80 for CGS members; $100 for non-members ($20 will be applied to CGS membership fee, if desired).

Class size is limited to fifteen participants. No walk-ins.
No refunds after classes begin on April 18, 2013.
Pre-registration is required.

Download the series flier for full class descriptions.

Register online.

Students may bring dinner to eat in the library before the class begins. Interested students can also attend half-hour pre-class sessions to discuss the previous week’s assignments. These discussion sessions will be held from 6:00-6:30 p.m. beginning the second week, April 25. After each session, participants will walk together to BART or to their car.

Please note: If you would like more information about the course, or if you're uncertain you're ready to take it, you may contact the instructor before registering. Email Susan Goss Johnston with your questions.

Susan Goss Johnston was a member of Yale University's first undergraduate class of women, earning a B.A. in physics. After graduation, she began working in medical research while studying voice at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. The natural outgrowth of this experience, mixed with two children, led to genealogy, research that didn't require grant writing! She is a frequent speaker in the Bay Area and has been involved in teaching and researching for more than thirty years. Sue is a ProGen Study Group alumna, completing the program in 2011, and she is a graduate of the National Institute on Genealogical Research and the "Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis" at Samford University's Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. Her personal research focuses on families in New England and the Mid-Atlantic region, and she specializes in military records and federal land records.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

115th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Nile Hall, Preservation Park, Oakland, California

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle and Linda Okazaki.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

New Pinterest Board: Books by Our Members

Membership Coordinator Diana Edwards and Volunteer Coordinator Linda Okazaki are busy making plans for the April membership meeting. The theme will be: Preserving Your Genealogical Work through Publishing.

Members who have published genealogical books, articles, and other materials are invited to bring them to the meeting on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Please email Diana Edwards if you have a work to share. You will not be required to give a presentation.

In anticipation the meeting, we've added the new Books by CGS Members board to Pinterest.

We'll have more about the April meeting as the date approaches.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Root Cellar Spring Seminar with Thomas MacEntee – Saturday, March 16, 2013

CGS member and RootCellar Publicity Chair Denise Richmond sent this announcement:

Have you purchased your tickets yet for the RootCellar 2013 Spring Seminar with Thomas MacEntee? More than half the seats have already been reserved so don't delay!

Saturday, March 16, 2013
9:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. (Doors open 8:15 am)

Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
11427 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Fair Oaks, CA 95628

Seminar Topics:

• Building a Research Toolbox 
• Learn some of the most important online resources for genealogical research. Learn how to organize your bookmarks and lists into an easy-to-access, portable virtual toolbox.
• Internet Archive, A Gold Mine for Genealogists
• Learn how to navigate this website and leverage the best strategies to download its resources.
• Social Networking, New Horizons for Genealogists
• Social networking programs will be de-mystified. Learn how each program is currently being used by genealogists and family historians of all ages.
• You Use WHAT for Genealogy? Wonderful Uses for Unusual Tools
• Learn what’s hot in the world of apps and websites and how you can start using them. This talk includes a review of a group of familiar apps and websites being used in creative ways by the genealogy community.

Cost:
Root Cellar Member – $25;  Non-member – $30;  After March 1st – $35.
Optional Lunch by TOGO’S - $7.00 each.
Gift Baskets – Raffle Ticket Sales start at 8:15 am

Download the registration form and flier.

NOTE: Due to the high interest in this seminar, early registration is highly encouraged. No registrations will be sold at the door. Confirmations will be mailed and no refunds once you have registered. Your check will be returned if it is after received after the event is sold out.

About Thomas MacEntee
When he’s not busy writing blog posts, organizing the 2,800+ members of Geneabloggers, teaching online genealogy webinars and more, Thomas MacEntee is busy in his role as “genealogy ninja.” Stealth is not easy, but he manages to get the inside track on emerging technologies and vendors as they relate to the genealogy industry. After being laid off from a twenty-five-year career in the tech industry in 2008, Thomas has been able to “repurpose” his skill set for the genealogy community and he loves to see other genealogists succeed, whether it is with their own research or building their own careers in the field.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

San Francisco History Expo 2013

Saturday, March 2, 2013, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 3, 2013, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Old Mint
88 Fifth Street at Mission

San Francisco, CA 94103

The California Genealogical Society will have a booth at the Third Annual San Francisco History Expo the first weekend in March. Admission is free (donations are welcome).

The San Francisco History Expo brings local and neighborhood history groups together under one roof. This is an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about—and participate in—San Francisco history though presentations, photographs, artifacts, children’s activities, and historical reenactments.

More than forty organizations will be represented at the two-day event, displaying their connection to San Francisco's history and sharing information about their group. The CGS will be sharing a room with SFgenealogy.org and the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogy Society.

This year we will be promoting our new San Francisco Special Interest Group and, of course, Raking the Ashes: Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research. 

Judy Bodycote helped with last year's CGS table and sent this review:

The exhibits are all very interesting, covering many aspect of SF's past and present. Last year, the Maritime Museum exhibit was particularly noteworthy with a whole room full of items including a model ship with working rigging, and the parts labelled. It is also one of the few times when the mint is open to the public.

Judy Bodycote and Nancy Servin are overseeing our presence this year. They are coordinating schedules for volunteers to staff our booth. If you can help, please email Nancy.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Honoring Our Past Presidents

Congratulations, members and volunteers!

One hundred fifteen years ago today, on Saturday, February 12, 1898, at 2:00 p.m., the California Genealogical Society was founded in San Francisco.

A half dozen or so San Franciscans interested in genealogy gathered at Dr. Edward Stephen Clark's office at 16 Geary. They pooled their knowledge of family history research and shared the materials they'd separately gathered. In fact, they held the first meeting of what would become the California Genealogical Society, the state's first organization of family history researchers.

Dr. Edward Stephen Clark was elected the society's first president. Today President Jeffrey Valliant is the thirty-sixth to hold the office. Today we honor those who came before.

Past Presidents of the California Genealogical Society

Dr. Edward Stevens Clark     1898–1900
Col. Adolphus S. Hubbard  1900
Mr. Herbert Folger  1901–1903
Mr. Zoeth A. Eldridge  1904
Mr. Herbert Folger  1905–1907
Mr. Orville Dwight Baldwin     1908–1909
Mr. Henry Byron Phillips  1912–1920
Mr. Delmar Leon Thornbury     1921
Mr. George Henry Andruss  1922
Dr. Charles Francis Griffin 1923–1931
Mr. George Arthur Merrill 1932
Mr. Charles Hancock         1933–1941
Mr. Robert T. C. Head  1942–1944
Miss Margaret Griffith     1945–1948
Mrs. Heward Armstrong 1948–1962
Mr. H. Lewis Mathewson 1963–1964
Mrs. Scott Rountree          1965–1970
Mrs. John Peirce  1971–1973
Dr. Albert Shumate     1974
Mr. J. Roger Jobson  1975–1976
Mrs. Charles C. Bowen  1977–1978
Mr. John Hale  1979–1982
Mrs. Constant Vaughn  1983
Mr. David Adams     1983–1977
Mrs. Jane Steiner     1987–1988
Mr. James Schuyler 1989
Mr. David Mason Adams  1990
Mrs. Mary Sweetman  1991
Mrs. Mary Lou Grossberg     1992–1993
Dr. Frederick S. Sherman  1994–1997
Mr. David Wilma  1998
Mr. Vernon A. Deubler  1998–2001
Mr. Glen S. Schimelpfenig  2001–2004
Mrs. Jane Knowles Lindsey     2004–2010
Dr. Stephen Harris  2010–2012

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

French-Canadian Seminar and Panel Discussion

Dr. Robert Jackson

Saturday, March 23, 2013

10:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library

2201 Broadway, Suite LL2

Oakland, California 94612

Dr. Robert Jackson, a retired Harvard history professor and businessman, will give participants an overview of the history of Quebec, providing historical perspective to French Canadian research. Come hear him discuss major French Canadian resources and online resources for your genealogy research. He will also offer suggestions for U.S. research to trace your ancestor back to Quebec.

The last hour of the seminar will be devoted to a panel discussion with time for questions from the audience. Mary Beth Frederick and Tom Gesner will assist.

Seminar Schedule:

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Brief History of Quebec and how it affected the Canadian population, including the King’s daughters (Filles du Marier), the Carignan Regiment, and the Acadians.

11:15 a.m.

-12:15 p.m. Discussion of Important Record Sets for French Canadian research, including notarial records, the Drouin Collection, the PRDH, Jette’s genealogy dictionary the Tanguay Collection, the Census and other resources. The use of “dit” names (alternate surnames) and online resources will also be covered.

12:15 -

1:00 p.m. Lunch: Bring your own lunch and network with other French Canadian researchers.

1-2 p.m. Beginning your French Canadian research in the U.S Ideas for identifying the French name will be discussed, as well as using churches with a large French Canadian population as a resource. We will look at migration patterns of French Canadians to the U.S. Marriages in VT, NH, and NY are often hard to find.2:15-
3:15 p.m. Q & A and Panel Discussion

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.

Register online.

The class is limited to thirty participants. The cost is $20 for members and $40 for non-members, with the option to apply $20 to a membership that day to allow one discounts for other classes.

Registrants are encouraged to give as much information beforehand on their French Canadian ancestors as possible, including at a minimum the name and birthdate of their most recent French-Canadian ancestor as well as the names of his/her parents and their marriage date/location. Registrants should email this information at time of registration to events@california ancestors.org, with the email subject of FRENCH CANADIAN FAMILY INFORMATION.

Robert Jackson holds a Ph.D. in history from Harvard University. After several years' teaching at the college level, he pursued a professional career in banking and finance. Since retiring he has assisted a variety of not-for-profit and community organizations and has enjoyed his hobbies of genealogy and tennis. He lives in Berkeley, is devoted to his wife, and is very proud of his daughter, now in her junior year at Bennington College in Vermont.


The writing assistance of Carol Corville Horn is gratefully acknowledged.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

APG Professional Management Conference

Member Corey Oiesen sent this announcement:

Register now for Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) Professional Management Conference 2013. The deadline for registration discounts is this Friday, February 15, 2013. A $25 late registration fee applies afterwards.

Attendance at is open to members and non-members. Attendees may choose to attend the full conference or a single day.

Association of Professional Genealogists
Professional Management Conference
March 19-20, 2013
Radisson Hotel Downtown
Salt Lake City, Utah

The APG conference precedes RootsTech.

This year’s theme is, "Building a Successful Business." Speakers will be:

Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

• Workshop: Overcoming Research Barriers---An Interactive Case Study
• Variables in Professional Genealogists' Approaches to Research
• Client Reports: Dos, Don’t, and Maybes

Judy G. Russell, J.D., CG

• Order in the Court: Hands-on with Court Records
• More Than the Begats: Using the Law to Spice up a Research Report

Thomas MacEntee

• Launching an Effective Marketing Campaign

Lisa Louise Cooke

• Video Marketing: Killer YouTube Strategies

Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL

• The Best Educational Plan for You: The Workshop

Jean Wilcox Hibben, Ph.D., M.A, CG

• Organization for Genealogy Speakers

APG will also hold at reception and roundtable from 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2013, which is open to members and non-members.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Field Trip to the California Historical Society March 20, 2013

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

California Historical Society

678 Mission Street

San Francisco, California 94105

For members only!

Join Henry Snyder, chair of the library committee, for a field trip to the California Historical Society. A talk and tour by the CHS staff will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. After the tour the library is open until 4:00 for research. Bring lunch or try one of the nearby restaurants.

Register online.

The CHS Collection comprises a diverse body of materials documenting the history of California, including:

• 50,000 volumes of books and pamphlets
• 4,000 manuscript collections
• 500,000 photographs
• Printed ephemera, periodicals, posters, broadsides, maps, and newspapers
• The Kemble Collection on Western Printing and Publishing
• 5,000 works of art, including paintings, drawings, and lithographs
• Artifacts and costumes

There is a also a gallery with changing exhibitions. At the time of our visit, “See Beauty in this Life: A Photographer Looks at 100 Years of Rural California” with a retrospective by Lisa M. Hamilton, will be playing through  March 24, 2013.

The CHS website includes a research page which highlights the strengths of their collection and is a gateway to their online catalog and the Online Catalog of California (OAC). The OAC is an online archive of collection guides and digitized primary sources contributed by libraries and other cultural heritage institutions throughout the state, maintained by the University of California.

The California Historical Society, founded in 1871, is a membership-based, non-profit organization with a mission to inspire and empower people to make California's richly diverse past a meaningful part of their contemporary lives.

The writing assistance of Carol Corville Horn is gratefully acknowledged.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

eNews February 2013, volume 7, number 2

The February 2013 eNews, volume 7, number 2, 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 honor Thelma Nordengen Armstrong Flaten, grandmother of California Genealogical Society board member Shannon Reese.

Thelma Nordengen Armstrong Flaten

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

The March 2013 issue will be emailed on February 28, 2013. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

Photographs courtesy of Shannon Reese.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

A San Francisco Public Library Talk by Jane Lindsey: Using Familysearch.org for Your Genealogy Research

Tuesday, March 19, 2013
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

San Francisco Main Public Library
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room A

100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Jane Knowles Lindsey will present a lecture at the  San Francisco Main Library on using FamilySearch.org. This free website provides a collection of records, resources, and services to help people with their genealogical research. Records on the site come from the United States and from countries around the world. It is one of the most heavily used genealogy sites on the Internet.

This talk will focus primarily on learning to search the records, finding information in the card catalog and the exploring the Learn tab which includes the Familysearch Wiki.

Come discover what you can find about your family on this incredible website!

Jane Knowles Lindsey is past-president of the California Genealogical Society. She continues to serves on its events committee. Jane's specialty is events planning and she has arranged genealogical research cruises to Alaska, Canada and the Carribbean. In addition, she leads annual group research tours to major genealogical libraries in Salt Lake City and Boston.

Mrs. Lindsey, a native of Massachusettes, received her R.N. degree from Boston University and practiced nursing until 1983. She did extensive volunteer fundraising for Children’s Hospital, Oakland, until 1998. Jane is also a past Trustee and Council member for the New England Historical and Genealogical Society. She travels to Salt Lake City at least twice a year to do her own family research and for private clients.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Wordless Wednesday

Field Trip to the Sutro Library

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Photographs by Kathryn M. Doyle, San Francisco, CA.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Members Gathered after a Week of Teaching and Learning at SLIG 2013

Thomas MacEntee, Lisa Gorrell, Cath Trindle, Linda Okazaki, Tim Cox, Eva Goodwin,
Virginia Kysh and Julia Redford at SLIG 2013. (Not shown: Diana Powell)

The California Genealogical Society was well-represented at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) this year. They took the time to pose for a group photo and to send me some of their observations.

Our "far-flung" member from Chicago, Thomas MacEntee, coordinated a new offering this year – Course 6 – A Genealogists' Guide to the Internet Galaxy. He described the course as a "boot camp for genealogists who feel overwhelmed by technology and also have a fear of falling behind in terms of their 'tech quotient.'"

Cath Madden Trindle, CG, was an instructor for Course 1 – American Research and Records: Focus on Localities, coordinated by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FUGA, FMGS. Cath has recently retired so this was her last teaching "gig."

Lisa Gorrell attended Course 4 – Germany: Advanced Tools and Methods coordinated by F. Warren Bittner, CG.

I had a great time at my second SLIG, meeting lots of people who do German research. Our class had several certified genealogists which added to the knowledge. We learned about German history and how important it is to know the history of your area. I was able to spend a couple of afternoons at the Family History Library and found an 1807 marriage record for my husband's Wollenweber line in Kusel and went back another generation!

Tim Cox was enrolled in Course 9: Advanced Genealogical Methods coordinated by Thomas Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL.

Linda Okazaki and Diana Powell attended Course 5: Researching in Washington DC without Leaving Home, coordinated by Pamela Boyer Sayer, CG, CGL, and Richard Sayer, CG. This was Linda's first SLIG:

I was a little intimidated going in, but on Sunday night there was a get-together and I was chatting with a lovely woman only to discover she was my co-instructor! The rest of the week was a whirlwind of information. A high point for me was the reception and banquet on the last night. I spoke with Valerie Elkins who has been helping me with my Japanese research. She introduced me to Eric Stroschien, a professional genealogist with expertise in Japanese-American internment camp records. The timing couldn't have been better. I am eager to put into use all that I learned from the Sayres, then consult with Eric before heading to Washington, D.C. in February.

The Utah Genealogical Association's Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy offers a full week of instruction by national experts. Students receive at least twenty hours of in-depth instruction. The 2014 lineup of courses has been published. It's not too early to start planning for next year!


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Talking Maritime Records at the San Francisco Special Interest Group

Sandra Britt-Huber sent this report from the Saturday, Jan 19, 2013, meeting of the San Francisco Special Interest Group. Thanks, Sandra!

We had a great meeting, with twenty-three members in attendance. Ted Miles, reference librarian at the San Francisco Maritime Library and husband of volunteer extraordinaire Arlene Miles) presented a talk about San Francisco maritime records and history, focusing on the Pacific Maritime 1840 - 1900.

Ted Miles and Lloyd's Register

Ted brought a volume of Lloyd's Register. Interest was high and Ted fielded lots of questions.

Lloyd's Register

Ron Filion and Pam Storm did a presentation about shipping and maritime records at SFgenealogy.com. They also updated SIG members on what's new on their site: Holy Cross and Calvary Cemetary records are digitalized and the removals from Calvary to Holy Cross.

The California Genealogical Society sponsors Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for members to pursue the study of a particular geographical research area or genealogy discipline. These groups are a benefit of society membership. SIGs meet on specific days every month, as follows:

• Writing SIG
• Meets second Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. First meeting February 13, 2013.
• San Francisco SIG
• Meets third Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Next meeting February 16, 2013.
• RootsMagic SIG 
• Meets third Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Next meeting February 19, 2013.

Photographs courtesy of Judy Bodycote, 1/19/2013, Oakland, California.



Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Lavinia's Visit with the Chula Vista Genealogical Society

Lavinia Schwarz spent some time in San Diego this month and took the opportunity to visit with a local genealogical group. She attended Randy Seaver's regular second Wednesday meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society.

It was terrific. Fifteen folks attended. I think their format would work well for some of our membership meetings at CGS.

Chula Vista Genealogical Society meeting of January 9, 2013.

Randy had internet access and his computer was hooked up to a projector. 

He started with a topic — this month a question: "What did you get for Christmas?" —and he went around the group for anyone who wanted to answer. Many passed. One brought a flip cam and did a quick demonstration; a few mentioned brilliant breakthroughs they'd had (one on Christmas Day after a phone call from a Rootsweb message board correspondent); and one who talked about finding his line back to Adam, which led to Randy's article My Purported Line Back to Adam and Eve – 140 Generations from Adam to Randy. This round robin took about forty minutes. 

Next, Randy presented in detail what he had recently put on his blog about a few essential websites and some mapping. It was brilliant. I have in depth notes on that to share. 

Last was another round robin. This time it was "Do you have a pesky problem? Let's ask the group for help." Among other things we found someone there who had not been able to find himself on the 1940 census. We failed at finding another one, but it was a terrific demonstration of wildcarding and trying various routes to circumvent poor indexing or spelling. 

All in all, it was just great. The meetings are free for Chula Vista Society Members. As we said our goodbyes, Randy good-naturedly told me that facilitating the two hour sessions can be "like herding cats."

You can read Randy’s meeting report CVGS Research Group Summary - 9 January 2013 Meeting at the Chula Vista group’s blog.

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society is a non-profit corporation founded in 1987 and affiliated with the library system of Chula Vista, California. The society draws members from the city of Chula Vista and the surrounding communities of southern San Diego County. They meet regularly at library facilities so all meetings and programs are open to the public. They encourage membership so as to gain access to the wealth of knowledge and experience of its members.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: February 2013 Published

February 2013 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 February calendar lists fifty-seven 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 the month. (Please include "SFBA Calendar" in the subject line.)

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Just for Fun: Can You Guess?

Arlene Miles sent this photo and question for our first blog contest!

Can you name the person who purple clogged our Annual Meeting?

Arlene will send a prize to the first person who gives the correct answer in the comments below.

(I had no idea but I spotted the clogs at the Field Trip to Sutro Library last week. They get around!)



Photograph courtesy of Arlene Miles, 1/12/2013, Oakland, California.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

What You Missed: 2013 Annual Meeting

The Annual Business Meeting of the California Genealogical Society was held on Saturday, January 12, 2013. A total of fifty-three members attended the festivities starting at 12:00 p.m. with a social hour in the Education Room organized by Diana Edwards and Linda Okazaki.

Several members responded to the call for "appetizers to share" so everyone enjoyed good food and a chance to meet members and renew acquaintances with old friends.

One nice feature was the wall banner that stretched across the room listing the names of all 1050 of our current members and the year they joined.

President Jeffrey Vaillant welcomed members and gaveled the business meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Minutes of the 2012 meeting, the 2013 calendar year budget, and committee reports were distributed to all. Secretary Lisa Gorrell presented the minutes from last year's meeting which were approved.

Treasurer Laura Lee Karp gave reports on the reading of the society’s books and on the financial health of the society before presenting the 2013 budget, which was approved. President Vaillant stressed the point that income from membership dues doesn't cover "opening the doors of the library" in terms of rent. Income from research, publications sales, events, classes, tours and other fundraisers still leaves a shortfall which is filled by member donations and income from the society's endowment.

Nominating Committee Chair Karen Lemelin introduced the nominees for seats on the board of directors. Diana Edwards and Shannon Reese were elected by acclamation.

Committee reports were delivered by Diana Wild and Henry Snyder (Library), Sandy Fryer (Membership), Chris Pattillo (Investment), Shannon Reese (Publications/Marketing), Kim Cotton (Research), Jim Sorenson (Technology), Ellen Fernandez-Sacco (Strategic Planning) and Jane Lindsey (Events).

Just before the meeting ended, new board member, Diana Edwards, brought the centerpieces from the reception to present to two lucky members. Kyrha Dahan and June Lindquist each took phalaenopsis orchids home for being our "newest" and "longest" members. Kyrha joined the society in 2012. June has been a member for thirty-eight years – since 1974! Congratulations, ladies!

The business meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. The board of directors met briefly to elect officers for 2013:

President – Jeffrey Vaillant 

Vice-president – Ellen Fernandez-Sacco

Treasurer – Laura Lee Karp 

Recording secretary – Lisa Gorrell 

Corresponding secretary – Karen Tracy Lemelin

Before closing, I want to acknowledge Patricia Smith, our second Saturday Desk volunteer. She does yeoman's work during all of our membership meetings. Thank you, Pat!


Photographs courtesy of Kathryn Doyle, Jane Lindsey, Arlene Miles, and Linda Okazaki.

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Wordless Wednesday

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Monday, January 14, 2013
Radisson Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah

Clockwise from left: Linda Okazaki, Eva Goodwin, Lisa Gorrell, Tim Cox
(not shown: Virginia Kysh and Thomas MacEntee)

Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

32nd Annual Ancestor Roundup Seminar January 28, 2013

Kitty Nevin, CGS member and Volunteer Chair of Ancestor Roundup 2013 sent this announcement:

The 32nd Annual Ancestor Roundup Genealogical Seminar will be held Saturday, January 26,  2013, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at the LDS Church, 1024 Noche Buena at Plumas Avenue, Seaside California.

Nationally known genealogist, author and college instructor Karen Clifford, AG, is keynote speaker and one of over a dozen instructors at the all-day genealogy conference.

Download the registration flier.

Download the 2013 Schedule of Classes.

The event is co-sponsored by the Commodore Sloat Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

For more information email Serita Sue Woodburn.

The National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution granted a charter to the Pacific Grove Chapter on September 29, 1922. In 1934, the chapter name was changed to Commodore Sloat Chapter to commemorate the historical significance of Commodore John Drake Sloat in California history. In 2011, to reflect the historical importance of Commodore Sloat's landing in Monterey, the chapter location was changed to Monterey, California.


Copyright © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library