California Genealogical Society blog: The California Nugget: Passing the Genealogy Baton

The California Nugget, our genealogy journal, is getting a new editor. After many years of wonderful work and tireless dedication as its editor, Jane Hufft has decided its time to pass the baton onto someone else. Who’s that someone? Janice M. Sellers.

Why she's the right choice for us

Janice already edits three genealogy publications: ZichronNote, journal of the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society (SFBAJGS); The Baobab Tree, journal of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC); and the CSGA Newsletter, from the California State Genealogical Alliance (CSGA). Drawing on this wealth of experience, society members should feel confident that she will produce a genealogy journal that will continue the high standards of quality and interesting stories we’ve all come to love.

In addition to her editing credits, she’s a professional genealogist who specializes in Jewish, black, dual citizenship, and newspaper research.

What’s her philosophy on genealogy?

Janice said, “I am passionate about genealogy. I love researching my own family and everyone else's.”

She also offered, “I love to find the stories behind people and learn as much as I can about why they did what they did. By looking at the historical context around the people I research, I’m able to help a client understand who came before them. Once you know what was happening in your ancestor’s world, their actions begin to make more sense.”

Her extensive genealogy background

Janice is the vice president, as well as the programming and publicity director, for SFBAJGS. She’s a board member of AAGSNC and CSGA. She has been on the staff of the Oakland FamilySearch Library since 2000. In addition, Janice has been researching her own family for more than 40 years.

She’s also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy, Genealogical Speakers Guild, and California Genealogical Society. Janice is active as a volunteer in the genealogy community and has taught many classes here at the California Genealogical Society & Library.

Before becoming a professional genealogist, she worked in publishing for many years as an editor, indexer, translator, and compositor.

On a fun note

Way back when, Janice was in the USC Marching Band (according to her, “The Greatest Marching Band in the History of the Universe”) for five years. While in the band, she had the joy of performing at two Super Bowl halftime shows and one World Series game, and can still be seen in the movie "The Naked Gun". She says, “Being in the band was one of the best experiences of my life.”

What does Janice like to do outside of genealogy?

When not involved in genealogy or publishing, she loves music, singing, cooking, needlework, gardening, historical reenactment, painting small miniatures, and taking care of her birds and cats.

Help her make a successful start as the next California Nugget editor!

Do you have a story, idea, or concept you’d like to have published? Send her an e-mail and get the conversation started. Who knows, you just might be in an upcoming issue of the Nugget!