California Genealogical Society blog: Beginning Genealogy

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21 September 2015

Back to School at the California Genealogical Society!

Posted by Linda Okazaki

It's Back-to-School time at the California Genealogical Society!

Join us for a free introductory class on Saturday, October 1, 2015, from 1:00 until 3:00. You may register for this class on our Eventbrite page.

The class – Genealogy: An Introduction – is part of our monthly "First Saturdays Free" open house when we welcome non-members and the general public. We open the library and share our resources with anyone interested in learning more about their family history. The library is located in the historic Breuner Building at 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, in Oakland

The will focus of this class will be on basic research methods and terminology. Learn about common (and uncommon) family history records and the resources available, both online and in libraries, repositories, and archives. The two-hour session also includes a tour of the library and an overview of our extensive holdings. But don't think you have to be a beginner to benefit from the class! Our instructors do a great job of tailoring each session to the experience and needs of the participants so that everyone comes away with new knowledge.

If you have already taken this class or are ready for the next step, consider enrolling in the Beginning Series. There are two sessions offered in October, one on Wednesday afternoons and one on Saturday mornings. You can read more about these in our blog. For more details and to see a list of other upcoming classes, please visit our Eventbrite page.

For more information about the California Genealogical Society, please visit our website or take a look at our most recent edition of the eNews.

Our library is a benefit of membership and is available to non-members for a $5.00 day fee. However, the fee is always waived on the first Saturday of the month, as well as during October's Family History Month!

Fall 2015 introductory classes are as follows:
October 3: Pam Miller
November 7: Dick Rees
December 5: Diana Wild

07 September 2015

Beginning Genealogy Series

Posted by Linda Okazaki

Are you ready to plant your family tree?

by Maureen Hanlon

Ready to begin your family history research? You’re in luck!

October 2015 marks the return of our Beginning Genealogy Series at two locations, the California Genealogical Society and Library on Saturday afternoons, and the Oakland FamilySearch Library on Wednesday mornings. Whether you are looking to build your genealogy research foundation or gain more in-depth knowledge, this set of four classes will help take you to the next level.

Lavinia Schwarz, a popular teacher and member of our Research Team, will lead off the series with an Overview Class.

The second session follows with experienced leader, Jeff Vaillant, who will delve into Vital Records.

Maureen Hanlon will cover census records with an emphasis on searching strategies for the US Federal Census.

Jane Lindsey will share the rich world of Secondary Sources at the final session.

Whether you’re working or retired, we’ve got a class that we think will suit your schedule. There will be two separate sets of on-going classes that will be taught at two different locations. When you register, you have two options to consider:

The weekend option:

Where: California Genealogical Society Library

When: 10:30 to noon beginning on Saturday, October 24th and ending on November 14th. It will be held on successive Saturdays. Please register for this session here.

Cost: $50

The weekday option:

Where: Oakland Family Search Library

When: 1:00 to 2:30 beginning on Wednesday, October 21st and ending on November 11th. It will be offered on successive Wednesdays. Please register for this session here.
Cost: $50

We hope to see you soon at one of the classes!

For more details and to see a list of other upcoming classes, please visit our Eventbrite page.

For more information about the California Genealogical Society, please visit our website or take a look at our most recent edition of the eNews.

08 January 2015

The Path to Becoming a Genealogy Educator: Part I

Posted by Anonymous

By Craig Siulinski

Since 2008, I've been on a stimulating journey to immerse myself in the ways of genealogy. My genealogy education has included taking a series of beginner and intermediate classes through the Oakland FamilySearch Library and the California Genealogical Society. As a member of CGS, I also attended countless presentations and workshops, and volunteered in the areas of desk duty, technology maintenance and teaching the Beginner’s class on Saturday mornings.

All of these experiences provided far more than knowledge-- they provided opportunities for learning genealogy, both inside and outside the classroom through networking, sharing and giving back. After gaining so much knowledge from several years of genealogy self-education and from befriending an extremely supportive researcher community, I felt confident and prepared to submit a proposal to Berkeley Adult Education in 2012 to teach a nine-week genealogy class. Although my proposal was accepted, I did not end up teaching the class because I moved shortly thereafter to Massachusetts for a new job.

After adjusting to my new job and community, I pulled the proposal off the shelf and prepared a one-hour genealogy talk to be delivered as a special presentation at the local senior center. My interest was to tap the community’s interest in genealogy. Several months earlier, I had started volunteering as the leader of the weekly iPad Club so my reputation to engage with seniors had already been established. The talk was well received. It was also recorded live by the local cable television network, which gave more exposure to the idea of a genealogy class. When I was packing up my materials, I was pleased to see that ten people had signed the form I had set out to determine interest in enrolling in a future genealogy class to be held at the center.

Members of Craig's genealogy class in Auburn, MA. Photo: Craig Siulinski

So now I knew there were enough people who were passionate and curious about genealogy to populate a weekly class at the center. A few months later, the class started meeting on Wednesday evenings. After introductory discussions, the class moved right into foundation-laying genealogy lectures with homework assignments to jumpstart them into searching for home sources and starting online research. Each week, the level of enthusiasm seemed to go higher and higher, particularly when individuals shared feedback from their initial research and from interviews with family members. The class culminated with trips to the local library in which I was able to assist students in real time with their researching on Ancestry.com.

In Part 2 of “The Path to Becoming a Genealogy Educator”, the journey continues as I branch out to teach at an Adult Education program, and get involved in starting my own business. I’ll also tell about a special student from my first class, to provide a highlight of the value that teaching genealogy brings.

27 July 2012

Annual Fall Beginning Genealogy Series Starts September 18, 2012

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

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.

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.

31 July 2011

Fourth Annual Beginning Genealogy Series Starts September 15, 2011

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

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

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

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

Register online.

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

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

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

PLEASE NOTE:

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