Lifetime of Genealogy

Did you know that anyone who donates $1000 or more to the California Genealogical Society (CGS) is entitled to a Life Membership? If you’ve been considering a life membership, now is a good time to make the commitment because in January 2017 the cost will increase to $1200.  
  

Life membership is being promoted to help build our endowment and will sustain the society long-term. Currently, CGS has 49 Life Members – fourteen of whom joined this year. Two of those new Life Members are Chris Pattillo and Diana Wild.
 

Here’s why they felt now was the right time to finally make the leap and become Life Members:

Jim Robinson, Laura Spurrier, Gloria Hanson & Chris Pattillo

“I’ve thought about becoming a life member many times but never gotten around to it. This seemed like the right time. CGS is important to me – I value the resources the library has to offer and all that I learn attending programs, but most importantly I value the friendships and sense of camaraderie here.  After all, where else can I carry on about my family history and know my listener is actually interested?”     

Chris Pattillo

Jane Lindsey, Diana Wild & Alice Kane (NEHGS)

"CGS was a major reason why I got so involved in genealogy.  It was an incubator of sorts - a starting point for my research, a place where I learned new skills, and sustained my enthusiasm. I not only gained knowledge, but also friends, and enjoy sharing what I have learned with newcomers. I have belonged for many years and plan on supporting it for years to come, so becoming a life member just made good sense."   Diana Wild

All life members – new and old will be included in a special tea to be held in January 2017– so please consider upgrading to a Life Membership.

Thank you for helping create a more secure California Genealogical Society now and for the future!

Copyright © 2016 by California Genealogical Society

Wordless Wednesday: Genealogy Research Trip to Boston

Ok, so it's not exactly Wordless Wednesday when I'm writing this much, but take a look at the great photo of our members having fun last night while out on the town in Boston.  

Why are they there?  Our biennial New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) research trip to Boston of course. After jumping for genealogy all day, it was Leap Day after all, a night of good food and good company was welcome.  

Thank for the photos, Jane!

Left to right:  Vicky Kolakowski, Diana Wild, Linda Okazaki,
Susanne Mori, Carolyn Nash, Kath Merilo, Shirley Thomson,
Jane Lindsey (trip leader), and Pam Brett

Star of the night:  Two lobsters for $29!

Photos courtesy of Jane Lindsey

Copyright © 2016 by California Genealogical Society

Last Days for Early Bird Registration for NEHGS Comes West & Silent Auction

New England Historic Genealogical Society and   California Genealogical Society   present NEHGS Comes West:  Navigating New England and New York Resources Saturday, September 13, 2014 Photo by Peter Van Demark

Heads up! Early bird registration for our NEHGS Comes West is ending soon, on Thursday, July 31st, so here's an opportunity to save $10 on tickets. 

This special one-day seminar will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2014.  There will be essential books and resources for sale, and CGS will be holding a used book sale and silent auction. 

Join NEHGS genealogists Chris Childs and Alice Kane for overviews on resources for locating your New England and New York ancestors. See the schedule of events: http://tinyurl.com/k4sa84x

Take advantage by registering here: 

Early bird registration (by July 31, 2014): $65

Registration (after July 31, 2014): $75

Dinner: $75

Would you like to help with our upcoming Silent Auction?   

Diana Wild and Jane Lindsey are working together to obtain amazing items for this exciting event, which is taking place at the NEHGS Seminar. They'd love to hear from you as soon as possible, so contact them today. 

Look around your home. Do you have something that might be a sought-after auction  item? Use your imagination! 

Here are some suggestions:

Decorative – nice glass or crystal pieces, sculptures, a set of dishes, a set of popular books, handmade items such as quilts or afghans. (One member donated a leather briefcase for a past NEHGS event.)

Special Opportunities - a cruise on the Bay, a tour of something not readily available to the public, or tickets to a special event. A behind-the-scenes tour of BART was a well-received item at one of our events.

Services - genealogical research, software tutoring, entering genealogy into a database, etc.

Theme Baskets and small items for Theme Baskets 
• Baskets, filler, ribbons, cellophane
• Coffee, mugs, scone or muffin mix for a "Coffee-break basket"
• Wine, glasses, appetizers, napkins for a "Happy-hour basket"
• Scented soaps, oils, lufa for a "Spa basket"
• Picnic basket or Tail Gate basket
• Tea Time Basket

Please contact Jane or Events as soon as you can to let her know what you're donating. 

Jane Lindsey: jlindsey@californiaancestors.org or Events: events@californiaancestors.org 

Copyright © 2014 by Ellen Fernandez-Sacco, California Genealogical Society and Library.

A Colonial Dames Treasure Returns Home

No one is certain how the original membership book of the California Chapter of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America came to be at the California Genealogical Society. It most likely was among books that were donated after a member’s death.

Ledger book of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America - California

The ledger book's cover doesn't hold any clues to its origins. It is well-worn, and frankly, it's not much to look at!

But the contents are a very precious piece of The Colonial Dames state history.

Ledger book's first entries from the 1890s

The first entry lists Mrs. William Peyton who was admitted to membership in 1892. The last entry dates from 1960. The ledger contains standard information on members – name, address, when admitted to the Dames, name and state of ancestor, and descendent generation number from said ancestor. The  date of death was written in for several of the members.

Ledger entries from 1906

Diana Morris Wild is our current vice-president and a board member of the California Genealogical Society. Since Diana is also an active member of the Dames, she volunteered to deliver it to their headquarters at the Octagon House in San Francisco.

Past-presidents Charlotte Scherman (left) and Jean Palmer (right) flank NSCDA-CA President Nancy McAteer (center)  and the ledger book at Octagon House.

The California Dames President Nancy McAteer reports that the ledger book was a big hit at their recent meeting. She thanks the California Genealogical Society for returning this important piece of their history and assures that it will occupy a special place in the California Dames Archives.


The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSDCA), founded in 1891, is an association of forty-five corporate societies in forty-four states and the District of Columbia, with more than 15,500 individual members nationwide. The society's national headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. The California Society has headquarters at the Octagon House, 2645 Gough Street,
San Francisco. The NSDCA actively promotes the national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects.

Photographs courtesy of Diana Wild and Nancy McAteer, San Francisco, September 2012.

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

Wordless Wednesday

California Genealogical Society Table 

Family History Day at the State Archives

Sacramento, California

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Directors Craig Manson, Diana Wild and President Stephen Harris

To view many photos from the event, see Last Book of Photo Memories at the Family History Day at the State Archives blog.

Photograph courtesy of Steve Harris.

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

What You Missed: The January Annual Business Meeting

With a nod to Miriam Robbins Midkiff and her "What You Missed" posts at the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Blog (Miriam always says that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), I'm reprinting the minutes of Annual Business Meeting. Very special thanks to Shirley Pugh Thomson, CGS Recording Secretary who submitted these minutes as her last act as she departs the board of directors.

The annual business meeting was called to order by President Jane Lindsey at 1:00 p.m. She distributed copies of minutes of the January 12, 2008, annual business meeting to the approximately fifty-five members attending and introduced the Board of Directors of 2008.

Vice President Verne Deubler provided copies of the proposed $118,750 budget for 2009, discussed various elements of it and pointed to the need to constrain expenses in the coming year. ACTION: Resolved, seconded, passed: That the 2009 budget is adopted as presented.

Nominating Committee chair Chris Pattillo presented the list of nominees for seats on the Board of Directors: Kathryn Doyle and Chris Pattillo, for second terms, and Stephen Harris, Cathy Paris, Carolyn Steinberg and Diana Wild for first terms. ACTION: Resolved, seconded, passed: That those people nominated for directorships are hereby elected. Directors
leaving the Board in January 2009 are Jane Hufft, Laura Spurrier and Shirley Thomson. Following the election, Jane briefly described plans being considered for revisions in directors’ areas of responsibility in 2009.

Activities of the various committees were reported by chairs Bill O’Neil, Lorna Wallace, Carolyn Steinberg, Chris Pattillo, Laura Spurrier, Sandy Fryer, Linda Darby, Kathryn Doyle, Nancy Peterson, Marianne Frey, Nancy Servin and Jane Lindsey.

Jane described a wide variety of events and activities being planned for the coming year and urged that members keep up to date on such matters by frequent visits to the CGS Web site and the CGS blogspot.

The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Shirley Pugh Thomson, Recording Secretary

Questions? Leave a comment and I'll be glad to elaborate on any aspect of the annual meeting.

Wordless Wednesday

Family History Month Class

"Tips for Using the New FamilySearch.org"
November 9, 2008

Jane Lindsey, Pat Wong and Diana Wild.

Photograph courtesy of Linda Darby.

Desk Duty at CGS

Captain Marston Watson leads the trusty volunteers who staff the library desk on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays when the library is open (9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays; 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.) Officially and as a group, they are the "Desk Duty Committee" but individually they are the special volunteers who first greet our patrons and are the caretakers of the society's first impression. As you see, smiles come with the job.

Left to Right: Pat Smith, Kathy Watson, Lorna Wallace, Diana Wild,
Judy Bodycote and Dick Rees.

Besides opening for business and staffing the desk, committee members shelve books, field questions, assist patrons, answer phones and give occasional tours of the library. In addition, virtually all desk duty committee members perform other volunteer activities for the society. They are often seen multi-tasking – seeing to their other jobs when the library isn't busy. Members of the Desk Duty Committee also serve as librarians, look-up volunteers, researchers, book repairers and computer technicians. They open mail and do many other miscellaneous and essential tasks. Sometimes they actually get some of their own research done!

The current members of the Desk Duty Committee are: Judy Bodycote, Gloria Hanson, Barbara Hill, Gaye Lenahan, Mary Limosner, Dick Rees, Rick Sherman, Pat Smith, Roland Smith, Peggy Valponi, Lorna Wallace, Kathy Watson, Marston Watson and Diana Wild. Thank you all for your service to our patrons.

Photograph by Kathryn Doyle, September 22, 2008.