Intermediate Records Class! Starts May 29

Have you been researching mostly online at Ancestry and FamilySearch and feel you’ve exhausted what you can from their site using the search feature? Do you want to learn more about your ancestors so you can write their story? Perhaps you have been afraid to tackle land and court records, thinking they were too hard to find and use. Or lastly, you would like to take a road trip and do some research in the counties and cities where your ancestors lived but don’t know how to begin... This Intermediate Records class is for you!

 

Lisa Gorrell will teach a 5-session course
on how to use records to deepen your research

Well-known teacher Lisa Gorrell, CG, returns with this in-depth five-session class, held Wednesday nights at the Oakland Family History Center (May 29-June 26) from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. It will cover the following subjects in depth:

Court Records. This class will cover wills, probate, guardianship, and other court records. Learn how to used them and how to use the FamilySearch Catalog to find records.

Church Records. The session will cover the types of records created by religious organization such as sacramental, membership, and business records. These records can be found in many places online and off-line.

Emigration, Immigration, and Naturalization Records. The class will cover the records our immigrant ancestors created when they left their home country and came into the United States, as well as those records they created to become citizens.

Land & Property Records.  This session will cover the land records issued by the federal, state, and local governments. In-class exercises will aid in the student’s understanding of land description. Also included is how to locate local land records on the FamilySearch Catalog.

Off-Line Research. This class will discuss how to use online sources to prepare for an off-line research trip. These same techniques can be used even if you never leave home but instead make contact with out-of-town repositories by email, mail, or telephone.

Many of these classes have in-class exercises and all have optional homework to support the learning from class. A computer is not necessary. Just come prepared to go further in depth on these intermediate subjects.

Register through EventBrite.

Lisa S. Gorrell is a Certified Genealogist® who has been researching her family for over twenty-five years. She leads the research trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City for CGS. She is a former board member of CGS and current Secretary for the Contra Costa County Historical Society. She enjoys teaching about genealogy and writing about her family on two blogs: “Mam-ma’s Southern Family” and “My Trails into the Past.” 

Copyright © 2019 by California Genealogical Society

Member Survey: You talked, We listened

Written by Maureen Hanlon

Thanks to your fantastic response rate to our Fall All-Member Survey,  we heard loud and clear that you (our members) value our classes, on-line sites, social media channels, and eNews.  We also learned that even in this digital age, you especially enjoy our bi-annual genealogy journal, The California Nugget.  Thank you.

In terms of education, what we have learned is that you are clear about the topics and level of classes you want to see.  This included more Intermediate and Advanced genealogical learning opportunities, more about DNA and classes focused on specific ethnic groups and localities.  You also want to improve your technical skills.

Question 16 from our All-Member Survey

Based on this feedback, we’re adding the following classes to our 2016 calendar: 

Ethnicity and Geography:  French-Canadian, German, Irish, African-American, Jewish, Nikkei Pilgrimage, Angel Island, Western Pennsylvania, and Locations Basics.

Technical:  Spreadsheets (repeat of Susan Goss Johnston class), Creating a Blog, and Optimizing FamilySearch.

Intermediate and Advanced:  Repeat of Susan Goss Johnston Advanced five class series, National Archives, Forensic Genealogy, Handwriting, and Certification.

DNA:  DNA for Beginners (quarterly) and DNA for adoptees.

The 1st quarter offerings are now on Eventbrite and more will be added soon.  We're currently in the planning stage with other instructors.  The classes listed above do not include the activities of our very popular San Francisco and FamilyTree Maker Special Interest Groups.  We'll report more about their plans as they become available.  

This Fall there will be an All-Day Event with Cyndi Ingle of Cyndi’s List (not yet on Eventbrite). We're so excited to have Cyndi come and speak---mark your calendars for November 5th!

Thank you for your feedback.  We hope that you'll be pleased with this year's class line-up.

Copyright © 2016 by California Genealogical Society

Summer Intermediate Genealogy Series Begins Thursday, May 30, 2013

May 30, 2013 – August 8, 2013

Ten Thursday Sessions

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library Classroom

2201 Broadway, Suite LL2

Oakland, CA 94612

Registration is now open for a summer session of ten Intermediate Genealogy classes at the California Genealogical Society Library. This series is designed for the researcher who wants to go beyond the basics.

Ten classes will be held Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., beginning May 30, 2013 through August 9, 2013. (Class will not be held on Thursday, July 4, 2013.)

SCHEDULE:

05/30  Probate and Guardianship Records – Susan Goss Johnston 

06/06  Reading and Transcribing Old Handwriting – Janice Sellers

06/13  Cemetery Records – Jane Knowles Lindsey 

06/20  Church Records – Jane Knowles Lindsey

06/27  Newspaper Research – Janice Sellers

07/04  Holiday 

07/11  Finding Country Cousins in Land and Property Records – Susan Goss Johnston 

07/18  Seeking City Slickers in Lesser-Known Records – Susan Goss Johnston 

07/25  Military Records – Susan Goss Johnston 

08/01  Immigration and Naturalization – Jane Knowles Lindsey

08/08  Solving Your Toughest Genealogy Problems – Johnston and Lindsey 

Download the series flier for full class descriptions.

Register online.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Class size is limited to thirty participants. No walk-ins.
• Fee is $60 for ten classes, including syllabus. Non-members $80.
• Pre-registration is required. Participants are encouraged to utilize information received in the beginning classes BEFORE enrolling in the intermediate series.

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

Winter Intermediate Genealogy Series Starts January 29, 2013

For the fifth consecutive year, the California Genealogical Society (CGS) is pleased to present a winter series of genealogy classes. The 2013 Intermediate Genealogy Series is designed for the researcher who wants to go beyond the basics.

Be resolute! Class size is limited and expected to fill quickly so reserve your space now.

Ten classes will be held on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Oakland FamilySearch Library, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California. Classes begin on January 29, 2013 and run through April 2, 2013.

SCHEDULE:

01/29 Probate and Guardianship Records – Susan Goss Johnston 

02/05 Cemetery Records – Jane Knowles Lindsey
02/12 Church Records – Lindsey
02/19 Newspaper Research – Janice Sellers
02/26 Military Records – Johnston
03/05 Finding Country Cousins in Land and Property Records – Johnston
03/12 Seeking City Slickers in Lesser-Known Records – Johnston
03/19 Reading and Transcribing Old Handwriting – Lindsey
03/26 Immigration and Naturalization – Lindsey
04/02 Solving Your Toughest Genealogy Problems – Johnston and Lindsey


PLEASE NOTE:

• Class size is limited to thirty participants. No walk-ins.
• Fee is $50 for ten classes, including syllabus.
• Pre-registration is required. Participants are encouraged to utilize information received in the beginning classes BEFORE enrolling in the intermediate series.
• Free parking at the Oakland FamilySearch Library

Download the series flier for full class descriptions.

Register online.

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

Winter Intermediate Genealogy Series Starts January 18, 2011

For the third year in a row the California Genealogical Society (CGS) and the Oakland Regional Family History Center (ORFHC) are teaming up to present the 2011 Winter Intermediate Genealogy Series. Classes are designed for the researcher who wants to go beyond the basics.

Reserve your space now!

The course has been completely overhauled since last year's series and includes new material and more sessions. Ten classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Oakland Regional Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California. Classes begin on January 18, 2011 and run through March 22, 2011. The series includes a Saturday field trip to the California Genealogical Society Library on February 26, 2011.

SCHEDULE:

• 01/18  Probate and Guardianship Records 
• 01/25  Cemetery Records
• 02/01  Church Records
• 02/08  Newspaper Research
• 02/15  Military Records
• 02/22  Finding Country Cousins in Land and Property Records
• 02/26  Field Trip to the California Genealogical Society Library
• 03/01  Seeking City Slickers in Lesser-Known Records
• 03/08  Reading and Transcribing Old Handwriting
• 03/15  Immigration and Naturalization
• 03/22  Solving Your Toughest Genealogy Problems

PLEASE NOTE:

• Class size is limited. Walk-ins allowed if space available.

• Nominal fee of $30 for the entire series and syllabus.
• Pre-registration is required. 
• $10.00 off a CGS membership upon completion of the series (expires 3/31/11).



Download the series flier for full class descriptions.

Register online.


Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

Intermediate Genealogy: Immigration

Jane Knowles Lindsey

Photograph by Kathryn M. Doyle, 2/16/2010, Oakland, California



Copyright © 2010 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Intermediate Genealogy Series Returns

The California Genealogical Society (CGS) and the Oakland Regional Family History Center (ORFHC) are combining resources again to present an encore Intermediate Genealogy Series, starting February 9, 2010.

Classes will be held on eight consecutive Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. All sessions will be held at the Oakland Regional Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California. In addition, there will be a field trip to the California Genealogical Society Library on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

SCHEDULE:

• 02/09   Probate and Guardianship Records 
• 02/16   Church and Cemetery Records
• 02/23   United States Military Records
• 03/02   Using Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• 03/09   Land, Property, Maps and Gazetteers
• 03/16   Reading & Transcribing the Handwriting of Colonial America 
• 03/23   Immigration and Naturalization
• 03/27   Field Trip to the CGS Library
• 03/30   Other Resources and Solving Problems

PLEASE NOTE:
• Class size is limited. Walk-ins allowed if space available.
• Pre-registration is required.
• Nominal fee of $15 is charged for materials.

• $10.00 off a CGS membership if you join by March 30, 2010.

For more details, download the registration flier.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday
Intermediate Genealogy Series with Marge Bell
Reading and Transcribing the Handwriting of Colonial America

Photograph courtesy of Tim Cox, Oakland, California 5/9/2009.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday
Intermediate Genealogy Series Graduation
March 21, 2009

Photograph courtesy of Tim Cox.

Reunited After Fifty Years!

By now regular readers of the CGSL blog might think you just have to show up at a CGS event to find a cousin. It turns out you can also be reunited with old friends.

One of the attendees sitting across from me during lunch at the recent Scots-Irish Seminar was CGS member Beverly Clark who told me that one of the event organizers was quizzing her about where she attended third grade.

The inquisitive staffer was volunteer Shirley Hoye who stepped up and handled much of the logistics for the seminar with Helmi Waits, including scheduling private consultations with our speakers from Belfast, Brian Trainor and Fintan Mullen.

Shirley was sure that Beverly must be her long-lost little friend from the Castro School in El Cerrito. Beverly Clark had dropped into her third grade class for one short year then disappeared as mysteriously as she had come.

Third graders Beverly Clark (left) and Shirley Howe (right).

Unfortunately, Beverly had moved around quite a bit during her early childhood and she wasn't sure where she had attended third grade. The women exchanged email addresses and Shirley went home and sorted through her childhood photos, scanned them and sent them off to Beverly.

Shirley was right! The two childhood friends have been reunited because of their shared interest in genealogy, their membership in the California Genealogical Society and their desire to hone their skills – the two were classmates again in the recent Intermediate Genealogy Series.

Beverly and Shirley – class photos from Miss Allen's class
at the Castro School in El Cerrito, California, 1954.

Shirley sent this message:

Well, unlike Beverly, my family only moved once and that was just up the hill. I ended up going to school in Berkeley and San Francisco and finally landed in Oakland, where I've lived ever since. I really got into genealogy last year when a third cousin in England "found" me. She's done an incredible amount of research, to which I add bits and pieces. The funny thing about running into Beverly at the conference is that my family is not Scots-Irish, but from County Roscommon, with the name of Haughey. I still can't get over finding Beverly after all these years.

Shirley and Beverly reunited after fifty years.

Photographs courtesy of Shirley Hoye and Tim Cox.

Spring Intermediate Series Begins April 25, 2009

The California Genealogical Society and Library (CGS) and the Oakland Regional Family History Center (ORFHC) present a four-week Spring Intermediate Genealogy Series beginning April 25, 2009.

Eight intermediate topics will be presented in four sessions on Saturdays at the CGS Library and repeated on Tuesdays at the ORFHC. All sessions will be held 9:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. The fee is $15.00 to cover the cost of materials. Notebook and class handouts will be provided. Free parking at both locations.

Session I
Saturday, April 25 and Tuesday, April 28, 2009 – Marge Bell
Probate and Guardianship Records
Church and Cemetery records

Session II
Saturday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 5, 2009 – Jane Knowles Lindsey
Immigration, Passenger Lists
Naturalization, Passports
Using Newspapers for Genealogical Research

Session III
Saturday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 12, 2009
U.S. Military Records – Susan Goss Johnston
Land & Property, Maps, Gazetteers – Lavinia Schwarz

Session IV
Saturday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Reading and Transcribing the Handwriting of Colonial America – Marge Bell
Other Resources, Solving your Biggest Genealogical Problems – Jane & Marge

Parking is free in the lot behind the Breuner Building at 2201 Broadway on Saturdays and there is adequate parking at the FHC on Tuesdays.

PLEASE NOTE:
• Class size is limited. Walk-ins allowed if space available.
• Nominal fee of $15 is charged for materials.
• Saturday classes: obtain a placard from lobby security for the lot behind the building.
• Visit the CGS website or the ORFHC website for complete class descriptions.
• $10.00 off a CGS membership if you join by May 19, 2009.

Download the registration flier and mail with a check for $15 to the ORFHC, Attn: Marge Bell, 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602.

Back to Basics

Something unexpected happened last October during Family History Month when the California Genealogical Society teamed up with the Oakland Regional Family History Center to present a Beginning Genealogy series of four classes -- people came, lots of people came. A total of fifty students took advantage of the series, surprising organizers – but in a good way!

CGS President Jane Lindsey and Marge Bell, Assistant Director of the ORFHC, were the masterminds behind the joint venture. Marge recalls that Jane came up with the idea during a conversation the two had about ways to get more visitors to the libraries. The ORFHC has hosted lots of classes but Marge doesn't remember ever having more than 5 or 6 students attend any session.

Jane reported on the success of the Beginners Series to the CGS Board of Directors in November and she brought along a proposal for Intermediate classes in 2009. I recall that it was Jane Hufft, savvy editor of the new California Nugget, who suggested starting the next series of classes right away. Hufft recognized immediately that Jane and Marge had created a winning formula and that the society should piggyback on their success.

Was she ever right! The eight-session Intermediate Series started on January 17 and the response has been overwhelming. Classes are filled to capacity – thirty students on Saturdays at CGS and fifty at the ORFHC sessions on Tuesdays – so a waiting list had to be created. Registration fliers for more classes starting in April are already available for download at the CGS website.

What exactly is behind the success? Jane and Marge aren't really sure. Certainly the price is right – the classes are free with just a nominal ($15) charge for the series syllabus – especially in this economic environment. And the instructors must be doing something right – more than half of those who took the beginners classes re-upped, and some are bringing their friends.

But I think there's a bit more going on here. Much has been written about whether the Internet has helped or hurt genealogical society membership but no one disputes the fact that the Internet makes genealogy research seem easy. We know that it isn't and that at some point all that surfing and collecting will lead to a confused mess, if you don't know the basics.

In his post "Who Do You Think You Are?" Series is coming - are we ready for it?, Randy Seaver wrote about the potential fascination with family history likely to be sparked by the upcoming NBC television series. First he asked, "What should local and regional genealogy societies be doing to prepare for the anticipated swelling of interest after the series starts? Then Randy gave some answers including: "Have beginning genealogy classes ready to roll after 20 April."*

You're right, Randy, classes are the answer, but there is no need to wait – the interest is already out there. The California Genealogical Society and the Oakland Regional Family History Center found that out when we went with the basics.


*The start date for WDYTYA has been pushed back to the summer.

Change in Schedule for the Intermediate Genealogy Series

Jane Lindsey and Marge Bell sent this announcement:

Due to a family emergency the Land Record class being taught by Lavinia Schwarz on January 31 and Feb 2, 2009 has been rescheduled.

The updated schedule for the Intermediate Series of genealogy classes is as follows:

Jan 31 and Feb 2 - Church and Cemetery Records
Feb 7 and 10 - Reading and Transcribing Colonial Handwriting
Feb 21 and 24 - Newspaper Research
Feb 28 and Mar 3 - Land Records and Maps
Mar 14 and 17 - Immigration, Passenger Lists, Naturalizations and Passports
Mar 21 and 24 - People-Finders, Continuing Education and Giving Back

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Intermediate Classes in Genealogy

GENEALOGY: INTERMEDIATE SERIES coming in January!

The class schedule has been finalized for the Intermediate Course in Genealogy following the success of the recent beginners' classes held during Family History Month. A total of fifty students took advantage of the classes offered jointly by the California Genealogical Society and the Oakland Regional Family History Center.

The Intermediate Course will consist of eight sessions – each class offered twice – on Saturday at the CGS Library and on the following Tuesday at the Family History Center. All classes are from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The same instructors and handouts will be at both sessions and students can attend classes at either (or both) facilities.

Classes begin on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the CGS Library with Military Records taught by genealogy instructor and military records specialist Susan Goss Johnston.

The full schedule includes the following topics:
January 17 & 20: Military Records
January 24 & 27: Probate and Guardianship Records
January 31 & February 3: Land and Property Maps, and Gazetteer
February 7 & 10: Church and Cemetery Records
February 14 & 17: No classes
February 21 & 24: Newspaper Research
February 28 & March 3: Reading and Transcribing the Handwriting of Colonial America
March 7 & 10 - No classes
March 14 & 17: Immigration, Passenger Lists, Naturalizations and Passports
March 21 & 24: Other People Finders, Continuing Education and Giving Back

Parking is free in the lot behind the Breuner Building at 2201 Broadway on Saturdays and there is adequate parking at the FHC on Tuesdays. Preregistration is necessary to insure adequate handouts. The course fee is $15 to cover the cost of materials. Individual sessions cost $2 each. Register by telephone 510-531-3905 or E-mail.

Illustration: "The Family Tree" by local artist Lyn White, from the cover of the Oakland Regional Family History Center brochure.