Perspectives on DNA and Adoption: A panel discussion

On Saturday, September 29, the California Genealogical Society will host a panel discussion on one of the hottest topics in genealogy today. DNA testing is transforming genealogical research, and it’s having a huge impact on families with adoptions. Our five panelists will share a range of perspectives, from adoptees, adoptive parents, and consultants. They will discuss using DNA to build a family tree, and offer guidelines and insights for dealing with the emotional and ethical issues that can arise.

 

Speakers include:

Laura Ashizawa, an adoptee who found her birth mother through genealogical records online and then located her birth father using DNA.

Eva Goodwin, who is experienced in genetic genealogy research, including adoptions. She has contributed research for the Who Do You Think You Are? TV series. 

Therese Hart-Pignotti, an adopted only daughter. She works as a paralegal developing family pedigrees for use in legal cases when a person has died without an heir.

Sarah Liron, who was adopted at birth through a closed adoption. She eventually located her birth mother through genealogical records. DNA then helped her identify hundreds of people in her paternal family tree and connected with scores of cousins in her birth father’s family. Sarah holds a master’s degree in genetic counseling from UC Berkeley.

Joanna Shear, a professional genealogist and adoptive mother, who used traditional research to uncover living family members thought lost in the Holocaust. DNA testing has led her to the ancestral villages of her immigrant great-grandparents. She has experienced the powerful influence that family history can have on sense of identity for herself and through work for others. 

Linda Okazaki

The panel is facilitated by Linda Okazaki, a contract researcher with Ancestry’s ProGenealogists and past president of the California Genealogical Society. She writes a column, “Finding Your Nikkei Roots,” which is published bi-monthly in the Nichi Bei Weekly.

The event runs 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, September 29 at CGS. Tickets available at EventBrite (click for link): Cost is $45 (can be applied toward CGS membership). Free for CGS members.

 

Copyright © 2018 by California Genealogical Society

Annual Appeal: You Make Our Society Amazing

"I want to thank each and every one of you that have donated or have volunteered in some way this year. Without your incredible dedication, none of this would be possible,” says out-going President, Linda Harms Okazaki. 

Why is the money needed? 
Membership fees only cover 40% of The California Genealogical Society’s operating expenses; most of the rest comes from special events and tax-deductible donations from members like you.  

Treasurer Kathie Jones stated, "The cost of real estate in the San Francisco Bay area continues to be our number one expense for the society---meaning our rent consumes about 70% of our budget." If you haven’t already done so, please consider contributing to the society.

Our library, with thousands of volumes, is one of the premiere genealogy libraries on the West Coast, and is one of the main reasons that many of you joined the society.  We also learned through our member survey results that The California Nugget, our biannual genealogical magazine, is another huge draw for our members.

2018 Goals 
This year, the goal was again set at $15,000 to help us continue offering quality trips, classes, events and speakers for you, such as a first-ever event by the indomitable genealogy lecturer Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist. 

Judy G. Russell with Linda Okazaki

We had a great turnout for her all-day seminar that received rave reviews from the attendees. Linda said, “It was a delight to have Judy talk to us about everything from copyright to enemy aliens, and from black sheep in the family to DNA." 

Linda also wants to remind you to check your mail to see if you have received the Annual Appeal letter that was sent out in mid-November. Don’t forget that there’s a 2017 tax deduction created by contributing before year-end.

How much have we raised?
Here’s the latest numbers: so far we have raised 41 percent — $6,200 — of our $15,000 goal. We’re currently on-track to meet it (thank you all). However, we still need your help to reach 100%.

What’s ahead in 2018?
Member Lisa Gorrell will lead our 18th annual genealogy research trip to Salt Lake City in April and on March 3rd we will play host to the amazing Blaine Bettinger, also known as The Genetic Genealogist.  We hope you’ll consider one or both of these amazing genealogical experiences. Visit our Eventbrite page for registration.  

Both of these exciting offerings help us raise needed funds for the society and library. We also have an interesting and constantly evolving slate of classes for you to choose from in the New Year.

Our genealogy community is amazing 
In order to ensure that our society remains a leader in the genealogy field (in February, we'll reach our 120th anniversary), your help is needed. 

You may be aware that we also have our Capital Campaign that has been raising money all year and will come to a close in Feb 2018. If you’ve contributed to this effort, then let me be the first to say “thank you”.  I want to stress that the Capital Campaign is for our long-term security, but our Annual Appeal is for our day-to-day expenses. Either way, the money will be put to good use. 

Even with all the constant, rapid advances in technology, we’re managing to stay current and remain a relevant resource for scholarship, education and community because of your generosity.

Please donate today.

You make our success possible.

Thank you. 

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

Judy G. Russell Event: A Smashing Success!

If you weren't able to make it, then check out the photos and see what you missed. Come to our next big event - make plans now to attend our upcoming Blaine Bettinger, aka The Genetic Genealogist, event in March 2018. It should be available on our Eventbrite site by mid-October. 

What happened
Judy G. Russell, aka The Legal Genealogist, was the featured guest lecturer for our September 23rd all-day seminar at the David Brower Center in Berkeley.  It was a wonderful genealogy event!  If you're not familiar with her, then check out one of her recent posts which highlighted our genealogical collections and resources at our genealogy library.

The California Genealogical Society (CGS) had tons of committed volunteers, thanks to Volunteer Coordinator Kathleen Beitiks. Add in a great venue, delicious food, a friendly vibe and a speaker with so much to talk about and we got genealogy magic that day. Many attendees commented on how much they enjoyed the day. The great photos you see were shot by member Ron Madson---thank you Ron!

A special thank you goes to Mary Mettler, a long-term member of CGS and a member of La Puerta de Oro–San Francisco Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) of San Francisco, California. Mary's commitment to genealogy and her generosity (helping to underwrite the event) benefitted all who attended.

See you at the next event!

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

A Visit to the California Statewide Museum Collections Center

by Kathryn M. Doyle

California State Park Archives
4940 Lang Avenue
McClellan, California 95652

Earlier this year I accepted an invitation to tour the Statewide Museum Collections Center in McClellan, California. I tagged along with California Genealogical Society President Linda Okazaki and Tynan Peterson and visited the sprawling facility located about seven miles northeast of Sacramento. The day began with specific goals: execute research plans, tour the vast warehouse, and enjoy genealogy camaraderie. We accomplished all three.

California State Parks Archive Exhibit Hall and Lobby

The main entrance opens to the archives exhibit hall where artifacts representing California’s diverse heritage are on display. The images and objects highlight the “professions that identify, study, and care for them.”

Visitors check in at the reception area of the main lobby to obtain a badge and locker. (Handbags, backpacks, food/drinks are not permitted beyond the lobby.) Researchers may bring laptops, scanners, cameras, and phones into the research room. No pens are allowed, but the archive provides pencils and paper. Protective gloves may be required when handling fragile materials.

Researchers must request materials in advance and preschedule a time to use the facility by contacting the archives by phone or email. Appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. The research room is closed during lunch and on all state holidays.

Linda in the research room.

A Little History 

Officially, California has required the preservation of historically significant materials since its inception. An 1850 law mandated the preservation of “all public records, registers, maps, books, papers, rolls, documents, and other writings... which may be interesting, or valuable… to the government or people of the state.” The California State Archives is the repository of state records with permanent retention value.

By 2001, the state parks decided that more of their materials should be preserved and a separate California State Parks Archive was approved. Under the auspices of Victoria Yturralde, archivists visited parks throughout the Golden State to collect historically important materials.

Artifacts were housed in various places around Sacramento until suitable quarters could be located. The Museum Collections Center opened at the former McClellan Air Force Base, now McClellan Park, in 2013.

            

Cameras are not permitted beyond the research area so I don’t have images to share. But you can get a sampling from KQED’s The Treasures Living in the California State Parks Warehouse.

“There’s no point in saving the material if no one ever gets to see it.” 

—Archivist Lola Aguilar

Linda Okazaki and Archivist Lola Aguilar

While it remains a goal to process all holdings, to date only twenty physical collections from the California State Parks Archives have been fully described and catalogued at the Online Catalog of California (OAC). According to Archivist Lola Aguilar, these represent only about 5% of the total. The creation of Finding Aids for historical parks are the highest priority. 

The Photographic Archives consists of more than 350,000 images in various formats, "covering a broad range of California subjects." 

The California Genealogical Society will be hosting a field trip to the collection on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, for a limited number of attendees. Register now.

© 2017 by California Genealogical Society

Registration for the CGS Research Trip to Washington DC is now open!

Join the California Genealogical Society's president Linda Harms Okazaki on a research trip to the National Archives in Washington DC and College Park MD, plus the library at the Daughters of the American Revolution.  An additional day is planned for research at the Library of Congress.  Attendees may register for an optional lecture at USCIS (United States Immigration and Citizenship Services). 

Trip details

• Guests will stay eight nights at the Holiday Inn, Rosslyn. 
• Two group dinners are planned, taking place on November 13 and 20. 
• Guests will provide their own transportation to the DC area, as well as their own transportation within the city (metro, taxi), plus meals excluding the group dinners.
• Transportation to College Park, MD will be provided. 
• Orientation sessions will be offered in August and September to help attendees prepare for the trip.
• The trip will be co-led by professional genealogist Victoria Kinnear (Sunday through Thursday). 
• Certified genealogist, Darcie Hind Posz, will offer one-hour consultations on Sunday and will assist researchers Monday through Wednesday.
• This trip is suitable for intermediate researchers, and above.

Victoria Kinnear

Victoria Kinnear, owner of My Ancestors Lived Here, is a professional genealogist with deep Maryland roots. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Maryland Genealogical Society. She is also President of the North Capital Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and Registrar for the Mary Young Pickersgill Chapter of the Daughters of 1812. 

Victoria has researched for television shows including Henry Lewis Gates’ Finding Your Roots and Genealogy Roadshow for the past two seasons. Victoria completed the Boston University Certificate course in Genealogy and GENFED.

Darcie Hind Posz

Darcie Hind Posz, CG, is a genealogist, author and researcher. Recipient of the ASG Scholar Award, she has authored articles that have been published in The Nugget, The Genealogist, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, and The American Genealogist. 

What's the cost?

• $1895 for a single room

• $1275 for a double room

*Please add $40 if you are not a member of The California Genealogical Society 

Payment in full is required and refunds cannot be issued after October 1. Trip insurance is always recommended.  

Please indicate your roommate choice, if you are traveling with a researching companion. If you would like to share a room, we will do our best to assign a roommate. **If a roommate is not available, there is a chance you will be assigned to a single room at the single rate.

What else might I do in D.C.?

Some guests might want to visit the Smithsonian’s new African American Museum slated to open in September or the Japanese American Exhibit at the National Museum of American History.

Ready to join us?  Great, sign-up today and be a part of this amazing trip---we hope to see you there!

Copyright © 2016 by California Genealogical Society