Reclaim the Records: advocates for genealogy and more

 If you don't yet know about Reclaim the Records, you should.  Founded in 2015 by CGS member Brooke Scheier Ganz, it's a not-for-profit group of activist genealogists, historians, researchers, and open government advocates. They sum up their mission like this: "We identify important genealogical records sets that ought to be in the public domain but which are being wrongly restricted by government archives, libraries, and agencies." 

When they find such records, the group files a Freedom of Information request, asking that the data be released to the public. If the FOIA request is denied, they sue the agency in question. So far, Reclaim the Records has succeeded in opening up public records in multiple states, including Mississippi, Nebraska, and Wyoming, and even at federal institutions such as the National Archives.

The group was born when Ganz became frustrated doing New York City genealogy research. She found that most vital records in New York were either inaccessible or available only at great expense. Reasoning that these were public records, paid for by taxpayers, Ganz filed a Freedom of Information request with the New York City Municipal Archives, which was ignored. She then sued, and became the first genealogist to successfully sue a government archive for the return of records to the public.

The group is celebrated among researchers and open-government activists. They've gained quite a following on social media, too, with a Twitter account full of cheeky comments ("RELEASE THE KRAKEN! We're taking on @nycrecords! Again!" reads one post.)
 
That cheekiness is characteristic of all Reclaim the Records communications; fed, no doubt, by exasperation and outrage. A press release about a recent court action read: "Did you ever wonder what would happen if you caught a major American city's Department of Health in an 'astroturf' campaign where they created fake support for a government policy that actually came entirely from city officials?” That refers to a two-year battle over access to New York City death certificates. The case recently moved forward when a State Supreme Court judge ruled against the city's Motion to Dismiss and ordered the municipality to prepare a verified response. It is hoped that this will go before a judge in the next few months and that the result will be an order to make the records public. 

You can read the saga here. Or visit the Reclaim the Records website for much more!

Copyright © 2021 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.

More New York City Research with Steve Harris - Saturday, February 12, 2011

Saturday, Feb 12, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

New York City Research Part II - Naturalizations, Probate Files, and Directories

If you are like the majority of Americans, at least one of your ancestors spent time in New York City.

Just over a year ago Steve Harris presented his first NYC workshop to rave reviews. Now he's back with a second installment – this time on using naturalization records, probate records, and city directories to research your New York City ancestors in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Attendees will also have access to Steve's large personal library of New York City telephone and city directories after the workshop.

The workshop is FREE for CGS members but is limited to twenty people. There is a sign-up fee of $20 for non-members. (This fee is non-refundable and can be applied toward membership on the day of the workshop.)

Register online.

Dr. Stephen Harris is a consulting genealogist with extensive experience assisting clients with their family histories. Born in Brooklyn, he has deep roots in New York City, but the siren call of California was too strong to resist. Steve is president of the California Genealogical Society and Library. His office and 6,000-volume research library are in Oakland, just down the hall from CGS.


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

Encore presentation - New York City: Insider's Guide to Research by Steve Harris

Sunday, June 27, 2010
1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Doors open at 12:30 p.m.)

Oakland Regional Family History Center
4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602

If you are like the majority of Americans, at least one of your ancestors spent time in New York City. This encore presentation will focus on techniques for researching New York City ancestors in the 19th and 20th centuries using the internet, local resources, and on-site research in New York City itself. We will explore the wealth of online material accessible on NYC Web sites as well as that hidden deep within Ancestry.com and other subscription services. Attendees are encouraged to bring laptop computers, as the library has free wi-fi.

Program:
Part one from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Hands-on time on computers 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Part two from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 

Steve Harris is a consulting genealogist with extensive experience assisting clients with their family histories. Born in Brooklyn, he has deep roots in New York City, but the siren call of California was too strong to resist.  Steve is president of the California Genealogical Society and Library. His office and 6,000-volume research library are in Oakland, just down the hall from CGS.

Sponsored with the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society.



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

Feedback From the New York City Research Workshop

CGSL blog roving reporter and photographer Tim Cox sent word that Steve Harris "did a wonderful job" at last Saturday's New York City: Insider's Guide to Research workshop. He sent photos and added, "Everyone enjoyed the class and they want more!" 

Tim sent this summary of the feedback forms:

• Participants in the class: 16
• CGS members in the class: 12
• Non-members in the class: 4
• Feedback forms submitted: 10
• Most people heard about the class via eNews.
• Length of the class (4 hrs.) seemed to be enough time, but they were left wanting more information.

The New York City research workshop was one of a series that the society has sponsored, focusing on research aids: Digital Photography, Using Land Records, publishing: Microsoft Word Skills, Hints on Publishing, and on specific locales: Eastern Europe, Scandinavia.

Tim and Carolyn Steinberg are the members of the CGS Events Committee who have been coordinating the workshops and they have been doing an outstanding job. They oversee every aspect – from the scheduling and planning phase all the way to set up, check in, clean up and reporting on attendance and evaluations. So it's accolades all around – to Carolyn, Tim and to Steve.

And, by the way, the Events Committee is busy finalizing the 2010 calendar. Here's a preview of some of the programs being planned:

• Tech Saturday Sessions starting in January
• The Successful Research Trip: Lessons Learned on the Road by Mary Mettler
  
• Tour of Mountain View Cemetery
• Chinese-American Research Workshop
• Hispanic Research Workshop
  

I'll be posting details here as the programs are finalized so stay tuned!

Photographs courtesy of Tim Cox, 12/12/2009, Oakland, California.

New York City: Insider's Guide to Research

A CGS Workshop with Steve Harris
Saturday, December 12, 2009
10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California

If you are like the majority of Americans, at least one of your ancestors spent time in New York City. Dr. Stephen Harris has an insider's knowledge of the many helpful data sources and indexes that are available for your NYC research. This workshop will focus on techniques for researching New York City ancestors in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries using the Internet, local resources and on-site research in the Big Apple. We will explore the wealth of online material accessible on NYC websites as well as that hidden deep within Ancestry.com and other subscription services.

Steve is also making his personal library of city directories for New York available for use by workshop participants.

Attendees are encouraged to bring laptop computers - the library has free Wi-Fi and the six CGS computers may not all be available for the program.

Bring a brown bag for lunch or, if you prefer, there is a nearby deli where you can buy a sandwich and bring it back to the library.

The workshop is FREE for CGS members but is limited to fifteen people. There is a sign-up fee of $10 for non-members. (This fee is non-refundable and can be applied toward membership on the day of the workshop.) Reservations are required - download the registration flier.

Steve Harris is a consulting genealogist with extensive experience assisting clients with their family histories. Born in Brooklyn, he has deep roots in New York City, but the siren call of California was too strong to resist. Steve is vice-president of the California Genealogical Society and Library. His office and 6,000-volume research library are in Oakland, just down the hall from CGS.


Photograph by Kathryn M. Doyle, 10/21/2009, Oakland, California.