Life Story Writing, Enriching Your Family History

Ready to begin writing your family history?  Then join us May 27^th from 1pm - 3pm at the California Genealogical Society’s Library in Uptown Oakland.

What’s it about?

Member Craig Siulinski will lead an engaging presentation that describes how writing your autobiography excerpts can enhance and enrich your family’s history. Free to members.  Register here.

What to expect

In addition to participating in a few exercises that jog the mind and memory, attendees will write a short piece on one life story theme. Writing tips will be discussed and every participant will receive an eBook. 

The main goal of this presentation is for participants to appreciate how genealogists writing their own autobiography excerpts can supplement and enrich their family histories. 

Come be a part of this fun learning experience---register today! 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Craig Siulinski is a teacher and writer as well as an avid genealogist. He holds a Master of Science degree in Education from Cal State University East Bay, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Maine. Craig teaches K-12 education and is currently a Learning Specialist at Stanbridge Academy in San Mateo.

Documenting family stories and researching genealogy have been Craig’s passions since 2007. His first blog called August Legacy, is dedicated to his maternal grandfather, Auguste "Gus" Albert.

He has led classes and workshops to encourage others to use blogs for sharing their own family histories. In 2014, Craig created Sharing Legacies to help others tell and preserve their family stories for generations to come.

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

Our Manuscript Collection: Here’s How It Can Help Preserve Your Family Story

by Virginia Turner

Did you know that you can have your family papers or book preserved using archival standards so that they are available for generations to come? That is a key function of our manuscript collection and the volunteers who maintain it. Keep in mind that a manuscript contained in the California Genealogical Society library can range from just the beginnings of research, such as papers and letters about your family story, to a fully published book.

This month we highlight what makes up our manuscript collection, along with some helpful tips on how you can create and protect a manuscript for your family’s story.

Things to keep in mind

When a person begins the process of recording notations leading to a finished manuscript or book, the researcher does not have to wait until a finished product is ready for the library shelf.

If a published book is the ultimate goal, it is wise to donate a copy of the beginning manuscript to a library location for safekeeping, as well as for use by others who may be helpful in rounding out the final product through exchange of information between two or more searchers. At our library, we index the items collected by surname.  Next, the indexes are placed online and are made available to the public on request.

Safe storage is key

Acid free boxes and paper supplies will keep research materials safe from deterioration from the environment. A safe location of the copy in the library manuscript collection will keep it free from destructive processes of theft, plagiarism, insects, and moisture.

Manuscripts come in many shapes and sizes

Research as small as a family group sheet with factual references can find a place in the miscellaneous collection boxes.  The first letter of the family surname alphabetizes these group sheets.

It can grow to include additions of pedigree charts for related families. Copies of references from letters, books, and published genealogies of related people will eventually lead to the author’s final product.

If you want the eventual book or article to be more interesting for the reader, then add copies of family photographs, maps, photocopies of letters, family bible inscriptions, newspaper accounts, tombstone inscriptions and other historical material.

Another way to approach it is to make several separate small manuscripts, which will eventually be combined into a published family genealogy, or a collective genealogy that includes many family writings, which are related to a particular locality or subject.

Ready to publish?

Small manuscripts may find a place in various genealogical magazines. These days, publishing companies can assist you in editing and publishing your articles of genealogy.

Did you know that certain members of the California Genealogical Society could assist in readying your manuscript for submission to specialized genealogical magazines interested in your stories?

When your manuscript is ready for saving in the California Genealogical Society Collection, please contact Georgia Lupinsky or myself for advice on editing and preparing your work for publication. Our goal is to give you the courage to meet your goal.

I hope that makes clear what our manuscript collection is, how your research can become a part of it and how, ultimately, we can help you get your manuscript published.

Contact us today with your manuscript questions.  We’d love to hear from you!

       

Copyright © 2017 by California Genealogical Society

Genealogy Writing Series Begins Saturday, February 16, 2013

The California Genealogical Society will present an encore of our popular series Writing Your Family History: Start Now. By the end of the course, you will be ready to start writing, or will be already writing, a family history with confidence and style!

Who Should Take this Course?
This course is for genealogists and family historians who are ready to transform their research into a quality family history.

Course Details
This course will meet for a five-hour session one Saturday a month at the library in the Learning Center. Class size is limited to twelve participants. All sessions are on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with one hour break for lunch.

The course will provide participants with all the information and assistance needed to get started on writing a family history. The course includes

• a copy of the class text Producing a Quality Family History 
• helpful course materials organized in a binder 
• step-by-step instruction in organizing and writing your history 
• a variety of lecturers on topics to expand on reading assignments 
• experienced instructors 
• editing and writing help 

Session dates:

• Saturday, February 16, 2013
• Saturday, March 16, 2013
• Saturday, April 20, 2013
• Saturday, May 18, 2013
• Saturday, June 15, 2013

The course has been created by a team of dedicated volunteers – Matt Berry, Tim Cox, Lisa Gorrell and Jane Hufft – who have different and complementary skills.

Fee $100*
Non-members $125

Register online.

Registration Requirements

1. Attendance is required at all five sessions.
2. There is no registration for individual sessions.
3. Participants must be willing to commit a reasonable amount of time to the homework assignments, which consist of reading assigned chapters in the provided text and working on individual writing projects.

Last year's course filled very quickly, so please register now!

*All course fees are non-refundable.

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

Writing Your Family History: Start Now!

The California Genealogical Society is offering an intense writing course to help you begin writing your family history. By the end of the course, you will be ready to start writing, or will be already writing, a family history with confidence and style!

Who Should Take this Course?
This course is for genealogists and family historians who are ready to transform their research into a quality family history.

Course Details
This course will meet for a five-hour session one Saturday a month at the library in the Learning Center. Class size is limited to fifteen participants. All sessions are on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with one hour break for lunch.

The course will provide participants with all the information and assistance needed to get started on writing a family history. The course includes

• a copy of the class text Producing a Quality Family History
• helpful course materials organized in a binder
• step-by-step instruction in organizing and writing your history
• a variety of lecturers on topics to expand on reading assignments
• experienced instructors
• editing and writing help

Session dates:

• July 7, 2012
• August 25, 2012
• September 15, 2012
• October 13, 2012

The course has been created by a team of dedicated volunteers – Tim Cox, Lisa Gorrell and Jane Hufft – who have different and complementary skills. Events Chair Tim Cox is the organizer and leader. He also  a vast store of feedback data collected after every class at the library. Tim knows what members want! Board Recording Secretary Lisa Gorrell has taught several course and has curriculum experience. California Nugget Editor Jane Hufft brings her experience as an educator, writer, and editor.

NOTE: This course will NOT focus on research techniques or evidence procedures.

Course Fee*
CGS Members: $50
Non-CGS Members: $75

Register online.


Registration Requirements
Attendance is required at all four sessions.
There is no registration for individual sessions.
Participants must be willing to commit a reasonable amount of time to the homework assignments, which consist of reading assigned chapters in the provided text and working on individual writing projects.

This course is expected to fill very quickly, so register now!

*All course fees are non-refundable.

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