CGS Member Spotlight: Rick Sherman

As a past-president of the California Genealogical Society and Library, Frederick S. Sherman Ph.D., better known as Rick, is part of a small, special group of volunteers at the society. Calling him "a stalwart," recording secretary and board member Shirley Thomson shared this:

Over the fourteen years since I joined CGS, I’ve known Rick as a capable president, tireless head of research, generous financial supporter, willing speaker on various topics, enthusiastic participant in CGS events and workshops (note, for example, the publication workshop of August 9, 2008, when he was one of the attendees) and an invariably cheerful co-worker.

Rick's tenure with the society goes back even further, almost to the day he first joined CGS in 1980, and he has worn many hats over the years. After retiring as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley in 1991, Dr. Sherman took his first position at CGS, as Library Chairman.

Rick followed out-going president, Mary-Lou Grossberg, in 1994 into the society's top position and held the post until 1996, when the society was still located in San Francisco. In 1996, still under Rick's leadership, CGS added an additional 600 square feet to the existing space at the Second and Brannan Street, San Francisco location, when the suite next door became available. Rick and Patricia Sherman made a significant monetary gift to the society to help underwrite the costs. The expansion provided more space in the office area and added another reading room to the library, which became known as the Frederick S. and Patricia M. Sherman Room in honor of the physical and financial contributions of President Rick and Pat.

Current president Jane Lindsey recalls that "Rick was the person who got in there when he was president and began developing the endowment and providing financial security for the society."

Since his term as president, Rick served the society for almost ten years as Research Director, a post he relinquished to Nancy Peterson. Rick continues to provide research for some of his long-standing clients. Rick recently lent his time and historical perspective to the Strategic Planning Committee. He continues to participate in the running of the library as a member of the Desk Duty Committee.

Rick Sherman at Lamb's Restaurant at the closing night celebration,
Salt Lake City Research Tour, April 19, 2008.

Member June Nash Lindquist notes: We all value Rick's sage advice, and cheerful and generous spirit. Rick is so knowledgeable on so many directions of research. We always appreciate his witty and wise conclusions to very knotty problems."

Thank you, Rick, for over twenty-five years of outstanding service to the California Genealogical Society and Library. Get well soon. We miss you.

Photographs courtesy of Jane Lindsey and Kathryn Doyle.

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.

Wordless Wednesday

CGS Desk Duty Committee

Computer Inservice by Kathy Watson
September 22, 2008

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, 9/22/2008.

Tuesday Tales - Some Final Thoughts From Home

Mary Mettler is finally back from her genealogy trek across the country.

I am home! What a wonderful summer! A genealogy friend just asked me if she should go on a trip like mine for her 70th birthday. YES! Naturally, I have some last thoughts about the trip.

The most important task is to plan, plan, plan and then plan some more. I spent about six months planning my trip. Try not to attempt too much, and do limit the lines you will investigate. Then, locate and research the web sites of the historical societies and libraries in the locations where these ancestors lived. Join the local historical societies ahead of time and ask them for any special information or assistance you need. Many of the smaller historical societies have limited hours, so planning and contact is essential. Often, they will open up for out-of-town travelers, if you contact them ahead of time. I was thrilled to work with these local volunteers and/or historical society members to find the special treasures of my ancestors. The historical societies appreciate any donations you can make, too. In the summer, advance reservations for lodging are essential in the small towns, especially in Vermont with its limited tourist season. I wish I had had more time in most of the towns, but I always feel that way after a genealogy trip! Since you can't spend three solid months researching without a total brain meltdown, do plan on attending some family functions, visiting friends and/or sightseeing in between genealogy stops. I also enjoyed beginning and ending my trip at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

I highly recommend that you take your car, as life is much easier. You need room for files and all the “goodies” you will find, as well as clothes and all your technical gear. I did some Christmas shopping for real Vermont maple syrup and Wyoming huckleberry jam. The car also gives you the ability to travel to the small towns, which are not close to a major airport. I tried to leave sufficient time for them, as I could return later to those near major airports. One final word of warning – do not take Route 95 across the George Washington Bridge on a sunny, summer Sunday afternoon! In fact, try not to take Route 95 ever! I will never complain about the Bay Bridge traffic again!

Just for fun, I thought I'd list some of my favorites and my disappointments. My biggest disappointment was that so few places allowed me to use my scanner. I think we, genealogists have to campaign to change this. I certainly understand that the libraries/historical societies need the revenues from copying, and I do not mind paying for each page I scan. The scanner is no worse than a copier, as far as the light is concerned; and it is easier on books than copy machines, with the possible exception of the “book minder” copiers. I did use my camera for some documents, but the scanner is much better.

Since I couldn't use my scanner very often, my favorite “toy” was my GPS. I wish I had purchased one of these a long time ago. I call mine “Jill,” as that was the voice choice I liked. Jill plotted the route, estimated my time of arrival and showed me the nearest lodging, restaurants, drug stores, movie theaters, etc. The GPS takes the stress out of driving, especially for someone as directionally disadvantaged as I am! I enjoyed Bed and Breakfast lodging the most, especially when they were near the historical societies. In Suffield, Connecticut, I stayed at The Lily House across the street from the Kent Memorial Library. In Dorset, Vermont, The Dovetail Inn Bed and Breakfast is across from the Dorset Historical Society. Both these wonderful B&B’s are within walking distance of restaurants, banks and grocery stores. My favorite breakfast was at the Victorian Bed and Breakfast in Rock Island, Illinois, while my best dinner was at the Drunken Noodle Thai restaurant in Essex Junction, Vermont. Both of these compare very favorably with San Francisco’s best!

Well, I could go on and on! I would be happy to hear from any of you, who might want to make a similar trip. I won't be going off again for a while, as I have to deal with a file box full of my research. Analyzing this information, copying it for my nephew and second cousin-once-removed, filing it in the family file folders and entering it in my computer will take a long time!

I am looking forward to reading the future blogs of your trips!

Mary Mettler

Read the entire series:
Part One: Salt Lake City
Part Two: Indiana
Part Three: Pennsylvania
Part Four: More From Pennsylvania
Part Five: Washington D.C.
Part Six: Suffield, Connecticut
Part Seven: Vermont
Part Eight: Dorset, Vermont
Part Nine: West Point and Back to Pennsylvania
Part Ten: Some Final Thoughts From Home

Something New in October: Member Consultations

Something new has been added to the October Family History Month offerings this year - Individual consultations - for members only.

Several CGS members with specialized skills have volunteered to come into the library to share their expertise. Thirty minute sessions are by appointment only and can be used by members to help resolve a particular research problem or to get a fresh perspective. All session are private, one-on-one and free – a special member benefit in the month of October.

Our member consultants include some notable specialists: Dorothy Koenig, Dutch Colonial New York, 1624-1700; Steve Danko, Eastern European and Immigration; Jeremy Frankel, Jewish; Swen-Ove Westberg, Swedish; Pam Meeds Williams, California before statehood (1848); Steve Harris, New York; Tom Gessner, Massachusetts from 1620 and New Brunswick; Linda Darby, the South, and more. Jennifer Regan will be available for sessions on using Google for genealogy research. Other members have volunteered to help with subscription sites, such as Ancestry, Footnote and Rootsweb. There is something for everyone – in fact, non-members may want to join just to take advantage of this fantastic offer!

The one-on-one sessions have been scheduled for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the month. The complete listings of consultants, topics and times have been added to the CGS Google calendar for October. In addition, the full schedule can be downloaded from the CGS Web site.

All consultations must be scheduled in advance with Events Coordinator, Carolyn Steinberg. E-mail Carolyn or telephone CGS at 510-663-1358 and leave a message with your name and number and she will return your call. Sorry, no walk-ins.