SRVGS Field Trip to CGS & the City Directory Library

Members of the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) visited CGS on Friday, September 19, 2008. Gail Roche Van Wye, who is a member of both societies, was the trip coordinator.

CGS member Ilene Peterson sent this report:

We had a pretty good turnout for our field trip. Some of the SRVGS folks are also members of CGS so they had a good idea of what was where. Some were visiting for the first time and went first to look at California directories with Steve Harris. We used the resources in both the library and directory areas so it was never crowded. Steve also gave us special permission to bring directories into the CGS library area, which made it more convenient.

I had three neat 'finds' of my own!

I was successful at locating my grandmother's uncle in the 1905 Chicago city directory. Steve Harris has a fabulous collection. One particular directory stood out for me – even though I didn't find my folks in it – the tiny, well-preserved, 1876 Green Bay, Wisconsin directory. Searching for city directory information online is no substitute for holding the original book in hand and learning about all the things one would never think to search for.

I asked one of the CGS volunteers (I'm sorry I can't recall her name) if there was an alternative to ordering an AGBI reference from Godfrey. She looked at the citation I had printed from Ancestry.com and told me she thought CGS had the actual book. We went back to the Dorman Collection and there it was! I am always amazed at the knowledgeable CGS volunteers and at the depth and breadth of the CGS collections.

I was chatting with someone about our shared research in New York and volunteer Judy Bodycote overheard us and came up to suggest additional resources for Chenango County. I may be able to return the favor since I research people who came through Virginia and Judy said she might need some pointers from me for that state.

According to their Web site, the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS), formed in 1985, has over 150 members. SRVGS meets in the facilities of the Danville Family History Center, Stone Valley and Smith Roads, Alamo, California from 10:00 a.m. to noon on the third Tuesday of every month. Each meeting includes an outside speaker who is expert in some aspect of family research. The society conducts educational classes for its members and has several special interest groups, including, Irish, German, Southern States, Publishing, etc.

The California Genealogical Society welcomes interested groups to come and tour the library and spend some time exploring our genealogy resources. Contact CGS by e-mail or call 510-663-1358 to schedule a group visit.

New in the City Directory Library

Steve Harris sent this update.

CGS board member and consulting genealogist Steve Harris recently added 1,000 more city directories to the 6,000 city and telephone directories already in his research library. Included are 650 California directories from all over the state.

Update: These city and telephone directories are now incorporated into our main library.  See post from May 2015 for current details on the collection.

Ranging from the 1860s to the 1970s, the directories have numerous applications to genealogy, including tracking individuals and families through time and finding addresses for census look-ups.

The Library of Congress system is used to catalog the collection. A complete listing of Steve's holdings was compiled by CGS volunteer Nancy Servin. The list follows the shelf sequence: by region of country, then statewide directories, countywide directories, and finally directories for specific cities.

Most of the directories are shelved in Steve’s office just down the hall from CGS.

Update: These city and telephone directories are now incorporated into our main library.  See post from May 2015 for current details on the collection.

All of his California directories are located in a second space dubbed "The Annex." Note that the California Genealogical Society also has city directories, with almost-complete runs for San Francisco and Oakland.

Steve's city directory collection is open to members on two days every month: the second Saturday and the third Friday. Members are to check in at the CGS desk first. From there they will be directed to Steve's library. Dr. Stephen Harris can be reached at wizard848@earthlink.net.

Photographs by Kathryn M. Doyle

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.