Penelope's Report on the North Star Workshop

I'm playing catch up and finally posting this report from CGS member Penelope Curtis on the North Star Workshop with Chris Enns which was held on Saturday, November 15, 2008, at the North Star Mine House designed by Julia Morgan.

The front of the North Star House.

On a not November-cool but unusually warm day, my husband Michael and I arrived at the House at 8:30 to finish cleaning up before our guests came. Michael swept the courtyard while I set up the historic display and put out the cups for the coffee & tea with pumpkin muffins. Soon Chris Enss drove up. She looked great in her 1900s outfit. After setting up her display in the library where we were going to have the morning session, Chris picked up a broom and began sweeping as she talked with Michael. Quite a sight!

Carole Miller, who has worked with me as a volunteer caring for the heritage roses and docent for house tours, joined us followed by Marie Nelson, Cindy Toffelmier, and Lucinda "Cindy" Woodward from the State Office of Historic Preservation. We began chatting about the history of the house while waiting for Carolyn Steinberg, a California Genealogical Society member, and her friend Rita Matheson. When they arrived I gave an historical overview of the North Star Mine, its various owners and a description of the buildings that made up the mine's operation. Carole then gave a history of the House's landscaping and the heritage roses that were rescued and nurtured back to life when the Nevada County Land Trust took possession of the House and surrounding property in 2004.

Chris passing out the workshop folders.

After a tour of the house with stories about Mary Hallock Foote, 19th Century author and illustrator; Arthur DeWint Foote, superintendent of the Mine, photographer, inventor and horticulturist; James D. Hague, North Star Mine owner; and, Julia Morgan, architect, we took seats in the library and got down to the business of hearing Chris Enss' "Historical Cold Cases: Tips to Conducting Your Own Investigation." My cold case ghosts, Mary Hallock Foote & Julia Morgan were apparitions behind me in the living room. Chris provided each attendee with helpful documents and forms she uses when she is researching her historical characters.

Chris Enss in front of the library fireplace.

Here are Chris' tips:

Tip 1. Prowl the Courthouse where marriage, divorce and birth records are kept. Sometimes a name will give a clue to a next step (www.cocourts.com).

2. Nose Around the Archives such as the National Archives which can give insights into our very early American ancestors (www.nationalarchives.gov).

3. Check Out the Church which from centuries back has been the repository of births, deaths and wills for the surrounding community. Also, the tombstones in the cemetery can reveal clues.

4. Hunt Through the Home especially the old attics where people have collected and left behind letters, wills, bibles & photographs. Surviving family members may have stories.

5. Tramp Through the Trades that are often in historical libraries. Trade directories have location information, services and the names of staff employed at the business.

6. Delve into the Dispensary or hospital where there may be patient records.

7. Poke Around the Pokey an unusual spot but may provide additional clues to a family's history.

8. Rove Over the Reports like the Dictionary of National Biographies in the local library. You never know who or what you'll discover.

9. Listen for Clues by exploring the oral history at the state archives which will have verified information.

10. Notice the Newspapers which have morgues where news is reported and obituaries are listed sometimes with biographical information not found any where else.

With much food for thought and growling stomachs, we headed out onto the terrace to eat lunch and discuss Chris' tips. After which, we adjourned to the dining room where Chris gave pointers on how to develop a book and get it published in today's very competitive world. Heydey and Arcadia are two publishing firms that feature historical books. They look for books with marketable subjects whose foreward is by a "celebrity" or well known figure. A catchy or controversial title will sell better. Book publishers today want, after a query letter, a full book proposal...how it will make money; who is the audience; and, potential ROI. They also require a sample of the contents with several chapters and a bibliography that shows the origination of your source material. When your book is accepted, then it is time to market your book. Marketing your book can become a full time activity.

At day's end around the dining room table. Left to right: Rita Matheson, Marie Nelson, Cindy Toffelmier, Carolyn Steinberg, author Chris Enns and Cindy Woodward.

Chris concluded the day with questions about having a follow-up workshop next spring. Everyone was very enthusiastic about the prospect and had ideas about expanding its content. It was determined that the next workshop will be a Saturday in March, International Women's History Month. Call Penelope Curtis if you are in the area and want a tour of the house – 530-274-1398.

Photographs courtesy of Penelope Curtis.

Book Repair Mascot - Who Are You?

I missed the deadline for the 9th edition of the Smile For the Camera Carnival of Images – Who Are You? – but I still wanted to share this portrait which hangs on the wall of the Frederick S. and Patricia M. Sherman Room at the library.

Rodney J. Hudson

Anne Robinson gave me the back story. It seems that this likeness of Rodney J. Hudson fell from the pages of a book as it was being repaired one second Tuesday by a member of the Book Repair Committee. With no identifying notation on its back and no apparent reason for its residence in the pages of the book, the committee unanimously decided to adopt the misplaced Mr. Hudson as their official mascot. It's now been a couple of years since they framed RJH and hung him prominently on the wall where he continues to oversee the activities of the group.

Mr. Rodney J. Hudson, who are you?

Wordless Wednesday

Annual Membership Meeting

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, 1/10/2009

What You Missed: The January Annual Business Meeting

With a nod to Miriam Robbins Midkiff and her "What You Missed" posts at the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Blog (Miriam always says that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), I'm reprinting the minutes of Annual Business Meeting. Very special thanks to Shirley Pugh Thomson, CGS Recording Secretary who submitted these minutes as her last act as she departs the board of directors.

The annual business meeting was called to order by President Jane Lindsey at 1:00 p.m. She distributed copies of minutes of the January 12, 2008, annual business meeting to the approximately fifty-five members attending and introduced the Board of Directors of 2008.

Vice President Verne Deubler provided copies of the proposed $118,750 budget for 2009, discussed various elements of it and pointed to the need to constrain expenses in the coming year. ACTION: Resolved, seconded, passed: That the 2009 budget is adopted as presented.

Nominating Committee chair Chris Pattillo presented the list of nominees for seats on the Board of Directors: Kathryn Doyle and Chris Pattillo, for second terms, and Stephen Harris, Cathy Paris, Carolyn Steinberg and Diana Wild for first terms. ACTION: Resolved, seconded, passed: That those people nominated for directorships are hereby elected. Directors
leaving the Board in January 2009 are Jane Hufft, Laura Spurrier and Shirley Thomson. Following the election, Jane briefly described plans being considered for revisions in directors’ areas of responsibility in 2009.

Activities of the various committees were reported by chairs Bill O’Neil, Lorna Wallace, Carolyn Steinberg, Chris Pattillo, Laura Spurrier, Sandy Fryer, Linda Darby, Kathryn Doyle, Nancy Peterson, Marianne Frey, Nancy Servin and Jane Lindsey.

Jane described a wide variety of events and activities being planned for the coming year and urged that members keep up to date on such matters by frequent visits to the CGS Web site and the CGS blogspot.

The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Shirley Pugh Thomson, Recording Secretary

Questions? Leave a comment and I'll be glad to elaborate on any aspect of the annual meeting.

Chinese Research - El Cerrito Library - 1/22/09

CGS member Jeanie Low, author of China Connection: Finding Ancestral Roots for Chinese in America will present a one hour program on Chinese Genealogical Research at the El Cerrito Library on Thursday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m. The library is located at 6510 Stockton Ave, El Cerrito, California, a branch of the Contra Costa County Library system. The telephone number is (510) 526-7512. There will be time at the end of the program for questions and answers.

Ms. Low's research specialty is Chinese American research from the 1850's to the present. She has expertise in such topics as the Chinese Exclusion Acts, confession and amnesty, 20th century Alien A-Files for all ethnic groups, basic genealogical research and finding the ancestral village. Her transparencies encompass a sampling of gravestone translation, immigration and naturalization case files and family artifacts that will inspire anyone to begin, continue, to verify and piece together their family stories.

Since 1992, Jeanie has spoken to audiences at public libraries, the Oakland Museum, Chinese Historical Society of America, and at conferences sponsored by National Genealogical Society, California State Genealogical Alliance and the National Archives and Records Administration.

Born in San Francisco, Ms. Low is the child of immigrants who entered the U.S. through the Angel Island Immigration Station. She is a graduate of San Francisco State University, with a major in Chinese Studies. She engages her audiences with humor and historical context.