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.

November Volunteer Appreciation - Save the date!

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 1:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Lower Level
Oakland, California

The November membership meeting will be an informal one – a chance to say "thank you" and to honor our volunteers. Please join the CGS Board of Directors for a special wine and nibbles reception and social hour.

Our volunteers have created a successful formula that has kept CGS viable for more than 110 years. That is something to celebrate!

Last year's Volunteer Reception was such a success that we've decided to make it an annual event. All members are invited to attend. If you can, please bring a small appetizer plate to share. If you can help with set-up, please email Carolyn Steinberg.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday
Reading Wall at the CGS Library

Photograph courtesy of Jane Knowles Lindsey, 10/3/2009, Oakland, California.

She Thinks He Had Them at Hello

Elizabeth O'Neal of the Little Bytes of Life blog has an entertaining account (with photos) of CGS member Steve Danko's recent appearance at the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society (SBCGS).

Steve has been a great supporter of our society, speaking this year at our July membership meeting and as co-presenter of the Eastern European Research Workshop in April 2008.

Be sure to read I Think He Had Them at Hello.

The Santa Clara Gen-Study Group

The California Genealogical Society Library was a recent stop for some busy genealogy enthusiasts from Santa Clara County. CGS member Pat Burrow is the designated "chief" of the Santa Clara Gen-Study Group and she arranged a visit to the library on Wednesday, October 7, 2009. The fifteen dedicated researchers have been "on their own" for about a year now after five years of meeting regularly with Marcia Murray Holstrom's genealogy class.

Members visit archives and libraries together but they also meet weekly at each others' homes. They meet to discuss case studies and book reviews and they take turns boning up on a subject and sharing their knowledge with the whole group. Recent talks have been about genealogical brick walls, recommended websites and "how-to"software sessions on Excel and Reunion for Macintosh.

The seven who made the trip to Oakland were John Turner, Dave McCready, Pat Solomon, Anne Hendricks, Suzanne Hastings, Mary Ann Casella and Pat Burrows. I'm pleased to note that in addition to Pat – Dave and Anne are CGS members. Mary Ann joined today so now a majority hold membership!

CGS welcomes interested groups to tour the library and spend time exploring our genealogy resources. Email the society or call 510-663-1358 to schedule a group visit.


Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, 10/7/2009, Oakland, California.