Gen-Alum - Stanford Class of 1959

I've given up!

I tried – I really, really tried – to bring you a photograph of some amazing and accomplished women who were classmates at Stanford University fifty years ago and now find themselves active members of the California Genealogical Society.

It first came to my attention early in 2008 that Judy Avery, Mary Mettler, Nancy Simons Peterson, Susan Nourse Peterson and Marilyn Willats were in the same class at Stanford. They didn't all know each other then but they do now, and they share a passion for genealogy.

All were among the 7,500 Stanford alumni and their guests who returned to the Palo Alto campus for the annual Reunion Homecoming held Oct. 22 - 25, 2009. The Class of 1959 broke a 50th-reunion class record with nearly 800 alumni and guests in attendance, representing 45% of their Cardinal class.

It was the perfect opportunity to get them all together for a group photograph – something I've been trying to do for a year and a half. One of them admitted that they did meet up during the weekend but did they turn a camera on themselves for the blog? No!

So you will have to look elsewhere to see their photographs. They have all been generous volunteers to the society and you will find their names in the sidebar with links to previous blog articles (with photos) about their contributions to CGS.

And since the "Big Game" is almost upon us, I fully expect to hear from a few CGS Cal grads. Just make sure you send photos.

Wordless Wednesday

CGS member volunteer
Judy Zelver

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

CGS e-News, November 1, 2009

The November 1, 2009 issue of the CGS e-News, volume 3, number 11 has been published and emailed to members and friends. As always, the e-News features timely information about the California Genealogical Society and our upcoming events. Each edition also includes Suggested Links From the Blogosphere and a photo feature: CGS Ancestors. This month's photograph is of the Turtle Mountain Hotel in Dakota Territory taken by well-known frontier photographer, George F. Blackburn. Be sure to read how the hotel figured into member Mary Mettler's family.

All past issues of the CGS e-News are available for viewing at the e-News ARCHIVE. The December 2009 issue will be e-mailed on 12/1/2009. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

CGS and NGS in SLC in 2010

In celebration of the tenth annual CGS Research Tour to Salt Lake City, the dates of the 2010 trip have been set to conveniently precede the start of the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference. The 2010 theme is Follow Your Ancestral Trail.


The spring tour will begin mid-week on April 21, 2009, and run Wednesday to Wednesday. Those interested in staying for the NGS conference (April 28 - May 1, 2010) can extend their stay at the Shilo Inn, located across the street from the Salt Palace, site of the NGS Conference. The block of rooms reserved by CGS for the NGS conference are for the exclusive use of those attending the CGS research week.


The CGS Salt Lake City Tour is always a highlight of the society's year – offering an intensive week of research at the Family History Library – with two experienced guides, Nancy Peterson and Jane Lindsey.

The trip is a popular one with members; several return year after year. The opportunity to attend a national meeting is expected to increase interest and space is limited. A $200 deposit will hold your place.

A limited number of rooms are available at the discounted CGS rate on a first come, first served basis for those wishing to continue their stay to attend the NGS conference. NGS conference registration is NOT included with the CGS SLC Research Tour registration and must be arranged separately. Online registration for the 2010 NGS Family History Conference will begin 1 November 2009 at the NGS Online Store.

Nancy Peterson, C.G., is Research Chairman for the library and is author of the CGS publication Raking the Ashes, which provides strategies for circumventing record loss from the 1906 earthquake and fire. Nancy has taught numerous genealogy classes and has published many articles including two in the NGS Quarterly. She has made many research trips to Salt Lake City.

Jane Lindsey, President of CGS, has led the SLC group for the past nine years. She does client research, lectures to local organizations and is a past NEHGS Trustee.

Questions: Call CGS at 510-663-1358 or email Jane Lindsey.

Download the registration flier for complete information.

San Francisco Pioneer Cemeteries

This week the co-founder of SFgenealogy.com (and CGS member) Ron Filion turned a media double-play just in time for Halloween. Last night KPIX anchor Ken Bastida asked another Good Question of Ron, this time: Are There Any Unmarked Graves in San Francisco? Be sure to watch the footage and learn the fascinating history of the burials at the Lincoln Park Golf Course.

http://cbs5.com/video/?id=57299@kpix.dayport.com

You can hear more from Ron, in person, this weekend at the San Francisco Main Library. Today's 96 Hours section of the San Francisco Chronicle features 'S.F. Pioneer Cemeteries': Where the dead lived stating the "presentation offers the chance to find out what neighborhood the City's dead used to reside in before they all up and moved to Colma." Ron's lecture about the earliest cemeteries in San Francisco is part of the One City One Book October Events.

Ron tells me that his talk will be a "fast romp through all the cemeteries in San Francisco." He will cover the cemetery locations, discuss how the City's growth affected them, and share stories about their relocations. The library's promotional material carries this warning: This presentation will not be for the faint of heart.

San Francisco Pioneer Cemeteries
Saturday, October 31, 2009
10:30 a.m.
San Francisco Main Library
Latino/Hispanic Room B
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102