Tim Cox sent the schedule of discussion topics for Thursday evenings this summer at the library. These discussion groups are planned for 6:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. and they are open to members and to the public. Participants of all levels of research experience are welcome to network and join the conversation.
June 2, 2011 – Using Ancestry.com; Footnote.com; and AmericanAncestors.org
Helpful tips will be shared to more effectively use these free and subscription sites.
June 9, 2011 – Genealogy Gadgets: Digital Cameras, Flash Drives, Portable Scanners, etc.
What kind of technology are you using to help you capture the information as you find it? Discussion will focus on what is new on the market and what works well for genealogists.
June 16, 2011 – Social Networking: Facebook, RSS, Twitter and Blogs
Overwhelmed with all of the ways to communicate and network with other genealogists? We'll talk about the various ways to network and how to stay up to date with blogs.
June 23, 2011 – Using Google and other Search Engines
Is Google really the best search engine? There are other search engines that you may not be aware of. We'll discuss Google and the others.
June 30, 2011 – Help with Researching New Netherlands and New York
Our discussion will be focused on research in New Netherlands and current day New York.
July 7, 2011 – Research Problems and Possible Solutions (Session 1 of 2)
Have a research problem you've been working on for a while and can't seem to solve it? Bring your problem and let the group discuss options you may be able to employ.
July 14, 2011 – Census Research
Love it or not, the U.S. Federal Population Schedule is really a genealogist's best friend. Our group will discuss the various kinds of census records including agricultural, deaf/dumb/blind, veterans, mortality and state censuses.
July 21, 2011 – Ethnic Groups: Chinese; Hispanic/Latino; French-Canadian; German; Scandinavian
Join some experienced researchers who may be able to give some advice on your next steps in your research for any of these ethnic groups.
July 28, 2011 – Creative Ways to Share Your Research and Writing Family Histories
Ready to write your family history but need some help with deciding on the best way to share it or publish it? Come see what the group has to offer. You just might get that resolution to your dilemma.
August 4, 2011 – Genealogy Databases: RootsMagic, Family Tree Maker, Legacy Family Tree, The Master Genealogist, Ancestral Quest, Reunion
Bring your questions and ask the group for advice on how to perform tasks, run reports, create charts, or overcome obstacles you are experiencing with any of these popular databases or join us to learn more about each them.
August 11, 2011 – Online newspapers
Millions of pages of the world's newspapers are now accessible online, but there is no one place to find them all. Join us for discussions on what is available and how to find it. You may learn some techniques to find your ancestors in the paper.
August 18, 2011 – Getting the Most from FamilySearch.org Including Mexican Research
Having problems with the new look of FamilySearch? We'll talk about it and discover some easy ways to it work for you and learn how to find the recently uploaded Mexican records database.
August 25, 2011 – Research Problems and Possible Solutions (Session 2 of 2)
Have a research problem you've been working on for a while and can't seem to solve it? Bring your problem and let the group discuss options you may be able to employ.
BYO dinner or buy something nearby. If you plan to drive, metered spaces in Oakland are free after 6:00 p.m. but they fill up fast. Traveling in by BART is easier – get off at the 19th Street station. Group discussions will end by 8:15 p.m. to allow for everyone to walk to BART together before dark.
Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
Recent Posts
31 May 2011
Summer Evening Hours – Discussion Topics 2011
27 May 2011
Jeffrey Vaillant Talks Civil War Research on Blog Talk Radio
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| Jeffrey Vaillant |
Be sure to tune in and listen to CGS Director Jeffrey Vaillant talk Civil War records on Geneabloggers Blog Talk Radio. Jeff was a guest of host Thomas MacEntee on the Friday, May 27, 2011 show Military Records and Genealogy.
Jeff discussed the basics of how to start researching your Civil War ancestor. He also describes the rich information that can be gleaned from Civil War pension files.
Geneabloggers Radio airs every Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Pacific time. Past shows are available to be listened to on demand.
Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
25 May 2011
A Visit from the Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County
Twenty-two members of the Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz County (GSSCC) toured the library and the Stephen Harris city directory collection on Saturday, April 9, 2011, and had great success with their research.
Our member volunteers Kim Cotton, Barbara Hill, Dick Rees, Pat Smith, Laura Spurrier and President Steve Harris were on hand to assist our visitors.
Two members of the GSSCC became new members of CGS.
The California Genealogical Society 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 courtesy of Kim Cotton, Oakland, California.
Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
23 May 2011
Salt Lake City Finds 2011
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| Kathleen Dunn Jones |
One surprise was running into our "far-flung" member, Bette Kot, who was leading a group from Colorado. Bette is a former CGS librarian who led the tour with Jane in past years. It was great seeing you again, Bette!
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| Leader Jane Lindsey and Betty Kot |
Carolyn Mowry Sinclair discovered the Automated Genealogy site and gave it high praise. She was working on her husband's Nova Scotia family.
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| Leader Nancy Peterson and Lavinia Schwarz |
Irene Vega Kelly made some great discoveries using Border Crossings records from Mexico to Arizona. She was able to go back several more generations with the VEGA family.
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| Rita Anberg and Judy Greenwood Jones |
Judy Greenwood Jones had a breakthrough researching her grandfather William FAWCETT in Ontario, Canada.
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| Cynthia Peterson Gorman and Tim Cox |
Chris Pattillo was fact-checking during the week in order to finish a book she will be presenting as a wedding gift on June 18.
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| Jane Hufft, Jane Lindsey, Kathryn Doyle, Nancy Peterson, Nancy Fike and Pam Lewis |
Linda Okazaki broke through a brick wall using 19th Century U.S. Newspapers when she found documentation that an ancestor changed his name.
Sandy Frye had luck researching her SMITHs and proved a move from Indiana to Missouri.
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| Laura Lee Karp |
Alison Kern Shedd broke through a German brick wall researching SIEGLE/SIGLEN in Ditzingen, Wurtenburg.
Pam Lewis located the 1842 Church of England marriage record of her gg-grandfather and went back another generation on her EDWARDS family. The couple were both born in Hertsfordshire but they were married in Surrey – another mystery for another trip.
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| St. George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey, England 4 June 1842 |
Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
20 May 2011
A Few Genealogical Favorite Things and What We Can Learn from the Pros
Friday, July 8, 2011
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m
California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612
Join member Virginia Kysh for some genealogy fun and tips from the experts.
A Few Favorite Things
Virginia will start things off with a “poor genealogist’s” version of Oprah's famous give away. Kysh shares favorite websites, magazines, tools and other genealogical finds that have caught her fancy. Bring an empty bag so you can carry home some fun stuff! (But don't come looking for a new car or a trip to your ancestral home.)
Some Things We Can Learn from the Professionals
Next, Kysh will share some insights learned from working with two professional genealogists each year at Utah Genealogical Association problem solving classes. She’ll discuss the importance of using research logs and many other tips to help with researching.
The class is limited to forty participants and is a free benefit of membership. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop.
Preregistration is required. Walk-ins will not be admitted. Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty registrants. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.
Register online.
Virginia Kysh has served as Assistant Director of the Antioch Family History Center for many years. A graduate of Brigham Young University Provo with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Library Science, Virginia caught the genealogy bug while attending an introductory genealogy class at BYU. Kysh has attended Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) Institute at Salt Lake City for the past fourteen years and she is a frequent attendee at FGS and NGS conferences as well as those closer to home. Virginia has forty years of genealogy research experience. She has been teaching genealogy for ten years.
Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library
