New Netherland Genealogy

Saturday, Aug 13, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

In 1624, the Dutch West India Company established settlements in what is now New York and New Jersey which they ruled for the next forty years. Known as New Netherland, its history is fascinating but unfamiliar to most Americans. Dutch customs and culture were established whose influence continues even today.

Many Americans have ancestors who were among the settlers of this colony in the 17th century. And though English settlements in New England and Virginia were founded during the same period, genealogical research for New Netherland involves different sources and research aids.

John Moore and Dorothy Koenig will present an overview of the New Netherland Colony and the genealogical sources that may be helpful in finding more information about the settlers of the colony during the Dutch period. There will be some emphasis on sources available on the internet.

The class is intended for those with only a general familiarity with the New Netherland colony, but are interested in researching their New Netherland ancestors. The scheduled class will include time for Q and A.

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.

John Moore will conduct the class with assistance and contributions from Dorothy Koenig. John is a retired corporate counsel, former NEHGS Trustee/Councillor and former CGS Board Member. He has researched his own Dutch ancestors for more than twenty years. Dorothy is a retired university librarian and was the editor of the quarterly, New Netherland Connections. She has an extensive background researching Dutch colonial ancestry in America.



Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

eNews July 2011, volume 5, number 7

The July 2011 eNews, volume 5, number 7,  has been published and emailed to members and friends. As always, the eNews 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: California Ancestors.

This month we pay tribute to Virginia Turner's great-grandparents enjoying a gathering at Fish Ranch, California in the San Gabriel mountains about 1918.

Samuel and Christina Ertel Bartholomew and family at Fish Ranch.

Past issues of the eNews are available at the eNews archive.

The August 2011 issue will be emailed on July 31, 2011. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

Photograph courtesy of Virginia Turner.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

New Shelves in the Library!

There's been lots of activity in the library this month as the contents of close to 600 shelves of books were moved over a period of just two weeks. This was the culmination of a space review and "remodel" that included the purchase of ten new shelving units paid by an anonymous donor.

Once the new shelves were installed the process of "shifting" books began. Many responded to a call for volunteers, including members of the Library, Look-ups and Desk Committees.

Special thanks to our librarians Laura Spurrier and Diana Wild for overseeing the project and to our member volunteers who worked tirelessly: Judy Bodycote, Nancy Fike, Steve Harris, Jane Lindsey, Arlene Miles, Shannon Reese, Lavinia Schwarz, Pat Smith, Roland Smith, Jim Sorenson and Judy Zelver.

Temporary signs have been put up to help patrons locate books until our exhausted librarians have time to create new permanent ones.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone!

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, 5/28/2011, Oakland, California.


Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Encore Presentation! Celtic Roots Online with Cath Madden Trindle

Friday, August 5, 2011
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway
Suite LL2
Oakland, CA 94612

Back by popular demand. If you missed Cath's presentation in March, you won't want to miss this one!

Contrary to popular belief, the records of Scotland begin long before the advent of statutory registration in 1855. In some cases it is possible to trace families back to the sixteenth century using easily available records. Scottish research and retrieval of the records of Scotland is completely intertwined with the use of the Internet. We will look at some of the basic records – statutory registers, census, old parish records, and testaments – and navigate the Scotland government web sites to retrieve them. Even if you have no research in Scotland, the government web sites of Scotland provide a model for any government body or society to use when putting their documentation on the Internet.

Ireland government web sites are not quite as complete, but the selection of records available online is growing. We will again look at some of the basic records available both online and off and discuss the records hiding in repositories that might help you further your research.

Cath will also explore other interesting genealogical and informational online sites for both countries and also touch of some genealogical resources online for those with Welsh ancestry.

This class is limited to forty participants and is one of the free benefits for members. Non-members fee is $20.00 (non-refundable) and can be applied towards membership on the day of the workshop. Preregistration is required.

Registration confirmations will be sent to the first forty participants who register. Additional names will be collected and placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

Register online.

Cath Madden Trindle is a certified genealogist in the San Francisco Bay area, and a national conference speaker. She earned a Certificate of European Research from BYU, and a Certificate in Genealogical Studies - Libraianship (NIGS.) Cath owned a bookkeeping consultation business for thirty years and is currently Treasurer of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. She writes regular copyright and society strategy solumns for the CSGA newsletter. As Publication Chair for SMCGS, she has edited the San Mateo County Naturalization Index Series, the Schellens indexing project, and coauthored the SMCGS Tree Climbing Guides.

Cath is a first generation Californian and has limited her client research to Northern California. Personal research and national speaking engagements focus on the records of Ireland and Scotland, Canada, Minnesota, and Michigan, and on storytelling.


Photograph by Kathryn M. Doyle, Drumcliff, Co. Sligo, Ireland, 2008.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Wordless Wednesday

Planning Meeting for the Salt Lake City Research Tour

Nancy Peterson and Jane Lindsey

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Photographs courtesy of Arlene Miles, Oakland, California.

Copyright © 2011 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library