Early-Bird Registration Ends in One Week!

This is an Ancestry Day – San Francisco alert!  Registration for the early-bird discount ends Wednesday, October 5, 2011.

Register now so you don't forget!

By registering before the early-bird deadline, you'll save $10 on the basic registration.

A fifteen minute consultation is just $5 more, but act fast! There are a limited number available and they are almost sold out.

There are also a limited number of hotel rooms at a special event rate. There are two options for making a hotel reservation.

By phone: Call 888-421-1442 and mention "SF Hyatt Regency Embarcadero and Ancestry Day"

Online: Ancestry Day - San Francisco special rate
 
Follow all of our updates on Twitter @AncestryDaySF and on Lanyrd.


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

October Family History Month: Lots of Bay Area Choices in 2011

October 2011 events have been published on the San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar – a collection of local genealogical society classes, workshops and meetings within a 75 mile radius of San Francisco.

With many societies and libraries planning events for October Family History Month, the calendar lists sixty-four events at various venues around the Bay Area, sponsored by twenty-four different societies and genealogy libraries.

Both sessions of the Fall Beginning Genealogy Series continue. This is the fourth year that CGS has partnered with the Oakland Regional Family History Center to offer the classes for Family History Month.

CGS members Nicka Smith and Vernester Sheeler are organizers of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California's Black Family History Day on Saturday, October 8, 2011, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Oakland Regional Family History Center.

The California Genealogical Society will be an exhibitor at the 13th Annual Family History Day at the State Archives in Sacramento on Saturday, October 15, 2011. CGS President Stephen Harris will be heading up our delegation. We gratefully acknowledge Denise Richmond of RootCellar–Sacramento Genealogical Society for her assistance with our arrangements. Denise and Sandy Benward are the authors of the Family History Day at the California State Archives blog where you can find full information about the event schedule, speakers and exhibitors.

Be sure to check the calendar and decide which October Family History Month events you will attend!


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

Portraits of Our Patriots: Stories of Revolutionary War Ancestors

It's always a great pleasure to announce publication of a member's book so this time it's quadruply special. Four of the eight authors of Portraits of Our Patriots: Stories of  Revolutionary War Ancestors are members of the California Genealogical Society – Millianne (Peirano) Lehman, Linda Longley, Mary Mettler and Terri Taylor.

L to R: Annette Litle, Cathy McCausland, Carol Yenne, Terri Taylor and Mary Mettler. Not shown: Joan Evans, Millie Lehman and Linda Longley.

The eight writers are members of the San Francisco DAR La Puerta de Oro San Francisco Chapter who tell the stories of fifteen of their Patriots, "recounting with as much detail as possible the events they and their families endured in the years during and surrounding the American Revolution." A genealogical summary covering the patriot and his family is provided at the end of each chapter which includes source references.

Mary Mettler has generously donate one copy to the CGS Library. She is the author of the two chapters on her ancestors Cephas Kent Sr. and Cephas Kent Jr. Mary chronicled some of her KENT research in as Tuesday Tales for this blog.

Congratulations, Mary, to you and all of your fellow authors!

Contents:

1. Bladen Ashby by Carol Yenne
2. John Blair by Millianne (Peirano) Lehman
3. John Chatham and William Chatham by Catherine McCausland
4. John Chilton by Carol Yenne
5. Stephen Fischer by Terri Taylor
6. David French Millianne (Peirano) Lehman
7. Lewis L. Humphreys by Joan Reumah Evans
8. Cephas Kent, Sr. by Mary A. Mettler
9. Cephas Kent, Jr. by Mary A. Mettler
10. Abraham Kitchel by Jim Cooper and Annette Cooper Litle
11. John Lamb by Mary A. Mettler
12. Jonathan Langley by Linda Longley
13. Roger McPike by Carol Yenne and Max McPike
14. Onesimus Whitehead by Millianne (Peirano) Lehman

Portraits of Our Patriots: Stories of Revolutionary War Ancestors
Hardcover, 246 pages, published 2011

There are a limited number available for purchase for $20 plus postage. Proceeds go to the San Francisco NSDAR chapter, La Puerta de Oro.

La Puerta de Oro San Francisco Chapter consists of four DAR chapters that merged—the oldest of these, the Sequoia Chapter, was founded on Dec 10, 1891. Their mission is to promote the objects of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.


Photographs courtesy of Mary Mettler.


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

Discover a Bridge to Your Past

 

Have you seen them? The design elves at Ancestry.com created these gorgeous "tout ads" for Ancestry Day – San Francisco.

The ads show up randomly on Ancestry's home page and link directly to our event page (also created by Ancestry.com)

Be sure to follow our event updates on Twitter @AncestryDaySF.



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

Society Showcase at FGS Conference in Springfield

The California Genealogical Society sponsored a table recently at the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) annual conference in Springfield, Illinois. FGS made it easy for even distant genealogy societies to have a presence in the exhibit hall at Society Showcase on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in the Prairie Capital Convention Center. Exhibitors were encouraged to "bring display items and giveaways, such as membership brochures, sample publications, bookmarks, and event fliers." The FGS Conference blog published the full list of participating societies.

California Nugget Editor Jane Hufft and I staffed the table which we shared with fellow CGS member Denise Richmond who was representing the RootCellar Sacramento Genealogical Society. Denise handles publicity for RootCellar and she is one of the authors of the excellent Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society Blog with teammates Sandra Gardner Benward and Ron Setzer. Denise is also the blogger behind the conference blog for the upcoming Family History Day at the California State Archives on Saturday, October 15, 2011.

Jane Hufft and Denise Richmond

We had lots of information fliers and brochures highlighting the best of our California societies. Both Denise and I took advantage of the U.S. Post Office flat rate boxes to mail materials ahead of our arrival. Jane brought sample copies of our periodical as well as her submission guidelines for the Nugget. I think she talked to at least two potential authors who were intrigued with the idea of writing about their California ancestors.

Staffing the next table over and representing Fox Valley Illinois Genealogical Society was their president, Jane Haldeman, co-owner of It's Relative. Jane and I "met" years ago via a Rootweb mail list and exchanged information about our BRIGGS of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It's one of my "brick wall" lines so I'm not exactly sure how Jane and I are related but I'm optimistic that someday I'll figure it out. It was great to finally meet "cousin" Jane in person and to attend one of her lectures.

Genealogist quilters Pat Richley and Jane Hufft

The CGS contingent had one significant meeting that occurred just outside the convention center. Jane and I ran into DearMyrtle herself – Pat Richley. Jane had been wanting to meet Pat since they share a love of quilting. I'm still not exactly sure how it happened but in just a few minutes a cash transaction had taken place, fabric was exchanged and information was provided about the 1812 Preserve the Pensions Quilt Project.

It was a whirlwind few days but CGS was well-represented in Springfield.


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