San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: November 2012 Published

November 2012 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.

The November calendar lists forty-eight events at various venues around the Bay Area, sponsored by thirty societies, libraries and archives.

If you would like to add your group's events to the calendar, please email the information by the 15th of each month. (Please include "SFBA Calendar" in the subject line.)

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.

Wordless Wednesday

New Shelves in the Library

October 17, 2012

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, Oakland, California.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Workshop You Missed: Create Your Own Document Box

The California Genealogical Society's Book Repair Committee has mended about 3,000 books since it began meeting monthly in 1987. Several years ago, the committee's chairman, Bill O'Neil, created a workshop to teach book repair techniques which has proved to be quite popular. This fall, in addition to the Book Repair Workshop, Bill introduced a second hands-on offering.

Table and supplies organized and ready for the workshop.

Occasionally a book is in such poor condition it cannot be rebound. In those cases, a book box is created so the item can continue to be shelved. Bill's new workshop – Create Your Own Document Box – was held Thursday, October 18, 2012.

Eleven members gathered around a work table soon scattered with the tools of the day: pencils, rulers, glue, and exacto knives. Participants each made a custom-sized and beautifully decorated box for a personal item or items.

Diana Edwards, Bill O'Neil, Marianne Frey, and Linda Okazaki.

As always, Bill made meticulous preparations so things ran like clockwork. Attendees let Bill know the dimensions of their treasures in advance so he could prepare their materials.

Todd Armstrong and Carolyn Jacoby

Todd Armstrong made a document box sized to fit an ancestor's civil war diary.

Lavinia Schwarz and her finished book box.

Attendees included Todd Armstrong, Judy Bodycote, Bonnie Dehler, Diana Edwards, Marianne Frey, Eleanor Hedenkamp, Carolynn Jacoby, Stephen LaBounty, Jane Lindsey, Linda Okazaki, and Vinnie Schwarz.

Eleanor Hedenkamp shows off her creation.

Linda Okazaki

Linda Okazaki sent this feedback:

The box workshop was active and interactive with a lively group. Where else can you learn to create an archival box that is beautiful and functional, and have fun in the process? It was also nice to meet some new people, both members and non members. Thanks, Bill!

If this workshop sounds appealing, please consider joining the CGS Book Repair Committee. No special expertise is required – they will teach you the basics. The committee meets monthly on the second Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Please email Bill O'Neil if you would like to be part of his team.


Photographs courtesy of Jane Knowles Lindsey, Oakland, California, 10/18/2012.


Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

Wordless Wednesday

14th Annual Family History Day at the California State Archives

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Save the date for next year's event: Saturday, October 12, 2013.


Photographs by Jeff Vaillant and Kathryn Doyle, Sacramento, CA.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library

A Colonial Dames Treasure Returns Home

No one is certain how the original membership book of the California Chapter of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America came to be at the California Genealogical Society. It most likely was among books that were donated after a member’s death.

Ledger book of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America - California

The ledger book's cover doesn't hold any clues to its origins. It is well-worn, and frankly, it's not much to look at!

But the contents are a very precious piece of The Colonial Dames state history.

Ledger book's first entries from the 1890s

The first entry lists Mrs. William Peyton who was admitted to membership in 1892. The last entry dates from 1960. The ledger contains standard information on members – name, address, when admitted to the Dames, name and state of ancestor, and descendent generation number from said ancestor. The  date of death was written in for several of the members.

Ledger entries from 1906

Diana Morris Wild is our current vice-president and a board member of the California Genealogical Society. Since Diana is also an active member of the Dames, she volunteered to deliver it to their headquarters at the Octagon House in San Francisco.

Past-presidents Charlotte Scherman (left) and Jean Palmer (right) flank NSCDA-CA President Nancy McAteer (center)  and the ledger book at Octagon House.

The California Dames President Nancy McAteer reports that the ledger book was a big hit at their recent meeting. She thanks the California Genealogical Society for returning this important piece of their history and assures that it will occupy a special place in the California Dames Archives.


The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSDCA), founded in 1891, is an association of forty-five corporate societies in forty-four states and the District of Columbia, with more than 15,500 individual members nationwide. The society's national headquarters are located in Washington, D.C. The California Society has headquarters at the Octagon House, 2645 Gough Street,
San Francisco. The NSDCA actively promotes the national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects.

Photographs courtesy of Diana Wild and Nancy McAteer, San Francisco, September 2012.

Copyright © 2012 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Lib,rary