California Genealogical Society blog

17 December 2013

Announcing the 14th Annual Salt Lake City Research Tour April 6-13, 2014

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Join the California Genealogical Society for a week of intensive research and lots of fun!

Past-president Jane Lindsey is leading the 14th annual California Genealogical Society Salt Lake City Tour to the Family History Library from Sunday to Sunday, April 6–13, 2014. Nancy Peterson, C.G. will return to help lead this very popular trip. Nancy is the author of Raking the Ashes: Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research, a guide to circumventing record loss from the 1906 earthquake and ﬁre. Nancy has lectured extensively and has published many articles including two in the NGS Quarterly. She and Jane have made numerous research trips to Salt Lake City and have been leading our research tour together for several years.

Accommodations will be at the Shilo Inn, located three blocks from the Family History Library. The Shilo provides free high-speed internet access in every room.

The trip cost is $798 per person, double occupancy OR $1130 for a single room (airfare not included). A deposit of $250 holds one space. Final payment is due Wednesday, March 5, 2014.

The Tour Package includes:

Hotel room – 7 nights, double occupancy
Shuttle service to and from airport
Three group dinners (Sun., Wed., and Sat.)
Daily continental breakfast
Orientation and lectures
Computer assistance using the online catalog at FamilySearch.org and other websites
Optional consultation prior to the trip

Download the tour flier for restrictions and full information.

Register online and reserve your space now!

And be sure to watch our YouTube video: A Trip Worth Taking: Family History Library.

Video created by Kathleen Jones and Shannon Reese.

13 December 2013

First Saturdays Free: Intro to Genealogy

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

The California Genealogical Society offers a free introductory class on the first Saturday of every month, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the library at 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, California, in the historic Breuner Building.

The class – Genealogy: An Introduction – is part of our monthly First Saturdays Free policy when we welcome non-members and the general public. We open the library and share our resources with anyone interested in learning more about their family history. The library is a benefit of membership and is available to non-members for a $5.00 day fee during the rest of the month.

Volunteers take turns teaching the class which focuses on basic research methods and terminology. The class covers common (and uncommon) family history records and the resources available, both online and in libraries, repositories, and archives. The two-hour session also includes a tour of the library and an overview of our extensive holdings.

And don't think you have to be a beginner to benefit from the class! Our instructors do a great job of tailoring each session to the experience and needs of the participants so everyone comes away with new knowledge.

The 2014 schedule follows:

January 4, 2014 – Lisa Gorrell
February 1, 2014 – Pam Miller
March 1, 2014 – Diana Wild
April 5, 2014 – Dick Rees
May 3, 2014 – Diana Wild
Jun. 6, 2014 – Lavinia Schwarz
Jul. 5, 2014 – Lisa Gorrell
Aug. 2, 2014 – TBA
Sep. 6, 2014 – Pam Miller
Oct. 4, 2014 – Dick Rees
Nov. 1, 2014 – TBA
Dec. 6, 2014 – Lavinia Schwarz

02 December 2013

eNews December 2013, volume 7, number 12

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

The December 2013 eNews, volume 7, number 12, 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 honor H.C. Thomas, grandfather of member Sally Houston.

Henry Claud Thomas and friend, ca. 1903.

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

Editorship of the California Genealogical Society eNews will change in the new year. Marcelle White will be taking over as editor beginning with the January 2014 issue. To receive a copy, please join our mailing list.

California ancestor photograph courtesy of Sally Houston.

28 November 2013

Sixth Blogiversary!

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

Has it really been six years since the California Genealogical Society board of directors gave their approval of this blog? The blog was created for and about the members of the society. I offer my annual "thank-you" to members who have contributed photographs, articles, and their stories.

This year I am especially appreciative to Marie Treleaven for agreeing to join the blog team. I hope you are enjoying her Committee Spotlight Series.

A special "thank you" also goes to Ron Madson who has become the "official" photographer for the California Genealogical Society. You'll be seeing more of Ron's work across our social networking channels.

25 November 2013

San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar: December 2013

Posted by Kathryn Doyle

December 2013 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 calendar is light this month with only twenty-five events at various venues around the Bay Area. Some societies have scheduled holiday gatherings and many do not meet in December.

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 © 2013 by Kathryn M. Doyle, California Genealogical Society and Library.