California Genealogical Society blog

12 July 2016

Registration for the CGS Research Trip to Washington DC is now open!

Posted by Shannon Reese

Join the California Genealogical Society's president Linda Harms Okazaki on a research trip to the National Archives in Washington DC and College Park MD, plus the library at the Daughters of the American Revolution. An additional day is planned for research at the Library of Congress. Attendees may register for an optional lecture at USCIS (United States Immigration and Citizenship Services).

Trip details

Guests will stay eight nights at the Holiday Inn, Rosslyn.
Two group dinners are planned, taking place on November 13 and 20.
Guests will provide their own transportation to the DC area, as well as their own transportation within the city (metro, taxi), plus meals excluding the group dinners.
Transportation to College Park, MD will be provided.
Orientation sessions will be offered in August and September to help attendees prepare for the trip.
The trip will be co-led by professional genealogist Victoria Kinnear (Sunday through Thursday).
Certified genealogist, Darcie Hind Posz, will offer one-hour consultations on Sunday and will assist researchers Monday through Wednesday.
This trip is suitable for intermediate researchers, and above.

Victoria Kinnear

Victoria Kinnear, owner of My Ancestors Lived Here, is a professional genealogist with deep Maryland roots. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Maryland Genealogical Society. She is also President of the North Capital Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and Registrar for the Mary Young Pickersgill Chapter of the Daughters of 1812.

Victoria has researched for television shows including Henry Lewis Gates’ Finding Your Roots and Genealogy Roadshow for the past two seasons. Victoria completed the Boston University Certificate course in Genealogy and GENFED.

Darcie Hind Posz

Darcie Hind Posz, CG, is a genealogist, author and researcher. Recipient of the ASG Scholar Award, she has authored articles that have been published in The Nugget, The Genealogist, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, and The American Genealogist.

What's the cost?

$1895 for a single room

$1275 for a double room

*Please add $40 if you are not a member of The California Genealogical Society

Payment in full is required and refunds cannot be issued after October 1. Trip insurance is always recommended.

Please indicate your roommate choice, if you are traveling with a researching companion. If you would like to share a room, we will do our best to assign a roommate. **If a roommate is not available, there is a chance you will be assigned to a single room at the single rate.

What else might I do in D.C.?

Some guests might want to visit the Smithsonian’s new African American Museum slated to open in September or the Japanese American Exhibit at the National Museum of American History.

Ready to join us? Great, sign-up today and be a part of this amazing trip---we hope to see you there!

29 June 2016

Wordless Wednesday: Ancestry Day by the Bay

Posted by Shannon Reese

Ancestry Day by the Bay was held this year Saturday, June 18th in South San Francisco.

How were we involved? We had our own volunteer experts giving consultations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the library the day before the big event.

Enjoy the photos!

Photos courtesy of Linda Okazaki

08 June 2016

Wordless Wednesday: California Genealogical Society at Jamboree 2016

Posted by Linda Okazaki

Collaborating with Seattle Genealogists

Lavinia Schwarz, Nicka Smith, Jim Sorenson, Diana Edwards

World Round Table Consultations with Janis Hirohama

ProGen Luncheon with Janice Sellers

Lavinia Schwarz, Jan Brandt, Cyndi Ingle, Linda Okazaki, Susanne Mori, Melinda Yamane Crawford, Diana Edwards

Newest CGS Member, Melinda Yamane Crawford

Oakland Hometown Pride with CGS Members

DNA Luncheon with Pam Brigham, Jan Brandt, Deborah Yegerlehner Sweeney, and Jacqi Stevens

Natalie Levinson and Lavinia Schwarz

Nikkei Researchers Janis Hirohama, Susanne Mori, Linda Okazaki, Melinda Yamane Crawford, Jim Russull

"Everything You Wanted to Know About African-American Genealogy but Were Afraid to Ask" with Nicka Smith

Natalie Levinson, Sita Likuski, Lavinia Schwarz

Diana Edwards and Nicka Smith

CGS Members
Back Row: Pam Brigham, Jan Brandt, Lavinia Schwarz, Pat Burrow, Jacqi Stevens
Middle Row: Brenda Shank, Laura Lee Karp, Natalie Levinson, Susanne Mori, Janis Hirohama, Linda Okazaki
Front Row: Tracy Zimmerman, Diana Edwards, Kim Cotton, Janice Sellers
Missing: Ron Arons, David Burde, Sita Likuski, Gena Philibert-Ortega
Jim Russell, Nicka Smith, Jim Sorenson

28 May 2016

Spotlight on Genealogy Periodicals: Ohio!

Posted by Shannon Reese

by Nancy Cork

Did you know that The California Genealogy Society’s library has a fascinating collection of genealogy periodicals?

Let’s take a peek inside two issues of different Ohio-focused journals: a fresh from-the-mailbox issue, and an oldie-but-goodie from our shelves. In genealogy, newer isn’t necessarily better and research has a long shelf life!

In the fresh-from-the-mailbox issue of the Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly, there is an article about the men who served in the 1^st Regiment (Edward’s) Ohio Militia and the scandal in 1813 when George Edwards and his battalion were charged with disobedience and cowardice. A list of individuals in the regiment is included.

“War of 1812: 1^st Regiment (Edward’s) Ohio Militia”

By Jeremiah Edwards

Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly Vol 56:2, Spring 2016; pp. 119-122

Call number: F486 O55

Not what you were looking for? In addition to the recent issue, our library also has the Ohio Genealogical Society Quarterly from Volume 11 to Volume 55 (1971 to present) with some gaps in the earlier years.

Switching gears, you can also discover an oldie-but-goodie from our shelves in the October 1905 issue of The “Old Northwest” Genealogy Quarterly that is devoted to Granville, Ohio. Inside you will find a story of the founding and history of a female college, with many photographs and drawings, along with lists of faculty, trustees and pupils from 1835 to 1898.

“Granville Female College”

By Harriet I. Whiting

The “Old Northwest” Genealogical Quarterly

Volume 8, 1905; pp. 317 – 358

Call number: F476 O4 1905 Vol VIII

Want more issues to review? The library also has The “Old Northwest” Genealogical Quarterly from Volume 1, 1898 to Volume 15, 1912.

Still need more Ohio journals to choose from? We also have The Ohio Genealogical Society Report in our collection.

Please come in and browse through our many magazines, newsletters and scholarly journals for more information on Ohio and other people, places and things. Remember to look on the wall in the Sherman Room for current issues, and on the shelves by call number for all other periodicals.

Many people think we’ve only got genealogy research materials for California, but we’ve got so much more to offer. I hope this gives you yet another reason to come in and visit our genealogy library.

See you around the library!

27 May 2016

Spotlight on Genealogy Periodicals: North Carolina!

Posted by Shannon Reese

by Nancy Cork

Did you know that The California Genealogy Society’s library has a fascinating collection of genealogy periodicals?

Let’s take a peek inside two issues of different North Carolina-focused journals: a fresh-from-the-mailbox issue, and an oldie-but-goodie from our shelves. In genealogy, newer isn’t necessarily better and research has a long shelf life!

In the fresh-from-the-mailbox issue of the North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, there is a fascinating (and exclusive!) article on indentured children in Perquimans County. As a way to find homes for children as young as one year old, indentures specified what craft the child was apprenticed to learn. This article includes ten pages of detailed information such as this listing:

“13 May 1850 George W. Whedbee, orphan of James Whidbee, age 9 was indentured to William Sutton who was tasked to teach him the art and mystery of farming.”

“Perquimans County Indenture 1842 - 1853”

By Sharon Gable

North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal

Volume 42:1, February 2016; pp. 33 - 44

Call number: F253 N882

Not what you were looking for? In addition to the recent issue, our library has this periodical from Volume 1 in 1975 to the present.

Switching gears, you can also discover an oldie-but-goodie from our shelves. We found in the North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register an older article taken from the “papers on file among the Court Records of Albemarle County, in the Court house in Edenton, N.C.”, that deals with the protests in Edenton, North Carolina in 1728:

“The Everard Riot in Edenton in 1728”

North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register

Volume 1:3, July 1900 pp.439-440

Call number: F251 N89

Want more issues to review? You can find the North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register on our library shelves dating from 1900 to 1903.

When you come to the library to browse our periodicals, remember to look on the wall in the Sherman Room for current issues, and on the shelves by call number all other periodicals.

See you around the library!