California Genealogical Society
and Library eNews
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May Membership Meeting - this Saturday!
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Saturday, May 10, 2008, 1:00 p.m.
CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland, California
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 Please note the earlier start time!
Please join us for two special talks by returning guest and CGS favorite, Dr. Stephen P. Morse.
What Color Ellis Island Search Form Should I Use?
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The Jewish Calendar Demystified Stephen Morse returns this Saturday, May 10, 2008. His lectures will follow a short membership meeting which will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Please arrive a few minutes early.
Steve's first talk will
describe the evolution of the One-Step Ellis Island Web site to the One-Step Web Pages from both a historical
and a practical perspective. In April 2001 the Ellis Island ship manifests and passenger records
went on-line. A few weeks later the One-Step Ellis Island website
was created to make this resource easier to use. Since that time
the One-Step site has been greatly expanded to include new search capabilities
and an array of color-coded search forms.
Dr.
Morse's second talk is a tongue-in-cheek but factual description of the
Jewish Calendar as seen through
the eyes of Adam and Eve. Because it is both a solar and lunar
calendar, the rules that govern it can be a bit daunting. This piece
was recently published in the Association of Professional
Genealogists Quarterly which reflects its general appeal. It's not
just for people doing Jewish genealogy - and is a very humorous talk! |
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Scandinavian Research Workshop
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Saturday, June 14, 2008 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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 California Genealogical Society Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
The second in a series of CGS Research Workshops will focus on ancestors from Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Please join our specialists: Laura Spurrier (Danish), Pat Smith (Swedish) and Gloria Hanson (Norwegian) as they dissect Scandinavian research. Topics will include: border changes, census, church books and immigration information - where immigrants settled in the U.S. - and more. Handouts will be provided.
The
workshop will consist of a panel discussion (with handouts) by our
specialists, a lunch break and a "hands-on" session so attendees can
share ideas, do some computer research and talk one-on-one with Gloria, Pat and Laura. Members are encouraged to bring laptop computers; the six
CGS computers may not all be available for the program.
Reservations are required; no walk-ins will be permitted. The workshop is free for CGS members but is limited to 15 people. There will be
a sign-up fee of $10 for non-members. (The fee can be applied toward
membership on the day of the workshop.) There is a sign-up sheet
at the CGS Library desk. Please call (510) 663-1358 to reserve a space.
Don't miss this
opportunity to learn new strategies and meet other members with similar
research interests.
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CGS is Going to Jamboree
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Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree
June 27-28-29, 2008
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 Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center Burbank, California
June 27-28-29, 2008
CGS President Jane Lindsey is attending this year's 39th Annual SCGS Jamboree with a small contingent from the Bay Area. The society has reserved a table in the Exhibit Hall adjacent to that of the California State Genealogical Alliance.
This year's theme is "Solve Your Family History Puzzle."
CGS member, Past-President of the Southern California Genealogical Society and Co-Chair of this year's Jamboree, Paula Hinkel, is the author of the Jamboree blog which features everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know about the schedule, events and speakers.
CGS will host a Membership Coffee at the Jamboree on
Friday morning, June 27, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Members who live in the Los Angeles area are invited to join CGS
President Jane Lindsey for an update on society events. Guests are
welcome.
CGS members, please let us know if you will be attending, and be sure to check in at the society table.
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A Day of Irish Information with Nora Keohane Hickey
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Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Berkeley Yacht Club, 1 Seawall Drive, Berkeley, California
 Internationally known author and speaker
Nora Keohane Hickey will present:
A Day of Irish Information - four talks to help with your Irish research.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at the Berkeley Yacht Club.
Ms. Hickey, a native of Cork, Ireland, was the founder and director of the Irish
Genealogical
Project. She visits the U.S.
several times each year to lecture.
Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. Lectures will start promptly at 10:00 a.m.
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The program:
10:00 Debunking some myths of Irish genealogy
11:15 Extracting all the important information you can from Griffith's Valuation
12:15 Break for lunch and book sales
1:15 Little-known and under-used Irish genealogical sources
2:15 Common problems in Irish genealogy
Nora will also provide Personal Consultations on Thursday, July 10, 2008, at the CGS Library. The fee will be $15.00 for fifteen minutes.
Registrants can opt to bring their own lunch or pre-pay for a boxed lunch. For further information about this event or to schedule a Personal Consultation with Nora Hickey, visit the CGS Web site and download the event flier and reservation form.
Nora M. Hickey
was educated at Loreto College, Manchester,
England. After returning to Ireland in 1974, she studied history and
philosophy at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, a constituent college of
the National University of Ireland. Her B.A. thesis was genealogical: a
study of the Norman family, the de Berminghams of Leinster. As a
founder member of the Federation of Local History Societies, she was
Honorary Editor of Local History Review for many years. An early member of the Irish Family History Society, Nora also acted for some years as the Honorary Editor of Irish Family History.
Her publications include: Going to Ireland: A Genealogical Researcher's Guide; Kinsale Historical Journals; Kinsale: Glimpses of a town through the years and The Battle of Kinsale. She has also writen many articles, historical and genealogical,
published in many journals in two continents.
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Acknowledging Our Volunteers
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A Special Message from the CGS President
by Jane Knowles Lindsey |
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During this National Volunteer Week, I would like to celebrate the many volunteers we have at the California Genealogical Society.
Being
an all-volunteer organization, our members run the library, organize a
variety of indexing projects, troubleshoot computer issues and handle
mail, book orders, research requests and membership renewals.
Volunteers also work from home: writing, editing, proofing and
formating our many publications; coordinating member programs and
events; managing our Web sites and so much more.
Our volunteers
come from many walks of life and their experience brings an added
dimension to our society. Members with the financial know-how keep our
books and safeguard our investments. An engineer who solved a problem
with our new shelving saved us hundreds of dollars! I would also
like to thank many of our guest speakers who come and speak without
charge to our society, and to acknowledge society members who
generously share their expertise through lectures and workshops. In
this age of "pajama research" when many new genealogists think
"everything is online," the genealogy society is sometimes regarded as
pass�. But it is the personal connections we make as volunteers that is the most rewarding part of belonging to a society. The
California Genealogical Society and Library has no paid staff. Our
volunteers ARE our society. I so appreciate the willingness of members
who not only DO the necessary jobs needed to effectively run CGS but
who also freely share their genealogical expertise. Thanks to all of
the members of the California Genealogical Society - we wouldn't be as
strong as we are without you!
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CGS Ancestors
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Photo Tributes to the CGS Family
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This month's CGS Ancestor Photo was submitted by Pat Gallagher:
"This photo, reported by my cousin to have been taken in Zanzibar, circa 1896,
is
of the crew of the barque 'Ellen' (shown below) which was engaged in
cargo transport from Norway. The 'Ellen' was owned by my Norwegian
great-grandfather, Captain Elias KNUDSEN (center, seated in white
suit). His son, my grandfather, Claus Knudsen, age 13, sitting on deck
lower right with arms folded, was cabin boy. On a later voyage in May 1903, Captain Elias died at sea and was buried in the
Indian Ocean: 41.22� South 67.50� East.
 After the 'burial' my grandfather sailed on with the crew to Australia where he lived for a
time, working on sailing ships. He emigrated to the U.S. in Hawaii in
1904, finally settling in San Francisco. Had my great-grandfather not
died at sea, it is likely that my grandfather would have returned to Norway and I would not be here at all!"
If you would like to see your CGS Ancestor featured in a future edition of the CGS eNews, please email your image to CGSpublicity@gmail.com and include a brief description.
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California Genealogical Society and Library
A Northern California Genealogy Resource
Oakland, CA 94612-3031
Founded
February 12, 1898 in San Francisco, CGS, a non-profit, all-volunteer
organization that seeks to aid, educate and encourage research in
family history, is presently located in Oakland, California. The
society maintains a library, gathers and preserves vital records and
disseminates information through publications, meetings, seminars,
workshops, its Web site, blog and online catalog. |
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