California Genealogical Society October 2008 e-NEWS

California Genealogical Society

and Library eNews

October 2008, Vol. 2, No. 10

Celebrate Family History Month with CGS

CGS To Host Seminars and Lectures Throughout October

For nearly a decade, October has been celebrated as Family History Month among genealogy enthusiasts. The California Genealogical Society and Library will celebrate by hosting beginning to advanced genealogy seminars throughout the month. Topics range from organizing and performing basic genealogical research to utilizing technology and software to preserve your research. All seminars are open to the public and the usage fee for non-members is waived so the library resources are available free of charge.

CGS Events Chair Carolyn Steinberg has put together a full menu of offerings. Download the Family History Month October 2008 brochure, designed by Colleen Huntley. The complete schedule of classes, workshops and consultations can be found on the CGS calendar.

Member-to-Member Consultations

A Special New Benefit for Members Only in October - Call Now to Schedule!

Something new has been added to the October Family History Month offerings this year - Individual consultations - for members only.

Several CGS members with specialized skills have volunteered to come into the library to share their expertise. Thirty-minute sessions are by appointment only and can be used by members to help resolve a particular research problem or to get a fresh perspective. All sessions are private, one-on-one and free - a special member benefit for the month of October.

Our member consultants include some notable specialists: Dorothy Koenig, Dutch Colonial New York, 1624-1700; Steve Danko, Eastern European and Immigration; Jeremy Frankel, Jewish; Swen-Ove Westberg, Swedish; Pam Meeds Williams, California before statehood (1848); Steve Harris, New York; Tom Gessner, Massachusetts from 1620 and New Brunswick; Linda Darby, the South, and more. Jennifer Regan will be available for sessions on using Google for genealogy research. Other members have volunteered to help with subscription sites, such as Ancestry, Footnote and Rootsweb. There is something for everyone - in fact, non-members may want to join just to take advantage of this fantastic offer!

The one-on-one sessions have been scheduled for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the month. The complete listings of consultants, topics and times have been added to the CGS Google calendar for October. In addition, the full schedule can be downloaded from the CGS Web site.

All consultations must be scheduled in advance with Events Coordinator, Carolyn Steinberg. E-mail Carolyn or telephone CGS at 510-663-1358 and leave a message with your name and number and she will return your call. Sorry, no walk-ins.

Intro to Genealogy - A Four-Session Course in the Basics

A Joint Venture for Family History Month

In celebration of October as Family History Month, the California Genealogical Society and the Oakland Regional Family History Center are combining resources and expertise to offer a four-class Beginning Genealogy Course. Each of the four classes will be offered twice - on Saturday, at the CGS Library, from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. and on the following Tuesday, at the Family History Center, from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The same teachers and handouts will be used in both sessions and students can attend classes at either (or both) facilities.

Classes are free but there will be a $10 charge for a notebook containing a syllabus of the four classes. Those students wishing to join the California Genealogical Society will also receive $10 off their memberships after attending all four classes. Free parking is available at both locations. The Oakland Regional Family History Center is located at 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, California.

Preregistration is necessary to ensure adequate handouts. Drop-ins will be welcome on a space available basis. Please register by telephone 510-531-3905 or E-mail oaklandfhc@yahoo.com.

The class outline and schedule are as follows:

Part 1 - Introduction to the Science of Genealogy
In this introductory class, Marge Bell Assistant Director of the ORFHC, will teach students how to get started and cover basic genealogical terminology, forms, computer programs and organization of research files.
Saturday, October 4, 2008, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. at CGS
Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the FHC.

Part 2 - Secondary Survey
In the second class, Jane Lindsey President of CGS, will introduce students to the basic Internet research sites that feature compiled genealogies including, but not limited to, FamilySearch, Rootsweb, USGenWeb. It will also include using digital library catalogs to help plan research and locate resources.
Saturday, October 11, 2008, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at CGS
Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the FHC.

There are no classes on Saturday, October 18, 2008 or on Tuesday, October 21, 2008.

Part 3 - Vital Records and the Calendar Change
This class, led by Marge Bell, will teach students how to locate birth, marriage, and death records at the various governmental levels, what one can expect to find on them and how the new information can lead to other clues and records. The class will also include the 1752 change in the calendar.
Saturday, October 25, 2008, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at CGS
Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the FHC

Part 4 - Censuses, Including the State Census
Richard Rees, CGS member and research consultant, will provide a short history of the U.S. census, explain how to use it and discuss ways to work around common problems. As time permits, there will be an overview of state census records: what's available and how to access the records.
Saturday, November 1, 2008, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at CGS
Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the FHC

Illustration: "The Family Tree" by local artist Lyn White, from the cover of the Oakland Regional Family History Center brochure.

Book Repair Workshop Returns

Saturday, October 25, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The California Genealogical Society is now taking reservations for the fall Book Repair Workshop to be held on Saturday morning, October 25, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Back by popular demand, the workshop is part of the October Family History Month menu of classes and other offerings.

This perennial favorite, taught by Book Repair Committee Chairman Bill O'Neil, is limited to ten enrollees. Workshop participants learn book repair techniques by actually creating a book. Pages are provided and the pupils create the binding. The finished product will be a copy of a "how to" pamphlet written by the late Dick Thrift, founder of the CGS Book Repair Committee. Everyone goes home with a self-made instruction book and souvenir of the day.

The fee is $15.00 for materials. Reservations are required and can be made by e-mail or by calling CGS at 510-663-1358. There is a also a sign-up sheet at the reception desk. A copy of classess offered during October Family History Month can be downloaded from the CGS Website.

November Membership Meeting

Saturday, November 8, 2008, 1:00 p.m.

An encore presentation of the panel discussion "Breaking Down Brick Walls" will be presented on November 8, 2008, following a short membership meeting. The July event starring Jane Hufft, Nancy Peterson and Lavinia Schwarz was so well received that a second program from the "male perspective" is being prepared. Save the date!

Ninth Annual Tour to Salt Lake City Announced

March 29, 2009 - April 5, 2009.

The ninth annual California Genealogical Society Salt Lake City Research Tour is in the planning stages. As in previous years, the trip will run from Sunday to Sunday, commencing on March 29, 2009, through April 5, 2009. CGS President Jane Lindsey and CGS Research Director Nancy Peterson return again as volunteer leaders of this very popular trip to the Family History Library.

The Tour Package includes:
* Hotel room (7 nights, double occupancy)
* Shuttle service to and from the airport
* Three group dinners (Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday)
* Orientation meeting and several lectures
* Optional assistance at CGS prior to the trip
* Computer assistance
* Hotel shuttle to library, if needed
* Continental breakfast included

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 cost is $650 (airfare not included.) A deposit of $200 holds one space. A tour flier with registration form and full details will be available on the Web site on November 1, 2008.

In Memory

Thomas E. Wainwright Ph.D. (1927-2007)
Beth Long Wainwright attended the September membership meeting and informed us of the death of her husband last year. Dr. Thomas Wainwright died November 27, 2007. He was Division Leader of Theoretical Physics at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory until his retirement in 1988. Tom had been a member of the California Genealogical Society since 1994. He enthusiastically regaled his family with stories of their ancestors going back to the 17th Century. His full obituary ran in the Oakland Tribune on November 30, 2007.

Richard Neil "Rick" Hunter (1942-2008)

Rick's partner, Diana Demeter, informed us of Rick's death on August 29, 2008. Rick was an active member of the California Genealogical Society who lived strong with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Rick belonged to many other genealogical groups including the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. His passion for genealogy brought together branches of his family from several countries including the U.S., Canada, Germany and Romania.

Rick completed the "Walk to Defeat ALS" around Lake Merritt in Oakland last year. He had signed up to be a team captain for this year's walk on Sunday October 19, 2008. If you would like to participate or make a donation, please visit Rick's page
for the East Bay Legacy Team.

Family and friends will be notified of a celebration of Rick's life to be held the first weekend in December. Rick's obituary was published in the Oakland Tribune on September 7, 2008.

Carrie Sprague (1933-2008)

Carrie Sprague of Berkeley passed away early Monday morning, September 1, 2008. In the 1980s, Carrie was involved in peace and solidarity work in Central America. She was involved in many community projects and international groups and served on local commissions. She was an accomplished quilter, potter, baker and gardener. Carrie was a member of the California Genealogical Society. She attended the August 2004 CGS Tour to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Carrie's obituary appeared in the Berkeley Daily Planet on September 4, 2008.

Can You Help?

Did you know that CGS is a 100% volunteer organization? Opportunities exist for your involvement in an ongoing position or just occasionally, when you have time. Let us know your areas of expertise or interest and we will find a job that you will love, that fits into your busy schedule.

Do you have a few spare hours a month? The CGS Publications Committee is gearing up for some exciting new changes in 2009. A volunteer with organizational skills - no publication experience necessary - is needed. Please contact CGS and join our volunteer team.