California Genealogical Society
and Library eNews
November 2008, Vol. 2, No. 11


November Membership Meeting - Honoring Our Volunteers

Saturday, November 8, 2008, 1:00 p.m.
CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
Thanksgiving at CGS!
Wine Reception at CGS for Volunteers
Hear Their Stories and Visit the Book Sale

Please join the CGS board of directors for a special wine and nibbles reception to honor our volunteers. The November membership meeting will be an informal one - a chance to say thank you and an opportunity for members to get to know each other. Our volunteers have created a successful formula that has kept CGS viable for 110 years. That is something to celebrate!

As an icebreaker, special name tags will be provided so that members can display their surnames and research places. In case you haven't heard, there has been a bit of an epidemic of cousins finding cousins in the library. It's one more reason to come and join in the festivities.

CGS President Jane Lindsey is hoping that you will come, share a story and honor your fellow member-volunteers.
Come One, Come All - Used Book Sale & Fundraiser for CGS

Attention, bibliophiles!

The California Genealogical Society and Library invites you to come browse our book sale on Saturday, November 8, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The sale is part of the special Thanksgiving at CGS! event to honor our volunteers.

CGS Library Committee volunteer Arlene Miles reports that there are some great bargains among the wide variety of used genealogy books and periodicals set aside for the sale. Donated books continue to be a welcome source of materials in the library and the society is selling those which are duplicates of items already in our collection and some which do not meet the strict collection policy. Also priced to sell are older editions or printings of books on our shelves that have been replaced by newer versions.
 
Workshop with Grass Valley Author Chris Enss

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Proceeds Benefit the North Star Mine House
CGS member Penelope Curtis sends word that there are still plenty of seats available at the Unraveling Cold Cases workshop.

For reservations or more information e-mail Penelope Curtis or call 530-798-5955.
 
Intermediate Level Genealogy - A Nine Session Course in 2009

Another Joint Venture with the Oakland Regional Family History Center
Oakland Regional FHC art Plans are underway for an Intermediate Course in Genealogy following the success of the recent beginner's classes held during Family History Month. A total of fifty students took advantage of the free classes offered jointly by the California Genealogical Society and the Oakland Regional Family History Center.

The Intermediate Course will consist of nine sessions and will follow the same schedule as before. Classes will be offered twice - on Saturday, at the CGS Library, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on the following Tuesday, at the Family History Center, from 10:30 a.m. until 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 will commence on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the CGS Library.

Details are still being worked out but topics will include: Probate Records and Guardianships, Church and Cemetery Records, Land and Property - Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers, Military Records, Newspaper Research, Reading and Transcribing Old Handwriting, Tax Lists, Court Records, City Directories, and more.

Preregistration information will be available at the CGS and the Oakland Regional Family History Center Web sites as soon as the course details are finalized.

Illustration: "The Family Tree" by local artist Lyn White, from the cover of the Oakland Regional Family History Center brochure.
Planning the 2009 Calendar

Volunteers Needed for Special Events
CGS Events Coordinator Carolyn Steinberg and CGS President Jane Lindsey are busy planning the 2009 meeting and events calendar. Plans under review include a Scots-Irish research seminar, a DNA lunch and a NEHGS conference in the fall. Each special event will require a planning committee - volunteers are needed. Please e-mail Carolyn or Jane if you can help.
 
 
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, March 29 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 $680 (airfare not included.) A deposit of $200 holds one space. A tour flier with registration form and full details will be available on the CGS Web site.
In Memory

Phyllis May (Lupton) Brislawn (1930-2008)
Born June 22, 1930 in San Mateo, California, Phyllis Brislawn passed away on October 9, 2008, at her home in Piedmont. A graduate of Mills College with a Masters degree in Psychology from Stanford, she was passionate and dedicated to her career as a school psychologist. Phyllis was a member of the California Genealogical Society since 1988. Services will be held at St. Cuthbert's Episcopal Church, Mountain Blvd., Oakland, California, on November 15th, 2008 at 11 a.m., with reception to follow. Her full obituary ran in the Bay Area News Group publications on 10/19/2008.

Frederick Sterling "Rick" Sherman (1928-2008)
Friend, colleague and CGS Past-President Rick Sherman died on Monday, October 27, 2008. Rick's obituary has not yet been published in the newspaper. A member spotlight piece ran about Rick's many contributions to CGS in the blog last month. A memorial service will be held at the Berkeley City Club Ballroom on Saturday, December 20, 2008. The time has not yet been finalized. Further details will be published in the December e-News.
Can You Help?
 
Do you have a few spare hours a month? The CGS Publications Committee is gearing up for some exciting new changes in 2009. Volunteers with an interest in writing, publishing and editing are needed.

The CGS e-News editor is looking for some helpers. Jobs can be done from home. Please contact CGS and join our volunteer team.
Suggested Links from the Blogosphere

Family Cookbooks 2.0

Immigrant Baggage at Ellis Island

Pennsylvania Genealogical Cause

Visiting the New York Public Library

The Genetic Genealogist
Blaine Bettinger writes The Genetic Genealogist: Adding DNA to the Genealogist's Toolbox. He's a Ph.D. in biochemistry and is currently a third-year law student. Blaine offers a free download of his 28-page e-book I Have the Results of My Genetic Genealogy Test, Now What?

DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Trio
Pat Richley (aka Ol' Myrt - Your Friend in Genealogy) has been dishing "practical, down-to-earth advice for family historians since 1995 - online since 1984." Besides her popular genealogy podcast Dear Myrtle's Family History Hour, Pat writes two blogs: Teach Genealogy Blog and DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog.

Kimberly's Genealogy Blog
If you haven't discovered Kimberly Powell, you are missing a great resource about all things genealogical. She has been writing about genealogy for About.com since 2000 and is also currently the Web master for the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society. Here are some recent posts:
Interlibrary Loan for Genealogists
Locating Historical U.S. Deeds Onliine
10 Steps for Finding Your Family Tree Online

Some Swedish Research Resources
Kathy Meade, North American representative of GenLine, had a table in the exhibit hall next to CGS at the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in June. She did an interview with Roots Television at the Jamboree. One visitor to the CGS table was Anna-Karin Schander, author of Anna-Karin's Genealogical Blog, a companion to Anna-Karin's Genealogical Podcast. Anna-Karin also sat for an interview with Roots Television. Both interviews contain much information on getting started with Swedish research.

CGS Ancestors

Photo Tributes to the CGS Family

This month's CGS Ancestor Photo was submitted by Arlene Miles:
Theresa Geraldine Hluboky


































This is a photograph of my mother, Theresa Geraldine Hluboky, taken in 1918 when she was about three years old. There was a man who walked around the neighborhood with his pony, giving rides to the kids and taking their picture if they would sit still long enough. Mom always told my sister and me that she was deathly afraid of horses but she looks pretty happy to me. Mom tells me it cost a nickel for both ride and photo - a bargain for such a wonderful keepsake!

By the way, Mom's birthday was November 1 - she just celebrated 93 years.

Happy Birthday, Mom!


If you would like to see your CGS Ancestor featured in a future edition of the CGS e-News, please e-mail your image and include a brief description.
Did you miss these posts in the CGSL blog?
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.