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March 2010, Vol. 4, No. 3
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The Countdown Has Begun!
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Who Do You Think You Are? Premiers Friday, March 5, 2010, 8:00 p.m. PST
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 In case you missed the promotional ads throughout coverage of the Olympics, the latest copycat television series from across the pond airs this week on NBC.
When the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? made its debut in the UK in 2004, queues of family researchers formed at archives and libraries all over England and the show became a huge hit. Will it have the same impact here and become the twenty-first century version of Roots?
Meet the seven celebrities who will trace their ancestry this season on the blog. Set your digital video recorders and spread the word to family and friends. This is an opportunity for us to explain painlessly exactly what it is we do!
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| March Membership Meeting with Mary Mettler |
Saturday, March 13, 2010, 1:00 p.m.
CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
 The Successful Research Trip: Lessons Learned on the Road
Many will recognize Mary's name from Tuesday Tales
- the series
of blog articles she wrote in 2008 during her three-month
genealogical trek across country. She's made six shorter trips
researching her ancestors so her expertise is measured in time and
miles. Mary will share her tips and tricks on how to prepare for a
genealogy research trip: taking the right
tools, finding unique sources and preventing
pitfalls. Learn more at the blog.
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Tech Saturday Workshop with Mary Beth Frederick - An Encore Presentation
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Digital Photography: A Tool For Your Genealogical Research
Saturday, March 20, 2010, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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Mary Beth's presentation is proving to be the most popular workshop the society has ever offered. After an overwhelming response to last month's announcement, the March 20 class was filled and Mary Beth graciously agreed to repeat the class on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Unfortunately, the second class is also full.
To be added to the waiting list for either class, email Tim Cox at Events@CaliforniaAncestors.org. No phone calls please.
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Cemetery Walking Tour with Gaye Lenahan
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Mountain View Cemetery, 5000 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611
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 Member Gaye Lenehan will lead this exploration of an Oakland gem. The walking tour of Mountain View will start promptly at 10:00 a.m. - everyone should gather in front of the main office.
If Mother Nature cooperates, attendees should witness a spectacular show since the tour has been timed to occur when the tulips are in full bloom. Gaye tells us that if the weather is nice, a bag lunch up
on Millionaire's Row is fun. Learn more at the blog.
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Ethnic Research Series: Chinese Ancestry Two-Session Workshop
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Saturday, April 17, 2010, CGS
Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite
LL2, Oakland
Saturday,
May 8, 2010, NARA, Pacific Region, 1000 Commodore Drive, San
Bruno
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The California Genealogical Society and Library is partnering with the National Archives
and Records Administration - Pacific Region to present a two-day workshop series - one day at each location.
At Session I, members Christine DeVillier, Jeanie Low and Kay
Speaks will share their expertise learned by researching their own Chinese
ancestry. NARA archivist Marisa Louie will lecture on the resources
in the NARA records collection pertaining to
Chinese research.
At Session 2, attendees will put their new research skills to the test at
NARA with access to the Angel Island Immigration Station case files.
Attendance
at both sessions is
required. Only those who
attend the April 17 lectures will be admitted to the NARA
research day on May 8.
See the full schedule and detailed information at the blog. Register online.
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Coming in May
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Save These Dates!
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 Membership Meeting - Saturday, May 8, 2010, 1:00 p.m. - Using Rootsweb and Social Networking, Jo Ann Rowley-Minhoto
Tech Saturday - May 15, 2010, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Hard Drive Organization; Making Use of Your Computer File Folders, Tim Cox
Field Trip to Sutro Library - Wednesday, May 26, 2010, Dick Rees
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| A Membership Request |
Don't Throw That Old Issue Away!
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Demand for the Spring and Fall 2009 issues of The California Nugget has exceeded the supply. The Membership Committee is requesting members who are not saving their issues, to please donate them back to the library. Please leave them at the desk for Arlene Miles.
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California Ancestors: Diverse Heritage From Around the World
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Photo Tributes to the CGS Family
Edited by Cathy H. Paris
This month we pay tribute to our Irish
Roots. The photographs and story were submitted by our Photo Editor, Cathy H.
Paris.
March
17 is fast approaching, so you may want to check your
closet to make sure you have something green to wear. As a child, I was
always in a painful quandary as to whether or not I should wear
green on St. Patrick's Day. After spending the last several years
researching the history of my family, I no longer have misgivings.
When I asked my maternal grandmother,
Helen Nimmo, a somewhat non-practicing Episcopalian, if she was Irish,
she gave me a look that could kill. She paused a few moments to regain her composure, then explained that her father was born in England and her mother had Scottish roots. All this
was true, as far as it went.
When I asked my mother if I was Irish,
she assured me that while I had some Irish, I was a "mix." I created this graphic so you can appreciate how mixed up I really am!
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I never had the chance to talk about being Irish with my
paternal grandmother, Mary Fitzgerald. She died in 1918 of the Spanish
influenza, and was buried in the Catholic cemetery in Portsmouth, New
Hampshire. She was born in Penacook, New Hampshire, on September 20,
1886, the daughter of Jennie McCormick, a young immigrant from County
Clare, and James E. Fitzgerald, the American-born son of immigrants
from County Kerry.
I wonder what Mary Fitzgerald would
have thought about her son marrying my mother. And what do you think my mother's mother, Helen, would say if she knew that despite her disclaimers, I have discovered that all four of her grandparents were
from Ireland?
This month I pay tribute to my
grandmothers, pictured below, and their discordant Irish roots: Helen
Elizabeth Nimmo (1898 - 1976), left, and Mary Elizabeth Fitzgerald
(1886 - 1918), right.
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Call For Submissions - We need your photographs and stories! Do you have a great family photo that is scanned and ready to be shared? Do you have a wonderful family story and a photo to go with it? If you would like to pay tribute to your ancestor in a future edition of the eNews, please email Cathy Paris and send your image with a brief narrative.
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Kathryn Doyle, eNews Editor
email me
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