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February 2014, Vol. 8, No. 3e
Editor's Note
Getting to Know the California Genealogical Society & Library
This past year, as a new volunteer, I've had the pleasure of meeting more family history-minded members and volunteers. And I've learned a lot about the society and library's breadth and depth: there's so much more than I'd realized!

As e-News editor, it's my goal to make sure you're also aware of the range of activities and resources available. Going forward, we'll be mailing the e-News to you on the 1st and 15th of every month. This increased frequency will provide more opportunities to share information with you about all aspects of the society, including our library's rich resource collection. My hope is that you, too, will learn how to make the most of your next library visit and your experience with the society.

See you at the library!
Marcelle White signature
Meet the New Board Members
Election of 2014 Board Members and Officers
At our annual membership on Saturday, January 11th, we elected Ellen Fernandez-Sacco as the new president and Kim Cotton as the new vice president. Members confirmed existing board appointments: Diana Edwards, Lisa Gorrell, Karen Lemelin, Shannon Reese, Nicka Smith, Jim Sorenson, Henry Snyder, and Jeffrey Vaillant. The following new members were elected: Felicia Addison, Tim Cox, Edie Daly, Glenn Koch, and Marcelle White. 

Learn more about our newest board members in our latest blog post.

 

February, March, and April Classes
California Genealogical Society & Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland 
   2/8:  Gentleman Officer: Uncovering A Legacy of Firsts, David Goerss

   3/1:  Finding Your Family: Intro to Genealogy, Diana Wild
 
   3/8:  What's in a Name? Trouble!, Ron Arons

 3/22:  Finding Country Cousins in Land and Property Records, Susan Goss Johnston

   4/5:  Finding Your Family: Intro to Genealogy, Dick Rees

 4/26:  Seeking City Slickers in Lesser-Known Records, Susan Goss Johnston
                 
Probate Records and Beginning Genealogy series are sold out, but you can still sign up for the waiting list...just in case a spot becomes available. 

Featured Library Resource
New Access to Old Family Histories
by Janet McDonald, Library Committee

Over the years the library has acquired various family histories. At one point, many of them, although unrelated, were bound together into a 37-volume series. (They're on the shelf at CS68 CGS Ser. 6.) Some of these were published works, and some were not. Although a list of the contents or an index was created for each volume, until now, users needed to examine each volume if they wanted to determine if any of the families in that volume were of interest to them. This information was not available in our catalog. 

 

Starting last year, the library staff focused on cataloging each family history in these volumes. The printed family histories are now complete and you'll be able to find them in the online catalog. The typescripts (and even a few written by hand) are still in progress, and the staff is busy completing that project, which should be finished in the near future. So don't rely only on browsing the shelves for a surname -- do a thorough search by checking our catalog.    

  
Winter and Spring Field Trips
Explore New Genealogy-Rich Archives and Libraries

4/6-4/13:  Salt Lake City Research Tour -- only a few spaces left!

If you're going to the Roots Tech conference, February 6-8 in Salt Lake City,  email Kim Cotton so we can plan a CGS group photo.

 

Ancestor Tribute: They Came from Everywhere!
A Loving Aunt and Uncle  

By Judianne Abramson, Member since 2011  

 


One of the many pictures I recently inherited is this one of Dora Seu and her husband, Walter Low. Dora was the younger sister of my paternal great-grandmother, Mary.  

 

Walter was a manager in the National Dollar Store chain founded in the early 1900s in San Francisco by Joe Shoong. This chain was unique in that it was Chinese owned, and it operated during a time when many Americans had anti-Chinese beliefs. Dora and Walter lived all over California and even for a time in Salt Lake City, Utah, as Walter managed various stores in the chain. Eventually, they came back to settle in San Francisco and they built a house at 900 Lombard Street. This home was later used by Alfred Hitchcock in his classic movie, Vertigo.  

 

Dora and Walter had no children of their own, and they doted on their grandnieces and nephews. My aunt, Valerie, has fond memories of going on day trips with Dora and Walter in their car to visit her cousins Estelle and Eleanor at the Ming Quong School for Girls in Oakland.  

 

Walter, born on15 July 1896 in China, arrived in the US in 1914. He died on 21 Oct 1985 in San Francisco. Dora was born on 16 January 1901 in California. She died on 25 October 1978 in San Francisco.  (Edited by Lorna Wallace and Marcelle White.)


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Share your World War I family photo! Send it to Lorna Wallace, along with a short summary about why the ancestor featured is important to you. Photos should be in .jpg format with a file size over 100 kb; photos and text may be edited for space. 

 

Suggested Links from the Blogosphere
Volunteer Corner
Are You Good at Computer Maintenance?
by Linda Okazaki, Volunteer Coordinator
computer-mouse-abstract.jpg
If you have above-average computer technical skills, we need your help keeping our library computers in top shape! Maintenance activities take place every Monday. Training will be provided. Please contact Linda Okazaki for more information.

 

Special Interest Group Meetings and More
California Genealogical Society & Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland 
Mark Your Calendar 2/8:  Stephen Harris City Directory Library, 10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.

2/11: Book Repair Committee, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.


2/15: San Francisco Special Interest Group, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

2/18: RootsMagic Special Interest Group
, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.


Check out the February San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar for more activities.
   
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Marcelle White, eNews Editor  email me