Since 1898

September 2015, Vol. 9, No. 9

Editor's Note

Happy September

We celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15 by recognizing the contributions and important presence of Hispanic Americans to the United States. The month long recognition of Latino culture began in 1968.

Five Central American countries declared independence in 1821 on September 15: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, M exico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, and September 21, respectively. This 30 day period culminates with "El Dia de la Raza" on October 12th, which is also known as Columbus Day.

Please share in this special annual tribute by learning about and celebrating the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation & society.

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The CGS Library will be open during Labor Day Weekend! Please be aware that due to BART maintenance the Transbay Tube will be closed on September 5, 6, 7 and getting to the library may take some extra time. The Library is open Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

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Brown Bag Tuesday - September 8 -- Are you a member of CGS and curious about the types of volunteer jobs that keep our genealogy society alive and kicking? Maybe you've been toying with the idea of volunteering? Pack yourself a lunch and come on down to the CGS Library for Brown Bag Tuesday on September 8 at noon. This is a great opportunity to informally sit and chat with some of our current volunteers about the work they do. Big jobs, little jobs....we have them all! Questions? We have answers! Contact Kathleen Beitiks for more information.

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Please welcome three new members of our CGS team of volunteers with a BIG THANK YOU:

Keith Montgomery - Computer Maintenance
Jaime McGrath - Library
Maureen Hanlon - House Events Coordinator

Stewart

Events & Conferences

October 4th - 11th, 2015

Join CGS member Jeffrey Vaillant on his 3rd trip as host to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jeffrey has arranged a great research opportunity at the second largest genealogical collection in the United States. The Genealogy Center is world-renowned for its immense collection and is home to over 370,000 printed volumes, 590,000 microforms, military records that go back to the 1700's, city directories, census records, passenger lists, and so much more. In all, their collection totals over 961,726 items!

The deadline to Sign up for this amazing opportunity is September 11 so reserve your place today!

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Saturday, October 3, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Program with speakers & performance to begin at 11 a.m.
Where: Immigration Station at Angel Island State Park

Join us for the launch of the Nikkei Angel Island Pilgrimage to rediscover the little-known history of the Japanese and Japanese American legacy at Angel Island, where 85,000 persons of Japanese descent - the second largest immigrant group - landed between 1910 to 1940, before setting foot in America.

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The Silicon Valley Computer Genealogy Group and the Los Altos / Santa Clara Family History Centers present a Seminar on October 10, 2015. The Keynote Speaker will be Rodney De Giulio, the Senior Executive Vice President at FamilySearch responsible for all record collecting and disposition.

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36th National Genealogy Conference of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society

will be held on October 15 - 17, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia at the Richmond Marriott Hotel.

This year's theme: "Virginia, Where African-American Roots Run Deep: Family History and the National Narrative."

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Contra Costa County Genealogical Society

present their 2015 Fall Seminar featuring

Kathryn M. Marshall, PhD has written many biographical sketches of pioneers as well as editing historical reference books and published historical maps. She was the Director of the Lodi California Family History Center and is a member of the Advisory Board for the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation. Katherine will be speaking on the following topics:

Changing Boundaries and Lost Ancestors
Locating your Ancestors with Animap, Historic MapWorks, BLM and Google Earth,

Dr. James M. Baker, PdD, CG is a Board Certified Genealogist specializing in Midwest U.S., Early
American and German research. He is also a regular contributor to the National Genealogy Society (NGS) Magazine and is a frequent genealogy lecturer at local, regional and national conferences. James will be speaking on the following topics:

2015 Genealogy Staying Current with your research: Up-to-Date Tools and Resources,
Expanding Frontier: Can You Find the Early 1800's US Data On-Line?

Saturday, October 17, 2015 - 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1601 Mary Drive, Pleasant Hill, Ca.

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Registration for RootsTech 2016 will open on Tuesday, September 15, 2015! RootsTech will be held on February 3 - 6, 2016. Early Bird discounts will be available when registration open later this month.

New Series offered by CGS

The Beginning Genealogy Series
by Maureen Hanlon

The Beginning Genealogy Series is designed to help the new genealogist build a good foundation of knowledge of genealogy research practices and gain understanding and experience with the most commonly used sources of family data. Experienced genealogists are welcome to refresh their knowledge and learn something new. The class fee is $50.

This Series is being offered twice in two different locations.

Register for CGS location on Saturdays from 10:30 A.M. to Noon

Register for the Oakland Family Search Library on Wednesdays from 1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M.

	Vinnie Schwarz will provide an overview that will cover genealogy best practices for reliable and trustworthy family trees and help attendees understand the world of genealogical resources beyond the Internet.
	Jeff Vaillant will focus on vital records and how to estimate, calculate and find most basic records of ancestors' lives: birth, marriage and death records and will include cemetery research
	Maureen Hanlon will delve into census records, how census data was collected and why that means it's not always easy to find your ancestors records. Strategies for overcoming spelling, transcription and other barriers will be discussed,
	Jane Lindsey will explore the world of secondary sources: those books, maps, societies, libraries and other sources that will provide a fuller picture of ancestors' lives, validate and also help uncover more of the data from primary sources.

Genie Awards 2015

A Celebration of our Volunteers

Please join us for the 2015 Genie Awards on October 10, presented to volunteers who "make magic happen" at the California Genealogical Society!

Marvel at our ravishing red carpet, mystical master of ceremonies, and deliriously bubbly refreshments for all! BYO lunch; dessert and beverages will be provided.

The awards ceremony will be part of our Fall Membership meeting on Saturday, October 10 at Noon in the CGS Library. Join your CGS friends for lunch, conversation, and a celebration our volunteers.

The Genie Awards are not only an opportunity to thank our generous volunteers but also for new and returning members to learn about ways (big and little) to help keep CGS alive and thriving - as it has been since 1898!

Contact Kathleen Beitiks for more information.

Classes

California Genealogical Society & Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland

As usual we have an outstanding line-up of classes to offer over the next two months.

	Saturday, Sept 5	Intro to Genealogy with Lisa Gorrell, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. FREE
	Saturday, Sept 12	Introduction to U.S. Military Records with Susan Goss Johnston, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (PDT) "More than 35 million people have fought in the military conflicts in America's history. The records created during and after their service are invaluable sources for family historians. Discover the many record types available, where to find them, and study problems that can be solved only through these fascinating documents."
	Thursday, Sept 17 OR Friday, Sept 18	CGS Volunteer Refresher Class Offered on two days from 10:00 A.M. to Noon Are you a current CGS Volunteer? If so, you've noticed lots of changes, additions and updates in our compact but information-packed library! Get the latest info on such hot topics as: our new copy machine, printing from patron computers, review of our subscription databases, library opening and closing procedures, pedigree charts, maps, city directories, our new partnership with WorldCat (and what is WorldCat, anyway?), etc. Please RSVP to Kathleen Beitiks and let us know which date (Sept 17 or 18) you plan to attend and suggestions for other topics you'd like covered.
	Saturday, Sept 26	Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust: What's Buried in Cemetery Records with Janice Sellers, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (PDT) "This class will focus on identifying the cemeteries in which your family members are buried and then on how to obtain and use their records to further your research."
	Saturday, Oct 3	Intro to Genealogy with Pam Miller, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. FREE
	Saturday, Oct 17	Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group
	Saturday, Oct 24	Introduction to State and Federal Land Records with Susan Goss Johnston 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (PDT) Land and property records are often the only records that can be found to prove identity and relationship. What records are included in this category? Where can I find them? What do I do with them? This class will answer those questions and will illustrate the importance of these unique records with a few case studies using both county and federal land records.
	See Eventbrite links for dates for each series	The Beginning Genealogy series is designed to help the new genealogist build a good foundation of knowledge of genealogy research practices and gain understanding and experience with the most commonly used sources of family data. Experienced genealogists are welcome to refresh their knowledge and learn something new. See more details in the Article above. This class is being offered twice at 2 locations: Register for CGS on Saturdays from 10:30 A.M. to Noon Register for the Oakland Family Search Library on Wednesdays from 1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. Fee: $50
For additional events check out the San Francisco Bay Genealogy Calendar. Also visit our Eventbrite profile page to see the latest class additions and descriptions.

Meetings and More

California Genealogical Society & Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland

Saturday, September 19: CGS Board of Directors, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Board meeting are open for all members to attend. If you'd like to add items to the Agenda please contact Linda Okazaki.

Saturday, September 19: San Francisco Special Interest Group

Sherman Room, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

In October the SF SIG will host Diana W. King, Genealogical Researcher. She will speaking on the topic "Census Sense". More details to follow.

NEW Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group

Saturday, October 17: 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Devoted exclusively to the Family Tree Maker™ Software from Ancestry.com. Join us for the first meeting and become a charter member!

Many of us interested in Family History have been collecting and storing our information, data, and records of family events in file folders and 3-ring binders. While such systems are fine, for those of us in the computer age there are several software programs that make organizing and finding these materials easy. The popular and flexible Family Tree Maker™ Software from Ancestry.com, available for the PC or Mac, will be the focus of this new SIG.

CGS Blog

Highlights from the California Genealogical Society Blog (and Others)

The CGS blog has a temporary new editor and guest writers are encouraged to submit

material and photos to Linda Okazaki.

CGS is looking for a new Blog Editor. Intrigued? Curious? Interested?

Contact Kathleen Beitiks for details.

Tracing Orphans in Your Ancestry - D Joshua Taylor in JSTOR

Did Great-Grandpa grow Hemp? How to use Agricultural Schedules - Amy Johnson Crow

Ethnicity Testing and Results - DNAeXplained

Stop middling along! - The Legal Genealogist, Judy G. Russell

Genealogy Instructors Wanted

by Maureen Hanlon

Miss the classroom? CGS is Looking for Genealogy Instructors and can offer you the chance to have that back-to-school experience through an opportunity to volunteer and teach one of our genealogy classes.

We're looking for experienced instructors/trainers/teachers to join a team that develops curriculum, conducts the classes and keeps class content current. This fall we have launched a Beginner Series to include Vital Records, Census and Secondary Sources. Next year, we'll add Intermediate and Specialized classes. The specialized series will cover ethnic groups as well as technical skills and other topics where members want to focus.

Not experienced, but interested? We will be holding training for would-be instructors. More information coming soon.

Please indicate your interest by sending an email to Maureen Hanlon, CGS In-House Education Coordinator, Include your background and experience, topics you are prepared to teach, and the name(s) of people who can recommend you.

New Membership Perk!

California Genealogical Society & Library

FindMyPast offers more than 1.7 billion international family history records from around the globe, including more than 1,000 exclusive collections that you won't find online anywhere else.

We are excited to announce FindMyPast is now offering a flat 50% off the annual World subscription (over $99 off) for all CGS members! You can find the code on our Welcome page once you log in as a member. Look for the blue "FindMyPast" in the middle of that page.

If you've forgotten your CGS number please contact the CGS Membership team.

Ancestor Tributes

by Dick Rees

Ancestor Tributes are open to all CGS Members. Please share your family photos and stories.

Florence Tuchfarber (ancestor of CGS member, Dick Rees) and her sister, Isabel.

Seen here showing off their lovely hats and outfits are sisters (left to right) Florence Louise Tuchfarber, grandmother of CGS member, Dick Rees, and her older sister, Isabel. Their parents, Michael and Mary Clara Hoffman Tuchfarber, were subjects of an eNews Photo Tribute in June 2009, sitting in the front of a bucolic country scene.

Florence was born 26 October 1892 in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to the midwife's record. Her mother, Mary Clara, said she had been born in 1891, apparently because her father had died in April of 1892 and Mary Clara felt people might think Florence's birth was a "non-paternal event". Mary Clara died in 1905 of tuberculosis, the same disease that had killed her husband.

Isabel went to live with an aunt and Florence went to live with her Uncle Frank's family on his estate.

When Frank lost his fortune, Florence lived with Isabel and her husband for a short time before marrying Harry Quittman on the day before her 18th birthday in 1910. She was a seamstress like most of the women in her family, and also worked as a bookkeeper for Proctor and Gamble as did her husband, my grandfather.

Florence died in June of 1932 of latent diabetes. Her religious beliefs had kept her from seeing a doctor until it was too late.

Connect with Us

See our Volunteer page for opportunities or contact Kathleen Beitiks for information

CGS Received the 2014 ALL STAR AWARD from Constant Contact for exemplary engagement with our readers.

Stewart Bland�n Traiman
eNews Editor email me