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To register for an event or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.
Questions? Email [email protected]

We’ve talked about place-based genealogical societies in the past (Blog Post), but what about national organizations focused more on process, procedure and methodology? Well, they can also be so helpful! I’ll name some of the big ones below, but please feel free to add any you feel should be on this list.

National Genealogical Society (https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/)
Focused on promoting genealogical skills, research standards, and raising awareness of family history. NGS hosts one of the biggest conferences and attending one should be on your bucket list (as it is mine).
https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/member-benefits/

American Ancestors (formerly New England Historic Genealogical Society) (https://www.americanancestors.org/)
Not just an amazing library in Boston, but also website that “serves more than 400,000 members and online subscribers through AmericanAncestors.org, one of the world’s largest online collections of free family history resources, scholarship, educational programming and events.”
https://www.americanancestors.org/why-join

What other genealogical and historical societies (besides ours!) do you belong to?

Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar view: https://www.californiaancestors.org/cgs_calendar/
Tips & Talk: Oakland FamilySearch Center Family History Classes: https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/oakland_california/classes

To register for an event or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.
Questions? Email [email protected]

While you are reading one right now, I thought it would be good to have a blog discussion. A blog is an online platform where individuals or organizations regularly publish content about a specific topic. You can read a blog on the website, in your email, or in an “aggregator.”

If you know a new blog post is there, or don’t mind just checking each day/week/month/year, you can go straight to the website. It will show you the most recent post and then move backward in time. This blog’s website URL is: https://www.californiaancestors.org/blog/. Perhaps this is how you found this post?

If you did find this post that way, you will see a section that says, “Follow this blog” and a spot to put in your email. Once you do that (you may need to verify from your email first), you will get these posts in your email.

But what if you don’t want all this hoo-haw cluttering up your email and you want your genealogy stuff when you are ready for it, rather than when you are looking for that VIP email from Aunt Jenny about how Uncle Fred is doing?

You can use a “feed aggregator,” usually called RSS, which (stupidly, in my opinion) stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” Basically, all the stuff you subscribe to will be in one spot for when you are ready. I used to use one by Google, but they discontinued it in 2013 and I honestly haven’t found anything I like since then.

Here are the things I’m looking for in my blog reader:

• A place to read all my blogs. Much like a newspaper but with only self-chosen authors or article subjects.
• A way to organize these into categories. So maybe a folder structure like:
• Available on my computer, my phone, and my Kindle Fire.
• After I’ve read a blog post (article) it’s notated or removed (from all devices).
• Quick headline scan and summary
• Easy subscription

Feedly is the most common, but I don’t personally find it very easy to use so I fell out of step with it. What do you recommend for blog reading?

Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar view: https://www.californiaancestors.org/cgs_calendar/
Tips & Talk: Oakland FamilySearch Center Family History Classes: https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/oakland_california/classes

To register for an event or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.
Questions? Email [email protected]

Local Meet-ups
Members gather together in homes, public libraries, cafes and even community rooms in condominium units. A facilitator leads the discussion as members share research topics, common interests, new resources discovered in an informal setting. Friendships have developed along with partnerships in resources and a better understanding of the many benefits available to CGS members.
• Walnut Creek – July 24 10:30-12
If interested in one of these or another Regional Gathering in your area, please contact Kim Farnham-Flom ([email protected]).

Introduction to Genealogy for 2025
In these 4-week sessions the CGS experts will help you get started with your research or reboot your research. The classes may be taken in any order, and participation in one class is not required to attend others in the series. See below for dates and topics:
• Jan 4, May 3, Sep 6 Genealogy Basics Overview
• Feb 1, Jun 7, Oct 4 Using the Census
• Mar 1, Jul 5, Nov 1 Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, and Death)
• Apr 5, Aug 2, Dec 6 Organizing Your Family History Work

When: Saturday, July 5, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom or in person at the CGS Library
Cost: Free!
How to Register (Note: Separate registration required for each session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-intro-to-genealogy-1st-saturday-free-overview-and-focused-topics-registration-1114289041519

Special Events:

Finding Missing Ancestors in Institutional Records, Part 2
This is Part 2. Do you have any family members who mysteriously disappeared? Were their rumors that they were institutionalized or committed to a “lunatic asylum”? “poorhouse”? What about orphanages? Or other places not to be mentioned like jails? Madeline Yanov will provide tips on where to find records and other sources for clues such as court records, probate or surrogate records, newspapers, and death records so your ancestor doesn’t have to be lost anymore.
When: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Online
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-missing-ancestors-in-institutional-records-part-ii-registration-1359521197499

French Lingotiers: Immigrants to the Gold Rush
Anne Morddel will be speaking on the French Lingotiers: immigrants to the Gold Rush. In addition, Anne will also give us four video lectures on beginning French genealogy that participants can view prior to the lecture. French Genealogists get SPECIAL ACCESS, SPECIAL PRICE beginning June 12 When you register for Anne Morddel’s lecture Revolution or Gold: What Sent the French to 1850s California on JULY 12, you will have access for four weeks, beginning JUNE 12, to four of Anne’s video lectures covering vital and other French records. These are normally available on her website for $15 each, but we have been allowed to provide them to you for $20 for all four. Anne will answer questions about the content of the series as well as her lecture to help you on your way to learning about your French ancestors and where they originated.
When: Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: $20 for CGS Members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/revolution-or-gold-what-sent-the-french-to-1850s-california-registration-1352000482839

Artificial Intelligence
Steve Little, the National Genealogical Society Artificial Intelligence Program Director, discusses how AI can be used in genealogy to extract names, dates, and relationships from text, assist with genealogical writing and translating documents, transcribe printed and handwritten text, and transform text to different comprehension levels or modern standard English. Listeners will learn about the potential of AI in the field of genealogy, as well as its limitations. Steve emphasizes the importance of verifying AI-generated results. He also touches on the future of AI in genealogy, predicting new use cases, more competitors, and expanding context windows.
When: Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-artificial-intelligence-for-genealogists-registration-1413519929159

CGS Member Experience
Keith Montgomery and Janet Netz will share with us how they got started with AI and their excitement about what they have learned.
When: Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: CGS Library and Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cgs-members-experience-with-ai-getting-your-feet-wet-registration-1414355438189

AI Discussion
This is the CGS AI follow-up session.
In part one of our AI series, CGS Members, Janet Netz and Keith Montgomery provided reassurance for all newbies with how they got their feet wet and how that experience has made them enthusiastic about using this technology.  They follow-up here with a Q & A session.
When: Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cgs-member-follow-up-on-ai-your-questions-and-interests-going-forward-registration-1414363321769

Using Artificial Intelligence on FamilySearh: Some Amazing Discoveries and Broken Brick Walls
Kelvin Brewer of the Oakland FamilySearch Center will give a talk about using AI with FamilySearch.
When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free
How to Register: Forthcoming

Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
Special Interest Groups: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar view: https://www.californiaancestors.org/cgs_calendar/
Recordings for Members: https://www.californiaancestors.org/videos_for_cgs_members/
Tips & Talk: Oakland FamilySearch Center Family History Classes: https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/oakland_california/classes