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.
• Martinez – June 30 10:30-12
If interested in one of these or another Regional Gathering in your area, please contact Kim Farnham-Flom ([email protected]).
San Francisco Special Interest Group (SIG)
San Francisco has so many nuances to genealogical research that it helps to know an expert. Join this SIG to meet several! It doesn’t matter if you are new to genealogy or an old hat, find your family story in the City of Love.
When: Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Contact [email protected]
Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group (SIG)
Special Photoshop Elements workshop where you will learn how to download Photoshop Elements, the basics of it, how to clean up photos, how to label photos, file organization, and using your labeled photos in Family Tree Maker. You will want to bring your laptop and images to work with to the Oakland Family Search Library (NOT CGS Library this time!).
When: Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom or in person at the Oakland Family Search Library
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ftm-sig-june-21-2025-photoshop-elements-photo-labelling-and-editing-registration-1332383718569?aff=oddtdtcreator
Special Events:
LGBT Genealogy
Stewart Traiman will present his extensive coverage of census, newspapers, obituaries, military records, photographs, phone books and archives for clues on the oft hidden LGBTQ members of our family trees.
When: Saturday, June 14, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Online
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-genealogy-registration-1319526692859
Opportunities and Resources at the United Irish Cultural Center
Pati Traktman and Jennifer Dowling will provide a brief history of the Patrick J Dowling LIbrary and the genealogy club at the United Irish Cultural Center. They will also give three live demonstrations of the riches there: the online library catalog, the available digital content including the Leader newspaper, and the 1898 Irish Fair names list. Other items of note in the collection and recent Genealogy Club topics will whet your appetite for a visit or membership
When: Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Online or in person at the CGS Library 2201 Broadway, Oakland
Cost: Free for CGS Members, $10 for non-members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irish-ancestry-special-interest-group-registration-1243718227699?aff=oddtdtcreator
Chinese American Genealogy: Silver Linings
Sponsored by the Genealogy Institute/National Genealogical Society. Coordinated by Grant Din. He brings together a team of 13 other faculty members in various aspects of Chinese American Genealogy including access to Immigration and Naturalization case files, DNA, zupu, ancestral village visits, etc. This course will focus on Chinese American genealogy from the early gold miners and railroad builders through years of government exclusion and the records left behind. Post World War II, it will talk about ways families began to be created and reunited through war brides legislation and then finally the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. It will also provide information on learning about families in China. (Grant Din, Ron Can, Patrick Chew, Baldwin Chiu, Tammy Hepps, Michael Ho, Larissa Lam, Leona Lau, Marisa Louie Lee, Jeanie Low, Carly Lane Morgan, Trish Hackett Nicola, Linda Harms Okazaki)
When: Sunday, June 22 through Friday, June 27
Cost: Regular Price: $585.00, NGS Member Price: $550.00
Registration and more information: https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/courses/chinese-american-genealogy-silver-linings/
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
Artificial Intelligence
Details to follow, but Stephen Little, AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society and the founder of AI Genealogy Insights will give a talk for us in July.
When: Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Forthcoming
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. (We hope to have these loaded for access by June 12) After the talk she will take questions on the lecture and the videos.
When: Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Forthcoming
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: Forthcoming
AI Discussion
Keith Montgomery and Janet Netz will host a Zoom discussion group the following week to follow-up and gauge interest in a possible CGS AI SIG.
When: Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Forthcoming
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