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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]

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.

If interested in a 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, April 19, 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)
Are you using the popular Family Tree Maker software to keep track of your genealogy findings? Are you new and looking for a program to use? Are you just wanting to know more about it? Join this great SIG for a plethora of topics this January, including a new release, and all things cemetery, including citations (which some may find more frightening than a cemetery!).
When: Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom or in person at the CGS Library
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Register through the FTM-SIG website

Roots Magic
Description: Users of RootsMagic will meet to discuss helpful hints for using the software. Group will review their experience in updating to version 8. Topics include review of various screens and functions of RootsMagic with group suggestions on best usage and practice.
When: Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Register through the Roots Magic sign-up page

Special Event:
The Leeds Method Can Unlock DNA Mysteries
Presented by Stewart Blandón Traiman

Learn to use the Leeds Method to turn cousin matches into meaningful connections. Open to all levels of DNA experience.

The first challenge in DNA analysis is making sense of those thousands of cousin matches. How do you turn genetic chaos into meaningful connections? By using the Leeds Method—a simple yet powerful color-coding technique that helps you group your DNA matches into family groups. By organizing your matches into clusters, you’ll start identifying family lines, linking distant cousins to your tree, and even uncovering long-lost connections or hidden family mysteries. In this class, you’ll learn step-by-step how to apply the Leeds Method to your own results and turn your DNA data into real discoveries!

The event will take place via Zoom. If you join, please sign in early to make sure you are able to see the program. We will send you instructions the night before, and a reminder shortly before the event, which will give you access. Our remote classes now have live closed captioning. When registering, use an email address you will be checking. Please note all times are Pacific Daylight Time.

You do not have to have a Zoom account to attend a Zoom meeting. You will be prompted to download the software, once you have clicked on the link that you have been provided. You may also wish to create an account, but that is not required to participate in a Zoom meeting.

This event is presented live. Some events may be recorded for CGS use.

When: Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-leeds-method-can-unlock-dna-mysteries-registration-1256907105989

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

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

This is one of the more advanced SIGs at California Genealogical Society, with prerequisites of the CGS DNA Series or its equivalent and you much have your test results uploaded at one of the common DNA websites.

This online members-only group meets online the fourth Monday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mark McLaren leads this group and you can contact him at [email protected] for more information or to check your prerequisites.

From the website:
The DNA Skills Special Interest Group members will continue to develop their understanding of DNA techniques, review new developments in DNA testing and tools, and discuss members’ research problems and case studies.

When: Monday, April 28, 2025 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom or in person at the CGS Library
Cost: Free!
How to Register: Contact Mark at: [email protected]

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]

With tax season here, I thought it would be fun to see what we can get from IRS Tax Assessment Lists! First, a bit about the family I wanted to research. Three brothers, Guiseppe Daniel, Giacomo David, and Stefano Guiseppe Mariani, lived together at 1006 Dupont Street, which is now Grant Avenue (San Francisco’s Chinatown). Downstairs they had a store. Well, two of them, really. Guiseppe Daniel (GD as he went by in later years) had a high-end sundries and whatnot store and Stefano and his business partner had a furniture store. GD moved his store to two locations downtown and Stefano opened two hardware stores in the Mission District. What can we find in the IRS tax lists? By 1870, the house was owned by Victoria Barron and was a boarding house, so I knew my searches were for before 1870.

I pulled up all Marianis in the “U.S., IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918” on Ancestry.com and here are the findings for “my” Mariani family:

If I hadn’t already known where they lived, this would have given me the address. This gave me a store name to check on for Stefano Mariani’s first foray into retail. And this also could have led me to the lawsuit that showed the falling out between Stefano and his business partner Camillo Steffani.

After mailing your check this illustrious tax week, go find out how much your ancestors were paying and enjoy the math! 😊

P.S. I used AI to find the image and a title for this article. I think it did well, but thought I’d share the other ideas for the title:

My ask: What is a funny title for an article about using tax records for genealogy?Some of AI’s ideas:
• Death and Taxes… and Your Great-Grandfather’s Debt
• Unearthing Your Ancestors, One Tax Form at a Time (Prepare for Boredom)
• Genealogy: It’s More Taxing Than You Think
• Taxing Tales: Finding Your Family in the Fiscal Files
• From W-2 to Who’s Who: The Surprising Secrets in Tax Records
• The Taxman Knows Best: Uncovering Your Family’s Finances (and Maybe More)
• Following the Money: A Genealogical Whodunit
• Tax Record Sleuth: Unraveling Your Family History Through Finances
• Accounted For: Finding Your Forebears in Financial Documents
• Let’s Get Fiscal: The Genealogist’s Guide to Financial Forensics
• Show Me the Money (and My Ancestors)!
• The Ledger Legacies: Finding Your Roots in Revenue
• Where There’s a Will, There’s a Tax Form (and Maybe a Cousin)

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