It’s back! San Francisco SIG relaunches June 17

by Jennifer Dix (6/7/2023)

image of Old SF City Hall, destroyed in the 1906 earthquake

San Francisco City Hall prior to the 1906 earthquake.
Courtesy of the San Francisco Public Library Historical Photograph Collection.

Following a long hiatus due to the pandemic, the San Francisco Special Interest Group will resume meeting on the third Saturday of each month. The first meeting is June 17. Interested in finding your ancestors (pre and post 1906)? Looking for Gold Rush pioneers, researching family homes? Want to learn how SF grew into the beautiful city by the Bay we know today? Join the conversation with us!

We uncover records, view historical photographs and maps, read historical newspapers,
manuscripts, and all sorts of records for San Francisco. Our core research guide is Nancy
Peterson’s Raking the Ashes: Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research.

Meetings held via Zoom. To register, email Sandra Huber at [email protected].

“Tips & Talk,” Wednesday, June 7: Got Questions?

by Jennifer Dix (6/5/2023)

"Tips & Talk" letters

The weekly “Tips & Talk” series continues this Wednesday, 11 a.m. at the Oakland FamilySearch Center. Join us for free, fun discussions on genealogy, and learn to use the library’s many useful databases and tools for your research.

This Wednesday, June 7: “Got Questions?” Bring your questions of all sorts! If we can’t answer them, we’ll find someone who can. Jane Lindsey leads the discussion. She is a longtime CGS volunteer and volunteers weekly at the FamilySearch Center. Her more than 35 years of research includes U.S., French Canadian, and German ancestors. She loves helping others with their family research.

This week at CGS

by Jennifer Dix (6/4/2023)

For more information or to register, click the hyperlinks for any event.
All times are Pacific Daylight Time.

Saturday, June 10, 11:15 a.m.: 2023 CGS Genie Awards! We are so pleased to be meeting in person again this year! This is the annual event where we recognize our outstanding volunteers for their service and present them with a “Genie” Award. Starts immediately following the Board Meeting at 10 a.m. Our celebration will include a potluck (bring a dish to share) and a short presentation by Maureen Hanlon: “A Splendid Little War—Not! Context and Records Related to San Francisco’s Participation in the 1898 Spanish-American War.” Please register to let us know how many to expect. Free.

click to sign up

Wednesday, June 7, 11 a.m.: “Tips & Talk” at the Oakland FamilySearch Center. This week: “Got Questions?” Bring your genealogical questions to this discussion group and get expert help. Also, learn how to use the Center’s photo and video digitizing equipment. Feel free to bring a lunch and hang out afterwards. Free. Preregistration appreciated.

The following recording is available online through June 13:
Stewart Traiman’s “Excel for Genealogy” workshop demonstrates how to use spreadsheets to organize your research.

Don’t forget: Registration is now open for our Salt Lake City Research Trip, October 9-14! Visit the event page for complete details. You can also watch the video of our virtual meetup and info session, and download a handout with more information.

Library hours: We are now open by appointment Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please email [email protected] no later than 7 p.m. the night before to let us know you’re coming!

Helpful Links
Events: https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/
SIGs: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/
Calendar: Google calendar