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To register or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.

Saturday, June 1, 10 AM: Intro to Genealogy. NOW hybrid; held both in person at the CGS library and via Zoom. A series of 4 rotating classes covering the basics of genealogical research. This month: “The Census.” Free. Please pre-register.

Saturday, June 1, 1-3 PM: Eastern European SIG. Quarterly meeting of this group of enthusiastic researchers and genealogists who meet to support and learn from each other’s contributions and expertise in the areas of Central and Eastern Europe.

Library hours: Thursday through Saturday 10 AM-2PM

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

To register or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.

Tuesday, May 21, 11:00 AM: “How to Series: Indexing and Other FamilySearch Projects” with Bruce Dearden. We are all very appreciative of the ability to put an ancestor’s name into a search field and discover historical records that define that ancestor’s life. This type of searching is available because the records have been indexed. On FamilySearch this indexing has largely been done by volunteers and is an activity that you can do as well. This session will show you how to do this. Besides indexing, there are other activities like “Name Review” in which you can get involved. These activities are a way to give back and improve the user experience on FamilySearch. Bruce Dearden serves as a full-time missionary at the Oakland FamilySearch Center. He and his wife Annie are from Huntsville, Alabama. Having lost his father at a young age, he has always been interested in discovering and connecting with family and researching his roots. Bruce has been indexing for the past ten years with a focus on 19th century Flemish birth, marriage, and death records. He recently participated in the 1950 U.S. Census project. Held in person at the Oakland FamilySearch Center and via Zoom. Free; please preregister. To reserve your space, go to the Tips & Talk event page. At the top of the page, select the date and time of the presentation you’re interested in.

The following Special Interest Groups meet this week:

Monday, May 20, 7 PM: Advanced DNA SIG. Mark McLaren leads this group where members can further develop their understanding of DNA techniques, review new developments in DNA testing and tools, and discuss members’ research problems and case studies.

Wednesday, May 22, 6:30 PM: RootsMagic SIG. Keith Montgomery leads a discussion of helpful hints for users of this popular genealogy platform. Via Zoom.

Library hours: Thursday through Saturday 10 AM-2PM

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

Rose Marie Beebe (center) and Robert Senkewicz talked about the influential Vallejo family, in the first of a series on Alta California

Last Saturday, the CGS library hosted the first in a monthly series of presentations on genealogical research in Alta California, the Spanish province incorporating northern California and part of Nevada, during the Hispanic colonization period from 1769 to 1848. This joint effort of CGS and Los Californianos features expert speakers on the history of Spanish and Mexican colonization of Alta (“Upper”) California.

On May 11, Rose Marie Beebe and Robert M. Senkewicz spoke on “A Californio Family in Transition: Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and Francisca Benicia Carrillo de Vallejo, 1846-1888.” They captivated the hybrid audience (attending both online and in person) with the story of this powerful and influential family and their role in the transition of California from the Republic of Mexico to U.S. statehood. CGS President Chris Pattillo commented, “I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of today’s program. The tag-team speakers were two of the best ever… and their enthusiasm for the subject matter was infectious.”

The next talk in the series will be on June 8, when Kent Long, president of the nonprofit Friends of the Joaquin Moraga Adobe, speaks on “Jose Joaquin Moraga Family & the Rancho Laguna De Los Palos Colorados Grant.” To learn more about the series and to register for the presentations, visit our Eventbrite site.