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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]

Many years ago, I did some volunteer researching for the Unclaimed Persons Project.  I found that I could use my research skills to not only give me practice, but to help.  It’s an online group of volunteers who help professionals locate family members of deceased individuals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U8slxsEgDo&t=27s

Through the years, I had other items to attend to (children, work, school, L-AGS, CGS, pets, etc.) and this fell by the wayside.  I just reentered, reset my password, and here we go!

While I obviously cannot share what the research I’m doing it, I thought I could share what I’m doing.  I went to the private forum and chose an open case.  I read the entire intro and took notes of all of it.  I then read each post and noted those, as well.  The one I just chose has two pages of comments and ideas.  I plot them all on index cards and then use a highlighter for those that are the Unclaimed Person (UP).  I focus on those and create a timeline and then try to plot in the others.  If they don’t fit, but could be related, I move to them and recreate what I can of their family trees.  You can use any resources at your fingertips but there are rules!

• You never contact anyone directly yourself.
• You never post anywhere else.
• You can only use resources publicly available online.

There are other rules and you will have to agree to them before you join.  If you would like to join me, you can learn more here: https://unclaimed-persons.org/volunteers/

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]

Are you attending Rootstech in person?  It’s a bucket list adventure for me, but until the time I can take time off for it, I join for free online.  It’s easy to register:

(https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/registration)

Once you register, you can build your schedule based on the events available online.  One of the first is a keynote speaker with a story close to home.  Mr. José Hernández will be speaking about how he went from working a field near Stockton, California, to being a NASA engineer.

My schedule is as follows:

• Keynote: José Hernández
• Keynote: The Gardiner Brothers
• Universal Language: Making Family Connections Through Food (Alynda Kusch)
• Capture the Important Moments: Turning Your Daily Life Into A Living Family Story (Benjamin M. De Hoyos
• Keynote: Jessica Soho
• What’s New in Family Tree Maker (Duff Wilson)
• Timelines for Genealogy: A Powerful Research Tool (Janet Few)

Please share yours!

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]

If you are a CGS member, you received your Jukebox Genealogy last week.  And if you have read this blog, you know that I’m it’s biggest fan!  I love the song choice, the stories from all of you, and survey.  The whole thing is GLORIOUS and what makes genealogy so fun for me.

You can see so many DNA discoveries in this edition, that it may convince you to see if you can unravel any sides of your family (hint: the years of research I did into my maternal grandfather’s genealogy is now just a footnote… a story that needs more time than I have).  Once you read through all of that, it’s time to tell us about your favorite elusive female ancestor.

Mine is Udoxia.  She is my 4th great grandmother and no one researching this line knows from where she came.  All we know is Udoxia (Udoxy on her tombstone).

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