Blog

March happenings at the California Genealogical Society include classes focusing on Chinese and Irish heritage, the “California Research” series, Special Interest Groups, an introduction to the new Member Connections feature, and more.

NOTE: a number of our presentations are recorded and available online for a limited time after the event. See individual listings for details.

Sat., March 5:  Intro to Genealogy, our monthly free basics class. This month: Vital Records.

Tue., March 8: “Bein Yiu Chung, the Chinese Railroad Worker.” Raymond Douglas Chong presents the story of his family’s journey going back to this great-great grandfather who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad.

Wed., March 9: Members’ Roundtable. A chance to chat with other CGS members, share your research, and ask questions of fellow genealogists. Meets 2nd Wednesday every month. See Special Interest Groups to register.

Sat., March 12: Monthly CGS Board Meeting. All welcome.

Tue., March 15: California Research Series: “The California Archives” with archivist Chris Garmire.

Sat., March 19: “Searching for Irish Names” with Irish specialist Maureen Hanson.

Sat., March 19: Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group with Ron Madson and Karen Halfon.

Tue., March 22: California Research Series: “Special Collections at the Sacramento Public Library” with David Munger and James Scott.

Wed., March 23: RootsMagic Special Interest Group

Tue., March 29: “Member Connections: A New Tool for CGS.” Stewart Traiman explains our new membership feature and explains how to set up your profile in order to connect with other CGS members who have similar interests.

Hope to see you online, and in person at the library!

Our YouTube channel has been updated and now offers a host of interesting videos, from an overview of the CGS Library and its resources to recorded lectures from the “California Research series, and much more. Check it out when you have some time: there’s much to explore.

If you use social media, don’t forget that CGS has a presence on various platforms:

EventBrite

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Janis Lovelace, Charlotte Bocage, Calvin Dark, Karina Robinson, and Ari Wilson

Numerous speakers will give presentations focusing on African American genealogy at the National Genealogical Society conference in Sacramento this May. There is a strong focus on the history of African Americans in California and the West. Janice Lovelace will talk about the long history of Black men and women in the American West and Southwest beginning in the 16th century; researching African American women; and African American cowboys. Charlotte Bocage discusses the records she used to trace the story of Pamela, an enslaved woman. Calvin Dark will take listeners through the complicated scheme a southern slave owner set up to circumvent southern anti-manumission laws and free his slaves upon his death. Karina Robinson will discuss some of the more than 360 African Americans who owned land in the first decade of California’s statehood; and Ari Wilkins will demonstrate how to find enslaved and formerly enslaved people in old newspapers.

Complete details on the African American conference track are at the NGS blog, which also links to the complete conference website.