Get ready! CGS hosts the NGS Conference in May 2022

by Jennifer Dix (7/26/2021)

Jane Knowles Lindsey portrait

Janes Knowles Lindsey is chair of the local host committee for 2022 NGS Conference

By Jane Knowles Lindsey

Have you heard the news?

The California Genealogical Society was asked to be the Local Host Society for the 2022 National Genealogical Society Family History Conference, to be held in Sacramento, May 24-28.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be the first LIVE conference in three years. We are hoping you are as excited as we are to be a part of this!

The conference brochure can be downloaded here.

Many of you know the National Genealogical Society, which was organized in Washington D.C. in 1903. It has become a “go to” place for genealogical research and standards. There are countless free areas on its website including the blog, class options and more. It has outstanding periodicals, such as the NGS Quarterly and the NGS Magazine.

The first annual NGS national conference was held in Washington D.C. in the early 1900s. Over time, the annual conference has been held in locations around the country, providing quality classes and opportunities for fellow genealogists to meet.

Our own longtime CGS member Kathryn Doyle is the current President of NGS and Matthew Berry, our CGS treasurer, was asked to be the 2022 National Conference Chair.  I have the honor of being asked to chair the Local Host Society Committee.

Not only is it an honor for CGS to be the Local Host Society for the 2022 NGS Family History Conference, it is also an opportunity for CGS (founded in 1898) to be nationally recognized in the genealogical community. In addition, the Conference provides CGS with an opportunity to raise funds for our all-volunteer society.

What is our role as the Local Host Society?

  • Promote the Conference in the Western states to assure its success. (Tell your friends and other genealogical societies!)
  • Provide volunteers (more than 700 slots) to staff the conference.
  • Plan tours and social events for the enjoyment of conference attendees.
Horse-drawn carriage passing old buildings

Historic downtown Sacramento. (Credit: Carlos Eliason/Visit Sacramento)

This is where you, our members and friends, come in. Here are some ideas how you can help:

  • Attend the conference – and encourage your friends to sign up, too! CGS will receive a portion of the sales for every conference registration.
  • Attend our fun Sacramento area tours and evening events!
  • Plan to help us by volunteering at the conference! (Volunteers are needed beginning Monday, May 23rd.)
  • Take advantage of social media – post Conference information for your fellow genealogy friends and family members.Questions? Need more information? Send an email to: [email protected].  And, watch this blog for updates on the 2022 Conference as we get closer to May 2022!
Online genealogy, week of July 26-August 1

by Jennifer Dix (7/23/2021)

webinar graphic

Our weekly roundup of upcoming genealogy events. Numerous associations offer online genealogy classes every week, many of them free. To register for an event below, click on the name of the host organization.

CONFERENCES and SEMINARS

July 25-30: IGHR 2021 Virtual Institute

July 31: Summer DNA Conference: Genetic Genealogy and Ethnicity (Family History Fanatics)

CGS EVENTS:

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY GENEALOGY CENTER

July 27: “Using Maps for Genealogy Research”

July 29: “The 21st Century Bookshelf: Books, Manuscripts, & Documents in the World of Bytes”

AMERICAN ANCESTORS

July 27: “The Agitators: Three Friends Who Fought for Abolition and Women’s Rights” by Dorothy Wickenden

BYU FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY

July 28: “Discovering Your Ancestors Using Federal Census Records” with James Tanner

LEGACY FAMILY TREE

July 28: “Specialized Lineage Societies – more than just DAR, Dames, and Mayflower” by Kimberly Ormsby Nagy

OTHER LISTINGS

>>Sutro Library’s BAY AREA GENEALOGY CALENDAR lists a wealth of Bay Area events and exhibits, including regular genealogical group meetings. This week’s highlights:

July 27: “The Birth of Jazz in San Francisco” by Cory Combs (San Francisco History Association)

July 29: “Harris v. Sutro – An Early Civil Rights Battle at Sutro Baths” by Elaine Elinson (California State Library Foundation)

>>CONFERENCE KEEPER has a large calendar of classes (too many to list) hosted by genealogical organizations around the country and abroad. Lots to explore, and new events are added often, so be sure to browse the entire calendar. Here’s a sampling of the coming week’s offerings:

July 26: “Lutherpalians & Presbygationalists: Where Did Grandma’s Church Go?” (Genealogical Society of Bergen County NJ)

July 27: “Online Libraries- FamilySearch, Internet Archives, Google, and more” (Louisville KY Genealogical Society)

July 28: “Federal, State and local records of the Pacific Northwest” (Puget Sound WA Genealogical Society)

July 29: “The Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers” (HistoryCamp)

July 30: “Cyndi Ingle: Record As You Go, Cite As You Go, File As You Go” (Bay Area Genealogical Society)

August 1: “Discovering Your Ancestors Using Compiled Sources” (BYU Family History Library)

See our post “Genealogy Learning in the Time of Coronavirus” for links to classes archived online at Ancestry, FamilySearch, RootsTech, and more. Be well, stay safe, and happy learning!

Copyright © 2021 by California Genealogical Society

Class update: changes to Irfanview series

by Jennifer Dix (7/18/2021)

click to sign up

Please note the new dates and times for Ron Madson’s classes on using the image-editing program Irfanview.

Tuesday, July 20, 6-7:30 p.m. : Photo & Document Editing and labeling for Family History, Irfanview

Tuesday, July 27, 6-7:30 p.m. : Irfanview Image Editing and Graphic Family Tree Creation

 

Copyright © 2021 California Genealogical Society