Blog | California Genealogical Society

by Debbie Mascot (12/15/2025)

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A reader sent this to me, knowing that we’d all like to learn more! We’ve talked about Reclaim The Records before (see: https://www.californiaancestors.org/reclaim-the-records-advocates-for-genealogy-and-more/), but they’ve done it again. Reclaim the Records is a not-for-profit group of activists. They are genealogists, historians, researchers, and a host of other activists. They find records that they think should be in the public domain and work to get them there (and digitized!).

For more information about Reclaim The Records, you can visit: https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/

In this article, we will learn about the New York Death Index project, which began in November 2021. They filed a Freedom of Information Law request with New York and when that was denied, they sued. That was won and now we have the text index to over ten and a half million death records spanning over 300 years.

I don’t have a plethora of New York ancestors and was unsuccessful finding them, but please do your best here and let us know what you find!

https://www.newyorkdeathindex.com/

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

What’s Missing, My Chatty Helper?

by Debbie Mascot (12/11/2025)

To register for an event or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.
Questions? Email [email protected]

Earlier this week, I had ChatGPT share with us how to guide someone in starting their genealogy. Today, I’m going to use it to help me in my genealogy. Here is the prompt I used using the LifeStory feature on Ancestry:

Create a research plan in Excel for Francis Doty using the information I have. (And then I pasted in the LifeStory information).

ChatGPT then created an Excel file for me with a basic checklist of what to look for. It didn’t do any work for me— It just created questions that I may not have remembered to ask. I enjoy using it for good and not evil! I ran this prompt for several of my folks before I ran out of free prompts for the day. The good thing is that I can always go back tomorrow!

That’s cool! How Do I Start?

by Debbie Mascot (12/8/2025)

To register for an event or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.
Questions? Email [email protected]

This is the time of year when you chat with strangers. Over a holiday cocktail party, a children’s choir concert, and the annual visit to the Nutcracker. You mention genealogy, and there is always someone who says, “That’s cool. How do I start that?”

Maybe you have an answer, but I do not. I stumble and say random stuff I’ve heard before (“Start with what you know”) and then hope they don’t ask more because I know that once they open that floodgate too far, I’ll be whipping out my laser pointer and portable PowerPoint viewer and signing them up for the CGS introductory classes. It will take me only moments to scare them away.

I decided to ask my new friend ChatGPS how to answer this question. Here was my prompt:

When an acquaintance asks me how to begin their genealogy hobby, what should I say? Answer in the form of a blog post.

So here you go, from “Chatty,” so that you can point them here and not scare them away with our genealogical TMI (they really don’t need to know about my great aunt who was married 11 times but I couldn’t write that down because her 11th didn’t know about the other 10…).

How to Begin Your Genealogy Hobby: A Simple Guide for Absolute Beginners

When someone finds out you enjoy genealogy, one of the first questions they ask is: “I’ve always wanted to start my family tree—how do I begin?”
The truth is, genealogy doesn’t require fancy software, expensive subscriptions, or a perfect plan. It starts with something much simpler: what you already know.

Whether you’re coaching a curious friend or stepping into the hobby yourself, here’s the easiest, most beginner-friendly way to start exploring your family history.

Start With Yourself

The most important place to begin your family tree isn’t in a dusty archive—it’s with you.

Write down:

Your full name
Your birth date and place
Your parents’ names and details
Any grandparents’ information you already know

It doesn’t matter if you use a notebook, a spreadsheet, or an online family tree. The goal is simply to capture the basics and build outward one step at a time.

Talk to Your Family

Before you dive into databases, take advantage of the living history around you.

Ask parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older cousins about:

Names and maiden names
Locations where the family lived
Birth, marriage, and death information
Stories, traditions, or memories
Photos or documents tucked away in drawers

Even a 10-minute casual conversation can uncover family details you’d never find online.

Gather What You Already Have

You might be surprised by how much “genealogy gold” is hiding in your home.
Look for:

Birth, marriage, and death certificates
Obituaries
Military papers
Family Bibles
School records
Old letters and diaries
Labeled photographs

These everyday items often fill in key dates or locations that will guide your future searches.

Pick One Question to Focus On

Beginners often feel overwhelmed because they try to research every ancestor at once.
Instead, choose one small question and make it your first project.

Some simple starting questions:

“Who were my great-grandparents on my dad’s side?”
“When did my family first immigrate?”
“What was my grandmother’s maiden name?”

A single question gives your research direction and keeps the process fun rather than stressful.

Explore Free and Beginner-Friendly Resources

You don’t need to pay to get started. These free tools are excellent for beginners:

FamilySearch.org – Completely free and full of global records
Local libraries and historical societies – Many offer access to paid databases
State and county archives – Often overlooked treasures

If you choose to upgrade to a paid site later, you’ll do so with a clearer idea of what you actually need.

Learn the Basics as You Go

No one begins genealogy knowing how to evaluate evidence or cite sources.
Take it step by step:

Keep track of where each fact came from
Compare records for consistency
Don’t assume—verify
Make notes about your reasoning

These small habits turn beginners into confident family historians.

Enjoy the Journey (and Don’t Worry About Being Perfect)

Your tree doesn’t need to be flawless. Genealogy is a hobby built on curiosity, detective work, and surprising discoveries. Expect the occasional conflicting record or dead end—it’s all part of the adventure.

The most important thing you can do is simply start: write down what you know, talk to your family, ask one good question, and follow the clues.

And soon enough, you’ll find yourself helping the next person who asks, “How do I begin my genealogy hobby?”

ChatGPT. (2025, December 7). Response to “When an acquaintance asks me how to begin their genealogy hobby, what should I say?” OpenAI. https://chat.openai.com/chat