Blog | California Genealogical Society

by Jennifer Dix (7/3/2021)

Our weekly roundup of upcoming genealogy events. Numerous associations offer online genealogy classes every week. Most are free. To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization.

CGS Events:

July 10: Monthly Board Meeting – all welcome

CONFERENCES and WORKSHOPS:

Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

July 6: “Organizing Your Research with OneNote” by Sherri Camp

July 8: “Learning to Use The Genealogy Center Catalog” by Allison DePrey Singleton

American Ancestors

July 7-21: Course: “Researching Acadian Ancestors”

July 8: “The Great Dissenter: The Story of John Marshall Harlan, America’s Judicial Hero” by Peter S. Canellos

July 8: “What’s New at AmericanAncestors.org?” by Molly Rogers

July 9: “Reimagining Historic House Museums” by Ken Turino

BYU Family History Library

July 7: “Getting the Most Out of My Heritage DNA” with James Baker

BYU Family History Library Sunday Classes

July 11:
“Pruning Your Family Tree: How to Recognize and Fix Sticky Problems” by Kathryn Tanner

“Discovering Your Ancestors Using Probate Records” by James Tanner

“Decorating Your FamilySearch Family Tree: How to Add Pictures, Memories, and Stories” by Michelle Karren

Legacy Family Tree

July 6 & 7: “Exploring Australian Wills and Probate” by Cathie Sherwood

July 7: “Grandpa’s Eyes and Grandma’s Hair: Tracing the Origin of Physical Traits with Genetic Genealogy” by Paul Woodbury

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 8: “Historic Disasters, Epidemics, Politics and Other Calamities” (Contra Costa County Genealogical Society)

July 10: “Tour of Historic Union Cemetery in Redwood City” – virtual and in person (San Mateo County History Museum)

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 5-9: “Virtual Genealogy Camp for Kids” (National Archives)

July 6: “Ordering Data From the National Archives” (Pinellas FL Genealogy Society)

July 7: Farmingdale State College Records: A Surprising Genealogical Treasure Trove” (New York Genealogical and Biographical Society)

July 8: “Researching Enslaved People: from Slave Ships to Living Descendants” (Georgia Genealogical Society)

July 9: “Planning a Genealogy Research Visit to Ireland” (Ancestor Network)

July 10: “Finding Foreign Newspapers” (Oregon Genealogical Society)

July 11: “Genealogical Pits I Have Fallen Into and How to Avoid Them” (Genealogical Society of Broward County FL)

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!

A genealogical puzzle at the Royal Horticultural Society

by Jennifer Dix (6/29/2021)

The Royal Horticultural Society of London is trying to learn more about the woman who owned a uniquely annotated copy of The English Flora (1830) by Sir James Edward Smith. The book itself is not especially rare, but staff recently discovered one copy that contained poems, doodles, numerous plant specimens and a cartoon: a “personification” of the botanist as a woman made up flowers and vegetables. The book is inscribed “This is the book of Isabella A Allen,” with a note that it was a gift from “my good friend Mrs Green.”

The RHS wants to learn more about Isabella A Allen, who appears from her notes and collections to have been a knowledgeable botanist. There was an early 19th-century botanical illustrator by that name but little is known about her. Or this might be a different Isabella, one of the legions of uncelebrated 19th-century women with a passionate interest in plants.

Staff say they have searched genealogical websites for Isabella Allen and a contemporary “Mrs Green,” but the names are so common that it is difficult to make headway without more information. RHS exhibitions head Fiona Davison told the BBC, “What I’m hoping is that somebody is aware in their family tree of an Isabella A Allen, that they’ve got any information about being a botanical artist or involved in botany.”

You can read more about the find on the BBC website.

Thanks to CGS member Nancy Cork for finding this interesting story!

Online genealogy, week of June 28-July 4

by Jennifer Dix (6/27/2021)

Our weekly roundup of upcoming genealogy events. Numerous associations offer online genealogy classes every week. Most are free. To register for one of the events below, click on the name of the host organization.

CGS Events:

June 29: “Discovering Your Ancestors in Poorhouse Records” by Elizabeth Hodges

American Ancestors

June 28: “The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire” by Stephen Bown

BYU Family History Library

June 30: “FamilySearch Q&A” with Kathryn Grant

FamilySearch Family History Library

June 29: “Correcting Relationships in FamilySearch Family Tree”

Legacy Family Tree

June 30: “Genealogy for Houses” by Jeanie F. Glaser

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:

June 29: “The Castle on Telegraph Hill” by Catherine Accardi (San Francisco History Association)

July 1: “Picture This: Cataloging Digital Family Photographs” by Nancy Loe (Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia)

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:

June 28: “Researching your Historical LGBTQ+ Relatives” (Center for Jewish History)

June 28: “The Ashkenazi Jews of Mexico” (in Yiddish) – YIVO Institute for Jewish Research

June 29: “Irish Rentals as a Family History Source” (Ancestor Network)

June 30: “Beginning African American Genealogy” (Chemung County Library District)

July 1: “Reconstruct Your Ancestor’s World with Google” (Grand Prairie Genealogical Society)

July 2: “Disaster Planning for the Genealogist” (GenChat on Twitter)

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!