Blog

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

Susan Logas (photo taken by Linda Okazaki – 2025)

The CGS Outreach Committee helped support the “San Francisco Public Library Genealogy and Family History Symposium 2025” on July 22 and 23. CGS had a six-foot table adorned with a CGS tablecloth, CGS fliers, and some other marketing materials outside of the Koret Auditorium at the library. Alongside CGS, the African American Historical and Cultural Society had a table (I’m hoping we will see some coordinated events in our future!).

There were also some amazing CGS volunteers there and I’m sure you will recognize them as some of CGS’s (and the world’s) most illustrious genealogists and frequent volunteers:

• Maureen Hanlon (was also a speaker at the event)
• Ron Madson
• Grant Din (was also a speaker at the event)
• Steve Haines
• Stewart Traiman (was also a speaker at the event)
• Susan Logas

CGS had three other speakers at this event (Joanna Shear, Linda Okazaki, and Jeanie Low). With 120 attendees on Tuesday and 74 on Wednesday, this was a grand success, with nearly 200 people being exposed to the CGS magic!

Ron Madson and Maureen Hanlon

For more events at the San Francisco Public Library, visit their website here: https://sfpl.org/

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]

Local Meet-ups
Members gather together in homes, public libraries, cafes and even community rooms in condominium units. A facilitator leads the discussion as members share research topics, common interests, new resources discovered in an informal setting. Friendships have developed along with partnerships in resources and a better understanding of the many benefits available to CGS members.
• Danville – August 7, 2025 10:30 a.m.
• Oakland – August 7, 2025 6:30 p.m.
• Walnut Creek – September 25, 2025 10:30 a.m.
• Lamorinda – October 14, 2025 10:30 a.m.

If interested in one of these or another Regional Gathering in your area, please contact Kim Farnham-Flom ([email protected]).

Introduction to Genealogy for 2025
In these 4-week sessions the CGS experts will help you get started with your research or reboot your research. The classes may be taken in any order, and participation in one class is not required to attend others in the series. See below for dates and topics:
• Jan 4, May 3, Sep 6 Genealogy Basics Overview
• Feb 1, Jun 7, Oct 4 Using the Census
• Mar 1, Jul 5, Nov 1 Vital Records (Birth, Marriage, and Death)
• Apr 5, Aug 2, Dec 6 Organizing Your Family History Work

When: Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom or in person at the CGS Library
Cost: Free!
How to Register (Note: Separate registration required for each session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-intro-to-genealogy-1st-saturday-free-overview-and-focused-topics-registration-1114289041519)

Special Events:

CGS Member Experience
As parts 2 and 3 of our AI series, CGS Members, Janet Netz and Keith Montgomery will provide reassurance for all newbies with how they got their feet wet and how that experience has made them enthusiastic about using this technology. They will follow up with a Q & A session on Aug 13.
When: Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: CGS Library and Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cgs-members-experience-with-ai-getting-your-feet-wet-registration-1414355438189

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/
Recordings for Members: https://www.californiaancestors.org/videos_for_cgs_members/
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]

NOTE: Cross off the entire month of October, as you are gonna be busy!

Celebrate Family History Month at the California Genealogical Society Library
This October, the California Genealogical Society is excited to offer a variety of benefits, Learning, and social opportunities with the return of Family History Month to our library. Family History Month was established in October 2001 by the United States Senate to encourage families to research and celebrate their heritage. We’re pleased to be part of a national acknowledgement of the value of genealogy.

Benefits and Programs:
Free access to our Library for non-members (waiver of $5.00 fee) on all open days in October: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 10 am-2 pm. No registration needed.

NEW! Free Membership for a Friend of a current Member October 1 through October 31, 2025. Starting October 1, members can send the name, address, email and phone number for themselves and the same information for a friend who has never belonged to CGS and obtain a year’s membership for them. For more information, contact [email protected]

Consultation Fundraiser
Private 50-minute in-person consultations by experienced volunteer consultants who will suggest strategies and resources to address general questions from beginners, those with California, Jewish, Japanese, and Irish ancestors, those from Southern States and those seeking help with genealogy programs and more. $35 for members of CGS and Los Californianos and $50 for non-members. Saturdays in October, varying times and topics. Sign ups for limited spaces start now at https://signup.com/go/EKvCqzN

October 24-25 California History Days
Open House with docents and historic displays by Los Californianos, an organization founded to preserve the heritage of early Hispanic settlers in Alta California, on Friday and Saturday Oct 24-25, 9 am – 4 pm No registration required.

Case Studies on two immigrant families, the Gonzalez and Nii families who established new lives in San Francisco and Placer County, respectively. Zoom presentation and broadcast in our classroom, presented by Linda Okazaki on Saturday, Oct 25, 11-1:30 with lunch break from 12-12:30. Come to the library and bring a bag lunch (no registration) or register for online viewing through our Events page:
https://www.californiaancestors.org/events-and-education/

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