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]

I don’t personally have any French ancestry (that I know about), but CGS has a fabuleuse-sounding talk for those who do! Anne Morddel will be speaking on the French Lingotiers (French immigrants to the Gold Rush). In addition, Anne will also give us four video lectures on beginning French genealogy that participants can view prior to the lecture.

You can read about Anne in the image with her photo above, but I suggest you also visit her website, The French Genealogy Blog (https://french-genealogy.typepad.com/genealogie/about-anne.html) as it’s fascinating.
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Join CGS on Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. to hear Anne talk about what sent the French to California in the 1850s. You can join live via Zoom or catch it later from the Members area of the website. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/revolution-or-gold-what-sent-the-french-to-1850s-california-registration-1352000482839

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]

I’ve given you 100 reasons to Sunday to join the California Genealogical Society. But what about other societies?

When I first started my family history adventure over 35 years ago, I joined my local society even though I had no family history in my area. When you first join a society, it’s all about what they can do for you and our volunteer adventures usually come a bit later. What I got from my local society was camaraderie, advice, and a lot of information. As I attended the (in-person) monthly meetings and learned about local area historical families, I realized that, in Great Great Grampa’s tiny hometown in Iowa, maybe they were having these same kind of events. While I read the quarterly newsletter, I realized that my ancestors’ hometown genealogical societies may be posting articles for their members about my Great Great Grampa.

So I reached out and joined. And guess what? Yes. Yes, they do have those meetings and yes, they do have newsletters with my great, great grandparents. You know what they also had? The membership coordinator who was also the librarian who was also related and went through all the hometown newspapers and sent copies to me of all the news she could find on my family members that lived there.

Do not discount your local society, CGS (if different), ***AND*** your ancestors’ hometowns.

Genealogical Societies are struggling and it’s up to us to support them with our memberships, our volunteering, and our attendance.

Check it out. I think you will find you get more out of it than you can ever possibly put in. If you need help finding a society in your ancestors’ areas, here are some resources that I’ve found helpful:

US GenWeb- https://usgenweb.org/
FamilySearch Wiki- https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Main_Page

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

CGS Speakers by Linda Harms Okazaki

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

Excellence in education has been the hallmark of the California Genealogical Society since its inception more than 125 years ago. Our leadership has, and continues to have, a strong belief in providing excellent educational opportunities for our members. These range from in-person classes to remote and hybrid lectures and workshops, to full-scale seminars. Often, nationally and internationally recognized speakers are part of this experience. But our members are also educators. This summer, three current or former board members are coordinating genealogical institutes. And these institutes are at the core of progressive genealogical education.

CGS Board Member, Grant Din, is a course coordinator at GRIP, where he will facilitate “Chinese American Genealogy: Silver Linings.” He will bring in a series of speakers, including CGS members Marisa Louie Lee, Jeannie Low, Carly Morgan, Trish Hacket Niccola, and Linda Okazaki.

CGS Board Member, Carly Morgan, is the course coordinator at GRIP, where she will facilitate “Inclusive Genealogy: Navigating Complex Family Trees.” Past CGS Board member, Stewart Traiman, will also present in this course.

CGS Past President, Linda Harms Okazaki, is the course coordinator at IGHR, where she will facilitate “Japanese Genealogy: From Japan to the Americas.” Speakers include current and past CGS board members James Russell and Cindy Thomson.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, and this list is certainly not comprehensive. Many of our members have spoken at national and international events. The depth of our membership cannot be understated.

Are you a CGS member with speaking experience? Let us know.

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