Blog | California Genealogical Society

by Debbie Mascot (6/9/2025)

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

The Nugget is here!!!! We haven’t had a Nugget since I started the blog and I’ve been so excited about being able to post about some of its features! The purpose of the Nugget is to, “…share the unique genealogical material in the CGS library, add to the body of family history information about Californians, offer guidance and timely information to family researchers, and provide a forum for members to share their expertise and findings.”

What’s a Nugget? Members get a publication semi-annually called, The Nugget, and it has so much amazing content that I’m really not sure why you are not yet a member?!? Join us! Here is the link to the membership page: https://www.californiaancestors.org/join-cgs-application/. Go ahead and do that now. I’ll wait….

Now that you are a member, the Spring 2025 issue can be downloaded here: https://www.californiaancestors.org/document/california-nugget-spring-2025/. If you signed up for the print version, you will get future editions in your mailbox (if you are already a member and asked for a hardcopy, it will be in your mailbox shortly).

I just took a quick review and here are some of the things you will find in this Spring edition:

• A little ditty about a psychic newspaper columnist who does genealogy and names babies
• Ancestry Pro Tools case study
• FamilySearch full text searching
• A bit of a reprint of my NARA article
• What’s next for CGS

I hope you will peruse and enjoy this issue as much as I’m enjoying it!

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

Upcoming at CGS

by Debbie Mascot (6/6/2025)

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

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.
• Lamorinda – June 10 10:00-11:30
• Martinez – June 30 10:30-12
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, June 7, 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)

Mayflower Descendants Special Interest Group (SIG)
Do you have Mayflower ancestors (or think you may have them)? Join Robert Trapp the first Saturday of each month to lean more. This SIG meets on the first Saturday of each month in person at the CGS Library. Each month will vary as to the subject matter followed by a Q&A session. Robert is an expert in all things Mayflower and can help show you what you need to join the Society of California Mayflower Descendants or learn more about your Mayflower ancestors.
When: Saturday, June 7, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: CGS Library
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: https://www.californiaancestors.org/special-interest-groups-for-members/

Special Events:

Finding Missing Ancestors in Institutional Records, Part 1
Do you have any family members who mysteriously disappeared? Were their rumors that they were institutionalized or committed to a “lunatic asylum”? “poorhouse”? What about orphanages? Or other places not to be mentioned like jails? Madeline Yanov will provide tips on where to find records and other sources for clues such as court records, probate or surrogate records, newspapers, and death records so your ancestor doesn’t have to be lost anymore. (Part 2 will be on July 9—see below)
When: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Online
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-missing-ancestors-in-institutional-records-part-i-registration-1319533091999

LGBT Genealogy
Stewart Traiman will present his extensive coverage of census, newspapers, obituaries, military records, photographs, phone books and archives for clues on the oft hidden LGBTQ members of our family trees.
When: Saturday, June 14, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Online
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-genealogy-registration-1319526692859

Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group
Save the date for Saturday, June 21, as the FTM SIG is going to host a Photoshop Elements workshop from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event will be at the Oakland FamilySearch Center. Sign up link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ftm-sig-june-21-2025-photoshop-elements-labelling-photos-and-ftm-registration-1332383718569?aff=oddtdtcreator

Opportunities and Resources at the United Irish Cultural Center
Pati Traktman and Jennifer Dowling will provide a brief history of the Patrick J Dowling LIbrary and the genealogy club at the United Irish Cultural Center. They will also give three live demonstrations of the riches there: the online library catalog, the available digital content including the Leader newspaper, and the 1898 Irish Fair names list. Other items of note in the collection and recent Genealogy Club topics will whet your appetite for a visit or membership
When: Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Online or in person at the CGS Library 2201 Broadway, Oakland
Cost: Free for CGS Members, $10 for non-members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irish-ancestry-special-interest-group-registration-1243718227699?aff=oddtdtcreator

Chinese American Genealogy: Silver Linings
Sponsored by the Genealogy Institute/National Genealogical Society. Coordinated by Grant Din. He brings together a team of 13 other faculty members in various aspects of Chinese American Genealogy including access to Immigration and Naturalization case files, DNA, zupu, ancestral village visits, etc. This course will focus on Chinese American genealogy from the early gold miners and railroad builders through years of government exclusion and the records left behind. Post World War II, it will talk about ways families began to be created and reunited through war brides legislation and then finally the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. It will also provide information on learning about families in China. (Grant Din, Ron Can, Patrick Chew, Baldwin Chiu, Tammy Hepps, Michael Ho, Larissa Lam, Leona Lau, Marisa Louie Lee, Jeanie Low, Carly Lane Morgan, Trish Hackett Nicola, Linda Harms Okazaki)
When: Sunday, June 22 through Friday, June 27
Where:
Cost: Regular Price: $585.00, NGS Member Price: $550.00
Registration and more information: https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/courses/chinese-american-genealogy-silver-linings/

Finding Missing Ancestors in Institutional Records, Part 2
This is Part 2. Do you have any family members who mysteriously disappeared? Were their rumors that they were institutionalized or committed to a “lunatic asylum”? “poorhouse”? What about orphanages? Or other places not to be mentioned like jails? Madeline Yanov will provide tips on where to find records and other sources for clues such as court records, probate or surrogate records, newspapers, and death records so your ancestor doesn’t have to be lost anymore.
When: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Online
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-missing-ancestors-in-institutional-records-part-ii-registration-1359521197499

Artificial Intelligence
Details to follow, but Stephen Little, AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society and the founder of AI Genealogy Insights will give a talk for us in July.
When: Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Forthcoming

French Lingotiers: Immigrants to the Gold Rush
Anne Morddel will be speaking on the French Lingotiers: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. (We hope to have these loaded for access by June 12) After the talk she will take questions on the lecture and the videos.
When: Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Forthcoming

CGS Member Experience with AI
Keith Montgomery and Janet Netz will share with us how they got started with AI and their excitement about what they have learned.
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: Forthcoming

AI Discussion
Keith Montgomery and Janet Netz will host a Zoom discussion group the following week to follow-up and gauge interest in a possible CGS AI SIG.
When: Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Forthcoming

Using Artificial Intelligence on FamilySearch: Some Amazing Discoveries and Broken Brick Walls
Kelvin Brewer of the Oakland FamilySearch Center will give a talk about using AI with FamilySearch.
When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free
How to Register: Forthcoming

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

Whack-a-Do Sources Continued!

by Debbie Mascot (6/4/2025)

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

I got some great feedback on the eBay post I did (see: https://www.californiaancestors.org/strange-sources/) showing how you can use eBay for some unique finds. I thought I’d continue along those lines and show you how I’ve used YouTube (www.YouTube.com) in my genealogy.

First of all, education. Most of the genealogy companies have a YouTube channel:
• Ancestry- https://www.youtube.com/@AncestryUS
• FamilySearch- https://www.youtube.com/@familysearch
• Legacy Family Tree- https://www.youtube.com/@legacyfamilytree
• RootsMagic- https://www.youtube.com/@RootsMagicTV

There are also individuals who specialize in genealogy or aspects of it:
• Lisa Louise Cooke- https://www.youtube.com/user/GenealogyGems
• Devon Noel Lee- https://www.youtube.com/@FamilyHistoryFanatics
• Aimee Cross- https://www.youtube.com/@AncestryAimee
• Amy Johnson Crow- https://www.youtube.com/@AmyJohnsonCrow
• Jen Shaffer- https://www.youtube.com/@theformidablegenealogist
• Dana Leeds- https://www.youtube.com/@DanaLeeds

There are history channels (one of my favorites is on historical cooking—if I watch how they used to have to bake a cake, maybe, just maybe, I’ll turn off the computer and get downstairs to my Betty Crocker box mix…).
• Tasting History- https://www.youtube.com/@TastingHistory
• Weird History- https://www.youtube.com/@WeirdHistory
• Simple History: https://www.youtube.com/@Simplehistory
• History Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HISTORY

But by far, my most favorite way to use YouTube in my genealogy is the more obscure.
• My third great grandfather was a pioneer in the Civil War and was instrumental in the Battle of Stones River. But what does that mean? I took a virtual tour and learned for myself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqA3oIl1_10&t=149s
• My grandfather grew up in what is now a ghost town in South Dakota. I have photos, stories and maps, but to see it on video hits differently (that structure with the hole– Grampa’s house) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8u4x31tzlo&t=614s
• My mom’s birth father was from Piana degli Albanesi, Italy. It has a unique non-Italian history with their own language. Reading about the language is hard. Listening to comparisons? Wonderful! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjBrAe3xex8
• Want to see what life was like in 1906 four days before the SF earthquake? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q5Nur642BU
• Want to see vintage New York City? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9-2Acd6Poo
• Or maybe you want to create and share a slide show of a place you lived (please forgive the mistakes… this was an experiment years ago)? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-12xw2aagE

You can subscribe to a station, you can just go to it when you feel like it, or you can spend some time searching around for the things you need when you need them. You can skip the ads after a few moments and then it is free.