Blog | California Genealogical Society

by Debbie Mascot (3/10/2025)

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 hope you didn’t miss the All-Ireland Genealogy Seminar on March 1! It was such a well-planned, information-filled event held at Oakland’s Preservation Park (https://www.preservationpark.com). I’d never been before and I loved the charm. I highly recommend a visit. I didn’t know what to expect, so I was a bit surprised to roll up to what looked like a Victorian neighborhood, which, it turns out, it once was.

It began in the 1870s as an upscale neighborhood, but within 100 years, many were subdivided into rooming houses and deteriorated structures. They demolished all but five homes and, with the threat of a new highway, the City of Oakland swooped in and created a partnership to save the area. Now there are 16 buildings that look like Victorian homes (even though they fit 77 genealogists!) and the area has period-piece park benches and street lamps.

I arrived a little before 8:30 and parking was easy, with just some minor confusion fixed by super helpful staff. I walked across the street to Preservation Park and easily found the right Victorian-looking home. Check-in was so easy with no wait at all. I found a seat and then the coffee. We started right on time at 9:00 a.m. with CGS president, Roger Prince, delivering the opening remarks.

There were 77 tickets sold and all 77 attended. For Friday’s individual consultation, I hear that there were 24 booked and it sold out! I looked around the room and took a moment to appreciate the luxury of the day. It had been years since I’d been to a genealogy event and I was so glad that my foray back was with CGS.

Soon, Gillian Hunt and Fintan Mullen of the Ulster Historical Foundation began their presentations. There were 5 (FIVE!) presentations through the day, plus a question-and-answer session. It was an intensely-educational day with all things Irish and some prizes doled out throughout. I was delighted to go home with some Irish whiskey and a flask!

I hope you will enjoy some photos taken by CGS photographer, Ron Madson, and that you will join CGS in the next special event!

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 (3/7/2025)

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

San Francisco Special Interest Group (SIG)
San Francisco has so many nuances to genealogical research that it helps to know an expert. Join this SIG to meet several! It doesn’t matter if you are new to genealogy or an old hat, find your family story in the City of Love.
When: Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Contact [email protected]

Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group (SIG)
Are you using the popular Family Tree Maker software to keep track of your genealogy findings? Are you new and looking for a program to use? Are you just wanting to know more about it? Join this great SIG for a plethora of topics this January, including a new release, and all things cemetery, including citations (which some may find more frightening than a cemetery!).
When: Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Virtually via Zoom or in person at the CGS Library
Cost: Free to CGS members
How to Register: Register through the FTM-SIG website (ftm-sig.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/
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

Meet Board Member: Robert Trapp

by Debbie Mascot (3/5/2025)

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

From the website:
Robert “Bob” Trapp was born in Hayward, a 3rd generation Californian, but grew up in Southern California. He graduated from Long Beach City College with an Associate of Science Degree in Electronic Technology. He was first introduced to family history when he was about 4 or 5. His Grandparents would tell him stories of when they were growing up and who their parents and grandparents were, including what they did for a living. He got into real research in the mid-1980’s. He has traveled to England and the Netherlands in search of family. His United States research stretches from New England south along the Atlantic seaboard, to the deep south, the mid-west and to the west coast. On the Mayflower he has 26 ancestors, in Jamestown one and many early Quakers with William Penn. He has been a member of CGS since the 1990’s. He has been a presenter at the CGS seminars on classes for census research and military research. He has also presented talks on various topics to different organizations around the Bay Area. He has been a member of the Mayflower Society since 2005. He has held several offices in the Alameda Colony, He is the past Deputy and Colony Governor and currently the Co-Colony Membership Chair. Currently he has been on staff at the Oakland Family Search Library for the past 34 years. He has shared several booklets with family members on different branches of the family back across the pond to their ancestral homes and lives in the Old World.