Blog | California Genealogical Society

by Debbie Mascot (3/3/2025)

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

As genealogists, we lean on the National Archives for our ancestors’ records. My third great grandfather’s Civil War records came from there. That’s how I know he fought at Stones River and why I’m visiting Stones River National Battlefield in June. All our census records come from NARA and some delicious other records are housed right here in our local office in San Bruno (https://www.archives.gov/san-francisco/highlights). Regardless of any politics at all, we all have a stake in the future of NARA.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA at nara.gov) is our non-partisan official record-keeper. Access to records is provided to all branches of government and to the people. We use the records for genealogical purposes, but our nation is founded on the records preserved and documenting our history as a nation. Some of NARA’s other roles are to:
• Oversee federal records management
• Ensure public access to records via the Freedom of Information Act
• Handle classified and sensitive records
• Maintain military and veteran records
• Certify constitutional amendments

With the recent dismissal of senior leadership at NARA by the new administration, some are concerned with the future of NARA, so we thought we could explore the history of NARA and some things we can do to help the NARA non-partisan mission, should funding or staff be removed.

NARA came from the FDR administration in 1932 and its holdings go back to before the Revolutionary War. You can find slave ship manifests, the Emancipation Proclamation, German and Japanese surrender records, journals, photographs, newspapers and information about the Louisiana Purchase. The Archives’ house “12 billion sheets of paper, 40 million photographs, miles and miles of video and film, and more than 5.3 billion electronic records.” (https://archivesfoundation.org/about-the-archives/)

NARA is funded by Congress, the National Archives Trust Fund (established in 1941) and private donations. Should you wish to learn more about this, one project is fundNARA.com, which is a volunteer, non-partisan group of genealogists, historians, and records enthusiasts.

NOTE: All photos here are from https://www.archives.gov/research/highlights. Sometimes I just go there and browse… Please support our National Archives. Again, FundNARA (https://fundnara.com/) is a great place to start.

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 (2/28/2025)

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

Regional Gatherings
• Oakland/Piedmont: February 25th and 27th
• Sonoma/Santa Rosa: February 26
• Peninsula: February 26
• Walnut Creek: March 20
• Lamorinda: April 8
If interested in one of these or another Regional Gathering in your area, please contact Kim Farnham-Flom.

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, March 1, 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, March 1, 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 Event:
2025 All Ireland Genealogy Seminar
California Genealogical Society will host the first stop of the 2025 Ulster Historical Foundation US Tour. Lectures include:
• Introduction to Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Research
• Getting the most out of Griffith’s Valuation
• Using printed sources for Irish family history: Directories, newspapers and more
• Using the Registry of Deeds: an important source for 18th century research
• The Irish Poor Law and local government records including workhouse registers
• Solving Your Brick Walls – interactive session for questions you may still have
Consultations– SOLD OUT
When: Friday, February 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: CGS Library
Lectures
When: Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Preservation Park, Oakland, CA
Cost: $120 for CGS Members and $145 for non-members
How to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-all-ireland-genealogy-seminar-with-the-ulster-historical-foundation-registration-1100184514499

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: Ron Madson

by Debbie Mascot (2/26/2025)

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:
[Ron Madson]’s relationship with family history was ignited a decade and a half ago by a photo of his great grandparent’s family. He quickly developed a passion for family history and teaching genealogy related topics having taught more than 70 courses in the past 5 years, primarily for CGS. He has a BS & MS in Math and is a USMC veteran. He had an IT career beginning in the mid-1960s and retired from his final career building custom homes in Silicon Valley and coast side. He served as educational coordinator for the largest international IBM computer users’ group for 7 years and for 10 years he was the technical education coordinator for an international insurance company. Ron is the founder and co-facilitator of the FTM-SIG, chair of the Digital Historian Committee, and served as Eventbrite coordinator for several years.