Blog | California Genealogical Society

1916-1917 Colored Directory of the Leading Cities of Northern California

by Debbie Mascot (2/17/2025)

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Scrolling through the CGS Online Resources, I found reference to, “The 1916-1917 Colored Directory.” Our own Jennifer Dix wrote a wonderful blog post about it and I urge you to read it:

https://blog.californiaancestors.org/the-1916-1917-colored-directory-a-window-into-oaklands-vibrant-past/

While I had issues pulling it up from the CGS site using the links (I’ve reported to the website team in case it wasn’t user error), I was able to find it through the Allen County Public Library site, since Jennifer had noted they also held a digitized copy. I wasn’t sure if I’d find the Mariani family or their hardware store in it (I did not), but I do know that any old book can spark my curiosity and make me want to learn more.

This book was no different. In it, I found this advertisement:

https://www.genealogycenter.info/viewpage_cacoloreddir.php?realpage=110&display=1916-1917-CA-Colored-Directory-22

Walter Archibald Butler was born in Baltimore, Maryland to John and Martha (Coleman) Butler. He built a home for his future wife and as soon as it was complete, they married. I don’t see that they had children of their own, but his home later was the home of Oakland’s first black schoolteacher. There is a great interview with her here where she even mentions him:

https://oac.cdlib.org/view?query=butler&docId=hb138nb0z7&chunk.id=div00017&toc.depth=1&toc.id=0&brand=oac4&x=0&y=0

I found a nice write-up of Mr. Butler here:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005475077&view=2up&seq=138

And about his wife, Ella:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005475077&view=2up&seq=248&size=200&q1=ella+ardelle+butler

I looked up his last address in Berkeley and it appears the home was turned into apartments. I could not find any obituary or death notice in my quick searches, but I did find where he gave a speech honoring Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on its 54th anniversary. I’m going to go back to Mr. Butler’s life when I have more time. His achievements and advancements deserve to be better recognized and his lifetime honored.

I thank the CGS website for allowing Walter Archibald Butler to be remembered during this Black History Month.

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 (2/14/2025)

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

Happy Valentine’s Day! So many great events and groups meeting tomorrow and next week! From the looks of it, you could take your Valentine on a virtual trip from San Francisco to Eastern Europe to Ireland all in the course of this month! Enjoy your travels!

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, February 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, February 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

Eastern European Special Interest Group (SIG)

Description: Discussion focused on Eastern European genealogy. Join a community of enthusiastic researchers and genealogists who meet on a quarterly basis to support and learn from each other’s contributions and expertise in the areas of Central and Eastern Europe.

When: Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where: Virtually via Zoom

Cost: Free to CGS members

How to Register: Register through the EESIG registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eastern-european-special-interest-group-registration-1141790348669

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 18^th 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

Meet Board Member: Keith Montgomery

by Debbie Mascot (2/12/2025)

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 CGS Website:
Keith R Montgomery has been a member of CGS since 2015. He sits on numerous CGS committees, including Technology, Digital Archives, Education and Events, Reopening, and Finance and participates in many CGS SIG groups, especially those involving computer technology. A former editor of the newsletter for Clan Montgomery Society, he helps other members with genealogical records, and has been administrator of the Montgomery Genealogy Facebook page for the past 13 years. He’s active with DNA research on family and helps others in their work. Now living in Albany, CA, Keith grew up in New Mexico and attended the University of Colorado. He’s a retired Hotel Controller and worked in downtown Oakland for many years. He’s passionate about traveling as much as possible and enjoys taking five-mile walks along the bay with friends.