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].

“A library is a house of hope. It’s a place where we all, whatever our situation, can feed our ideas and develop our dreams.” – Doug Wilhelm

Do you know what we have at the CGS library? I know that many moons ago I had a tour and explored some random county history books (with delicious photos of other people’s ancestors). Today I was exploring the website and noticed that we can tour the library from home!

The website has a lot more details on the different items under the Library roof, but we have:
• Books
• Periodicals
• City directories
• Computers and Internet access
• Scanners for books and microfilm
• Large format scanner//printer copier
• Manuscripts
• Vertical File- a treasure trove collection of families and places
• Microfilm/microfiche holdings
• Newsletters
• Large pedigree charts
• Alameda County Obituary Forms
• And much more!

Whether you use the library computers or bring your own and connect to the wifi, you will have access to:
• FamilySearch restricted image collections
• Ancestry.com Library Edition
• Americanancestors.org (New England Historic Genealogical Society)
• Fold3
• HistoryGeo Bureau of Land Management Maps
• Vitalsearch-Worldwide.com
• Our computers also have handy links to:
• FamilySearch
• California Genealogy Links
• Digital Public Library of America
• Chronicling America (LoC Historical Newspapers)
• Library of Congress Catalog
• HathiTrust Digital Library
• FamilySearch Digital Library
• Internet Archive Books
• Rootsweb
• S.F. Genealogy
• Old Fulton Postcards (Historical Newspapers)
• Wikipedia’s Historical Newspaper Directory

Plan your visit for a Thursday through Saturday, open 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It’s an easy BART trip away if you are a BART-connoisseur, but there is parking for those of us who like to sing loudly on the way. Check the website (https://www.californiaancestors.org/directions-and-parking/) or call to confirm they will be open and to get parking and door information.

Please note that the library will be closed for private consultations on Friday, February 28, 2025.

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]

Have you been considering the All Ireland Genealogy Seminar, but just haven’t pushed the button yet? Here is something that you may not know about the day: THERE ARE DOOR PRIZES!

• Researching Scots Irish Ancestors: The Essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster, 1600-1800 by William J. Roulston. This is the essential guide if you have Scots Irish ancestors (valued at approximately $40).
• Ulster Historical Foundation. This one-year membership to Ulster Historical Foundation (valued at approximately $50) gives access to a range of specialist resources and services.
• OldNews.com. MyHeritage has donated a one-year OldNews account (valued at $99). This is a site dedicated to “millions of pages from thousands of historical newspaper titles.”
• MyHeritage Complete account. MyHeritage has also donated a complete MyHeritage account (valued at $309). MyHeritage includes a large international records database along with some exclusive content.
• Ancestry DNA Kit. If you’ve been holding off on DNA or have a family member to test, this may be your lucky day! Ancestry has donated a DNA kit to our door prize menu (valued at $99)!
• Ancestry World Membership. One-year membership to Ancestry World for free (valued at $319)! Use this time to JUMP THE POND to see what is available in, perhaps, IRELAND?!?
• Jameson Irish Whiskey. Because… of course (valued at… PRICELESS)!
• Raking the Ashes: Genealogical Strategies for Pre-1906 San Francisco Research by Nancy S. Peterson. If you have San Francisco research to do, this is your guide (valued at approximately $30)
• California Genealogical Society. This one-year membership will extend what you have OR gain you access to so many CGS benefits!
• Gift Baskets. With tea, scones, Irish coffee fixings, Guinness and other goodies.
• Consultations. Individual CGS experts have volunteered to provide consultations as door prizes!
• More to come!

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 (https://ftm-sig.org/index.html)

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/
Tips & Talk: Oakland FamilySearch Center Family History Classes: https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/oakland_california/classes

From our website: Carly Morgan is the owner of Family Tree Notebooks, a shop that sells digital genealogy worksheets for people looking to organize their family trees. Her family has been in the Bay Area for almost two centuries and she has strong ties to the Chinese population of San Francisco, although she lives in Salt Lake City. A former attorney, Carly has been working as a marketer and content creator for more than ten years. She is the chair of the Marketing Committee.

Other information:
Carly’s favorite ancestor is Quan Yee See. She is Carly’s 2nd great grandmother and came from China in the 1890s. She was smuggled in as property, because Chinese women were banned from immigration. She became the matriarch of the community at China Camp in San Rafael.