Blog

To register or for more information, click the link for any event. All times are Pacific Time.

Sat., Feb. 24, 11 AM: Our featured presentation this month is an online class by Lisa Gorrell, CG: “How to Leave Your Genealogy: Don’t Let It Get Thrown Away!”  Lisa has put a lot of thought and energy into preserving her more than 30 years’ worth of genealogy research for future generations. In this class, she will discuss organization and other tips to maintain your research and make it easy for your heirs to deal with.

Our free “Tips & Talk” series at the Oakland FamilySearch Center this week features these two compelling sessions:

Wed., Feb. 21, 11:00 am: “Using Mexican Records on FamilySearch and Ancestry.com.” Robert and Portia NeVille give an overview of Mexican records available on these two major websites. Robert and Portia are serving a one year mission at the Oakland FamilySearch Center. Past missions have been in Peru, Argentina, and Madrid, Spain. Robert also spent two years in Uruguay as a student. Both Portia and Robert speak Spanish and enjoy helping others with their Spanish research projects.

Wed., Feb. 21, 6:30 pm: “Improbable Family Ties: Connections Recovered from Antebellum Nelson and Fluvanna Counties of Virginia, 1815-1862.” Patricia Smith Jenkins and Martha A. Jessup happened to meet at the library several years ago and began a collaborative research effort to identify a common ancestor in central Virginia. Working through three generations of slavery, they discovered eight paths of connection. They will discuss the historical context, their findings, and the meaning and value of their story for genealogical research and education. Pat Jenkins, retired Manager of the Early Childhood Education Program at UC Berkeley, facilitates monthly research and discussion groups for the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California and Oakland California FamilySearch Library. Marty Jessup is a family historian and retired professor of nursing, University of California San Francisco. A 2017 trip to Fluvanna County, Virginia led her to her previously unknown great-aunt who was buried in the cemetery of an historic Black church where she found family from the community of Shores. Marty conducts research on the people enslaved by her ancestors and her connections to the Fluvanna and Nelson County family lines.

Both talks may be attended in person or via Zoom. Please pre-register at the link.

The following Special Interest Groups meet this month:

Sat., Feb. 24, 10 AM-noon. Eastern European Special Interest Group. Quarterly meeting of this group of enthusiastic researchers and genealogists who meet to support and learn from each other’s contributions and expertise in the areas of Central and Eastern Europe.

Sat., Feb. 24, 1-3 PM: Family Tree Maker SIG. Today’s meeting features a talk by Mark Olsen of MacKiev. Presentation, discussion, and troubleshooting for users of the popular genealogy software. Led by Ron Madson and Karen Halfon. Hybrid (held in person and on Zoom). Please register through the FTM SIG page.