Diane de Golia, President

Transcription

1 Mt. Diablo Genealogical Society T HE DIGGER 2017/2018 MDGS Board Members President: Diane de Golia Vice President: Areta Fleming Rec. Secretary: Shirley Thomson Treasurer: John Gilbert Directors: Bill Steinmetz & Margaret Ready Past President: Stan Wells Historian: Bob Wolf Program Chair: Karla Henderlong Publicity Chair & Newsletter: Susan Rush Membership Chair: Gretchen Hansen & Cheryl Sibthorp Hospitality Co-Chairs: Mary Ellis P R E S I D E N T S M E S S A G E D I A N E DE G O L I A We had a strong turnout for our January meeting, which featured a mini-seminar by Dr. James Baker. He provided attendees with a wealth of information about ancestral research through historical newspapers and books, some online and others that aren t digitized. Members and guests walked away with new tools to aid in their genealogical quests. If you weren t able to attend, Dr. Baker s helpful handouts are available on our website: Two equally important resources that make such programs possible are those of volunteers and membership dues. We would not be able to fulfill our goal of providing genealogists with the means to do their family research without both of those elements. In the last Digger, I urged everyone to renew membership in our organization. At this point, I am encouraging you to become more involved. There are several opportunities to help the MDGS thrive. Whether it would be by greeting folks at our meetings, helping with production of The Digger, giving a mini-talk, serving as a board member, developing future programs, providing refreshments for a meeting, we welcome your participation. Please don t be shy volunteering isn t burdensome and is actually fun when working with others who share in genealogical pursuits. Let s talk! You can reach me at longolia@excite.com or better yet, in person at a meeting. Diane de Golia, President I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : President s Message 1 Speakers, Programs & New Members Other Societies & Upcoming Events What s New 4-5 Help Wanted & 5 Tips 6 Membership Application 7 Get Involved, Fold 3 Hint 8 Volunteer Form & Publicity 9 Calendar of Events New members: Veronique Schutz Carole White Doreen Oliver Susan Bensal Franklin Ennis Bruce Freeland Kris Kimball Jackie Segal Board Meeting: 2nd Friday of Month 1:30 Rossmoor Creekside Clubhouse in the Mulligan Room. General Meeting: 3rd Friday of Month 10:00 Rossmoor Creekside Clubhouse in the Club Room. Everyone is welcome to both meetings. Rossmoor Creekside Clubhouse 1010 Stanley Dollar Dr, Walnut Creek, CA 94595

2 Page 2 T H A N K S TO O UR F E B R UA R Y S P E A K E R Thank you to Brooke Schreier Ganz for her very informative presentation! She is the Founder & President of Reclaim The Records, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization of genealogists, historians, researchers & open governmental advocates who use filings through the Freedom of Information Act to get public data back into the public domain and share it for free. Brooke enthusiastically spreads the word that FOIA is an awesome way to obtain genealogical & archival records. Reclaim The Records has already been able to get 10 million genealogical records online with hundreds of thousands more in the next few months. She spoke about using Open Data, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) & Freedom of Information Laws (FOIL) to do genealogy research. In order to preserve transparency, publishing all requests & correspondence with public agencies in real time using MuckRock.org. Brooke talked about the need to find the appropriate agencies that handle a particular type of record (using Ballotpedia.org), then file your specific request. Go to their website to see what they ve accomplished, what s in the works and how to get involved. Sign up for their newsletter at follow them on Facebook at and Donate to help their cause! M A R C H S P E A K E R S Our March meeting will begin with a Mini Presentation from Retired Physician & Member, Russ Erickson entitled Boston Medicine in the 1900 s. He will review medical literature, advice and techniques available in the early 1900s, somewhat revealing the stress our ancestors were under during that period. Our Main Speaker, Lisa Gorrell s topic will be German Research: Let s Get Started. She will provide guidance to those wishing to get started on their German ancestry by sharing information about resources here in the United States to help bridge the researcher to the German states of their ancestors. Lisa Gorrell is currently Recording Secretary for the California Genealogical Society and board member of the Contra Costa Historical Society, volunteering at their archives at the History Center in Martinez. She is also a past president of the Contra Costa Genealogical Society. Her specialties include U.S. southern and Mid-western states, German, Irish, English and Swedish families. P R O G R A M S - K A R L A H E N D E R L O N G Date Mini Speaker Main Speaker 16 Mar 2018 Club Room Russ Erickson Boston Medicine in the 1900 s Lisa Gorrell German Genealogy Research 20 Apr 2018 Alvis Ward DNA & Genealogy 18 May 2018 Kathryn Marshall -Mini Seminar TBA 15 June 2018 Chris Pattillo Preserving Your Family History Things You Can Do Now To Capture & Share Your Family History 20 July 2018 Gena Philibert-Oretega-Mini Seminar TBA 21 Aug 2018 Melinda Kashuba Mini Seminar TBA

3 The Digger Page 3 OT H ER GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 2nd Thursday of Month 7:00 p.m. at LDS Building, 1360 Alberta Way, Concord Mar 8, 2018 Madeline Yanov A Rose By Any Other Name: Using Nicknames to Find People Apr 12, 2018 James Baker Opening Pandora s Box: When DNA Finds Unexpected Improper Ancestors More info at Website: Facebook: SAN RAMON VALLEY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 3rd Tuesday of Month 10:00 a.m. at LDS Church, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo Mar 20, 2018 Sean Conley "Irish Research" Apr 17, 2018 Webinar More info at U P C O M I N G E V E N T S Southern California Genealogical Society The 49th Annual Jamboree 2018 Registration is now open. May 30, 2018 June 2, 2018 Los Angeles Marriott, Burbank Airport Hotel, Burbank, CA Genetic Genealogy 2018 Link Through DNA; Family History Writers Conference 2018-Love Your Family Legends; Jamboree 2018 Unlock Your Lineage. SOLANO COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 1st Saturday of Month 11:00 a.m. at Moose Lodge, 623 Taylor Street, Fairfield Mar 3, 2018 Melinda Kashuba, Using Maps in Genealogical Research Discussion Groups 10:00 a.m. at Solano County Genealogical Library, 610 E Main St., Vacaville More info at LIVERMORE AMADOR GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY 2nd Monday of Month 10:00 a.m. at Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Ct., Pleasanton More info at Ready to Discover Gold with Lisa Gorrell GENEALOGY SOCIETY OF VALLEJO-BENICIA 1st Thursday of Month 1:00 p.m. at Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo More info at CALIFORNIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY Quarterly Meetings Apr 14, 2018 Melinda Kashuba Discussion Group 1:00 p.m. at CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland More info at

4 Page 4 W H A T S N EW? 5 Genealogy Goals for the Family Archivist Posted by Denise May Levenick on February 12, 2018 in Guest Bloggers Genealogists wear many hats researcher, writer, preservationist, archivist. We always want more time to track down our elusive ancestors, but if you inherited family photos, documents, or keepsakes, there s no time like the present to safely preserve your treasures for the next generation. Here is a list of family history tips to help you save the past and move your genealogy work forward to the future: 1. Select Safe Storage Get those old photos out of flimsy shoeboxes and into acid-free archival storage boxes, also known as Hollinger Boxes. These heavy-weight boxes are designed to resist slight temperature fluctuations and moisture, and protect the contents from dust, pests, and light. Look for true archival boxes like those sold to the Library of Congress and university archives. Typically manufactured in the United States to rigorous standards, archival storage containers may be made of acid-free board, paper, or plastic. Avoid any kind of recycled product because the content and quality is unknown. Purchase plastic enclosures and containers that have passed the Photographic Activity Test (PAT), a lab test measuring photo stability within a plastic enclosure. If you ve ever encountered faded and damaged photos in an old magnetic type photo album, you ve seen evidence of poor quality plastic and paper storage. Check out recommended safe archival products at TheFamilyCurator.com. 2. Digitize Research and Heirlooms Investigate your options for digitizing family photos, papers, and keepsakes, and then scan or photograph depending on the item. Use your smartphone for quick images, but you ll have more options for editing and restoration with high-quality archival scans of heirloom photographs or documents. Use a consistent file naming scheme and organizing system like the four-part filename described in EASY Digital Filenaming to Organize Genealogy Files. 3. Backup Your Files Protect your family legacy with multiple digital copies. Don t throw away the original; think of that old black and white photo as another backup copy. Use an easy-to-remember habit such as Backup 3-2-1, three copies, two different media, one copy offsite. Three copies could include the original digital file on your computer, and two more copies. Use different storage media such as an external hard drive, cloud service, DVD backup, or another server. Insure the survival of your digital files by keeping one copy offsite, away from your home where natural and man-made disasters could damage or destroy your files. With the low cost of digital storage, cloud services are an excellent choice for offsite file storage. 4. Share Your History Make this year, the year you bring your family history out of the binders and file folders to share the people and their stories with your family and friends. Find new and exciting ways to enjoy old pictures and stories by following genealogy blogs, Facebook groups, Pinterest boards, and Instagram accounts. What s old is new again, and lifestyle magazines have caught on to vintage and family history decorating and craft trends. Look beyond a numbered genealogy for ways to share your family history. 5. Discover Keepsakes through Cousin Connections Are you a family historian without many family keepsakes? Before assuming that your ancestors just didn t keep things, reach out to cousin connections to ask about old photographs, family records, or a family Bible. Newfound cousins through DNA testing might hold the answer to your brick-wall problems. Many times, family collections are passed down to the eldest, or youngest, or sometimes a distant relation. With name changes through marriage, it can be difficult to track those wayward heirlooms. Are you one of the millions of genealogists who sent off a DNA sample, but aren t quite sure what to do next? New resources and expert guidebooks like Blaine Bettinger s Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy can help you make sense of this exciting new genealogy tool. Think about DNA as one more genealogical data source to investigate. Continued on Page 7

5 The Digger Page 5 Continued from Page 6 Remember the first time you looked at a census report? All those rows and columns may have seemed overwhelming, but with training and practice, the census can yield valuable clues to family lives. Enroll in a course, view webinars, or study a book on the basics of genetic genealogy to build your skills and connect with newfound cousins. Go beyond adding names to your family tree. Reach out to ask about family heirlooms too. T HE L A T E S T ON R O O T S W E B S E C U R I T Y U P D A T E Additional Information at:

6 Page 6 Do you have computer skills? Are you willing to be trained? Mt. Diablo Genealogical Society is looking for someone to work with our Publicity Chairperson For more information, contact Susan Rush at gen4you@astound.net From the Winter 2018 Via Magazine: Your Distant Cousin A.J. an article by Chip Rowe about Best-Selling author, A.J Jacobs who traveled the country digging into his roots and yours. A. J. Jacobs book is entitled It s All Relative. Adventures Up and Down the World s Family Tree. He lists these 5 tips for a successful genealogy research getaway. For a deep dive into your roots, plan a trip to conduct genealogical research in a relevant library, archive, church, or town. These are treasure troves of documents, but they can be intimidating if you don t plan ahead. Here s how to make the most of your efforts. 1.Do some legwork in advance. Know what you want to find on your quest. 2.Enlist a guide. It s helpful to have someone familiar with the places you want to visit. The Association of Professional Genealogists (apgen.org) lists people who can provide guidance, usually for a modest fee. 3. Arrive at archives and libraries early. Be friendly, appreciative and patient with clerks & librarians. They can save you hours of additional work. 4. Bring a digital camera, extra batteries and a flash drive. Some libraries allow you to photograph records, which is faster than using a copy machine. 5. Have fun. Keep in mind that it s a trip, not a school assignment. Even if you don t uncover Great- Great Grandma Josephine s last name, you can enjoy the journey.

7 The Digger Page 7

8 Page 8 HELP WITH REFRESHMENTS? Do you bake? Could you bring store bought? If you can help, please contact, Hospitality Chair, Mary Ellis at mary.ellis88@gmail.com The Program committee is looking for a few members to share an experience, a discovery, a topic or a story at an upcoming meeting in 2018 during our mini-session. No need for fancy presentations or handouts, just a short discussion about something you found interesting and would like to share with the group. Contact Program Chair, Karla Henderlong at khenderlong@gmail.com

9 The Digger Page 9 THE SOCIETY NEEDS YOUR HELP! Mt. Diablo Genealogical Society is separated into committees so that administration of activities can be divided over a larger portion of the membership. We need your participation in the following committees. The idea is to break-down the committee s activities into small tasks that will not put a heavy chore on any single individual. Please signify that you are willing to help lend a hand in a small way to keep the Society working for all. Add your name alongside one or more of the following committees that you are willing to support and mail to Mt. Diablo Genealogical Society, 1010 Golden Rain Rd., Walnut Creek, CA Publicity: Programs: Membership: Hospitality: Digger: Your Contact Information: Phone: F R O M THE E D I T O R Do you use Google, Pipl, Whitepages & Facebook as a genealogy tool? I do and it is so helpful finding living relatives. Recently, two friends asked me to help find their half-siblings. After getting basic clues, such as age, where they may live and information on the common parent, I went to work. Using Google I was able to locate family members obituaries, Pipl & Whitepages helped me find possible addresses & phone numbers and Facebook search allowed me to see photos of the person I was searching & siblings. Once I narrowed the information to a particular person, I turned the information back to both friends. They made inquiring phone calls, and were successfully reunited with a step sister & step brother. So, don t overlook Social Media & Web searching sites as part of your genealogy toolbox. You never know who you will find! P U B L I C I T Y S U S A N R USH Do you have something to share in the Digger? Submit it to gen4you@astound.net by the last Monday of the

10 MDGS meets on the third Friday of each month in the Club Room at Rossmoor Creekside Clubhouse, 1010 Stanley Dollar Dr, Walnut Creek, CA at 10:00 a.m. 16 Mar 2018 Club Room Mini Speaker: Russ Erickson - Boston Medicine in the 1900 s Main Speaker: Lisa Gorrell - German Genealogy Research 20 Apr 2018 Alvis Ward DNA & Genealogy 19 May 2018 Kathryn Marshall -Mini Seminar TBA No Host Lunch at Creekside with the Guest Speaker, immediately Following Meeting on 3rd Friday of month. Reservations MUST be made by Friday afternoon prior to the meeting! For more information or to make reservations, contact Susan Rush at or gen4you@astound.net MDGS DIGGER 1001 Golden Rain Road Walnut Creek, CA (mail only) March April 2018 Edition We re On The Web: mdgs.webs.com