New Blog Address

The blog for Family History Day has a new web address:

  http://fhdnewsline.blogspot.com

This change was necessary due to technical difficulties with the blog address from which this message is being sent. We tried hammers and screwdrivers and even technical assistance but to no avail.

Everything on the old blog will still be viewable but all new information for FHD 2012 will be added to the new blog address from today forward.

Oh pishtosh - this means that you will need to sign-up to receive updates on the new blog.  We apologize for this inconvenience.

Sincerely,
Your Blog Authors,
Denise Hibsch Richmond
Lois Shumaker

Society of California Archivists, Exhibitor at Family History Day 2012

Please welcome the Society of California Archivists (SCA), as an exhibitor at Family History Day 2012 at the California State Archives.

Formed in 1971, SCA is a professional association devoted to the support and development of individuals and institutions that collect, care for, and provide access to the documentary heritage of California.

The Society's membership includes archivists, manuscript curators, records managers, conservators, historians, librarians, genealogists, museum curators, students, and volunteers. Members are affiliated with colleges and universities; federal, state and local government archives and records centers; historical societies; museums; libraries; corporations; educational, religious, and medical institutions; and private collections.

Visit the exhibit to see the “Preserving Your History” Brochure Series. Learn all about doing oral histories or neighborhood histories, and preserving family papers and photographs.  “Preserving Your History” guides are available in English, Spanish and Chinese. Text-only PDF versions are available on our website, or you can order multiple copies by mail.

Throughout the year, the SCA Education Committee coordinates workshops on a wide variety of topics intended for the professional development of archivists; the workshops are located throughout the state.  Information about past workshop topics is available on our website.

In addition to workshops, SCA co-sponsors the Western Archives Institute, an intensive, two-week program that provides integrated instruction in basic archival practices to individuals with a variety of goals, including those with jobs which require a fundamental understanding of archival skills, but have little or no previous archives education; and those who have expanding responsibility for archival materials; are practicing archivists but have not received formal instruction; and those who demonstrate a commitment to an archival career.

The Institute also features site visits to historical records repositories and a diverse curriculum that includes history and development of the profession, theory and terminology, records management, appraisal, arrangement, description, manuscripts acquisition, archives and the law, photographs, preservation administration, reference and access, outreach programs, and managing archival programs and institutions.

The 27th Western Archives Institute will be held in the summer of 2013 at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.  Admission to the program is by application only and enrollment is limited.  Please contact the Western Archives Institute Administrator for more information.

Visit our Website
Mailing Address:
Society of California Archivists
c/o California State Archives
1020 “O” Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Sacramento German Genealogy Society, Exhibitor at Family History Day 2012

Please welcome the Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS) as an exhibitor at Family History Day 2012 at the California State Archives. The SGGS was founded in 1983 to promote the search for family histories of those who have a German heritage. It provides educational resources for those seeking to learn how to research their German ancestry and seeks to increase the public’s understanding of the cultural history of life in the German-speaking areas of Europe and the United States.

Benefits: SGGS holds week-day monthly lectures featuring local and out-of-town German genealogy experts. At those meetings attendees can purchase German genealogy research books, maps and tools. Attendees can also browse member pedigree charts, use the books in the SGGS library, discuss research problems with volunteers at the help desk and engage in a question/answer discussion with local experts or the featured speaker.

SGGS also runs a monthly workshop, weekly mentor sessions, an annual seminar and occasional special events. The monthly workshop is a small-group meeting where you can discuss your research problems with the experts leading the meeting and the other attendees. The mentor sessions occur every Thursday afternoon at the Sacramento Regional Family History Center where volunteer mentors will provide personal assistance in the use of that research facility.

The annual seminar is an all-day Saturday event with lectures from one or two out-of-the-area speakers. SGGS occasionally hosts special events such as its 25th anniversary which featured local German folk dancers and singers. The monthly meetings are free and open to the public. The annual seminar and special events are fee-based.

In addition to meetings, SGGS also provides a number of services such as an informational website, a list of approved German translators (fee), surname queries and customized handshake packets. SGGS volunteers create useful publications that are subsequently sold to meeting attendees. These include a reference catalog to the German resources available at the Sacramento Regional Family History Center and a comprehensive index for all of the Der Blumenbaum journals (since 1984).

Program 2012-13: You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings. Guests are always welcome. Check out our Website for the 2012-13 programs and our Der Bote (monthly newsletter). We will also have the schedule at the SGGS exhibitor table.

Seminar 2013: Our annual Spring conference will feature Roger P Minert, A.G., Ph. D. as our main presenter. A brochure/registration form is available at the SGGS exhibitor table at Family History Day and after the conference see our website.

Membership: The membership year is 1 July – 30 June. Dues: Domestic: Individual $30; Couple $35. Foreign: Individual $35; Couple $40.

Contact:
Mail: P.O. Box 660061, Sacramento, CA 95866-0061
Memberships: 210 San Carlos Way, Novato, California 94945-1628
Website: http://www.sacgergensoc.org/

Beginning Genealogy Class

In keeping with the focus of Family History Day, beginning genealogy, we will occasionally write about opportunities for beginner or novice researchers.

On Saturday, April 7, 2012, the Sacramento Public Library will offer the following class:

Beginning Genealogy: How to Trace Your Family History, with Karen Burney
The class will be held from 1:00 – 2:30 pm in the West Meeting Room at Central Library. Registration is preferred by calling 916-264-2920, but walk-ins are welcome! The only free parking nearby is at the Sacramento County Jury Parking Lot between 8th and 9th and F and G Streets. The entry is off of 8th Street.

Also, the Book a Genealogist service at Central Library is available on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Call the library at 916-264-2920 to set up a 45-minute appointment to have a genealogy volunteer help you with your research.

Sacramento Public Library – Central
828 I Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: (916) 264-2979
bdaugherty@saclibrary.org

Submitted by Beth Daugherty, Genealogy Services Librarian, Sacramento Public Library – Central


Readers, submit  an announcement of a beginning genealogical event to fhdmailbox@gmail.com and we will share it on this blog.

Family History Day Flyer

The Family History Day Flyer is now available for printing and sharing with your family and friends far and wide.  The paid advertising budget for Family History Day is about zero to sparse so we rely on you to help spread the word.  The link to the flyer will always be on the blog itself - look for it on the row of tabs across the top of the blog.  Thank you!

Image of FHD 2012 Flyer

Family History Day 2012!

Family History Day 2012 planning is underway behind these curtains. In the next several days and weeks, details about classes, speakers, exhibitors and more will be revealed. 

For now, mark your calendar for Saturday, October 13, 2012.  You will be very busy at the California State Archives.  Check back here often or better yet, sign up to receive updates on your favorite reader or via email.  If you have any questions, drop us a line at fhdmailbox@gmail.com.

Tuesday's Tip - NARA Video: Intro to Census Records

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is on YouTube with a variety of channels that highlight its extensive holdings and provide instructive videos on how to find and use various records and record collections. 

A new video of interest to beginner genealogists was recently added to the line-up. "Genealogy Introduction: Census Records at the National Archives" is presented by Constance Potter, an archivist at the National Archives in Washington, DC, specializing in federal records of interest to genealogists. She is an expert on the U.S. census records. In this YouTube video, Connie delivered a talk on the intricacies of the U.S. Federal Census records from 1790 to 1930 and how they can be used for genealogical research.  

Watch the video here. 

I learned about this video from my free subscription to Dick Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter (EOGN).

Tuesday's Tip is one of several blogging themes suggested on Geneabloggers.  If you have a tip for beginning genealogists, please send it to fhdmailbox@gmail.com and I will post it here.