The Chula Vista Genealogical Society events for August 2012 include:
** Saturday, 4 August, 12:30 p.m.to 3 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- Outreach Workshop meets in Community Room. Randy Seaver will lead a "RootsMagic 5 Workshop." Bring your laptop and learn how to use this genealogy management program.
** Wednesday 8 August, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group meets in the Library Conference Room, led by Randy Seaver. We will review the latest genealogy news, share success stories and information, and discuss members research problems, and potential solutions, based on the collective knowledge and wisdom of the group.
** Wednesday, 15 August, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Computer Group meets in the Library Computer Lab, led by Shirley Becker. Sharpen your computer skills and investigate online genealogy resources.
** Monday, 20 August, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- Annual CVGS Picnic meets in the Community Room. Bring in your lunch, a five generation pedigree chart, and join in the sharing of ancestral names and places.
The Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library is located at 365 "F" Street in Chula Vista - between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, midway between I-5 and I-805 (take the "E" Street exit from the freeways).
The Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library is located at 4375 Bonita Road in Bonita - just west of the Otay Lakes Road intersection with Bonita Road, on the north side of Bonita Road.
We welcome guests and visitors to our CVGS programs and events - if you are in the greater San Diego area and want to attend our events - please come and introduce yourselves.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Program Review - Gena Ortega's "Remember the Ladies"
The 25 July program meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society featured Gena Philibert Ortega's presentation on "Remember the Ladies: Finding Female Ancestors." There are links on Gena's blog to many of the online resources she mentioned - go to http://philibertfamily.blogspot.com/p/links.html.
Gena said that finding female ancestors is made difficult because of the name change when she marries, she spent most of her life inside the home, and is not mentioned in many documents or records. There are, however, many types of records that might contain information about her life, but many of them are not online or are held by private persons or organizations.
There are five ways to find women in historical records, and success requires all five. They include researching the woman herself, researching the family, research the history of the time in which she lived, research the places that she lived, and research her FAN club - her family, associates and neighbors.
Gena offered four thoughts about doing research on your female ancestors - it does take a community to raise a family; go beyond government documents and online repositories; you have to visit libraries, archives and museums; and to consider the activities of the time and place where they lived.
Researchers need to be careful not to divorce genealogy from history. Researchers need to know the laws (e.g., voting, citizenship); the social institutions of the time and place; and investigate oral, biographical, and academic records, videos, microforms and journals. In other words, think outside the box.
She suggested using WorldCat (http://worldcat.org) and Google Books (http://books.google.com) as online sites she checks first. Gena searches for place, occupation, group names, quilts, samplers, artifacts, etc. Other resources include ArchiveGrid (http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/) and the National Union of Manuscript Collections (http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/) for archival holdings. Church records may have meeting notes, baptism records, membership lists, and women's group activities. Pioneer, fraternal organization auxiliary, WCTU, Women's Relief Corps, and other women's organizations may be found in state archives or at universities. Use city directories to determine which organizations were active in the time and place. School records, yearbooks, newspapers, and local histories may provide information, and may be found online or in libraries, archives, or historical societies.
Journals and diaries by other women may provide insight into the lives of females in the time and place. One of Gena's examples was a book about covered wagon women that helped readers understand the experiences and struggles of settling the West.
Gena recommended reading the book "hidden sources" by Laura Pfeiffer, "The Source" (which is on the Ancestry.com Research Wiki), the Family History Library Catalog, historical and genealogical magazines and books, genealogy and history blogs, etc.
This was an outstanding discussion of the many ways to remember the ladies in our ancesty, and how to pursue their records and family stories.
Gena said that finding female ancestors is made difficult because of the name change when she marries, she spent most of her life inside the home, and is not mentioned in many documents or records. There are, however, many types of records that might contain information about her life, but many of them are not online or are held by private persons or organizations.
There are five ways to find women in historical records, and success requires all five. They include researching the woman herself, researching the family, research the history of the time in which she lived, research the places that she lived, and research her FAN club - her family, associates and neighbors.
Gena offered four thoughts about doing research on your female ancestors - it does take a community to raise a family; go beyond government documents and online repositories; you have to visit libraries, archives and museums; and to consider the activities of the time and place where they lived.
Researchers need to be careful not to divorce genealogy from history. Researchers need to know the laws (e.g., voting, citizenship); the social institutions of the time and place; and investigate oral, biographical, and academic records, videos, microforms and journals. In other words, think outside the box.
She suggested using WorldCat (http://worldcat.org) and Google Books (http://books.google.com) as online sites she checks first. Gena searches for place, occupation, group names, quilts, samplers, artifacts, etc. Other resources include ArchiveGrid (http://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/) and the National Union of Manuscript Collections (http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/) for archival holdings. Church records may have meeting notes, baptism records, membership lists, and women's group activities. Pioneer, fraternal organization auxiliary, WCTU, Women's Relief Corps, and other women's organizations may be found in state archives or at universities. Use city directories to determine which organizations were active in the time and place. School records, yearbooks, newspapers, and local histories may provide information, and may be found online or in libraries, archives, or historical societies.
Journals and diaries by other women may provide insight into the lives of females in the time and place. One of Gena's examples was a book about covered wagon women that helped readers understand the experiences and struggles of settling the West.
Gena recommended reading the book "hidden sources" by Laura Pfeiffer, "The Source" (which is on the Ancestry.com Research Wiki), the Family History Library Catalog, historical and genealogical magazines and books, genealogy and history blogs, etc.
This was an outstanding discussion of the many ways to remember the ladies in our ancesty, and how to pursue their records and family stories.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
July 25th Program: Gena Ortega on "Remember the Ladies"
The July program meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society is Wednesday, 25 July, from 12 Noon to 2 p.m. at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) in the Auditorium.
The speaker presentation will be “Remember the Ladies” by Gena Philibert Ortega.
"Remember the Ladies:" Do you have a female ancestor that has become your brick wall? Researching women can be difficult when you factor in surname changes and lack of documentation. Women are different and so are the research techniques that need to be used to find them. Join us as we discuss resources and methodology to help you research your ancestress.
Gena Philibert-Ortega holds a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and in Religion. Presenting on various subjects involving genealogy, Gena has spoken to groups throughout the United States and virtually to audiences worldwide. She is the author of hundreds of articles published in genealogy newsletters and magazines. Her newest book is From the Family Kitchen (F+W Media, 2012).
The speaker presentation will be “Remember the Ladies” by Gena Philibert Ortega.
"Remember the Ladies:" Do you have a female ancestor that has become your brick wall? Researching women can be difficult when you factor in surname changes and lack of documentation. Women are different and so are the research techniques that need to be used to find them. Join us as we discuss resources and methodology to help you research your ancestress.
Gena Philibert-Ortega holds a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and in Religion. Presenting on various subjects involving genealogy, Gena has spoken to groups throughout the United States and virtually to audiences worldwide. She is the author of hundreds of articles published in genealogy newsletters and magazines. Her newest book is From the Family Kitchen (F+W Media, 2012).
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
CVGS Member Travel Stories - Myrna Goodwin
Germany
– April/May 2011 – by Myrna Beach Goodwin, © 2012
In the spring
of 2011, my husband and I, along with my first cousin, Donna, took a
wonderful trip to Hesse, Germany, where Donna’s and my grandfather,
John Born, emigrated from in 1892. Our grandfather’s
older brother inherited the family property and remained in
Todenhausen, Germany. We went to meet our 2nd
cousin, Helga Kahl. While there we toured the house where our
grandfather was born, visited his elementary school, and went to his
church. A friend of Helga’s helped us locate church birth and
marriage documents. We also met descendents of our
grandfather’s mother’s family in the small town of Hermershausen
and they helped with church records as well.
After several
days in Todenhausen, we drove to the village of Aua where our
grandmother’s father, John Bechstein, came from in 1855.
Although we did not have a contact person, everyone in Aua pointed
out the “Bechstein” home, so we knocked on the door. We met
the current Bechstein family. They took us to the Aua church and
cemetery and even though their English was limited, we got basic
information to help with future research.
Our
final stop was Bad Hersfeld where our grandmother’s mother,
Henrietta (Kolbe) Bechstein emigrated from in 1857. We
walked past the old Kolbe home in the city center and visited their
church built in the 14th century. The church
documents for the Kolbe family had been obtained by others in 2005,
so we just enjoyed visiting the area.
Meeting
family, finding records and walking the streets of these villages
made for an amazing trip.
[Editor's
note: This is a series of “genealogy travel and research”
articles submitted by our members.]
Sunday, July 15, 2012
CVGS Research Group Summary - 11 July 2012
The Chula Vista Genealogical Society Research Group meeting on 11 July had 14 enthusiastic attendees.
Randy did not have a presentation, but highlighted some of the local educational opportunities at CVGS and SDGS in the next two months. He also passed around samples of Michael John Neill's Casefile Clues newsletters if people wanted to subscribe.
A question was asked whether it would be better to enter your family tree data into a software program, like RootsMagic, or to enter it into an online family tree, like an Ancestry Member Tree. Randy pointed out that folks can create a free Ancestry Member Tree, and sync it to Family Tree Maker 2012, or download a GEDCOM file of it and import it to their desktop software. A GEDCOM file can be exported from software and imported to many online tree systems. The major difference, in Randy's opinion, is that software does a much better job of creating reports and charts and is easier to navigate.
Diane received a GEDCOM file from her aunt, and merged it into her own tree in RootsMagic, and now has some duplicate people that she is merging. She asked how to make relationships show up in the Family View, and the group said to use Tools > Set Relationships to set the key person. She also asked how she can create a report for the family. The group said to go to Reports > Narrative Reports to create ancestral or descendant reports.
Ralph visited Salt Lake City and the Family History Library on his vacation, and enjoyed two days of research there. He said that his research was "wide but not deep." Ralph recommended asking for help at the FHC immediately to optimize your research time there. He asked about finding the local FamilySearch Centers and using microfilms there. The group discussed the holdings at the Mission Valley FSC and the information available there.
Jaye made some progress on her Robert Murphy problem on a Murphy message board,a local history book, and online Missouri vital records. She asked how to find out about newspaper and probate records for a county, and the group suggested the USGenWeb site for the county and to contact a local genealogical or historical society.
Sue is a new member, overwhelmed by all of the information offered over the past few months. She asked about the 1752 calendar change from Julian to Gregorian in the USA and other places, and the group described the reason and effect of the addition of 11 days to the calendar. Doing online research, she found her great-grandfather on her father's side. She has asked her brother to take a DNA test.
Kitty is stuck on two grandfathers in the 20th century. The group suggested obtaining vital records, and writing to local genealogical or historical societies to see if there is information in local files. She had a hard time registering for the beta trial at MyGenShare.
Dan is a new member, born in Puerto Rico, and has lived in California for 33 years. He has written a book on California's First Puerto Ricans, 1850-1910, and published it as an e-book, but would like a hard copy publisher. The group suggested Tom Underhill's Creative Continuum company.
Pam has been watching the PBS series"History of England" online and enjoying it. She's had success finding her families in the 1940 U.S. Census by finding their address in City Directories on Ancestry.com. Pam donated a book on Indian Abductions and Captures to CVGS recently. She posed a challenge to identify the relationship of the great-grandchild of her first cousin's wife, who was also her great-grandfather's second wife. The group suggested that she listen to I Am My Own Grandpa for guidance. Seriously, we charted it out and she's not blood related to the wife of her cousin, but is a first-cousin once removed to her great-grandchild.
Karen Karen's photo mystery was solved. She found a mailing tube with a large photograph that had no information. She also found a 1992 letter from a relative that provides information about the picture and the family history from Norway to Quebec to Wisconsin to Iowa. Her warning: If you have family photographs, please date it, identify people and places.
Virginia won one hour of research from SCGS at the Jamboree, and during the time they found a living cousin in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania that had information on her Dunlop family.
Sam has found lots of shaky leaf hints on his Ancestry Member Tree and has been busy accepting them and adding the information to his database. He asked how he could create a migration map using Family Tree Maker 2012. The group suggested he read the blog post on the subject on Russ Worthington's Family Tree Maker User blog (http://ftmuser.blogspot.com). Sam is preparing for trips to Tennessee and Europe.
Mary Lou discussed her New York "black hole" and asked how to find probate, land and cemetery records. The group suggested the New York Probate Records that were added by FamilySearch, and are also on microfilm from the Family History Library. For cemetery records, the group suggested using Find-A-Grave online, to look on the USGenWeb county websites, and to contact local libraries or societies in the area.
This was a very full two hours of nonstop discussion and interaction. The next Research Group meeting will be Wednesday, 8 August in the Conference Room in the Chula Vista Civic center Branch Library, hosted by Randy Seaver.
Randy did not have a presentation, but highlighted some of the local educational opportunities at CVGS and SDGS in the next two months. He also passed around samples of Michael John Neill's Casefile Clues newsletters if people wanted to subscribe.
A question was asked whether it would be better to enter your family tree data into a software program, like RootsMagic, or to enter it into an online family tree, like an Ancestry Member Tree. Randy pointed out that folks can create a free Ancestry Member Tree, and sync it to Family Tree Maker 2012, or download a GEDCOM file of it and import it to their desktop software. A GEDCOM file can be exported from software and imported to many online tree systems. The major difference, in Randy's opinion, is that software does a much better job of creating reports and charts and is easier to navigate.
Diane received a GEDCOM file from her aunt, and merged it into her own tree in RootsMagic, and now has some duplicate people that she is merging. She asked how to make relationships show up in the Family View, and the group said to use Tools > Set Relationships to set the key person. She also asked how she can create a report for the family. The group said to go to Reports > Narrative Reports to create ancestral or descendant reports.
Ralph visited Salt Lake City and the Family History Library on his vacation, and enjoyed two days of research there. He said that his research was "wide but not deep." Ralph recommended asking for help at the FHC immediately to optimize your research time there. He asked about finding the local FamilySearch Centers and using microfilms there. The group discussed the holdings at the Mission Valley FSC and the information available there.
Jaye made some progress on her Robert Murphy problem on a Murphy message board,a local history book, and online Missouri vital records. She asked how to find out about newspaper and probate records for a county, and the group suggested the USGenWeb site for the county and to contact a local genealogical or historical society.
Sue is a new member, overwhelmed by all of the information offered over the past few months. She asked about the 1752 calendar change from Julian to Gregorian in the USA and other places, and the group described the reason and effect of the addition of 11 days to the calendar. Doing online research, she found her great-grandfather on her father's side. She has asked her brother to take a DNA test.
Kitty is stuck on two grandfathers in the 20th century. The group suggested obtaining vital records, and writing to local genealogical or historical societies to see if there is information in local files. She had a hard time registering for the beta trial at MyGenShare.
Dan is a new member, born in Puerto Rico, and has lived in California for 33 years. He has written a book on California's First Puerto Ricans, 1850-1910, and published it as an e-book, but would like a hard copy publisher. The group suggested Tom Underhill's Creative Continuum company.
Pam has been watching the PBS series"History of England" online and enjoying it. She's had success finding her families in the 1940 U.S. Census by finding their address in City Directories on Ancestry.com. Pam donated a book on Indian Abductions and Captures to CVGS recently. She posed a challenge to identify the relationship of the great-grandchild of her first cousin's wife, who was also her great-grandfather's second wife. The group suggested that she listen to I Am My Own Grandpa for guidance. Seriously, we charted it out and she's not blood related to the wife of her cousin, but is a first-cousin once removed to her great-grandchild.
Karen Karen's photo mystery was solved. She found a mailing tube with a large photograph that had no information. She also found a 1992 letter from a relative that provides information about the picture and the family history from Norway to Quebec to Wisconsin to Iowa. Her warning: If you have family photographs, please date it, identify people and places.
Virginia won one hour of research from SCGS at the Jamboree, and during the time they found a living cousin in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania that had information on her Dunlop family.
Sam has found lots of shaky leaf hints on his Ancestry Member Tree and has been busy accepting them and adding the information to his database. He asked how he could create a migration map using Family Tree Maker 2012. The group suggested he read the blog post on the subject on Russ Worthington's Family Tree Maker User blog (http://ftmuser.blogspot.com). Sam is preparing for trips to Tennessee and Europe.
Mary Lou discussed her New York "black hole" and asked how to find probate, land and cemetery records. The group suggested the New York Probate Records that were added by FamilySearch, and are also on microfilm from the Family History Library. For cemetery records, the group suggested using Find-A-Grave online, to look on the USGenWeb county websites, and to contact local libraries or societies in the area.
This was a very full two hours of nonstop discussion and interaction. The next Research Group meeting will be Wednesday, 8 August in the Conference Room in the Chula Vista Civic center Branch Library, hosted by Randy Seaver.
Friday, July 13, 2012
CVGS Newsletter for July is Published
The July 2012 issue of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society Newsletter is available on the CVGS website -see http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cacvgs2/Newsletters/12_07jul.pdf
The Table of Contents includes:
page 6 -- Travel: Germany, 2011 by Myrna Beach Goodwin
page 9 -- CVGS Society Information
The Table of Contents includes:
page 1 -- July
25th Program Meeting
page 2 -- President’s
Message
page 2 -- Beginner's
Group Summary
page 3 -- July
Workshop on 14 July
page 3 -- August
Workshop on 4 August
page 3 -- Lemon
Grove Research Group News
page 3 -- NGS
2013 Conference in Las Vegas
page 4 -- Research
Group News
page 5 -- June
27th Program Review
page 5 -- Computer
Group News
page 6 -- Travel: Germany, 2011 by Myrna Beach Goodwin
page 6 -- June
2012 Genealogy News
page 7 -- Jamboree
2012 Highlights
page 8 -- 1940
U.S. Census Update
page 8 -- FamilySearch
Has Some State Probate Records
page 9 -- CVGS Society Information
page 9 -- San
Diego Genealogy Events
page 10 -- Genealogy
Days in Chula Vista
Monday, July 2, 2012
Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - July 2012
The Chula Vista Genealogical Society events for July 2012 include:
** Wednesday 11 July, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group meets in the Library Conference Room, led by Randy Seaver. We will review the latest genealogy news, share success stories and information, and discuss members research problems, and potential solutions, based on the collective knowledge and wisdom of the group.
** Saturday, 14 July, 12:30 p.m.to 3 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- Outreach Workshop meets in Community Room. Shirley Becker will present "Genealogical Programs/Citing Sources."
** Wednesday, 18 July, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Computer Group meets in the Library Computer Lab, led by Shirley Becker. Sharpen your computer skills and investigate online genealogy resources.
** Wednesday, 25 July, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- General Society Meeting meets in the Auditorium. The program will be "Remembering the Ladies" presented by Gena Philibert Ortega. There will be a society business meeting before the presentation.
The Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library is located at 365 "F" Street in Chula Vista - between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, midway between I-5 and I-805 (take the "E" Street exit from the freeways).
The Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library is located at 4375 Bonita Road in Bonita - just west of the Otay Lakes Road intersection with Bonita Road, on the north side of Bonita Road.
We welcome guests and visitors to our CVGS programs and events - if you are in the greater San Diego area and want to attend our events - please come and introduce yourselves.
** Wednesday 11 July, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group meets in the Library Conference Room, led by Randy Seaver. We will review the latest genealogy news, share success stories and information, and discuss members research problems, and potential solutions, based on the collective knowledge and wisdom of the group.
** Saturday, 14 July, 12:30 p.m.to 3 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- Outreach Workshop meets in Community Room. Shirley Becker will present "Genealogical Programs/Citing Sources."
** Wednesday, 18 July, 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Computer Group meets in the Library Computer Lab, led by Shirley Becker. Sharpen your computer skills and investigate online genealogy resources.
** Wednesday, 25 July, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- General Society Meeting meets in the Auditorium. The program will be "Remembering the Ladies" presented by Gena Philibert Ortega. There will be a society business meeting before the presentation.
The Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library is located at 365 "F" Street in Chula Vista - between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue, midway between I-5 and I-805 (take the "E" Street exit from the freeways).
The Bonita-Sunnyside (County) Library is located at 4375 Bonita Road in Bonita - just west of the Otay Lakes Road intersection with Bonita Road, on the north side of Bonita Road.
We welcome guests and visitors to our CVGS programs and events - if you are in the greater San Diego area and want to attend our events - please come and introduce yourselves.
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