Sunday, August 30, 2015

Genealogy Days in Chula Vista - September 2015

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society events for September 2015 include:

 ** Saturday, 5 September, 1 p.m.to 4 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- 
CVGS Saturday Workshop.  Toni Perrone will discuss "German Resources at the Immigrant Library." 

** Wednesday, 9 September, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group meets in the 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, 16 September, 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. Bring your laptops to sharpen your computer skills and investigate online genealogy resources.

** Wednesday, 30 September, 12:30 p.m.  to 2:30 p.m., at Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road).  CVGS Program Meeting meets in the Community Room.  The program speaker will be CVGS Member John Finch on the "Civil War." Refreshments before and after the meeting.

**  Wednesdays, 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 September, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) --Research Assistance in the Family Research area.  John Finch will help you with your research problems.  Bring your laptop if you want to do online research.

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 - turn north on Billy Casper Way, 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.  All CVGS events are FREE to attend, except for some seminars and picnics.


Thursday, August 27, 2015

CVGS Program Review - Problem Solving Panel on 26 August 2015

There were 32 attendees at the Chula Vista Genealogical Society program meeting on 26 August 2015 at the Bonita-Sunnyside Library in Bonita.

The program was a "Problem Solving Panel" answering research questions submitted beforehand by CVGS members about a specific research topic.  

The panel members were CVGS members Shirley Becker, Ceasar Castro, John Finch and Randy Seaver.  They divided the questions between themselves and created short presentations to answer the questions for the questioner and the audience as a whole.  They discussed the genealogical resources found, and provided suggestions for solving a specific research problem.

The questions included:

1)  Where can I find newspaper articles for the early 1800s in Ohio and Connecticut?  Arlene asked the question, and Ceasar provided research guidance for her in both free and subscription websites and onsite repositories.

2)  What passenger lists are available for colonial Virginia (1607-1776)?  Karen S. asked the question, and John listed books, websites and online databases that provide these records.

3)  How does one obtain military pension records?  Susan Z. asked this question and Randy responded with ways to obtain available records online, from NARA by mail on paper or CDROM.

4.  How do I access 19th century naturalization records in New York?  Jean asked this question, and Shirley provided suggestions of online websites and databases, and information from the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteeer book.

5.  Why have DNA testing done?  If testing is beneficial, is there a company that is better than others?  The question was asked by Marcia, and Ceasar responded with information about the three types of DNA tests (Y, mitochondrial and autosomal) and the test providers, along with examples of results from 23andMe.  

6.  Where can I find Orphan Lists for all states during 1860-1870?  Bethel asked the question, and John provided information about adoption and orphan articles, websites and databases.

7.  How do I access 19th century Quaker records in England?  Jean asked this question, and Randy reviewed FamilySearch Wiki articles, online databases, and places to get help to obtain these records in England.

8.  When I have exhausted available online data, how can I find out what paper or microfiche information is kept in a particular area?  Karen S. asked this question, and Shirley provided ideas for informational articles, FHL microfilm and microfiche, travel to locales (to visit genealogical and historical societies, courthouses, town or county offices, etc.), write letters, and post messages on Facebook and message boards.

9.  What are the best sources to find passenger lists for ancestors arriving into Canada?  Karen Y. asked this question, and Ceasar reviewed FamilySearch Wiki articles and website links to find the available databases.

10.  A Civil War soldier's records are not in NARA because he died in 1832 and the cutoff was 1928, I believe.  Where could his records be?  Susan Z. asked this question, and John responded with suggestions for the Soldiers and Sailors system, Fold3, and NARA to search for records.  He sent a query to NARA which has not been answered yet.

11.  How do I find records from Alsace-Lorraine (French or German)?  Jean asked this question, and Randy provided historical, geographical and genealogical information from Wikipedia, the FamilySearch Wiki, websites, the Family History Library Catalog, and published book suggestions.  

The program lasted about 80 minutes, and the attendees responded afterwards with many questions and comments about the research problems.  They also enjoyed the dessert goodies provided by Marcia Mautner and Patricia Diane Godinez!


Monday, August 24, 2015

CVGS Program Meeting on Wednesday, August 26th is a "Problem Solving Panel"

WEDNESDAY, August 26th GENERAL MEETING
from 12:30 p.m. To 2:30 p.m.

At Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) in Community Room

“Problem Solving Panel”

    The August 26th General Meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) will feature four of our CVGS “expert researchers” – Shirley Becker, Ceasar Castro, John Finch, and Randy Seaver.   Jane Strawn will moderate the program.

     The panelists requested questions from CVGS members in the form of general research questions. One example is: “How do I obtain military/pension records from the War of 1812?”  Another: “Where would I find death records from New York?”.


     The panel will not be researching problems concerning specific individuals or families this year.  Each question submitted will be assigned to one of the panelists for a response, and the other panelists may provide support or additional information.

     The panel should be able to answer 12 questions in the 60 minute program.  There may be time for questions from the audience.



Monday, August 17, 2015

CVGS Newsletter for August 2015 is Published

The August 2015 issue of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society (CVGS) Newsletter was published this week.  

Society Members can read it online, in a PDF format - use the "Members" link (roll over "Members," and click on "Newsletters") at www.CVGenealogy.org.  

Non-members can read CVGS Newsletters two months after publication, per Board of Directors direction (on www.CVgenealogy.org, roll over "News" and click on "Newsletters").

The Table of Contents lists:

page 1 -- August 26th General Meeting   
page 2 -- President’s Message  
page 2 -- What is the Scope of CVGS? 
page 3 -- September 5th Saturday Workshop  
page 3 -- Next Computer Group Meeting
page 3 -- Lemon Grove Research Group News

page 3 -- Chula Vista Library Auditorium Closed
page 3 -- Carlsbad Library Closed
page 3 - Help Needed on Scholarship Committee
page 3 -- Back Up Your Files!page 4 -- Save the Date: November 7th for Seminar


page 4 -- Irish Catholic Parish Registers Onlinepage 5 - San Diego Genealogy Day -- October 10th
page 5 -- Free Summer Genealogy Research Guide
page 6 -- July 8th Research Group Review 
page 7 -- July 29th Program Review 


page 8 - CVGS at San Diego History Center on July 14th
page 8 -- Genealogy News for July
page 9 -- CVGS Society Information 
page 9 -- San Diego Genealogy Events 
page 10 -- Genealogy Days in Chula Vista 



Friday, August 14, 2015

August 12th CVGS Research Group Review

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society Research Group meeting on August 12th had 20 attendees.

In the first hour, Randy discussed:

*  RootsMagic 7 users should upgrade to Version 7.0.7.0 in order to access the FamilySearch Family Tree.

*  Family Tree Maker 2014 users should upgrade to Build 404 or 1404, a required update.

*  Check out The Family History Guide for computer, genealogy and family history tutorials (www.TheFHGuide.com).  

*  Ancestry.com added the Social Security Applications and Claims database in July - this database includes parents names and applicant name changes for 49 million deceased applicants (this database does not have all Social security applicants).

*  www.Findmypast.com is a commercial genealogy database and family tree website, featuring records in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.  The family tree has Record Hints for persons in an isolated family tree.

*  When was the William Sever Mansion house in Kingston, Mass. built?  This was Randy's research goal in July after receiving an inquiry from the house's present owner.  He found land records, probate records, and 1935 era WPA survey records that show the house location, grounds, photographs and floor plan, but could not determine an exact year of the building.  It's in the 1760 to 1770 time frame.

In the second hour, several attendees shared their research challenges and successes, including:

*  Shirley used the New York Marriage Records collection on FamilySearch to search for her parents marriage record.  She didn't find it, but did find two other marriages for her father before he married her mother!  

*  Lorrie has a Beavers ancestor in Virginia who served on the Union side in the Civil War.  She has a 23andMe autosomal DNA match with a Beaver ancestor, who has private journals with family information.

*  Susi's grandmother's brother is not allowed "in the house", but a descendant of the man on Facebook contacted Susi and she provided family information.

*  Karen S.'s mother's family resided in Western Pennsylvania in the 1700s, but she can't find parentage of William Ritchey born in 1784 and resided in Armstrong and Clarion Counties.  The group noted that records may be in parent counties, and she should  look for Ritchey entries in land, probate, census, military, church records, and county history books.

*  Bethel's cousin says their Hooker ancestor was related to the Civil War general and was born in North Carolina.  The obituary says he was born in 1787 in South Carolina, died 1873 in Alabama.  There way be War of 1812 pension file records on Fold3.

*  Carole's grandfather was in one of Gabe Selak's photographs of early San Diego standing by the plaza fountain in 1913, just before the "coldest day ever." The grandfather was an electrical engineer, but she proved he did not install the electrics in the fountain, which were shown to be unsafe, according to the San Diego newspaper (article found on GenealogyBank).

The September 9th Research Group meeting will be at 12 noon in the Conference Room at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street in downtown Chula Vista).


Sunday, August 9, 2015

Research Group Meeting on Wednesday, 12 August 2015

The next Research Group meeting of the Chula Vista Genealogical Society will be on Wednesday, 12 August, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910).

The Research Group is hosted by CVGS member Randy Seaver.  In the first hour, Randy usually presents several highlights from the genealogical community - new databases, announcements, software changes, etc. - and his own research, using his laptop and the projector.  In the second hour, the attendees are asked to share their research problems, their research questions, and their research successes for the past month or two.

This meeting is open to all attendees - you don't have to be a CVGS member.


Tuesday, August 4, 2015

July 29th Program Review - Gabe Selak on "History of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition"

Gabe Selak, the Public Program Manager of the San Diego History Center, presented the history of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition held in San Diego's Balboa Park during 1915-1916.  The exposition celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, and was meant to tout San Diego as the first U.S. port of call for ships traveling north after passing westward through the canal. 

Gabe outlined the planning of the exposition, the competition with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco in 1915, the building of the exposition buildings along El Prado on the central mesa, renaming the Park, transportation to the exposition, and much more.  He used period photographs to show the buildings and street scenes of the exposition.  


In 1910, San Diego city had about 39,000 people, and the focus of the exposition was on the local economy and architecture.  Exhibits were invited from California counties and western states.  The main  architect was Ferdinand de Lessops, who had designed the Panama Canal.  The buildings were Spanish Revival style.  The California Tower was based on the Santa Presca Cathedral in Mexico. 

 Groundbreaking occurred in 1911, with a parade and church services.  

The large pipe organ was gifted to the Park by John D. Spreckels as long as it played free concerts.  Mr. Spreckels donated $100,000 for the streetcar from downtown San Diego through the Park to Mission Cliffs Gardens.  Other wealthy residents donated 5 million dollars, and residents bought scrip for $10 each and raised another one million dollars.


A contest was held in the newspaper to pick a name for City Park.  The name drawn was "San Diego City Park" so the planning committee decided on Balboa Park to recognize Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean from the isthmus of Panama.  


There was a "fun zone" near downtown San Diego, and a military encampment on Inspiration Point to "protect the exposition."


Annual passes for the exposition were $10 per year.  40,000 people attended opening day, and there were 3.4 million visitors during the two years.  


More information about the 1915 Panama-California Exposition can be found on Wikipedia.org - see  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama%E2%80%93California_Exposition .  A detailed chronology of the exposition can be found at https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/90winter/expo.htm .


The San Diego History Center (http://www.sandiegohistory.org/has formed the Balboa Park Conservancy to rebuild or refurbish the California Tower (completed), the Botannical building, the Arcade, and to install a drought resistant landscape.   


The San Diego History Center has a 30 minute documentary film about the history of Balboa Park.  Joining SDHC for two years ($100) includes a copy of the film.


For San Diego area residents, this was a fascinating look at the San Diego of 100 years ago.  





Saturday, August 1, 2015

Genealogy Days in Chula Vista -- August 2015

The Chula Vista Genealogical Society events for August 2015 include:

 ** Saturday, 1 August, 1 p.m.to 4 p.m., Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road) -- 
CVGS Saturday Workshop.  Randy Seaver will demonstrate features of "RootsMagic Genealogy Software." 

** Wednesday, 12 August, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) -- CVGS Research Group meets in the 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, 19 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. Bring your laptops to sharpen your computer skills and investigate online genealogy resources.

** Wednesday, 26 August, 12:30 p.m.  to 2:30 p.m., at Bonita-Sunnyside Library (4375 Bonita Road).  
CVGS Program Meeting meets in the Community Room.  This will be a "Stump the Chumps" panel discussing member research questions about genealogy and family history.  The panel will be composed of Ceasar Castro, John Finch, Shirley Becker and Randy Seaver. Refreshments before and after the meeting.

**  Wednesdays, 5, 12, 19 and 26 August, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Chula Vista Civic Center Branch Library (365 F Street) --Research Assistance in the Family Research area.  John Finch will help you with your research problems.  Bring your laptop if you want to do online research.


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 - turn north on Billy Casper Way, 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.  All CVGS events are FREE to attend, except for some seminars and picnics.