March Meeting Postponed!

Due to the memorial service for our fallen police officers, the March 7th meeting  has been canceled.

NEW SCHEDULE FOR MARCH MEETING & LECTURE:

March Lecture

For genealogists, brick walls are difficult problems for which sufficient evidence has not yet been found to reach a conclusion meeting the genealogical proof standard. Many, perhaps most, brick-wall problems can be successfully resolved. However, doing so usually requires a disciplined research process and the use of many sources of information. The conclusion many times comes from the use of correlated indirect evidence; after all, if there were direct records simply establishing the relationships, the problem would be less likely to have been classified as a brick wall.

This presentation focuses on some of the research principles, methodologies, and sourcing that can be applied to resolve brick walls. Illustrative examples are taken from a case study researched and written by the presenter and recently published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly.

The problem solved in this case was the identification of the father of a child born in 1809 to an unwed mother. The father’s surname, his given name, and his location (Kentucky or Virginia) were not known at the outset of the search – even the child’s mother was in question. His mother left no records for the year the child was born and there only two records of his father’s entire life – the father’s birth and death dates in a family Bible and one tax record. The solution required genetic testing and back-tracking a young single woman across four counties in two states in the late seventeen hundreds and early eighteen hundreds.

Biography

Warren C. Pratt was born in southeastern Kentucky and spent his early years among relatives and friends in a small town of 800 residents. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, all in electrical engineering. Dr. Pratt spent his career of about 30 years in the computer industry working in Colorado, Toronto, and California.

Dr. Pratt had a passing interest in genealogy while working; however, it was upon his 2006 retirement that it became a priority. The quest to spend a “little time” putting together a family history for his children developed into a thirst to resolve questions that others had abandoned as unsolvable. Warren has been very fortunate to receive excellent mentoring along the way and he enjoys attempting to repay that debt when he has the opportunity to help others.

Hey everyone!

The Wednesday, March 20th mini-meeting will focus on our recent research successes.
Also, we will try to help others with different ideas to help break down our fellow genealogists’ brick walls!

What is a Mini-Meeting?

A mini meeting a miniature meeting between general meetings. It’s a time for members to gather and talk, share, listen, learn, discuss, vent, and get to know one another better. We can accomplish all of this and get our genealogy fix, too!

Every GSSCC member is welcome.

All levels of experience wanted!

The mini meetings, of course, are not obligatory. Come and go as you please.

There is no single leader of this club. This is a club for everyone.

What do you want to learn about? What can you share? Do you know someone outside the club who is a genealogy aficionado? Do you want to know more about Ancestry.com or another genealogy program? Do you want to learn how to find helpful genealogy websites? These are all possible meeting topics! 

• Mini meetings are held on the second floor of Bruno’s Barbecue Restaurant in Scotts Valley, next to the movie theater, behind Nob Hill.
• The address is 230 Mt. Hermon Road, Scotts Valley; (831) 438-2227. Bruno’s is about a mile or two from the Mt. Hermon exit off Hwy 17.
• The Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month.
• Time: 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. (The time and location may change if we decide to take a field trip.)
• A fixed-priced lunch menu is offered (Delicious!) The price is $10.00. Your meal also includes water, iced tea, soda, coffee, or hot tea, and tip. (vegetarian options available). You can even open a personal bar tab if a glass of wine sounds like it’d hit the spot!
• There is an elevator to the upper level, a patio, restroom, and a great view.
• No idea is a silly one. Please, email me with any ideas you’d like to discuss in a small, informal group. The sky’s the limit! Let’s help each other become better genealogists and researchers. Let’s break down those stubborn brick walls!

~ Jennifer Bovitz Cobas, Vice President and Programs & Publicity Coordinator

Best Irish Genealogy Websites

Live Webinar

Format: Live Webinar Registration

The GSSCC is planning a repository tour of the Sutro Library!
On April 17, 2013, a comfortable bus (which includes a bathroom!) will pick up interested members and take them in style to the Sutro Library in San Francisco.

Testimonial:

No doubt about it, this is a genealogist paradise. Now, I love to research on the Internet, and can spend hours doing so, but sometimes things have to be done the old-fashioned way. The Sutro has been called the best genealogy library in the Western United States. The intensive collection covers all the U.S. and several other countries. The Sutro is the ideal place to do traditional research; there are rows and rows of books, microfiche readers, maps, and a card catalog to find everything. 
It is a wonderful experience to open a fragile 19th century book and see some tidbit of information about a long-departed ancestor.

-Terry T., Hercules, CA

Tentative Schedule:

• 7:30 AM pick up in Aptos
• 8:00 AM pick up in Santa Cruz
• 10:00 AM arrival at Sutro (approximate)
• 4:00 PM departure from the library
• 5:30 PM arrival in Santa Cruz
• 6:00 PM arrival in Aptos

More information about the resources at Sutro Library

Highlights of the collection include:

• California federal census population schedules for 1850-1930.
• Using federal census resources in the California History Room
• How to use the 1930 federal census in the California History Room
• 1852 state census, including indexes prepared by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Using the 1852 California state census in the California History Room
• Great registers of voters, arranged by county, for 1866-1898 and 1900-1944.
• A statewide index to the 1890 great register helps to fill the gap created by the loss of the 1890 census.
• City and county directories from as early as 1850.

• Telephone directories starting in 1899.
• Historical newspapers from around the state.
• Publications of county genealogical and historical societies.
• Compilations by California chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Specialized indexes and files created by the California State Library.
• A California death index covering July 1, 1905-1995 and a California marriage index covering 1949-1986.

The California State Library DOES NOT have birth, death, or marriage certificates. To obtain these certificates, contact the California Office of Vital Records or the appropriate county recorder’s office.

Unfortunately, the California History Section lacks the staff resources to provide family research services. Anyone is welcome to visit and use the resources. As an alternative, we can provide a list of private researchers who are familiar with our collection.

Note: Sutro Library materials can be accessed through the California State Library Main Catalog, and Sutro staff is available to assist in-house customers with the resources. Sutro items may be borrowed by requesting an interlibrary loan through your local public library.

More details to come!

Click Here to Learn All About This Fantastic Opportunity!

(Photos: Jennifer Cobas, gensocblog@me.com)