SOUND OFF! RESULTS ARE IN

The first responses are in for
Sound Off!

"What Family History Day means to me"

• FHD is a wonderful opportunity to touch our past, our history. I'm looking forward to hearing the speakers and finding out what resources are available. Genealogy is a fun way to learn not only where I came from, but also to find ways to locate lost relatives. --Mort Rumberg

• The Family History Day is always very informative and enjoyable. Our GAS Association will be represented and we hope to meet some new GAS members while we are there. Come say hello and meet your friendly, cheerful Genealogical Association of Sacramento members. Join us please. --Melanie Howard

• Family History Day means a day of camaraderie and learning with so many other people who are also interested in family history, genealogy, archives, libraries, and related issues. –Lois

• Family History Day means new energy, new excitement, new hopes ….. a shared love of genealogy, of family history and the renewed search for ancestors and descendants. Being with other people that understand and get it when you talk about your brickwall, your lost ancestor, the courthouse burned down …… their eyes do not glaze over but instead they are sympathetic and offer suggestions of what to do now. I LOVE IT. --Sandi Benward

• My first Family History Day was 3 years ago and I have returned every year since. I learn so much from the speakers and exhibitors. The opportunity to talk to other people researching in the same area as I am is always invaluable. Everyone is so willing to share resources and research tips. My family research always gets further ahead with every year I attend. Thank you to the organizers! --Harry

• I will be attending Family History Day for the first time this year. Since I just recently started researching my grandparents’ history, I want to attend the classes for beginners. I am also interested in touring the archives. –Jake

What is your Sound Off! response to "What Family Hisotry Day means to me"?  Send it to familyhistoryday2010@gmail.com.  Indicate use of your name or anonymous.  The next round of responses will be posted soon.  Thanks! --FHD Blogger

KAY ALLEN, Speaker at Family History Day

It is a pleasure to introduce Kay Allen as a speaker at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

Kay Allen is an Accredited Genealogist (accredited in the Middle Atlantic States) and has been immersed in genealogy for over 40 years since joining the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints. She has been a Family History Consultant, a Sunday School Family History Instructor and a Ward Examiner (a person designated to check a group sheet being submitted to ensure that all was in order; this position no longer exists).  As such, not only has she learned the sources for her own on-going genealogical research, but those for areas not even close to where she is searching.

Although not yet accredited specifically in New England or the British Isles, Kay has done extensive research on her ancestors from these areas. In England, she has visited the Society of Genealogists and the National Archives in Kew Gardens. Kay has also been privileged to visit the National Archives, the National Library and the Registry of Deeds in Dublin and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland in Belfast.

Kay Allen will be presenting Hatch, Match, and Dispatch: the Essentials of English Genealogy. Learn about the B, M and D, and the records generated thereby.

UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY - FORT SUMTER CHAPTER, Exhibitor at Family Day

It is a pleasure to introduce the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Fort Sumter Chapter (Sacramento) as an exhibitor at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy is the outgrowth of many local memorial, monument, and Confederate home associations and auxiliaries to camps of United Confederate Veterans that were organized after the War Between the States. It is the oldest patriotic organization in our country because of its connection with two statewide organizations that came into existence as early as 1890 -- the Daughters of the Confederacy in Missouri and the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Confederate Soldiers Home in Tennessee.

The National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy was organized in Nashville, TN in 1894. In 1895, the organization changed its name to the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The United Daughters of the Confederacy was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia in 1919.

Membership is open to women no less than 16 years of age who are blood descendants, lineal or collateral, of men and women who served honorably in the Army, Navy or Civil Service of the Confederate States of America, or gave Material Aid to the Cause.

The objectives of the organization are Historical, Educational, Benevolent, Memorial and Patriotic to:

• Collect and preserve the material necessary for a truthful history of the War Between the States and to protect, preserve, and mark the places made historic by Confederate valor
• Assist descendants of worthy Confederates in securing a proper education
• Fulfill the sacred duty of benevolence toward the survivor of the War and those dependent upon them
• Honor the memory of those who served and those who fell in the service of the Confederate States of America 
• Record the part played during the War by Southern women, including their patient endurance of hardship, their patriotic devotion during the struggle, and their untiring efforts during the post-War reconstruction of the South
• Cherish the ties of friendship among the members of the Organization

Genealogical Resource
The United Daughters of the Confederacy collects and preserves rare books, documents, diaries, letters, personal records, and other papers of historical importance relating to the period 1861 to 1865. The Caroline Meriwether Goodlett Library is the repository for these items.

The Helen Walpole  Brewer Library was established in 1996 through a generous bequest of the late Helen Walpole Brewer. It contains microfilm copies of the National Archives Compiled Confederate Service Records and a limited number of regimental histories, family histories, pension records, and cemetery records.

The libraries are open to United Daughters of the Confederacy members and non-members by appointment. Both libraries are located at the UDC Memorial Building, 328 North Boulevard, Richmond, Virginia 23220-4009, (804) 355-1636.

The Fort Sumter Chapter is excited to be part of Family History Day.  We look forward to talking to you about our organization, membership and library.

PLACER COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, Exhibitor at Family History Day

It is a pleasure to introduce the Placer County Genealogical Society as an exhibitor at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

The Placer County Genealogical Society was founded in 1980 to encourage an active interest in the study of genealogy and related interests by its members and the general public. 

The Society's objectives are to:

• Instruct and educate members and the general public in the use of genealogical research techniques and procedures. 
• Preserve public and private records, and to publish books, bulletins and newsletters relating to family history and genealogy.
• Assist in the enhancement of the Auburn-Placer County Library Genealogical Department.

The Placer County Genealogical Society is an active organization featuring many activities including:

• General membership meetings held on the fourth Thursday of each month, except December, at 7:00 p.m. (November meeting is rescheduled due to Thanksgiving). Meetings are held at the Auburn-Placer County Library Beecher Room, 350 Nevada Street in Auburn. Doors are open early for individual help and research. The meetings feature informative and educational programs on various topics of interest to genealogists.
• Study group sessions held at 10:00 a.m. on the second Monday of each month except July, August and December. These sessions are designed to provide individualized help for researchers at all experience levels, particularly beginners,
• Family Tree Maker User Group meetings held on the second Thursday of each month, 10:00 AM to 12:00pm at the LDS Stake Building, 1255 Bell Road, Auburn.
• "Tracing Your Family Tree . . . How To Begin", a free, public seminar held in the spring of each year.
• Library in the Genealogy Section of the Auburn-Placer County Library.
• Placer Trails, the Society's monthly newsletter
• Research Services and indexing and extraction projects of Placer County records.
• Publications include Tracing Your Family Tree... How to Begin (fee).

Please stop by our exhibit at Family History Day and let us help you find your Placer County ancestors.

Placer County Genealogical Society

Post Office Box 7385

Auburn, California 95604

Voice Mail (866) 894-2076

placertrails@pcgs.pcgenes.com

DAR - GOLD TRAIL CHAPTER and GENERAL JOHN A. SUTTER CHAPTER, Exhibitors at Family History Day

It is a pleasure to introduce the Gold Trail Chapter and the General John A. Sutter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) as exhibitors at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

The Gold Trail and General John A. Sutter are chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The DAR is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children.

DAR members volunteer more than 60,000 hours annually to veteran patients, award over $150,000 in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and support schools for the underprivileged with annual donations exceeding one million dollars.

As one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country, DAR boasts 170,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. Encompassing an entire downtown city block, DAR National Headquarters houses one of the nation's premier genealogical libraries, Washington's largest concert hall, and an extensive collection of early American manuscripts and imprints.

Any woman 18 years or older-regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background-who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership.

Nine chapters are in our District:

Gold Trail in Roseville

General John A. Sutter in Sacramento

Capt. John Oldham in Grass Valley

Chief Solano Chapter in Vacaville

El Dorado Chapter in Placerville

El Toyon Chapter in Stockton

Emigrant Trail Chapter in Auburn

Sacramento Chapter in Sacramento
Sierra Amador Chapter in Jackson

For information regarding the Gold Trail Chapter (Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay), contact Betty Wilson at bettywilson1@att.net. For information regarding the General John A. Sutter Chapter, contact Marge Borger at MBorger548@aol.com.

Information on how to contact the other chapters will be available at our adjacent exhibits at Family History Day. Please stop by so we can chat!

FAMILY HISTORY DAY AT THE EL DORADO COUNTY LIBRARY

During the month of August, Roots and Gold Dust Genealogical Society had a genealogy display set up at the El Dorado County Library in Placerville. Three display cases in the foyer of the library were decorated.


Family History Day at the California State Archives was promoted in the large display case.
.



This case displayed a person's life from his parent's marriage to his death.  The display included various milestones in his life and the various items that documented each of these milestones



This case displayed of all the various resources available in El Dorado County for genealogical research, including Roots and Gold Dust Genealogical Society and the El Dorado County Historical Museum.

A big thank you to Judy Williams who arranged for, organized and helped create these displays and to Bonnie Holbrook, Carlyn White and Paul Hodel for all the work they put into preparing the displays.  Judy Williams is also the Program Committee Chairperson for Family History Day at the California State Archives.

NEW TIME! SACRAMENTO BALLROOM SOCIETY, Member Performance at Family History Day

Dancers in Victorian attire demonstrate
the polka at Gold Rush Days
in Old Sacramento.

It is a pleasure to introduce the Sacramento Ballroom Society whose members will perform at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

When you picture a Victorian lady, you may see her sitting quietly on a couch doing embroidery. You may find it hard to imagine her moving at anything but a sedate walk in her huge skirts. However, in Victorian ballrooms quite the opposite was true. The dances of the nineteenth century were, in fact, much faster and more vigorous than most ballroom dances today!

The Sacramento Ballroom Society’s historical dance group dresses up in Victorian attire and brings to life the dances of the 1800s. The rotary waltz, similar to today’s Viennese Waltz, is a very fast dance with constant spinning and is done to tunes such as Strauss’s The Blue Danube. The polka is another fast spinning, skipping dance, which plays a memorable role in the musical The King and I. Our group also demonstrates set dances, such as the Virginia Reel and Sir Roger de Coverley. The latter is danced during the scene in A Christmas Carol in which Scrooge watches Fezziwig’s party.

Our group performs at various events in the Sacramento area, including the Gibson Ranch Civil War Re-enactment in May and Gold Rush Days in Old Sacramento over Labor Day weekend.

We will be offering historical dance classes on Fridays, 6:30-7:30, starting on September 10th. We also host a modern dance on the second and fourth Saturday evenings of every month. The location is Ultimate Dancesport, 9181c Kiefer Blvd., Sacramento.

We will be dancing from 11:30am - 12:45pm (New Time) during Family History Day in the lobby of the California State Archives. Live music will be provided by Claudia’s Kitchen, a folk music band which we love to dance to. Our group will be demonstrating various dances and also inviting any audience members involved in a few set dances. Come see how your ancestors may have danced and even give it a whirl yourself!

Sacramento Ballroom Society

Class Location:

Ultimate Dancesport

9181c Kiefer Blvd.

Sacramento, CA

JERRY UNRUH, Speaker at Family History Day

It is a pleasure to introduce Jerry Unruh who will be a speaker at Family History Day at the California State Archives.
Jerry has been researching his genealogy for more than thirty years. Early on, he wrote his own genealogy program when the few programs available were unable to meet his needs. He eventually switched to Family Tree Maker to be able to more easily exchange data when other family members became infected with the genealogy bug.

Jerry has been a member of the Placer County Genealogical Society for more than twenty years and has held several positions within the society including six years as President. He currently maintains their website, serves as newsletter editor and has been supporting their Family Tree Maker User Group for the last several years.

Jerry will be presenting Internet Research, techniques for using the world wide web in your ancestral search.

DONALD MACRAE, Ph.D., Speaker at Family History Day

Donald MacRae, holds a PhD in etymology from the University of Edinburgh. Dr. MacRae’s early interest in language and linguistics led to a broader interest in the origins of surnames, genealogy, heraldry and the history of Scottish Clans and Tartans. His professional background includes lecturing and workshops,
membership in various heraldic, genealogical and names societies.

Since 1968 he has been the Director of the American Heraldic and Genealogical Institute in Sacramento.

Dr. MacRae will be presenting the Science of Names, how the origin of surnames can help with your genealogical research.

PAMELA DALLAS, Family History Day Speaker

It is a pleasure to introduce Pamela Dallas as a speaker at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

Pamela lectures nationally and locally on a wide range of topics, speaking frequently at society meetings, conferences and presenting full-day workshops. She is a professional researcher and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Bureau and several local societies. Pamela has served on the board of many societies. She played a key role in the success of the National Genealogical Society Conference held in Sacramento in 2004. Pamela has appeared on local television and radio talk shows to discuss genealogy and has written and appeared in several genealogy instructional videos aired on local TV. She believes the best part of genealogy is the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people.

Pamela will be presenting two classes:

I Can't Do My Research, the Courthouse Burned: Researching Burned Counties: Are you stuck in a “Burned County?” Burned counties (counties with extensive records loss due to fire, flood, or other disasters) offer difficult challenges for genealogists. This class will help you discover creative ways to outwit the “Burned County” problem.

Evaluating Evidence:  This class will present research practices to help you separate fact from fiction and how to document its degree of reliability.

GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL COUNCIL OF SACRAMENTO VALLEY, Exhibitor at Family History Day

It is a pleasure to introduce the Genealogical and Historical Council of Sacramento Valley as a co-sponsor of and an exhibitor at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

It was mid-1987. Dorothy Lazelle Williams was the North Central Valley Region representative to the California State Genealogical Alliance at the time. She met with a small group of representatives from local genealogical organizations to lay the groundwork for the beginning of an umbrella group or council for the Sacramento Valley area. In the Autumn of 1988, the first meeting was held to form the Sacramento Valley Genealogical Council, a name that evolved into the Genealogical and Historical Council of Sacramento Valley.

The Council is comprised of individuals and organizations working together to exchange information, coordinate calendar events, avoid duplication of group projects, and encourage the preservation and accessibility of records of genealogical and historical value. The officers of its inaugural year included Joyce Buckland, Chairperson; Verl Weight, Vice Chairperson; Carol Feige, Secretary; and Elizabeth Kohler, Treasurer. Charles Green of the Sacramento Regional Family History Center designed the logo. Iris Carter Jones was an active committee member.

The mission of the Council is to:

• Provide communication channels for genealogical, historical, cultural and patriotic organizations and libraries.
• Coordinate the scheduling of activities and events by providing a long-range planning calendar.
• Encourage the identification and preservation of records of genealogical and historical importance, and to maintain the accessibility of such records for research.
• Increase public awareness in the educational value of genealogical and historical records and research.
• Promote ethical and professional standards in genealogical and historical research.

The Council publishes a speakers directory for the Northern California area that is available to societies.  Membership is open to organizations and individuals interested in promoting genealogy and history research and knowledge. Annual dues are $25 for organizations and $15 for individuals, payable in January.

Member Organizations

Genealogical Association of Sacramento

Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento

Mission Oaks Genealogy Club

Nevada County Genealogical Society

Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum

Placer County Genealogical Society

Root Cellar - Sacramento Genealogical Society

Roots & Gold Dust Genealogical Society

Roseville Genealogical Society

Sacramento German Genealogy Society

Sacramento Public Library

Sacramento Regional LDS Family History Center

Solano County Genealogical Society

Sun City Roseville Genealogy Club

Be sure to visit our exhibit and let us find a

genealogy society "home" for you!

Meeting Location

Sacramento Regional Family History Center

2745 Eastern Avenue

Sacramento, California

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, Exhibitor at Family History day

It is a pleasure to introduce The Sons of the American Revolution as an exhibitor at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

The Sons of the American Revolution are direct descendants of those patriots that achieved the independence of the American people. The objectives of our organization are intended to perpetuate a more profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers.

The SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was incorporated in Connecticut on January 17, 1890 and later chartered by the United States Congress on June 6, 1906. Prior to 1890, a number of state societies were formed. These were led by the Sons of Revolutionary Sires, which was organized July 4, 1876 in San Francisco, California. Acting on a resolution by the New Jersey Society, delegates from thirteen state societies met at Faunce’s Tavern in New York City on April 30, 1889 in celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington. It was on this date that the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution was organized.

The Sons of the American Revolution is a historical, educational, and patriotic United States 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks to maintain and extend:

• The institutions of American freedom
• An appreciation for true patriotism
• A respect for our national symbols
• The value of American citizenship
• The unifying force of e pluribus unum that has created, from the people of many nations, one nation and one people.

We do this by perpetuating the stories of patriotism, courage, sacrifice, tragedy, and triumph of the men who achieved the independence of the American people in the belief that these stories are universal ones of man's eternal struggle against tyranny, relevant to all time, and will inspire and strengthen each succeeding generation as it too is called upon to defend our freedoms on the battlefield and in our public institutions.  We also preserve the memory of those whose service and sacrifice during the American Revolution secured independence for the American people.

• Unite and promote fellowship among their descendants.
• Inspire them and the Community with a more profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers.
• Encourage historical research in relation to the American Revolution.
• Maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, an appreciation for true patriotism, a respect for our national symbols, and the value of American citizenship.
• Promote the purposes expressed in the preamble of the Constitution.

We look forward to telling you more about our organization at Family History Day and helping you with your lineage search.

Contact person:

Don Littlefield

President, Sacramento Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

http://www.sarsac.org/