JESSICA M. HERRICK, Speaker at Family History Day

Checklist for Successful Archives Research

It is a pleasure to introduce Jessica M. Herrick who will be a speaker at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

Jessica M. Herrick is an Archivist at the California State Archives. She joined this repository in 2006 after spending more than five years as a historian for a private historical consulting firm. While working in the private sector, Jessica traveled throughout California researching in a wide variety of archives, libraries, historical societies, county and city offices, and state facilities. This extensive experience has served Jessica well as an archivist, giving her a unique perspective while assisting the public with their research needs. Jessica’s love of history was instilled in her first by parents fascinated with the American West, and subsequently during her schooling at California State University, Chico, where she received her B.A. and M.A. in History.

Jessica will be presenting The Wonderful World of Archives: A Primer. Getting started with historical research can often seem daunting and overwhelming. Drawing upon her years as a professional researcher, Jessica will give valuable tips and tricks to make visits to any archival facility easier and more efficient. How to get started, what to expect in general at an archive, and how to best use your time are topics that can benefit budding family historians and seasoned genealogists alike.

California State Archives

1020 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Reference Desk Phone: 916-653-2246

Reference Desk Fax: 916-653-7743

Reference e-mail: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

LINDA JOHNSON, Speaker at Family History Day

Ask Minerva

It is a pleasure to introduce Linda Johnson who will be a speaker at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

Linda Johnson began her own family history search in 1988 when enrolled in an undergraduate class at CSU, Sacramento. She went on to receive her Master of Arts degree in Public History in 1993. As a graduate student, she interned at the California State Archives for three years and at the San Joaquin County Historical Society for 6 months. After graduation, she worked as assistant archivist at the Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center, now known as the Center for Sacramento History. In 1996, she accepted a position as collections manager for the manuscript and archival collections at Shields Library, UC Davis.

In October 1997, Linda accepted a position at the California State Archives, where she has worked in a variety of program areas. She is currently the Reference Coordinator and has responsibility for all activities related to the Reference Program. Linda has participated in the annual Family History Day since its inception in 1999. In addition to the Family History Day engagements, she has been a presenter at several local genealogical and historical societies.

Linda Johnson will be presenting two sessions:

Genealogical Resources at the California State Archives will include a description of the millions of paper documents, maps, photographs, three–dimensional artifacts, and records in other formats such as audiotape and videotape held there.

Cussin' Cousins will be an open forum in which Linda will help beginning genealogists break through brickwalls.

California State Archives

1020 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Reference Desk Phone: 916-653-2246

Reference Desk Fax: 916-653-7743

Reference e-mail: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

STEPHANIE L. HAMASHIN, Speaker at Family History Day

The Stacks at the State Archives

It is a pleasure to introduce Stephanie L. Hamashin who will be a speaker at Family History Day at the California State Archives.

Stephanie L. Hamashin is an Archivist at the California State Archives. She joined this repository in 2000, after having performed archival work and projects at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, National Maritime Museum Association, Golden Gate National Recreational Area, Presidio Park Archives and Records Center (San Francisco), and the Treasure Island Museum Photographic Archives.

Stephanie will be presenting Mini-Tours of the California State Archives on Family History Day. Tours will take you behind-the-scenes of the California State Archives facility rarely seen by the public which include the stacks area, security vaults, processing area, preservation and microfilm labs. In addition, you will see the current exhibit in the Archives Gallery called "California In Focus" which is located on the 4th floor. Tours are limited to twenty guests only, and will last forty-five minutes.

California State Archives

1020 O Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Reference Desk Phone: 916-653-2246
Reference Desk Fax: 916-653-7743

Reference e-mail: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

CALIFORNIA STATE ARCHIVES, co-sponsor of Family History Day

It is a pleasure to introduce the State Archives – California’s attic - and the host site for Family History Day.

The California State Archives, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, collects, catalogs, preserves, and provides access to the historic records of state government and some local governments. The Archives collection is primarily composed of records from California state agencies, the governor's office, the state legislature, and the State Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal. The records are organized under the name of the agency or office that transferred the records to the Archives.

The collection also includes Spanish and Mexican Land Grants; Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Investigation Records; Local Government Records; Supreme and Appellate Court Records; Elections and Political Campaigns Records; Oral Histories; and Photograph Collections. As of January 2009, the collection consists of millions of paper documents, maps, photographs, three–dimensional artifacts, and records in other formats such as audiotape and videotape.

Public education and outreach are also important elements of the State Archives' mission. In October of each year, the State Archives hosts these events:

Archives Month Open House

Saturday, October 2, 2010

4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The public is invited to enjoy a behind–the–scenes tour of the facility and learn more about the archival profession and other archival repositories in California.

Family History Day

Saturday, October 9, 2010

8:30a.m. to 4:00p.m.

Together with Root Cellar- Sacramento Genealogical Society and the Genealogical and Historical Council of Sacramento Valley, the State Archives hosts Family History Day to introduce the public to the exciting world of genealogical research.

We look forward to seeing you!

California State Archives

1020 O Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Contact the Archives