Thank Goodness for Archives!

The National Genealogical Society blog, UpFront with NGS, posted this article on 18 Nov 2011. Now this is information that's meant to be shared! 

Archives can be a great resource for genealogists and yet visiting/using one can be intimidating.  I remember that I was actually nervous the first few times that I visited some – they each have their own rules and one sometimes wasn’t always made to feel welcome.  Now that I have visited all kinds of archives, big and small, private and public, I know that if I do my homework about what the archive holds, how it operates, etc, I really enjoy and value the access that I gain to the records.  This does outweigh the few butterflies I still sometimes experience when I am planning a first visit (for me) to an archive. 

Given that, I think that you’ll find the following helpful …

Paula's Genealogical Eclectica* recently posted a piece titled Guide to using Archives where she talks about The Society of American Archivists and its helpful online guide Using Archives: A Guide to Effective Research which has many great tips for potential users.

 
Select entries from the Table of Contents

What Are Archives and How Do They Differ from Libraries?

Types of Archives

Finding and Evaluating Archives

Planning to Visit an Archives

Typical Usage Guidelines in Archival Repositories

Visiting an Archives

There is also a PDF version.

*This is the blog of Paul Stuart-Warren, CG ^TM 

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In Sacramento, California, visit these fine repositories:

• California State Archives
• California State Library
• Center for Sacramento History

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

The First Sacramento Archives Crawl was a success!!

On Saturday, October 1, 2011, California State Archives, California State Library, Center for Sacramento History, Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Library, and Root Cellar's Library opened their doors to the public. 

Here Root Cellar's Librarian Sammie Hudgens is informing people of the holdings of our library as well as the society's publications.


Posted by Ron Setzer
Pictures submitted by Lois Shumaker

You're Invited! Crawling in Sacramento

 

Crawling in Sacramento?  What's going on here?

• Event: “Explore History: Sacramento Archives Crawl”
• Date: Saturday, October 1, 2011
• Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Places:
  • California State Archives (1020 O Street)
  • California State Library (900 N Street)
  • Center for Sacramento History (551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.)
  • Sacramento Public Library (828 I Street)

Nineteen archives and special collections libraries from the Sacramento area and beyond will be celebrating National Archives Month by exhibiting rarely-seen historic treasures from their collections at four host locations in the downtown area. 

Start off at any of the host locations listed above---- then "crawl" to the others using the map provided in your Archives Crawl passport. At each location, you can view archival collections on display and take behind-the-scenes tours. Representatives from other archives and special collections libraries will be on hand to discuss their archival collections - historic photographs, rare books, historic artifacts - and answer your questions about how to connect with local history resources. Those who have their passports stamped by at least three of the host locations will receive a set of limited-edition collectible coasters with images from Sacramento's former Buffalo Brewing Company.

Self-promotion: Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society, a sponsor of Family History Day, will have an exhibit at the California State Archives location.  Our Librarian, Sammie Hudgens, and her team will be available to describe the extensive reference collections in our genealogical library housed at the State Archives.

Hope to see you there!  Knee-pads optional!