Society Saturday - Cox Black and White Lab, Inc. to be at Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society Spring Seminar

Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society is pleased to announce that Cox Black and White Lab, Inc. will showcase its photographic services at the Spring Seminar with speaker Thomas MacEntee.

Cox Black and White Lab, Inc. was founded in 1990 by Jeff Cox and Katherine Weedman-Cox.  They specialize in reproducing and preserving photographic history.  Their clients include The California State Library, The California State Railroad Museum, The Center for Sacramento History, The State Archives, The Sacramento Library, Caltrans and various other agencies. 

Katherine Weedman-Cox at Family History Day 2012

Cox Black and White Lab, Inc. has been a long-time supporter of Family History Day at the California State Archives where attendees enjoy the popular exhibit.

The Lab is currently scanning the Jack London nitrate negatives from the California State Parks Collection in Sonoma in an effort to help preserve his images.  Cox Black and White Lab, Inc. also reproduces and restores precious family photos that customers have been bringing them for 23 years.  They love to hear family stories!  Be sure to take this opportunity to talk to Katherine at the Spring Seminar - bring your questions or better yet, your old, faded or damaged family photo to learn how digital photographic retouching may be able to transform your family photo to near original quality.

Cox Black and White Lab can be reached at 916-631-7275 or email customerservice@coxphotolab.com.

About the Spring Seminar
Register now for the Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society Spring Seminar on March 16, 2013 featuring technology and social media expert Thomas MacEntee. 

Half the seats are already reserved!  Pre-registration only.  No tickets sold at the door.

Read more about Thomas here and here.  Read about his topics and print the registration form here.  Hope to see you there!

Written in part by Katherine Weedman-Cox
Posted by Denise H. Richmond

Thankful Thursday - Top Reads for 2012

Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society would like to thank all of its followers for reading this blog during the past year.  Whether you live near or far, member or not, we hope the blog articles have helped you become more informed and educated. 

Thank you also to our members who contributed personal ancestor stories, photos and mysteries in hope for a cousin-connection or brickwall-breakthrough.  Remember, the blog is a member benefit so keep the contributions coming in 2013!

Year-end lists are quite popular so let's review a selection of the most read articles during 2012.  Who knows, maybe you missed a couple!

Posted by Sandra Gardner Benward:

Letters from the War Front -- Wordless Wednesday

NARA Citizen Archivist Dashboard Live!

Second Day at Roots Tech Conference

Posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond:

Tuesday's Tip: Death Records: A Check List of Ten Documents Every Genealogist Should Acquire

Follow Friday: National Library of Medicine and Your Ancestors

Society Saturday - Sacramento County Coroner's Records Collection Completed

Posted by Ron Setzer:

Technology Tuesday – NGS Recommendations on Standards for Use of Technology

Tombstone Tuesday - John McLearie, Sr.

Follow Friday – Your Genetic Genealogist

As always, we love receiving your contributions, suggestions and comments.  Send them to rootcellarsgs@gmail.com.  Have a happy, healthy, and ancestor-rich New Year!

Daily blog prompts are used with permission of GeneaBloggers.com. 
Images from Microsoft Office Clipart.
posted by Denise H. Richmond

The Dust Bowl and Your Family History

[Editor's Note: this information is copyright © National Genealogical Society, 3108 Columbia Pike, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22204-4370. http://www.ngsgenealogy.org.  Republication of UpFront articles is permitted and encouraged for non-commercial purposes without express permission from NGS.]

Take a look at the UpFront at the NGS blog article by Diane L. Richard posted on November 14, 2012.  Titled "The Dust Bowl -- a Natural Disaster Which Affected Many -- Also Affects Family History Research!", Richard alerted readers to the program on public television this Sunday.  She wrote:

"This Sunday on PBS starts a 2-part Ken Burns series about the Dust Bowl! I plan to watch it. Though I had no family affected by this disaster, I am very curious to learn more about it – both what caused it and also how it impacted those directly affected. The extent of my knowledge are the hardships conveyed in The Grapes of Wrath (by John Steinbeck) which I was required to read in high school. Though I did find it a gripping tale (even if unfathomable to a New Englander) I didn't have the perspective I have now of more fully appreciating how scary natural disasters can be, the hardships that result and the impact on genealogical research which may ensue."  [Read more]

Richard also provided several websites that talk about genealogical research and that may help if you are doing family research during this period.

Whether or not your ancestors were affected by the Dust bowl, the stories about what people endured in this natural disaster are nevertheless moving. 

Posted by Denise H. Richmond

Translation Help with ViewMate at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento

Need help with translations of historical or family documents?  Consider the Viewmate program.

"An Introduction to ViewMate" will be presented at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento on Sunday, November 18, 2012 starting at 10 a.m.

Gary Sandler will talk about the award-winning ViewMate program he helped create. The program, found at www.JewishGen.org, offers free translations of old passports, postcards, gravestones, official documents and more.  Sandler has been the programmer for ViewMate and will introduce its features and capabilities.  It has helped thousands of people move past brick walls in their family research.

About the Speaker
Gary Sandler has been a computer guy and project planner for over 30 years. His interest in genealogy sprang from his curiosity about whether he was related to the actor Adam Sandler.  He has been applying his obsessive-compulsive behaviors to researching and documenting his Russian, Lithuanian and Polish roots for over a dozen years. In 2006-07, Sandler worked with Steve Morse to create the “Gold Form” one-step tool for searching Ellis Island passenger records.

All are welcome to attend the Sunday, November 18th 10 a.m. meeting at the Albert Einstein Residence Center,1935 Wright Road, Sacramento. 

For more information about the Jewish Genealogical Society of Sacramento, visit www.jgss.org or e-mail Mort Rumberg at mortrumberg1@earthlink.net.

Submitted by Mort Rumberg
Posted by Denise H. Richmond

Follow Friday - Sacramento Archives Crawl

What's an Archive?  What does an Archive have that can help me with my family history research?

 

Answers to these and other questions can be found at the second annual Sacramento Archives Crawl on Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   This is an annual Archives Month event that takes place the first Saturday in October. Participants tour among four host archives in Sacramento, gathering stamps in their passports as they view treasures from dozens of archives and special collections libraries, visit with archivists, and go on special behind-the-scenes tours.

The four venues include the California State Archives, California State Library, Center for Sacramento History, and The Sacramento Room (Central Library).  This year's theme will be Building Sacramento/Building Communities, so crawlers can expect to see a wide range of materials documenting the growth of the region. Visit at least three of the four venues and leave with a set of four limited edition coasters.

As with the 2011 Sacramento Archives Crawl, participants will start at any of the four host locations and gather stamps in their passports as they view treasures from dozens of archives and special collections libraries, visit with archivists, and go on special behind-the-scenes tours.

 

Sammie Hudgens, Library Chairperson, will head the Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society and Library delegation  at its exhibit table.  The library, housed at the California State Archives, will be open for crawlers to peruse its extensive collections. 

 

Crawling has never been such fun!!

 

posted by Denise H. Richmond

Thankful Thursday - Sutro Library Reopens

Genealogists will be thankful for this news from the California State Library:

The Sutro Library is re-opening at its new location August 1, 2012.  Since its establishment in 1913, the Sutro branch of the California State Library has never had a permanent home.  Now it does--on the fifth and sixth floors of the newly renovated J. Paul Leonard and Sutro Library building on the campus of San Francisco State University.  The fifth floor reading room is bright and spacious, with brand new furniture, computers, and scanners for both print and microform.

The Sutro Library is, once again, providing no-fee interlibrary loan service; and, starting August 1, 2012, will be open to the public from 10 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

Our new address is:

Sutro Library
1630 Holloway Drive
San Francisco CA 94132

Please note that the Sutro telephone number has also changed.  Our main number is now 415-469-6100.

 Our e-mail address remains the same: sutro@library.ca.gov

For more information about the Sutro Library, please visit: http://www.library.ca.gov/collections/index.html#sutro

The Sutro Library is located in the southeast quadrant of the SFSU campus. For a map, please visit: http://www.sfsu.edu/~sfsumap/graphics/SFSUmap_clean.pdf

For information about campus parking, please visit:
http://www.sfsu.edu/~parking/text/parking.html

We are excited to have the Sutro Library back in business!  We look forward to serving California's libraries and patrons from our new location.  Please don't hesitate to call us or send us an e-mail for more information.

California State Library
900 N Street
PO Box 942837
Sacramento CA 94237-0001

news submitted by Lois Shumaker
posted by Denise H. Richmond

Share the Wealth - Helpful Websites

I thought I would share a few finds from around the world-wide web with you.  Share the wealth - what links have you found?  Leave a comment to let others know (email subscribers - click title of article for Comment link).

The Legal Genealogist - Attorney and genealogist Judy G. Russell helps people understand the interplay between genealogy and the law.  Her article about the Federal Land Primer was particularly interesting to me.

The California Digital  Newspaper Collection  contains over 400,000 pages of significant historical California newspapers published from 1846-1922, including the first California newspaper, the Californian, and the first daily California newspaper, the Daily Alta California. It also contains issues of several current California newspapers that are part of a pilot project to preserve and provide access to contemporary papers.  I bird-walked my way through the Los Angeles Herald for hours looking for my many California ancestors.  Thanks to Root Cellar member Lois Shumaker for submitting the link to this website.

Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research  Current programs include English Short-Title Catalog, California Newspaper Project, California Digital Newspaper Project, Latin American Project, and California Newspaper Microfilm Archive.

Olive Tree Genealogy 1,900+ pages of free genealogy records

posted by Denise H. Richmond

Sticky Notes Tip: Using Place Pages

We've written before about Sticky Notes from Ancestry.com.  It's a free website with tips and more about using this collosal genealogy database.  The tip posted on 23 May 2012 described how to drill closer to Data Collections using the location of the ancestor for whom you're searching. The post also announced three new classes but the  notice was too short for me.  Hmm, maybe the classes are archived.  Several more search tips have already been posted on Sticky Notes.

Did this tip help you? 

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Tuesday's Tip - Guide to Salt Lake City

By Janet Hovorka

With the summer travel season upon us, you may be thinking of a research trip to Salt Lake City.  Take a look at The Chart Chick's Quick Insider's Guide to Salt Lake City.  It's available as a free pdf. The Chart Chick is actually Janet Hovorka, who with her husband Kim, operate Family Chartmasters.  Their services include designing customized family genealogy charts based on a compressed file you send them, consulting on the preparation of a chart or providing resources that allow you to design your own chart.

Topics in the insider's guide include transportation, food,  other sites to see besides the Family History Library (what?) like libraries and archives, historic sites, religious services, shopping, parks, tips if you're bringing the family, weather and advice about what to pack.  If you have time, Janet includes suggestions for diversions such as theatres and day trips.  She wraps up the book with her own top five tips.

And you thought Salt Lake City was only about the Family History Library!

--------------
Posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond
Tuesday's Tip is one of several blogging themes suggested on Geneabloggers.  Share your genealogy tip - send it to rootcellarsgs@gmail.com and we'll post it here.

Tuesday's Tip: Death Records: A Check List of Ten Documents Every Genealogist Should Acquire

The California Genealogical Society's e-News always includes a column called "Editor's Picks: Links from the Blogosphere" by Kathryn Doyle.  The links are to posts from other blogs selected as worthwhile reading.  I always find the referrals helpful.  The May 2012 edition included a link that caught my eye - an article written by William Dollarhide for the GenealogyBlog created by Leland Meitzler.  (Both websites definitely excellent choices to follow.)

William Dollarhide wrote with wit and wisdom about death records.  I hope you'll get a chuckle and a few research reminders from it.  Click the link below for the article. 

Death Records: A Check List of Ten Documents Every Genealogist Should Acquire

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Treasure Chest Thursday - Sacramento Valley Museum



Famous Willams archway
April 14, 2012

 Williams, California holds a special place in my heart.  I lived there a mere 18 months during fourth and fifth grade but it was an eventful period.  I learned how to do fractions, ride a bike with no hands, and swim.  My brothers and I had lambs named Boomer, Tiny Tim and mine, Daisy, which I fed with a bottle and watched her being sheared for the first time.  The ranch house where we lived was surrounded by walnut and almond orchards. 

My husband and I recently spent the day in Williams going down memory lane.  The population is now over 5,000.  A large housing development is now on the east side of town.  Downtown is not the same as in "my day" mostly due to the building of Interstate 5 in the late 1960's.  The Tidewater gas station where my father worked is now a vacant lot but two doors down Louis Cairo's restaurant is still there serving Italian meals.


The highlight of the day was our visit to the Sacramento Valley Museum.  We were cheerfully greeted by Kathy Manor, the Museum's Director, who explained the layout of the exhibits.  The exhibits are located on two floors with the main area being on the upper level accessed by stairs.  The floors creeked as we walked through each exhibit room, a sound that added to the ambience of an old building.  Kathy cranked up a huge music box for us and other visitors.  The sound was clear, crisp and very pleasant.  



Williams High School  1911
Source: Sacramento Valley Museum



Sacramento Valley Musum
April 14, 2012



The museum's website is very informative; here's an excerpt:

The building that houses the Sacramento Valley Museum was built in 1911 to serve as Williams Union High School.  The school graduated classes until 1956, when a new high school was built.  It sat dormant for six years until Sacramento Valley residents took up its cause [and began renovations].

The 16,000 square foot building that houses the SVM collection contains multiple rooms of exhibits that represent the Sacramento Valley from the mid 19th through the mid 20th century.  Exhibits that have been completed in the last couple of years are a 19th century dry goods and a room representing businesses that could be found in Colusa County in the late 19th century, including hotels, barber shops, and hot springs resorts.  Newer exhibits include a room dedicated to those who represented the Sacramento Valley in military wars and conflicts from the Civil War to the current generation.  SVM staff and volunteers plan on updating popular current exhibits as well.  First on the list is the room representing a 19th century general store and another room representing an apothecary and pharmacy.

The Reading Room is how the public can connect with the larger collection that is not readily available through exhibits. The new Reading Room is under construction but researchers still have access to the collection.  Research is by appointment only.  To make an appointment, contact the Museum Director.
A return visit is in my future to do some in-depth research.  It's only one hour north of Sacramento. Contact the museum  for more information:

Sacramento Valley Museum

1491 E Street

Williams, Ca 95987

Ph: (530) 473-2978

Email: sacvalleymuseum@frontiernet.net

Website: www.sacvalleymuseum.org



NOTE: This post is best viewed from the blog itself.  Click on the title of this article to go to the blog. Click on images to enlarge.

Treasure Chest Thursday is one of several themes suggested by Geneabloggers created by Thomas MacEntee.  What's your treasure? Share it with us by commenting on this post or send it to rootcellarsgs@gmail.com.  

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Kudos to the Howard County [Missouri] Genealogical Society

This is another in the series about 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy.  Week #13 is about local genealogical and historical societies, the lifeblood of genealogy. Members and volunteers give their time and money to preserve local history and promote family history. Tell us about a local society for which you are thankful. This challenge runs from Sunday, March 25, 2012 through 31.

Root Cellar member Carolee Jones offers kudos to the Howard County Missouri Genealogical Society:

I am a member of the Howard County Missouri Genealogical Society.  Harold Kerr II is the president of the society.  He has a quote with every email correspondence he sends.  It says, "To be in ignorance of one's ancestry is to be a tree without a root, a river without a source."  The society is headquartered in Fayette, Missouri and has a library in a room in the town's main library.  The society has upon request sent me Wills, Bonds, Letters and Deeds for great-grandparents and a great-uncle.  In their newsletter I have found a newspaper article announcing the breeding of one great-grandfather's stallion standing for stud on the farm of another great-grandfather.

How wonderful it must have been for Carolee when she read about her ancestor in a local society newsletter.  Even more special because Carolee is an avid horse owner, rider and trainer.

Tell us about a local society or organization that helped you in your genealogical research.  Send information to rootcellarsgs@gmail.com.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy is a series created by Amy Coffin.
posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond 

News from the Sacramento Public Library Central Branch

The following information was received from Beth Daugherty, Genealogy Services Librarian at the Sacramento Public Library Central Branch.

The Central Library has received a generous donation from the Genealogical Association of Sacramento – a subscription to the American Ancestors.org database!  The subscription has already started and is available only on the computers at the Central Library (in-library use only).  You might remember that the library used to subscribe to American Ancestors – however, we were forced to discontinue the subscription at the end of 2011 due to budget constraints.  Needless to say, we really appreciate the generosity of the Genealogical Association of Sacramento. 

To access the database when you visit Central Library, please come to the 2nd or 3rd floor information desk first, and a staff member will log you in on one of the catalog computers.
We also have some programs coming up in April:

April 7th: Beginning Genealogy: How to Trace Your Family History, with Karen Burney.
This is a Saturday, 1:00 – 2:30 pm, held in the West Meeting Room at Central Library.  Registration is preferred by calling 916-264-2920, but walk-ins are welcome!  The only free parking nearby is at the Sacramento County Jury Parking Lot between 8th and 9th and F and G Streets.  The entry is off of 8th Street.

April 21st: Social Networking For Genealogists, a computer class taught by library staff.
This is another Saturday, 10:15 -11:45 am, held in the 3rd floor Technology Lab at Central Library.  Registration is preferred, by calling 916-264-2920 or visiting the library’s website: http://www.saclibrary.org/.  The only free parking, again, is at the Sacramento County Jury Parking Lot.

April 29th:  How Much Proof Is Enough? Using the Genealogical Proof Standard, with Cath Madden Trindle.
This is a Sunday, 1:30 – 3:00 pm, held in the West Meeting Room.  There is no registration for this program – but you can get more information by calling the library at 916-264-2920.  Street parking near the library is free on Sundays, and you can also park free of charge in the Sacramento County Jury Parking Lot.

We also have the Book a Genealogist service at Central Library on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  Call the library at 916-264-2920 to set up a 45-minute appointment to have a genealogy volunteer help you with your research.

I hope that you will decide to visit Central Library soon to attend a program or use the American Ancestors database.  While you’re here, be sure to visit the Genealogy Center on the 2nd floor and use some of the wonderful genealogy books in the collection belonging to the Genealogical Association of Sacramento.

Thank you for your interest in the library’s genealogy programming!

Beth Daugherty
Genealogy Services Librarian
Sacramento Public Library – Central
828 I Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: (916) 264-2979
bdaugherty@saclibrary.org

Editors Note:  The classes are a wonderful community service for genealogists sponsored by the Friends of the Library.  I hope you are able to take advantage by attending them and meet others who enjoy learning more about family history research.

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Kudos to the Corinth [Vermont] Historical Society

This is another in the series of 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, Week #13: Local Societies for which we are thankful.

Root Cellar member Judy Willey has high praise for the Corinth Historical Society.  According to Judy,

The Corinth Historical Society (CHS) in Vermont helped me.  Over the past few years I corresponded with CHS members Lois Jackson and Norm Collette regarding my "Towle" Family, and I have become a member/supporter of their society. They sent me genealogical and cemetery information and I purchased their History of Corinth, Vermont 1764-1995 volumes.  One of the books incorrectly identified my 4th great-grandparents as my 3rd great-grandparents, skipping a generation.  They were glad to have the correct information.  When my article Tale of Two California Towns, which included information on my California "Towle" Family, was printed in Root Cellar's periodical The Preserves, I sent CHS a copy of the periodical.  They were very excited to get it.  It just shows that information can flow both ways and communication with genealogical and historical societies can be very productive.

What a wonderful example of collaboration between two societies and their members.  A sidenote is in order here - Judy Willey's story Tale of Two California Towns was the third place winner in the First Annual Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society Family History Writing Contest last year.

Did a local society help you with your genealogical research?  Send your "Kudos to a Local Society" story to rootcellarsgs@gmail.com and we'll share it with others here on the blog.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy is a series created by Amy Coffin.
posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond 

Tuesday's Tip: 1940 Census Homework

This blog has written several times about getting ready for the release of the 1940 U.S. census including this article.  It's really a big deal!  You may have attended one of the many lectures given locally by Steve Morse or listened to him on a webinar as he reviewed his One-Step Tool for the 1940 census.  Go to the Steve Morse website and click on US Census for several helpful links about the 1940 census.

Remember, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) thoroughly covers the 1940 census.  Take a look at its website for general information, finding aids and videos.

Consider doing some homework so you'll be ready to find your family in the 1940 US Census one week from today.

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Local Societies" 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, Week 13

Week #13 – Local Societies: Local genealogical and historical societies are the lifeblood of genealogy. Members and volunteers give their time and money to preserve local history and promote family history. Tell us about a local society for which you are thankful. This challenge runs from Sunday, March 25, 2012 through 31.

Root Cellar member Marsha is thankful for Mr. Bruce Robertson of the Barton County (Missouri) Genealogical Society.  Marsha said:

[Bruce] really went out of his way to help me.  He searched for newspaper articles when searching could only be performed on microfilm/fiche.  He actually walked the cemetery TWICE, having to go back because the snow covered the gravesites!  He then sent me photographs of those cemeteries.  He was amazing.  We connected for months in his researching my Albright & Edwards ancestors.

The genealogical society may no longer be operating.  Their website was last updated in January 2008.  However Bruce is shown as the “New Barton County Coordinator”  contact e-mail brucer73@sbcglobal.net for Barton County MoGenWeb.  I am pleased to gave him kudos on the blog or wherever.  He is one terrific person.

Thank you Marsha for sharing your successes with a genealogical society and to Bruce Robertson for going above and beyond.

Tell us about a local society or organization that helped you in your genealogical research.  Send information to rootcellarsgs@gmail.com.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy is a series created by Amy Coffin.

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond 

Local Societies: 52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy, Week #13

Week #13 – Local Societies: Local genealogical and historical societies are the lifeblood of genealogy. Members and volunteers give their time and money to preserve local history and promote family history. Tell us about a local society for which you are thankful. This challenge runs from Sunday, March 25, 2012 through 31.

Root Cellar member Glenda Gardner Lloyd shared her experience with a local society for which she is thankful:

My best help came from the Carroll County Genealogical Society in Maryland. I subscribed to their newsletter requesting information on John D. Grimes, born about 1811 in Maryland, probably Baltimore County, Maryland. They sent me a copy of a land record where all the heirs of Conrad Zile were selling their share of his land to son Abraham.  All of the children and their spouses had signed this deed. John D. Grimes’ wife was Margaret Grimes. This led me to many other records in Carroll County. Carroll County was formed from Baltimore County and Frederick County in 1837 so research extended into each of those counties as well.

Thank you Glenda and Carroll County Genealogical Society!

Sidenote:  Glenda is a well-known local genealogical instructor who uses her personal research in her classes, including records about Grimes and Zile.  Now we know where she obtained the records!

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy is a seried created by Amy Coffin.
posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond 

Society Saturday - New Coroner's Records Books

Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society is pleased to announce the release of its latest publications in the Sacramento County Coroner’s Records Collection series, 1887-1969. 

Volume VI, Book 13 is titled Coroner's Register - Indexed January  1935 - December 1940.  Extracted information includes Page (found in original Coroner's Record Book), Surname, Given Name, Date of Death, Place of Death, Sex, Nativity, Age, Status (marital), Cause of Death, Inquest Date, and Remarks (usually pertaining to cause of death).

Details:
Surnames: 2,714
Size: 8 1/2" x 11"
Soft cover
Pages: 240
Price: $20.00 + tax, shipping, handling

Volume VII, Book 14 is titled Coroner's Inquiry Register - Indexed January  1941 - December 1947.  Extracted information includes Page (found in original Coroner's Register Book), Surname, Given Name, Date of Death, Place of Death, Sex, Nativity, Age, Status (marital), Cause of Death, and Remarks (usually pertaining to cause of death).

Details:
Surnames: 4,438
Size: 8 1/2" x 11"
Soft cover
Pages: 263
Price: $25.00 + tax, shipping, handling

According to Extraction Committee Chairperson Marilyn Ulbricht, "family history researchers with ties to Sacramento County California have two more valuable resources for finding clues about their elusive ancestor".

Root Cellar volunteers extracted and indexed these records from original books of the Coroner's Office of Sacramento County held at the Center for Sacramento History and acquired through the efforts of the Sacramento Old City Cemetery Committee.

The Root Cellar Store has these publications and others available for purchase.

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Society Saturday: Writing Contest Mojo

We wrote previously about the 2nd Annual Family History Writing Contest sponsored by Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society.  The August 1st deadline for submissions is really not that far off especially if you are just getting started.  Maybe the following resources will motivate your writing mojo:

• Producing a Quality Family History: this book by Patricia Law Hatcher is a helpful guide with informative tips on structure, format and industry standards.  Note, the book link connects you to Amazon.com using Root Cellar's shop Amazon affiliate web address.
• Stories To Tell Books: this website is mostly about writing a family history book but food for thought abounds.  This post offered several techniques that made me think about my writing. Entering "essay" in the search box on the home page resulted in several hits like this one about being a storyteller. 
• Writing-related blogs: entering the term "writing" in the search  box on GeneaBloggers provided several hits.  Worth roaming around!
• Cyndi's List: this website is a one-stop shop for all things genealogical.  Writing-related resources were found by clicking on Categories, then "W".
• Sources: Many resources exist about how to cite your sources.  Take a look at one created by Thomas MacEntee, a handy and free 2-page Genealogy Source Citations Quick Reference in pdf format. 

Okay now, get out your writing tools of choice and begin!  Good Luck!

Do you have any writing advice?  Post a comment below or send to rootcellarsgs@gmail.com.

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

RootsTech 2012 Videos Now Available

Thanks to Jim Rader, member of Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society, for telling us that the RootsTech 2012 live streamed sessions are now available for viewing as separate entities at RootsTech.org.

The sessions available are:

• Do I Trust the Cloud? by D. Joshua Taylor
• Effective Database Search Tactics by Kory Meyerink
• Twitter – It’s Not Just “What I Had For Breakfast” Anymore by Thomas MacEntee
• Eleven Layers of Online Searches by Barbara Renick
• Exabyte Social Clouds and Other Monstrosities by Josh Coates
• Publish Your Genealogy Online by Laura Prescott
• Optimizing Your Site for Search Engines by Robert Gardner
• Genealogists “Go Mobile” By Sandra Crowley
• Google's Toolbar and Genealogy by David Barney
• Making the Most of Technology to Further the Family History Industry by Tim Sullivan
• Genealogy Podcasts and Blogs 101 by Lisa Louise Cooke
• Privacy in a Collaborative Environment by Noah Tutak

In addition, there are videos from these FamilySearch presentations:

• YouTube Your Family History by Devin Ashby
• Reputation Systems for Genealogy by Jimmy Zimmerman
• GeneTech: YDNA Solutions to Common Genealogical Problems by Nathan Murphy
• Introducing the FamilySearch Indexing & Linking Tool by Grant Echols
• Using Android Devices for Genealogy and Family History by David Lifferth

There are two presentations that are not listed on the website and will be posted at a later date:

• Jay Verkler's keynote Inventing the Future, As a Community"
• Ron Tanner's presentation "Future of FamilySearch Family Tree"

submitted by Jim Rader
posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond