Blog Alert - Family History Day at the California State Archives

Psst, pass it on!  The Family History Day blog is a happening place these days.  It has the 411 on the speakers and exhibitors attending this annual event.   The event flyer and list of speakers and class topics have now been posted.  Check it out. 

Also, period attire is the dress of the day.  Don yer duds and dresses like your ancestors wore and come on down to the California State Archives on Saturday, October 15, 2011.

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Society Sunday - Meet-up at Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society

Psst, pass it on - the California State Archives has county records.

What's going on here?

Find out on Wednesday, September 14, 2011

7pm-8:30pm

Citrus Heights Community Clubhouse
6921 Sylvan Way
Citrus Heights

More info: Sandi Benward 916-412-3511

Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society will host Linda Johnson, Senior Archivist at the California State Archives. Linda will describe the many types of county records held at the Archives and answer audience questions. Please come and bring a friend to hear about county resources in an unexpected place.

Linda 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 Center for Sacramento History followed by 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 and will be a speaker this year. In addition to the Family History Day engagements, she has been a presenter at several local genealogical and historical societies.

Reminder - Family History Day at the California State Archives
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Get your notebooks ready and prepare your period costume!

posted by Denise Hibsch Richmond

Thriller Thursday

I didn't need to dig too deep into my roots to uncover some 'thrilling' dirt in my family history.

The folders pictured here contain voluminous prison records and court documents held at the California State Archives in Sacramento regarding Donald K. Bashor, my third cousin once removed.  In the mid 1950s, the newspapers named him the "barefoot burglar" because he removed his shoes before illegally entering a residence.  He stole money found during the burglaries to finance his education at the University of Southern California.  For two of his burglaries, the residents were actually at home and saw him so he brutally took their lives to avoid getting caught.  He was captured by police soon after the second murder in 1956.  He eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.  In 1957, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown affirmed the denial of a new trial.  Donald was executed at San Quentin shortly thereafter.

Posted by Denise Richmond