Area Event: Open House at NARA Riverside

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has opened in Riverside County. There will be an open house on Wednesday, September 15, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You must RSVP by Wednesday, September 1 to riverside.archives@nara.gov or (951) 956-2000. If you're interested in carpooling (either driving or riding) please drop a note to phinkel@pacbell.net

David Drake, Regional Administrator, will be at the open house. You will be able to take a tour and learn about materials available for genealogists and historians.

The new address and hours open:

National Archives at Riverside
23123 Cajalco Road
Perris, California 92570-7298
(951) 956-2000
Riverside.archives@nara.gov

Monday - Friday and the first Saturday of each month (except Federal Holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


Thanks to Lydia Jeffrey, president of the British Isles Family History Society US, for letting us know about this open house.

Beth Uyehara - In Death, a Promise for the Future

Beth Uyehara was the editor of the SCGS Searcher, mastermind behind the GENEii Writers Contest, initiator of the 1890 Project to recreate the lost LA County Census, and my very first contact with SCGS. We lost her a few months ago to ALS - Lou Gehrig's disease. 

The front page of today's LA Times carried a feature article, written by a good friend at the Times, that provided a glimpse into her last days.  SCGS has created a memorial in her honor that will be used to fund an annual family history writing presentation at Jamboree.  Please read this and meet the very special woman that was Beth Uyehara.

NEHGS Unveils its New AmericanAncestors.org Website

SCGS offers free access to a number of fee-based genealogy databases to SCGS members who visit the library. Through our association with the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the NEGHS website, formerly known as newenglandancestors.org, is one of the offerings in this "Fee for Free" database access benefit.

At the FGS conference this week, NEHGS rolled out its brand-new website, www.americanancestors.org.  . You can read the entire news release here on Dick Eastman's Online Newsletter.

Among other things, AmericanAncestors.org will provide:

• More exclusive content: more unique, searchable, highly vetted materials for New England, New York, and other regions added weekly
• Enhanced search engine: an all-new, true "master search" that will search across all databases and other web-based content, with faster results and easier navigation
• Personal research profile: a social networking feature for NEHGS members to develop an online profile and input family research information, and even share them with others
• Improved images: a state-of-the-art new image viewer that will provide easier saving, and viewing of images and data
• Timely information: more news on our homepage and an enhanced blog, "The Daily Genealogist," will bring our weekly electronic newsletter to the next level with stories and helpful research tips

In addition, NEHGS is inviting people to sign up for the NEHGS "Guest User" program. This free registration gives anyone access to the popular weekly news stories as well as special access to a variety of databases, resources, articles, and other tools to help with their research. More information can be found on the NEHGS website at www.AmericanAncestors.org.

Check it out the next time you're in the SCGS Library.

Area Event: Memorial Wall and Meditation Garden Dedication

On Saturday September 4, 2010 the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California will host the dedication of the Memorial Wall and Meditation Garden at the Los Angeles County Crematorium. The Wall was built to remember the over 13,000 Angelenos that were buried in the former county cemetery prior to 1923. We will also be remembering the recently reburied ancestors that were removed from their graves during the building of the light rail Gold line.

Program:
10:00 a.m. - Traditional Chinese cemetery remembering our ancestors, appeasing the spirits and blessing the cemetery
11:00 a.m. - Dedication of Memorial Wall
12:00 noon - Multi-faith Prayer for our recently reburied ancestors
12:30 p.m. - Light lunch

Location:
Los Angeles County Crematorium
3301 East 1st Street, Los Angeles
(Southeast corner of Evergreen Cemetery)
Access driveway from westbound lane on 1st Street

Area Event: Lisa Kudrow to Speak at Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles

This is an announcement that we're passing along from our good friends at the Jewish Genealogical Society of Los Angeles:

Tuesday, September 28 at 7:30PM 
Skirball Cultural Center - Magnin Auditorium

Free to JGSLA members, guests $5.

An evening with Lisa Kudrow
and the researchers and producers of 

"Who Do You Think You Are?" 
the popular NBC documentary-style reality show 

with a genealogical and historical focus

Lisa will introduce her episode, in which she uncovers a family story dating back to the Holocaust in Belarus.  After the screening she, and the production staff will discuss the particulars of this episode, the impetus for making the series, how the selection process works, and the perils and pitfalls of researching celebrity family histories. 

Kudrow was the first to shoot her installment over two years ago; and despite the existence of a 46 page family tree her father created, she discovered many surprising discoveries about her ancestors.  

Kudrow describes the show as exploring intimate details with a very personalized aspect compared to what we read about historical events in textbooks.  Genealogical research as a way to make history come alive is one of the hallmarks of WDYTYA, which started on the BBC over seven years ago.  She believes our pasts should be intriguing and inviting.  Bring your questions for a lively, interactive panel discussion following the presentation.

Tell Us About A Recent Success

It's time to share the good news again.  Tell us about a recent success ... a brick wall that fell after many years, a cousin connection that opened new doors for you, a DNA finding that resolved a longstanding mystery. 

What resources did you use?  What piece of the puzzle fell into place? How did you make the discovery?  

Post your story in the "comments" section below or send an email to phinkel@pacbell.net.  Your story may appear in The Searcher or in The News and Notes.

Let's hear the Good News!!

Attention Ye of the Ould Sod

The SCGS Irish Interest Group will be holding a workshop this month at the SCGS Library, 417 Irving Drive, Burbank, Sunday, August 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Edward McKelvey will discuss some common Irish names, what they mean and where in Ireland they may be common.

Marge Golden Rossini, Irish Interest Group Coordinator, will be discussing land divisions in Ireland and how they effect genealogy.  Do you know what a townland is? Or a PLU? or a D.E.D?  Come and find out that and more.

You'll also discover what resources SCGS has to help you find out more on these topics.

See you there!

California State Genealogical Alliance Newsletter

Have you heard of the California State Genealogical Alliance? The group is comprised of genealogical societies and genealogists throughout the state. It facilitates communication throughout the state by sharing activities and organizing projects.

The July-August copy of the newsletter is available on the CSGA website.  Give it a click and see what's going on.

This issue has a report on Jamboree, on the upcoming sponsored conference in Sacramento (co-sponsored by CSGA and the Fresno County Genealogical Society),and a call for volunteers at the new National Archives Regional Facility in Perris.

27th Annual Salt Lake City Research Trip

Jan Jennings has planned another outstanding trip for members of the Southern California Genealogical Society. Join us for eight nights at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel (next door to the Family History Library). We will leave on September 14 and return on the evening of September 22. Please contact the tour leader, Jan Jennings, ASAP at jantj@sbcglobal.net or by phone at (661) 288-1813.

SCGS "The News & Notes" Posted Online

The August issue of "The News & Notes," quarterly newsletter of the Southern California Genealogical Society, is now available on the Society’s website.

This is the next-to-the-last issue of "The News & Notes." After seven and a half years of reporting news and events at SCGS, "The News & Notes" will cease publication with the November 2010 issue.

So, what will take the place of "The News & Notes"? We will take advantage of new technology to send out monthly e-updates and as well as overnight notices of time-sensitive information. Subscribe to stay in touch.

Monthly e-Update

We are moving away from the CA-SCGS Rootsweb email list and are using a commercial email management service, Constant Contact. We will issue monthly updates that will feature SCGS projects, interest groups and programs, photos, volunteers and other items of interest to our members.

You may have already received one of our e-Updates. If not, you can sign up to receive monthly electronic updates at www.scgsgenealogy.com. Add your email address in the upper right corner where you see "Sign Up for Free Email Updates from SCGS."

Overnight Notices through the Blog

Through the Society's blog, readers will get reminders of events, new databases and resources available to researchers, and up-to-the-minute announcements of bargains offered by genealogy suppliers.

Blog posts from both the SCGS and Jamboree blogs are automatically set to appear on the main page of the SCGS website. You can subscribe to have emails delivered directly to your inbox whenever a message has been posted to the blog. Emails are sent out automatically at about 3:00 a.m. and they will be there for you in the morning. To subscribe, just enter your email in the upper right hand box of the blog where it says "subscribe by email."

Your email address will never be released or shared with any other organization.

So... there you are.

Subscribe to the monthly update at www.scgsgenealogy.com

Subscribe to the overnight notices at scgsgenealogy.blogspot.com

SCGS Monthly Newsletter

The August Update for the Southern California Genealogical Society is now available for your reading pleasure. You can read it online. Enjoy!