Note: The Web version of this issue of The Roots Tracer contains all of the words and all of the non-decorative graphics of the original paper version, but does not preserve the original typographical formatting.
ISSN0736-802X THE LIVERMORE ROOTS TRACER VOLUME XV JANUARY 1996 NUMBER 1 Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society PO Box 901, Livermore, California 94551
TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME XV NUMBER 1 Editorial Page 586 Library News 587 Livermore Stake Family History Center 588 Computer News 589 PAF Training Class Syllabus 590 L-AGS CD-ROM Sharing Program 591 L-AGS Genealogy Bulletin Board System 592 Beginning Genealogy 593 Meet the Members Beverly Mae OSMAN 595 Vicki RENZ 596 Copyright Notice: No articles may be reproduced for profit or commercial gain without the express written consent of the authors, the editors, or the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society.
LIFE MEMBERS OF L-AGS: Beverly Schell Ales Anastasia Alexander Carrie Alexander G. E. "Robbie" Robinson Harriet & George Anderson Judy Person Harry and Kip West BENEFACTORS: Addie Martz Doug Mumma WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS: Bill and Lorraine Green Frances Lloyd Anita Orbiz Rachel Gulliver-Dunne Jon and Gail Bryan Dixie E. Procopio Maria Bagakis Elena Belonoochkin Roxanne Demiris Karen Banta
LIVERMORE-AMADOR GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY P. 0. Box 901, Livermore, CA 94551 President David ABRAHAMS lst VP and Membership Chair Lori CODEY 2nd VP and Program Chair Katherine BRIDGMAN and Lucille KUSK0 Recording Secretary Mildred KIRKWOOD Corresponding Secretary David CURRY Business Manager Harold NORRIS Roots Tracer Editors Jolene ABRAHAMS and Regina SCHAEFER Library Chair Judy PERSON Publicity Chair John WALDEN Livermore Cultural Arts Council Rep Don JOHNSON Computer Interest Group Doug MUMMA Historian David LINDSEY Publications Chair "Robbie" Robinson The Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society is exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) (literary and educational) of the Internal Revenue Code and California Taxation Code 237020.
The Roots Tracer is a quarterly publication with articles of interest to the genealogist. Members are encouraged to submit their "Profiles" as well as articles of general interest. Queries are free to members, $1.00 to non-members. The deadline for each quarterly is the 15th of June, September, December, and March. Send to: Roots Tracer, P. 0. Box 901 Livermore, CA 94351 Any book presented to the Society will be reviewed in the quarterly along with the purchase price and address of the publisher. Our Library is located in the Pleasanton Public Library building, 400 Old Bernal Ave., Pleasanton, CA. Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday, monthly, 7:30 PM, at Congregation Beth Emek, 1866 College Ave., Livermore, CA. Membership in LAGS is open to any individual, library, or society. Our fiscal year is January 1 through December 31. Membership includes a subscription to the quarterly Roots Tracer. Publications Members Non-Members Postage Surname Index (1994) $9.00 $14.00 $2.00 Livermore Cemeteries (1988) $12.00 $17.00 $2.00 Pleasanton, Dublin Cemeteries (1990) $8.00 $12.00 $2.00 Roots Tracer Index $3.00 $4.50 $1.50 The above publications are available on diskette (IBM or Mac) for the same price as the paper copies. When purchased with a book, they are half price. Send check or money order to: Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society P. 0. Box 901, Livermore, CA 94551 DUES Individual $12.00 Family $18.00 Life $125.00 Benefactor $30.00 Patron $60.00 Life (Couples) $185.00
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET PAID YOUR 1996 DUES, OUR BUSINESS MANAGER WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU!!
EDITORIAL PAGE Message from the outgoing President: I'm sorry that I wasn't able to be with you at my last meeting as President. I would like to express my deepest thanks to the Board and all the Committee chairmen for the super job they have been doing. I am on the road to recovery, but it will take a while longer than I expected. My hope is that the new Board and Chairmen will make David's job as President as easy as mine has been. Fran Samans Note from the Membership Chairman: I would like to take this opportunity to thank the fantastic group of members who have helped me with the telephone tree this year. They have kept everyone up to date about the meetings with their monthly calls and their time and effort have been greatly appreciated. If any other Club members have a few extra moments each month and would like to make a few calls, please let the next Membership Chairman (Lori Codey) know. Our Club is growing quickly and we will be needing more volunteers very soon. My sincere thanks go to: Lawrence and Bernice Allen, Katherine Bridgman, Alleda and De Lynn Clark, Mildred Kirkwood, Lucille Kusko, David Lindsey, Beverly Morris, Isabel Nolte, Regina Schaefer and John Walden. Sincerely, Erma McCue Note from the new President: Now that a new year is upon us and you, the members of L-AGS, have entrusted another group of us with the leadership of your Society, you should know that we are going to have fun! And all of you are going to help. We all do a lot of research - that's what it's all about. Personally, I would like to hear of your successes, both small and large. We're going to make time at the monthly meetings to listen to you. Moreover, if you are having problems with your research, this is the time to ask as all for help. The 1995 Board promised to print a Members Handbook for all members. We hope to have it available for distribution early this Spring. As the co-editor of your publication, I would like to invite you to contribute articles. If you can get your ideas down on paper, we have a dedicated staff of volunteers who will be happy to help you edit your work for publication. Our members want to hear about your research, how you located material, trips you have made, etc. If you have any tips to contribute, we'll publish them. You don't have to write lengthy papers; if you think it is important, we'll publish it! David Abrahams Seminar Note: Many, many thanks to Regina Schaefer - we have a spread-sheet of the Surname Register from our October Seminar. This spread-sheet is ten pages long and should be of value to our members. We will have the Surname Register available at meetings for members to peruse. If you readers have any ideas on how to distribute this to other organizations, electronically, for example, please let the Board know.
LIBRARY NEWS Judy Person The L-AGS Library has added several wonderful books to the shelves lately. Some of them have been donated by our members. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those members who donated them. All of our books can be found in the special section of the Pleasanton Public Library.
Guide to the Records of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, compiled by Jack Eckert. Haverford College, 1989. Donated by Jim Scofield. This is a guide to the meetings of the Friends, or Quakers, in the Delaware Valley from 1676 to the present. These are some of the best church archives available, so if you have a Quaker ancestor, check this to see if Haverford College and Swarthmore College have relevant records.
Microfilm Publications in the National Archives--Pacific Region. Donated by Jim Scofield. This is a guide to the records in our local branch in San Bruno, and up-to-date as of 1990. It has an index to itself, and would be very useful in planning a trip to the Archives.
Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Volume II, by Strassburger and Hinke. Picton Press, 1992, reprint of the original 1934 Pennsylvania German Society publication. Donated by Judy Person. Our society has long owned Volumes I and III of this valuable work. This volume has the signatures of many of the early German immigrants (alas, not Melchior Hutmacher's), and completes the set. These are facsimiles of the signatures on ships' rosters from 1727-1775, when England's encouragement of these settlers ended.
Westerwald to America; some 18th Century German Immigrants, by Annette Kunselman Burgert and Henry Z. Jones, Jr. Picton Press, 1989. Donated by Judy Person. This book gives good, complete information on many of the families who emigrated from the northern part of the Rhine-Palatinate to Pennsylvania from 1740-1753. The authors urge us to "study the neighbors, since these people often came in groups.
Psychic Roots, by Henry Z. Jones, Jr. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1993. Donated by Judy Person. Full of marvelous stories of "chance" happenings and "coincidental" finds that seem too good to be true, this book is more for fun than research, so we'll make it a circulating item. It's written by San Leandro-raised Hank Jones, who went into show business, in a lively style which adds to the solid background in genealogy.
Where Once We Walked, by Gary Mokotoff and Sallyann Amdur Sack. Avotaynu Inc. This gazetteer is a listing of nearly 22,000 individual communities in Europe and the former USSR where Jewish people lived before the Holocaust. Synonyms and alternate spellings of the communities are given, and in many cases the proximity to larger towns and cities. The locations are further pin-pointed by latitude and longitude. This is an invaluable source for anyone attempting to locate their ancestral homes in this part of the world, since many of the communities no longer exist.
Where Once We Walked Companion, compiled by Gary Mokotoff. Avotaynu Inc. Donated by David and Jolene Abrahams. This wonderful little book is an index of all the listings in Where Once We Walked. Rather than being an alphabetical index, the communities are listed by latitude and longitude. The purpose of this is to allow one to locate communities and towns surrounding ancestral homes. The author explains how to create your own "map" using the information provided in this book.
LIVERMORE STAKE FAMILY HISTORY CENTER Dean Lee 950 Mocho Street Hours: Monday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Wednesday and Thursday 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM HOLDINGS AS OF NOVEMBER 1995 A. "Family Search": A CD-ROM program for the computer, two computers and two sets of CD-ROMs. These sets include the Ancestral File, the International Genealogical Index, the LDS Library Catalog, the Social Security Death Index and a listing of those people who died in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. B. Personal Ancestral File (PAF): One computer available for your use (in case you have no computer at home). C. Microfilms: Two microfilm readers and the capability to order microfilms from the Salt Lake City LDS Genealogical Library. D. Binders: Research Outlines - Where to look for information for each state/county. Language Helps - Danish, Dutch, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Latin, Polish, Portuguese and French. E. Reference books: Small selection. F. Microfiche cabinet: (We have four readers available.) 1. Family History Library Catalog: It describes the records of the Salt Lake City LDS Library and provides the microfilm, microfiche or book numbers. 2. LDS Membership Index 1830 - 1848. 3. Periodical Source Index (PERSI): The index, prepared by the Allen County Library Foundation, P.O. Box 2270, Fort Wayne, IN 46801, is a subject index to thousands of articles in genealogical periodicals and journals. Using PERSI can help you find articles quickly. Write to the above address for a copy of the article in which you are interested. 4. Church of Scotland Records: Christening Index (given name), Christening Index (surname), Marriage Index ( given name), Marriage Index (surname). 5. International Genealogical Index (IGI): This is a microfiche index to proxy temple work done beginning in 1970, and many names done earlier. It includes names submitted by members of the LDS church, and those obtained through extraction projects. Names are listed under the country or state where the person was born or married. The 1988 edition (9,232 microfiche) was updated in the fall of 1992, with 43 million additional names (from 147 million to 190 million). Each fiche contains 16,600 names. 6. Batch Number Index: This microfiche collection provides the microfilm number for the sources of information indexed in the IGI. It is arranged by batch numbers and up-dated semi-annually. 7. Parish and Vital Records List: This microfiche list identifies the extracted sources indexed by the IGI. It is arranged by locality and is updated semi-annually. 8. Accelerated Indexing System (AIS): Census books indexed by area and year. Early colonial 1600 - 1819; U.S. 1820 - 1829; U.S. 1830 - 1839; U.S. 1840 - 1849; New England and Northern States 1850; Southern States 1850 - 1860; Midwestern and Western States 1850 - 1906. 9. Reference Collection: Many important and frequently used books have been reproduced on microfiche. These include instructional manuals, gazetteers, histories, indexes and other resource material. Details handout available. 10. Family Registry Index: This is a research exchange service for patrons who want to list the families that they are researching and contact others who are researching the same families. The index is updated quarterly and sent to each Family History Center. 11. Family Register Forms: These are the actual pedigree forms submitted by researchers.
Computer News Doug Mumma Future Meetings January 25 L-AGS BBS System. Larry Renslow will describe how to use our BBS System. He will discuss reading messages and bulletins. In addition he will show how to download files and FidoNet mail. The use of off line readers will be shown and discussed. If you need help getting your modem hooked up and running, call either Larry or a mentor to assist you. No other meeting agendas have been established at this time, however we are hoping to invite a software developer to speak at a future meeting. If there is interest, we may invite a local computer repair and fabrication company to discuss the pros and cons of upgrading older hardware verses purchasing a new machine. I'm sure we can have a local Internet access provider also come and discuss what they have to offer. I welcome any comments, suggestions and assistance with the programming. Please bring your ideas to the January meeting or give me a call.
L-AGS Computer Mentor Program In order to assist our members use their computers and software more efficiently and provide help when they are having problems, we have established a Mentor program. The dictionary defines a Mentor as a "wise and trusted counselor." We hope that will be true if you use one of the listed Mentors. The Mentors are volunteers who are willing to assist you in an area of their specialty when you call them on the telephone. In many cases, they are willing to have you come to their house or go to your house to provide "hands-on" support if needed. We hope you find the program useful and profitable. If you are unsure which mentor can best assist you, give me, Doug Mumma, a call and I will help find the suitable mentor. Mac Mentors Name Area of Specialty Telephone George Anderson Mac systems / PAF / surfing the Internet 846-4265 Chuck Rockhold PAF (Mac & DOS) 455-5911 Irving Stowers Mac systems / Reunion 373-9609 Harry West Mac systems / FORTRAN & "C" programming 447-3597 Lara Ulrich Mac systems / surfing the Internet 820-4275 DOS Mentors Name Area of Specialty Telephone Eugene Fisher DOS-Windows systems / Family Tree Maker/Ancestral Quest 447-8079 Dean Lee DOS-Windows systems / PAF 447-3497 Garth Ludwig DOS-Windows systems / PAF 828-9308 Doug Mumma DOS-Windows systems / genealogy programs / communications 447-5164 Hal Norris Family Tree Maker (DOS or Windows) 447-6067 Larry Renslow Family Tree Maker for Windows / surfing the Internet 846-1947 Jo Roby Word for Windows 6.0 / Word Perfect for Windows 6.1 606- 7050 Robbie Robinson CD-ROMS / genealogy programs 895-9787 Joyce Siason Word for Windows 846-6148
PAF Training Class Syllabus By popular request, a PAF class will be taught by Garth Ludwig to instruct those who use the PAF genealogy program how to use it more effectively. The class will begin with the fundamentals of how to setup your computer and will continue through all aspects of using this popular genealogy program. The ending classes will involve the use of several utility shareware programs written to provide tools not available within in the PAF program. The class will be held on the first & third Tuesdays of each month, starting on January 16. The classes begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Mormon church, 950 Mocho Street in Livermore. The class will last about 2 hours. While the class will be taught using the DOS version of the program, Mac PAF users should find the class beneficial. The last three classes are only for DOS users because the programs only run under the DOS operating system. A description of each class follows: Class #1 General Computer Setup. January 16 This class will discuss DOS, Windows 3.1 and ideas for setting up directories and organizing the filing system of your computer. The method of editing the autoexec.bat file to get the computer to efficiently load the programs you want to use win also be discussed. Class #2 PAF installation and Configuration Setup. February 6 This class will discuss the directory structure for PAF and how to install the PAF program. The configuration menu will be reviewed and the choices described. Class #3 Data Entry - Add, Modify and Delete Records. February 20 This class will examine various ways to enter data into the PAF database as well as suggested methods to modify or delete records. Several caveats win be discussed to develop an effective database. Class #4 PAF Utilities. March 5 This class will discuss the PAF Utility programs including backing up files, temporarily changing the configuration file and checking your data files. The Facts and Fun menu programs will also be examined. Class #5 Research Data Filer. March 19 This class will cover the uses of the research data filer as a technique for organizing research notes and keeping track of progress towards ones objectives. Class #6 Printing Standard Reports as well as creating Focus Reports. April 2 This class will discuss the printing of standard reports as well as the focus report system in PAF. Examples of information that can be extracted from your data files to aid your research. Class #7 Genealogical Information Exchange. April 16 This class will explain GEDCOM files, Ancestral File Submissions, and Ancestral File Corrections. Class #8 Hot Notes! (DOS Only) May 7 This class will show how Hot Notes!, a shareware program written by Jan Unter, can run with PAF, giving you many helps and streamline many operations PAF doesn't handle very well. Class #9 PAF Split, Forest, and PAF Stamp. (DOS Only) May 21 This class will discuss these three programs written by Ann Turner that help you manipulate your PAF data files in ways that PAF can not. Class #10 Super Merge. (DOS Only) June 4 This class will cover Super Merge, a program written by Floyd Nordin, which handles the merge function very nicely. A must program if you exchange data with others.
L-AGS CD-ROM Sharing Program The L-AGS Computer Interest Group (CIG) maintains a CD-ROM loan program to share this fairly expensive resource between its members. The people listed below have offered to either "loan" their CD-ROMs for a brief period to other members, do "look-ups" of a particular database if you don't have a CD player, or allow you to use their machine at a mutually agreeable time. If you would like to participate in this program, please give me, Doug Mumma, a call at 447-5164 when you purchase a CD-ROM so its title can be added to the list and made available. Remember that you should return any CD you borrow after a brief period! If you wish to use a particular title, contact the CD's owner directly. CD # CD Title System Owner Telephone CD-2 Marriage Records Indexes-IL, IN, KY, OH & TN (1700s-1890) DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 CD 4 Marriage Records Indexes-MD, NC & VA (Mid 1700s - 1890s) DOS only John Walden 443-2057 CD 15 Everton Publishers Family File Vol 1&2 & Roots Celler Vol 1 DOS only Bob Ware 447-1386 CD 17 Birth Record Series #I, Records, early thru 1880, Some 1900's DOS only Nancy Horne 449-6612 ditto ditto DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 CD 20 1880 Census Index (Federal & State) Ohio DOS only David Curry 447-7589 ditto ditto DOS only Doug Mumma 447-5164 CD 42 1850 U.S. Census NY DOS only Larry Renslow 846-1947 CD 100 Automated Linked Family Pedigrees #1 (800,000 names) DOS only Eugene Fisher 447-8079 ditto ditto DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 CD 101 Automated Linked Family Pedigrees #2 (700,000 names) DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 CD 102 Automated Linked Family Pedigrees #3 (750,000 names) DOS only Eugene Fisher 447-8079 ditto ditto DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 CD 108 Gentech 95 Pedigrees (new) DOS only Nancy Horne 449- 6612 CD 110 Social Security Death benefit records through December 1993 DOS only Eugene Fisher 447-8079 ditto ditto DOS only Nancy Home 449-6612 DOS only Bob Ware 447-1386 ditto ditto DOS only Doug Mumma 447-5164 CD 136 Colonial America Pre 1790 Index DOS only Bob Ware 447-1396 CD 137 1790 U.S. Census Index DOS only Doug Mumma 447- 5164 CD 146 Military Volunteers Records Inductions & Separations - 1784- 1811 DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 CD 151 1791-1808 U.S. Census Indexes Mid Atlantic, Great Lakes, & South DOS only Doug Mumma 447-5164 CD 164 Mortality Records: 1850 - 1880 DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 CD 227 Marriage Records Indexes-AR, CA, IA, LA, NM, MO, NO, West & TX (1710-1850) DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 CD 229 Marriage Records Indexes-KY, NC, TN, VA, & WV (1710 - 1850) DOS only John Carlisle 449-8008 1994 SelectPhone-Collection of listed U.S. telephone numbers. Mac & DOS David Abrahams 447-9386 ditto Mac & DOS George Anderson 846-4265 1995 Select Phone ditto Mac & DOS Doug Mumma 447-5164 Street Atlas USA - Detailed, street-level maps of the USA. DOS only Doug Mumma 447-5164 ditto Mac only David Abrahams 447-9386 ditto Mac only George Anderson 946-4265
L-AGS Genealogy Bulletin Board System (BBS) The purpose of L-AGS BBS is to provide L-AGS members with a place where they can connect to the National FidoNet Genealogy echo, download computer programs, look up information about L-AGS, including meeting dates, class schedules, resources available and post messages between members. The basic settings that you will need to reach the BBS are listed below. Please call Larry Renslow, the Sysop, at 846-1947 for help or comments. Telephone Number L-AGS BBS modem 846-8190 (Pleasanton) 24 hours a day. Communications Software settings - You will need to set some of the parameters in your communications software program to reach the BBS. Communication software is the computer program that causes your modem to dial another computer and make a connection. The suggested software settings are as follows: 1) Terminal emulation: ANSI 1st choice, IBM PC 2nd choice, or VT 100 if the first 2 choices are not available. If this setting is not correct, you will either see a bunch of weird characters scrolling across your screen or it won't be in color. 2) Data Bits: 8 3) Parity: None 4) Stop Bits: 1 5) Local Echo: off 6) Baud Rate: Set this to the highest setting it allows, i.e. 57,000 Even though your modern may only be a 9600 or 14,400 baud, your modem and the BBS will talk to each other and adjust to the highest speed that they can both operate 7) Flow control: Xon/Xoff 8) File transfer protocol: - Zmodem 1st choice for highest speed and ability to resume after a partial download. Use Xmodem if Zmodem is not an option in your communication software. Logging On - After you have configured the communications software, push the appropriate key to dial the BBS number. When the connection is made, your screen will usually blank and the following words appear: FrontDoor 2.12.SW; Shareware; Unregistered evaluation copy Presstwice for RA When you see this message, hit your ESC key twice. This tells the BBS that you are not the special FidoNet mail program calling. The BBS software will now load and you will be asked to type in your first and last name. The BBS will check your name against the registered users list. If you have never logged on before, the program will begin asking you some questions in order to identify who you are for security purposes. You will finally be asked to create a password for security reasons so think up an easy name or number combination that you can remember. You will be asked to type the password twice to make sure you entered it correctly. Now you will be presented with a few informational screens. Just follow the prompts until you reach what is called the "Main Menu." From here, you can explore or just log off the system. If you need help, there are some help Bulletins so go to the Bulletins area and read or download the information. Remember, this BBS is for your fun and pleasure so notify Larry of problems or things that would be helpful for you. To log off the BBS, disconnect by pressing the "G" key which stands for Good-bye. After the Sysop (Larry Renslow) verifies your name and membership in L-AGS, your security level will be raised. Then you will be able to access special L-AGS files and bulletins, such as the L-AGS confidential membership list. This change in security level may take a day or two before it occurs.
BEGINNING GENEALOGY by Mrs. Jolene Abrahams "Genealogy begins as an interest, becomes a hobby, continues as a avocation, takes over as an obsession, and in its last stage, is an incurable disease." Author unknown FIRST: Genealogy Societies. Many people start their genealogy and family history by looking through family albums and documents, etc. While you have been gathering your genealogy/family history I hope you took some time to join a local genealogy society. In this group you have at your finger tips a world of information that sometimes books forget to print. You learn from members and you get to share your findings. A society will generally publish a newsletter or quarterly which will include additional research information. They will also teach you what research aids (pedigree charts, family group records, etc.) to use and how to use them. SECOND: Start by gathering information about yourself and your family - spouse, children, parents, etc. As you write the names, be sure to include birth dates/places, baptism date/place, marriage date/place and any death date/place with burial date/place. If you have certificates to prove these events, make copies and store the originals in a safe place. By gathering these documents as you go, it will save you time later when someone ask you for "proof". THIRD: Another form of gathering information, and have a nice visit with older family members, is by interview. Using a tape recorder or a video camera is the best method to record an interview. Be sure to ask your subject first if it is okay to record the visit. Make notes in advance about the questions you want to ask. Be familiar with the family and/or members whom you are asking about. Don't rely on your memory. Start with the older living relatives first. When interviewing don't forget to ask about documents, photographs or newspaper articles etc. Be sure to take along extra batteries and tapes. FOURTH: Documentation. As you find each document remember to carefully cite the source of your information. Make photocopies of all originals, if possible. Make a note on the back of each photocopy or on a separate piece of paper attached to the copy stating when and where you saw or copied the item and where the original item is now or who has it. FIFTH: Photographs. When you have old photographs in your possession have negatives made right away. In some genealogy societies one or two members usually will do this for members. After this is done store the old photos in a safe place. Now with the negatives you can have any size or quantity printed. If you plan to take photographs with you while visiting family you may want to consider only taking copies. But never take the originals with you. Be sure to identify the people, place, and event, if any, in your photos. You should use non-smearing waterproof ink. SIXTH: Libraries and archives. Start with your local library. Even the smallest library generally has a genealogy section. The largest public genealogical library is located in the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In our local area we are fortunate to have the Livermore, Dublin and Pleasanton Libraries. All have a genealogy section. The Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society has their holdings in the Pleasanton Library. A branch of the National Archives is located in San Bruno, about an hour's drive from Livermore. In the Archives you will find such records as Federal population censuses for all states, 1790 - 1920; military service records; pension and bounty land warrant applications and much more. SEVENTH: Family History Centers. The Mormon Church has the largest genealogical library in the world. But before you buy your plane ticket to Salt Lake City to do research at this vast library, start closer to home. There are what I call three levels of Family History Centers (FHCs). I always recommend you learn the ins and outs at our two local FHCs. One is located in the Mormon Church at 950 Mocho Street in Livermore; the other one is at the Mormon Church at Valley and Paseo Santa Cruz in Pleasanton (see The Livermore Roots Tracer, Spring 1995 for current hours). They have computers, microfilm readers and microfiche readers. The next level would be the Oakland FHC. It is bigger and includes many books. The address of this FHC is 4766 Lincoln Ave., just off the Warren Freeway. After you exhaust the holdings there then you are ready for Salt Lake City, Utah. EIGHT: Genealogy Conferences and Seminars. The dates and places for these events are usually in a society's newsletter or quarterly and sometimes local newspapers. These offer a variety of classes or workshops taught by people who have spent hours and years researching their subject. Also at the seminars are vendors with their "wares". These can include the newest computer programs and CD-ROMs for the genealogist. Always lots of books and supplies. The list goes on and on. Right here in the Bay Area we have a great Family History Fair sponsored by the California Genealogical Society. Look for the date and place in your genealogy society's newsletter or quarterly. NINTH: Study Groups. Last but not least, if your society has a study group try to go to its meetings. While you can get information from a speaker at your regular meetings or go to the libraries to study their holdings, there is a closeness of learning in a study group. Many years of experience are wrapped up in all those members who participate. TENTH: Now that you have gathered your precious family history you will want it to live forever. Don't let the dust, light and improper storage eat away at all this and destroy it. Invest in archival materials such as albums, acid-free materials, polypropylene pages for your photos and special archival quality boxes to store other items. While there are many more subjects, ideas and places to do research that I can list, none of that will help if you don't get out and implement all I have given you above. By far you will have many successes. But don't be discouraged if while you climb your family tree you should slide back now and then. If you need a boost I am only a phone call away ---- Jolene, 447-9386. "I think that I shall never see A complete genealogy" Author unknown
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