Monday Genea-pourri, Week of September 28–October 4, 2026

Outside activities included phenology, bird watching, two memorial services, and lunch with friends.

Genealogy

Genealogy Volunteer/Work:
This week, I volunteered at the History Center twice. I got a lot done with the assessions and with the library database. I picked up a death certificate for my long-time client.

Genealogy Meetings: 
I met briefly with Jacqueline on Monday. We talked about her possibly coming for the CGS open house, but later she decided against it.

Genealogy Writing/Research:
I spent the last part of the month finishing up the Bishop family research and started on the Sullivan family at the beginning of the month. I wrote up the John Coor’s timeline for the South Carolina class and sent it to Craig Scott. John Coor had served in the War of 1812 for a month.  

Blog Posts Published:

Frederick and Susannah Bishop of Ross County, Ohio – 12 for ‘26
I wrote about Mary Ann Bishops’ parents, Frederick and Susannah Bishop.

SNGF: What Were You Doing in 2001?
Randy Seaver had us write about our activities in 2001. That was hard, as I didn’t keep a journal or write a Christmas letter like Randy did.

Courses Attended: 
I attended the first session of the South Carolina Research class, both the sessions of the America 250 class, and the recording of the second SC session. This coming week is the last for these classes to overlap.   

Webinars Viewed:

• Unreasonably Exhaustive Research: Finding a Mother & a Father for a Man of Common Name, Born c1788 Virginia by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Legacy Family Tree Webinars)
• My Ancestor was a Postmaster by Jeanette Sheliga (Dallas Genealogical Society)
• “World War II Case Studies: Reconstructing Your Ancestors’ Service” by Kristin Barcomb (Sonoma Co Gen Soc

Other:
I went to the gym Monday and Wednesday but was too sore for Friday’s session. On Wednesday, instead of hiking, I went with the Mt Diablo Bird Alliance to Oakland where we birded at Middle Harbor Regional Park. On Friday, I met Nancy, Larry, and Terry at the Europa in Orinda.

I am reading: 

• The Liberation Line: The untold story of how American Engineering and ingenuity won World War II by Christian Wolmar
• Das große Giggler Geheimnis by Roddy Doyle

 Photos for this week. Our view while bird watching.

Genealogists are great at documenting our ancestors’ lives, but not so great at documenting our own. I’ll write about what I’ve been doing the past week. This idea came from Randy Seaver of Genea-Musing, who started this meme.

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