My Trails into the Past

Outside activities included phenology, train club meeting, dinner with daughter, and getting covid and flu shots. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: This week, I volunteered at the History Center twice. John and I checked all the boxes from Betty’s donation for any photos we missed. On Tuesday, I answered some queries and entered more books into the library database. I volunteered at the FamilySearch Center in Oakland. I haven’t helped anyone in ages, as most who come in the evenings are regulars. I also got the press release out for this month’s BCG webinar. Genealogy Meetings:  Jacqueline and I met twice, Monday and Friday, and Friday will be our new day. We made plans for her trip down to SF in November to see Rachel Maddow speak. I attended the Labor SIG and the Renewal CDG group session where Carol shared her renewal journey. Genealogy Writing/Research : This week I worked on my great-grandfather, John H. Sullivan’s line. I also did some Hutson work at the Oakland ...

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 ...

Outside activities included phenology, hikes, visit to a friend’s train layout, train club show, and three trips to the gym. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: This week, Traci, John, and I met at the History Center to continue our work with the Maffei collection. We continued sorting photos and transferred them temporarily into folders and document boxes. On Tuesday, I worked on several queries sent to the History Center. On Saturday, I hosted the presentation of the California Genealogical Society on Zoom. Genealogy Meetings:  I attended the NARA SIG at Kinseekers and the Irish SIG at California Genealogical Society. week. Genealogy Writing/Research : I spent Thursday, Friday, and the weekend researching the Bishop family and wrote two blog posts. Blog Posts Published: My Grandmother Told Me the Story of her Childhood For the theme of “What Wasn’t Written Down,” I wrote about my grandmother’s childhood. David Shotts and Mary Wagoner of Ross County, Ohio – 12 ...

Outside activities included phenology, bird watching, train club show, and trips to National Park sites with Jacqueline. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I met Traci this week at the History Center to work on the Maffei collection. We sorted out photos and transferred them temporarily into folders and document boxes. On Thursday, I took the minutes for the CCCHS board meeting. On Saturday, I presented a talk about researching school records for the Sonoma County Genealogical Society. Genealogy Meetings:  I attended the Military SIG this week. The focus was primarily on some good resources for WWII research.   Genealogy Writing/Research : I spent Thursday and Friday researching the Shotts family and wrote two blog posts. Blog Posts Published: An Old Powder Horn For the theme of “A Document with Personality,” I wrote about a newspaper that described a powder horn one of my husband’s ancestors once owned. The description was so detailed that I had AI mak...

Outside activities included phenology, bird watching, and trips to National Park sites with Jacqueline. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I sent out the final press releases for the BCG webinar. Our writing group met in person this week at the Oakland FamilySearch Center and after a couple of hours of sharing, we ate lunch up the street. Genealogy Meetings:  Meetings I attended this week were a special CCCHS board meeting and the RootsMagic SIG.   Genealogy Writing/Research : I did very little writing and research this week, only working a bit on Saturday and Sunday on the Shotts line. Blog Posts Published: A Fact that Makes Me Smile I wrote about my grandmother registering to vote in a different party than her husband. SNGF: Serendipity! I wrote about how I found the source of where I got the information about the marriage of David Shotts and Mary Wagoner. Courses Attended :  I missed my South Carolina Research class last week and haven’t cau...

Outside activities included phenology, History Center, hike, and trips to National Park sites with Jacqueline. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I volunteered twice at the History Center again this week. Traci, John, and I worked on the Betty Maffei collection on Monday. On Tuesday, I helped a trio of researchers. Genealogy Meetings:  Meetings I attended this week were a special CCCHS board meeting and the RootsMagic SIG.   Genealogy Writing/Research : I got in a little more writing this week, finishing up the Johnston line by writing about Reuben’s wife, Olivia Jane Jones. I have started on the new month researching Shotts. Blog Posts Published: The Family of Olivia Jane Jones – Final 12 for ’26 for August I finished up the Johnston month by researching and writing about Reuben’s wife, Olivia Jane Jones. Catharine Elizabeth Shotts Gorrell For 52 Ancestors, I wrote about Amos Gorrell’s wife, Catharine. SNGF: How Do You Use Artificial Intelligence Too...

Outside activities included gym, phenology, History Center, trip to the Google Store, and dinner at Original Joes. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I volunteered twice at the History Center again this week, working with Traci and John on the Betty Maffei collection on Monday and my regular shift on Tuesday, where I opened. Genealogy Meetings:  I attended the RootsMagic SIG and met with Jacqueline for last minute plans for her trip – she’ll be arriving this coming week.   Genealogy Writing/Research : I wrote about Samuel & Elizabeth Johnston in Texas & Mississippi, then wrote about Reuben’s wife, Oliva Jones’ family. Blog Posts Published: Samuel Johnston’s Land in Yalobusha County, Mississippi on a Map For the theme of “a spot on a map,” I wrote about how I found Sam’s land on a map. SNGF: Describe One of Your Own, or an Ancestor’s, Life Turning Point I wrote about my early career decisions. Courses Attended :  I again attended the last two ses...

Outside activities included phenology, History Center, hike, and anniversary party for my niece.   Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I volunteered twice at the History Center again this week. Traci and I worked on the Betty Maffei collection on Monday and on Tuesday, I entered books into the library database and shelved them. Genealogy Meetings:  Meetings I attended this week were the CCCHS board meeting, an education committee meeting at CGS, NARA SIG, and Oakland FS Center meeting. I met Linda for tea and we had a great get-together talking about our projects and families.   Genealogy Writing/Research : I got in a little more writing this week, finishing up what I had started on Reuben Johnston, finishing up on the full-text search for him and his brothers, and introducing their parents Sam & Elizabeth Johnston. I also wrote a couple of proof summaries for the MGP class. Blog Posts Published: William Hutson “Hutts” Loveless Lived a Long Life For the ...

Outside act ivities included phenology, History Center, hike, and lunch in Orinda. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I volunteered twice at the History Center again this week. I worked putting more items away on Tuesday, and on Saturday worked with entering collections into PastPerfect and the Online Archive of California. I led the writer’s group and we discussed Margaret’s submission and talked about citations. Genealogy Meetings:  This week I met with my accountability group, military SIG, and two sessions of Level Up.   Genealogy Writing/Research : I have spent time writing but didn’t get much completed or published on the blog. Part of the reason is the two courses I’m taking during the week. Blog Posts Published: What to do about Multiple Sources for One Event For the them of “Multiples,” I wrote about how I analyze and correlate multiple sources and pieces of information. Highlighted by Linda Stufflebean and Randy Seaver. SNGF: An Unusual Newspaper Art...

Outside activities included phenology, History Center, day trip to Berkeley, a movie, and garage sales. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I worked two afternoons at the History Center again this week, working with the library database on Tuesday and attending a meeting about processing the Maffei collection. I did a birth certificate pull for my long-standing client. Genealogy Meetings:  This week I had meetings with Jacqueline, the CGS education committee, APG Golden State Chapter, and the Labor SIG.   Genealogy Writing/Research : I did not write much this week, except for the homework in the Mastering Genealogical Proof class I’m taking and the 52 Ancestors & SNGF blog posts. I started working on the Johnston family and did a little research and writing during the one Level Up session I attended. Also, my daughter is visiting and we spent time together. Blog Posts Published: Can Samuel Johnston’s 1850 Mississippi Neighborhood Help Locate His Alabama &...

Outside activities included phenology, History Center, hiking, a meet with fellow modelers, and a trip to Placerville for a family reunion. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I worked two afternoons at the History Center, working with accessions and putting away some donated items. I presented my Farming Ancestors talk to the North San Diego Genealogical Society. Genealogy Meetings:  This week I met with Jacqueline and we continued the discussion about the her trip to the Bay Area in September to visit National Parks. She had is all mapped out on a calendar. We also looked about her writing project and worked on some formatting issues. I also had a good conversation with Carol in the Renewal Accountability Group. Genealogy Writing/Research : I finished up the month with a final post about the tax records in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. With the new month starting on Saturday, I wrote my first Johnston family post on Sunday. I attended two sessions of Level Up Accountabil...

Outside activities included phenology, History Center, and a memorial service. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: None this week. Genealogy Meetings:  This week I met with Jacqueline and we discussed the trip we made to GRIP and her trip to California in September. I met with the Kinseekers program committee to discuss the upcoming year’s programs. I attended the NARA SIG where we learned all about Jacqueline’s document she found at the Pitt Library about one of her ancestors. With no hike this week, I was able to attend the Certification Discussion Group meeting and the discussion was about AI. I later attended the RootsMagic SIG but my computer kept kicking me out. Genealogy Writing/Research : I continued writing and researching the Gorrell families in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tackling the 40 years of tax records, trying to sort out the people. I listed out the tax and census records in chronological order. I then asked AI (in incognito mode) to reorganize the re...

Outside activities included a week at GRIP in Pittsburgh, the flight home, and train club show over the weekend. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work:  None this week. Genealogy Meetings:  None this week. Genealogy Writing/Research : I did work on Amos Gorrell, Sr. this week, writing the 52 Ancestors post and creating another about the platting I did in class at GRIP. Blog Posts Published: Trying to Understand a Tax Record in Beaver County, Pennsylvania For the theme of “A Source I Want to Understand Better,” I wrote about the tax records from Beaver County and how I found the law that explains them. Highlighted by Linda Stufflebean and 52 Ancestors. Land Platting Amos Gorrell’s Beaver County, Pennsylvania Land (12 for ’26) I wrote about the deeds I platted in Deedmapper concerning Amos’s land. SNGF: Your Farthest Flung Ancestor We had to figure out the ancestors that came from the farthest. Courses Attended :  Metes & Bounds: Land Platting at GRIP ...

Outside activities included phenology, History Center, lunch with friends, and an airplane ride to Pittsburgh for GRIP. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I volunteered at the History Center, working on accessions by entering them into PastPerfect. I moved the CalTrans collection to the back hall shelves and the new books from the Board of Supervisors to the County room. I also entered some books into the library database. I sent out the BCG press release.   The Writer’s group met this week and we discussed Jacqueline and Margaret’s writing samples, as well as a chance to meet in person when Jacqueline comes down to visit in September. Genealogy Meetings:  Jacqueline and I met and discussed our trip to Pittsburgh. Genealogy Writing/Research : I worked on Amos (1804-1890), who lived in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. It was a bit of a struggle getting all the deeds recorded and working out the tax records in two different townships. Blog Posts Published: Mam-ma’...