My Trails into the Past

Outside activities included a hike at Mt. Diablo and a trip to a model railroad convention in Rohnert Park.     Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I inventoried and rehoused the current items in Dean’s collection and spoke to the volunteer who is working on Betty’s collection. Genealogy Meetings:  Jacqueline and I met and we discussed her updated work on the book about her dad. I hosted Roundtable and also met up with the renewal accountability group, where Carol and I talked about my Wollenwebers. Genealogy Writing/Research : I continued working on the Voehringer family this week, finishing up the last post about Philippina’s siblings, who also immigrated. Blog Posts Published: The Tradition of Pancake Breakfast For the theme of “tradition,” I wrote about my childhood breakfast of pancakes and what we did with our children. 12 for ’26: The Family of Philippina Wollenweber geb. Voehringer I focused the last post of April on Philippina’s siblings and mothe...

Outside activities included an eye doctor appointment, train club show, and phenology. I spent much of the days researching and writing.   Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I worked Dean at the History Center and entered entered more books into the library database from his donation. Genealogy Meetings:  Jacqueline and I met while she was on the road heading back up to Oregon and I enjoyed hearing about Stewart’s birthday party. The only other meeting this week was the CCCGS’ Genealogy Café. Genealogy Writing/Research : I continued working on the Wollenweber family, this week writing and researching about his wife, Philippina Voehringer and her family. I submitted a piece about Louis W. Wollenweber for peer review in the Writing for Discovery course, and I gave feedback on two other pieces. Blog Posts Published: Working as a Baker: What Louis W. Wollenweber did in Cleveland For the theme of “working for a living,” I wrote about my husband’s 2x-great-grandfather...

Outside activities included a trip to Sacramento, phenology, John Muir Earth Day Birthday, and a concert.   Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I drove up to Sacramento to present "How to Leave Your Genealogy" to the Sacramento Association of Genealogy. They were very receptive to the talk, asked lots of questions, and share additional suggestions. Then I drove to the Oakland FamilySearch Center and gave the presentation "Probate Records: More Than Wills." I worked on accessions at the History Center, entering them into PastPerfect. I got the new login and password for the Online Archive of California and will work on updating collections next. On Thursday, I took minutes of the board meeting. I turned in my press release committee report for the upcoming BCG board meeting.    I also attended the Sonoma County Genealogical Society’s board meeting and took minutes. Yeah, we have a member who will take over the secretary position in July. I’m retiring from...

This week I pulled records from the Contra Costa County court office and county recorder’s office for a client, hiked in Tilden Park, attended Train Club meeting, and picked up trash at McNabney Marsh in the rain for the Mt View Sanitary District and the Contra Costa County Resource Conservation District. I also pulled weeds in my own garden and this week’s weed pulling will be easier due to the rain we got the past three days.   Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I got to visit the new county court records office this week though I went to the wrong courthouse at first. Their system of retrieval is so much faster now with multiple windows, numbered tickets, and records that are digitized. I took care of some queries at the History Center, focusing mostly on court records. I also entered the new donations into the accession book. Next, I’ll enter them into PastPerfect. I have a stack of items to file the next time I’m in.    Genealogy Meetings:  I attended...

I left for Eugene, Oregon, on the Amtrak Coast Starlight on Monday evening and was picked up by Jacqueline Tuesday afternoon. I spent a lovely six days, and board the train back on Sunday afternoon, to arrive back home on Monday at 8 a.m.   Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: Wednesday, it rained all day and Jacqueline and I spent time on our computers, set up in the dining room. Actually I got in a little bit each morning and evening, when we weren’t doing other activities. I have the draft of the BCG Webinar for April written and approved and I will send it out on Tuesday. I received a request to pick up certificates and court records.    Genealogy Meetings:  I didn’t attend any meetings this week.  Genealogy Writing/Research : I began working on the Wollenweber family for April. I created a timeline for Matilda Wollenweber, as a start in discovering more that I can research on her. Next up would be her father, Ludwig “Louis” Wilhelm Wollenweber. I w...

Outside activities including weeding on my backyard in preparation for our summer vegetable garden, doing phenology, hiking at Shell Ridge in Walnut Creek, having lunch with friends, operating on Tony’s layout, and working the last Friday night show at the train club. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I spent a half day at the History Center on Tuesday, working on the library database, and researching some last minute items for the article of lost communities in the county.    Genealogy Meetings:  Our renewal peer group met and we got caught up with our projects. I hosted the roundtable. Jacqueline and I discussed our trip to Pittsburgh for GRIP. I attended the RootsMagic SIG.  Genealogy Writing/Research : I continued working on George Wilson Lancaster this week, starting a timeline. So far, the timeline is twelve pages, and I’m not finished yet. This timeline needs some citations corrected, especially those from locked images on FamilySearch. The timelin...

Spent the weekend at Train Club working the set-up position for our open house. Our hike was at Black Diamond Mines Regional Park but I forgot my phone, so no photos were taken.   Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I sent out the remaining BCG-sponsored webinar press releases. At the History Center, I worked on answering queries and entering more details to the library database. I attended and took minutes for the Sonoma County Genealogical Society board meeting. On Thursday, I led the writing group and we discussed a couple of submissions, and gave a webinar on church records to Root Cellar. On Saturday, I hosted the third installment of the Precision series at CGS. Genealogy Meetings:  I met with my Renewal Accountability group, Jacqueline, and Military SIG on Monday. Jacqueline and I discussed my trip to visit her this month. I was the only attendee on Friday in the Writing Accountability group. Genealogy Writing/Research : I am still working on the Lancaster fam...

We left Kansas City Monday night, arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, and arrive home by that evening. I have played catch up at home most of the week, going out to do phenology, and weeding in my front yard. The rain while we were gone kept the plants alive. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I worked on the BCG-sponsored webinar press release and it will go out next week. Genealogy Meetings:  I met up with Jacqueline to discuss AirTable, our trip to GRIP, and a trip to visit her in April. Genealogy Writing/Research : I am working on the Lancaster family for March’s 12 for ‘26. There is a lot I already have, and I found a lot in full-text search at FamilySearch and newspapers at the Portal to Texas History . I’ve written three blog posts on my other blog, Mam-ma’s Southern Family and am working on the fourth one. Blog Posts Published: Changed My Thinking For the theme of “Changed Your Thinking,” I wrote about how learning some things about our ancestors c...

Still on our trip, leaving Ocala on Monday for NYC, arriving on Tuesday. Spent three days with daughter in cold NYC during the day. Left on Thursday for Chicago, arriving on Friday. After a stop for brunch at Lou Mitchell’s, we boarded the train for Kansas City. We visited cousin Kathleen on Saturday in Pittsburg, Kansas, and Roger & Annette in Kansas City on Sunday. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: None this week. Vacation time! Genealogy Meetings:  I attended the RootsMagic SIG meeting on Wednesday until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore—it was approaching 11 pm in NYC. Genealogy Writing/Research : I worked on writing about the Hork families in Montana and Germany for 12 for ‘26. Blog Posts Published: Resolving Conflicts: Element 4 of the GPS For the theme of “Conflicting Clues,” I wrote about resolving conflicts, the fourth element of the GPS, using one of my collateral lines as an example. Randy Seaver highlighted this post in his " Best of the Genea-Bl...

All outside activities past week included the trip up to Ocala using a rental car, staying with Norman’s cousin, Shirley, return south to ride a train in Clewiston, a airboat ride in the Everglades, and a long drive back up to Orlando. I was sick with a head cold and tried to stay away from everyone, but Norman got it, too. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: None this week, except for sending the description of the probate class I’m teaching in April to CGS for posting on the website. Genealogy Meetings:  I attended no official meetings this week, but connected with Jacqueline to explain views in AirTable. Genealogy Writing/Research : I continued writing about the Sievert and Hork families in my 12 for ’26 challenge. Blog Posts Published: A Big Decision – Why My Ancestors Came to America For the theme of “A Big Decision,” I wrote about how I have no idea why any of my ancestors left the home country and came here. SNGF—What Are Your Major Genealogy Research Challen...

All outside activities past week included the trip down to Miami aboard the Floridian, staying two nights in Miami and two nights in Key West. Today, we head up to Ocala to visit Norman’s cousin. Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I had to correct the BCG press release with an updated link. I accepted an invitation to speak to the Sacramento Public Library. Genealogy Meetings:  I attended no meetings this week. Genealogy Writing/Research : I continued writing about the Sievert and Hork families in my 12 for ’26 challenge. Blog Posts Published: Resolving Conflicts in Censuses – A Hork Family Example For the theme of “ What the Census Suggests ,” I wrote about how I resolved the conflict of Johan Anton’s ages in the U.S. census. This post was highlighted by Linda Stufflebea and Randy Seaver. SNGF—What Was the Great Love Story in Your Family Tree? I wrote about my in-laws, George & Thelma Gorrell. Vincent Sievert in Joliet, Illinois - 12 for ’26 – Part 2 This is...

Outside activities included two trips to the History Center, phenology, Oakland FamilySearch Center, phenology, and attending a model railroad meet.   Genealogy Genealogy Volunteer/Work: I made two trips to the History Center on Tuesday and Thursday. I entered more descriptions into the library database answered some email research requests. On one of them, I visited the county recorder’s office to retrieve some deeds and a map. Genealogy Meetings:  The BCG renewal group met and we discussed the projects we’re working on. Jacqueline and I met and we discussed the work I’m doing with the Hutson/Selman family. The CCCGS Roundtable met and we discussed Ancestry DNA during most of the time, as well as the changes at the FS Library. Genealogy Writing/Research : I have been working on my Hutson/Selman project and spent most of the day at the Oakland FamilySearch Center looking at locked films for Leon and Cherokee Counties in Texas. I still haven’t finished but the month i...