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Saturday, May 3
Genealogical Research with the Witkin State Law Library (Speaker Series)
11:00 am Online Zoom Presentation
Legal Research Might Help Your Genealogical Research.
Our May Speaker Series presentation will be Saturday, May 3, 2025, beginning at 11 a.m. Pacific Daylight SavingsTime. Elena Smith will present “Genealogical Research with the Witkin State Law Library”.
The Witkin State Law Library is part of the California State Library and serves as the state's primary legal research library.
Did your ancestor commit a crime or file a lawsuit? Learn how to mine legal resources for genealogical treasures that can provide rich details about your ancestor's life. Elena will discuss which records are available from the comfort of your home and which types of records are available elsewhere. Elena will then explore how you can use those resources to find information about your ancestors via several research examples.
Elena Smith is a reference and outreach librarian for the Witkin State Law Library, a premier collection of legal materials. In addition to over a year and a half of experience as a law librarian, she has over a decade of experience helping patrons with their history and genealogy research in a wide variety of local libraries and archives. Her professional passions include historic California law and public access to legal resources.
Solano County Genealogy Society members will receive a Zoom invite via email a few days before the event. They can also find the most current Zoom invitation Link on the website in the Members Only menu section.
Non-member guests are also welcome to attend this FREE event. If interested, send an email to scgs@scgsca.org no later than 4 p.m. Friday, May 2, and request an invitation.
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Wednesday, May 14
Reading and Writing with Genealogical Content (Discussion Group)
10:00 am Online Zoom Discussion Group
Join us on May 14 at 10 AM on Zoom for the Solano County Genealogical Society’s monthly Genealogy Discussion Group meeting, where we’ll explore the topic: "Reading and Writing with Genealogical Content."
Whether you’re deciphering old documents, interpreting historical texts, or crafting your own family narrative, this session will offer practical tips and insights. We’ll discuss how to:
- Effectively read and interpret historical records, letters, and other genealogical documents.
- Enhance your writing with engaging storytelling techniques while maintaining factual accuracy.
- Incorporate sources and citations properly to support your genealogical research.
This interactive discussion is perfect for genealogists of all experience levels. Share your challenges, discover new strategies, and gain inspiration for preserving your family’s history through both reading and writing.
Bring Your Examples: Feel free to bring samples of genealogical documents or writing projects you'd like to discuss with the group.
Guests Welcome! Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just starting out, we encourage you to join us for this enriching and collaborative session.
Discussions are informal groups gathered to exchange or learn new ideas about each topic.
Solano County Genealogical Society members will receive a Zoom invite via email a few days before the event. They can also find the most current Zoom Invitation Link on the website in the Members Only menu section.
Guests are Welcome to attend this FREE event. If interested, send an email to the society at scgs@scgsca.org no later than 4:00 p.m., May 13th to request a Zoom invitation.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Saturday, June 7
The Joys and Challenges of Asian American Research (Speaker Series)
11:00 am Online Zoom Presentation
The Solano County Genealogical Society will host a virtual Speaker Series presentation on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. The topic is: "The Joys and Challenges of Asian American Research"
Asian Americans have been in this country for over 175 years, despite discriminatory legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act, Gentlemen’s Agreement, Immigration Act of 1924, and the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans. In many cases, these laws resulted in extensive files that can help researchers find information about their ancestors. There are fewer resources for research into those whose families have come to the U.S. since the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, but genealogical techniques and discussions with families can still lead to learning about ancestors.
Our speaker Grant Din has conducted genealogical research for over thirty-five years. He currently serves on the board of the California Genealogical Society and consults on genealogical and nonprofit projects. Mr. Din has served on the staff of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation for eight years and was involved with Immigrant Voices website with over 220 stories of West Coast immigrants from throughout the world. He was also co-curator of Taken From Their Families, a permanent exhibit about the wartime internment of Japanese immigrants on the island.
Grant's interest in genealogy started at a wedding reception in his youth, where a relative showed him a page from a family tree showing he is in the 36th generation of the Gong family (he's also a 24th generation Owyang). His research has taken him throughout California, China, and Japan to research his and his family’s journeys.
Grant Din holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, an M.A. in public policy analysis from Claremont Graduate University, and a B.A. in sociology with emphasis on urban studies from Yale University, and has traveled throughout the U.S., China, and Japan for his research. Grant was a part of the research team for The Six, a film about the Chinese who survived the Titanic.
He has close to forty years of experience in the Bay Area non-profit sector and lives with his family in Oakland, CA.
Solano County Genealogical Society members will receive a Zoom invite via email a few days before the event. They can also find the most current Zoom Invitation Link on the website in the Members Only menu section.
Guests are welcome to attend this FREE event. If interested, send an email to the society at scgs@scgsca.org no later than 4:00 p.m. June 6th to request an invitation.
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Wednesday, June 11
Online & Offline Genealogy Software (Discussion Group)
10:00 am Online Zoom Meeting
Join us on June 11 at 10 AM on Zoom for the Solano County Genealogical Society’s monthly Genealogy Discussion Group meeting, where we’ll explore the topic: "Online & Offline Genealogy Software."
We will discuss the benefits and differences between various genealogy programs and platforms, helping you decide which tools best suit your research needs. Topics will include:
- Popular Online Platforms: Ancestry, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, and more—exploring their features, pros, and cons.
- Offline Software Options: Programs like RootsMagic, Legacy Family Tree, and Family Tree Maker—ideal for organizing and safeguarding your data.
- Syncing and Backups: How to efficiently sync online trees with offline programs and ensure your research is safely backed up.
- Tips for Choosing the Right Tool: Factors to consider, such as ease of use, collaboration features, and compatibility with other services.
Tech Talk & Tips: Bring your questions and experiences with genealogy software—this is a great opportunity to share insights and learn from fellow researchers.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand your tech toolkit, this discussion will provide valuable tips and recommendations.
Discussions are informal groups gathered to exchange or learn new ideas about each topic.
Solano County Genealogical Society members will receive a Zoom invite via email a few days before the event. They can also find the most current Zoom Invitation Link on the website in the Members Only menu section.
Guests are Welcome to attend this FREE event. If interested, send an email to the society at scgs@scgsca.org no later than 4:00 p.m., June 10th to request a Zoom invitation.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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