Fabulous Friday - The Family History Expo

The Family History Expo is here in Northern California today and tomorrow -  Friday and Saturday - July 6th and 7th  - in Sacramento!  The venue this year is the Crowne Plaza Hotel which is conveniently located right off the I80 at Madison.   Doors open at 1:00pm for registration and the exhibit area. 


Here is the agenda for today - Friday - July 6th


2:00pm - Opening keynote address by Dean L. McLeod


3:30pm - Six classes to choose from: 


How to Document your "Common Man" Ancestors in British Land Records  by Arlene H. Eakle
Evernote  by Tom Underhill
Fascinating Family History Books  by Biff and Nancy Barnes
Heritage Collector Software Suite  by Marlo E. Schuldt
FamilySearch Online: A Wealth of Resources  by James L. Tanner
What’s New in RootsMagic 5  by Michael Booth

4:50pm - Six classes to choose from:

I LOVE Libraries: Using Libraries for Your Genealogy  by Gena Philibert Ortega
Deeds and Land Records  by Billy Dubois Edgington
How to Plan and Organize a Family History Book  by Biff and Nancy Barnes
From DNA to Genetic Genealogy: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask by Steve Morse
Will You Be Ready When Family Tree Replaces New FamilySearch?  by James L. Tanner
Writing Your Personal History (and Living to Tell About It)  by Michael Booth



6:30pm - Six classes to choose from:

British Isles Migration Patterns to America: Documenting "Original" Settlers to New England, New Netherlands, and The South by Arlene H. Eakle
Organization is Everything  by Philipp M. Mayer
10 Techniques to Shoot "Picture Perfect" with Your Cell Phone's Digital Camera  by Tom Underhill
Using GenealogyWise to Find Ancestors  by Gena Philibert Ortega
What's in Your Family History Toolbox?  by Paul Larsen
Personal Historian 2: New Tools to Write Your Life Stories  by Michael Booth



7:50pm - Six classes to choose from:

Think Like an Archivist: Finding Hidden Genealogical Materials in Libraries and Archives by Nancy Loe
Easier Scanning for Better Results  by Marlo E. Schuldt
Beyond Names and Dates: Building Your Ancestor’s Profile  by Angela Kraft
Save Money by Designing Your Family History Book for Publishing  by Janalyn Underhill
Getting Started with HeritageQuestOnline.com  by  James L. Tanner
Where in the World? Geography, GPS, and Genealogy  by  Michael Booth


I'll be at the Expo on Friday and Saturday in the Blogger Lounge.  Stop in and say Hello, I'd love to meet you!

I Love A Parade!

Especially when I get to be in it! Today the El Toyon Chapter, NSDAR participated in the 4th of July Parade here in Stockton, California. It was only a balmy 97 degrees today - perfect parade weather.

There was a huge turnout and the crowd cheered as each of the almost 100 entries passed them by. I am the one in the blue hat in the photos below.  Later back at Camp Fenley,  ribs, potato salad and watermelon for 30 friends and family.  A Most Excellent Day!

General Misbehaving at Jamboree 2012

I surprised even myself with my behavior at Jamboree a couple of weeks ago.  Just some general misbehaving and no pinatas, however I did come home with a tattoo of a black sheep on my arm.


But first some of the fun!

At the Hollywood Gala

from left to right: Kim Cotton, Sheri Fenley, Kathryn Doyle, Lisa Alzo and Elizabeth O'Neal

Elizabeth O'Neal and I

Souvenir we received for attending the Gala

More Gala Fun and Big, Big Hair

Amy Coffin , Elizabeth O'Neal and Me

Me holding up promo literature for the NGS Conference in Las Vegas 2013.  That's next year folks.  In Las Vegas!

Me and Susan Kitchen's leg - showing off our black sheep tattoos!

And this is where we got the tattoos - Ron Aarons

And last but not least, meet some of the new friends I made while at Jamboree:

Debbie Mascot - Mascot Manor Genealogy
Terri Fraser - Retracing The Past
Barry Ewell - Barry's Blog
Valerie Elkins - Family Cherished
Mara Fein, PhD, CG - Ancestry West
Jay Fonkert, CG - Four Generations Genealogy
Jana Sloan Broglin, CG - Her webpage
Warren Bittner, CG - I couldn't find a blog or webapge or website for Warren.  Hey Warren - get blogging buddy!
Laura Prescott - Her webpage


Thanks to Janet Hovorka and Family ChartMasters for the fabulous blogger beads.

Note about the photos used:  The one of me and the NGS promo literature was taken by my Dahling friend Stefani Evans, CG.  Tattoo pic courtesy of Susan Kitchens.  The rest I blatantly lifted from somewhere and I do thank you who ever you are.

Northern California Family History Expo

Holly Hansen and the Family History Expo is coming back to Northern California!  This time in our state capitol - Sacramento!  It will be Friday and Saturday - July 6th and 7th  at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 5321 Date Avenue, Sacramento  And the best part is registration for both days is only $69 - what a bargain for all the classes being offered.  Here are just a few general descriptions of the offerings:


TECHY TYPE CLASSES


Photo retouching for beginners
Classes on how to use RootsMagic
How to use Evernote
How to use your scanner better
How to get great photos with your cell phone camera
How to get organized
Using GPS with genealogy

PUBLISHING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY


Classes on how to prepare, write and design a book
Storytelling and oral history

ACROSS THE POND


British Land Records
British Isles Migration to America
German genealogy research
The Miller Roll - Cherokee Indians
Irish research

DNA, GENETIC TESTING FOR BEGINNERS


ON THE WEB


How to use the FamilySearch Research Wiki
How to search Ancestry.com
How to search the 1940 census
Great Internet Site for Genealogists
How to search using Google
How to search HeritageQuest
How to use GenealogyWise
How to use FamilySearch.org

The scheduled speakers are a small army of fantastic people:
James Baker, PhD, CG, Biff and Nancy Barnes, Michael Booth, Arlene Eakle, PhD, Billy Edgington, Holley Hansen, Angela Kraft, Paul Larsen, Nancy Loe, MA, MLS, Philipp Mayer, Dean McLeod, Steve Morse, PhD, Gena Philibert-Ortega, Marlo Schuldt, James Tanner, Tom Underhill and Janalyn Underhill



Are you a blogger?  Do you want to start but don't know how?  Just want to learn more about blogging?  Then you are in for a treat!  Joining me, The Educated Genealogist,  as Bloggers of Honor are:

Leah Allen - Leah's Family Tree
Arlene Eakle, PhD - Genealogy Evidence
Holly Hansen - Family History Expos Genealogy Blog
Nancy Loe, MA, MLS - Sassy Jane Genealogy Blog
Debbie Mascot - Mascot Manor Genealogy
Leland Meitzler - Genealogy Blog
James Tanner - Genealogy's Star
Kim von Aspern-Parker - Le Maison Duchamp

Any one of us will be happy to talk your tail off about blogging and genealogy!

So make your plans now to come to Sacramento.  I'll be there so come by and say Hello!

Jamboree 2012 and Progress on My List

I can't believe that it's almost over - another outstanding conference - The 43rd annual Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree.

From the minute I arrived, it has been non-stop activity.  The unofficial welcoming committee of Kathryn Doyle, Amy Coffin, George Morgan & Drew Smith were camped out by the entrance to the hotel ready to pounce, er I mean welcome each unsuspecting arrival with hugs and squeals of delight.  Each new arrival then became part of the welcome committee and soon the lobby was full of genealogists from all over the country.  It was there I was able to meet one of the victims on my list of people I was stalking for the weekend - Laura Prescott.  Have to tell you, she is one of the nicest people ever and actually knew my name.  I think she was secretly relieved to have met me at the start so that she could be removed from the list.

Friday morning I hosted a roundtable discussion on lineage societies.  One of the people who sat down has an ancestor who was a servant in the household of George Washington and wanted to know if that would qualify her for membership into DAR.  While I wanted to tell her yes, I am not entirely certain and will have to check with DAR genealogists in Washington, DC to get a definite answer for her. But wow, what a great family history story she has!  The rest of the day was spent catching up with old friends and making new ones.

Friday evening was the Hollywood Gala.  I took full advantage of the opportunity to don a very sparkly dress and my best gold tiara.  My roommate - Elizabeth O'Neal was tres elegant in her velvet and best fur cape.  Best soiree ever - Thanks Paula Hinkle and the entire So Cal Gen Society for such a fun and creative event!

Saturday I hit the jackpot and was able to cross almost everyone off my list of victims I was stalking.  Thanks to Stefani Evans, I was introduced to Jana Broglin.  Ever since her talk on prostitution in the West, I have idolized her.  Josh Taylor came off the list when I attended his talk on compiled genealogies this afternoon.  It was live streamed so I hope everyone took the opportunity to watch it. I met Warren Bittner - again thanks to Stefani Evans.  I think Warren  was pleased to have met me.  He had never been stalked before - told me I was his first stalker. I think he was equally as pleased to know that he was no longer on my list.  Jay Fonkert was the real surprise.  He joined a group of us for dinner and it turns out that his wife and I are related.  More on that story later.

So here it is - the last night of Jamboree and Curt Witcher still remains on my list.  Sigh.  I still have tomorrow but need to come up with a much better approach or go home with yet another fail in my quest to meet Mr. Witcher.



Disclaimer - My stalking is always done in a totally non-restraining order kind of way and with the best of intentions, and only for my personal delight and entertainment.

Poof! Like Magic It Is June

OMG!  I cannot believe that another year has gone by and it is going to be June again.  I swear I just closed my eyes for a minute and when I opened them - Poof! Like magic - it is time for Jamboree again.

The 43rd annual Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree is June 8th thru 10th at the Burbank Marriott Hotel.  


The list of speakers and the topics they intend to cover for the weekend are outstanding.


I am not giving any presentations however I will be (wo)manning a couple of different booths over the weekend.


Friday, June 8th I will be hosting the genealogy roundtable for discussion on lineage societies. This is part of the Genealogy World Roundtable Discussions that are part of the JAMBOFREE sessions.  There is no charge and you do not have to be registered for the conference to join in.  There will be over 25 different topics at 25 tables set up in Pavillion A.  Pop in anytime between 9:00am and Noon.


On Sunday, June 10th I will be in the "Ask An Expert" Booth from 10am to 11am. Come on by and play "Stump the Genie."


Right after that I move over to the California State Genealogical Alliance booth for an hour or two.  I serve on the board as secretary for the Alliance.

On Friday evening, June 9th there will be an event you won't want to miss - the Hollywood Gala!  Red carpet, paparazzi, glitz and glamour.  Oooohhh this event is sooo up my alley.  Costumes are optional but who would want to miss an opportunity to dress up like a "movie stah" and vamp around?  Certainly not me.


I must also try to make time for stalking some of the best and brightest in the genealogy world. ( Disclaimer:  I stalk in a TOTALLY NON-RESTRAINING ORDER kind of way)  I failed miserably last year in my quest to have Curt Witcher notice me.  So I am going to try again this year but in case of a fail I have backups selected:  Warren Bittner, Jana Broglin, Jay Fonkert, Laura Prescott and Josh Taylor.  To qualify as a victim of my stalking the person must be someone I have never met but really, really want to.  I did meet Jay Fonkert when we share duties manning the APG table at the NGS conference at Salt Lake City a couple of years ago but I doubt he remembers me so he is on the list.


I have heard through the grapevine that it might be best not to bring a pinata with me this year.  Sigh.  I have suggested an alternate form of entertainment but for some reason have not heard back from the powers that be.  Heavy Sigh.

FOR MY DAHLING MOTHER

A Video for my Dahling Mummy.  Happy Mother's Day!

Shades: Birthday Edition - A Very Special Birthday Surprise!

Yes indeedy, you are reading this correctly.  Today is a legal holiday in honor of the footnoteMaven's Birthday!

Not only is she the editor and publisher of the award-winning "Shades of the Departed" (an online, full featured magazine) but she is also a very dear and special person to all here at Camp Fenley.  It is because of her, the world is a better place.

So, as one of the team of writers for the magazine, I join them in wishing the footnoteMaven a very     Happy Birthday!

My gift to you, Maven is something you probably won't ever see again - Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra, Rock Husdon, Cary Grant and Marlon Brando dancing their behinds off to wish you happy birthday.

As if this video wasn't enough, please visit the blogs of the other brilliant writers to read their Birthday tributes to the footnoteMaven

Shades: Birthday Edition - Captured Moments of Footnote Maven, by Jasia

Shades: Birthday Edition - For Your Family Story, by Caroline Pointer

Shades - Earth Day/Birthday Edition,  by Craig Manson

A Shades of the Departed Special Birthday Edition: Ladies in Glasses, by Rebecca Fenning

Shades: Birthday Edition -- A Teacup Throne at Moultrie Creek, by Denise Olson

Shades: Birthday Edition - The Fountain of Youth, by Donna Pointkouski
Shades: Birthday Edition - Lost Images Found?, by Janine Smith
Shades: Birthday Edition - Finding footnoteMaven in the 1940 U.S. Census, a dreadful tale, by Denise Levenick

footonoteMaven. "Earth Day - Birthday Graphic." footnoteMaven, 22 April 2009. www.footnotemaven.com/2009/04/earth-day-birthday.html : 2012. 

A Very Cool Story of Genealogical Interest

My friend Johan Mathiesen over at Blogging A Dead Horse wrote a lovely tribute to a man who is being buried 88 years after he died.  Yes - 88 years after he died.  This is one of the coolest stories ever!

Here is the short version of the story.

During the Civil War, Company G of the 37th Alabama Volunteer Infantry were defending the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi from the Union.  A sharpshooter from that unit named Willis Meadows was picking off Union soldiers from behind a iron boiler plate through a peephole.

A Union soldier from Company H of the 5th Iowa Volunteer Infantry named Peter Knapp shot at Meadows through the peephole and the bullet went straight into his eye.  Thinking he had killed the man, Knapp left him there.

Apparently Willis Meadows did not die but the bullet was never removed and Meadows went home to Alabama.  58 years later, in a fit of coughing, the bullet was dislodged and he spit it out.  The story "Coughs Up Bullet" was front page fodder in newspapers across the country.

Peter Knapp who was living in Washington by this time, read the story and realized that he was the soldier who had shot Willis Meadows in the eye.  He made contact with him, the two became friends and remained so until their deaths.

In 1990, a newspaper article is written about an anecdote from the 1950's which prompts a man named Henry Kilburn to contact the editor of the newspaper.  Mr. Kilburn produces  a photograph of the coughed-up bullet flanked by photographs of Willis Meadows and Peter Knapp. He also has the personal diary of Peter Knapp.  So how did Henry Kilburn end up with those items?

Peter Knapp and his wife, with no children of their own, adopted Henry Kilburn's younger sister, Minnie Mae.  Their mother had been divorced and abandoned by her husband. She must have decided that adoption by the Knapps would provide her daughter with a better life.  It was Mae who gave the items to Henry.

Fast forward to 2012.  In yet another newspaper article, we learn that  the wife of the 3rd great nephew of Peter Knapp is researching the Knapp family history.  She was looking for the burial site of Peter Knapp in particular.  At Find-A-Grave she locates an obituary for him that states he had been cremated.  Contacting the Crematorium she was told  no one had ever claimed the cremains.  Those were still on a shelf in the back room.

She then made contact with the Oregon Military Department because Peter Knapp was a Veteran of the U.S. Army he deserved a military funeral.  On 13 April 2012 he got it.

Johan Mathiesen  attended the service and has photos from the funeral on his Flickr page located HERE.  They are most excellent photos so head on over and have a look.

My Connection To WDYTYA and Helen Hunt

Actress Helen Hunt was the latest guest to discover some of her ancestry on Who Do You Think You Are. Lorine McGinnis Schultze over at the Olive Tree Genealogy Blog wrote about her thoughts on the show.  Over at Geneabloggers, several people left comments with their thoughts and Cyndi Beane Henry from Mountain Genealogists weighed in with her review.

In searching for her roots, Hunt discovered she was a descendant of William Scholle, a German Jew who came to San Francisco around the time of the Gold Rush and who became a successful insurance broker and investor.

I was pleasantly surprised when who of all people appeared on my TV screen - Frances Dinkelspiel, who revealed to Ms. Hunt that her 2nd great grandfather Isaias Hellman and Hunt's 2nd great grandfather William Scholle were running buddies  not only the in very elite San Francisco social circles but also conducted business together namely the Nevada  Bank in San Francisco.  Hellman had come from Los Angeles to San Francisco to rescue the failing bank and scores of millionaires lined up to buy in.

The Nevada Bank at the corner of Pine & Montgomery , San Francisco

Frances wrote a book called "Towers of Gold" which is a biography of her 2nd great grandfather Isaias Hellman based on years of research that included over 50,000 archival documents.  Frances is related to my SIL through marriage a couple of times removed.  I had the pleasure of meeting Frances when she spoke at the California Genealogical Society awhile back.

Now here is the very cool part.  As you may remember, I have done quite a bit of research on my sister-in-law's family.  They are Jews from Bavaria who came to San Francisco in the 1850's and to this day still live there.  My SIL's 2nd great grandfather, David Nathan Walter, became a director for the Nevada Bank when he purchased $100,000 worth of stock in the bank.   Today, that bank is Wells Fargo.  D. N. Walter was boyhood friends with Isaias Hellman.  They are both from the village of Reckendorf in Bavaria.