DeltaFusion - A Cultural Community Celebration

Saturday - June 29th

9:30 am to 1:00 pm

Victory Park (next to the Haggin Museum)

The 3rd Annual DeltaFusion is a celebration of the diverse natural and cultural heritage of Stockton and the San Joaquin Delta Region. Using giant puppets, masks, music, and pageantry, DeltaFusion tells the story of how these cultures were drawn to settle in our area and thrive there today.  This year's theme is:  "The Strength of Many."

In addition to the parade and pageant, there will be food, craft, and informational booths and vendors as well as live performances from a variety of  dance and musical groups representing the cultural diversity found within San Joaquin Delta Region.

Northern California APG Chapter Field Trip to Sutro

Sutro Library

Wednesday - June 26th  -  10:00am

The Northern California APG Chapter is going on a field trip to the Sutro Library.  The archivist responsible for all the vault material will be giving us a guided tour.

We will meet at the entrance to the library at 10:00 am.  Anyone who is a member of APG is welcome to join us.

The Sutro, which is part of the California State Library, is located on the fifth and sixth floor of the J. Paul Leonard Library on the San Francisco State University campus.  The address is :

1630 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco and a map of the university campus can be found HERE.

To search the California State Library catalog click HERE.

Additional Info & Correction to MGP Class Time

In my last post, I gave the incorrect starting time for the class.  Please make a note of the correct time:

5:00 pm PST / 8:00 pm EST

The classes are live on the Dear Myrtle YouTube channel and are immediately archived afterwards to watch at any time.  The first class from last night is now available.  

Each of the panelists will be posting their homework which is located after each of the chapter in the book. My Chapter One homework is completed and can be found here on my blog.  Up at the top of the screen you will see the tab "MGP Homework" - click on it and like magic, you will find my assignments.  Please feel free to comment on my answers, but try to keep your comments constructive if you happen to disagree with my answers.

For those who want to follow along with the classes, here is the schedule:

All classes are on Sunday evenings and begin at 5pm PST / 8pm EST.

June 23rd - Chapter 2:  Concepts Fundamental to the GPS

June 30th - Chapter 3:  GPS Element 1 - Thorough Research

July 14th - Chapter 4:  GPS Element 2 - Source Citations

July 21st - Chapter 5:  GPS element 3 - Analysis and Correlation

August 4th - Chapter 6:  GPS Element 4 - Resolving Conflicts and Assembling Evidence

August 11th - Chapter 7:  GPS Element 5 - The Written Conclusion

August 25th - Chapter 8:  Using the GPS

September 1st - Chapter 9:  Conclusion

"Mastering Genealogical Proof" - The Class Starts Tonight!

In March of this year the National Genealogical Society released "Mastering Genealogical Proof" by Thomas W. Jones, CG, CGL, FASG.  Dear Myrtle organized a classroom type setting using Google Hangouts on Air.  A panel of ten will discuss each chapter over ten weeks.  I am thrilled to say that I was chosen to participate on the panel.  Joining me on the panel will be Russ Worthington, Michael Hait, Kathryn Lake Hogan, Peggy Lauritzen, Jennifer Dondero, Barry Kline, Pat Kuhn just to name a few.

The first class is tonight - Sunday - June 16th - 6:00 pm Pacific / 9:00 pm Eastern.

To view the Hangout on Air Class tonight simply click  HERE.  Open another tab or screen HERE to post comments during the class.

Design Our Logo Contest - San Joaquin County Genealogical Society

Are you clever and a wee bit artistic?  Then try your hand at designing a logo for the San Joaquin County Genealogical Society.

Located in Stockton, California we are looking for a design that expresses genealogy and San Joaquin County and will award a prize of $50 for the design selected.

Here are the Guidelines:

1.  Your design should include elements that reflect genealogy and San Joaquin County

2.  All work must be original to and produced solely by the artist.

3.  Entries must be appropriate to a variety of production standards (print, online use, etc.)

4.  All entries must be submitted in both color and black and white, dimensions of 1920x1080 or 1200x1200 and must be a PNG file

5.  Must include the text "San Joaquin County Genealogical Society" and "est. 1952"

Submission Requirements:

1.  All entries must be submitted as a PNG file and the contestant's name must be included in the file name - example: johnsmithcolor2.png

2.  No limit to the number of designs submitted, however each entry must be submitted separately.

3.  All entries must be submitted via email to:

sjcogensoc@gmail.com and must include the artist's full name, address, email address and phone number

4.  All entries must be received by August 10, 2013

Selection Process:

Five finalists will be selected by the Logo Contest Committee.  The membership of the San Joaquin County Genealogical Society will determine the winner by a vote and announced at the society membership meeting on September 19, 2013.

It's Baaaaaack - Shades of the Departed Magazine!

I hope you have your shades because you're going to need them.  The blinding brilliance of the one and only footnoteMaven has returned to us.  Returned and brought a gift - A brand new edition of "Shades of the Departed Magazine!"

Back and better than ever are your favorite contributors: footnoteMaven,  Denise Barrett Olson, Janine Smith, Denise Levenick aka Penelope Dreadful, Caroline Pointer, Missy Corley, Maureen Taylor aka The Photo Detective and ME!

The new edition - "Golden Rule Days" - is 122 beautiful pages of school day photographs and stories that tell us the history of school proms, yearbooks and school photo souvenirs.

Put your feet up and treat yourself to the latest Shades!

Skill Sets - Are You The Sharpest Knife In The Drawer?

Even if you are not looking to become a professional genealogist and take on clients, you should always strive to be the best genealogist you can possibly be.  The most important factor in this quest to be the best is EDUCATION.

Attending one of the 8 Institutes that happen almost year round is the best bet for your money.

SLIG - Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy is held every Januaryat the Radisson Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Forensic Genealogy Institute -  Held in April in Dallas, Texas.  This is a  newcomer to the institute scene and it is put on by the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy.

IGHR - Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research is held in June  at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

MAAGI - Midwestern African American Genealogy Institute is held in June at Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri

NIGR - National Institute of Genealogy is held in July at the National Archives in Washington, DC

GRIP - Genealogy Institute of Pittsburgh is held in July in at LaRoche College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The British Institute - Held in October at the Radisson Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.

RIGS Alliance - Regional In-Depth Genealogical Studies Alliance is held in October at the National Archives in Fort Worth, Texas




Here are some DO's and DON'T's

DO read blogs and articles by the pros who share some of their pearls of wisdom, their triumphs and yes, even their failures.  Here are just a few:

Kathleen Brandt - a3Genealogy
Michael Hait -  Planting The Seeds
Debbie Parker Wayne - Deb's Delvings In Genealogy
Thomas MacEntee - High-Definition Genealogy
Board for Certification of Genealogists - Springboard
Cathi Desmarais - Stone House Historical Research
Judy Russell - The Legal Genealogist
ICAPGEN - Their Blog

For more blogs by professionals, take a look at the list of over 100 at Geneabloggers

Here are a few different ways to sharpen different skills

DO hone your powers of observation with a weekly photo challenge contest. Colleen Fitzpatrick  has a  photo each and every Sunday over at her site - Forensic Genealogy  Weekly Photo Quiz.

DO visit Dae Powell over at Shoestring Genealogy.  He has several different online weekly chats happening every week.

DON'T quit your day job thinking that you'll  become rich and famous overnight.  Not. Going. To. Happen.

DO take part in one of the NGSQ Article Discussion Groups.  There are currently 6 different groups that meet online once a month January through November to discuss an article from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Please send an email to me if you would like to join a group   sherifenley at gmail dot com.

DO take the ProGen  study course. Invaluable to any genealogist, especially those wanting to start a business.  I was a group leader and a member of the very first ProGen group.  Never in our wildest dreams did we think it would be as successful as it is today.  ProGen 20 is the latest group!

DO become a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

DON'T feel pressured to take on clients before you feel comfortable doing so.

DO learn how to be your own boss.  It's not as easy as you may think.

DO consider becoming certified through BCG or accredited through ICAPGEN.

In Which Things Do Work Out . . If You Let Them

In 2008 I wrote a post about my maternal grandmother - Mary Ellen Harris Skillman - who in her much younger days, had been employed as a "Harvey Girl."  The post contained a couple of photos of my grandmother in her uniform.

In 2011, a representative from a very large publisher came across my blog and photos and basically wanted me to give them my grandmother.  After consulting with a dear friend and attorney - Craig Manson - I made them an offer which they ignored.  Craig wrote a couple of brilliant posts over at GeneaBlogie  - "Grandma For Sale: A Cautionary Tale" and "How To Sell Your Grandmother Guilt-Free."  I urge you to click on over and read both posts.

Then in February of this year, Dee Harris from the National Archives in Kansas City contacted me and asked if I wanted to make my grandmother a Star.  She wanted permission to use my photos and blow them up to life-size cutouts for use in an upcoming exhibit.

I immediately gave my consent.  I know with certainty that my grandmother would have been thrilled at the prospect.

I am proud to announce that the exhibit opened at NARA Kansas City in the Concourse Gallery on May 7th and continues through  January 2014.  

The Kansas City NARA is located at 400 West Pershing Road and the exhibit is open Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.

To schedule a group tour call 816-268-8013 or email mickey.ebert@nara.gov.

APG - Northern California Field Trip - Join Us!

Long time no blogging.  Well I am back and have some great news for members of APG who live in Northern California.  We have scheduled our first field trip of the year and we'd love to have you join us.  We are meeting at the Yolo County Archives at 11:00 am.  After the tour we usually try and have lunch together somewhere close by.  

The Yolo County Archives is pleased to host members of the Association of Professional Genealogist for a tour on Saturday March 2, 2013 from 

11am to 2pm. The following is the tentative agenda:

11am -11:15am Welcome/Greetings/Sign In

11:15am – 11:30am Overview of Archives and Records Center

11:30am – 12:30pm In-depth Tour of Archives and Records Center

12:30pm – 12:35pm Break

12:35 – 1:30pm Research a group topic as an example

1:30pm – 1:45pm Q/A

1:45 – 2pm Final Thoughts

You will not need to bring anything. You will be given pencils to use 

and an informational packet. The only item you may want to 

collectively provide is a research topic specific to Yolo County and 

or a Yolo County Pioneer.

Yolo County Archives
226 Buckeye St.
Woodland, Ca 95695

From their website:

Yolo County’s collection of archives is extensive, ranging from original tax records to old newspapers. Among the gems are Yolo County court records of probates, wills, civil cases and criminal cases from 1850 to 1960 – a collection so comprehensive and so representative.  Some of the most interesting and beautiful archives are the original grant line maps from the transition of Mexican to American governance in the 1850s, hand drawn on linen, with pictures of orchards, rocks, trees, and houses as markers. Prior to 1848, the Mexican government had granted most of the county’s land. After the U.S. took possession of California these grants were required to be confirmed by a Board of Land Commissioners and then surveyed.

Ketchup and Thanksgiving, This Is Not A Drive By

It's been close to a month since I've written to you my poor neglected blog.  

While away, I have accomplished many, many good things.

My DAR Chapter placed an historical marker on the spot where Kit Carson - scout for the Fremont Expedition - made camp in 1843 right here in San Joaquin County.  

I was elected to the Board for the Association of Professional Genealogists.  I begin my 2 year term in January.

I was on a discussion panel about online resources at the Family History Day at the California State Archives in Sacramento.

I presented a little workshop at the California Genealogical Society in Oakland about different places to put your family tree online. 

Speaking of online family trees, A recent article seems to have rubbed many a genealogist the wrong way.  Amy Coffin of the  WeTree Genealogy Blog and Debbie Mascot of Mascot Manor share their thoughts on said article.  I have to agree with Amy and Debbie.   

I understand where the author (who is a board certified genealogist) is coming from, but OUCH!  There are many who already think that the BCG are snobby and this article just added fuel to that flame.  The article does come across as snobby and condescending.  

As you may remember, last April I submitted my preliminary application to the Board for Certification of Genealogists which "started the clock" giving me one year to submit a portfolio to be reviewed and judged by 3 board certified genealogists.

Validation - that's the name of my game, my reason for attempting for certification.  If you ask any of the 246 people who have submitted successful portfolios why they did it, I think you'll get 246 different answers.  But I certainly don't think I am a snob for wanting to be certified. But just in case anyone thinks I have maybe gone to the "dark side" by wanting certification, have a look below.  I just can't help myself.