THE LIVERMORE-AMADOR GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY E-MAIL BULLETIN FOR APRIL 2008 April 2, 2008 ======================================================= SUMMARY OF EVENTS FOR APRIL 2008 (See details on a later screen.) - Family Tree Maker Group: Thursday, April 3 - General Meeting: Tuesday, April 8 - The Master Genealogist: Saturday, April 19 - Study Group: Thursday, April 24 - L-AGS Board Meeting: Tuesday, April 29 ======================================================= A N N O U N C E M E N T S Coming Saturday, April 12, 2008 SAN FRANCISCO LIBRARY FIELD TRIP By Kay Speaks, Study Group Chair To view a formatted version of this announcement, go to: http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/SF_Library.doc Have you visited the San Francisco Main Public Library yet? It is a truly beautiful library with many resources for genealogists. On April 12, we venture forth to visit the library via BART. The Civic Center BART train stops directly across the street from the library. The address is 100 Larkin Street at Grove Street, Civic Center, San Francisco, CA 94102. Directions: BART regular fare is $5.25 one way. Persons above a certain age can buy deeply discounted senior BART tickets at many grocery stores. The library and History Room will be open on Saturday from 10 AM - 6 PM; bring your lunch, use the library lunchroom, or visit the restaurants nearby. Kay will be leaving the Dublin-Pleasanton BART station at 8:38 AM, catching the Millbrae train that arrives at the Civic Center BART station at 9:26 AM. There is also an 8:58 AM that arrives at the Civic Center 9:46 AM. BART trip planner is located at http://www.bart.gov/index.asp If you are taking a laptop, I highly recommend a laptop cable to secure your laptop at the library. If you have a digital camera, you might want to bring it to take photos of documents or maps. If you need transportation, can provide transportation to BART or have questions, please post them at study.group@L- AGS.org. Follow this link to see a diagram of the interior of the library building: http://sfpl.org/librarylocations/main/maindiagram.pdf By viewing this map you will be able to see all the designated locations for resources and special collections or events. The library has six floors. To see the different library departments, hours of operation and contact telephone numbers visit: http://sfpl.org/librarylocations/hours.htm To see the SFPL-Created Research Tools go to: http://sfpl.lib.ca.us/sfplonline/sfpltools.htm To utilize the library and their online databases, you need to acquire a San Francisco Library card. The cost is free for California residents, and it usually lasts two years. You can download the application, or use the online version. However, you must pick up your library card in person with a form of ID. For detailed information follow this link: http://sfpl.org/services/librarycard.htm The History Room manager is aware of our visit and will provide a short introduction to the library. You should not apply for your library card until approximately two weeks prior to our visit or the paperwork will likely get lost. If space allows, indicate you are part of the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society and will be arriving to pick up your card on April 12. There will be computers available on site to apply for your library card. Tip: Why get a library card? As I travel throughout California, I visit local libraries and obtain a library card. This allows me to access their special online databases and collections via the library's website. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ISABEL NOLTE TO SPEAK AT LHG ON APRIL 16 Marie Abbot L-AGS member First Vice President for Programs of LHG Isabel Nolte, a longtime member of L-AGS, will be giving a talk in the History Lecture Series of the Livermore Heritage Guild. She will share the interesting research that she has been working on about the Early Pioneers in the Livermore Valley. During her research she discovered that most of the families came from County Donegal, County Galway and County Roscommon in Ireland. Many Irish families immigrated to Livermore in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They were farmers and ranchers, raised livestock, and grew grain and hay. They had large families and many of these families intermarried. Isabel's research is on 41 local families of Irish ancestry. This is their story. Please, join us on Wed., April 16, at the Civic Center Library, 1188 S. Livermore Ave., Livermore. Doors open at 7 PM. Isabel's book, "Early Pioneers in the Livermore Valley Were One Big Family," will be available for purchase at the talk. Isabel will sign copies of her book. For more information call 443-9740. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ L-AGS PUBLIC INTEREST PROJECTS George Anderson One project in our new cycle of public interest efforts is nearing completion and another is awaiting a volunteer. Rose Marie Phipps and I will soon publish "History of Rural Alameda County, California; Excerpts Concerning Murray and Pleasanton Townships, Eden Township and Washington Township." The publication is a photocopy of 148 pages from a 1937 book written under the sponsorship of the Works Progress Administration, a depression-era program to give work to unemployed librarians and historians. That book has never been easily accessible to the public because very few copies were ever printed. We have created an index to persons mentioned in the book, which lacked any index. The other project is similar: to publish photocopies of another rare WPA book, "Historical Sites and Landmarks of Alameda County, California." In spite of its title, the book contains much information of interest to genealogists and local historians. I have made the photocopies and would like to have a volunteer create the index. If you would like to take on this task, or any of the other projects awaiting volunteers, please let me know at: mailto:XXXX@comcast.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES As suggested in an e-mail message on March 2, L-AGS members may be interested in the following genealogical events: http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/SGGS.jpg http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/Sonoma.jpg http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/NGS.jpg http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/NARA.jpg ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BEGINNING GENEALOGY CLASS IN DUBLIN Dick Finn, longtime L-AGS member and leader of our Family Tree Maker Group, will teach a weekly beginners' genealogy class in Dublin starting May 14. Details are given at: http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/Finn_Class.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ANTIQUES AND HEIRLOOMS? The Museum on Main (MoM) in Pleasanton is seeking volunteers to help catalog their collection of historic objects, not documents. The work would involve entering information about the items in a special computer program called Past Perfect. If you are interested, you can find out more details by contacting Erik Lunde, MoM Collections Manager, at 925-462-2766, or: mailto:coll.valleymuseum@sbcglobal.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SAN RAMON VALLEY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (SRVGS) SRVGS is a neighboring society to L-AGS, and it has several members who also belong to L-AGS. SRVGS now has a handsome Web site at: http://srvgensoc.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NIGHT-DRIVING PROBLEMS Anne Homan, President Some of our members want to come to L-AGS meetings but cannot drive at night. If you would like a ride to our meetings, or if you are willing to offer someone a ride, please contact me at: mailto:president@L-AGS.org ======================================================= A P R I L M E E T I N G S Visitors are welcome free of charge at all of our meetings. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAMILY TREE MAKER FOCUS GROUP Leader: Dick Finn Date and Time: Thursday, April 3, 7:30 p.m. Always the first Thursday of the month. Place: Old Almond Ave. School, now called Vineyard Adult Education Facility, at 1401 Almond Avenue, Livermore. Drive into the back parking lot. As you face Almond Ave., we are in the building to the right in the front complex, room 5. Look for the FTM sign. Map to the meeting site: http://www.L-AGS.org/maps/Liv-AlmondSchool.html As always, we will provide a problem-solving atmosphere in which attendees are free to ask questions and offer answers and tips about FTM. We will continue to discuss the question, "Should I or should I not upgrade to FTM 2008?" We are especially interested in comments from those who have upgraded. Most of our group are FTM users (from beginners to experts) who discuss problems and solutions, share successes, answer questions, and in general help each other with the Family Tree Maker genealogical software. All persons interested or potentially interested in Family Tree Maker are invited to attend. For information on our group please call Dick Finn at 925- XXX-XXXX or e-mail him at XXXX@wecare.net. Contact Dick for information about topics to be discussed. Visitors are welcome and there is no charge to attend. Bring your questions, comments, and if you have a laptop with FTM loaded (any version) and/or the FTM Handbook, you might bring them. Please avail yourself of the L-AGS FTM e-mail forum at ftm.group@L-AGS.org to post questions, answers and comments. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING Arleen Wood, First Vice President, Program mailto:program.chair@L-AGS.org For a formatted version of this announcement, see: http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/April_Program.doc Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2008 Time: 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Location: Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton Map to the meeting site: http://www.L-AGS.org/maps/Pls-BethEmek.html Guest Speaker: Ron Willis Professional photo restorer Topic: "Photography as a Tool in Genealogy" Photos from the 1800s, and many photos and negatives that have been handed down through your family, are aging and reaching the point where they must be saved or lost forever. It is up to this generation to decide which images will survive and be protected for future generations. This is Ron's expertise and he is happy to share his knowledge with others who are faced with the responsibility of the family photo archives. Ron has presented his lecture "Photography as a Tool in Genealogy" for the past 25 years before such diverse groups as the 2,000 members of the United Airlines Retired Workers and to small genealogical societies and church groups. Ron has also been a featured speaker numerous times at the State Convention of the California State Historical Society. Ron is pleased to share his knowledge of the types of photographs, how to date them (in some cases down to the month and year the photo was taken), some examples of how with as little as 25 cents and some knowledge a restoration is possible. He will also show examples of photos that were feared beyond repair by their owners only to be brought back to life by Ron and his skills in the darkroom. He will also briefly discuss safe handling, storage and display of photos. Ron often helps people with the dating of their treasured photos and is pleased to look at any photos brought to his lectures (at no charge). Ron can always be reached on his cell phone at 650-620- 9380. Biography Ron Willis is the Second Generation owner of Willis Photo Lab, Belmont, CA and a frequent speaker on copy and restoration of old photographs and documents, which is not only his profession, but also one of his passions. Ron learned his craft as a boy in the lab with his father who was himself a professional photographer and photofinisher and his mother who developed photos by hand and was a skilled hand oil tint specialist. Willis Photo Lab began 56 years ago in Palo Alto by Ron's father. When Ron's parents retired in 1975, Ron and his wife Maureen bought Willis Photo and continued as owners and operators of the business. By that time, Ron had served a 20 year apprenticeship working with his parents and had graduated from college. Willis Photo has always been a family run business. At one time there were 4 generations of Willis family members working together in the lab. Currently, Willis Photo specializes in the careful copy and restoration of cherished family documents and photos. All work is done by an individual, one document or photo at a time, to bring out the best possible quality from the original. Willis Photo has the capabilities to copy, restore and print all types of photos from daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, large negatives, glass plates, color photos, slides, odd size negatives. Even the large convex photos will make nice prints. They also do hand oil tinting and sepia toning of photographs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TRI-VALLEY TMG USERS GROUP The Master Genealogist Software For a formatted version of this announcement, see: http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/TMG_April_08.doc Date: Saturday, April 19, 2008 Time: 9:00 a.m. - Noon Location: 7077 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 110, Pleasanton, CA 94566 Map to the meeting site: http://www.l-ags.org/maps/Pls-KollCenter.html Leader: Kay Speaks, mailto:tvtmg.chair@l-ags.org Instructors: Kay Speaks and Sue Johnston Topic: Creating Wall Charts Note: In April we will continue to use TMG Version 6.12 in class, even though Version 7 is now available to download. Please read Sharing Your Data, general considerations on sharing your work, located at http://tmg.reigelridge.com/sharing.htm We have talked about sharing data in past meetings. Use the TMG list, tvtmg@L-AGS.org, to ask questions or share comments. The April meeting topic will be "Creating Wall Charts" from Terry's TMG Tips: http://tmg.reigelridge.com/Charts.htm. Charts are created using TMG's Custom Report Writer. Your new chart appears in Visual Chart Form, a separate program supplied with TMG. VCF is a chart editor, which allows you to make changes to the chart as you might desire, including changing, adding, or removing items on the chart, or even cutting and pasting parts of one chart to another. In VCF you can save your chart for use later, and print it with your printer if you like. With the aid of a digital projector, Kay and Sue work as an instructional team. We discuss, demonstrate, and brainstorm best practices of the software using a hands-on method. We learn TMG's features by actually entering samples of the lesson into a TMG class database. Each monthly session is like a mini three- hour TMG workshop. Guests are always welcome at our meetings. Accommodations for laptops are available. If you have a laptop, bring it with you to the meeting. A copy of the group's practice database will be provided to you. A laptop is not a requirement as the lesson will be digitally projected. If you can't stay for the entire 3 hours, come and leave early. TMG questions not specific to all attendees will be addressed in the later part of our meeting. Please bring samples of your problem if possible. We hope to see you at the next meeting! A free demo version of the software can be downloaded at http://www.whollygenes.com. For additional information contact: mailto:tvtmg.chair@l-ags.org. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ STUDY GROUP MEETING Leader: Kay Speaks Contact mailto:study.chair@l-ags.org For a formatted version of this announcement, see: http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/April_Study_Group.doc Date: Thursday, April 24, 2008 Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Location: LDS Church, 950 Mocho Street, Livermore, CA Map to the meeting site: http://www.l-ags.org/maps/Liv-FHC.html Topic: San Francisco Main Library Field Trip Follow-up As a follow up to the April 12 San Francisco Main Library field trip, we will share our San Francisco Library experience. We will take a look at the library's online databases and discuss possible other field trip locations. Have a genealogy brick wall? Let the Study Group help you brainstorm your research options. Don't forget to use our L-AGS Study Group forum for any genealogy topic discussion or computer interest questions. L-AGS is blessed with people willing to share their knowledge! E-mail the forum at mailto:study.group@L-AGS.org. You can also post any suggestions for future Study Group topics. ======================================================= PROGRAMS FOR 2008 GENERAL MEETINGS Arleen Wood, First Vice President, Programs See a formatted version of this announcement at: http://www.L-AGS.org/temp/program_calendar_08.doc See also details of the April program in the full announcement above. We have been fortunate to get a calendar of excellent speakers for 2008. The programs are held at our regular meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings are open to the public at 7:30 p.m. at the Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. Visitors are welcome, admission free. Date Topic Presenter ----------------------------------------------------- April 8 Detecting the Date of Historical Photographs Ron Willis May 13 Tri-Valley Civil War Veterans - What an Interesting Group They Were Dick Finn June 10 WPA Depression Era Jobs Turn into Great Gifts for Genealogists Pamela Dallas July 8 Using Maps in Genealogy Marcia Murray Holstrom August 12 Scandinavian Research Mel Stephensen September 9 Familysearch.org (Tentative) Marge Bell October 14 The Five Civilized Tribes of South- eastern United States Taffy Couts November 11 An American Story - The History of Abram Bradbury Lowell and His Family David Lowell December 9 (To be announced)