National Genealogical Society
Family History Conference 2022
 
The NGS 2022 Family History Conference will be held in Sacramento, May 24-28.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be the first LIVE conference in three years!

NGS Brochure 
The NGS conference brochure provides detailed information of the location, conference topics, events and more. Download it now and start planning your visit.
 
NGS Extends Deadline for Online Registration
Online registration for both the In-Person conference in Sacramento and Online at Home will now close at 7:59 p.m. (ET) on 13 May 2022. It is also possible to register in person, on site at the conference, in the SAFE Conference Center in Sacramento, starting Tuesday 24 May through Saturday, 28 May. You may purchase admittance to the conference on a daily basis, or for the full conference.
 
Registrants can choose to participate in one of three ways:
  • In person in Sacramento
  • Online at Home
  • On Demand
​The California Genealogical Society located in Oakland is the local host for the NGS Conference. They have a wealth of information on their website, so be sure to check it out at https://www.californiaancestors.org.

1950 US Census

NARA
On April 1, 2022, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) made digital images of the 1950 U.S. Census available for everyone to view online at 1950census.archives.gov. Visit the NARA website for full access to the census images, enumeration district maps, etc.
 
And...If you love genealogy, enjoy interpreting cursive handwriting, and want to help your fellow family history researchers, don’t miss this online volunteer opportunity to make it easier to find family members in the 1950 Census.

NARA launched a new transcription tool for the 1950 Census. Volunteers will be able to improve the accuracy of the transcriptions of names in the 1950 Census. This will increase access to the digitized records and make searches more accurate for researchers! 

Visit archives.gov/1950Census for more information.
 
FAMILY SEARCH
Also, FamilySearch launched the 1950 U. S. Census Community Project. Volunteers are busy ensuring that information indexed by computers is complete and accurate. By participating, you are helping people to discover details about their family that have been hidden for 72 years. Visit FamilySearch.org for more information.  
 
ANCESTRY
Explore the interactive Enumeration District (ED) maps at Ancestry.com. By entering an address, you will find the maps for the designated ED.    

Root Cellar Library is Open Again

The Root Cellar Library is open to all researchers. The Library is housed on the 4th floor of the California State Archives, 1020 O Street in Sacramento. We have a collection of over 6,000 genealogical books plus periodicals. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through  Friday. 
 

Renew Your Membership or Join Now

             
 

Special Interest Groups and Workshops

Now offered through Zoom
Are you new to genealogy?
or
Are you a "seasoned" genealogist but are plagued by pesky "brick walls"?
 
Our daytime workshops and special interest groups ("SIGS") may be just what you need to further your research efforts.  If you haven't done so before now, consider participating with one or more of the following:
  • Daytime Workshop - 3rd Wednesdays from 1-3PM
  • Genealogical Book Club meets every other month on the second Wednesday of January, March, May, July, September and November, from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
  • Family Tree Maker SIG - 3rd & 4th Thursdays from 11:30AM - 1:30PM
For more information on these resources, click on the "Meetings" link of the "Home" menu option at left, or scroll down the list of meetings at right.
Thursday, Jun. 9th
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier: Civil War Records-Prolific and Powerful with Jim Baker
   Learn the best sources to use to find both Union and Confederate Civil War era ancestors. Pension records are emphasized.     Mr. Baker has been an active genealogist for the past 15 years.  He specializes in German, Midwest US, early American research, and DNA.  He has written articles ...
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Wednesday, Jun. 15th
Root Cellar's Daytime Workshop
Our free workshop meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, except for December.  All are welcome - our members and the public - from beginners to more experienced genealogists.  Invite a friend! Click "Learn More" below for Zoom log-in instructions.  
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Thursday, Jul. 14th
Sacramento Archives with Chris Garmire
    Registration will open one month prior to the event.
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Wednesday, Jul. 20th
Family History Library Catalog with Mary Sayles
Our free workshop meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, except for December.  All are welcome - our members and the public - from beginners to more experienced genealogists.  Invite a friend! Click "Learn More" below for Zoom log-in instructions.  
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Thursday, Aug. 11th
Beyond the FAN Approach: Inclusive Research Strategies with Cheri Daniels
As we strive to produce more inclusive and diverse family trees, the research behind them needs to be assessed for practical implementation. While we’ve all learned to incorporate the FAN (Friends, Associates, and Neighbors) approach into our research, this session will go a step further by providing a detailed ...
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