Looking for one of our centenarians (Novato's 103 year old Signe Bostrom Nielson) in the 1920 census, I know she was in Petaluma, having arrived from Sweden in 1914 and married in 1920. I find her two (citizen) brothers, and her forthcoming husband, but not her. Were (are) people here with a tourist or immigrant visa normally included in the census'? Jerry D. Moore

1c. UPCOMING ONLINE CLASSES: Each class is only $29.95 with a 30-day subscription including Ancestry's online census images. Instructors cover eight lessons, two lessons a week. You can work at your own pace on your own schedule. Prerequisite for all classes: A working knowledge of computers (please view the Beginning Computer Genealogy course outline to see if you know the basics). Details about all of the online classes can be found here: http://www.myfamily.com/isapi.dll?c=home&htx=gentraining&_lin=1 Northeastern United States Research Class. Starts October 8. http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4438&sourceid=481 Italian Research Class. Starts October 8. http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=3729&sourceid=481 German Intermediate Research Class. Starts October 9. Prerequisite: Beginning German Research Class. This class will only briefly review the basics of German research. This intermediate course will focus on additional German research methodology and sources in the U.S. and Germany, using histories to understand the context of your ancestors lives (and thus producing more clues for your genealogical research), and records available for German-American settlements. Research into other German- speaking countries will also be discussed. http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4622&sourceid=481 Native American Research Class. Starts October 15. http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4551&sourceid=481 Multimedia Family History Class. Starts October 20. http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4212&sourceid=481 Slovak Beginning Research Class. Starts October 21. http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4477&sourceid=481 Learn How to Research Your Scottish Ancestry. Starts October 22. http://ancestry.myfamily.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=3561&sourceid=481 .............. Previously published in RootsWeb Review: Vol. 6, No. 40, 1 October 2003

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [CASonoma] SB 1059 re: Historic Cemeteries Resent-Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 13:10:40 -0600 Resent-From: [email protected] Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2003 08:37:10 -0700 From: "Sue Silver" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Greetings, As originally written SB 1059 included a provision that requires the county tax assessors to utilize a postcard method to contact cemetery authorities who file Cemetery Exemption Forms to receive tax exemption on cemetery properties. After the Bill was introduced I contacted the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee to inquire about adding something that might help prevent the historic cemeteries from being sold for delinquent taxes. Three years ago I had contacted Dean Andal of the Board of Equalization with the same request. With his help, we had started to work on developing some language that could be added to the Revenue and Tax Code. Someone at BOE dropped the ball and we never completed it. This time, however, the committee's consultant, Martin Helmke, and an attorney with the BOE, Rose Marie Kinnee, responded, and we were finally able to have something added that I hope will help, even if a little. It is not perfect, but it is a start. Since we did not have an existing definition for "historic cemetery", we chose to have this apply to cemeteries that began to be used previous to 1900. This, of course, includes a great many of the historic cemeteries in the state so that this new code section could feasibly apply to thousands of cemeteries. The sections within SB 1059 applicable to the cemeteries are 256.6 and 256.7, which reads as follows: 256.7. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 254, 256.5, and 256.6, an affidavit claiming the cemetery exemption, as provided for in subdivision (g) of Section 3 of Article XIII of the California Constitution and Section 204, is not required to be filed in order to receive the exemption for any cemetery that exists, or is discovered to exist, in the unincorporated area of a county for which the assessor is unable to identify the legal cemetery authority, as defined in Section 7018 of the Health and Safety Code, that may by law claim the exemption for that cemetery, if both of the following apply: (1) The cemetery was used by residents of the state prior to the year 1900. (2) The cemetery is no longer used for current or future interments. (b) Any tax, penalty, or interest imposed upon a cemetery subject to this section shall be canceled pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 4985) of Chapter 4 of Part 9, as if it had been levied or charged erroneously. Only time will tell if Sec. 256.7 will be of any benefit, but had it been in place in 1998 when the Cold Springs Cemetery in El Dorado County was about to be sold for delinquent taxes, perhaps the El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission would not have had to claim "ownership" of that historic public cemetery through acceptance of a Quit Claim deed. In the past other historic cemeteries have been sold to satisfy delinquent property taxes. By law, the public acquired title to those cemeteries even though the boards of supervisors of the counties where they were situated did not officially claim the public's property. If your county has any "abandoned" cemeteries or cemeteries that may have no legal cemetery authority in attendance of it, you may want to contact your county tax assessor to advise that office that the cemetery may not be subject to taxation. Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Graves www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/

Hi List, I am trying to research a property that my mother's family is said to have owned in Ross. It was used as a summer house, but my grandfather died there in 1930. It was sold soon after that. I have the address, and I have found the location on one of the 1924 Sanborn maps, which shows the footprint of the house. It is still standing today, although the address has changed slightly. How do I find out if my grandparents actually owned the place in the 1920/30 era? I have been to the Octagon House at the MAGC, and several prominent families have owned the place over the years, so I am having some doubts as to whether my family ever really owned it, or if it is just another family myth. Can someone point me in a direction to start searching? Thanks, "rwalker"

The Marin County Genealogical Society's Computer Interest Group (CIG) will meet Saturday, October 18, 2003 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Villa Marin, 100 Thorndale Drive, San Rafael. Our topic will be: RootsMagic Genealogy Software presented by Gene Pennington Location: Villa Marin, 100 Thorndale Drive, San Rafael If you don't have the RootsMagic software but would like to try it, go to --> http://www.rootsmagic.com/ and you can download a free demo version. Bring your questions so we can help you make the most of your RootsMagic software for use with your genealogy research! If you have a notebook computer with RootsMagic installed on it, bring it along so you can follow along as we demonstrate the software. Contact John Deadman ([email protected]) or Gene Pennington ([email protected]) if you need directions to meeting location or need more information. These meetings are free to the public. Visit the MCGS website at http://www.maringensoc.org/sigs.html . ================================================= Directions: FROM SOUTH of San Rafael: take hwy 101 to the Freitas Parkway exit at Terra Linda. Go over the overpass, head west to Northgate Drive (at the second signal) turn left onto Northgate Drive (you will see a Pier One Imports store on your right.) follow Northgate Drive 0.4 miles south across Las Gallinas Avenue towards Northgate One and past Mervyn's. Turn right onto Thorndale Dr. proceed 0.2 miles to your destination at 100 Thorndale Dr. FROM NORTH of San Rafael: Take Hwy 101 to the Freitas Parkway exit at Terra Linda, get in the right lane and do *not* follow the right turn lane as it would make it necessary for you to immediately cross three lanes of traffic! Continue in the right lane as though you were going to proceed through the intersection and simply turn right onto Freitas Parkway. Immediately get in the left lane and prepare to make a left turn onto Northgate Drive. (you will see a Pier One Imports store on your right.) Follow Northgate Drive 0.4 miles south across Las Gallinas Avenue towards Northgate One and past Mervyn's. Turn right onto Thorndale Dr. proceed 0.2 miles to your destination at 100 Thorndale Dr. It has been requested that we park on the street or in places which are uncovered. The Meeting will be held in the Auditorium, which is to the left and down the hall from the entrance. End End

I have located and contacted another centenarian. She is 103 ! I feel quite anxious about sitting around and waiting till Celinda returns. Can someone help me with calligraphy for one certificate? Jerry D. Moore

LEGISLATIVE REPORT - October 2003 Considering the state of the State, there is no wonder we have little to report. At this point, we have not located any current legislation which might prove to detrimental to any historically important records, so important to researchers. The California State Genealogical Alliance [CSGA] has been unable to find a chairperson for the Legislative Watch Committee. Several people have shown an interest, but have decided not to take the job. There has not been anyone available to check this sessions legislative bills. There are a dozen or so people who are interested in helping but do not feel qualified to take on the leadership. I have agreed to stay on as an advisor only. [See Below] In January and again in July I did a cursory check and found nothing of concern. In listening to the news and reading the papers, I have found several bills that got my attention and were questionable. I did read the bills but found no worrisome language at that time. We can hope, with everything else going on, we will not be facing any problems. CSGA secretary sent a request to the Department of Health Services requesting a seat on Vital Records Protection Advisory Committee which the State Registrar is required to appoint as per Senator Speier's SB247 passed last fall. We have several qualified local genealogists who could and would represent the genealogical community on the committee. On the National level, the Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act S228/HR637 we have been following has had no action since earlier this year. I continue to follow these bills.---Legislative Advisor, Iris Carter Jones ------------------------------------------ CALIFRONIA STATE GENEALOGICAL ALLIANCE REPORT from Cath Trindel on the Legislative Committee: We would like to welcome new committee member Liz Stookesberry Myers, of Los Alamitos, CA a member of Questing Heirs. As we work at forming this committee we invite all those who think they might be interested in helping out to check out the California Government website where you would help monitor legislation <http://info.sen.ca.gov/>. Use the search feature to find bills relating to privacy, records access or any other buzz word you can think of. If you find something you have not seen reported, or activity on a bill that might be of interest, send a message to all of us on the CSGA-L or directly to a board member if you prefer. I think you'll find it is an easy search and the more members keeping an eye the better off we are. It would also be a great help if we could get a record access report from each county on the implementation of SB247 and it's impact on vital record access. Implementation has not been uniform and it would be helpful to the genealogical community to know the best way to approach each county record office. Again send a report to the list or to a board member. ALL POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS and other interested CSGA members are invited and URGED to attend the CSGA Board Meeting Oct 17 in the SMCGS Library (dinner $10 each lasagne [meat & vegetarian] /bread/salad/dessert/coffee /tea). Contact Cath at [email protected] or 56 Orchard Ave, Redwood City, CA 94061-3720 by Oct 10th if you plan to attend. --------------------------------------- SUBJECT: HISTORIC CEMETERY LEGISLATION - Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 Since 2000 I have been involved in trying to get California legislation enacted that will help the plight of our state's historic cemeteries. In 2000 a Bill was introduced and passed both houses of the legislature (only 5 NOE votes) that would have created the California Historic Cemetery Commission. That commission would have cost almost nothing but would have contributed greatly to the review and assessment of the status of our historic graveyards. In the Fall of 2000, GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS vetoed the Bill even though his office had been consulted as to the Governor's preferences on how the Bill should have been framed. Lately I have been working on portions of existing Bills to ensure that the needs of the historic cemeteries that could be addressed through such Bills are considered. I will be sending out information on a couple of items once they are signed by Governor Davis - if they are not also vetoed by him. If there are any of you who see a need that may need additional legislation in order to assist the historic cemeteries, please contact me direct at [email protected] I will try to advise you or otherwise determine if or how such legislation might be addressed. I'd like to thank those who in the past have sent me emails of support. Our California ancestors all repose in California cemeteries. The vast majority of the cemeteries in the state are historic and pre-date the 20th century. It is important that we provide protection and preservation of these places of rest. Together we can make a difference. Sue Silver, State Coordinator, California Saving Graves, www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/ -- Iris Carter Jones, President Join us - "A Golden Prospect" NGS Conference in the States In Sacramento, California 19-22 May 2004 www.sacvalleygenes.org -- Iris Carter Jones, President Join us - "A Golden Prospect" NGS Conference in the States In Sacramento, California 19-22 May 2004 www.sacvalleygenes.org

TOOLS AND TOYS FOR GENEALOGISTS: Perpetual Calendars: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/roots-l/genealog/genealog.perpcal Birthday Calculators : http://searchforancestors.com/utility/birthday.html Determining Date of Birth: Formula 8870: http://www.hackerscreek.com/formula.htm Day of Week (birth, event) http://www.ayrshireroots.com/Genealogy/Reference/Day%20Born%20z.htm Cyndi's List: Calendars and Dates: http://www.cyndislist.com/calendar.htm ......... Previously published in RootsWeb Review: Vol. 6, No. 39, 24 September 2003.

Dear Listers: This is a timely article that ties in with our recent CIG meeting about using Rootsweb's recources. I hope you find it of use. Happy Trails, Lauren ......................... 1. NEWS AND NOTES 1a. MESSAGE BOARDS. Utilizing Surname-specific Searches When is Germany not a country? This may sound like a riddle worthy of asking the sphinx, but the answer is simple -- Germany is not a country when it is a surname. Does your family tree include surnames (last names) that also have other meanings such as GREEN, COFFEE, IRELAND, FIELD, ROBIN, COUSINS, JOSEPH, or LIST? Researching surnames that are also colors, foods, birds, countries, places, first names, or common words can make it difficult to search the Internet looking only for instances where the word is used as a surname. In many cases you have to wade through thousands of irrelevant (to you) listings in order to find those few references to the surname for which you are searching. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could eliminate the chaff from your searches for your WHEAT ancestors, and find only instances where your ROSE, BUSH, BIRD, or FINCH names are listed as surnames and not references in a nature guide? It can be done. However, two factors must be present to enable you to do a surname-specific search of a database. First, the database itself must have been created with a surname field and it must have correctly formatted entries in that field. Secondly, that search engine must be designed to look for the surname field. The RootsWeb/Ancestry message boards: http://boards.rootsweb.com/ permit surname-specific advanced searches. The database includes a special surname box that allows you, when posting a message, to enter surnames in the box (in other words to tell it that STONE is a surname, not a rock or some concreted earthy or mineral matter). In addition, this message board search engine permits advanced searches for only what is in that surname box. The message boards also provide a general every-word search capability, which will pick up surnames found in the posted messages (text) as well as every other word found therein. This is adequate for finding surnames that are unlikely to appear in any capacity other than as surnames. However, even in those cases, it is often useful to be able to narrow down your search to only the surname references. When you are hunting for your FRENCH, COURT, BLACK, or HOLLAND ancestors, for example, using the advanced option to search the surname field specifically is essential. Making surname-specific searches work effectively requires some effort when posting on the message boards as well as the correct entry of the surnames on the searching end. Remember the purpose of the surname box when you are posting on the message boards and make use of it, but enter ONLY properly formatted entries in the box. List only surnames that are actually mentioned in the message text -- not every surname you are researching -- and never, never add any extraneous words in the surname box such as "and many more," "etc.," "or," "and," or any word or symbol that is NOT a surname or part of a surname. Do not use symbols such as /, +, or &. Never include first names, locations (places), or dates in the surname box. List each surname (case is not important when you're posting), one after the other, separated only by a comma. Do not use any extraneous symbols that are not a valid part of the surname itself. Use a hyphen only when you are listing a properly hyphenated surname such as MORALES-RUIZ and not when separating two distinct surnames. Do not use a hyphen to indicate that Peter SMITH married Suzie JONES -- SMITH-JONES. Show these surnames as: SMITH, JONES. Names such as ÖSTBERG or RODRÍGUEZ can be shown as they would be in their native languages. The message board search engine will correctly include them in the search results. When listing surname variant spellings, show each separately as: FIELD, FIELDS and not as FIELD(S) or FIELD/FIELDS. Neither of the latter two variants will show up in the search results unless the person performing the search entered FIELD(S) or FIELD/FIELDS exactly -- and that is not likely to happen. As peculiar as it may seem, a search for either FIELD or FIELDS will not find FIELD(S) or FIELD/FIELDS. Keep in mind when you are posting on these message boards that the surname box function is to provide the search engine with surnames and only surnames -- exactly as listed by the person requesting the search. An example of a correctly formatted surname box entry is: Field, Fields, Cousins, Cuzins, Östberg, Bird, Byrd, Van Allen, McDonald, Black, Germany. Tip. When you are on the searching end, the greatest number of matches can be obtained by entering the surnames using all lower-case letters such as "finch" or "germany" or "cousins" (without the quote marks) since these message board searches are case sensitive with the exception of all lower case searches. What this means is if you use all lower-case to search for peacock, it will find all the peacock, Peacock, and PEACOCK entries. So don't leave your GATES swinging on the garden gate, your FIELDs chasing flies in left field or your BIRDs perched on a limb -- make proper use of the message board specific-surname box entries when posting and surname field only searches when searching. For best results put the full power and capabilities of the RootsWeb/Ancestry message boards to work in your research. Previously published in RootsWeb Review: Vol. 6, No. 39, 24 September 2003.

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [CASonoma] Historic Cemetery Legislation Resent-Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 15:18:07 -0600 Resent-From: [email protected] Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 10:13:13 -0700 From: "Sue Silver" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Hello, Since 2000 I have been involved in trying to get California legislation enacted that will help the plight of our state's historic cemeteries. In 2000 a Bill was introduced and passed both houses of the legislature (only 5 NOE votes) that would have created the California Historic Cemetery Commission. That commission would have cost almost nothing but would have contributed greatly to the review and assessment of the status of our historic graveyards. In the Fall of 2000, GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS vetoed the Bill even though his office had been consulted as to the Governor's preferences on how the Bill should have been framed. Lately I have been working on portions of existing Bills to ensure that the needs of the historic cemeteries that could be addressed through such Bills are considered. I will be sending out information on a couple of items once they are signed by Governor Davis - if they are not also vetoed by him.... If there are any of you who see a need that may need additional legislation in order to assist the historic cemeteries, please contact me direct at [email protected] I will try to advise you or otherwise determine if or how such legislation might be addressed. I'd like to thank those who in the past have sent me emails of support. Our California ancestors all repose in California cemeteries. The vast majority of the cemeteries in the state are historic and pre-date the 20th century. It is important that we provide protection and preservation of these places of rest. Together we can make a difference. Sincerely, Sue Silver, State Coordinator California Saving Graves www.usgennet.org/usa/ca/state/

Well, seems we need a break from all things genealogical... hard research, brick walls, insipid messages we are not interested in.... and besides. this one, I just could not keep to myself! Then again, I do have an odd sense of humor.<vbg> Need a connection to genealogy? It is said that all Family Trees have some fruits and nuts in them.... including mine! Lauren List Admin ........................ It was visitor's day at the Lunatic Asylum. All the inmates were standing in the courtyard and singing "Ave Maria." They were singing it beautifully. Oddly, each of them was holding a red apple in one hand and tapping it rhythmically with a pencil. A visitor listened in wonder to the performance, and then approached the conductor. "I'm a retired Choir Director," he said. "This is one of the best choirs I have ever heard." "Yes, I am very proud of them," said the conductor. "You should take them on tour," said the visitor."What are they called?" "Surely that's obvious," replied the conductor......... "They're the Moron Tapanapple Choir."

San Mateo Genealogical Society Fall Seminar Saturday, November 1, 2003, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM First Presbyterian Church, San Mateo Hank Jones, Genealogist, Author, and Renowned Lecturer Space at this seminar will be limited to 120 persons. Please contact SMCGS, P. O Box 5083, San Mateo, CA 94402 for a form. Cost for the seminar is $25.00 for members, $30.00 for non-members and $40.00 at the door if any seats are open.

Dear CIG Members: Remember how we helped Nancy to write a query for the Ireland board? Well, she pursued it when she got home and has already received a helpful response! You can view the interchange at: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=rw&p=localities.britisles.ireland.general&m=14105 and http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec?htx=message&r=rw&p=localities.britisles.ireland.general&m=14105.1 These are two line links, so if they are not clickable, be sure to copy the entirety of both lines into your browser. This goes to show how writing a simple query can help get started down that twisty path of researching your family history. I must admit that I am both surprised and pleased she got such a quick and timely response. Now when she is in Ireland she will be better armed to find her roots. I would like to hear from each of you that attended either or both session one and session two regarding Rootsweb's resources. Have you posted a query yet? If not, why not? If not now, when? Remember -- they are free. Also, if anyone has had trouble accessing the notes http://www.genealogist.tv/CIG_Lecture_RW_03_20_03.pdf please let me know and we will see what we can do to work around it. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to be able to open and read/print them. It is freely available for download at http://www.adobe.com and does come "packed" with most every computer and software program today. >From the results obtained by having the group help write a query perhaps we should have a "brick wall session" and help each other write queries to help break them down! There was a lot of great input and I must say special thanks go to the human spell-checkers! Happy Trails, Lauren

Dear CIG Members: The notes from March's Computer Interest Group meeting are again available for download at: http://www.genealogist.tv/CIG_Lecture_RW_03_20_03.pdf These are of benefit for those of you who attended either that meeting or who will attend today's meeting. And also should be of use to those of you unable to attend either session. Happy Trails, Lauren

I have been a subscriber to the Grodfrey library for more than a month now and am VERY happy. Granted, it does not have all censuses YET, but they are working on them. Following is Dick Eastman's latest article about them. Cathy - Godfrey Memorial Library Expands Online Resources The Godfrey Memorial Library has long been a great resource for genealogists, especially those interested in New England ancestry. The library opened in 1951 and was named by A. Fremont Rider, founder of the library, in memory of Grace (Godfrey) Rider and her brother Brig. Gen. Stuart Chapin Godfrey. In the past 52 years, many have made the trip to Middletown, Connecticut, in order to use the excellent resources stored at the library. The book collection of about 16,000 volumes is divided into three main categories: family genealogy, local history, and biography. The Godfrey Memorial Library is expanding and changing. The big news is the new online service. Underwritten by the Godfrey Scholars (the library's support group) the Library now is offering remote access to a growing number of genealogy sources. Best of all, these new resources are not limited to New England. They will appeal to anyone searching ancestry anywhere in the U.S. The key initial offering is ProQuest’s HeritageQuest Online and ProQuest’s Historical Newspapers: New York Times. Best of all, you no longer need to drive to Connecticut in order to access this information. This week I sat in my home and accessed the Godfrey Memorial Library Web pages. I clicked on "Digital Book Collection" and then entered a GML barcode number, a form of User ID. A second or two later I was looking at ProQuest’s HeritageQuest Online. This excellent collection includes every page of nearly 8,000 family histories and more than 12,000 local histories, every word searchable. I searched on my own surname and found every single book on that name that I have ever heard of, plus more that were new to me. Every word on every page is indexed, making it a snap to find information about ancestors. My first search was strictly on my own surname. The database returned a status page stating that there were 3,021 books or other documents with that name someplace within the pages. Obviously, searching three thousand books is much too difficult. I needed to narrow the search. For my second attempt, I again entered my own surname but also entered a place name of "Maine," the state of primary interest. This time the database found "only" 2,876 entries. I backed up and used the same surname but this time specified a town of Corinth, Maine, a tiny place north of Bangor where my great-great-grandparents lived and died. This time the search produced 34 results, a much more manageable list. I was able to browse through each of these books, jumping from "hit" to "hit" with a simple click of the mouse. Each "hit" displayed an image of a page that contained the word(s) that I had searched for. Within a half hour I read more pages with occurrences of my family name in that small town than I could have found in a full day at a regular genealogy library. The capability of searching every single word on every single page greatly simplified my task. The same online service also has the full U.S. census images available online for 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1860, 1870, 1890, 1900, 1910 and 1920. NOTE: The 1890 consists only of fragments and reconstructed documents since more than 99% of the original 1890 census records were destroyed in a 1921 fire. Only 6,160 names were able to be extracted from the remnants. However, those names are available online in this database. Unlike many other online census databases, this one includes full images. You can see all the information as recorded in the enumerators' (census takers') handwriting. You can even print copies of the original census records on your own inkjet or laser printer. The HeritageQuest Online database that is available through the Godfrey Memorial Library also includes several thousand books and magazines of historic and/or genealogical interest. The New York Times from 1851 to 1999, with every word searchable, is also available from your home by using the Godfrey Library's Web site. Another database of interest is the African American Biographical Database, from ProQuest and Chadwyck - Healey. This is a major resource for biographical information, including photographs and illustrations, for African Americans. From the famous to the everyday person, AABD includes profiles and full-text sketches providing both biographical detail and illuminating narratives chronicling the lives of Black Americans. The Godfrey Memorial Library online catalog continues to grow and currently contains more than 10,000 items. The Library staff is also cataloging digital items as well as "analytics" for useful content that appears within books, annuals, and the like. Most of the analytics that they create are for biographical sketches and lengthy obituaries published in professional journals. The goal is to make it even easier for researchers to find this otherwise obscure information. The Library staff presently concentrates on titles not included in Ancestry, Heritage Quest, PERSI, and such. For over 50 years the library has published biographical index citations in the American Genealogical-Biographical Index, or AGBI. This is the equivalent of more than 200 printed volumes. The AGBI database contains millions of records of people whose names have appeared in printed genealogical records and family histories. The current run of AGBI will be completed in early 2004. All in all, this is a first-class resource, available to you today in the comfort of your own home. Best of all, it is available for a modest fee of $35.00 (U.S.) per year. For me and for many others, that is cheaper than venturing out, paying for gas, parking fees, photocopy costs, and other miscellaneous expenses for a single trip to a genealogy library. With the Godfrey Memorial Library, you can make multiple "trips" at any time of the day or night, 365 days a year. Not bad for thirty-five bucks! I have written before about HeritageQuest Online's databases. I have always commented that this service is not available to private individuals. Instead, you have to go to a subscribing library to use it or else sign up for remote access from a participating library. The Godfrey Memorial Library is one such participating library, and their membership fee is lower than most. For thirty-five dollars a year, you can sit at home and access HeritageQuest Online, the New York Times from 1851 to 1999, and some other databases unique to the Godfrey Memorial Library. For more information about the Godfrey Memorial Library and its many online services, go to http://www.godfrey.org. A link on the same page leads you to an application form to become a Godfrey Scholar and then access the various online resources described above. You do have to apply by mail, not online. You can expect a delay of a few days until you receive your GML barcode number, which you will need to access the online databases.

Correction to my last meeting notice. Sorry about the confusion. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - The Marin County Genealogical Society's Computer Interest Group (CIG) will meet Thursday, September 18, 2003 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Hamilton Field. Our topic will be: How to Make the Best Use of Rootsweb Resources, Session Two - Follow up to the overview of the resources available "for free" by Lauren Boyd In this session we will review your "home work" since last time. The session will be 98% attendee driven. You will have the opportunity to have your questions answered. We will perform online activities as individuals and as a group with the "Mentor" present to assist you through the processes. Hands on exercise and discussion of: -- Mailing list subscription, unsubscription and posting -- Bulletin board posting, finding, posting, flubbing and fixing -- Gateways & Archives and how to use them more effectively As time permits: -A brief behind the scenes look at Administration and Volunteering -A sure fire way to eliminate the ad pop-ups from displaying while viewing the bulletin boards - Prior lecture outline and notes will be available for download and review or printout prior to meeting. Prerequisites for this session: None. If you were not present for session one, you will still benefit from attending session two. Materials needed: Please note that this class will be a "hands on" session so bring your notebook computers. The facility has network connections available for us to use - both wired and wireless - and a broadband connection to the Internet! If you have a network card, bring a cable to connect to their switch. If you have a wireless network card, bring it so we can use their network. If you need a network card for your notebook, MCF has some for us to use. Prepare some queries, in advance, that can be posted to Surname and Locality lists and boards. If you do not have a laptop, bring them as plain text files on floppy disk. Location: Marin Community Foundation, Hanger 5, 2nd Floor Suite 200, Hamilton Field, Novato (Hanger Row is at end of main road into Hamilton Field). For map and directions, go to --> http://www.marincf.org/contact/map.html Contact John Deadman ([email protected]) or Gene Pennington ([email protected]) if you need directions to meeting location or need more information. These meetings are free to the public. Visit the MCGS website at http://www.maringensoc.org/sigs.html Gene Pennington MCGS CIG http://www.maringensoc.org/sigs.html End

It appears Rotary has no office. They just meet at breakfasts, lunches or dinners, right? I want to solicit manpower and financial help from them for the October 2003 cemetery outing. Anyone have connections to Rotary in Marin? Jerry D. Moore

In searching the 1933 San Mateo County directory on VitalSearch, I made an interesting discovery. I was looking for my father's uncle, John CASSARETTO, and I did find him on Duane Street in Redwood City, where they lived for years. However, what was interesting, is that John's entry was in a section called "other areas" which included not only listings for towns in San Mateo County, but listings for the greater Bay Area. There were listings for Livermore, Hayward, and many many listings for Marin County--San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito. These included businesses. So my suggestion is that if you are looking for someone in the greater SF bay area for 1933, check the San Mateo Directory on VitalSearch. Hope this helps. "rwalker"

The Marin County Genealogical Society's Computer Interest Group (CIG) will meet Thursday, September 18, 2003 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Hamilton Field. Our topic will be: RootsMagic Genealogy Software presented by Gene Pennington Location: Marin Community Foundation, Hanger 5, 2nd Floor Suite 200, Hamilton Field, Novato (Hanger Row is at end of main road into Hamilton Field). For map and directions, go to --> http://www.marincf.org/contact/map.html This facility has a high speed broadband connection to the Internet for us to use as well as a wireless and a wired network for us to connect to during our meeting. Remember, this is a "hands on" presentation. We want YOU to work on your laptop as the presentation is made. So, bring your laptop computers, a wireless network card or a network card and cable so you can work along with me as I give my presentation. If you don't have a wireless network card or a network card and cable, don't worry. The great staff at MCF have some cards we can use. If you don't have the RootsMagic software but would like to try it, go to --> http://www.rootsmagic.com/ and you can download a free demo version. Bring your questions so we can help you make the most of your RootsMagic software for use with your genealogy research! Contact John Deadman ([email protected]) or Gene Pennington ([email protected]) if you need directions to meeting location or need more information. These meetings are free to the public. Visit the MCGS website at http://www.maringensoc.org/sigs.html End

Hello listers, I'm clearing out "stuff" and have an old poster from the Marin-Dell Dairy. If any one is interested in it, please contact me at [email protected] Thanks, Kathy Devlin San Rafael CA