.

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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Follow Up to General Meeting

A Holiday Home Run! The Southern California Chapter of GSHA hosted an excellent Holiday meeting which included a presentation by Richard A. Santillan concerning Mexican American Baseball with emphasis on the San Fernando Valley, California. In attendance were many Female and Male veterans of Mexican American baseball from the 1940's. Food was provided including Tamales, Pozole, Fideos and a special treat of homemade Sopapillas cooked on site by Cecelia Brewart and her daughter Marie Brewart. also attached are a variety of books by Richard A. Santillan and co-authors. The door prize included a baseball poster recently purchased in Havana, Cuba. --- Thanks for a great day.





Wednesday, November 29, 2017

UTSA Libraries receives grant to digitize The Sons of the Republic of Texas Collection

The Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) recently received a grant to continue digitization of their archive of 16th - 20th century Mexican manuscripts, housed at UTSA Libraries.

The grant will support the hiring of a full-time digitization technician to scan and catalog the collection, making these valuable materials accessible to scholars world-wide.

The Sons of the Republic of Texas Kathryn Stoner O’Connor Mexican Manuscript Collection includes more than 5,400 items documenting social, political and religious life in central Mexico. Scholars will find information about individuals who influenced the country’s development, including Kings of Spain, two emperors of Mexico, Viceroys of Mexico, and Presidents of Mexico and the United States. Other items include financial records, personal and business correspondence, censuses and maps.

The collection is named in honor of Kathryn (Kate) Carlisle Stoner O'Connor, a preservationist, philanthropist and historian, best remembered for her role in the restoration of Nuestra Señora de Loreto Presidio in Goliad, Texas.

“This grant will enable us to greatly increase access to the SRT collection by presenting the entire collection in our digital portal,” said Amy Rushing, head of UTSA Special Collections. “We are grateful for the support from the SRT. We have a long-standing relationship with the SRT and we are honored to be the stewards of this important collection.”

Formed in 1893, The Sons of the Republic of Texas seeks to preserve the histories of the men and women who achieved the independence of Texas and secured its admission as a state of the United States, February 19, 1846.

UTSA Libraries’ Special Collections brings national recognition to the university for distinctive research materials documenting the diverse histories and development of San Antonio and South Texas.


- by Anne Peters

Your Genetic Data and Why Family Tree DNA Will Never Sell Your Data


A lot of negative, and often misleading, publicity concerning home DNA testing has been floating around the news services this week. In an effort to clear the air, Family Tree DNA has issued the following statement:

HOUSTON, Nov. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), a division of Gene-by-Gene Ltd, the first to market with a consumer oriented genealogical DNA testing kit and the only genealogical DNA testing company with its own state-of-the-art genetics laboratory, is telling consumers they will never sell their genetic data in a consumer awareness campaign entitled “Can the Other Guys Say That?”

“We feel the only person that should have your DNA is you,” says Bennett Greenspan, President and Founder of Family Tree DNA. “We don’t believe it should be sold, traded, or bartered.”

According to Greenspan, “the value of DNA testing is that the DNA test can tell you things about yourself that you cannot determine by looking in the mirror. It allows you to interrogate the history book written in your cells.”

The media campaign comes at the start of what is traditionally the biggest selling season of the year for genealogically focused DNA testing companies, reminding consumers who flock to genealogical sites to purchase their holiday gifts that, “Finding your roots is fun, but not all DNA test companies are created equal.”

Other DNA testing companies are, in fact, selling consumers’ genetic data to pharmaceutical companies for a profit. While these companies claim to remove personally identifying information prior to selling the data, the question, says Greenspan, is whether consumers feel the sale of their genetic data is “part of the deal [they] really thought [they] were signing up for when [they] ordered a simple DNA test for genealogical purposes.”

The “Can the Other Guys Say That?” campaign launched on Thanksgiving Day and encourages consumers to “Make the Smart Choice this Holiday Season.”

Monday, November 27, 2017

FamilySearch: a New Free Sign-in Process Offers Greater Subscriber Experiences and Benefits



The following announcement was written by the people at: FamilySearch

Salt Lake City, Utah (16 November 2017), Beginning December 13, 2017, patrons visiting FamilySearch.org will see a prompt to register for a free FamilySearch account or sign in to their existing account to continue enjoying all the free expanded benefits FamilySearch has to offer. Since its launch in 1999, FamilySearch has added millions of users, billions of various historical records, and many fun, new features like Family Tree, Memories, mobile apps, digital books, and dynamic help. In order to accommodate continued growth of these and future free services, FamilySearch must assure all its partners that its content is offered in a safe and secure online environment. Patrons creating a free account and signing in fulfills that need.

Patron sign in will also enable FamilySearch to satisfy the ongoing need for user authentication. This authentication can deliver rich, personalized discovery, collaboration, and help experiences. Simply put, signed-in visitors can access more searchable content and enjoy more personalized services.

“A large percentage of our current site visitors are not benefiting from much of what FamilySearch has to offer because they don’t realize the need to simply sign in with their free account to do so,” said Steve Rockwood, FamilySearch CEO. “They are basically arriving in the parking lot but not coming inside for the main event,” he said about website visitors who do not sign in.

FamilySearch is committed to patron privacy and does not share personal account information with any third party without a patron’s consent.

See Registering to use FamilySearch.org for information about creating a free account.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Do I have to pay for a FamilySearch account?

No. Your FamilySearch account is, and always will be, free.

2. How do I create a free FamilySearch account?

See Registering to use FamilySearch.org. The only information you will need is your first and last name, a username, a password, and an email or mobile phone number.

3. What if I have forgotten my username or password?
See Recovering a forgotten username for signing in to FamilySearch.org.
See Recovering a forgotten password for signing in to FamilySearch.org.

4. Will you sell my information?

FamilySearch does not share your personal account information with any third party without your consent.

5. How will my experience be enhanced?

FamilySearch offers many services and experiences that are free but that require you to sign in as a subscriber to fully use. In addition to historical records and Family Tree access, signed-in subscribers receive personalized experiences, notifications, and other features (see above).

6. Why do users need to log in to perform searches or to create a family tree?

FamilySearch wants to provide you more access to records and a rich, personalized experience with more successful discoveries. By signing in, you allow the FamilySearch system to customize and deliver its best services to you.

7. How will my contact information be used?
Your information is used in the FamilySearch system to facilitate collaboration between users (you control how much information is shared).
The Family Tree and Memories features display your username and any other contact information you approve when using select features.
Your information allows you to send in-system messages to other users without revealing your personal identity or email address.
FamilySearch will send you email and newsletters to keep you informed. You can specify how much email, if any, you receive.
Your contact information is accessed when you contact the support group for help.

8. Is there anything I can do without signing in?

Absolutely. There are still a number of things you can do on FamilySearch without signing in. You can search the catalog, digitized books, genealogies, the Wiki, and the learning center. You can also view user-contributed photos and stories.

###

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,921 family history centers in 129 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

General Meeting and Pot Luck, Saturday, December 2, 2017







































Special Presentation:
“Mexican American Baseball”
PRESENTER: Dr. Richard A. Santillán
Richard Santillán, who co-wrote a book on this subject with Victoria C. Norton, Christopher Docter, Monica Ortez, Richard Arroyo, will speak about Mexican American Baseball in the San Fernando Valley. The book explores the teams and players that dotted the valley landscape throughout the 20th century. In a time and place where Mexican Americans were closed off from many city recreation centers, neighborhoods formed their own teams. Baseball and softball reinforced community and regional ties, strengthened family bonds, instilled discipline and dedication that translated into future professional careers, provided women opportunities outside their traditional roles in the home, and fostered lifelong friendships.
Dr. Santillán will be inviting several former San Fernando baseball players to participate in his discussion. He has collaborated on ten books on Mexican American baseball, including the Inland Empire, Pomona Valley, East Los Angeles, Los Angles, Ventura, and Orange County.

Election:
Election of our 2018 Board of Directors is coming! Please attend our December 2, 2017 Holiday Meeting to vote. It’s not too late to add your name to the hat to run for any office position, or to be on a committee.

And Holiday Pot Luck
What’s for Lunch on December 2? It’s a Potluck!
In the past, we have enjoyed tamales, enchiladas, delicious casseroles, pozole and more. We need mostly entrees and a few healthy salads, too. Desserts are also welcome. We will provide the drinks and paper goods. This is your opportunity to share with GSHA-SC your favorite cooking recipes. We do not have a stove at the SCGS Library where we meet in Burbank, so please bring a crockpot to keep your foods warm.

Please email the name of the food item you want to share in the great spirit of Christmas and the
holidays to Cathy Romero at cath.romero@sbcglobal.net or 626-485-2276. Please remember to bring your checkbook. Consider buying a book as a gift for the holidays. We are also happy to collect your dues for 2018. Dues help us continue to provide great speakers and events throughout the year. More importantly, sign up to be a volunteer! We will be having a door prize/raffle at the end of our pot luck. Please bring in your items that you wish to be donated as door prizes!

Monday, November 13, 2017

I Can’t Read That! Deciphering Old Handwriting

Gena Philibert-Ortega discusses (and provides links to) several free online tutorials to help you sharpen your skills at deciphering handwriting. To read her article please hit here and to check out the free web sites, place your mouse over the bold words to access their information.

You may go to the following websites, where the information is free.

What Does That Say? provides help with colonial American handwriting, including samples, common name abbreviations, and resources. Another one is  How to Read 18th Century British-American Writing

The UK National Archives web page Palaeography: Reading Old Handwriting 1500-1800. A Practical Online Tutorial is great for learning to read English handwriting from the 16th to 19th centuries.
Don’t forget to click on the Quick Reference link to find information about money, calendars, numbers, measurements and counties.

One website that might be a surprise in relation to handwriting is Stephen P. Morse’s One-Step Webpages. Most researchers are familiar with Morse’s tools that help search Ellis Island and Castle Garden databases as well as the federal census, but he also provides language tools you can find by clicking on the Foreign Alphabets link.

If you are looking for information in old Spanish, check here ¿Qué dice? Reading Spanish Handwriting Helps Find Records and another is Spanish Handwriting

How a DNA Test Can Change Your Life

Judith Fein wrote an interested piece in her blog about "How a DNA Test Can Change Your Life:The surprising results of a DNA test can impact your life.

She points out that " to find commonality over the last few hundred years. In a world where people feel so disconnected, so isolated, it's wonderful to have your feeling of belonging expand and to have, if you wish, the opportunity to connect to unknown relatives. Maybe you'll meet one day. Or talk on the phone. Or email. Or plan a visit to each others' hometowns or countries."

And that is what I did! I hope that you too may have found some peace knowing where and what journey your ancestors may have journey to get to where you are.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

La Historia Historical Society Museum (El Monte) Annual Menudo Fundraiser

Menudo Breakfast Fundraiser
Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017
8 a.m. - Noon

American Legion Post 261
4542 Peck Rd., El Monte CA

Tickets available day of: $10
Includes a delicious bowl of menudo, coffee or soft drink, and pan dulce.
For information and tickets, call Teresa Guitierrez (626) 747-1192 or Dr. Ben Campos (626) 964-6057.

Sponsored by: La Historia Historical Society Museum, (626) 279-1954
3240 Tyler Ave., El Monte CA 91731
Hours: Tuesdays 12 - 2 pm. Sundays 1-4 pm, except holidays.

Who has lived in your home?

Would you like to know who lived in your home or an ancestor home many years ago? One online site can help. Historic Map Works has unveiled a way to link people and places throughout history.
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Historic Map Works is a collection of 19th and early 20th century city, town, and county maps. The detailed maps usually show every building and every street in each city or town. Each single-dwelling home contains the name of the family who resided there, either on or beside the building on the map. Apartment complexes contained the property owner’s name.

The new site should be of interest to history buffs, genealogy searchers, and real estate agents. Can you imagine the realtor listing the details of a family that used to live in the house being offered for sale? I suspect that amount of detail might increase the sale price!



The maps are visible on the web site free of charge while higher quality printed maps are offered for sale.

Historic Map Works provides the following description of their site:

Based in Portland Maine, Historic Map Works, LLC is an Internet company formed to create a historic digital map database of North America and the world. Drawing on the largest physical collection of American property atlases of its type, it is our aim to be the single best online destination for map enthusiasts and researchers alike.
In addition to our own atlas collection, we
incorporated our scans of the antiquarian world map collection from the
Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education located at
the University of Southern Maine. Combining these collections allows site
visitors a vast amount of information spanning several centuries of
cartographic information.


Historic Map Works’s map collection includes:

United States Property Atlases
Antiquarian Maps
Nautical Charts
Birdseye Views
Special Collections (Celestial Maps,
Portraits, and other historical images)
Directories and other text documents

The vast majority of our database was created
by scanning an original map at a high resolution by our team of highly
skilled image technicians. After scanning, this team processes out the
major imperfections while maintaining the look of an antiquarian map.

Maps are then uploaded and cataloged for
viewing on our website. Our technicians geocode each map to a modern map
to enable the search by address function. Linking the historic images in
our database with geocode data allows visitors to search by modern day
address or latitude and longitude coordinates. Other methods to view our
maps include browsing by geographic location as well as searching our maps
via keywords, town names, makers names, or simply by year.

Prints and giftware are offered for the vast
majority of images on our site. A Giclee printing process is used to
create the images ordered from our site ensuring an archival print that
will remain vibrant for years to come.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Why is it that AncestryDNA is offering: You Can Now Opt Out of Matches


Ancestry just announced over the weekend that they will now allow you to opt out of viewing and being viewed by your DNA matches. We've got the details on what that means for you by reading their blog.

If you’d like to read the full blog on the topic, it’s located here.

LUNCH AND LEARN, Saturday, November 11, 2017

Members and non-members are cordially invited to:

Southern California Genealogical Society and Family Research Library
LUNCH AND LEARN

417 Irving Drive, Burbank, California 91504 • 818-843-7247
FREE. Open to the public. The library materials will not be open for research.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 • Doors open at 12 noon

Brown Bag Lunch - 12 noon to 1 p.m. • Chat and share your genealogy and questions.

“Easy Interviewing Techniques” 1 - 2 p.m.
Not everyone is comfortable asking questions of even close relatives, but interviewing is one of the skills every researcher should be using to expand their knowledge beyond the written word. Learn the basics and more, as veteran researcher Donie Nelson prepares you to get the facts.

“Writing a Memoir: Your Own Life, In Your Own Words” 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.
The most important history you can leave your family, is the story of your own life. Who else knows you better? Whether you are a minimalist and choose to sum up your life in one page or you decide on a short story, this workshop will get you started and you will go home with tips on how to keep your memoir personal, factual and entertaining.

Presented by Donie A. Nelson

Donie Nelson has been researching her Swedish-Scottish-Spanish ancestry for 35 years and she has fascinating stories to share. She is a featured speaker for many societies and conferences, and also a recognized leader in the genealogical community. She has served on many Boards in California. Donie is a past President of Los Angeles WESTSIDE Genealogical Society (LAWGS), where she supervised the publication of the book: “Abbot (GSHA-SC), serving on their board from 1993-2011, including six terms as President. She currently focuses on outreach and is Editor-in-Chief of Nuestras Raices, the journal published by GSHA. Professionally Donie has worked with writers in the film and television industry since 1971 and now offers her research and editing services to other family researchers.Kinney’s Venice of America.” She currently serves on the board of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America (GSHA) and is a founding member of their Southern California Chapter

Sunday, November 5, 2017

TLC "Long Lost Family" returns

Follow the touching stories of people who have suffered a lifetime of separation and are yearning to be reunited with their birthparents and biological families or find children they had to place for adoption long ago. To learn more about the upcoming season hit here!

66 Descendant Family Trees To Help You Find Your Mexican Ancestors

You may not be aware that there is free information and valuable resource on the web. It is 66 Descendant Family Trees compiled by John Inclan and hosted by Somos Primos. When ever you see information online you may want to verify their facts with sources and research the information. If you used the information presented, please cite where you gathered the information in them, you always want to have the place where your facts came from. Just be warned, as with every thing that you see online that these Family Trees may contain errors. Your job is to verify!

List of Descendant Family Trees
Lieutenant Vicente de Alderete and Dona Maria Josefa Garcia de Rivera y Camacho
Don Francisco Javier de Alcorta
Don Francisco Joseph de Arocha and Dona Juana Ramirez Curbelo Umpierre
Captain Francisco Baez de Benavides and Dona Isabel Martinez Guajardo
Captain Juan Esteban de Ballesteros
Don Nicolas Balli Perez II and Dona Josefa Manuela Guerra de la Garza
Alcalde Mayor Fernando del Bosque Almendariz
Captain Pedro Botello de Morales
Dõn Juan Canales
Captain Alberto del Canto
Dõn Juan de Caliz and Dona Catalina Gomez de Coy (Santos Coy)
The Descendants of Captain Bernabe de las Casas And Dona Maria Beatriz Navarro Rodriguez
Don Juan Cavazos del Campo and Dona Elena de la Garza Falcon
Descendants of Dõn Juan Bautista Cavazos Fernandez
Don Juan Bautista Chapa and Dona Beatriz Olivares de Trevino
Don Pedro Duran y Chavez and Dona Isabel de Baca
Descendants of Christopher Columbus
Don Antonio de Ecay y Muzquiz and Dona Vicenta Vera
General Pedro de Elizondo
Don Alonso de Estrada
Don Juan Fernandez de Jauregui and Dona Isauel de Aldama
General Antonio Fernandez y Vallejo
Pedro Flores de Abrego
Don Juan Galindo Morales And Dona Melchora Sanchez Navarro
Don Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon and Dona Beatriz Gonzalez Hidalgo
Captain Pedro de la Garza Falcon y Trevino
Lord Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza And Lady Aldonza Lopez de Ayala
Don Miguel de Gortari
Don Jose Manuel de Goseascochea and Dona Maria Francisca Xaviera de la Garza y de la Garza
Don Jose Bartolome Inclan Cabrera
Don Jose Luis Jasso and Dona Maria Nicolasa de Luna
Jean Juchereau, Sieur de More
Captain Antonio Ladron de Guevara
Descendants of Captain Pedro Lozano Urquizu & Dona Marianna de la Garza y Rocha
Don Juan Francisco Martinez Guajardo and Dona Ursula Ines Catarina Navarro Rodriguez
Descendants of Don Pedro Miguel Mendez
Captain Francisco de Mier Noriega
Don Juan Perez de Onate and Dona Osana Martinez de Gonzalez
Don J Clemente Perez de Ancira Gonzalez de Paredes
Don Francisco Perez de Escamilla and Dona Leonor de Ayala
Don Lorenzo Perez and Dona Adriana de Leon
Don Joseph de Plaza and Dona Cathalina de Urrutia y Flores de Valdez
Major Diego Ramon
Gonzalo de Reina and Catarina Gumendio y de la Garza
Captain Antonio Rodriguez de Quiroga
Don Manuel de Sada
Don Pedro de Salazar
Don Francisco Sanchez de la Barrera and Dona Maria Duran de Vzcanga
Don Joseph Antonio Seguin and Dona Geronima Flores de Abrego
Descendants of Dõn Juan Alonso de Sosa
Descendants of Don Martin Sosa y Bravo
Chief Constable Vicente Travieso Alvarez
Don Joseph Diego de Tremino y Quintanilla
Don Pedro Uribe y Vergara and Dona Ana Lenor Tovar
Don San Juan de Urrutia y Allende and Dona Casilda Retes y Retes
Don Joseph de Urrutia y Escurta and Dona Francisca Nicolasa Javiera Fernandez de la Garza
Descendants of Don Andress de Valdivielsso
Don Gutierre Vasquez de la Cueva and Dona Francisca de Carvajal
Don Pedro Fernandez de Velasco, 1st Count of Haro
Don Martin de Veramendi and Dona Benita de Olagrie
Descendants of Don Juan Ignacio de Verridi
Alferez Diego de Villarreal and Dona Beatriz de las Casas y Navarro
Captain Diego de Villarreal de las Casas and Ines de Renteria
Descendants of Juan de Villarreal de las Casas
Jose Benito Zambrano
Dõn Nicolas Zambrano Tresalvo

Again, you can view the above trees at 66 Descendant Family Trees compiled by John Inclan.

Early Settlers of Revilla: Jose Baez de Benavides and Margarita de la Serna

There is a web site put together by an individual that is promoting research on families from a specific community. The only problem is that you will need to become a member of the group at a price. We are not giving a recommendation or any judgement but providing information to those who are not aware of the site.

To read more of the article by Moises Garza please hit here

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Borrowing from the Internet Archive

I bet you knew, you can read books that are out of copyright on Archive.org or even download the same books and save them to a hard drive or a flash drive. But did you know that you can even borrow current books that are still within copyright?

Books in the Archive.org collection may be borrowed by logged in patrons for a period of two weeks. Internet Archive offers borrowable books in BookReader, PDF and ePub formats. BookReader editions also may be read online immediately in any web browser. You will have to register to their website and look for the the three words "Borrow this Book." Happy hunting!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

If you have any Sephardic Ancestry, check out this website.

For those who have Sephardic ancestry, here is an excellent resource that you may want to peruse. The resource is on the sephardicgen.com website. This web site also links to other important useful information! Please check out this page. GSHA-SC highly recommend that you take the time to check it out!

The Five Questions That Genealogists Should Always Ask Themselves!

This article came from FamilyTree Magazine by Vanessa Wieland and can be seen by hitting here. It gives insight on how to interpret from the records we find and how we can use that information to understand our past? Asking some questions of the records you’re using can reveal a lot, especially the hidden details. Ms Wieland writes an informative piece on how to answer some of the questions such as:

Who is the informant?

What information is included?

When was the record created?

Where is the event recorded?

and Why is it important?

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Annual Bazaar Follow up!

GSHA So California Chapter was proud to participate in the annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar at the University of Southern California.

L: Evelyn stopped by to say hello. She is researching her mother from Jalisco and her father from Peru.
R:Anthony Ray (left) and Alex King (right) were in attendance at the Table for Old Spanish Trail.
L: Cathy Romero greets interested persons at the event.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Come join us at the Archives Bazaar Oct 21st, 2017


Please join us for an experience that you may enjoy when you drop by our table at the Los Angeles Archives Bazaar at the University of Southern California campus on October 21st, 2017. Please see the pamphlet for more information.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Free Geographic Maps available at the Library of Congress

The Geography and Map Division (G&M) of the Library of Congress has custody of the largest and most comprehensive cartographic collection in the world with collections numbering over 5.5 million maps, 80,000 atlases, 6,000 reference works, over 500 globes and globe gores, 3,000 raised relief models, and a large number of cartographic materials in other formats, including over 56,000 CDs/DVDs. The online Map Collections represents only a small fraction that have been converted to digital form (80,000+). These images were created from maps and atlases and, in general, are restricted to items that are in public domain, meaning those which are not covered by copyright.


Hispanic Research San Diego Oct 28th

This is a reminder that next Hispanic Saturday meeting is on 28 October at 1pm.
This will be the  last meeting of the year 2017.

Please note that the meeting is at the Family History Library in Mission
Valley (4195 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego CA 92108) not at the
San Diego Central Library.

Lisa Medina will be talking to us about Mexican Genealogy and Research Methods.

Today in History revisited! New Mexico’s Colonial Past

This article first appeared on September 21st at the National Archives! We thought it should be revisited so we are re posting it here.


New Mexico’s Colonial Past


On September 21, 1595, Don Juan de Oñate’s petition and contract for the conquest of New Mexico was presented to Luís de Velasco, the viceroy of Nueva Vizcaya. Already a wealthy and prominent man, he sought to turn the Indians’ wealth into his own and had requested the assignment after hearing rumors about golden cities in the vicinity. Oñate was granted the commission and set about recruiting men for his expedition.
To see it and all it information, click here

Hispanic and Latino Organization (HALO) at the National Archives

As we almost wrapped up National Hispanic Heritage Month, we wish to announced information at the National Archives! Visit their web page for resources on related records and how they have commemorating the month.


The Hispanic and Latino Organization, better known as HALO, is one of several Employee Affinity Groups (EAGs) at the National Archives that staff may join. The general goals of these groups are to promote interagency collaboration, diversity, and inclusion, and to provide a sense of community.

Archive of 16th - 20th century Mexican manuscripts to be digitized!

The Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) recently received a grant to continue digitization of their archive of 16th - 20th century Mexican manuscripts, housed at UTSA Libraries.

The grant will support the hiring of a full-time digitization technician to scan and catalog the collection, making these valuable materials accessible to scholars world-wide.

The Sons of the Republic of Texas Kathryn Stoner O’Connor Mexican Manuscript Collection includes more than 5,400 items documenting social, political and religious life in central Mexico. Scholars will find information about individuals who influenced the country’s development, including Kings of Spain, two emperors of Mexico, Viceroys of Mexico, and Presidents of Mexico and the United States. Other items include financial records, personal and business correspondence, censuses and maps.

For more info click here

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Viva La Fiesta Round Up!

GSHA-SC, Genealogical Society of Southern California provided a wonderful afternoon at the Chicano Resource Center in East Los Angeles --- Lawrence Bouett gave a presentation of Chavez Ravine including the detailed history of the area up until the destruction of the Mexican barrios in the 1950's. In attendance were descendants and residents of the area including Mary Paloma of La Loma barrio. --- You must know your history to know where you are at today.



Friday, October 13, 2017

Announcing Viva La Familia Fiesta--“Remembering the Families of Chavez Ravine”

The Genealogical Society of Hispanic America-Southern California (GSHA-SC) invites you to join us at our annual

Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 • 2:30-3:30 pm
East Los Angeles Library • 4837 E. Third St., Los Angeles

Join us for a lecture by Lawence Bouett
Lawrence Bouett will speak about the early history of the Los Angeles/Chavez Ravine barrios of Palo Verde, Bishop, and La Loma. He has traced the genealogies of many families who lived there through U.S. Census and Voter registrations between 1910 and 1950.
Lawrence Bouett is a retired research scientist, Petroleum Engineer, registered Professional Engineer; Genealogist, Historian, Researcher, and Lecturer. His great, great grandfather is Francisco Solano. The Solano Canyon community of Los Angeles is named for this family. The Solano Family began living in Solano Ravine in 1866.

Parking is free, behind the Library. The presentation will be in the Chicano Resource Center at the Library

GSHA-SC • P.O. Box 2472, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Website: www.gsha-sc.org • Blog: http://gsha-sc.blogspot.com


Facebook: Genealogical Society of Hispanic America - Southern California • Twitter: gshasocal

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Finding Your Roots premiers on Tuesday, October 3

A brand new season of PBS’ hit show Finding Your Roots, hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., premieres on Tuesday, October 3 at 8/7c.

This star studded season features some of our favorite comedians, journalists, and A-list celebrities. Catch the season teaser. Hit here

Tues., Oct. 3, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “The Impression” with Larry David and Bernie Sanders
Tues., Oct. 10, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Unfamiliar Kin” with Fred Armisen, Carly Simon and Christopher Walken
Tues., Oct. 17, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Puritans and Pioneers” with Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen and William H. Macy
Tues., Oct. 24, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “The Vanguard” with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ava DuVernay, Janet Mock
Tues., Oct. 31, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Immigrant Nation” with Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd and John Turturro
Tues., Nov. 7, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Black Like Me” with Bryant Gumbel, Tonya Lewis-Lee and Suzanne Malveaux
Tues., Nov. 14, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Children of the Revolution” with Lupita Nyong’o, Carmelo Anthony and Ana Navarro
Tues., Nov. 21, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Relatives We Never Knew We Had” with Tea Leoni and Gaby Hoffmann
Tues., Nov. 28, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “The Stories We Tell” with Donna Brazile, Ty Burrell and Kara Walker (encore broadcast from Season Three)
Tues., Dec. 5, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Family Reunions” with Sean Combs and LL Cool J (encore broadcast from Season Three)
Tues., Dec. 5, 2017, 9 p.m. ET: “Tragedy + Time = Comedy” with Jimmy Kimmel, Norman Lear and Bill Hader (encore broadcast from Season Three)
Tues., Dec. 12, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Southern Roots” with Questlove, Dr. Phil and Charlayne Hunter-Gault
Tues., Dec. 19, 2017, 8 p.m. ET: “Funny Business” with Garrison Keillor, Amy Schumer and Aziz Ansari

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Hispanic Research South Bay

We are proud to announce that the Torrance Family History Center has allowed our organization to have an Hispanic Research day on the last Thursday of the month for 2017 and into 2018. Please take advantage of the hosts, who are experts in researching Mexico records! Thank them for volunteering for our members! Please see attached Flier for more details.


Old Spanish Trail Association 2017 National Conference--Barstow CA, Oct 5-8, 2017



Wednesday, September 20, 2017

South Orange County Presents "A Family History Seminar" Oct 21, 2017


Hispanic Saturday San Diego Oct 28 at 1pm

The next Hispanic Saturday is on 28 October at 1pm. However, there is a change in speaker and location. Lisa Medina will be talking to use about Mexican Genealogy and Research Methods at the Family History Library in Mission Valley (4195 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego CA 92108).
Please join us there and be prepared to be enlighten!

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Why Your Genetic Family Tree Is Not the Same as Your Family Tree!

I am borrowing information from a blog that I have always found interesting and informing, that it should be shared here with those individuals who dappled in DNA. The article is from Diahan Southard. Most of you may not have been introduced to her blog, website or seen her on the many webinars on the web or in person, but she has a gift for making the technical subject "DNA" become understandable and helps the novice take a better grasp on the subject.

Diahan has had fifteen years of experience in the genetic genealogy industry. She was a microbiology graduate, and had worked before and after graduation for the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. She has grown with the budding genetic genealogy industry which lead her to her start her current position as Your DNA Guide, where she provides personalized, interactive experiences to assist individuals and families in interpreting their genetic results in the context of their genealogical information. This is not a commercial for her, but her lectures are always fun, upbeat, and full of energy and knowledge. She possesses a passion for genetic genealogy, and is wanting others to have that same similar enthusiasm.


Please see the full article from Diane Southard under Lisa Louise Cooke's "Genealogy Gem" blog.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month



National Hispanic Heritage Month is the period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States, when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the group's heritage and culture.

September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. All declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, and September 21, respectively. Hispanic Heritage Week was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal (D-Los Angeles) and first proclaimed President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. The commemorative week was expanded by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban E. Torres (D-Pico Rivera) and implemented by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period (September 15 - October 15). It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988 on the approval of Public Law.

Hispanic Heritage Month also celebrates the long and important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans in North America, starting with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America. A map of late 18th-century North America shows this presence, from the small outpost of San Francisco founded in Alta California in 1776, through the Spanish province of Texas with its vaqueros (cowboys), to the fortress of St. Augustine, Florida — the first colonial settlement in North America, founded in 1513, ninety-four years before the English landed in Jamestown, Virginia.
Wikipedia

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Announcing Finding Your Roots in Mexico" Presentation Sept 16 at WLA FHC

John Schmal is again presenting his presentation on Finding Your Roots in Mexico.  All are welcome.

However, if you or a friend cannot make it,  the presentation is also at the following link: Finding Your Roots



This presentation replaced the old presentation of his from 2010 and is the most current version..

In addition, the Northern Mexico Presentation is now also available online:








Thursday, August 31, 2017

Article to be read on "The Best DNA Ancestry Testing Kit"

Based upon a study done by Wirecutter and the Sweethome (which is part of The New York Times Company) list the qualities of DNA Companies and what do expect out of the services provided. We present this article titled DNA Article . It gives the pros and cons on a few companies that deal with genealogical testing. A must read to understand what you will get by ordering a test kit.

For those wondering who is The Wirecutter, it is Brian Lam. He is a blogger and the former Editorial Director at Gizmodo, a blog focusing on technology, Lam was also a contributor and assistant editor for Wired magazine. He is the writer of this piece. He also started the organization The Wirecutter as his personal blog and a list of his personal recommendation for products, gadget. The growing popularity of The Wirecutter was featured in The New York Times in 2012. On October 24, 2016, The Wirecutter was acquired by The New York Times Company for more than US$30 million.

PBS to Renew “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.”

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has announced its fall lineup of new television programs. Of interest to genealogists, “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.” is returning Oct. 3. Celebrities who will learn about their ancestors include Scarlett Johansson, Aziz Ansari, Bryant Gumbel, and Garrison Keillor. Check your local PBS station for time and schedule.

“Who Do You Think You Are?” Returns to TV in Spring 2018!

Been missing your genealogy TV fix lately? You’re in luck: TLC has renewed the “Who Do You Think You Are?” for a new season in spring 2018.

Each episode of “Who Do You Think You Are?”, once on NBC but now on TLC, follows a celebrity to libraries, churches, cemeteries and ancestral hometowns to learn about his or her ancestors. (The show is an adaptation of a British show of the same name.)

TLC hasn’t yet revealed the premiere date or which celebrities will appear in 2018.

The 2017 season of WDYTYA?, which aired in March and April, traced the family trees of actors Courteney Cox, Julie Bowen, Jennifer Gray, Noah Wyle, Jessica Biel, John Stamos and Liv Tyler, and musician Smokey Robinson.

Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky of Is or Isn’t Entertainment produce WDYTYA, which was recently nominated for an Emmy in the “Structured Reality Program” category. (The Emmys air on TV Sept. 16.) At Hollywood Reporter, you can watch an interview with Kudrow and Bucatinsky talking about the show and the nomination.


Watching “Who Do You Think You Are?”

You can view video clips on the “Who Do You Think You Are?” website. Subscribers to any of several TV services, including Spectrum and DirectTV (but not Netflix, Hulu or Sling TV), also can view full episodes from past seasons online. My household doesn’t have cable, so at least I have some time to figure out how to watch in 2018.

Monday, August 21, 2017

"How to do Mexican Research and be Successful" free webinars on Legacytreewebinars.com

Legacy Family Tree puts on research webinar every Wednesday, on August 23rd, they are putting on a webinar titled "How to do Mexican Research and be Successful". The website is www.familytreewebinars.com . Jonathan Walker will be the presenter. It might be something that our members may be interested in.

Jonathan Walker is from Cache Valley, Utah. Where, he lives with his beautiful wife and 2 daughters. He served a LDS Mission to Mexico, where he learned to love and enjoy the Mexican culture and people. Jonathan, started doing Mexican genealogical research over 20 years ago, to help his wife (who is from Mexico) trace her ancestors. He has a great desire to share what he has learned over the years with others, and to help them find their ancestors.

To register, please go to Legacytreewebinars.com and find the upcoming August 23rd webinar and complete the information to receive the invitation.

Friday, August 18, 2017


Genealogical Society of Hispanic America

28th Annual Genealogical Conference and Business Meeting


August 18—20, 2017
Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center—Ontario, California
700 North Haven Avenue
Ontario, CA 91764
(909) 980-0400
Ancient Trails to Super Highways...Discover Your Roots

We have all arrived where we are via an ancient land or sea trail. These trails may have been Indigenous trade routes; pioneer settlement routes from Mexico, Canada, and Asia; or sea routes from Europe and Africa. The super highways of today―the internet, air travel and recent DNA discoveries―continue to assist us in uncovering our common roots which connect our past to our future.

The conference features a wide range of topics that include presentations on the history of colonial Mexico, California, and the Southwestern United States, involving migration, food, historical people and events, DNA and a “how to” on doing genealogy research. For more information about the conference and a list of conference speakers, go to the GSHA website www.gsha.net

Conference Sponsored by the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America (GSHA)
P.O. Box 3040
Pueblo, CO 81005-3040

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Hispanic Research Day San Diego Follow Up!



The San Diego Hispanic Saturday group met on 5 August 2017 at the San Diego Central Library. The group had 14 in attendance. Ceasar Castro informed the group about the Hispanic Society of America annual conference and the change in location to the Ontario Airport Hotel.

For this session Ceasar invited members to present some of their genealogy research. Each person was given 10 minutes to present any aspect of their genealogy. We had 7 presenters: Kareen Stipp, David Delgadillo, Ana Bañuelos Castro, Lisa Medina, Ralph Muñoz, Diane Godinez and Ceasar Castro.

Kareen Stipp spoke first and used photos to talk about their Alvarez family line discovered through a DNA match. David Delgadillo shared the sad story of his cousin Maria Cruz Dominguez who he met once. Maria Cruz was adopted. Ana Bañuelos Castro talked about her mother’s side of the family, the Cisneros and the Guerras. Lisa Medina talked about a murder mystery in their family. Ralph Muñoz talked about both his father’s and mother’s family lines. He also shared an old photo of his wife’s grandfather’s family. Diane Godinez spoke about her family line from Canada. Ceasar Castro talked about his great-great aunt, Angela Castro who married an Irish man named Nichols McDonough in Baja California Sur in 1853.

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Family History Library Class Calendar

The Family History Library in Salt Lake City is offering several webinars in... double click here
To register as a family history consultant and receive online training, go online to consultant.familysearch.org. Intermediate or Advanced level classes may have prerequisites.

Hispanic Saturday – San Diego 5 August 2017 Follow up

The San Diego Hispanic Saturday group met at 1pm on 5 August 2017 at the San Diego Central Library. We had 14 in attendance. Ceasar Castro informed the group about the Hispanic Society of America annual conference and the change in location to the Ontario Airport Hotel.

For this session Ceasar invited members to present some of their genealogy research. Each person was given 10 minutes to present any aspect of their genealogy. We had 7 presenters: Kareen Stipp, David Delgadillo, Ana Bañuelos Castro, Lisa Medina, Ralph Muñoz, Diane Godinez and Ceasar Castro.

Kareen Stipp spoke first and used photos to talk about their Alvarez family line discovered through a DNA match. David Delgadillo shared the sad story of his cousin Maria Cruz Dominguez who he met once. Maria Cruz was adopted. Ana Bañuelos Castro talked about her mother’s side of the family, the Cisneros and the Guerras. Lisa Medina talked about a murder mystery in their family. Ralph Muñoz talked about both his father’s and mother’s family lines. He also shared an old photo of his wife’s grandfather’s family. Diane Godinez spoke about her family line from Canada. Ceasar Castro talked about his great-great aunt, Angela Castro who married an Irish man named Nichols McDonough in Baja California Sur in 1853.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

DNA Summer time Sale!


Celebrate summer during FamilyTreeDNA Friends & Family Sale!
Save 20% or more on DNA tests for ancestry


Take advantage with this huge savings, you’ll want to tell all your friends and family! For a limited time only, enjoy special discounts on their advanced suite of DNA tests designed to reveal your origins and uncover your family history. OFFER ENDS 08/31/17


Hit here to be directed to web site



Monday, July 24, 2017

Aug 5, 2017 General Meeting announcement

Information from our next meeting should help by giving  you "how to organize" your genealogy data. Please join us in hearing our feature speaker on how she sets up her computer and data. See Flier below for more information.

Hispanic Research Day San Diego 5 Aug 2017

The next meeting will be on 5 August 2017. The plan is for each person who wants to, will get 10 minutes to present some part of their family genealogy. The use of a computer with a overhead screen will be available for those who wish ro provide a Power Point presentation or just use photos to allow others to see while describing your family heritage. This will be advance notice to those who wish to participate. Time 1pm at the Central San Diego Library downtown located at 330 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101 . For other questions or concerns, call 619-236-5800 or email weblibrary@sandiego.gov

Monday, July 17, 2017

Announcing new Hispanic Thursday in South Bay



We are proud to announce that the Torrance Family History Center has allowed our organization to have an Hispanic Research day on the last Thursday of the  month for July and August. The center is testing the amount of traffic to determine if they wish to continue on an ongoing basis. Please help us in using their services for us to continue the research day. The host are experts in researching Mexico records! Thank them for volunteering for our members! Please see attached Flier for more details.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

The search is on for the lost ships of Hernán Cortés, conqueror of Central America

The lost fleet is thought to lie at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.



The Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés landed in Yucatan, Mexico, in 1519, eventually to conquer the Aztec empire of Central America. Now, 500 years later, Mexican researchers plan to find these lost shipwrecks and explore them to see what artefacts they might hold.

Popular accounts suggest that Cortés burnt his ships to prevent his men from attempting to flee. But Cortés himself claimed in a letter to the Spanish king Charles V that he sank, or 'scuttled', the fleet off the coast of Veracruz.

About a dozen ships are thought to remain at the sea bed in the Gulf of Mexico, where he left them. They have never been found or explored by archaeologists.





Staff writer from International Business Times

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness has Returned

The original version of Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK) closed in October of 2011. Now, it appears that an effort is being made to get RAOGK going again. 
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK) is a global volunteer organization. Volunteers agree to do a free genealogy research task at least once per month in their local area as an act of kindness. The volunteers have agreed to donate their time for free.
People requesting a random act of genealogical kindness must pay volunteers for their expenses incurred while fulfilling that request (if the volunteer asks for reimbursement). This can include paying for: copies of records, printing fees, postage, film or video tape, parking fees, etc. It seems fair for volunteers, who are doing a genealogical act of kindness for free, to get reimbursed for expenses relating to the completion of a request.
It is advisable that you read the FAQs before you make a request from a RAOGK volunteer. It provides important information that will help you understand how things work. Some of it might be described as “common sense”.
You must be registered before you can make a request for a RAOGK volunteer to do a genealogical task for you. Use the RAOGK website to locate a volunteer in the area where the information you are seeking is located.
Make sure you select a volunteer that has stated that they are willing to do research in that area. Do not make requests for a volunteer to look up information for you if you live up to 50 miles from where the information is located. The best way to use RAOGK is to seek assistance from a genealogist who lives far away from you, and who is close to resources that you cannot easily travel to.
Would you like to be a RAOGK volunteer? Start by reading the FAQs. Next, register with RAOGK. Somewhere towards the top of the site is a Volunteer Listing Submission Form. It is only accessible to those who have registered with RAOGK. If you are having trouble registering, there is a Contact Formyou can use to ask for assistance.
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness is all about volunteering. Have you received help from a genealogist? A great way to “pay it forward” is to volunteer with RAOGK and help someone else with their genealogical difficulty. Those that want to provide more help can donate to the RAOGK GoFundMe.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

SAVE THE DATE 

Genealogical  Society of Hispanic America (GSHA)
28th Annual Genealogical Conference and Business Meeting


August 18 - 20, 2017 

Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center 

700 North Haven Avenue 

Ontario, CA 91764


"Ancient Trails to Super Highways...Discover Your Roots"
Senderos antiguos a supercarreteras...Descubra sus raices

It’s been twenty years since the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America - Southern California Chapter hosted the GSHA Annual Genealogical Conference and Business Meeting. In 1997, the conference was held in Long Beach, California. This year’s conference is being held in Ontario, California. This year also commemorates the chapter’s 25th anniversary.

With the support of GSHA National President, Paul Gomez and GSHA Southern California Chapter President, Leonard Trujillo, the conference planning committee is working on making this year’s conference an exciting and memorable event.

Our special guest room rate is $99.00 per night, single or double occupancy. This rate will be extended two days prior to and two days after the conference. Daily breakfast vouchers may be purchased for $12.00 per person upon registration at the hotel.

Detailed instructions are provided on the GSHA website for how to book your hotel room with our discounted group rate.

To make room reservations on-line, please visit the GSHA website to access the special on-line link: http://www.gsha.net/conference/lodging/. Or call 909-980-0400 and ask for the GSHA special rate. If you have any questions, please call the hotel.

The Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center is a half-mile from I—10 and is 2.2 miles from both the Ontario International Airport and the Ontario Convention Center. The hotel also offers free parking and shuttle service to the airport and anywhere else within 5 miles. The rooms offer free Wi-Fi and coffeemakers. The on-site restaurant and bar serves breakfast and dinner. There is also an Internet café, a heated outdoor pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center.

Hotel reservations must be made by July 18, 2017 
to ensure the special group rate

To register for the conference, go to the GSHA website at http://www.gsha.net, click on the programs & conference tab to download the registration form. 

This year’s conference will feature a wide range of topics that will include presentations on the history of colonial Mexico, California, and the Southwestern United States, involving migration, historical people and events, DNA and a “how to” on doing genealogy research.

The list of conference speakers and titles of their presentations are as follows:

Debbie Gurtler (Keynote) of FamilySearch, Vaya Con Dios—Columbus’ historic voyage in 1492 set in motion the exploration and colonization of the Americas with Spanish and Portuguese conquistadores leading the way. This presentation will highlight key historical events along with the push and pull factors that led Hispanic immigrants to leave their native lands to come to North America. Important research resources will be highlighted.

James Brewster of Family Tree DNA, Understanding DNA for Genealogy

John Schmal, Genealogical Research in Northern Mexico

Letty Rodella, President of the Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research, Spanish Patriots During the American Revolution

Marietta Vigil Gonzales, Vigil, Quirós, Argüelles and Related Family Lines in Medieval Spain: Who? When? Where? How?

Nancy Melendez of the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation, La Corazon de La Placita

Dr. Carlos Herrera, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at San Diego State University, Juan Bautista de Anza The King’s Governor in New Mexico

Ceasar Castro, Alta and Baja California and the Mexican War 1846-1850

Paul Spitzzeri, Museum Director of the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum, To the Best of My Knowledge and Belief Thomas W. Temple II and the Authority in History

Ernest Miller, chef, historian, educator, and consultant, Chiles, Chili and Hot Sauce A Spicy Sampling of California History

Alexander King, Director-at-Large The Old Spanish Trail Association, New Mexican Immigration to Alta California Between 1830-1855

Colleen Greene, MLIS, librarian, web developer and educator, The Suspect Centenarian Using a Common Source to Connect to Mexican Origins

Karen Cordova, poet, Crossing the Borders of My Heart

Hope to see you at the conference!