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Genealogy Research Tips and
Sahyun Library Updates
Handy Online Tips & Tools Webinar
Robin McCarthy will present a free webinar for the San Diego Genealogical Society on Saturday, June 8th at 9 a.m. During this webinar, Robin will share new tips, tools, and strategies she has learned since her previous presentation for the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society in 2020. To attend this free online event, please register
Digital Collections of New York Public Library
Many libraries are now developing digital collections of items that have been donated to them. This is a great way to make these items available to the world. Two examples of this are the New York Public Library and the Santa Barbara Public Library. Both have developed online digital collections. The New York Public Library
Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Virtual Exhibit
The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society is proud to announce the launch of the Santa Barbara Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage, 1870s-1970s Virtual Exhibit. This engaging online exhibit features the compelling stories of 26 local families, highlighting the culture, contributions, and experiences of Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese communities in Santa Barbara County. Visitors can
Enjoy Free Access to Military Records Until May 28th
As we celebrate the people who put their lives on the line to serve their country this Memorial Day, there’s never been a better time to explore the war stories in your family history. MyHeritage is pleased to help open the door for new discoveries about your family’s military history by offering free access to
Dawes Rolls
I learn something new about genealogy research every day and here’s an example of that. Until just now I had not heard of the Dawes Rolls, now maybe you have but maybe not, in any case here are a couple of links to check out to learn about them and to search them. From the
Santa Barbara Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage, 1870s-1970s Virtual Exhibit
View captivating narratives of 26 families spanning from the 1870s to the 1970s, showcasing the culture, contributions, and experiences of Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese families who called Santa Barbara County their home. Step into the vibrant past of Santa Barbara’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, where tales of resilience and cultural legacy unfold in
Free Access to Military Records Until Tuesday
For the next four days, beginning TODAY, military records will be accessible for free on Ancestry and Fold3. Free Fold3 Access expires at 10:59 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 20th. Free Ancestry Military Record Access is available through Tuesday, May 21st at 8:59 a.m. PDT. There is never a cost to search on either website. You
New Content Added to Database
Entries from Volume 14 of the Santa Barbara County Naturalization Petitions in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court Archive have been added to our local records database. Images are available for purchase. Search the naturalization records in our database here. Submitted by Robin McCarthy
Free Access to Newspapers.com
In celebration of Mother’s Day this week, honor your mom by researching her family for free at Newspapers.com. Access to all papers on Newspapers.com™ will be free until 12 May 2024 at 11:59 pm MT. You must create a free account to clip, print, or download any articles. Use this link for free access. https://go.newspapers.com/moms/
ChatGPT for Genealogical Research
Professional genealogist, Amy Johnson Crow, shared an insightful article titled ‘Using ChatGPT for Genealogy-Accurately’ in her newsletter dated Thursday, April 25th. She delved into the benefits of leveraging ChatGPT for genealogical research. She wrote: “ChatGPT is a great tool and can be an asset in your genealogy journey- it’s not something to rely on for
Feedback Requested
Hello SBCGS Blog followers, As you know we do not accept comments on our blog posts however we do want your feedback so we’d like to ask three questions: Are you enjoying our posts? Do you find the information useful? What topics would you like to see in future posts? Please email your answers to
Genealogy Research Tip
I subscribe to several genealogy newsletters and blogs and one is Genealogy In Action, Julie has several parts to her site and blog, and one that she no longer has is a genealogy scavenger hunt. I subscribed to it for a fee for a couple of years. It was such a great way to learn
Have You Explored Our Webinar Archive?
Did you miss one of our monthly meetings or want to revisit a particular presentation? Our Webinar Archive has you covered. This members-only section contains recordings (and handouts if available) from our past three monthly meeting presentations. But the archive offers much more than just recent meetings. It also includes: A guide to Resources at
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Ancestors West News 50 Years in the Making!
Ancestors West next issue’s deadline for articles is MAY 1st. We suggest you write about your FAVORITE GENEALOGY STORY OR EXPERIENCE. We always welcome any story you wish to submit. If you have suggestions for future topics, please let us know. We’d love to have your input. As a reminder, complete writing and submission guidelines
Old Photos and Dead Fred
Are you familiar with the website Dead Fred? Isn’t that a great name? I’ve known about this site for some years but I don’t remember to use it often, however, I recently came into a couple of bags of vintage postcards, and mixed in were old photos, unidentified of course. As a genealogist this always
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State Census
Between the Decades: Harnessing State Census Records for Genealogical Research While federal census records often grab the spotlight, state census records are hidden gems brimming with invaluable information for genealogists. Discover how to unlock their potential and enrich your family history research: Fill in the Gaps: Federal censuses are conducted every ten years. State censuses,
Did You Know?
Santa Barbara Genealogical Society’s Sahyun Library is a Family Search Affiliate Library. What does this mean? It means that when you use a computer at the Sahyun you can access images you may not be able to see at home. Search the FamilySearch Catalog for a location or subject and get a list of microfilm
Why You Should Use Family Tree Software
Here’s an article that came in my morning emails: How Software Can Help You Build Your Family Tree The title intrigued me because I have been saying this for a long time and at many Lunch and Learns. I think Family Tree Magazine has done a great job clearly stating the reasons why and giving
Gamechanger: Searching Handwritten Text
Have you heard about the new full-text search tool announced by FamilySearch at RootsTech? It searches selected handwritten document collections at FamilySearch. Currently, the collections include “U.S. land and probate records, some from the Freedmen’s Bureau, Mexican notarial records, and U.S. plantation records from the Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations collection. This tool is a
Guided Research by FamilySearch
Whether you are a beginning researcher or researching additional individuals in a complex tree, FamilySearch has a quick and straightforward way to access Birth, Marriage, and Death records for locales worldwide. It is “Guided Research.” To access Guided Research, you first must have an account with FamilySearch. An account with FamilySearch is free with no