Sac History Happenings: Root Cellar, a home for local genealogists

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

January 19, 2011

Root Cellar, a home for local genealogists

If you're interested in researching your family's history and don't know where to begin, there's a local group that can help you get started. Root Cellar, the Sacramento Genealogical Society, was formed in 1978 to assist its "members with genealogical research through education, publication of information and preservation of records."

Member meetings are held monthly every second Wednesday, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Citrus Heights Community Clubhouse, 6921 Sylvan Road. Informal genealogical workshops are provided every third Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. at the Clubhouse of Country Squire Estates, 5720 Oak Hill Drive, Sacramento. There's also an annual full-day workshop. The next one is scheduled for April 9 with Geoff Rasmussen, who will discuss genealogical software.

Root Cellar maintains a research library containing some 5,000 volumes from most states and many countries, including 150 California-related items. Latest acquisitions are: Divorces, Sacramento County District Court 1850 - 1879 and Sacramento County Coroner's Office Collection 1867-1969. The public is invited to visit the Library, which is housed at the California State Archives, 1020 O Street, 4th floor, Sacramento.

Once you get your feet wet with genealogy, consider sharing a story about a notable ancestor by entering it in the Society's Family History Writing Contest. Entries must be received by April 30, and winners will be announced on May 25. For more details, see the complete contest rules or contact Ron Setzer.

Visitors may attend all Root Cellar meetings and workshops. Find more information on events and membership, see www.rootcellar.org or email rcgen4u@sbcglobal.net.

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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