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golden gate bridge

American Ancestors Comes to Northern California: Tracing Your Westward-Bound Ancestors

Seminar
In Person
June 8, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. PT
Preservation Park 660 13th Street Oakland, CA 94612
David Allen Lambert
Melanie McComb

American Ancestors is California bound! Join Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert and Senior Genealogist Melanie McComb as they travel from coast to coast, making the journey many of our ancestors made as they sought new opportunities and adventure in the golden state. This one-day seminar will provide you with tips and strategies to trace your California-bound ancestors. We’ll discuss the New England roots of many Westward migrants, as well as how to find records for those notoriously difficult ancestors on the move.

Image Credit: "Bridging the Golden Gate, San Francisco, Calif." Card. [ca. 1930–1945]. Courtesy of Digital Commonwealth

9:00-9:45 a.m.

Doors open, breakfast (included) 

9:45-10:00 a.m.

Welcome and Introductions 

10:00-11:00 a.m.

Colonial Migrations in the Northeast – David Allen Lambert 

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Westward Migration, 1783-1900 – David Allen Lambert 

12:00-1:00 p.m.

Lunch (included) 

1:00-2:00 p.m.

California or Bust! Researching Your Western Pioneers – Melanie McComb 

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Follow the Money: Go-To Records for Tracing Ancestors on the Move – Melanie McComb 

3:00-3:15 p.m.

Break 

3:15-4:15 p.m.

Strategies for Tracking Ancestors on the Move – David Allen Lambert 

4:15 p.m.

Door prize winner announced 

4:30 p.m.

Event concludes

Education and Programming
David Allen Lambert
Military Records
New England
Eastern Canada
Areas of expertise: New England and Atlantic Canadian records of the 17th through 21st century; American and international military records; DNA research; and Native American and African American genealogical research in New England. 
Education and Programming
Melanie McComb
DNA
Ireland
Eastern Canada
Areas of expertise: Irish genealogy, DNA, Atlantic Canada, Jewish genealogy, and military records.
Preservation Park 660

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