San Mateo Library, 55 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA, July 12, 2025, 1 – 3PM
Santa Clara Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, September 20, 2025, 1PM – 3PM
What You Will Learn
Utilize AI for oral history, scanning, photo restoration, and management
Explore case studies for weaving family sagas with multimedia
Discover free resources and best practices for legacy preservation
Learn tools for creating a digital family heritage library
Abstract
How To Digitize & Document Your Family History Dive into a realm where physical artifacts meet virtual storytelling. This session immerses you in the art of utilizing artificial intelligence for oral history creation, scanning, photo restoration, photo management, movie making and storytelling. Explore real-life case studies illustrating how to intricately weave your family’s saga using multimedia methodologies. Discover invaluable free resources and best practices to preserve your family’s legacy. By session end, you’ll learn about tools and techniques to create a digital family heritage library, that will be a timeless treasure for generations to come.
About The Speaker: Ron Chan
Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.
Seminar Patron Feedback
Very pertinent and interesting information. Optics very nice. Personal story. Made it very relatable.”
“Inspirational! Technically wonderful.”
“Well delivered, comprehensive, heartfelt sharing of personal stories, links, and resources.”
“This is exactly what I was looking for my family stories.”
“Great ideas and tools for writing and displaying history / story telling”.
“Comprehensive, intelligently presented, touching, very impressive!”
“Very organized and inspiring. All materials were accessible and easy to understand. Hard for me not to cry… So personal.”
Date:July 22nd and 23rd. Location: Main Library, Koret Auditorium (lower level). Time: 10 AM to 5 PM. Registration: Not required.
The Genealogy and Family History Symposium is a two-day conference featuring speakers from the San Francisco Public Library and local genealogy organizations covering a diverse range of topics. You will learn about resources at the library, both physical and electronic, that will aid your research, as well as how to search for specific ancestors like Chinese, Irish, Jewish, Japanese, LGBTQ+ and more. No registration required.
SCHEDULE DAY 1 (Tuesday July 22nd) 10-11 AM | SF Public Library’s Genealogy Databases Daniel Matsumoto, eResources Librarian, SFPL Discover the secrets hidden within the library’s genealogical databases—Ancestry, MyHeritage, My China Roots and HeritageHub. Join us for an illuminating session that demystifies these powerful tools for researching your roots.
11 AM-12 PM | Be a Genealogy Detective: Artifacts & Documents for Chinese Genealogy Jeanie Low, Chinese American Historian and Genealogist Explore historical maps, gravestone inscriptions, WWI draft registrations, naturalization records and key events like the Transcontinental Railroad and Chinese Exclusion Act. Unravel the mystery of “paper names” and reconstruct authentic family histories.
12-1 PM | LUNCH BREAK
1-2 PM | Historic Newspapers for Genealogy Research Kelci Baughman McDowell, Librarian, Magazines and Newspapers Ctr., SFPL Tips, tricks and guidance for finding obituaries and locating family information in historic newspapers by using SFPL resources and open access newspaper databases.
2-3 PM | Discovering Your Irish Ancestors: Steps, Strategies and Resources Maureen Hanlon, California Genealogical Society (CGS) Discover proven methods for researching Irish ancestry using U.S. records. Learn to build timelines for life events, map vital Irish archives, and overcome research barriers with sound strategies.
3-4 PM | Angel Island’s Immigrants from 80 Countries and Their Documents Grant Din, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation & CGS Angel Island in San Francisco Bay housed a U.S. immigration station between 1910 and 1940, enforcing the Chinese Exclusion Acts but also processing immigrants from 80 countries. Learn about their stories and documents you can find today.
4-5 PM | Government Resources for Genealogists Vaile Fujikawa, Program Manager, Gov. Info Ctr., SFPL Unearth rich genealogical treasures through government resources—from the Archives.gov to immigration files at USCIS.gov. Discover the historical records from SFPL’s Government Information Center (GIC), including California census schedules from 1852–1940 and rare San Francisco enumeration district maps. Learn the tools, strategies, and insider tips you need to take your research further. CONTINUED >>>
SCHEDULE DAY 2 (Wednesday July 23rd) 10-11 AM | To Be Announced
11 AM-12 PM | Introduction to Japanese American Genealogy Linda Okazaki, Past President of CGS and Mem. of Nikkei Genealogical Society Discover essential Japanese American records—vital, census, immigration, and even incarceration. Learn how to find the traditional and ethnic-specific records that can help you uncover and document your family’s history.
12-1 PM | LUNCH BREAK
1-2 PM | Jewish Genealogy: Fundamental Strategies Joanna Shear, Mem. of Global Jewish Genealogy Society and CGS Tracing Jewish ancestry can present unique challenges, from name changes to lost records and uncertain countries of origin. This presentation will guide you through fundamental genealogical strategies to navigate these obstacles effectively. The focus is on 19th and 20th century immigrants to the U.S.
2-3 PM | LGBTQ+ Genealogy Stewart Traiman, Genealogist, Former BoD. of CGS Through photographs, obituaries, census data and world LGBTQ archives, identify ancestors who may have been Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer and learn how historical context and documentation come together to honor and preserve the narratives of LGBTQ ancestors.
3-4 PM | Storytelling Using the San Francisco History Center Archives Christina Moretta, Photo Curator & Acting SF History Ctr. Manager, SFPL Delve into a wealth of unique archival collections (e.g., manuscripts, ephemera, maps and photographs) and learn how to uncover narratives of your San Francisco ancestors.
4-5 PM | Preserving Family Collections Elise Hochhalter, Conservation Tech., Preservation Unit, SFPL Get quick tips and advice on how to care for physical family treasured collections, including letters, official documents, photographs, and scrapbooks, ensuring that these precious artifacts endure for generations to come.
For many overseas Chinese, the ultimate connection to China is their family heritage and Chinese genealogy. Overseas Chinese, whose parents, and/or ancestors have emigrated from China, often find it difficult to make connections to their roots because their families shared little or had no detailed discussions about their past family history in China. The journey of Chinese genealogy, starting with archival research and culminating with a visit to one’s ancestral village in China, can provide the knowledge and understanding of how the experiences of their parents and ancestors influencedone’s own identity.
Village genealogy books (zupus or jiapus) with clan and lineages that can span thousands of years are essential to recovering one’s Chinese heritage and family lineages – the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) destroyed almost all genealogy books in China except for those genealogy books in Guangdong province – only surviving due to the tenacity of the Cantonese people in Guangdong province to save them. The Cantonese are quite unique and truly blessed to have this precious Chinese source that helps to preserve their heritage.
1) most lineage information in China was only recorded within the village;
2) the village book contains the names of their father and ancestors and their family lineage, which documents and verifies the ancestry and relationships of the people from that village;
3) and the books with your family lineages can be linked with clan lineages that were compiled before the village lineage.
This April 2026 China Trip with tours and visits to ancestral villages provides a truly unique and rare experience – beginning with your own family research, attending Chinese genealogy workshops to understand the basic fundamentals and learn how to perform Chinese genealogy research – without having to be Chinese literate, with collaborative research in China and coming full circle with a visit to your ancestral village, from where parents and ancestors first started this epic journey. It is an opportunity not to be missed. Please consider going home to “qiáo xiāng” [僑鄉/侨乡] thehometown of overseas Chinese.
To get an idea of what you will see, do and accomplish on going to China to find your roots, see Ron Chan’s, “Chan China Roots Journal, 2018”, to get an idea how this trip can change your genealogy life. Download here.
CHINESE GENEALOGY WORKSHOP, FEBRUARY 16 – 18, 2026, WITH OPTIONAL TOURS BEFORE AND AFTER
SAN FRANCISCO, VICTORY MEMORIAL HALL, CHINATOWN (Registration Fee)
This workshop has associated field trips on the weekend before and on the day after.
This is a 3-day workshop – Presentations, RoundTable interactions with presenters & experts, and Hands-On Tutorials – special RoundTable Discussion on Preparing for the April 2026 China Trip.
This is a “how to” workshop that educates you on what you need to know to start performing Chinese genealogical research and/or visiting your ancestral village in China. The intent of the workshop is to educate people – so they can start researching and compiling their Chinese genealogy lineage – without having to be Chinese literate – let our expert researchers with years of experience in Chinese genealogy research assist you. This workshop also helps people prepare for the forthcoming April 2026 China Trip. (See China Trip Post in Community Events For Details)
Burlingame Library, 480 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA, April 27, 2PM – 4PM
Foster City Library, 1000 E Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City, CA, May 1, 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Brisbane Library, 163 Visitacion Ave, Brisbane, CA, May 4, 2PM – 4PM
Half Moon Bay Library, 620 Correas St, Half Moon Bay, CA, May 8, 5PM – 7PM
Atherton Library, 2 Dinkelspiel Station Ln, Atherton, CA, May 16, 11:30AM – 1:30PM
Millbrae Library, 1 Library Ave, Millbrae, CA, June 24, 2025, 10:30AM – 12:30PM
What you will learn
Research tools and resources to discover your China roots.
Oral histories of a Chinese American family’s struggles
How 150 generations of family genealogy was found
ChiAm checklist of online, live and local genealogy groups
Interviews from Angel Island Immigration National Archives
Experience a visit to a Chinese ancestral village
Abstract
This multimedia session offers key resources to help you find and explore your China roots and access Chinese American research tools. Showcased are the struggles and assimilation of a Chinese American immigrant family through oral histories of hardship, poverty, segregation, discrimination, and a city’s formal apology—80 years in the making—came to life. Unsure of where your ancestral village is in China and how to find your jiapu (ancestral lineage book)? Learn how 150 generations of family genealogy was documented in China. You’ll receive a checklist of research resources – where to ask live and virtual questions, and details on attending a paid three-day Chinese American Genealogy Conference or joining the free Bay Area Chinese Group. Can’t read Chinese? No problem using a Chinese to English translation tool. Discover how the National Archives in San Bruno can help uncover your Chinese ancestors’ interviews at the Angel Island Immigration Station, where 175,000 Chinese immigrants entered the U.S. between 1910 and 1940.
Session Time: 2 hours
About The Speaker: Ron Chan
Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.
Here are some session feedback
“I watched and learned your family history journey where you shaped and built info into one powerful presentation. Lots of good teaching tips, use of resources.”
“Comprehensive, using multimedia and storytelling to keep the one-and-a-half-hour presentation engaging and compelling.”
“Wonderful combination of all your years of research. Thank you for all your tips and technologies, and all your HEART!!!”
“Great ancestor name reference chart to organize family information.”
“Very informative. Good combinations of instruction and entertainment. Very good resources. Very inspirational for those just starting out.”
“Excellent resource list from Ron’s personal experience. Excellent examples of what is possible. All these memories are relatable to my family. Very much appreciated. Loved the chapter on the social environment from the 1920s through the 1950s i.e. discrimination, segregation, which answered some questions for me.”
“The presentation videos were very informative and interesting. I like the personal touches and inspires me to do the same with my own Family History.”
“Ron gave an excellent overview of the resources available on where and how to research Chinese history. It helped when he personalized it using his own family history. By giving examples of what can be done with the tools available, makes it seem practical. It was great to have built in tips by using the “ring“ to inform when to take a photo of the slide. Providing all links in the summary was very helpful.”
“I’m glad I came to this presentation. I know now how to proceed in gathering all the information and documenting it to pass on to my family and relatives to leave a legacy of our roots to the future generations. Thank you, Ron!”
“Excellent tools, touching stories, terrific delivery – greatly appreciated the time, effort, thoughtfulness, and generosity of sharing. I am privileged to be affiliated with Ron and the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group and look forward to supporting greater partnerships with the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project. Thanks Ron for your focus and leadership.”
“Excellent and very thorough. Have been to my family village.”
“Excellent information and resources. The tips went to take pictures is very useful. Everything will be useful in my research.”
“Excellent variety of topics.”
“Very thorough and inspiring for people/attendees to start or continue their genealogical quest. Reference resources alone are valuable. Kept the light touch with sporadic bits of humor/levity keeps it from being dry.”
“Good information. Well presented.”
“Well organized. Build and flow smoothly. Excellent information. Visually stunning, clever, creative. Able to hold interest throughout. Has great heart and personality. Family stories were extremely touching.”
“Learning about Google Translate from pictures is worth the price of admission alone.”
“Your in-depth detail of your many generations of Family History was truly outstanding and I believe no other can duplicate all your efforts.”
“Good resources and family stories.”
“What a great introduction to so many sources, sharing personal stories – very heartfelt. Excellent!!! I am having a better and better understanding for my small and growing interest and research for my grandmother‘s Chinese birth, father and my Family Tree. Thank you so much.”
“This was an excellent presentation, thorough, it’s intimidating to try to do as much as Mr. Chan has done for his family. I especially appreciate the sharing of resources since I am unaware of many of them especially those specific to Chinese roots.”
“Ron Chan’s presentation was clear, understandable, chock full of info, resources, data and VERY ENTERTAINING. Thank YOU!”
Redwood City Library 1044 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City, June 28, 2025, 2:45PM – 4:45PM
Writing Family History With AI
Summary
Hands-on Writing Family History with AI Workshop
Blend of theory, demonstration, and practical application
Explore storytelling fundamentals and AI-generated narratives
Learn to use AI as a writing coach and create personalized stories
Share family anecdotes and insights with fellow participants
Discover where to publish family stories online – FREE
Explore the fusion of storytelling and artificial intelligence at our Writing Family History with AI Workshop. This interactive session merges theory, demonstrations, and sharing for a dynamic learning experience. Learn storytelling fundamentals, from traditional tales to AI-generated narratives. Discover how AI can enhance your writing process and create captivating stories. Dive into movie-making techniques and unleash your storytelling prowess through personalized videos. Bring your creativity and laptop, and craft your own AI-assisted family stories. Share and connect with fellow participants, exchanging family anecdotes and insights. No prior experience necessary, just bring your creativity and curiosity, plus an internet-ready laptop with a word processor.
About The Speaker: Ron Chan
Ron is a seasoned lecturer on family history documentation best practices, captivating audiences worldwide at genealogy workshops and libraries across the San Francisco Bay Area. As a published genealogy author, he has a passion for storytelling and teaches innovative technologies to bring ancestral tales to life. Ron is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, dedicated to preserving ancestral stories. He is also a co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, ensuring that veterans’ legacies are not lost, forgotten, or ignored. Ron shares with you how to capture and share family struggles of the past so future generations can embrace, remember, and learn from those who came before.
Feedback From Attendee’s
“ Enjoy your personal aspects to communicate and use AI. Your personal efforts to create family stories and use your parents and grandparents history was very touching, emotional and very informational. Motivates me to do the same“.
“Used to great hook to start. The pictures were colorful. Narration was interesting. I was able to follow along. Not too much to read.”
“Learned a lot (and I am pretty geeky!) I have presented professionally, probably 7200 times before and I could tell you, you have the perfect combination to engage your audience, knowledge, and passion for your topics. Great presentation skills (audience engagement) of your topic – Family!“
“Very good. The storytelling tips and slideshow ideas were terrific.”
“Ron explained very well. Had great examples. Spoke clearly and at a good speed.“.
“I thought it was helpful – you presented very nicely. “
“I think it was very good and gave me hope to do stories about my own family. “
“Good thought to use ChatGPT as a writing coach. Only you know your stories the best.”
Chinese Surname Search Symposium: Chan Family Case Study. A Chinese surname is not just a name. It comes with thousands of years of history, dreams and desires. This four hour symposium, with multiple speakers, will teach you how to find your surname history, research your ancestors, and even help you find your village in China. Plus use Chinese Association resources right here in the Bay Area may potentially break through genealogical barriers. There is also a premier of a short movie on the history of the Chan family, and tutorial on how it was produced so you may create the same. No matter what surname you have, you will learn from the “Chan template” of how to weave your surname history into your own. You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch when we take a break. Please take advantage of your trip to the Oakland Family Search Center as after this session there are docents that can assist with online research, and/or full (and free!) use of a comprehensive digital lab for scanning photos, slides, negatives and video. Guest speakers are Huihan Lie, Founder and CEO, My China Roots; George Chin, Founding Director of CHCA (Chinatown History & Culture Association, Dr.Kenneth Chan and Ron Chan, Founder and Executive Director, BACGG.
10:15 – 11:00 AM, Huihan Lie, Founder & CEO, My China Roots. From Surnames to Records: Find your Chinese American Ancestors with My China Roots. Discover what tools and resources are available on the My China Roots platform to explore your Chinese family history! In this talk, My China Roots founder Huihan Lie will demonstrate: How to build your (Chinese) family tree. How to search records of your ancestors. How to find your family tree book (zupu/jiapu). To make the most of the workshop, we encourage you to create a FREE family tree on My China Roots in advance: https://www.mychinaroots.com/familytree/ and add as many ancestors as possible. Participants will also learn about My China Roots’ bespoke field research and roots trip services, for those who wish to travel back to their ancestral home in China. Attendees will also enjoy a 15% discount on My China Roots online subscriptions and bespoke research services.
11:00 – 12:15PM, Dr Kenneth Chan, The Chan Clan Chronicles Project The Chan/Chin/Chen/Chun Family has a long, proud, and rich history. The Chan Clan Chronicles is best described as a kaleidoscope of Chan/Chin/Chen/Chun family history, mythology, culture, ancestral roots, and family stories. The project contains a library of 15 video chapters, which gathers together all available information about Chan/Chin/Chen/Chun family history, and organizes the materials into a comprehensive resource for family historians and genealogists researching their family roots. During this session, you will preview video highlights of the Chan Clan Chronicles, learn about your name, ancestors, ancestral home, and place of origin, receive a behind-the-scenes look at the genesis and development of the Chan Clan Chronicles project, and gain ideas and strategies for creating or augmenting your own Chan/Chin/Chen/Chun family history project.
12:15 – 12:45PM, Brown bag lunch and general discussion
12:45 – 1:45PM, George Chin, Founding Director, Chinatown History and Culture Association, Getting to Know Your Family: Exploring Chinese American Heritage and Impact. Chinese Americans have made remarkable contributions to shaping local and regional histories across the U.S., and their stories are deeply inspiring. This presentation spotlights the rich legacies of four extraordinary family lineages—李 (Lee), 陳 (Chan), 黃 (Wong), and 鄺 (Kwong)—whose descendants have profoundly influenced Chinese American history over the past century.
Through an in-depth exploration of the roles these families have played, we will also highlight the power of family associations in San Francisco, with a special focus on the Chin Family Association. Far more than social groups, these associations act as guardians of cultural heritage, uniting communities, preserving traditions, and providing essential support networks.
Join us on a journey through generations of resilience and triumph to discover how these families have not only shaped history but continue to enrich our cultural landscape today. This presentation is also a call to action—an invitation to explore your own family associations and celebrate the unique stories within your own heritage. Together, let’s honor these legacies and inspire the next chapter of our community’s history!
This workshop provides insightful presentations on Chinese genealogy research. It instructs attendees on how to use various techniques to advance their own research and discover the interesting information pertaining to their family / clan history and to identify those resources that can best serve them. There will also be exposure to the various information, material, and tools available on the Internet and in books and other sources to assist in compiling and documenting Chinese lineages.The ancestral villages of attendees will be identified and located – the primary source for family genealogy books. This is a “how to” workshop that educates you on what you need to know to start performing Chinese genealogical research and/or visiting your ancestral village in China. The intent of the workshop is to educate people about Chinese genealogy research – so they can start researching and compiling their Chinese genealogy lineage – without having to be Chinese literate. Some of the Chinese narratives, lineage annotations, and histories do require translation. There will be translators at the workshop to help with limited translations. Please bring your family genealogy information and lineages and let experienced researchers assist you during the Round-Table sessions.
Registration: Please contact Henry Tom [ Tomclan@Gmail.com] 480 980 8715 to register – there is a $375 registration fee to defray the cost for the workshop and associated fees.
The workshop registration fee is separate from the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino Hotel Package of $354 – covers 4 nights hotel room, free in room WiFi, free parking (surface & garage), includes the 14% tax, and the daily $43 resort fee. The hotel room rate (for a single or double occupancy). The hotel package does not cover meals.
Once your registration form & payment (personal checks only) is received, a reservation link will be emailed to you to book your room. Deadline for booking hotel reservations: June 28, 2024. Reserve early – block of rooms is limited. You can also book additional 1 nights before & 1 night after – the 4 nights workshop hotel package. Wednesday January 30, 2025 is Chinese New Year with several lions dancing in the hotel & spectacular Chinese New Year displays in major hotels. You can Uber or Lyft to the hotel from the airport which is about 4 miles away.
DNA Genealogy: Get Ancestry DNA to Work for You
StoryTelling: Writing a short story of a loved one using artificial intelligence as your coach.
Scanning: Your way to protect, archive and to easily share precious photos and documents in a digital form.
Chinese Genealogy Scrolls: Using Powerpoint, learn how to create a customized, single-paged, poster-quality family tree scroll.
OCR / Techniques: How to use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software to scan & convert images into searchable Chinese characters and other Techniques.
Translations, Examine the complexities of traditional/simplified characters, Classical versus Modern Chinese, and genealogical terminology, providing you with the tools to connect with your heritage.
Finding Ancestral Villages. Understanding the Roots Database, online map websites, and administrative divisions in China, essential for locating ancestral villages.
For more information: Please contact Henry Tom [ Tomclan@Gmail.com ] 480 980 8715
History Park, 635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA 95112 and Kelley Park, 1300 Senter Rd, San Jose, CA 95112
Join History San Jose (HSJ) and the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP) for a celebration of our diverse AAPI community! Immerse yourself in a day of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures through performances, cuisine, crafts, and discussions, as we come together to honor our AAPI heritage and strengthen community bonds.
Enjoy a panel discussion hosted by the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, crafts and paper tours provided by the Friends of the Japanese Friendship Garden, and performances hosted by CHCP and Mosaic America. There will be VIPs, Dragon Parades, Lion Dancers, Cambodian Dancers, Taiwanese Drummers, Martial Artists, Burmese Dancers, Hip Hop Dancers, Food Trucks and much more!
Sponsored by: Chinatown History & Culture Association & Chinese Historical Society of America
Cultural Activities: 11:30 – 3:30 on Grant Avenue. Calligraphy, painting, performances, lion dance, musical and martial arts exhibitions. Free Chinese Medicine Doctor Consultation.
Parade starting 1:30 Grant Ave and Broadway.
Chinese American Stories, 1 – 5:30PM, Victory Hall, 827 Stockton Street, San Francisco, May 25, 1 – 5:30PM – come browse Chinese Historical Society of America Exhibits.
Anna Eng – What was it like for our early ancestor’s who came to this country?
Leona Lau – How our moms gave birth to the first generation of Chinese Americans through the War Brides Act.
3:00 – 5:00 “Lingering Dream of Homeland“, a film by Li Weinian, an elderly man from Taishan bringing his American born grandson back to his ancestral hometown.
Celebrate Asian American Stories, Recognize AAPI Story tellers, Kick-off Asian Pacific Heritage Month
See 1 minute videos submitted by the Asian American community to this contest and vote for a winner. You will witnessed the rich tapestry of Asian Americans’ contributions to our nation. From recent immigrants to those rooted here for generations, from humble service workers to high-achieving professionals, from everyday pursuits to profound endeavors, and spanning generations—these videos resoundingly proclaim: “All Of Us Belong Here!” Watch and vote for your favorite videos here … http://contestants.aastories.org/
From Asian American Stories and Silicon Valley Community Media
Support our Asian American stories’ storytellers in the Bay Area and the whole nation. Our project will inspire and educate young people to learn more about Asian American histories and contributions to this country, in this current climate and anti-Asian sentiment, it is very important to call attention to the contributions Asian Americans have made to our country.
To tell the stories of Asian American contributions both to the Asian American communities and to the mainstream.
To bring communities together. Promote diversity, racial justice, and equity. Stop the hate.
To foster informational exchanges amongst ethnic Asian Americans who hardly know each other or have never worked together on a pan-Asian project. Please join us at the awards ceremony to the winners of the Asian American Stories Contest. Thursday, May 2, 5:30 – 9PM, H.L. Peninsula Restaurant, 136 Ranch Dr,Milpitas. See link above on where to buy tickets and for more information.
This is a 3-day workshop, with presentations in the morning, and Round-Table discussions between attendees & experts, and a Tutorial on Documenting Genealogy Research Wednesday afternoon.
American Born Chinese (ABCs) seniors have been doing the research, but, as this generation is becoming older, there is a realistic need to document this research as part of their family history for their family & descendants. The tutorial, “Documenting Your Family History Made Easy”, covers the development of generic templates where specific content modules can be inserted and shared across Word and PowerPoint software.
Here are some of things you will learn at the roundtables:
Finding your ancestral village
Brief Chinese to English translations
OCR processing & conversion of PDF versions of your Chinese genealogy books into searchable PDF documents by computer – which is a tremendous aid in searching the massive genealogy lineages and finding & tracing / linking consecutive generations of your ancestors, Dr. Mel Thatcher & Henry Tom will be available to assist in converting your PDFs of your genealogy books into searchable PDFs. Another valuable aspect of this OCR processing is allowing you to highlight narrative texts about your individual ancestors found in your genealogy book, and to cut & paste these Chinese annotations & narratives into any of a number of online Chinese to English translators.
Session speakers and topics will be updated as we get closer to the conference.
If you want to enjoy the Chinese New Year celebrations in Las Vegas – consider coming 1 or 2 days before the workshop, just do so by selecting the arrival & departure dates when you book your room.
The 4-day hotel workshop package by itself is $331 and is separate from the workshop registration fee of $375.
The highest influx of Chinese G.I. War Brides in American history transformed our Community from a Bachelor Society to a Baby Boomer Era How Our Moms Entered the United States under 1945 War Brides Act
BAY AREA CHINESE GENEALOGY GROUP In-Person or Zoom Presentation WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 08, 2023, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST THE OAKLAND FAMILY SEARCH CENTER 1st floor at 4766 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, Ca
Our Chinese WWII G.I. War Brides lived through extraordinarily difficult times during the Asiatic War, 1937-1945, the forgotten war in the West. They showed strength of character and perseverance to survive the War and the economic and political upheaval in China.
Learn how our G.I. War Brides entered the United States under the 1945 War Brides Act. Despite its significance to admit Chinese wives on a non-quota basis, they faced enormous hurdles to qualify.
BACGG members, Leona Lau with Lester Dun, Evelyn Seto, and Jeannie Young will share their personal and historical stories of their moms. With hope and courage, our moms immigrated to America with new husbands, or to be reunited with a husband separated by the war.
Coping with a language barrier, they became United States citizens, supported families back in China, while raising their own families, and helped others find their way to becoming Americans.
Our Moms’ stories should be written and preserved for our future generations.
The FamilySearch Center, in conjunction with the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, will be hosting a free seminar.
How To Digitize & Document Your Family History This session takes you into the physical and virtual world on how to build a multimedia family library. We will demonstrate and teach “how to” create an oral history using artificial intelligence, scan and restore photos, reveal free/cost effective multimedia conversion resources, and demonstrate a digital family history book. You will walk away knowing key resources, best practices, and tips on how to create your own family legacy.
About The Speaker: Ron Chan
Ron has lectured on the principals of documenting family history at nine consecutive Genealogy Workshops, presenting and teaching how to create novel and compelling ways to bring family history to life. He is Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group, whose mission is to share, educate and tell the story and struggles of the past, so future generations may know their roots.
This session is over, and is posted on Youtube: Click Here
Have questions about tongs or associations? Please email questions in advance by September 7, 2023, to bacgg.gail@gmail.com and bacgg.jeannie@gmail.com
George Chin, (Founder of Chinatown History & Culture Association) will provide a personal overview of SF’s Organized Associations and will discuss the roles of associations in the Community & Social Services.
Additionally, Ding Lee, Director of Lee’s Family Association, Ning Yung, Bing Kong Tong, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and Chinatown History & Culture Association, will share his experience about associations and help answer questions.
Chinese Tongs, or organized associations, have served five generations of Chinese Americans for over 175 years. They have earned respect of their contributions to the Chinese American community, but they also face multiple challenges and limitations. Learn about Chinese Family Tongs / Associations, and how they impacted your ancestors and may impact you today:
Presentation of History, Culture & Education
Genealogy Research: Tongs have maintained membership and payment records for many years. This information can be valuable for people who are conducting genealogy research.
Challenges and limitations of Tongs
Where do Tong’s get respect?
SAVE THE DATE FOR SESSIONS AT THE OAKLAND FAMILYSEARCH CENTER
October 19, 2023, Thursday – Ron Chan – Digitze and Document Your Family History
November 2023, Leona Lau – Our Moms, Chinese War Brides – Their Stories From War Time China to Post War USA. Also NARA Archives Workshop – Research for War Bride documents
Angel Island Immigration Station – Saturday, June 17 for Family Day.
A day of fun and educational activities with your loved ones, with tickets priced at just $10 per person. Tickets include: a roundtrip ferry ride from either Tiburon or San Francisco, shuttle service to the Immigration Station, and lunch that highlights the diversity and talent of our communities.
From genealogy to hands-on crafts and storytelling, the day will be filled with music, dance, and—of course—family!
Jeanie Low and several other volunteers will be available to assist with Genealogy Research. Find her and others at the Hospital Building. (You will need to bring the following information: individual’s name (immigrating name and/or naturalization name/ birthdate/ date of entry to the U.S. and/naturalization date/ residence/ spouse’s name/ your email).
On Saturday, April 23@10:00 a.m. PDT, we are honored to host Ambassador Elena Wachong (Costa Rica), who will provide a talk focused on the global barriers to finding Chinese diaspora family roots for non-Chinese speakers. Ambassador Wachong will be joined by discussant, Dr. Lai Sai Acon (University of Costa Rica). Dr. Judith Rubenstein (Granite Hills Press) will offer a special introduction, and Dr. Bob Stein will moderate. Please register to attend@https://SDSU.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwoce2upj8oEtMQaSjpbygDJYMXPvpaJP9U
On Saturday, May 7@10 a.m. PDT, we are excited to welcome Tiffany Chin, two-time bronze medalist at the World Figure Skating Championship. Tiffany will be accompanied by San Diego City Council Director of Communications, Chris Chan, who will moderate the conversation.
On Saturday, May 21@10:00 a.m. PDT, we will be pleased to welcome Dr. Yong Ming Li, a Licensed Physician and Acupuncturist, Herbalist, board-certified Pathologist and Dermatopathologist, who has been practicing, teaching and doing research on traditional Chinese medicine for more than 25 years. In anticipation of the May 27th opening of our exhibition, ACUPUNCTURE – 50 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES, Dr. Li will speak on the domestic history of the practice, recalling stories in relation to the effort to make this healing art legally supported in different states.
The California Migration Museum is a new initiative that plans to build an immersive experience bringing together stories across California’s migration history. We are currently working on a virtual, augmented reality-enhanced historical walking tour of SF Chinatown that will pivot around the story of the 1906 earthquake and its aftermath. We’re looking for:
Descendants who can trace their ancestors back to those days, especially if their ancestors were involved with the reconstruction of Chinatown.
We’re also looking for descendants who grew up with a mother or grandmother who lived through the earthquake.
Another cross post from Trish Hackett Nicola, who wrote:
There is an article from the New Yorker online. 28 Jan 2022 on legers with photos and biographical information of Chinese living in Downieville, CA about 1890-1930.
THE CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 678 MISSION STREET, SAN FRANCISCO CA, 94105 Open Thursday – Saturday, 12:00pm – 5:30pm
In its new exhibition Chinese Pioneers: Power and Politics in Exclusion Era Photographs, the California Historical Society explores the Chinese immigrant experience during the years of the Chinese Exclusion Act. The exhibition sheds light on the history of Sinophobia and resonates with broader questions about immigration, citizenship, and border control currently being debated.
In the United States during the Exclusion Era years, depictions of Chinese people ranged from deeply derogatory to highly exoticized. The Chinese Pioneers exhibition examines the visual record of how mainstream culture influenced, aligned with, and/or diverged from politics and state actions.
Photography played a potent role in Chinese people’s interactions with the dominant culture and in the government’s fledgling systems of registration, identification, and surveillance. Chinese Pioneers presents photographs—both studio photography and fine-art photos—alongside illustrated newspapers, paintings, and ephemera from the California Historical Society’s collections.
The exhibition is drawn exclusively from the California Historical Society’s deep collections of topical material. On view are rare items, such as one of the earliest known records of Chinese immigration to California, certificates of residence for Chinese laborers (1894–1897), and a one-of-a-kind photo album compiled by a Sierra County justice of the peace who was tracking Chinese residents. Less rare but equally powerful items in the collection include formal portraits of Chinese men and women taken in photographic studios, some operated by Chinese photographers; illustrated newspapers; a painting of a Chinese woman; photographs of Chinese workers; and works by art photographers Arnold Genthe and Laura Adams Armer.
The richness of these collections presents a compelling visual history that dovetails with the social, political, and judicial disenfranchisement of Chinese Californians, as well as moments of Chinese agency and resilience.
Marisa Louie Lee shared this post on Grant Din’s forum chineseamericanfamilyhistory link that might be useful to members of BACGG. Here is her repost:
Hi all, For those of you interested in Chinese Canadian immigration, Grant asked me to share about the Registers of Chinese Immigration to Canada, 1885–1949. These are held by Library Archives Canada and document “all immigrants of Chinese origin arriving in Canada between 1885 and 1949.” You may have heard that these are being newly indexed on FamilySearch, but they were previously indexed as part of a project from the University of British Columbia, and the index is hosted at Library Archives Canada. The index data is also available as a spreadsheet, which has the amazing addition of analysis and “mapping” of the place of birth fields in the register. What resulted is being able to search the spreadsheet by a village name in Chinese characters for two of the counties in Guangdong Province, the place of origin for many pre-WWII Chinese immigrants. As an example, I searched my great-grandfather’s village and found a handful of immigrants to Canada who also came from his village. Interestingly, their 雷 surname was primarily Romanized as LOY rather than my LOUIE. Have you found any of your Chinese Canadian relatives or ancestors in the registers? Feel free to share! Marisa
Below provided by: Chinese Historical Society of America
As we all continue to navigate the challenges surrounding the health and safety circumstances currently affecting our community, the nation, and the world at large, CHSA has respectfully delayed the opening of our upcoming We Are Bruce Lee exhibition. Amid these ever-changing times, know that the health and comfort of our community is of the utmost priority and importance to CHSA, and we are carefully monitoring and adapting to the relevant guidelines in order to determine a new exact grand opening date.
We will get there.
As Bruce himself said, “Be Water, My Friend.” We are looking forward to sharing with you We Are Bruce Lee in early 2022.
Please stay tuned for more information as we announce updates to the exhibition and other programming and content. To learn more about or support this exhibition, check out We Are Bruce Lee and follow CHSA.
In the meantime, pre-sale tickets will be made available soon, with CHSA members receiving first priority. For more information on how to become a member, to help sustain our museum’s work, please visit CHSA.org.
I just got this from fellow genealogist Renee Carl last week. “NARA just dropped a press release announcing that the 1950 Census will be powered with an AI/ML/OCR name search.” Renee was involved in a beta test and was seriously impressed with this Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Optical Character Recognition technology. I encourage you to read the NARA release she links to. It sounds like this technology will allow you to search for names right from the time the census is released on April 1, 2022, but in case you can’t find who you are looking for, there are actually other ways.
When the 1940 census results were released in 2012, the volunteers at Family Search, the paid indexers at Ancestry and other people took about 4-6 months to index the records, so this technology could save us many months of waiting. In case you can’t find your family through this name search right away, you can also search through Enumeration Districts (E.D.s), which are smaller segments of a community and not too difficult to look at block by block.
There are ways to figure out ahead of time which E.D.s your family members may have lived in so you can look in them as soon as the census is released on April 1. I just attended a webinar by Thomas MacEntee and he had two handouts he encouraged us to share (please attribute them to him if you pass them along). One is full of great information and links (ignore where he says the 2022 release date is two years away!) and the other is a spreadsheet you can use to input your family’s (or whomever you are researching) information in an organized fashion, which he describes in the informational handout. If you know or can figure out where the person you’re researching lived (there are many directories online, or you can use correspondence or ask someone who was alive then), you can use an amazing tool developed by Steve Morse (developer of the Intel 8086 chip!). Go here:https://stevemorse.org/census/unified.html and click on 1950 in the pull-down menu at the top of the page. Then pull down the appropriate information to find out which enumeration districts correspond with the address you’re looking for.
It also works for rural areas. For example, a lot of people have roots in the Sacramento River Delta – towns like Isleton, Walnut Grove, Locke, Courtland, etc. You can select Sacramento County, then under city, choose “Other.” I typed in “Courtland,” and got 34-119, which includes ” GEORGIANA JUDICIAL TOWNSHIP (TRACT SC-136) BOUNDED BY (N) COUNTY LINE, JUDICIAL TOWNSHIP LINE; (E) JUDICIAL TOWNSHIP LINE; (S) LAUREL LN; (W) SACRAMENTO RIVER, COUNTY LINE, AND SHOULD CONTAIN LAMBERT, VORDEN, COURTLAND.”
That’s just one example. This information should help you find family members when the 1950 census is released on April 1, 2022! Please post if you have other ideas or if I have some incorrect information.
Watch the recorded videos of the September 30, 2021 Chinese American WWII Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Watch the presentation of the National Chinese American WWII Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Presentation on Facebook by clicking the button below. Note there is a 28 minute delay at the beginning of the video.
The Chinese American WWII Veterans Recognition Project is a program of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.), a 501(c)8, and the National Chinese American Citizens Alliance Community Involvement Fund, a 501(c)3. Together we are spearheading a national campaign to identify, honor and recognize the efforts and accomplishments of all Chinese Americans who served in the United States Armed Services in World War II. For more information contact cgminfo@caww2.org.
VENG Group | C.A.C.A. C.I.F., Washington, DC 20035
Docent Ed Lai, FOCC Executive Director Martin Lowenstein, Frank Mah, Justine Wong, Doreen Lew, Evelyn Seto, Leona Lau, Joe Yoshino, Jeannie Young, John Lew August 2021
In mid-July, a member of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group (BACGG) contacted Dr. Jason Lau to make arrangements for a docent tour of China Camp State Park. Half of the eight were first time visitors. Martin Lowenstein, FOCC executive director, welcomed the group at the café. The slightly breezy August afternoon visit included a tour of the former Chinese fishing village by Ed Lai. His presentation included the history of Miwok, Spanish, and Chinese inhabitants. His tour began with a walk out on the pier to see the replica of a Chinese fishing junk, museum, and shrimp processing equipment. Back at the cafe, volunteer, Ernie Stanton, shared details about the Quans, the last family to run the café, and pointed out photos from when the village was used as a set for a John Wayne film, Blood Alley.
Naturalist, Jerry Coe, led the group on a nature hike on the Turtle Back Loop. He discussed the history of the pre-colonial Miwok who lived in harmony with the land. Jerry patiently helped members of the group learn to identify different flora. They all tasted pickle weed, a source of salt, from the marshland.
Members of the group joined FOCC and also made donations. An article about China Camp State Park will be posted on the BACGG website later this month.
“China Camp State Park is a 1,514-acre park nestled along the shoreline of San Pablo Bay in San Rafael, California. The park boasts panoramic views, lush oak woodlands, and over 100 acres of protected tidal salt marsh. Whether you’re a hiker or mountain biker, a history buff, or a beach lover, you’ll have an unforgettable day at China Camp.
Visit China Camp’s historic shrimping village and beach area. The village is the perfect place to bring friends and family for a fun day trip. Visit the museum to learn more about China Camp’s fascinating history. Stop by the historic cafe on weekends for snacks and cold drinks. The site features first-come, first-served picnic areas with tables, drinking water, bathrooms, and an outdoor shower.
Learn more about the Chinese shrimp fishing in San Francisco Bay: watch a video by Chinese Whispers: Bay Chronicles.
Friends of China Camp (FOCC) is the community-based nonprofit organization that keeps China Camp State Park open. Since 2012, FOCC has been the sole operator and manager of the park. The organization, largely run by volunteers, is responsible for covering all expenses related to keeping the park open. Find out how you can become a member, and help keep China Camp open and thriving for all.
Friends of China Camp (FOCC) is committed to keeping China Camp State Park open and thriving for our community. To learn more about China Camp, plan a day trip, or camping trip visit the FOCC website at https://friendsofchinacamp.org
As local public health metrics allow, research rooms will open on a limited basis and by appointment only. You must have a virtual consultation before the on-site visit. Staff at all locations will continue to respond to emailed requests for records. Further information is in this press release.
Reopenings and operations will rely on local public health metrics. Check the specific facility page for updates. More information about the National Archives’ response to coronavirus can be found at archives.gov/coronavirus.
[chineseamericanfamilyhistory] National Archives Announces Limited Reopening of Research RoomsInbox
Marisa Louie Lee 6:37 AM (3 hours ago)to chineseamericanfamilyhistory
Hi everyone: Sharing the news about NARA reopening most research rooms starting August 2! I don’t yet have an appointment on the books for our local facility in San Bruno (the National Archives at San Francisco) but I’m looking forward to returning after so many months away.
———- Forwarded message ——— From: National Archives <public.affairs@nara.gov> Date: Fri, Jul 16, 2021 at 11:21 AM Subject: National Archives Announces Limited Reopening of Research Rooms
National Archives Announces Limited Reopening of Research Rooms WASHINGTON, July 16, 2021–The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is starting to resume research room operations. Several locations have already begun pilots to test research room policies and procedures that promote social distancing, while otherwise allowing us to serve records in a secure manner, and starting Monday, August 2, most National Archives research rooms will reopen for research on a limited basis. NARA services will look very different from the services provided prior to COVID-19. Research visits will be by appointment only and will require a virtual consultation prior to the onsite visit. Boxes of records will be pulled in advance and will be waiting at an assigned table. Research appointments will initially be for 4-5 hours total, depending on the location. In addition, we have implemented a number of measures to ensure the safety of our researchers and staff: Requiring that unvaccinated visitors wear face coverings during their visit.
Limiting the number of people in each research room. Requiring that those who are sick or do not feel well stay home. Implementing safe social distancing through stanchions, physical barriers, floor markings, one-way paths, and directional guidance. Chairs will be removed and workspaces will be blocked to promote physical distancing between researchers. Following CDC cleaning guidance. In addition, researchers will contribute to sanitizing procedures by cleaning their assigned tables and equipment before and after their research. Researchers should wash their hands thoroughly before entering and after exiting research rooms and regularly throughout their visit to the facility. Hand sanitizer will be readily available outside of the research rooms. Records quarantine: All record material accessed by a researcher will be quarantined after use for three full days, and the records will not be available to other researchers during the quarantine period. Contact tracing: If a researcher or NARA employee experiences COVID-19 symptoms while in a NARA research room or later reports symptoms, a diagnosis, or a close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, NARA will use contact information collected during the researcher registration process to notify other researchers of a potential exposure.Please email the relevant facility using the contact information on their facility page to request an appointment. Researchers should check the specific facility page for details and updates, as the situation can change quickly. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to reopen our facilities in a careful and deliberate manner that prioritizes the safety of staff and the public. We look forward to welcoming you back to our research facilities.# # # For press information, contact the National Archives Public and Media Communications staff at public.affairs@nara.gov. 21-50NARA locations nationwide Our mailing address is: 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington DC, 20408
Marisa Louie Lee