Genealogy Tools And One Family’s Journey
FREE
Mountain View Library, 585 Franklin St, Mountain View, CA, May 23, 2026, 2PM – 4PM
San Mateo Library, 55 W 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA., June 13, 2026, Saturday, 1PM-3PM
PLEASE NOTE THE SANTA CLARA LIBARY, June 13, 2026, Saturday 1PM-3PM has been cancelled.
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 Chan is a passionate storyteller, educator, and recognized leader in Chinese American genealogy. As Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group (BACGG), Ron inspires people to discover their family roots, preserve their heritage, and ensure the stories of those who came before them are never lost. A seasoned lecturer and published genealogy author, he brings genealogy, history, technology, and storytelling together to make family history engaging and accessible. Ron is also co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, preserving the stories of Chinese American veterans. In 2026, Ron received the prestigious National Genealogical Society Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award.
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!”
In-Person Attendees: Although the FamilySearch Library is normally closed on Mondays, it will be open especially for our workshop. We’ll also have access to the library computers, and lunch will be provided—so please be sure to register early to reserve your spot.
Zoom Attendees: You’ll be able to join us online (11:00 – 12:00), and the Zoom link will be sent out 10 days prior to the event.