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  • Chinese Genealogy Workshop – Feb 5-7, 2024, Las Vegas

    Gold Coast Casio, Las Vegas, NV

    February 2 (Sunday check-in) to February 8 (Thursday Checkout), 2024

    Conference Dates: February 5 through February 7, 2024

    Conference flyer, registration form and local restaurants

    https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8kqq67lv4ffe971/AABPFQHrFqmaDui7tOVjmt3sa?dl=0

    For more information: henry.tom@cox.net

    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.

  • Chinese G.I. War Brides – November 8, 2023 11am-1pm PST

    Click to register for In-Person and Zoom: https://forms.gle/4pSensSzyiNHrwdG9

    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.

    BACGG Committee

  • How To Digitize & Document Your Family History

    FamilySearch Library, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland, CA, Oct 19, 11AM – 1PM 

    Registration: Click here to register: Digitize and Document Your Family History

    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.      

  • Facing Challenges and Limitations: Where Do Organized Chinese Associations Get Respect?

    BACGG Zoom Event: Thursday, September 14, 2023 @ 6:30 PST – 8:00PST

    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 Family Day – June 17

    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). 

    HERE is the link about the event and tickets
    https://www.aiisf.org/familyday