Oakland Regional Family History Center

The Oakland Regional Family History Center holds free classes for staff and patrons each month September through May. Classes are 1 to 1 1/2 hours long. There may be a nominal charge to cover the cost of handouts. African American research help is available the first Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. with Juliet Crutchfield.

Classes

Introduction to PAF (hands-on)

PAF is the free genealogy data management program offered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the familysearch.org website. Come and learn to open a file, input data, and back up your work. Bring a flash drive if you have one.

PAF Workshop: Bring your Database Problems (hands-on)

Got problems with your PAF data? Duplicate entries? Multiple marriages where none existed? Children out of order? Bring a backup of your database and let Ken help you straighten it out.

Documentation in PAF (hands-on)

Genealogists know documentation is vital to good research, but many are confused by how to input their sources in order to have good footnotes. In this class we will learn the principles of source citation while practicing adding sources and citations to a sample database.

PAF - Special Features (hands-on)

Personal Ancestral File has a great number of special features that can be fun and helpful. They include but are not limited to creating and printing calendars, scrapbooks and special customized lists. Come and see what you can do with this user friendly genealogy program.

Marge's Favorite Free U.S. Research Websites

Wondering what websites researchers go back to time and again? Come and see some of the websites we use for our own research and introduce to others. Why are they favorites? Learn why germanroots.com is misnamed. What can we find without resorting to paying subscription fees?

FamilySearch.org: The Near Future

FamilySearch.org is getting a whole new look and a lot of new information. This includes among other resources wiki.familysearch, a new search engine for recordsearch pilot, a new look to the catalog, and the public opening of familytree (now called new.familysearch.org. Come and take a look at the future, learn how to use some of the features now, learn to give feedback so you can influence the final product.

On-Going Classes:

African American Family History Research Workshops

The African American Genealogy Workshops meet the 4th Wednesday of the month from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. No pre-registration required.

PAF Database Cleanup

A number of errors can creep into a PAF database both through program problems when the match merge feature is used and through mistakes made as new users learning the ins and outs of the program. These errors can be as simple as duplicated entries, multiple marriages with unknown spouses, unconnected individuals, and incomplete place names, or more complex problems. We now offer personal help in cleaning up your database, and if you are LDS, updating temple ordinance information. Contact Rich McCartney (email: mrgenealogy@gmail.com) for an appointment and free your database of all these unwanted and perhaps unseen problems.

Class Schedule

Please pre-register for classes by E-mail or telephone (510) 531-3905. Classes without pre-registered patrons will be cancelled.