In a press release today, Ancestry.com announced the launch of California Voter Registration Lists documenting more than 30 million names of Californians who registered to vote between 1900 and 1944. The collection, now searchable for the first time online, comes just prior to Super Tuesday, one of the most significant milestones in the 2008 race to the White House.

The unique collection reveals the political persuasions of California residents -- including famous celebrities who registered to vote during the first half of the 1900s. The collection also documents the voter's name, occupation, gender, age, street address, voting district, and city and county of residence. Many of the earliest voter registrations include detailed physical descriptions of the register and even naturalization information. Because the lists were updated every two years, the collection enables users to track their ancestors through time and serves as a valuable replacement for census records since California did not take state censuses.

"Peeking into the political preferences of our ancestors and celebrities is fascinating," said Megan Smolenyak, Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com. "Very few historical records actually reveal the opinions of our ancestors. With this collection of voter registrations, someone with California family ties can discover the political black sheep in the family or which ancestor changed their family's party affiliation forever."

Labels: California, online resources, tax lists

Congratulations to Gena Philibert-Ortega, a regular contributor to GenWeekly, on the release this week of her first book, "Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra," an Image of America Series.

More than 20 cemeteries and burial places are featured in Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra. Gena Philibert-Ortega also shares the history of the county that surrounds them, through the 200 vintage images that fill the pages.

Philibert-Ortega hopes her book “will serve as a catalyst to better understanding our history and respecting those who came before us.”

"Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra," is available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665, www.arcadiapublishing.com.

Highlights of Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra:

• Features information on little known cemeteries in Inyo and Mono Counties
• Includes information on the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake, which almost destroyed the town of Lone Pine
• Describes the history of cemeteries in Bishop, Bridgeport and Big Pine
• Shows gravestones and gives information about the meaning of the Victorian imagery on them
  

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Its mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. To see if a book has been done on your town, visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

Labels: California, cemeteries

Ancestry.com announced in mid-July the release of California Marriage and Divorce Indexes. According to the web site, "If you have family from the Golden State, look no further than the more than 16 million names in the newly added California Marriage and Divorce Indexes. Spanning roughly 25 years, you’ll discover bride and groom names, dates and locations. These great indexes will ensure you strike gold when searching for your Californian ancestors. Search the California Marriage and California Divorce indexes now. Check Ancestry's Genealogy Databases Posted and Updated Recently for information on other new releases and updates to existing databases.

Labels: California, divorce records, marriage records

According to an article in the SDSUniverse, "Tales from the Crypt," San Diego State University anthropology professor Seth Mallios unearthed the secrets buried in San Diego's cemeteries for his new book which reveals the results of the San Diego Gravestone Project. Mallios has spent the past five years directing the San Diego Gravestone Project surveying, inventorying and analyzing all of the region's historical grave markers. The findings are detailed in Mallios' new book "Cemeteries of San Diego" which went on sale Monday, March 19, part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images of America" series which celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns and cities across the country.

Labels: California, cemeteries

With an area containing more land than nine states, San Bernadino County, California is the largest county in the United States. Early residents included native peoples, as well as pioneers looking for adventure in the West. The Mormons and some other religious groups were among the early settlers. In her aticle, "Genealogical Research in San Bernadino County," Gena Philibert-Ortega helps researchers become aware of available family history resources.

Labels: California, general research, Westward migration

The article, Book leads way to art exhibit, appearing in the ContraCostaTime.com, provides information on "The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps 1942-1946," an exhibit by author and curator, Delphine Hirasuna whose own parents were interned in one of the camps. The exhibit runs until February 25 at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art, San Francisco. Admission is free on February 19, to commemorate the signing of Executive Order 9066, which brought about the internment. You can visit the Museum's web site at http://www.mocfa.org/.

Labels: California, Japanese ancestry, World War II

Black History Month officially begins in February, but The Oakland Museum of California is getting a good head start with a host of activities, honoring the art, strength, and faith of African Americans, in California and nationwide. The program begins January 13 and continues through February 22, 2007. The Museum web site provides a detailed listing of events.

Labels: black history month, California