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American Ancestors Comes to Southern California: Tracing Your Westward-Bound Ancestors

Overview

June 9, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Huntington Library
Haaga Hall
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108

Presented by David Allen Lambert and Melanie McComb

American Ancestors is California bound! Join Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert and Senior Genealogist Melanie McComb as they travel from coast to coast, making the journey many of our ancestors made as they sought new opportunities and adventure in the golden state. This one-day seminar will provide you with tips and strategies to trace your California-bound ancestors. We’ll discuss the New England roots of many Westward migrants, as well as how to find records for those notoriously difficult ancestors on the move.

Please reach out to Kathleen Mackenzie, Education and Programming Manager, with any questions at kathleen.mackenzie@nehgs.org.

Schedule

9:00-9:45 a.m. Doors open, breakfast (included)
9:45-10:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
10:00-11:00 a.m. Colonial Migrations in the Northeast – David Allen Lambert
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Westward Migration, 1783-1900 – David Allen Lambert
12:00-1:00 p.m. Lunch (included)
1:00-2:00 p.m. California or Bust! Researching Your Western Pioneers
2:00-3:00 p.m. Follow the Money: Go-To Records for Tracing Ancestors on the Move – Melanie McComb
3:00-3:15 p.m. Break
3:15-4:15 p.m. Strategies for Tracking Ancestors on the Move – David Allen Lambert
4:15 p.m. Door prize winner announced
4:30 p.m. Event Concludes

Parking

Parking at the Huntington is free. You can find details about parking on their website here: https://huntington.org/directions-parking 

Once you arrive, you will see a staffed entrance checkpoint- you can let the staff know that you are there for the event, and they will direct you to Haaga Hall where the program will be held. There will also be directional signage for Haaga Hall visible as well.

Experts

David Allen Lambert

Chief Genealogist
Areas of expertise: New England and Atlantic Canadian records of the 17th through 21st century; American and international military records; DNA research; and Native American and African American genealogical research in New England. 

Melanie McComb

Senior Genealogist
Areas of expertise: Irish genealogy, DNA, Atlantic Canada, Jewish genealogy, and military records.