What is GeneaSpy?

GeneaSpy is an avid genealogist who attends national, regional, and local genealogical conferences, to learn about genealogy.

Monday, March 5, 2018

2018 OCCGS Genealogy Bash

2018 Orange County California Genealogical Society (OCCGS)
Genealogy Bash



 I attended the annual OCCGS Genealogy Bash this year featuring Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist, Who just flew in from RootsTech. I have been attending this event since 2013 and it’s only an hour and a half drive from my house in Escondido up to Huntington Beach. By the way, Huntington Beach is where my Mom was born (in her parents’ house I might add) and grew up. OCCGS always puts on a spectacular event and very well organized. This year, President Hal Horrocks and his all-volunteer team yet again pulled out all the stops. There were several vendors, including Jean & Butch Hibben representing “Gena an Jean Genealogy Journeys at Sea” cruise. There was also plenty of door prize and drawing opportunities from sponsors like MyHeritage, Ancestry, GenealogyBank, RootsMagic, and Legacy Family Tree Software.

  Judy Russell had four topics for today:


·        More Than Just Names: Advanced US Census Research
·        NARA Mythbusters: Your Family IS in the Archives
·        When Worlds Collide: Revolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records
·        "Don't Forget the Ladies" - A Genealogist's Guide to Women and the Law

You know, you’d think I knew everything about "US Census research" since I have been doing it for over 15 years online… Nope! Judy not only showed us some tips and tricks, she showed us the reasoning behind different decades of census enumeration. The reasoning? Instructions! Each decade had a new set of rules and guidelines for the enumerator to follow and they are all published and available for free!

 “NARA Mythbusters” was a great refresher for me just coming back from a week-long course at SLIG about archives researching. I will be visiting NARA’s regional archives outside Atlanta, Georgia this June. “When World’s Collide” was where I really need help… resolving conflict in my research and writing it up. I have been a “name collector” for decades and it is hard for me to break out of that mold and do “real” genealogical research. Judy puts the process in a language I can understand. Now, if I can just do it! I left a little early and didn’t get to see “Don’t Forget the Ladies”, but I do have her syllabus on it. I have several generations in my tree that list just the men and no wives… why? I need to really work on this.

 During the lunch break, I looked through their historical books on Huntington Beach and there was very few to my surprise. I asked if they had old phone directories from the 1940’s and 1950’s and the reference desk person said no. So, I wandered down to the Genealogical books section, which I already knew had a great collection, and browsed the North Carolina and Virginia books. To my surprise, I found several books on a little county in Virginia called “Henry County”. That is where one of my maternal lines came from in the 1700’s. I didn’t have time to go through each book in detail so I will have to make a separate trip. I must say, the Huntington Beach Public Library has a vast selection of genealogical books.


 The OCCGS Genealogy Bash is worth the drive and I will be back again next year. I wonder what genealogy “Rock Star” they will have? Thank you to all the volunteers who made this happen and to the leadership of Hal Horrocks! You guys rock!

 At the end of the seminar, Hal was driving Judy to LAX to board a plane for Sydney, Australia so she could attend Congress 2018. Wow! What a jet-setter! 



Driving past Camp Pendleton on the way there. This is where my dad served.

Yes, I'm a ham.

Vendor hall

Candid camera: Jean and Butch Hibben before the people were let in.

President of OCCGS, Hal Horrocks introducing Judy Russell.


Very comfortable seats, great lighting, and great sound!

President of OCCGS, Hall Horrocks, and Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL.

Myself and Judy with "FLat Laura" Luara Prescott.

The beautiful Hunting Beach Library.

My Mom's hometown!


Henry County, Virginia books.

The library opened in 1975.


I was on the far side. Most of the people sat on the right side - over 100!

Driving back past the defunct nuclear plant - San Onofre.