Past Event – MHS-CGS Special Event: May 10, 2025 Susan Skilton – Lamorinda History and Genealogy: Resources and Strategies for Research

Vera Kochan Review

Extracted from Lamorinda Weekly, June 4, 2025, Vol. 19 Issue 4

California Genealogical Society encourages Lamorindans to find their roots

The California Genealogical Society (CGS) teamed up with Lamorinda’s three historical societies during a May 10 presentation at the Moraga Library in an effort to encourage residents to use their resources when digging for ancestral roots.

While not many residents have very deep Lamorinda roots, using what’s available on a local level could be a good starting point. CGS Past President Jane Knowles Lindsey brought information that explained how to use their resources, ask personnel for help, watch helpful “how-to” videos, and attend classes, seminars and workshops.

Ancestry Research Manager and Professional Genealogist Susan Skilton, who’s also on Moraga Historical Society’s Board of Directors, gave a slide presentation that was geared towards guiding individuals through their research process. Among the many local resources were newspapers, vertical files at any historical society, books, manuscripts, and published local histories.

Skilton’s other suggestions included researching house/tract histories, using the California Digital Newspaper Collection, tracing the roots of early settlers and and their migration patterns, checking Contra Costa County Clerk records, and performing a catalog search through Family-Search.

According to Skilton, when researching individuals from the past it is important to create a plan. “Begin with the known and work towards the unknown. Begin with the local region and expand searches as warranted. Evaluate the availability of records for the region.”

Skilton also advised consulting or ruling out census results, voting information, tax records, city directories, birth/death records, marriage records, probate info, newspapers (obituaries), biographies, religious records, naturalization/immigration paperwork, land records, court records, and military records.

An additional, prerecorded presentation was given by Moraga Historical Society Webmaster John Kaiser, who detailed all of the informational offerings at Moraga’s History Center and Historical Society website. (Available on YouTube)

Lafayette Historical Society President Mary McCosker informed attendees about their many resources available to visitors seeking ancestral information. Orinda Historical Society Recording Secretary Vivian Ricci and Treasurer Nancy Royster passed around a framed 18th century embroidery sampler and also discussed in-house resoruces for anyone interested in their local roots.