The SoCalGenie

City of Torrance Veterans Memorial

2012-11-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

On 19 March 2002, the City of Torrance, California, dedicated its Veterans Memorial. Located at the corner of Maple Avenue and Torrance Boulevard, the memorial is a lasting tribute to Torrance citizens who made the ultimate sacrifice to their country. An alphabetical list of those memorialized appears below. "Let me not mourn for those who have died fighting, but rather let me be glad that

Infographic - California in the 1940 Census

2012-07-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

Countdown to the 1940 Census: Population Explosion!

2012-03-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

With just four weeks to go until the release of the 1940 US Census, I thought it might be fun to look at a comparison of population statistics for Southern California for 1940 and 2010.. In 1940, California was the fifth largest state with just over 6.9 million residents; by 2010, the population of 37,253,956. That’s over a 500% increase in 70 years! Los Angeles County alone now has a

Obtaining Vital Records in Los Angeles County

2012-02-29T15:52:00.001-08:00

Entrance to LA County Recorder's OfficeDigital image, Denise Spurlock, 2011. Birth, marriage and death records for Los Angeles County are housed at the County Recorder’s Office located at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Los Angeles County provides both certified and informational copies of vital records. If you do not meet the

Are You Looking in the Right Place?

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

When California was admitted to the Union in 1850, Southern California consisted of only four counties: San Diego (which was huge!), Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. Take a look at this map from the California State Association of Counties website: From 1850 to 1907, six additional counties were created. If you are not finding a particular record in one county, perhaps

Tuesday's Tip - Riverside and San Diego Newspapers Online

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

The following Riverside and San Diego newspapers have been added to the historical newspapers collection available, by subscription, at GenealogyBank: Riverside Daily Press, 5/20/1938-10/1/1942 (San Diego) Evening Tribune, 7/1/1925-1/25/1935 San Diego Union, 3/1/1908-7/8/1934 Newspapers are a wonderful source of information about our ancestors' lives. I was excited to find references to my

Happy New Year from the SoCal Genie!

2012-01-01T16:10:00.000-08:00

Pasadena Schools Float in 1922 Rose Bowl Parade. Public domain image via Wikimedia Commons. The Rose Parade is tomorrow (January 2), so it doesn't feel like New Year's Day to me! But I offer the following poem to wish you all the best in 2012! A New Year’s Wish. May each day bring thee something Fair to hold in memory— Some true light to shine Upon thee in the after days.

Japanese-American Relocation Resources

2011-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Today we remember those who were killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which resulted in the United States entering into World War II. It is right that we should honor our fallen heroes. But we should not forget the other Americans whose lives were also changed—those of Japanese ancestry. War causes nations to take actions that seem, to those in charge at the time, to be necessary.

Lomita Veterans Memorial

2011-11-11T08:49:00.001-08:00

In November 1997 the City of Lomita dedicated its Veterans Memorial. A second memorial was added later to include those who lost their lives in the Global War on Terrorism. On this Veterans Day, it is my honor to present the names of those who gave their lives in service to our Nation. Digital image. Copyright Denise Spurlock 2011. LOMITA VETERANS MEMORIAL "Today we honor these brave

Costs for California Vital Records to Rise

2011-10-31T12:46:00.000-07:00

On October 2, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1053 into the law. Sponsored by Gordon, this new statute increases the base fees for certified copies of birth and death certificates by $9 over the next three calendar years—$5 on January 1, 2012, and $2 in each of the two subsequent years. The full text of the bill can be found at http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/billtrack/text.html?bvid=

Shades of L.A.: Oral Family History Interviews

2011-10-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

Twenty years ago, the Los Angeles Public Library, in cooperation with Photo Friends, undertook a project to document the ethnic diversity of Los Angeles by copying family photographs. "Shades of L.A.: A Search for Visual Ethnic History" took six years to complete and contains more than 7,000 photographs. During the project, oral family history interviews were conducted with twelve individuals

Don't Miss the 6th Annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar

2011-10-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

Free and open to the public, the 6th Annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar is being held on Saturday, October 22, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Doheny Memorial Library on the USC campus. A joint effort of USC Libraries and LAasSubject, the bazaar will include exhibits representing over 80 participating institutions, including the Autry National Center of the American West, the California

Museum Day - Saturday, September 24, 2011

2011-09-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

Smithsonian Building, Washington, D.C.Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons. On Museum Day, hosted annually by Smithsonian magazine, participating museums across the United States offer free admission to one person and a guest. (Smithsonian Museums offer free admission every day.) Visit the Smithsonian website for more information about Museum Day tickets. Below is a list of

Get the Scoop on Professional Genealogy

2011-09-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

Thinking about hiring a professional genealogist and have questions about what one can do for you? And what it will cost? Maybe you're wondering whether professional genealogy is worth consideration as a career? This weekend a panel of members of the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists will discuss "The Role of Professional Genealogy" at the Escondido

WPA 1939 Los Angeles Household Census Records Online

2011-09-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

In 1939, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) conducted a household census in the city of Los Angeles. Almost 1/2 million record cards, most of which are household census cards, are held by the University of Southern California. Approximately 25% of the collection has been digitized and is online at the USC Digital Library. The household census cards contain information regarding the dwelling

California Statehood - September 9, 1850

2011-09-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Today marks the 161st anniversary of California's admission to the Union, as part of the Compromise of 1850. The Compromise of 1850 was an attempt to deal with our Nation's attempts to deal with the issue of slavery. More information can be found on the National Archive's page: Struggles over Slavery: The Compromise of 1850. A transcription of the 1849 Constitution of the State of California can

Los Angeles County Archives and Records Center

2011-09-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for probate, divorce, or civil court cases more than five years old, you'll need to do some research at the Los Angeles County Archives and Records Center, located at 211 N. Hill Street, in downtown Los Angeles. For specific information about hours, records availability, copy charges, etc., see their website. Here are some tips if you plan to visit: Unless you love crazy

Labor Day: Los Angeles

2011-09-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

On this Labor Day, you might enjoy looking at the Los Angeles Public Library virtual photograph collection: Los Angeles At Work: 1920-1939. Included among the collection of about 25 photos are A young girl's vegetable stand in Pomona An Arrowhead Water delivery truck Women making tortillas The owner of a magic shop Hupmobiles Oranges being loaded for shipment The Cotton Club A railroad

Los Angeles Celebrates 230th Birthday!

2011-09-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

On September 4, 1781, a small village in California was christened El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles (The Town of the Queen of Angels). Although it is likely the village was founded several months earlier, today is the day chosen for celebration. More history of the founding of Los Angeles can be read at the LA as Subject post of September 1, 2011. Los Angeles Plaza 1869. Public domain

Welcome!

2011-09-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

I am a first-generation Californian. Except for a few years in Alaska as a child, I have lived and worked here all my life. It is home. But my ancestors came from places like Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, and from France, Germany, England, and Wales. On this blog, I plan to share information for those who live in Southern California and are researching ancestors who, like mine, lived