[Editor’s Note: On Saturday from 11 to 1, the Southern California Genealogical Society is sponsoring a workshop at the Central Library, 630 W. 5th St.,downtown Los Angeles. Culver City historian Julie Lugo Cerra will be the workshop leader. She forwarded the following report.]
[img]1656|right|||no_popup[/img]If you are not acquainted with the historical society in your family’s hometown, you are missing out on valuable information—especially since all towns are proud of their heritage.
Some societies have a museum, photograph files, a database, and are repositories for the town’s oldest records. Others are a website with historical information and lists of cemeteries, churches, etc. All are maintained by members of the community whose goal it is to preserve their town’s history and they are often thrilled to answer your questions.
Julie Lugo Cerra, sixth generation Californian, and a descendant of Francisco Salvador Lugo, will lead the workshop.
Ms. Lugo Cerra, a native of Culver City, where her father was born on the Lugo Ranch, is a founding member and past president of the Culver City Historical Society. She has served as the City Council-appointed city historian in Culver City since 1996.
She was selected for the Historic State Capitol Commission, and the first chair of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission.
As a researcher, the author of five books and more than 500 published articles, Ms. Lugo Cerra believes historical societies can be invaluable to researchers. And she loves to share her methods.
Whether a beginner or you have been researching for years, the workshop is an opportunity to tune up research skills or learn something new about family history research.
Genealogy Garage workshops are held at the Central Library of the Los Angeles Public Library in the History & Genealogy Dept., Lower Level 4, and accessible by escalator or elevator.
To RSVP, call Central Library Information at 213.228.7000, and ask for the History and Genealogy Dept.
Workshop leaders focus on one topic per workshop, and topics are announced on the Public Library calendar of events and via e-mail. Genealogy Garage is designed to be interactive. Participants should bring pedigree charts, family group sheets, pens/pencils, paper, and/or a laptop computer.
At the end of the workshop, Charlotte Bocage will conduct a tour. See http://www.lapl.org/central/.
Parking is available under the library, entering at 524 Flower St. just off 5th.
Ms. Lugo Cerra may be contacted at CCHS@culvercityhistoricalsociety.org
