Who do you think you are? Family History Fair is coming to Erie's Hagen History Center
Growing up, Janice Castro knew a lot about her family's history.
The family has lived in Castro's native California since 1776 and was part of the expedition that founded the pueblo that would become San Francisco. There, they built the military post known as the Presidio.
It was only part of a story that a family historian laid out two generations ago in a lineage that traced the family back nine generations.
"It didn't have any women's names, or only their first names," Castro said. "One of the things that got me interested in genealogy was that I wanted to know about the women in the family, too. And I wanted to know more than the names of these people. I wanted to know about their lives."
Castro is a member of the Erie Society for Genealogical Research, which will help others trace past generations during a free Family History Fair at Erie's Hagen History Center on June 9.
On hand will be representatives of the Erie, Crawford, Warren and Chautauqua county historical societies, 13 community historical societies, the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution and the Mayflower Society, plus Erie County Courthouse and Blasco Library staff.
They'll be able to point the way to birth, baptism, marriage, death and burial records, as well as census data, and immigration, naturalization and military service records.
Historical societies also will have information on their collections, including diaries, letters, historical maps, local family histories, telephone directories, old newspapers and other materials to help family detectives.
There also will be information on DNA testing, and just for fun, door prizes and children's activities.
Before you go
The first source for tracing your family history is your family.
"The older people in your family are an invaluable source of information. It's important to interview them for a simple but sad reason: When they pass away, all their memories go with them," Castro said.
Cemeteries are another good starting point, as when Castro and her sister searched for their grandfather's grave.
"Our mother's father was killed in an accident in 1925. We didn't know where he was buried and never thought to ask our mother before she passed away," Castro said.
At one of San Francisco's oldest cemeteries, the sisters spotted the family name on several gravestones. Their grandfather was there, buried near his parents.
"We stood where our grandmother had stood, at age 22 or 23 and with three little children, when she had just lost her husband," Castro said. "It was a powerful feeling of connection."
The Family History Fair
Where: Hagen History Center, 356 W. Sixth St.
When: June 9, 1 to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Bonus: Free admission to Hagen History Center museums, noon to 5 p.m.
At Hagen History Center: What is Lafayette's connection to Erie?
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Society for Genealogical Research to offer free consultations
