Winter in the San Ramon Valley Photo courtesy: Ted Shapas
General Meeting (On Zoom)
Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 10:00 a.m.
Melinda Kashuba
Detecting Genealogical Fraud & Fantasy
Detecting Genealogical Fraud and Fantasy explores how misinformation enters family history, from innocent mistakes to deliberate deception. Unsourced “name collecting,” fabricated pedigrees, estate scams, and mass-market heritage books have all lured researchers into false lineages. This presentation highlights notorious frauds, like Gustave Anjou, who manufactured ancestral connections for profit.
To counter these risks, genealogists can rely on the Genealogical Proof Standard, thorough documentation, and critical analysis of conflicting evidence. DNA testing, especially Y-DNA, provides a modern check against fraudulent claims. Yet new threats—such as AI-generated records—make vigilance more important than ever.
Skepticism, careful use of original sources, and adherence to ethical research practices are the best defenses against genealogical fraud, ensuring our family histories remain trustworthy and meaningful.
Melinda Kashuba is a professional genealogist and owner of Kashuba Research Services, a genealogical and historical research company. Her popular book, Walking with Your Ancestors: A Genealogist’s Guide to Using Maps and Geography, joins a long list of articles in numerous genealogical magazines and other publications. She is a Course Coordinator and faculty member at Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and a Course Coordinator at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.
Her genealogical specialties include 19th century and contemporary genealogical records in California including maps and land records. She holds a PhD in geography from the University of California, Los Angeles and taught geography for fifteen years at Shasta College. Currently she serves on the board of two nonprofit organizations in Shasta County and has over a decade of experience in community outreach, board development, and fundraising.
Melinda is a member of the National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, and the Shasta Historical Society. She served as a Registrar for two local chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She volunteers as a committee chair at the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Our General Meetings are held on Zoom and members are notified of how to connect to each meeting. The meetings are also open to the public. If you would like to attend, please email our President to request a link.
The video and handout from the October 11, 2025, Thomas MacEntee talk, Photo Organizing and Preservation: You Can Do This, is available for one month by logging into the member section of our web site.
Newsletter
Our newsletter is published monthly, except for August and December. In it you will find information on our next speaker, a summary of the last speaker's presentation, the date and location of the current month’s Special Interest Groups, educational opportunities available in the local area and on-line, a list of webinars you can access from your home computer and other timely notices of genealogical interest. You can look through this month's newsletter or browse previous issues.
Special Interest Groups
SIG Meetings Will Be Online: Most SIG groups are using Zoom to meet on-line. SIG Leaders will email call-in instructions to SIG members. To be safe, check with your SIG leader before attending any SIG meetings. Review the latest 5 events (on right side of this web page), or click right below on "View Full Listing" to see the latest 10 events.
SRVGS has had a number of Special Interest Groups over the years in addition to the seven that now meet monthly. We encourage members to start their own SIG meetings on topics they are interested in, as a way of learning by teaching. The SIGs come and go, over the years but we promote them and they are a vital part of our Society. There have been SIGs on Macintosh, Azores Research, Using Computers and the Internet, RootsMagic and more. If you are interested in a topic not currently covered please volunteer to lead the group and we will publicize and arrange a meeting time/place. Our SIG on-line sessions are a very convenient place to meet.
Danville FamilySearch Center
The Danville FamilySearch Center (DFSC) address is: 2949 Stone Valley Rd, Alamo, California 94507. The Director is Kevin Ganschow. You may call 925-209-5489 or email them.
2025 DFSC Hours:
- Monday: 10:00am - 1:00pm & 6:30pm - 9:00pm
- Tuesday: 2:00 - 5:00pm
- Wednesday: 1:00 - 4:00pm
These pay-for subscription websites are available for free, during your visit. It could save you quite a bit of money.
- 19th Century British Library Newspapers
- Alexander Street
- American Ancestors
- Ancestry Institution
- ArkivDigital
- FamNet
- Findmypast
- Fold3
- Geneanet
- Goldie May
- Irish Ancestors
- MyHeritage Library Edition
- NewspaperArchive
- Paper Trail
- Puzzilla
The DFSC needs shift volunteers to help patrons with their research. It's pretty amazing how much you know, and can help others by volunteering. So, to volunteer or if you have other questions, contact the DFSC Director Kevin Ganschow by email.
Visitors please also know that county guidelines are followed so masks are optional and the six foot rule is no longer required. Those that need to avoid climbing steps should call the center prior to coming. We will unlock the side & back gates so they can enter the building thru the back entrance. Additional information is available on the FamilySearch Wiki.
About the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) was organized in 1985 with the idea of providing resources, assistance and educational opportunities in a social environment that would allow its members to successfully research their ancestry. To fulfill these goals the society offers monthly meetings with speakers presenting topics covering various aspects of genealogical research. It publishes a monthly newsletter to keep our membership informed of the latest happenings. It offers several Special Interest Groups (SIGs), where members with common interests can meet and discuss their specific areas of research. It provides resources ranging from a large selection of reference books, conveniently kept at the Danville Public Library, to information on local genealogical libraries. It also offers classes for the beginning researcher and those interested in genetic DNA. All this is done within a community of like-minded individuals ready to encourage and assist others and to share their experience.
Facebook Page
We have a public Facebook Page where comments from club officers and visitors are made. Usually the posts are helpful genealogy tips that can be acknowledged and commented on. Join us in educating our genealogy community.
BOD Meetings
We have a Monthly Board of Directors meeting, currently via Zoom, where any member of our Society is welcome to attend. To receive a meeting invitation, please email our president at president@srvgensoc.org before the meeting. The BOD meetings begin on the 4th Tuesday of each month, at 10 a.m. and last between 1-2 hours. The BOD does not meet in August or December. Also, please see our About page for more info about our officers.
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