Glen Holstein holds a PhD from U.C. Davis and is retired from a career as a consulting landscape ecologist. While his professional career primarily concerned the geography of plants and animals, Glen also has a strong interest in patterns of human movements across landscapes, which is the geography of genealogy.

 

Many of our ancestors were part of groups that left homelands at particular times and moved together to specific regions in America. For example, many people left Ireland during a blight that destroyed their potato crop and then moved to American places where they could make a living without growing potatoes. About the same time political upheavals caused many Germans to settle in quite different American regions. Such migrations are just two of many that will be discussed.

Together, they are the geography of genealogy. Your ancestors are part of this geography. (Please note, there are no handouts for this presentation. The talk includes many map slides. A bibliography of the books from which the maps and  content of the presentation were procured will be provided)

 

Join Librarian and Archivist Myles Cooper for a presentation exploring the rich history of the Mechanics' Institute, a San Francisco institution since 1854. Beyond its current role as a vibrant Library, Chess Room, and cultural center, the Institute played a significant role in the city's 19th-century development through its renowned Mechanics' Industrial Fairs.

This presentation will focus on these grand fairs, showcasing the burgeoning industries of the era, and will feature unique photographic treasures from its Archives. Discover:

• Images of the fairs and grounds captured by Mechanics' Institute member and motion-picture pioneer, Eadweard Muybridge.

• Early San Francisco views in Carleton Watkins' Daguerreotype stereoviews.

• Mid-20th-century architectural photography by Pirkle Jones, commissioned for the Institute's centennial.

Learn how these remarkable photographs, alongside our Special Collections and Archives, provide a window into San Francisco's past, revealing connections to figures such as Andrew Smith Hallidie and Levi Strauss. We will also discuss how Mechanics' Institute continues to preserve and share its cultural heritage, facilitating discovery for researchers and ensuring its legacy for future generations.