How does a person of Chinese descent who doesn’t speak the ancestral language do Chinese genealogy research? Historically, keeping track of ancestry was culturally important to the Chinese, and many families created long ancestral lineages in Jiapu (家譜), a traditional ancestral family tree. Most of them are recorded in Chinese characters—some in ancient Chinese. They not only list ancestors but include parts of life stories. For their Non-Chinese speaking descendants, finding family history can be a challenge. A group of enthusiasts in the Oakland Bay area of California banded together and found the help they needed.
The Proposal and the Plan
In late May of 2019, Ron Chan walked into the Oakland California FamilySearch Center with a proposal. He had started a Chinese family history group, which met in his home, but they quickly outgrew the space. Chan had a well-organized plan, and interest was high. Would the Oakland FamilySearch Center be willing to provide space for their group to learn to do research?
The Oakland California FamilySearch Center is not your usual library with books to borrow. Created by FamilySearch, the center specializes in family history and in linking ancestors. Ralph Severson, director of the library, and Teresa Coons, the associate director, knew immediately that Chan's group would fit right in.
The first meeting of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group (BACGG) convened at the library in July that year with 48 people attending. In August 1919, David Lei, chairperson for the Chinese American Community Foundation, taught about the Chinese concept of death and historical death rituals. Publicity was by word of mouth only, but it generated so much interest that the group had to move yet again, to a larger, conference-sized room. By the end of 2019, groups of nearly 100 consistently came to monthly meetings.
The library conducted a survey to determine members’ needs and wants. Fewer than half had much experience in genealogical research, and many had none. Some members had gathered information about their families but wondered what to do with it. The library is part of the FamilySearch research network, so they knew how to help with the various needs. A volunteer at the center, Debbie Perrone, neither knew how to read nor speak Chinese. Nevertheless, she accepted the challenge to learn and teach volunteers what they needed to help the patrons and provided excellent assistance.
I Don't Speak Chinese
The majority of BACGG are American-born-Chinese and do not speak or read Chinese. Not knowing the language isn’t necessarily a barrier to doing your Chinese family history. Perrone knew that representatives at the center had taught classes on finding records in FamilySearch the Chinese way, and other classes had explained how to input Chinese characters, which the FamilySearch computer system turns into anglicized letters. Information in the system is presented in both Cantonese, Chinese, and English. Other members of the BACGG also help interpret the hanzi (汉字/漢字), Chinese characters, when needed. Information in the database is categorized not only by name but also by village and region. Attendance at Chinese genealogy classes doubled. This was more than the organizers expected.
Subgroups Formed around Similar Interests
Subgroups within the BACGG have formed around special interests and meet regularly. For example, those interested in the Chan name (the 4th most common Chinese surname in the world) met to learn about the historical and cultural contributions from the family, and also about the family lineage of the Chan clan. Every Chan from the Guangdong Province (southern China) was given more than 2,000 years of their common ancestral linage.
Other groups were interested in specific villages and areas. Members use the meetings to network and determine how they are related. Making an ancestral connection to an existing Jiapu (家譜) links them to generations extending back through centuries.
A few members have returned to their ancestral villages in China to find copies of their family jiapu. Many are adding them to the large collections already available through FamilySearch, and many more patrons use the center between times for their own research. The center now provides individual help specifically for Chinese research. Ideally, patrons call ahead to schedule appointments so that the needed specialists can be available.
It isn’t surprising that so much interest exists in the Bay area, with its large population of Chinese diaspora. The success of this organized event has generated interest in other locations as well. The Bay Area group has contacted a similar group from Southern California, and people of Chinese descent in other areas are finding help near where they live. The Oakland California FamilySearch Center has information on other Chinese research groups. They have shared their experiences with the California Genealogical Society, which can also assist with such research.
Participating in the BACGG
The BACGG hosts a website where they can share information, host Chinese research communities, and publicize meetings and seminars. Even if you don't live near the center, you can keep an eye on their community page for announcements on events and workshops, some of which are virtual and some in person.
Post-COVID classes
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Chinese research classes in the center were necessarily put on hold, but the enthusiasm for the topic never waned. The classes continued using Zoom meetings throughout the close-down. They started gathering in person in the library again in March of 2022, and the meetings continue to draw large groups both in person and online.
Visit or contact the Oakland California FamilySearch Center or its web page to participate in existing classes, to learn the principles of Chinese research, and to find out more about your ancestral lines. The collections at the Oakland center pertaining to this research continue to expand, making the search more productive. Additionally, as part of the FamilySearch Library system, they can provide access to the vast holdings of the entire system at FamilySearch.org.
Help Near You
Check the FamilySearch Library, FamilySearch Centers, and FamilySearch affiliate libraries in your area to see if similar groups have been formed near you. These centers may have individuals who can help visitors one on one with their family history and genealogy needs.
