CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Genealogical Society will present Susan Morris in the program “New Discovery of Native Peoples of San Nicholas Island in Nineteenth Center Los Angeles” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Camarillo Library Community Room, 4101 Las Posas Road, Camarillo.
A local researcher and writer, Susan Morris will discuss new research into the 1835 removal of native peoples from San Nicolas Island (the Nicoleños) and give details about their lives in the growing city of Los Angeles. The story of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island has fascinated people for generations and formed the basis for the popular children’s book, Island of the Blue Dolphins. In 1835, the Nicoleños were removed from their island home, except for one woman, who remained on the island for 18 years. In 1853, she sailed to Santa Barbara with George Nidever. Efforts were made to find people who could communicate with her, but she died seven weeks later, unable to fully share her story. New research identifies the Lone Woman’s people in Los Angeles using provincial Mexican papers, Los Angeles documents, American records, and church registers. At least five men, women, and children are confirmed or are likely to have come to Los Angeles from San Nicolas Island in 1835. One Nicoleño, a 5-year-old boy who was given the name Tomas, was alive and living on Spring Street when the Lone Woman was brought to Santa Barbara in 1853.
BIO: Susan Morris has been involved in Channel Islands research since 1987, working on archaeology, paleontology, geology, and biology projects.
2:30 P.M. WORKSHOP: AUTOGRAPH ALBUMS
Traditionally autograph albums were exchanged among friends, colleagues, and classmates to fill with poems, drawings, personal messages, small pieces of verse, and other mementos. Their modern derivations include yearbooks, friendship books, and guest books. They were particularly popular among students and young adults in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Carley and Don Worth will give a brief history of these mementos and describe their search for living members of the family of two women whose long autograph books were recently donated to So California Genealogical Society.
10:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.: VCGS DNA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP MEETING
Join us for discussion on using DNA results to further your genealogy research. Please bring your DNA User Name & Password; also bring your family tree (paper or electronic). If possible, bring your laptop, tablet or other portable devices; this will facilitate your research.
For more info visit our website: https://venturacogensoc.org