Perhaps no other social medium spurred more people towards genealogy than the epic miniseries “Roots.” It is the story of the life of Kunta Kinte, a man captured in Africa and sold into slavery. The 1977 miniseries followed Kinte's descendants to the present. "Roots" might make good family viewing during the holidays.

California is a vast state, rich in history, making research a challenge.

"Once the home of more than 70 distinct ethnic groups, California's indigenous population was decimated by European and Asian diseases introduced by new colonizers. California has been governed by Spain, Mexico, and most recently by the United States. Alta California was annexed by the United States in 1848, just before gold was discovered there. Statehood was granted in 1850. New populations in the 19th century included Russian, Chinese, Europeans, U.S. citizens, and Japanese. Industries include agriculture, entertainment, technology, aerospace, and more. The population has boomed throughout the 19th and 20th centuries," writes Library of Congress staff on its Research Guide for Local History & Genealogy page. 

Check out the Library of Congress guide for some excellent resources and strategies for researching in our Golden State.