The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society’s upcoming program, Finding Your Roots in Mexico, will help individuals with Mexican ancestry learn how to explore their heritage through Mexican church records dating back more than 300 years.
Community members are invited to the free talk, featuring genealogist John P. Schmal, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 at First Presbyterian Church at 21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara.
Schmal, who has expertise in the genealogical research and Indigenous history of several Mexican states, will guide attendees through the process of accessing Mexican ancestral records online, and offer insights on how to effectively use this information.
These records are filled with rich details that are often unavailable in other countries’ genealogical archives and are readily accessible online, according to the Genealogical Society.
Schmal will conduct sample searches in the FamilySearch.org catalog, equipping participants with practical skills to explore their Mexican heritage.
Attendees can arrive at 9:30 a.m. for refreshments, and meet with the society’s Special Interest Groups to chat about genealogy topics and browse books for sale. There will be a short business meeting at 10:30 a.m., followed by Schmal’s presentation.
The business meeting and Schmal’s talk will also be available via Zoom; register at sbgen.org to attend online.
Schmal is an historian, genealogist and lecturer. He attended Loyola-Marymount University in Los Angeles and St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, where he studied geography, history and earth sciences and received two BA degrees.
Since the early 1990s, the focus of his genealogical research has been on the Indigenous history of Mexican states, particularly Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Jalisco and Guanajuato. In recent years, he has become skilled in tracing the lineages of the California Mission Indians.
Schmal is a recipient of the 2018 Conference of California Historical Societies Award of Merit in the Scholarship Award. He was recognized for his “proliferate historic studies in the area of Mexican, Mexican-American and indigenous research.”
He is a lifetime honorary member of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America-Southern California and a board member of the Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research.
Schmal manages IndigenousMexico.org, a resource for historical and census information about the Indigenous people of Mexico, including presentations and historical articles about 31 of Mexico’s 32 states.
For more about the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society, membership benefits, events, presentations, or to become a member, visit sbgen.org. Annual memberships start at $40.