HUNTINGTON BEACH : Workshop at College on Latino Genealogy

Mimi Lozano-Holtzman has learned through genealogical research that her family lines branch throughout many regions of the Spanish-speaking world. It’s a fact that many Latinos discover as they trace their roots, she said.

Lozano-Holtzman explains: “ Somos primos --we are all cousins.”

She and fellow members of the Orange County-based Society for Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research have followed this motto since the group began three years ago to share information with and assist other Latinos researching their family histories.

“A lot has been done in the Anglo world, but we don’t have the same research materials or assistance, so we have to compile the information and write the books for our grandchildren,” said Lozano-Holtzman. “Unfortunately, much history is taught inaccurately, because we (in the Latino community) were unable to input our part.”

She said that as a result, there’s a growing interest among Latinos to learn about their heritage.

To guide amateur genealogists, the group is co-sponsoring “Buscando Nuestras Raices,” a workshop being held today at Golden West College. In Spanish, buscando nuestras raices means “searching for our roots.”

The seventh annual seminar is the brainchild of Riverside resident George Ryskamp, a nationally recognized expert in Latino genealogy and author of the book “Tracing Your Hispanic Heritage.”

This year’s workshop will offer 15 classes covering tips on investigating church and government records and presenting historical and ancestral information ranging from San Antonio to Spain’s Canary Islands.

Lyman Platt, another expert in the field, will speak about Latin American genealogy. Other speakers include Raul Guerra, who will discuss church-approved marriages between distant cousins, which was common in the early days of the Southwest, and computer specialist Timothy Law, who will discuss the latest technology in information retrieval.

Registration is $20 at the door and includes printed materials and course outlines. The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Forum II. For more information, call (714) 773-5160.