Coastal Bend Genealogical Society

02/20/2026

Join us for our March 2026 Coastal Bend Genealogical Society Meeting!

📅 Saturday, March 14
🕙 10:00 AM
📍 3700 Ocean Drive

CBGS President Erika Cornejo will present:
“A Hidden Piece of South Texas History: Los Parajitos Cemetery”

Our own CBGS president, Erika Cornejo, will present her latest research on Los Parajitos Cemetery. A hidden piece of South Texas history located in Hidalgo County. The land traces back to the 1790 Llano Grande Land Grant. Other key events: 1904 irrigation development, 1909 floods, 1915 ranch burnings, and a notable burial of an unmarked grave of Isidro Casares, a mason/baker from Linares, Nuevo León, whose bricks helped build local landmarks like the Our Lady of Mercy Church in Mercedes, Texas.

We look forward to seeing members and guests there!

📧 For more information: coastalbendgs@gmail.com

01/27/2026

📍 January 10 CBGS Meeting Highlights

As January comes to an end, we wish to highlight our January 10 Coastal Bend Genealogical Society meeting, members enjoyed a fascinating presentation by Dr. Vickie Natale, who shared how AI tools can enhance genealogy research and open new doors for family history discoveries 🤖🧬.

Also pictured is member Charlie Bass, holding one of the volumes from his extensive collection on Royal European lineages titled Royal Ancestry, which he generously offered to share with fellow members whose research may benefit from it. Joining them is CBGS President Erika Cornejo.

Thank you to everyone who made this meeting informative and collaborative. We love seeing members support one another in their research!

01/10/2026

CBGS Meeting, Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 10 AM at 3700 Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi, Texas. Join us!

📣 Meeting Spotlight!**

We’re excited to welcome one of our own members, Dr. Vickie Natale, as our upcoming January speaker!

Dr. Natale has turned her passion for lifelong learning towards genealogy. She has explored DNA genetic genealogy and has learned how to integrate Artificial Intelligence as a powerful new tool for family history research.

🧬🤖 Dr. Natale will share how AI tools can enhance your genealogy pursuits.

Bring an ancestor’s name, approximate dates, and location—and discover what AI can help uncover!

We hope to see you there!

12/29/2025

📣 Meeting Spotlight!**

We’re excited to welcome one of our own members, Dr. Vickie Natale, as our upcoming January speaker!

Dr. Natale has turned her passion for lifelong learning towards genealogy. She has explored DNA genetic genealogy and has learned how to integrate Artificial Intelligence as a powerful new tool for family history research.

🧬🤖 Dr. Natale will share how AI tools can enhance your genealogy pursuits.

Bring an ancestor’s name, approximate dates, and location—and discover what AI can help uncover!

We hope to see you there!

11/11/2025

In case you missed our presenter this past weekend, don't worry; we recorded our speaker, Mr. Herb Canales, who shared a wealth of knowledge about our local Corpus Christi history while also tying it in to genealogy by mentioning the families of influential early Spanish explorers. Check it out!

11/03/2025

For generations, the story has been repeated: Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda named Corpus Christi Bay in 1519.

But here’s the twist — there is no documentation to support that claim.

Herb Canales will present a compelling program that revisits this long-accepted narrative. Using historical maps and research, Herb explores a new and highly credible source for the origin of the name Corpus Christi Bay.

🗓️ Join us for our November Meeting: Saturday, November 8th at 10:00 AM
📍 Location: 3700 Ocean Drive

Join us for a fascinating journey through maps, archives, and forgotten history!

10/15/2025

Happening this week!

🗂️ Discover Your Roots!

Join our friends at La Retama Central Library for the Annual Genealogy Lock-In this Friday, October 17, 9 AM– 7 PM.

Spend the day learning from genealogy experts, exploring your family history, and connecting with others who share your passion for the past. Free and open to all!

For those who cannot attend in person, a virtual option will be available by contacting the library at 361-826-7000 in advance.

📍 805 Comanche St. | ☎️ (361) 826-7000

10/12/2025

Check this out!

Join the free 24th annual Genealogy Lock-In on Oct. 17 at Corpus Christi's La Retama Central Library for expert workshops on family history research.

10/06/2025

📣 Join us for the 24th Annual Genealogy Lock-In!

The Genealogy Network of Texas will present 8 live-streamed webinars featuring genealogy experts and the latest research topics.

📅 Friday, October 17, 2025
🕘 All Day Event starting at 9:00 am - 6:30 pm
📍 La Retama Central Library – La Retama Room
805 Comanche St, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

The Genealogy Lock-In brings together researchers, beginners, and heritage organizations for a full day of free genealogy education, resources, and community. Hosted in partnership with over 75 libraries across Texas, Waco is proud to be the lead location for this hybrid event.

You can attend in person at La Retama Central Library or join online from anywhere!
To register, go to:

Please join us for the 24th Annual Genealogy Lock-In! It's a full day of speakers, research help, information about local resources, and door prizes. Doors open at 8:30 AM....

09/30/2025

✨ Thank You to Our Speaker! ✨

The Coastal Bend Genealogical Society extends our gratitude to Dr. Cecilia Gutierrez Venable, Director of Archives for the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, for presenting at our September meeting on Saturday, September 13.

Her engaging presentation on “The Murphys” shed light on the remarkable legacy of John Bernard Murphy and Margaret Mary Healy Murphy, and the impact they made in South Texas history.
We’re so appreciative of the knowledge and perspective Dr. Venable shared with us! 👏📚
Stay connected with CBGS for details about our upcoming meetings and speaker series.
Learn more about the Canonization of Margaret Mary Healy-Murphy at https://shsp.org/history

09/29/2025

🎬✨ SPECIAL FREE EVENT – TEXAS PREMIERE ✨🎬
The Love Letters of Ulysses S. Grant

📅 Friday, October 3, 2025
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Art Museum of South Texas
1902 N Shoreline Blvd

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating a powerful piece of South Texas history that began right here in Corpus Christi! 🌊

This two-hour film shares the deeply personal love letters written by a young Ulysses S. Grant to his fiancée Julia Dent while stationed in Corpus Christi in 1845. These intimate words reveal a tender side of the future Civil War general and U.S. president, a man longing for love and peace amid the uncertainty of war.

⭐️ Don’t miss this Texas Premiere featuring special appearances by the film’s director and the actor who portrayed Grant!

✅ Free & open to the public as part of October’s First Friday Art Walk.
⚠️ Seating is limited — arrive early to secure your spot!

👉 Mark your calendars and join us for this historic evening.

09/06/2025

More information on next Saturday's meeting presentation: The Murphys

The subject of the September 13, 2025, CBGS meeting will be the Murphys, presented by Cecilia Gutierrez Venable. John Bernard Murphy and his wife, Margaret Mary (Healy) Murphy, were an exceptional couple who left their mark on Texas. The couple emigrated from Ireland during the famine. Margaret became one of the pioneers of Nuecestown when she bought land from H. L. Kinney. She taught in San Patricio and Corpus Christi. J. B. Murphy edited a newspaper, became a merchant, studied law, and dabbled in land speculation. He served in several positions, including as a delegate to the 1875 Texas Constitutional Convention, and eventually became Mayor of Corpus Christi. He died in his second term. His widow opened two hospitals in Corpus Christi. A year after JB’s death, Margaret closed her hospitals and moved to San Antonio, where she built the first Catholic Church for African Americans and later a school. To help find teachers for the school, she started an order of Sisters and brought women from Ireland to join her order.

Cecilia Gutierrez Venable is the director of archives for the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate. She resides in Adkins, TX, near San Antonio. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at El Paso, and her M.A. and B.A. in history from Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi. Cecilia has worked in university, city, county, and private archives and has taught history classes. She is also the author of numerous books and scholarly articles.

This is sure to be a wonderful meeting…please plan to attend!