 EXPLORE GENETIC GENEALOGY IN SIX-MONTH STUDY GROUP Book Study Group to Start in January 2027 Join us for a six-month DNA book study group exploring The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, Second Edition (2019), by Blaine T. Bettinger. This study group offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of genetic genealogy through independent reading and discussion with fellow genealogists. The book begins with foundational concepts before moving into more complex applications of DNA in genealogical research. Participants will read approximately two chapters each month and meet online to discuss key concepts, ask questions, and explore how to apply DNA tools and techniques to their family history research. The group will be led by Ceil Rogers, a former SGS Director of Education who has taught beginning genealogy courses and leads several of the Society’s Special Interest Groups. Rogers brings her experience facilitating genealogical learning and discussion to this collaborative study group. When: Third Monday of each month, January–June 2027, 7:00–8:00 p.m. Pacific Time Dates: January 18, February 15, March 15, April 19, May 17, and June 21 Where: Online via Zoom Cost: $20 for SGS members / $40 for nonmembers (includes all six sessions) Book: The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, Second Edition, by Blaine T. Bettinger (2019) Participants will need their own copy of the book and should complete the assigned reading before each session.Learn More and Registerphoto courtesy David Iskander / Unsplash, montage by Sheyna Watkins  SGS SEMINAR MOVES TO JANUARYSGS Fall Seminar, November 7Fall Seminar previously schedule for Nov. 7 has been rescheduled as a Winter Seminar on Saturday, Jan. 30. Registration will open soon. Check website for latest information.graphic by Sheyna Watkins SGS GRANTS COORDINATOR LAUDED Volunteer of the Summer Quarter: Gail Thompson  Gail Thompson Gail Thompson has been selected as the Volunteer of the Quarter for Summer 2026. Thompson is a mostly retired anthropologist with a love of research into documents and maps in libraries and archives, which came with learning about Native American uses of land and resources in the Pacific Northwest. She has been a member of SGS for several years where she now serves as Grants Coordinator. Thompson considers herself to be an experienced beginner in genealogical research, which she has used in past anthropological work, along with helping her family and friends learn about their history. Her mother’s Illinois German ancestors and her father’s southern states English farmers and workers stimulated her interest in family history. Thompson was pleased to solve a nagging problem in her family tree when she saw an 1850s South Carolina newspaper article stating that her great uncle married a woman who’s first and last names were identical to those of one of his sisters. Thompson enjoys ongoing research in anthropological and historical sources to prepare journal articles but also likes cooking and baking, gardening, and reading.Thompson managed and worked in the Seattle office of Historical Research Associates, Inc., where she spent part of her time learning about marketing and proposal preparation. She appreciates the fine work that Jim Secan and others have done to fund SGS’s work and hopes that her grants’ work will help the Society expand funding sources to sustain the mission and promote members’ projects. Thompson appreciates 4Culture’s support of SGS and the agency’s goals of supporting King County’s diverse ethnic populations seeking equity in their genealogical and historical work. She is depending on SGS members to collaborate on noticing grant opportunities, help preparing applications to public agencies and private foundations, and give talks and pursue various means to support other societies in our local area. VOLUNTEER NEEDED: HELP PRESERVE HISTORICAL CROCKETT DOCUMENTS Volunteer Needed: Help Preserve Historical Crockett Documents The Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) Journal Team is seeking a volunteer to visit the Washington State Historical Society Research Center in Tacoma and photograph original historical documents relating to the Crockett family. The Research Center has graciously offered to make the original records available for examination and photography in its Reading Room. The documents are housed in three archival boxes (67 pages). Visit Details: Location: Washington State Historical Society Research Center, Tacoma, Washington Days: Wednesdays or Thursdays, by appointment (coordinated with Lily Woodard at the Research Center) Hours: 1:00–4:00 p.m. Records: Three archival boxes containing historical Crockett documents (67 pages) Photography: Volunteers may use their cell phone cameras to photograph the documents Photocopies: Up to 25 free photocopies available We are looking for someone who enjoys historical or genealogical research and is comfortable using a cell phone camera to take clear, readable photographs of original documents. A professional camera is not necessary. Previous archival research experience would be helpful but is not required. Your assistance would help the Seattle Genealogical Society obtain images of original historical records for research and potential publication. If you live near Tacoma or are willing to make the trip, we would greatly appreciate your help! Interested in volunteering? Please contact Laura Sandidge, Editor of the SGS Journal Team, at SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org for additional information and coordination. EVENING RESEARCH HOURSWednesday, Nov. 19, 6–8 p.m.Come by the SGS Library every 3rd Wednesday of the month for a quiet, comfortable place to work on your genealogy research. Library visiters can use books, maps, digital materials, subscription databases, computers, wireless internet and scanning equipment while working in the library. Learn more about the resources available on the SGS website. YOU’D LOOK GOOD IN A SPEAKERS’ BUREAUAre you good at developing programs? We want to build a more robust program for our Volunteers. We want people to be able to raise their hand, contribute based on their skills and their time, and feel appreciated by our community. We need to design a volunteer *matchmaking* service that can facilitate helping volunteers find that good fit. If you can help SGS consider this task, please contact Kathy Weber at president@seagensoc.org. SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658 Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. ** Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. Meeting content is for personal genealogy learning and may not be recorded or transcribed. All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch Users Group, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, Nov. 9, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Publishing SGS Journal, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m., NEW SIG! Legacy Family Tree SIG, Legacy Family Tree users of all experience levels are welcome. Topics may include creating reports, using tags, cleaning up location lists, addressing duplicates, and other questions, tips, and suggestions. Register on the SGS website. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Sheyna Watkins at sgsWriteItUpSIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, Nov. 21 2026, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research. View SGS calendar for details on joining this group. Saturday, Nov. 21 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), Get information and help with your Germanic-area research. Register on the SGS website. Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Mexican SIG (Virtual), Share information and discuss Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, and Hispanic genealogical research. Email Diane Hughes-Hart at SGSMexSIG@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, Nov. 30, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch Users Group, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. Sunday, Dec 6, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. Wednesday, Dec 9, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list. Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Publishing SGS Journal, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. Monday, Dec. 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, Dec. 14, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link. Check the calendar on the SGS website for the most recent dates and times and for additional events as they are added. OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND “Revolutionary Choices: Exploring Loyalist and Patriot Roots at 250 years,” with Kathryn Lake Hogan Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Thursday, Nov. 12, 9:45 a.m. Learn more and register. “Effective Search Strategies on FamilySearch,” with: Dana Palmer Eastside Genealogical Society Thursday, Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m Learn tricks to find your elusive ancestors in the historical records on FamilySearch as well as Dana’s favorite searching tricks using the historical records part of FamilySearch. Learn more and register. Fiske Library Fall Programs Fiske Genealogical Library Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon Check out the fall lineup of Weekly Wednesday programs at the Fiske Genealogical Library! For detailed event information see the Fiske Genealogical Library. Learn more and register. Nov. 4: “Free Land: Homesteading on the Frontier,” with Tina Beaird Nov. 11: “Navigating Ancestral Arrivals: A Genealogist’s Treasure Map to Immigration Records,” with Lisa Vogele Nov. 18: Shaky Leaf Syndrome: “Using Website Generated Hints More Effectively,” with Sara Cochran TIP OF THE WEEK — USE AI TO GENERATE NAME VARIANTS By Susan Aumaier A missing ancestor might not be missing. The name may simply have been recorded—or indexed—differently.AI can help you generate name variations to try in your own searches.Instead of asking:“Find Jeremiah Lynch in Virginia.”Try:“I’m searching for Jeremiah Lynch in Virginia records between 1780 and 1820. Generate a list of possible variants for his given name and surname, including spelling and phonetic variations, nicknames, abbreviations, and variants caused by difficult handwriting, transcription, or indexing errors. Include spellings that might result from a clerk recording the name as it sounded. These are search possibilities only; don’t assume they refer to the same person. “Important Note: If your ancestor was an immigrant, add the country of origin and ask AI to include original-language forms, Anglicized versions, and spellings an English-speaking clerk might have used.Review the list, then try promising variants in genealogy databases, newspapers, archive catalogs, and indexes. Use wildcards when the database permits them.The goal isn’t for AI to determine the “correct” spelling or identify your ancestor. It’s to expand your search beyond the name you already know.Remember, AI is a research assistant, not a genealogical source. Its suggestions are possibilities to investigate, not evidence. Verify record availability and examine the records yourself. Join SGS Today* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page. DONATE TO SGSYour donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org. | |
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