Author Archives: Charles Hansen

Genealogical Forum Closes Until April 1

by Charles Hansen
GFO Closes Library Until April
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is immediately closing its library in Portland until April 1. We will re-evaluate that status later based on how the coronavirus progresses in our community. In addition, here is a full summary of all GFO Events canceled and rescheduled: ▪ Canceled Special Interest Group meetings and Volunteer Work Parties. ▪ Canceled GenTalk about PERSI on March 21. ▪ Rescheduled the free Genealogy Open House to Sept. 25-Oct. 4. ▪ Rescheduled the DNA Seminar with Karen Stanbary to August 8-9. Tonight the Multnomah County Library system announced it is closing all branches immediately. An epidemiologist I’ve personally consulted believes we should do the same. A majority of the GFO Executive Committee has agreed we should do the same. We need to control the contagion. If closing our library to the public helps to “flatten the curve,” as epidemiologists say, then we want to play our part.
Vince Patton
GFO President
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 1946 which exists to promote, preserve and publish genealogical history.
The GFO operates the largest genealogy library in the Pacific Northwest and offers more than 150 classes each year.

Seattle Genealogical Society Cancellations

by Charles Hansen
March 13, 2020  Notice – Seattle’s 2020 Irish Festival has been CANCELED. That includes all festival activities at Seattle Center Armory on Saturday,
March 14, and Sunday, March 15, as well as the Saturday, March 21 Irish Genealogy Workshop “Putting the Gene in Genealogy” that was to take place at Fairview Christian School in Seattle. Reminder – the SGS board decided to close the SGS Library physical facility at 6200 Sand Point and to cancel all meetings and gatherings of our membership held there until 30 March 2020. The facility is not being closed due to any known contamination, but rather as a pro-active move to avoid possible person-to-person transmission of the virus. Many organizations may be canceling their activities. It would be prudent to check with organizers on the status of an event before heading out. The Seattle Genealogical Society recommends you check our website or watch your email in-box for the eNews! for status updates on our events.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday 2020 E-News

by Charles Hansen
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition March 12, 2020
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
Coronavirus Impacts: Open House, Seminar, SIGS, GenTalk
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is actively monitoring communications from local, state and federal authorities about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Today, Oregon Governor Kate Brown instructed all groups in the state to cancel events hosting 10 people or more in high risk populations. Older adults are considered high risk. A large percentage of our members and SIG participants are older. Therefore, we have taken these actions: Canceled Special Interest Group meetings.
Canceled GenTalk about PERSI on March 21.
Rescheduled the Open House to Sept. 25-Oct. 4.
Rescheduled the DNA Seminar with Karen Stanbary to August 8-9. Those who have registered for the seminar remain registered for the future dates. All registered attendees will receive a direct email about refunds if they need them.
Courtesy Tri-Met The library typically attracts a minimal number of people and we believe it can remain open for the time being. At the GFO library, we are using disinfecting wipes on keyboards, mice, desktops, chair backs, and door handles multiple times a day. You can help keep us all healthy too. The Centers for Disease Control has some basic, effective prevention steps: ▪ If you or anyone in your household has a cough or feels sick, stay home. ▪ Cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand. ▪ If you do cough or sneeze into a tissue, wash your hands immediately for 60 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Please observe the steps in the following videos, released by the WHO, that provide instructions on how to properly wash your hands and disinfect your hands with sanitizer. It’s easy to forget to cough into your elbow, but it’s really important not to cover your mouth with your hand (and then touch surfaces others will touch), or worse, to cough out into the air. Experts say washing hands really does prevent epidemics. Let’s work together to keep all of us healthy.
Membership Meeting Will Happen March 21 in Much Smaller Form
Our bylaws require an annual Membership Meeting in March to finalize the ballot for the election of the Board. Given the circumstances, we are not asking you to attend. We are arranging just enough people to come as the bylaws require a nomination for Director at Large be made from the floor. This is the meeting at which the ballot for the upcoming Board election is finalized. We have a willing candidate for each of the three positions open this year: President, Secretary, and Director at Large.
Hall of Fame Nominations Sought
It’s time for GFO Hall of Fame Nominations! Any GFO member may nominate another member by April 1. Nominees must have a well-documented history of service, leadership, and accomplishment in more than one facet of the GFO, over a long period of time. Please include: ▪ Name, list of services, activities, positions, and accomplishments; ▪ A narrative describing the nature of their work in terms of its importance to the success of the GFO; ▪ A short biography. Please send to secretary@gfo.org by April 1. The board will decide if any merit selection. Winners are awarded in June and receive a free Life Membership and their name on our Hall of Fame plaque.
Have a Fun Genealogy Story? Share it with our Insider
We’re looking for stories for the May 2020 Insider issue at this time, and we need your help. What we’re looking for: genealogy and history- centric articles, tips, resources, ideas, serendipity stories, techniques, events, etc. Please email insider@gfo.org by April 4th to get your news and items of interest into May’s issue. Again, submissions are due by April 4th, please.
News from the Library
New Digital Content ▪ Berks of Old ▪ Craig Links ▪ Edgar Newsletter ▪ Francisco Researcher [Francisco surname and variations] ▪ San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society, Inc. [bulletin]. New Books ▪ The Blows of yesteryear: an American saga ▪ Genealogies of Hadley families: embracing the early settlers of the towns of Hatfield, South Hadley, Amherst and Granby ▪ Painter families ▪ The Descendants of Peter and Margaret Rankin: from Kilsyth, Scotland ▪ Stratton notes ▪ Monumental inscriptions of the parish church of St. Mary, Oakley: (Part only) ▪ Who was Ann Gregg ▪ Colonial tavern keepers of Maryland and Delaware, 1634-1776 ▪ Chesapeake and Ohio Canal: a guide to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland, District of Columbia, and West Virginia ▪ The Civil War in Fairfax County: civilians and soldiers ▪ Communities of kinship: antebellum families and the settlement of the cotton frontier ▪ A guide to researching land in Oklahoma at the Oklahoma Historical Society. ▪ Genealogical research guide to Reno County, Kansas ▪ Hughes County history ▪ Ghost towns and historical haunts in Arizona: Stories and photos ▪ Baker County [Oregon] links to the past ▪ Camp Polk Cemetery, 1880-1999 ▪ Monmouth, Oregon: the saga of a small American town ▪ Collected memories: Umatilla Tales from the past: pioneer stories of the lower Willamette Valley
Surplus Book: New York Buildings Before 1800
This week’s surplus book has a truly self-explanatory title: Historic Buildings Now Standing In New York Which Were Erected Prior To Eighteen Hundred. However, the “now” in that title is a bit dated, because this book was printed in 1914. This is a fun piece of pictorial New York history with photos on almost every page, accompanied by descriptions of the truly old buildings of New York.
It’s a thin volume, 45 pages, and its cover is a bit tattered, its spine taped to keep it intact. Pages inside are crisp and as vibrant as when they were printed.
This booklet contains library marks and a label. Price for pickup at the GFO: $18
Price to ship to you: $24 If you’re interested, please contact booksales@gfo.org.
Survey Results:
Last week, we provided a list of research locations and asked what percentage of respondents had been there. Respondents were allowed to select more than one answer, and the percentages have been rounded. 75% Family History Library (Salt Lake City, Utah)
61% National Archives (Washington, DC)
32% NEHGS Library and Archives (Boston, MA)
32% National Archives (other locations)
25% DAR National Library
21% Allen County Public Library (Ft. Wayne, Indiana)
11% Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, Missouri) Many of the respondents wanted to go to the places in the survey again. But here are the places mentioned that were not listed above: ▪ Musselman Library in Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania ▪ National Records of Scotland to research my Scottish connections ▪ New York State Archives ▪ Fayetteville Arkansas Archives and the Fayetteville Library ▪ The Newberry Library was a good one. ▪ Richmond Virginia it was a treasure trove of Virginia history. They have a fantastic archive. ▪ I’ve also visited the Oregon State Archives and the Minnesota Historical Society Library ▪ Indian and Colonial Research Center, Connecticut. A hidden gem with an amazing resources for a researcher with extensive CT and RI ties as well as Indian ancestors. ▪ University of Washington Libraries. ▪ Anything in England, now that I know where we came from. ▪ Tennessee State Archives ▪ I want to go to New England, so pretty much any library or archive there. ▪ The Fiske Library in Seattle because it is relatively nearby and I have never been there.
New Survey: Newspapers
Newspapers can be a great resource. This week, we’re asking if they’ve helped you solve any genealogical puzzles.
Take the Survey Now
This week at GFO …
Sunday, March 15th
Library Work Party – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
We’ll be working to digitize more periodicals while we have fun chatting about genealogy. We will make sure everyone sits three feet apart, in accordance with state recommendations.
French Canada Group CANCELED Per Governor’s Instruction.
The group leader is Bob LaMarche. FrCan@gfo.org
Wednesday, March 18th
DNA Q&A – CANCELED Per Governor’s Instruction
Leader: Lisa McCullough dna_qa@gfo.org
GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

Corona Virus Cancellations

by Charles Hansen

I have been trying to keep up with all the Corona Virus Cancellations here, but this blog is really not a great place to post them, because the majority of people get the once a week digest, and so I have also been posting all the cancellations I have gotten on the Washington State Genealogical Society FaceBook page as soon as I get the notice, so check there for the most up to date list of cancellations.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Seminar Postponed

by Charles Hansen

The EWGS Seminar scheduled for April 4th has been postponed till May 2nd.  If you have already paid and can not make the May date you can get a refund, or the money carries over for the May Seminar.
Saturday, May 2
Enhancing Your Genealogy Repertoire  (Seminar) 9:30 pm to 3:30 pm Prince of Peace Lutheran – 8441 N Indian Trail Rd. Spokane, WA 99208       

  ********RAFFLE********DOOR PRIZES********LUNCH********   Seminar Classes:  

#1  Researching Is Child’s Play with Barbara Brazington

#2  Census with Lynda Keenan

#3  Ancestry DNA and Thru-Lines with Janice Moerschel

#4  DNA Painter with Lynda Keenan  

Handouts will be on the Home page of the website for attendees to print their own.   LUNCH:  Taco Bar catered by Becky’s Catering   COST: $25.00 (includes lunch) for members           

$30.00 (includes lunch) for non-members           

$30.00 at the door (lunch not guaranteed)  

Doors open at 9:00 am   Payment methods will be listed on the website soon!

Seattle Genealogical Society Closure News

by Charles Hansen
March 10, 2020 

Dear SGS members, friends and sponsors,

As you know Seattle is the country’s epicenter of the Covid-19 virus outbreak. All experts urge those who are vulnerable due to older age or with compromised immune systems to stay at home.  While not all of our SGS friends fall into these categories, many do.

Yesterday, at our monthly Board meeting, which was held virtually, we decided to close the physical facility at 6200 Sand Point and to cancel all meetings and gatherings of our members held there until 30 March 2020. The facility is not being closed due to any known contamination, but rather as a pro-active move to avoid possible person-to-person transmission of the virus. The Board will meet on 23 March to reassess the situation and we will let you know when this policy changes.

Our ability to help with your family history has not stopped, however!  Here are a few things we will be doing in the next few weeks of this shutdown to reach out to you and help with your genealogy:
  The eNews! will be issued more frequently in order to keep you apprised of the situation; inform you of new online resources; and outline upcoming online opportunities. Thanks to Deb Klein, our editor! We are postponing all meetings and volunteer events held at the Society at least until 30 March.This includes all Special Interest Groups (SIGS), SGS Writer’s Group, our Second Saturday (and quarterly meeting) session, the Centennial Planning Kick-off meeting and any volunteer work at the desk or for the Library. The events will be rescheduled. We are NOT cancelling SGS sponsored events which are held at off site locations, e.g. “Digging Deeper: Researching Women’s History” (UW) by LIsa Oberg.  This event and its potential closure will be decided by the institutions or individuals who run them. If it is held, it is your decision whether you attend or not. At the Board meeting today, the Board approved the slate of officers and authorized SGS to inform the members of the slate via eNews! on 15 March. We have several openings still unfilled; if you know of someone who might be good to fill the position, please let us know.  We will contact that person and see if they are willing to serve before placing them on the ballot. The ballot will go to the members electronically on 31 March. Note: There will also be a couple of by-law issues that we ask for your consideration. These were missed last year. Don’t forget that we have two Facebook pages “Seattle Genealogical Society and Library” and “Seattle Genealogical Society Networking.” The former is generally for announcements and the latter is for asking your research questions. If you get stuck with your research you can also always request help through the FB page or by submitting a research request through the website. SGS will ramp up its online offerings during this period that our physical facility is closed.  Watch your eNews! for the link to join the presentations by Heidi Mair and me.  We will soon be announcing 2 new online courses–“Genealogy Basics & Beyond,” and “DNA by the Numbers.”. Stay tuned for registration information. The online offerings will use Zoom as the meeting platform, the same as we use for our Board meetings. Zoom is very easy to use…click on the link provided for the class or the meeting, click positively through the question and you’re in! 
We certainly hope that you are safe and well. Our thanks go out to the scientists at the UW, Fred Hutch, the CDC and other institutions who are working overtime to tame this beast.  In the meantime—have you washed your hands recently?

Thanks so much for your support of SGS.

Jill Morelli, CG
Seattle Genealogical Society, President