Author Archives: Charles Hansen

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

TPCGS will hold our monthly meeting this Tuesday, May 14th, at Bates Community College, South Campus.
6:00 pm Member Networking and Sharing6:30 – 8:30 pm Business Meeting and Program
PROGRAM: Mapping your ancestors: how geography can be an untapped resource for genealogy research. Learn how to use geography and maps to provide visual clues that will help focus research, locate property and identify lost place names. 

SPEAKER: Janet Camarata
Hope to see everyone there!
TPCGS monthly meetings are held September through June from 6 pm to 9 pm, usually at Bates Technical College, South Campus, Building E, 2201 South 78th St., Tacoma.
Guests are always welcome, so bring a friend! For more information check our website at www.tpcgs.org.
Please note that we hope to reschedule to cancelled Timelines presentation by Cyndi Ingle in the fall.

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS) will meet Friday, May 17, 2019, at the Bainbridge Island Public Library on Bainbridge Island, 1270 Madison Ave N, from 10:00a.m. – 12 noon. The topic for the BIGS Monthly Meeting will be “Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors”,  presented by Claire Smith of Massachusetts, formerly of Bainbridge Island, and one of the founding members of BIGS. We all have immigrant ancestors, whether they came in Colonial times or more recently. We’ll be looking at strategies for tracking down their places of origin, finding out whether records exist, where to find them and what they can tell you. Parking is available in the 2 library parking facilities, accessed from High School Ave and Madison Ave North. Free to members, a $5.00 donation is suggested for nonmembers. For more information go to http://www.bigenealogy.org or call 206-755-9283. BIGS is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.

Thank you! Sue ElfvingBainbridge Island Genealogical SocietyDirector of Publicity and Public Relations

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Skagit Valley Genealogical Society Monthly Educational Program:
How to Read a Cemetery

 BURLINGTON — Cemeteries are valuable resources for family historians. Gravestone markers contain clues to our ancestors’ lives. Come learn the basics of cemetery gravestone types and the mystery behind the icons on the stone. Best practices for recording cemetery inscriptions will also be discussed in preparation for a field trip to Hawthorne Cemetery in Mount Vernon for volunteers to “read” and record the gravestone inscriptions.

Join us for Skagit Valley Genealogical Society’s monthly program on Sat., May 11, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave. Admission is free and the public is invited.


GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday E-News

by Charles Hansen
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition May 2, 2019 For more information visit www.gfo.org.
Contact us at info@gfo.org or 503-963-1932. Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider


Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
Spring Seminar Attracts Many New Faces
We were positively thrilled to see so many new faces at our Spring Seminar last weekend. Thank you all for coming to hear Tony Burroughs speak about African American genealogy. Attendees liked Tony’s lessons so much, they didn’t want him to leave. And Tony was happy to stay to answer their questions, long after the lectures were done. Many people liked the new venue at the Center for Self Enhancement too. With tiered seating, there wasn’t a bad view in the house. We’d like to extend a special thanks to those who drove down from Seattle to attend both Saturday and Sunday’s seminars. Thank you for making the trip!
Top: Seattle attendees meet Tony. Bottom: Tony Burroughs signs copies of his book.
Call for Help for a Burned Genealogy Library
Last fall, the “Camp Fire” wildfire swept through Northern California, burning the Paradise Genealogical Society‘s library to the ground. Look at the photo. There’s nothing left.
The Paradise Genealogical Society Library on 14 November 2018. Photo: CalFire.
We’re trying to help them get back on their feet, and we need your help to do it. The GFO is pulling surplus books galore off our sales shelves, to send to Paradise to help them reboot their library. We need to sort them to make sure we’re not sending them a bunch of duplicates. Please help us this Sunday morning, May 5, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the GFO Library. Our weekly work party will tackle this project first, before we address any of our ongoing activities.
Free First Monday Coming … with Late Hours!
Remember, next Monday, May 6th, the GFO Library is free to everyone. No day use fees. Plus, this month we’re staying open late until 8:00 p.m. Come see what we have to help you find your ancestors.
Reminder: Keep Your Private Data Private at the Library
If you use your own personal login to access a website at the GFO Library, please be sure to log off when you are done. We don’t want someone coming to the same computer after you and accidentally messing up your family tree information stored on a site like Ancestry. Just today, we found three people signed in an hour after they left the library. Since the reminder stickers on each computer may not stand out enough, we’re offering this reminder here as well.
Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society Spring Workshop
The Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society 2019 Spring Workshop will feature Pam Vestal on Saturday, May 18th, at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. Sign-in begins at 10:00 a.m. and workshop lectures begin at 11:00 a.m. Cost of the workshop is $40.00 without lunch and $52.50 with lunch (soup, salad, roll, cookie, and beverage). Pam’s topics: ▪ Finding What You Need and Using What You Find ▪ Filling in the Stories of Our Female Ancestors ▪ Why They Left, Where They Went, Journey Tales For more information, see the full seminar description. You can also download a registration form. Or contact Georga at 541-296-2882 or georga.foster@gmail.com
Survey Results: Many Long-Ago Immigrants
Last week we asked you when your first known immigrant ancestor arrived in North America. A large majority have deep roots extending back to colonial times. ▪ 71.5 % answered 1600s. ▪ 2.8 % said they came even earlier, pre-1600. ▪ 9% said the 1700s. ▪ 15.3% said the 1800s. ▪ 1.4% said the 1900s.
New Survey: Recent Immigrant Ancestors
Last week we asked about your first ancestor to arrive in the U.S.
This week we ask about your most recent immigrants.
Take Survey
Support the GFO When You Shop Amazon!
When you shop Mother’s Day gifts at smile.amazon.com/ch/93-6026015, AmazonSmile donates to Genealogical Forum of Oregon, Inc. In fact, you can support us all year long by using that link to shop!
GFO’s Surplus Book of the Week: Kegley’s Virginia Frontier
This week we’re featuring a 786-page tome documenting the early history of Colonial Virginia. If you have Virginia roots, you may well find your ancestors named here. This is not merely a historical description of the times, it includes many lists of original Land Grant landowners and plantation owners, deed by deed, complete with locations. Kegley’s Virginia Frontier, The Beginning of the Southwest, The Roanoke of Colonial Days, 1740-1783 includes maps and illustrations.
Published by The Southwest Virginia Historical Society and written by F. B. Kegley, this is “Copy #1203 of the Second Printing of 1938.” This book is in good condition with immaculate pages, no marks of any kind inside. There are a few spots on the cover and a small separation between the back cover and the spine. Price with pick-up at GFO: $40.
Price with shipping: $50. Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy it.
Please Help! We Need a Webmaster
Do you have any background in website management? Our talented volunteer webmaster is leaving, and we need someone to take her place. Web design skills are not needed since our website provider has a template we follow. But we do have hundreds of pages on our site since we offer so many indexes and resources. These need updating when our volunteers finish each project. Please contact president@gfo.org if you have any questions or wish to volunteer. Thank you.
This week at GFO …

Saturday, May 4th
Virginia Group 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
This month, we will begin with a discussion of Native American history in North Carolina, with an emphasis on Cherokee genealogy. Then, we will move on to general research in North Carolina using resources beyond census and vital records. We’ll use examples from personal research to look at a variety of records and where to find them.

For additional information, check out the group’s blog: Virginia Roots and Vines. You can also contact group leaders Judi Scott and Carol Currency at virginia@gfo.org
German Group 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
The speaker / die Sprecherin: Mary Ebner
The topic / das Thema: “How to interpret DNA”
Bring in your chart(s) to share. You might even find a relative in the group!
Sunday, May 5th
Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
As mentioned above, we’d love to have you help us sort surplus books we plan to donate to the Paradise Genealogical Society after their devastating fire.
There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.
Monday, May 6th
GFO Free Monday 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
GFO open for free to non-members.
Wednesday, May 8th
PMUG College: Safe and Healthy Macs 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Essential strategies to keep your Mac safe and healthy. Free for GFO and PMUG members. For more info, see: https://www.pmug.org/blog/ /

WSGS Facebook Page

by Charles Hansen

Did you know WSGS has a Facebook page?? Click here: to access the page. Since the Blog digest only comes out weekly, sometimes we get notified about meetings too late to be seen by our subscribers here on the blog so I post the meeting notice on Facebook. I also share many meeting notices and other interesting articles from genealogical societies in the northwest.

Too Many E-Mails

by Charles Hansen

Two years ago I wrote about how to read this blog and any other blog without getting more E-Mails. You can read that article here. I get about 1000-1500 E-Mails a week and I really do not need to get another 100 blog posts each day added to my E-Mails, but I love reading blogs for their hints. I have a blog reader, Feedly and it works great. I have several folders for the blog posts to go to so I have a Genealogy Society Folder, A Genealogy Folder, A Google Folder, A Home & Garden Folder, A Library Folder, A Newspaper Folder (this is my busiest folder about 60 articles a day from the newspapers), A picture folder, and a couple of folders for work.

There is a Feedly app for both IOS and Android smart phones.

Many Genealogical Societies have blogs, many genealogists have a blog, they are great cousin bait. Since Google searches blogs and finds your ancestor in a blog in Texas, you can then contact that blogger and hopefully find a new cousin.

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK – 
ANCESTRY’S DNA THRU LINES
(BETA VERSION) 
Have you explored Ancestry’s new tool called ThruLines?  It’s intended to replace the old tool, DNA Circles. It displays your and your DNA matches common ancestor(s) and family lines in a more comprehensive format.

It finds connections to your DNA matches by matching persons in each other’s trees. Even if there are private trees involved, you will get these ThruLines as long as the trees are set to searchable.

One small quirk I noticed, it will falsely assume you are, for example,  a ½ 3nd cousin, if both your 2xgreat grandparents names do not match identically to those on the other person’s tree.  But all in all, it’s a fun new tool. This is the beta version and it will improve.    

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

DON’T MISS OUR SPRING SEMINAR
“Next Steps for Your DNA Test Results”
with Diahan Southard
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Fairview Christian Church
844 NE 78th St
Seattle, WA 98115
 

There is still space available for the Saturday Seminar and the Sunday afternoon workshop session. Hurry! Registrations must be received at SGS by Saturday, May 11, to order a box lunch and to avoid the $10 late registration fee.

In addition to the Saturday seminar, Diahan Southard is conducting two workshops on “Organizing Your DNA Results” at the SGS Library on Sunday, May 19. The Sunday morning session is sold out, but there are still seats available for the Sunday afternoon session, 12:00 pm-2:00 pm.  

Register for the Seminar online, or
Print out a Seminar registration brochure and mail it with a check to:
Seattle Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 15329, Seattle WA 98115-0329GiveBIG 2019


GiveBig, a 24 hour online, annual fund-raising program for non-profits in Washington State, will be held May 8, 2019. 

The Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) is an educational organization devoted exclusively to furthering genealogical research, promoting interest in family history, and preserving records. We offer one-on-one mentoring, conduct classes and seminars, compile and publish research materials, and maintain a computer-equipped, 15,000 volume library open to our members, as well as the general public, for free.

Have you attended one of our classes or seminars? Or visited our library to discover the story of your ancestors?

You can help us provide these quality programs and maintain our excellent library with your tax deductible gift on May 8th. Use the link below to donate and thank you so much for your support!

https://www.givebig2019.org/seattle-genealogical-society

#GiveBIG2019
 

SECOND SATURDAY SPEAKER SERIES
“OHIO: THE CROSSROADS OF A YOUNG NATION”
 MAY 11, 2019 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

What do Ulysses S. Grant, Thomas Edison, Paul Newman, Toni Morrison and Neil Armstrong all have in common? They were all born and raised in “The Buckeye State”, Ohio.

Ohio was part of the Old Northwest Territory and became a powerhouse throughout the 19th century. The population grew by leaps and bounds – from 42,159 at the beginning of the 19th century to 4,157,545 by 1900. Ohio was along major migration and distribution routes westward, including the Ohio River, Lake Erie, Erie Canal, National Road, Lincoln Highway and major railroad lines. With the rapidly expanding population and strategic geographic location, chances are one of your ancestors spent time or traveled through Ohio. Speaker, Heidi Mair, invites you to come learn how to find the traces of your ancestors in Ohio and explore the role Ohio played in our developing nation. SGS Family History Writing Contest II
Submissions for the SGS Family History Writing Contest II are requested!
All writers are welcomed; all stories are welcomed! Prizes will be awarded.

Submit your story by 1 July 2019 to Publication@seagensoc.org.

Here are the rules:

  1. Keep the word count under 3000 words. We will not retype your story, so make sure you send it to us in Word form. Photos enhance a story.
  2. Cite the facts, but since these are usually your family stories, there aren’t many.
  3. It is preferred that these are unpublished works. If your story has been published before, make sure you have permission to republish. Let us know name of the publication and when it was published.
  4. A committee will review all submissions and award the prizes. Some documents selected for publication will receive prizes.
  5. The committee makes all decisions and all decisions are final.
  6. If you have any questions, just let us know.  This is a great summer project!!

HELP FOR A CALIFORNIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Recently SGS became  aware of significant need at another genealogical society. The Paradise Genealogical Society of California was devastated by the “Camp Fire” in Northern California last year. That society had their own building, with a library of over 2700 titles. It was completely destroyed. To help them rebuilt, the SGS Library has offered some of its own duplicate periodicals and books. SGS has already received a donation to package and ship materials to the Paradise Society. If you have any genealogical materials you could donate to help the Paradise Genealogical Society, please bring your donations to the SGS Library and we will take care of the rest.

Paradise Genealogical Society is hoping for these types of contributions :

  • Materials pertaining to Northern California
  • Materials pertaining to all of California
  • Materials pertaining to any US state
  • General genealogical research materials

** Please no further “Source Book”, “Red Book”, or Internet books are needed 

If you have any questions or require clarification, please contact Sue Jensen, SGS Library Director, at the Library phone number: 206 522-8658 or email her at library@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org


SAVE THE DATE

“Ins and Outs of Indexes:
Keys to Unlock Probates, Deeds and More” ,
With Mary Kircher Roddy,
Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State,
LDS Factoria Church Building
4200 124th Ave SE
Bellevue, WA 98006
Monday, May 13, 7:15 pm

Doors open at 6:30 pm for all to enjoy the extensive JGSWS library’s genealogical resources. Free Wi-Fi, admission, and refreshments.  Come early to network with other attendees. Presentation starts promptly at 7:15 pm.SGS and SIGS “DNA Learning Series” ,
Mountlake Terrace Library – Sno-Isle Libraries,
23300 58th Ave W
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
6:00 pm – 7:45 pm

See the featured article in this eNews! issue for more info. For members of SGS and SIGS only. Registration required. Register by email to: sgsdnasig@gmail.com

Scheduled dates for the next two classes:

  • May 16  “yDNA & mtDNA Testing”
  • June 20  “I’ve Got My Results … Now What?”

SGS 2019 Spring Seminar,
“Next Steps for Your DNA Results”,
with Diahan Southard,
Fairview Christian School,
844 NE 78th St, Seattle, WA 98115
Saturday, May 18 ,  9:00 am – 4:00 pm

From beginner to advanced genealogist, Diahan will help you understand and help you organize your results to find those lost relatives. Topics at the seminar will be:

  • Let Your DNA Tell Your Story
  • Me and My 1,000+ DNA 4th Cousins
  • Making YDNA and mtDNApart of Your Family History
  • Three Next Steps for Your DNA Test Results

Also check out the Special Workshop on Sunday afternoon, May 19: “Organizing Your DNA Results”.

Register for the Seminar online  

 – or –

Print out a Seminar Brochure and mail your registration to: SGS, PO Box 15329, Seattle, WA 98115

          SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library will closed May 25-27 in observance of Memorial Day weekend, although the Irish and German Special Interest Groups will meet on Saturday, May 25. Note the library will also be closed on May 18, the day of our spring seminar.  

MAY

Sunday, May 4, 10:15 am -12:15 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, 
Lou Daly is leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org  Come learn about the proposed changes coming to Family Search and Family Tree.   

Sunday, May 5, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright. Q&A first hour, while focus second hour in on Genome Mate Pro.
Saturday, May 11, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, led by Reiley Kidd & Jess Ramey. Novices are welcome to join our group, as we share our knowledge of this powerful and versatile genealogy software program, and learn from each other, while having fun at the same time.  Join us, and bring your questions!   

Saturday, May 11, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Second Saturday Speakers Series – “Ohio: The Crossroads of a Young Nation” with Heidi Mair 

Thursday, May 16, 6:00 pm-7:45 pm, DNA Learning Series Class 2: “yDNA & mtDNA Testing”,  with Cary Bright and Craig K Gowen. This series is for current members of the Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) and the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society (SIGS) only. Free advance registration is required for each class.  These classes will be held at the Mountlake Terrace – Sno-Isle Libraries, 23300 58th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043. To register, email : sgsdnasig@gmail.com

Saturday, May 18, The SGS Library will be closed so all SGS volunteers may attend the SGS 2019 Spring Seminar at Fairview Christian School.

Sunday, May 19, the SGS Library will be closed for two special events – pre-registration required.   

Saturday, May 25, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, Irish Special Interest Group,  with Jean Roth Saturday, May 25, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German Special Interest Group,  with Jean Roth