Author Archives: Charles Hansen

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK –
FAMILYSEARCH COMMUNITY RESEARCH GROUPS

Here’s another great educational opportunity from the folks at FamilySearch.

It has recently created a new tool for you to get genealogical research help in the comfort of your own home. So if you can’t make it to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, use the area groups within the online community to find the research help that you need. And of course, it’s free! You do need to join FamilySearch, but that is free also.

Come get involved and make the research groups more valuable for everyone! Find answers, post questions, browse, find or create or join a group, help others.

Get help – you can:

  • ask questions
  • upload documents and get help with translation
  • participate in discussions
  • learn about upcoming webinars
  • discover new resources

Give help – share your knowledge and skills:

  • answer questions
  • translate documents for others
  • share new resources

There are numerous community research groups in three main categories:

  • International Research Groups – from Albania to Zimbabwe
  • North American Research Groups – Alabama to Wyoming
  • Specialty Research Groups – 23andMe Newbies to The Nextgen Genealogy Network

For more information about how to sign up and use the site, see this link:
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/FamilySearch_Genealogy_Research_Groups

 

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

IT’S SPRING, A TIME OF RENEWAL 

The SGS membership year runs from June 1 to May 31 so it’s nearing that time to renew your membership, or join SGS for the first time!

We will be mailing out renewal forms later in May, but why not “go paperless” and take care of your membership online right now? You can pay your dues online with a credit/debit card. Or, if paperless isn’t quite your thing, just print out your emailed invoice and mail it to SGS with a check. Here’s the link to our new online membership form:

https://goo.gl/forms/lPfxs8CVDDAYTwgi2

Are you an eNews! reader who hasn’t joined SGS yet? Annual dues are $40.00 individual, $50.00 dual (two individuals at the same mailing address).

As soon as you join, you’ll be eligible for free or discounted rates for our seminars, online and offline classes, and access to SGS databases. You’ll receive our bi-annual online publication “Journal of the Seattle Genealogical Society”. You’ll learn along with other members in our special interest groups and Second Saturday programs. You’ll have opportunities to volunteer, helping others as an indexer, librarian, receptionist, instructor, and family history researcher.

Most of all, you’ll be supporting a 95-year-young, all-volunteer organization, dedicated to maintaining a public research library, preserving records, and providing educational opportunities for all in our community. So click that link up above and join SGS today!

THE SGS 2018 SPRING SEMINAR – MAY 19TH

Don’t miss the SGS 2018 Spring Seminar, “Family History: What the Future Holds”. Glimpse the future of family history through changes in technology, research methods, and other community developments.

  1. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS is a nationally known and recognized genealogical author, lecturer, and researcher and a frequent speaker at family history events across the globe. We are pleased to have him as our seminar speaker and he will be covering the following topics:
  • Beyond Belief: The Wealth of Genealogical and Historical Societies
  • Bridging the Gap: Finding Ancestors in the United States Between 1780 and 1830
  • Successful Searching Online: Clustering for Genealogists
  • New Tools and Ideas in Research

To register online:
https://goo.gl/forms/YpXYtA6cJH8MPSgQ2
SAVE THE DATES

​

SGS 2018 Spring Seminar, 
“Family History: What the Future Holds”, 
with D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS
Fairview Christian School,
844 NE 78th St,
Seattle, WA
Saturday, May 19, 2018 

Glimpse the future of family history through changes in technology, research methods, and other community developments

  1. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS is a nationally known and recognized genealogical author, lecturer, and researcher and a frequent speaker at family history events across the globe.

Clark County Genealogical Society Conference and
Washington State Genealogical Society Annual Awards,
Vancouver, WA 98551
(360) 750-5688
May 25-27, 2018 

Events run May 25-27th, with the Conference on the 26th. Out-of-towners, notice there is a special conference rate at the local Hilton.

2018 Northwest Genealogy Conference,
Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society,
Byrnes Performing Arts Center,
18821 Crown Ridge Blvd,
Arlington, WA
August 15 – 18, 2018  

As usual, the first day of this four day conference is designed for beginners and is free (registration required).

Days 2-4 will be packed full of lectures and activities, such as post a surname on the “Cousin Board”; have fun connecting with other attendees you may be related to. On Friday, participate in the optional  “Dress As Your Ancestor”  day to honor your heritage.

Keynote speakers will be Beth Foulk, CeCe Moore, Peggy Lauritzen, and Amie Bowser Tennant.

For more details and to register, visit their website:
https://stillygen.org/cpage.php?pt=50
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 be closed the day of our Spring Seminar, May 19.  On May 20th the library  is reserved for those attending the ticketed special sessions associated with the seminar and it will be closed to others.

MAY

Thursday, May 17, 12:00 pm – 1:30pm, Online Intro to DNA for Genealogy – Part 2, Karin Borgerson will be the instructor of this 3 part interactive online class series. Cost for the 3 class series is $30 for SGS Members, $40 for non-members.  Registration required.

Saturday, May 19 , 9:00am-4:00pm , Spring Seminar with D. Joshua Taylor, seminar will be at Fairview Christian Church, 844 NE 78th St, Seattle.  See the featured article above and the SGS website for more details.

Sunday, May 20, 9:00 am, Special Session #1 “Treasures in the Archives: Using Archive Grid” with D. Joshua Taylor,  separate registration and fees apply – see the seminar brochure – there is a waiting list for this session.
Sunday, May 20, 10:30 am, Special Session #2 “Building Context and Making Connections: Using JSTOR for Family History” with D. Joshua Taylor,  separate registration and fees apply – see the seminar brochure – there is a waiting list for this session.

Thursday, May 24, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, Online Intro to DNA for Genealogy – Part 3, Karin Borgerson will be the instructor of this 3 part interactive online class series. Cost for the 3 class series is $30 for SGS Members, $40 for non-members.  Registration required.

JUNE

Saturday, June 2, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Canadian SIG, Come join David Robert, group leader, for help researching your Canadian ancestors.

Saturday, June 2, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org
Saturday, June 9, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, leaders Reiley Kidd & Jess Ramsey, this will be the last meeting before this group breaks for the summer.

Sunday, June 10, 1:30pm – 3:30pm, Scandinavian IG, with Karin Knudson

Saturday, June 16, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean A Roth
Saturday, June 16, 01:00pm – 3:00pm, German SIG, with Jean A Roth

Sunday, June 17, closed for Father’s Day

Saturday, June 23, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm,  SGS General Membership Meeting, speaker TBD
Saturday, June 30, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm,  DNA SIG,  this group meets at the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle. Co-chaired by Cary Bright and Herb McDaniel. For more information contact SGSDNASIG@gmail

 

Jefferson County Genealogical Society’s Special-event

by Charles Hansen

CeCe Moore, the renowned genetic genealogicst and media consultant, will be the Jefferson County Genealogical Society’s special-event guest speaker on Saturday, November 10, 2018. She will give four DNA lectures in Fort Worden State Park’s USO building; two lectures in the morning beginning at 9:30 a.m. and two lectures in the afternoon. Details and registration form are on our website www.wajcgs.org.

Puget Sound Genealogical Society Webinar

by Charles Hansen

Puget Sound Genealogical Society

Saturday, May 26, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Class held at Kitsap Regional Library  1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton
WEBINAR: TAP INTO YOUR INNER PRIVATE EYE
with Lisa Louise Cooke: Learn techniques to find elusive living
relatives who may hold the key to your brick wall or possess
treasured family  photos.
Registration is required: call (360)475-9172
Jackie Horton, Publicity Chairperson

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Tomorrow, May 16th, is the birthday of my only granddaughter, Aleena Christine. We live 300 miles apart and don’t get to hug nearly often enough. Here she is about age 10:

My purpose here today is not to brag, but to tell you about a something project I’ve done for each of my grandchildren. I wrote up my memories of “The Day You Were Born.” For instance, she was born in the middle of the night, in a very nighttime-quiet hospital, and both of us grandmas were blessed to hear her first HOLLER echoing loudly down the hall right after she was born. Now don’t you think she’ll want to know that someday??? I just wrote what each family member was doing that day, and especially what Gramps and I were doing in eager welcoming anticipation of her arrival. I happily pass the idea on to you all.

Monday Mystery

by Charles Hansen

If I were to ask you, “Ever heard of Frenchtown…..and where is it?” What would be your answer………… I said Frenchtown, Montana, just west of Missoula, when Margie Beldin asked me this question. “Nope,” she said, “Frenchtown near Walla Walla!”   WHAT??

Here’s the story summary: The French Canadian voyageurs travel throughout Canada and then down into the Pacific Northwest. As decades passed, and as they intermarried with local women, they did establish “Frenchtowns” or at least that was the designation given to these settlements.

It’s a forgotten bit of Northwest history that there was such a settlement just off Hwy 12 near the mouth of the Walla Walla River was established about 1824. The settlers in this area retained “their French Canadian character with their architectural forms, land division patterns and Roman Catholic religion.”

Margie Beldin, who has French Canadian ancestry, will give a presentation (in costume!) on this forgotten bit of Northwest history to the TCGS (Tri City Genealogical Society) meeting in October. Can’t wait!

**The quote is from www.historylink.org, the website for Washington history; an essay by Stephen B. Emerson posted in 2008.

Lower Columbia Genealogical Society June Meeting

by Charles Hansen

CEMETERY RESEARCH

varies greatly, and to learn how to approach it, we look forward to having LAUREL SMITH, President of the GENEALOGICAL FORUM OF OREGON, to share her experience with us.

LOWER COLUMBIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walcolgs/

SOMERSET RETIREMENT APARTMENTS

2025 TIBBETTS DRIVE, LONGVIEW

DINING ROOM 7:00 PM

June 14, 2018

VISITORS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen
GFO Logo Halo 2 Large

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

10 May 2018

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for May 2018, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” > “Our Publications” menu at www.gfo.org.

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
***

Votes Counted: New Board Elected
ballot-box-1359527 640

The election for GFO’s Board has concluded and the votes have been counted.
* Vince Patton is the new President.
* Geoff Smith will be Secretary.
* Anne Wheeler returns as Director at Large.
* Marti Dell is the Endowment Committee Chair.

The new term for these officers begins July 1.
***

$500 Challenge: Will Genealogy Problem Solvers Win The Prize?
GPS Logo

Another of GFO’s members has submitted a genealogical puzzle for our experts to try and solve!

This time, however, our inquiring member has offered GFO a $500 donation prize if the Genealogy Problem Solvers can crack the case!

Join us for this free presentation on May 19th, and marvel at the research wonders of experts Harold Hinds, Kristin Parks, Duane Funk, and Tom O’Brien.

Will the problem solvers be able to demolish the brick wall? Will GFO get the $500 donation?

Attend the GPS meeting on Saturday, May 19th at 9:30am to find out!
***

Mexican Ancestry Group Meets Friday, May 11th, 11:30am
Mexican Ancestry SIG

The next Mexican Ancestry meeting will consist of finding records of border crossings, people from Mexico entering into the U.S. through entry ports such as Eagle Pass and El Paso Texas, Nogales, Arizona, San Isidro, California, and many others.

Official record keeping began in 1906 and information taken at the port of entry varied from state to state. We’ll take a look at what records are available through the Family Search website.

These records also tie in with naturalization records for Mexican Americans. Within the naturalization records is a wealth of detailed information such as the port of entry, place of birth, last foreign residence, and more.

The Genealogical Society of Hispanic America – Southern California has a four volume set of books for sale through its website, “Naturalizations of Mexican Americans” by John P. Schmal. Over 1,200 extractions are included in these four volumes. The leader of this free Special Interest Group will bring Volume 1 to share with the group.

Questions? Send a note to the group leader, Vince Ramirez at sw@gfo.org.
***

GFO Needs You! Bulletin Editor & Membership Assistant
GFO Needs You

This is important. The current Editor is finishing up her last Bulletin.
We need your help to keep the Bulletin publishing.

As with every organization, we are soon to lose some of our most valuable volunteers to retirement.

We’re currently in need of a Managing Editor for our quarterly publication, The Bulletin. The good news is, we have a substantial stockpile of articles so this will give the next Editor a big help before they begin.
Also, we need an assistant for our Membership Committee Chair. Have a couple of hours to spare each month? Please help us keep membership records up to date. Training provided.

Email volunteer@gfo.org if interested!
***

Students’ Coin Drive Saves Oregon Constitution
Oregon Constitution 2

Read all about how a group of Oregon students and other citizens helped the State Archivists preserve the state’s constitutional document.

This completely inspiring article, complete with pictures and videos, can be read and experienced HERE.
***

Join this Saturday’s Cemetery Clean Up Crew
Cemetery

Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery needs enthusiastic volunteers for this upcoming event.

Saturday, May 12th, 2018 is Oregon Cemetery Clean Up Day.

They need as many volunteers as possible to help spruce up Lone Fir for spring as part of this state-wide effort!

The shift runs from 10:00am to noon, and the duties include picking up debris and weeding around headstones. Tools, training, and snacks will be provided.

The more hands we have the more fun! This is a cooperative project between Friends of Lone Fir, METRO, and SOLVE.

To sign up for this opportunity please fill out the form here.
***

In The Next Week at GFO…
desk-calendar-12992149

FRIDAY, May 11th

Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30am – 1:30pm

This meeting of the Mexican Ancestry group will consist of finding records of border crossings, people from Mexico entering into the U.S. through entry ports such as Eagle Pass and El Paso Texas, Nogales Arizona, San Ysidro California, and many other ports.

If you know of any other people interested in Hispanic genealogy tell them about the up and coming group. They don’t have to be a GFO member to participate.

For questions or comments, please email Vince at sw@gfo.org.

SATURDAY, May 12th

Great Lakes Region Group 9:30 – 11:30am

At this meeting, we will look at the Ohio River as a major regional transit corridor. At this meeting, Judi Scott’s recent presentation on orphan trains, a genealogy visit to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and ancestor’s puzzling move from Bohemia to Minnesota. You are invited to bring stories about your family and research in the Great Lakes Region. Questions? Contact Lynn at GreatLakes@gfo.org.

Writers’ Forum 1 – 3pm

This is a peer group of genealogists, who meet to learn about writing and to share our writing with each other. Peggy Baldwin facilitates this group and can be reached at peggyrbaldwin@gmail.com or 503-916-9410.

SUNDAY, May 13th

Maps Work Party 9am – Noon

We are planning to continue working on on our collection of maps on the second Sunday of the month from 9:00am until noon or whenever. Come when you can. Doris Cruickshank is our map project coordinator.

WEDNESDAY, May 16th

Learn & Chat 10am – Noon

At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jean Quan.

DNA Q&A 1 – 3pm

Lisa McCullough leads a discussion on various DNA related subjects, with each meeting focused on a particular subject. General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. Questions? Send a note to Lisa McCull at dna_lm@gfo.org.