Author Archives: Charles Hansen

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

22 March 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 February 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!

GFO Star – Nanci Remington
 

Nanci deserves recognition for again doing a splendid job of organizing GFO’s Open House.

She arranged the speakers, kept the calendar, managed the handouts, taught classes, and this year, she filled in for speakers who had to cancel – one at the last minute.

She is a Research Assistant, co-chairs the Manuscript Committee, writes many articles for the Bulletin, and she is the one to answer most of the messages sent to info@gfo.org.

Thank you, Nanci, for all you do for the GFO!

Don’t Miss GFO’s Spring Seminar!
 

How can you prove your ancestors fought in the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War or World War I?

Come hear one of the most engaging national experts in military records at the GFO’s Spring Seminar April 14 & 15.

We’re bringing Michael Strauss in for two great days of lessons.
Sign Me Up

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Heraldry Learning Offer !

by Charles Hansen

Dear Family Historians,

Janette and I are long-standing members of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society and over the years we have compiled seven books on the history of our families.  One of those books dealt with the heraldry of my ancestors.

Recently I prepared a presentation on what I learned about heraldry at one of our society’s annual workshops.  The focus of this presentation was, of course, all about heraldry, but also how the genealogist/family historian might be able to use heraldry to learn more about their ancestors.  I use many examples from a ten-year search of my ancestors’ crests and coats of arms and what the many images, forms, and colors mean.

We are offering to share this presentation with other family history/genealogy-based societies and groups.  It is easily one hour or longer in length depending on interest and questions and I bring along our own overhead projector.

We are willing to travel up to 200 miles from Spokane to share information on this exciting topic and there is no fee.   A two-page summary is provided on request.

Please contact me if there is interest.

Anthony (Tony) Birch

12230 S. Gwendolyn Lane

Cheney, WA 99004-8533

509-448-4847

da3mj4@gmail.com

Yakima Valley Genealogy Society Spring Seminar

by Charles Hansen

The Yakima Valley Genealogy Society is holding its annual Spring Seminar Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Mt. Olive Church, 7809 Tieton Drive in Yakima. Registration information is available on line. The seminar will feature noted genealogist Thomas W. Jones. His presentation topics will be Finding Unfindable Ancestors, Five Proven Techniques for Finding Your Ancestor’s European Origin, Five Ways to Prove Who Your Ancestor Was, Solving the Mystery of the Disappearing ancestor. Cost is $40.00 for YVGS Members or $45.00 for non members or on-site registration 8:30 – 9:am. Lunch will be included. See the YVGS website for form. Call 509-248-1328 for further information.

Tri-City Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

by Charles Hansen

TCGS has a new way for members to ask questions about general genealogical topics.  If you have a general question or topic of interest that you would like to see addressed there are a couple ways to submit it.  At our monthly meetings a container and note cards will be placed in the back of the room.  Simply write your question on the card and put it in the box.  If you would like a direct reply, please put your name and contact information on the card.  You can also submit by sending an email to tcgseducation@gmail.com.  (Read the blog article for more details.)

Today’s question:

“How do I get a legal birth certificate when an adoption was sealed?  I have proof that both the biological and adoptive parents are deceased?”

Click on the link at the top of the email to read more…
Heather Murphy
TCGS Education Chair

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Last summer Cheryl Elder, Maureen MacDonald and I spent four wonderful delightful days at the Fiske Genealogy Library under the helpful hands of Gary Zimmerman. One of the things he offered to us was a tour of the upper floors of the Fiske Library building…….where the various pioneer organizations house their treasures. These photo are of things in that upstairs museum room:

Did you ever (or, lucky you, do you today) get to sleep in a bed like this? Keep in mind that while it’s huge and grand, it’s only a small-ish double bed. Bet you wouldn’t like that.

Share your memories of “Grandma’s Feather Bed?”  (Thank you, John Denver.)

Tri-City Genealogical Society Family History Discovery Day

by Charles Hansen

Family History Discovery Day – Free Workshop on Genealogy
 
March 24th: 9:00 a.m. – Noon
LDS Church on Jadwin Street in Richland next to the Diary Queen and across Uptown Richland or behind the Family History Center
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. – Opening Session – Keynote Speaker (Be a Part of the Miracles)
Workshops:
9:40 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.
DNA: A Taste of Genetic Genealogy by Margie Beldin
                               or
Uploading Memories by Aaron Allen
10:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
Amazing Resources at the Family History Center by Richard Allen
                              or
We’ve Only Just Begun – For Beginners by John Dearing
11:20 a.m. to Noon
Writing Stories & Personal Histories by Maureen Briscoe
                              or
Fun & Engaging Ideas to Involve Family in Family History by Kristie McShane
Note that TCGS will have a table/display in the Gym along with other displays. There will be a Coaches Corner for individual help and one on one teaching concerning descendancy.
(If you would like to volunteer at our booth for 30 minutes, an hour or more, please let me know.  Our table will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Art Kelly (summerfest.44@gmail.com or 943-9322)

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Some tombstone inscriptions from the 18th century that I found in a book on Rattray Parish, Perthshire, Scotland: This one was 1754.

“Remember man impartial fate knocks at the cottage and the palace gate.

Life’s span forbids these to extend thy cares and stretch thy hopes beyond thy years.

Night soon will seize and you must go to frightful ghosts and dismal shades below.”

 

“Not gone from memory nor from love

but to our Father’s home above.”

 

“We loved them much, we loved them well.

We loved them more than tongue can tell.

God loved them too and thought it best

To take them home with Him to rest.”

 

Have you given any thought to what thoughts/words you’d want inscribed onto your tombstone?

Puget Sound Genealogical Society March Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Puget Sound Genealogical Society

Wednesday March 28, 1pm – 2p.m.
Class will be held at: Kitsap Regional Library, 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton
BEYOND ‘OUTLANDER’: Researching Your Scottish and English Ancestry
with Claudia Breland: Trace your Scottish and English ancestors using the
top record types and online databasis as well as records not online.
No registration necessary.
Jackie Horton, Publicity Chairperson

Monday’s Mystery

by Charles Hansen

Today’s mystery is a universal mystery for most people including most all genealogy people.

WHY DON’T WE REGULARLY AND PROPERLY BACK UP OUR PROGRAMS AND FILES AND DOCUMENTS AND AND AND AND………………………….. WHY DO WE NOT?????

Do you do regular computer backups? WHY? What motivates YOU to complete this vital research step??

I really would like to hear from all of you with your good reasons, bad reasons and whinnings.

Okay. We know we should back up our everything but we don’t for perhaps one or more of these reasons:

  1.  It won’t happen to me. (Yah, sure.)
  2.  I don’t know how. (You can/should learn how.)
  3.  I think it happens automatically. (If you’ve set it up that way, yes.)
  4.  There are so many choices and methods that I’m overwhelmed. (Start at the beginning and learn.)
  5.  There is nothing that important on my computer. (Your genealogy files aren’t important??)
  6.  These backup plans cost too much. (How much is your genealogy worth to you?)
  7.  Just didn’t realize I should. (You been living under a rock?)

I just asked Grandma Google (who knows and happily tells all) for this phrase: “how to backup your computer.” There were 807,000 hits in 0.63 seconds. Would surely be the same when you talk to Grandma Google. Do you think that amidst those 807,000 hits that there are some tutorials for you? Answers for you?

I agree, 807,000 hits to explore is way too overwhelming. I do have a life and so do you. So skip through those 807,000 listings and pick a few that look the best to you……perhaps by companies or speakers or bloggers that you trust.

If all else fails, ask these two questions at your next genealogy gathering:  (1) What back up plan do you use on your computer?  (2) Will you teach me?

It’s “only” your life’s work, right?

Or maybe share with me how this sharp poke in the tail motivated you to action. Great.