Author Archives: Charles Hansen

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA SIG July 2025

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA Special Interest Group Meeting
Tuesday, July 29, Starting at 7:00 pm via Zoom

We will discuss anything to do with DNA. No plan, so whatever questions you might have.

Download: 1745378587_DNASIGMeetingInvite.pdf

Calendar reminder: TPCGS DNA Special Interest Group Meeting

Every month on the Fourth Tuesday beginning at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYqdeyrrz0iEtx-c_J3gNfcI8mebT1zajLo/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqTkvGdWTuBGPRpwQB4joZ-nzmCFHj7dF0RzaKXNUTAX1H7pPN7BLQcLR

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82725316888?pwd=MDc3UEZrUVJNbmxmK2ZORmw5YzdDdz09

Meeting ID: 827 2531 6888
Passcode: 811780

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,82725316888#,,,,*811780# US
+12532158782,,82725316888#,,,,*811780# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 827 2531 6888
Passcode: 811780

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kIKCyZLQy

Clark County Genealogical Society Surplus Book for Sale

by Charles Hansen

The Clark County Genealogical Society (CCGS) announces a searchable list of surplus books for sale on our website. You may also download a pdf of available titles. All books are on display in our library.

There are two ways to purchase a book.

In person: purchase from a Librarian at the CCGS Library with cash or a check.

By mail: contact Denise Erkkila at denisee@ccgswa.org to determine book availability and total cost (book, sales tax, USPS postage). Payment is by check only.

We hope you take a look and find something that will support your research!

Please come and visit our library in Vancouver, WA. The library is open from 10 am to 3 pm, Tuesday through Friday, and from 11 am to 3 pm on the second Saturday of each month.

Questions? Call 360-750-5688 or send an email to info@ccgswa.org.

Clark County Genealogical Society

3205 NE 52nd Street

Vancouver, WA 98663

Website: https://www.ccgs-wa.org/

Heritage Quest Research Library Educational Classes

by Charles Hansen
Please Join Us for our educational classes to learn more about researching your family roots! (offered online via Zoom and in person at HQRL)
Thursday, July 24, 2025 11am to 12pm PDT
Introducing American Ancestors
This program introduces the viewer to American Ancestors – who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. With a focus on what is available to virtual viewers, this program talks about navigating our website, exploring our databases, finding subject guides, research templates and more. Our online accessible collections cover a wide range of genealogical records from the 17th to 21st century and span geographic locaƟons from New England, the rest of the United States, as well as Canada and Europe. Our services include online courses, Ancestry, our tree platform, online chat as well as Research for hire. Join this program to learn how American Ancestors can help you accomplish your genealogy goals.  Claire Vail Claire Vail has twenty years of experience as a digital marketing and content strategist for high-profile institutions in higher education, publishing, and media. Before joining American Ancestors, she was Director of Web Communications at Tufts University, where she oversaw the implementation of large-scale website redesign and content management implementation projects for several Schools, including the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Claire has a master’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University and a second master’s in English literature from the University of Delaware, with a concentration in eighteenth century British and American studies. Her ancestry is Northern Italian (though Ancestry insists she’s actually French and German), British and Irish. Her interest in family history stems from finding her great grandmother’s name on a ship manifest from Palermo, a single line that listed her as “housewife” and “illiterate.” Claire is hoping to continue researching her ancestry back as far as possible, and to visit Udine, the town in the Friuli region of Northern Italy, to meet her cousins and learn more from them about the family. CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP  

NARA records in Seattle – more than

just the census

August 7, 2025, THURSDAY

11am to 12pm PDT

LEARN MORE HERE!

Means, Motive, & Opportunity: The Sad Saga of George Richards

Sept. 4, 2025

11am to 12pm PDT

LEARN MORE HERE!

USA 250

by Charles Hansen

Fri, Jul 18 at 1:11 PM

 

Will your organization be a part of Washington’s America250 commemoration?
  Next year is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. To mark this event we are striving to plan a commemoration that will help all Washingtonians feel more connected to their history.
Here are several ways that your organization can join us in creating a once in a generation opportunity for communities to come together to reflect on our shared past and imagine a future rooted in the common good.
 
Become an Official Partner
It’s FREE and includes the following benefits: Your organization and a link to your website on our partners page; Ability to submit events and activities to our statewide calendar (coming soon); Use of the official Washington State America’s 250th logo and related materials; Access to templates, toolkits, and support to help you plan activities; Monthly partner newsletter with ideas, tips, and suggestions; Updates about special events and activities. JOIN HERE   Out of Many One
Participate in Out of Many, One
Out of Many, One is a coordinated exploration of the American experience through objects, images, and artwork from across Washington State. Museums are invited to partner with their communities to identify and exhibit an object, image, or artwork from their collection that reflects the American experience. The program is designed to help participating organizations engage with the public on Washington’s America250 themes, generate enthusiasm for local history, and broaden their audiences for future programming. You can learn more about this initiative HERE.
Use the link below to let us know if your organization is planning to participate in Out of Many, One!INTEREST FORM    
Host the Moments that Made US Exhibit
Moments That Made US is a FREE, customizable, print-on-demand exhibition exploring the ideals at the heart of the Declaration of Independence through moments in our history that have defined their meaning. It does so in a user-friendly format that organizations can adapt, afford, and make their own. Learn more about the exhibit HERE.
If your organization is considering using this resource as part of your America250 activities, please indicate your interest at the link below!
INTEREST FORM    
“The Washington State Historical Society partners with our communities to explore how history connects us all.”

Seattle Genealogical Society Presidents Message

by Charles Hansen
15 July 2025      Dear SGS Members,

What are you doing for your genealogy this summer?  Here are few ideas.
Join our Vice President at the SGS Library tomorrow (6pm, Wed July 16) for research!
Sign into seagensoc.org as a member and watch one of the great recorded videos of a presentation you missed?
Visit a cemetery or a historical society you’ve never been to before.  
Renew your SGS membership because your forgot to a few months ago?
Talk to your elders or cousins to add family details to what you already know.
Join our SGS Facebook Networking group for questions and conversation?
Spend a few hours organizing your files?
Review our Special Interest Groups and join a new one?
I just finished a big genealogy project and am planning a new one.  I will research my second great grandfather’s brother, who was one of Seattle’s earliest inhabitants.  He had no children who lived to adulthood, so he has no direct descendants to tell his story. 

We have some surprises for you that we are working on at SGS.   For one, our SGS logo at the top of this message may be new to you. This logo lost its gold years ago due to concerns over the costs of yellow ink.  The Board is re-introducing it because there is no ink to purchase for delivering this message!

Have a great genealogy-filled summer!




Kathy Weber
President of the Board
president@seagensoc.org
King Co WA 4-Culture LogoVisit our website at seagensoc.org.
Seattle Genealogical Society is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization registered in the state of Washington. Tax ID #91-0850085.  Copyright © 2025 Seattle Genealogical Society, All rights reserved.
All SGS members have been automatically signed up for this e-letter.

Our library and mailing address is:
Seattle Genealogical Society
4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 302
Seattle, WA 98103-6955

Heritage Quest Research Library Introducing American Ancestors

by Charles Hansen
Introducing AMERICAN ANCESTORS This program introduces the viewer to American Ancestors – who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. 
With a focus on what is available to virtual viewers, this program talks about navigating our website, exploring our databases, finding subject guides, research templates and more.  Our online accessible collections cover a wide range of genealogical records from the 17th to 21st century and span geographic locations from New England, the rest of the United States, as well as Canada and Europe. Our services include online courses, AncesTrees -our tree platform, online chat as well as Research for hire. Join this program to learn how American Ancestors can help you accomplish your genealogical goals. 
Claire Vail has twenty years of experience as a digital marketing and content strategist for high-profile institutions in higher education, publishing, and media. 
Her interest in family history stems from finding her great grandmother’s name on a ship manifest from Polermo, a single line that listed her as “housewife” and “illiterate.”
Claire is hoping to continue researching her ancestry back as far as possible.  When:
Thursday July 24, 2025
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where:
ZOOM & Limited in-person (8)

Cost:
$20 members/$25 non-members  Sign up & Payment:
ZOOM
Go to hqrl.com and click on the HQRL Store
sign in as a member to receive the discount
In-Person (8 only)
Call HQRL at 253-863-1806
or 
come into the library located at
2102 E Main, Ste 105, Puyallup WA 98372 Upcoming classes:
August 7, 2025 
“The records housed by NARA at Seattle
More than just the Census!” 
With Eric Flores
September 4, 2025
“Means, Motive, & Opportunity:
The Sad Saga of George Richards”
with Jean Wilcox Hibben, PHD, MA
Copyright © 2025 Heritage Quest Research Library, All rights reserved.
You have told us that you want to receive our news and updates from our library.

Our mailing address is:
Heritage Quest Research LIbrary
2102 East Main Suite 105
Puyallup, WA98372-3205

Bible Rescue

by Charles Hansen

My name is Joseph Kerry and I’m reaching out on behalf of Bible Rescue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing family Bibles—Bibles that contain handwritten genealogical records, personal notes, or family history.

These Bibles are more than religious texts—they are irreplaceable historical artifacts that tell the story of generations. Unfortunately, many are lost through estate sales, discarded in downsizing, or left in storage. Our mission is to recover these Bibles, preserve the records inside, and reconnect them with living descendants or provide them with a new, respectful home.

We’re currently inviting organizations like yours to partner with us in this effort. If you come across family Bibles—or if your members have any they’d like to donate—we would be honored to receive them. We can often reimburse shipping costs (especially via USPS Media Mail), and we make every effort to preserve both the physical book and the stories within. We will also let you know when the family Bible has found a new home.

You can learn more about us and search our growing online database at biblerescue.org

Please feel free to share this opportunity with your members, staff, or community. If you have any questions please let me know.

Thank you for the important work you do in preserving history. We’d love to partner with you to ensure that these family treasures are not lost to time.

Warm regards,
Joseph Kerry
Bible Rescue
M 610.329.1244
E   joe@biblerescue.org
W biblerescue.org

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Mystery Book Club July 2025

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Mystery Book Club
Saturday, July 19, 2025 starting at 4:00 pm via Zoom

Please join us as we discuss a fictional genealogical book, The Famous DAR Murder Mystery by Graham Landrum.
More information at:
Amazon: The Famous DAR Murder Mystery

This book may also be available in print from various book stores.

TPCGS Book Club Zoom Meeting
Every month on the Third Sat beginning at 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUkfuCqrzgsG9RrrhNAdU65Lz86P0s92mu1/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGppzIjGNWWthiHRpwcHYr4XerzmHZdjfpvjg3tLQFXV1WjGvgaZIIvA4GC

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81999213610?pwd=Qkk2WFZTZ2Rzdzc1Z0szN1AzdEZCUT09
Meeting ID: 819 9921 3610
Passcode: 479394

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,81999213610#,,,,*479394# US
+12532158782,,81999213610#,,,,*479394# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 819 9921 3610
Passcode: 479394

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keibNHDdyf

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Chat July 2025

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Genealogy Chat Meeting
Tuesday, July 15, 2025, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Please join us and let’s chat!

Discussion starter topic: Open Discussion- Idea Sharing

This is a monthly opportunity to connect with others and talk about anything and everything genealogical. The value of this meeting increases with the participation of each person that attends and contributes to the conversations. This is your chance to celebrate the breaking down of a brick wall in your research, or ask questions of others that can help you find records or relatives. Everyone, members and guests are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate.

Meeting invite with links in file attached below.

Date & Time: Every month on the Third Tue, from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMldOCprTsqGtSoVglOBTElUaBRgTq5IEgI/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvpjgjG9eVsBmHRpwEGojCXevztmJfjbdukyniDw9xVib6A-NgALVLAY35

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87839130000?pwd=dGdHY2wrZ0d1bDNRTEQ4Uk15OVk0Zz09
Meeting ID: 878 3913 0000
Passcode: 836216

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,87839130000#,,,,*836216# US
+12532158782,,87839130000#,,,,*836216# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 878 3913 0000
Passcode: 836216

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdesX0el3t

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society The Celtic Arts Foundation Genealogy 101

by Charles Hansen



Have you always wanted to do your genealogy but did not know where to start? The Skagit Valley Genealogical Society has the class for you…SVGS, in conjunction with the Celtic Arts Foundation, presents Genealogy 101, a two-hour course on the basics of family history research, Saturday July 26, 2025. Choose either the morning (9-11am) or afternoon (1-3pm) class. This is SVGS’s 2025 fundraiser, tickets are $15, go to https://www.celticarts.org/event/genealogy-101 for tickets.