Author Archives: Charles Hansen

Foundation for Eastern European Family History Studies Virtual Conference

by Charles Hansen

On behalf of the Foundation for Eastern European Family History Studies (FEEFHS), I’m reaching out to share information about our upcoming virtual conference, taking place August 6–8, 2025. We hope this may be of interest to your members, and we’d be grateful if you’d consider sharing it in your social media or newsletter channels. 

We’re currently offering an early bird registration discount for anyone who registers before July 6th. I’ve attached an image below with more information that you’re welcome to use.

If you or your members have any questions about the conference, please feel free to reach out. And if your society has any upcoming events or announcements that might be relevant to our audience, we’d love to feature you in our social media or newsletter as well.

Thank you for your continued work in the field of genealogy!

Warm regards,
Emma Ruddy

FEEFHS Board Member

CONTACT: ruddy.genealogist@gmail.com

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG July 2025

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting
Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm virtual via Zoom

This is our monthly meeting to share tips & tricks, problems & solutions. Sometimes we will watch videos or share our screens to aid in learning more about using Legacy Family Tree software.

Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the learning. If you are just thinking about trying Legacy for the first time, you’ve been using it for a year or two or you are an old pro with many years of experience using Legacy this is the group for you. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them in.

We look forward to meeting with you, every month on the First Tuesday at 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Download: Meeting invite with Links

Meeting Invite with Links in file attached below:

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

Monthly Calendar Reminder: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYpfuyuqDovHNwtBgxtQjWKOjDQ8k5Q9bPD/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqjIvHNKUtR-PRpwQBor4Z-7wpn5Ygo1KiD3iGzRiaDTdGehmA-p0RemJ

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82495661568?pwd=dy85YmluVzF5aEU4SzFTcTUrVDlTUT09

Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568
Passcode: 715731

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,82495661568#,,,,*715731# US
+12532158782,,82495661568#,,,,*715731# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568
Passcode: 715731

Find your local number:
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcphK19I1E

Washington State Library Closing to the Public

by Charles Hansen

I just wanted to send out a quick email and let you know that the Washington State Library will be closed to the public starting July 1, 2025. My position as the Genealogy Services and Newspaper Librarian has been eliminated. For more information, please see this press release and article:

Washington State Library’s Research Library, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library Closed to Public Due to Budget Shortfall

Washington State Library closing to the public, 12 jobs getting axed

Items will still be available through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), so if you need a newspaper on microfilm or a book from our Northwest Collection, please go to your local library and request the item through ILL.

The LibGuides will still be available.

Newspapers of Washington State

Genealogy at the Washington State Library

And be sure to check out the County Research LibGuides! I hope to have all of the counties completed before June 30th.

Please stay tuned to the Washington State Library homepage for more information on available services at the library.

Dusty

Dusty Gorman (she/her)
Genealogy Services & Newspaper Collections Librarian
Washington State Library | Office of the Secretary of State

6880 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA  98501
O: 360-704-5268 | Dusty.Gorman@sos.wa.gov

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society June 2025 Genealogy Chat Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Genealogy Chat Meeting
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Please join us and let’s chat!

Discussion starter topic TBD

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.
Visitors welcome.

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 Norwegian Genealogy

by Charles Hansen

Uff Da don’t miss out! Join SVGS this Saturday, June 14, 2025, 1pm at the Burlington Public Library for Norwegian Genealogy with Dana Kelly, Executive Director of the Norwegian American Genealogical Center (NAGC). Dana has researched her Norwegian ancestors for over 20 years and speaks, writes and reads Norwegian and has a degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Can’t make it to the Burlington Library, request a zoom link by emailing genealogy0715@gmail.com.

Puget Sound Genealogical Society Getting Started in Family History

by Charles Hansen

Up coming events for June.

On June 21, we will finish our series “Getting Stated in Family History” with Cheri Hudson Passey.  This class will focus on Research Plans & Logs, Staying Organized, and Avoiding Mistakes. Class starts at 10:30am.

Our monthly Program on June 25 will be “25 Uncommon Sources for Your Genealogy with Gena Phililbert-Ortega.  The Program will start at 1:30pm.

These will be hybrid, with in person at the Sylvan Way Library (1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton WA), and on Zoom.  The Zoom link will be posted the day before on our website (psgsociety.org)  and our Facebook page.

Heritage Quest Research Library Railroad Ancestors

by Charles Hansen
Just the Ticket to Find Your Railroad Ancestors If Gramps was working on the railroad, what railroad was it?  What did he do? How can you learn more? 
Discover the many different kinds of records a trainman’s life might have created. Mary Kircher Roddy, Certified Genealogist, is also a Certified Public Accountant. She lectures in Washington State and across the Us and is a regular presenter for LegacyFamilyTree Webinars.  Mary’s list of publications is long and varied. She is currently a trustee for the Board of Certification of Genealogists. More about Mary can be found at https://www.mkrgenealogy.com 

  WHEN: Thursday, June 19, 2025
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

WHERE: ZOOM and limited in-person (8 only)

COST: $20 members
            $25 non-members Sign-up and Payment:
ZOOM
Go to hqrl.com and click on the HQRL Store (Sign in as a member to get 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
Copyright © 2025 Heritage Quest Research Lbrary, 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 Lbrary
2102 East Main Suite 105
Puyallup, WA98372-3205

California Genealogical Society French in California

by Charles Hansen

CaliforniaAncestors.org

Don’t miss this free talk on the French in California.
Learn about French genealogy records!
CGS is happy to announce this opportunity to discover your heritage, and save!
Register today for the Saturday, July 12th lecture, held online from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. PDT.
French genealogists will get special access to bonus lectures at a SPECIAL PRICE! Free! Register Today! When you register for Anne Morddel’s free lecture Revolution or Gold: What Sent the French to 1850s California, which is scheduled for JULY 12, you will have the option to access four of Anne’s video lectures covering vital and other French records at an incredibly reduced rate.
These essential video lectures will be available to you online for four weeks only beginning June 12. Anne Morddel is the renowned author of The French Genealogy Blog. Her video lectures are available on her website for $15 each, but the California Genealogical Society has arranged to provide all four of them to you for the special price of only $20. During the July 12 online presentation, Anne will answer your questions about the content of the lecture series, as well as any questions about her Revolution or Gold lecture, all to help you learn about your French ancestors. Please sign up today, and help get the word out by sharing!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/revolution-or-gold-what-sent-the-french-to-1850s-california-registration-1352000482839 Free! Register Today!
California Genealogical Society | 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2 | Oakland, CA 94612 US

WHY JOIN A GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY? WHY ATTEND MEETINGS?

by Charles Hansen

WHY JOIN A GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY? WHY ATTEND MEETINGS?

Research can be done through the internet on your computer. That format will never replace group knowledge from members in a society. You ask why?

Anyone can put information on line BUT is it accurate? The problem: too many false family lines. DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE FALSE INFORMATION TO YOUR DESCENDANTS?

You are probably a member of other groups. Think it is not necessary to belong to a genealogical society, then why are you a member of these other groups? Is it sharing of ideas, meeting others, the knowledge others have to help you?

Here is a brief list of what is important for genealogists and belonging to a society:

  • learn how to trace your family tree.
  • education in the monthly programs
  • medical history- what your people died of can help for future medical problems along the way.
  • learn about personalities/character traits to watch for
  • learn more about the history of our country and the world. Knowledge is good!
  • find long lost family members that you have been searching for
  • adoptees finding out something about their history
  • insight into research methods that you may not learn on the internet
  • society holdings that cover specific areas are available to you
  • conversations with members who know the research techniques
  • MANY RECORDS ARE NOT ON LINE – court records, divorces land and criminal records, etc.

Join a society today in an area of your research or locally for expert help!