Author Archives: Charles Hansen

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Fall Seminar AI for Genealogists

by Charles Hansen

It’s time to sign up for the Fall Seminar!

Bring your checkbook for the

EWGS Yearly Auction

(there are some truly awesome items this year!) 

Door Prizes (for those in person)

Free Table

Great Company

Great Food 

Scholarships are available:

(Apply under the “Member’s Only” Tab on the website.) 

Saturday, October 5 THE FUTURE OF GENEALOGY (Seminar) 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Southside Community Center – 3151 E 27th Ave, Spokane, WA 99223 HYBRID: (IN PERSON AND ZOOM) Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Guest speaker Steve Little; “AI Genealogy: The Basics and a Bit Beyond!” Blaine Bettinger: Youtube interview presenting “10 ChatGPT Prompts Every Genealogist Needs to Know” Thomas MacEntee: “Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using AI”COSTS: $40 – MEMBERS$50 – NON MEMBERS$20 – ZOOMERS Lunch and snacks included for those who attend in person. PAYMENT BY CHECK? YOU MUST HAVE YOUR CHECK MAILED BY SEPTEMBER 27TH!YOU MAY PAY AT THE DOOR BUT YOU ARE NOT GUARANTEED A LUNCH Cancellation Policy: Cancellations MUST BE received by Sept 30, 2024, no later than 5:00 p.m. for a full refund. Your handout and zoom link will be emailed to you within 2-3 days PRIOR to the seminar. REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR EWGS WEBSITE STORE.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Yard Sale

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

Fall Huge Yard Sale

Date: Thursday, Sept 26 thru Saturday, Sept 28

Location: Y.V.G.S. Library Parking Lot

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00pm

This Yard Sale provides financial help in paying for library expenses. [internet, heating, lighting, maintenance & etc.]

Puget Sound Genealogical Society Divorce in the United States

by Charles Hansen

The PSGS Program is Wed, Sep 25th….Hybrid style.  In person at the Sylvan Way Library and on Zoom.  Social time and Zoom doors open at 12:30pm.  The Program is from 1pm-2pm.. 

Our speaker will be Christine Cohen.  She will be presenting her topic on “Alienation of Affection: Divorce in the United States”.

Divorce is not just a 20th Century phenomenon. At first, granted by the State Legislature and then by the Courts, these are public records. The case files can include marriage date and place, names and ages of children, current and former residences, and affidavits by the spouses about their marriage and reason for divorce. Clues are in the Census, City Directories, Military Pensions, County Histories, County Courthouses & especially in Newspapers. This could be the reason for a “lost spouse”.

The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84756295862

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Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting

Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm virtual via Zoom

This month we will continue reviewing the free Legacy Family Tree software videos hosted by Geoff Rasmussen. Our next video in this series will be “Legacy 9 Unlocked (part 1): Your First Few Tips” it is a longer video so we will be breaking it up and watching the first part Oct 1 and finishing it next month on Nov 5. Even though Legacy 10 was just released in Jun 2024, almost all the features shown in this video are still in the current program.  If you are thinking about trying Legacy or are currently using it, this video can teach or remind you how to properly use the software and be successful with your research. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them in. 

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.

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

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

Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board Missing an Ancestor? Look South or East

by Charles Hansen

Missing an Ancestor? Look East or South

Many times, while researching our ancestors, they just “disappear” from where they “should be” located. Is this true with your ancestor? Perhaps the young man or woman in your lineage decided to heed Horace Greeley’s quote, “Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country.”1 Opportunities abounded with cheap land, the lure of gold / silver / precious gems, religious freedom, or just the opportunity to start a new life. Perhaps your ancestor came to Arizona for one of these reasons?

The Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board (AzGAB) is honoring those people and their descendants who lived in the geographical area of what is now Arizona prior to statehood on 14 February 1912 with an Arizona Pioneer Descendant certificate. Certificates will be awarded to a descendant who submits evidence acceptable to AzGAB (vital records, territory or federal census, church records, brand books [livestock markings], city directory listings, etc.). Records showing relationship from the pioneer to the applicant is required for the certificate. (https://azgab.org/cpage.php?pt=14).

For those ancestors / relatives who lived in Arizona from statehood until 01 April 1950, a Second Wave Certificate is available. (https://azgab.org/cpage.php?pt=51). The same chain of descendancy is required.

Not sure if your ancestor “was” in Arizona on their way to California, Nevada or other points West? Please use the Arizona Pioneers Database on the AzGAB website, https://azgab.org/cstm_pioneer.php, to see if their names appear. Female names as well as male names are mentioned.

This is a meaningful way to honor your ancestors and have a preserved record of it. The approved application forms, photos and accompanying documentation are housed in the Arizona State Archives. A modest fee for the certificate is expected at the time of submission. If two certificates are requested for the same ancestor from different descendants, there is a reduced fee for the second certificate. Questions? Contact the Arizona Pioneer Descendant

Administrator, Peggy Morphew at certificates@azgab.org.

1 The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. Oxford University Press, TME. 1999. p. 351. ISBN 9780198601739. Retrieved 12 October 2023.

—
Linda McCleary

AzGAB Vice President

Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society 10 Must Haves for Genealogy Success

by Charles Hansen

October is National Family History Month! Join us for a hour with Thomas MacEntee. Thomas is a internationally known family history speaker, author, tech guy and founder of Abundant Genealogy, GeneaBloggers,Genealogy Bargains,  High-Definition Genealogy. Thomas is a regular speaker at annual RootsTech in Salt Lake City and gives over 250 webinars a year for groups in the US and Canada. Our presentations are free and visitors are welcome.

Please register to attend. Registration here:

https://gorgegen.blogspot.com

2024 WSGS Presidents Award Winner

by Charles Hansen

Roxanne Lowe Named President’s Award Recipient

WSGS President Kathleen Sizer is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement: Roxanne Lowe of Grays Harbor Genealogical Society. The announcement was made at the WSGS Annual Meeting on 30 Aug 2024.

Created in 2015, the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement is designed to single out that rare individual, society or organization who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations. The award is not given every year as it is based on merit and accomplishments. This year, to avoid any conflict of interest, an individual from outside WSGS with professional experience assessing proposals, evaluated the submissions. As you’ll see from reading about Roxanne’s dedication, she is worthy of this recognition.

Roxanne Ferbrache Lowe

Roxanne has been described as energetic, enthusiastic, a cheerleader and a positive influence to members of the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society (GHGS), as well as the Washington State Genealogical Society (WSGS) and the Washington Presidents’ Council.

Roxanne has been a member of GHGS since 2006. At one of her first meetings, she volunteered to be the newsletter editor and now, more than 100 issues later, she’s still the editor. She also served as president from 2019 – 2023, shepherding the society through the COVID-19 pandemic shut-down and transitioning to hybrid meetings. She similarly led the effort to recover from the 2018 devastating fire that destroyed the Aberdeen Museum of History where GHGS’s research library was housed. She is currently volunteering at the Museum’s warehouse where post-fire artifacts and new donations are being inventoried for a future museum which will also house the GHGS.

Roxanne’s commitment to the genealogy community doesn’t just stay in Grays Harbor. She joined WSGS in 2008 and has served on the WSGS Board of Directors as Recognition and Special Awards Chair and now as Webmaster. She also became an early member of the newly formed Washington Presidents’ Council. She has volunteered frequently to make presentations to community groups and help with one-on-one research.

Roxanne will receive a personalized pen/pencil set. Her name will be added to the perpetual plaque for display at GHGS for the next year.

More about the award

If you want to know more about the qualities needed for this prestigious award, click here. Previous recipients are listed here.