Author Archives: Charles Hansen

South King County Genealogical Society April 2026

by Charles Hansen

Happy Spring! 

SKCGS Members will find the playback access code for Robbie Johnson’s presentation at the end of this email. *if you expected to find the code but do not see it, your SKCGS Membership has expired. Renew on our website: https://www.skcgs.org/support-skcgs/membership 

Are you passionate about SKCGS’s mission and looking for a meaningful way to volunteer your skills? We NEED you. In fact, without officers we cannot survive. Legally we will cease to exist at the end of May.

We’re searching for a leader to move into the role of President and help keep our small but mighty nonprofit running smoothly! The best part? You won’t be doing it alone! You’ll be supported by a dedicated, hands-on board and fantastic volunteers who are ready to help. Write to Board@skcgs.org to volunteer. We also need a Vice-President and critically, a secretary. See Step Up and Make a Difference   from our outgoing Secretary. 

Stay connected! Get updates on our virtual and in-person events, plus the latest genealogy news and tips, by subscribing (free) to the online group at https://skcgs.groups.io

Skcgs.groups.io is the SKCGS online platform for discussion and information sharing:

  • we communicate and share information with each other
  • other than your email, you are not required to provide personal information
  • you can unsubscribe or change your email format at any time

PROGRAM UPDATES

All meetings are online except the in-person Research Group and Genealogy Help at KCLS Auburn, Federal Way, and Renton Main library branches. 

Live transcription (captioning) is available during our Zoom meetings by request.

Online meeting participants need to register for SKCGS Zoom meetings. Upon registration, Zoom will send a confirmation email with instructions on joining the meeting. https://www.skcgs.org

APRIL to Early MAY 2026 MEETINGS & EVENTS

All meetings are Pacific Time (PT) zone

Register at https://www.skcgs.org for all meetings unless otherwise stated.

Friday, April 3, 12:30–2:30pm PT: German Interest Group (EGS)(Online)Topic: “Using Hansen’s Map Guides To Locate YourAncestor’s German ParishRecords” by Bernard N Meisner. Visitors welcome. https://gig.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org/ . Registration required:  https://tinyurl.com/24meu744 

The Map Guides contain detailed information about Catholic and Lutheran jurisdictions for locations within the former German Empire (including areas now in Poland,Lithuania, Russia, Denmark, and France), Switzerland and Luxembourg, and also some information about Jewish congregations in those areas.  Given your ancestor’s hometown, learn how to identify the most likely parish(es) with their records, then check the online availability of the registers on FamilySearch, Archion and/or Matricula.

Presenter Bernard N. Meisner is a genealogist and lecturer based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. He began researching his family over 35 years ago and enjoys sharing lessons learned from that experience, including his mistakes. 

Saturday, April 4, 10-11am PT: Family Treemaker User Group (Online). Topic: General Q&A for the Family Tree Maker Program. Join our free SKCGS FTM email list for meeting reminders and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG

Tuesday, April 7, 6:30–7:30pm PT: SKCGS Board Meeting (Online). ALL Interested Members write to Board@skcgs.org for the Zoom link.

Wednesday, April 8, 2–3 pm PT: WikiTree Users (Online). Topic: Wikitree FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions. Bring your most pressing questions, and we’ll help one another get over the bumps. From login to leadership, Wikitree needs YOU, and you need Wikitree! Wikitree Users collaborate to create the best collaborative tree on Earth. Subscribe to our free online group: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Wikitree-SIG.

Thursday, April 9,11am–1pm: Genealogy Help with SKCGS at Renton Main Library (In-person). Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer. 100 Mill Avenue S, Renton, WA.

Monday, April 13, 1–2pm PT: Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (Online). Topic: Is 23 AndMe back?  We’ll take a look at how it fits into the “DNA  for genealogy” ecosystem, including the new clusters. See  https://throughthetreesblog.tumblr.com/post/810909158988709888/23andme-an-unfortunate-update, and Super Clustering DNA matches from Ancestry with FTDNA and 23andMe! https://youtu.be/BGMUVEXzuAY?si=7P1mvgZ9iu3JZgyQ

This group is for genealogists who use DNA data as part of their research. Join the free email group for meeting notices and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy

Thursday, April 16: Genealogy Help with SKCGS  (In-person)

* 11am–1pm:  Auburn Library,  1102 Auburn Way S, Auburn, WA

* 2–4pm: Federal Way Main Library, 34200 1st Way S, Federal Way, WA

Friday, 17 April, 1–3pm PT: Research Workshop (in person).  SKCGS Members only. In-person research at the Kent FamilySearch Center, 12817 SE 256th St, Kent, WA. RSVP in advance to Winona Laird (206-818-7610).

Saturday, April 18, 10–11:15am PT. SKCGS Speaker Series (Online) Login at 9:30 for social time. Robbie Johnson will present at 10 after a brief announcement and introduction. Her presentation will be recorded for playback by SKCGS Members. 

You’ve spent decades collecting documents and family artifacts, researching ancestors, and tracking down that mysterious woman in an old photograph you inherited. Now what? How do you take a jumble of information and share it with the people you love? Robbie Johnson will share some of her favorite strategies on writing up your findings for the most important audience: Your family and yourself. This talk will cover approaches to organizing material, prioritizing writing projects, overcoming writer’s block, staying motivated, and tips and tricks for getting words down on paper.

Robbie Johnson holds the credential of Certified Genealogist®. Her research and writing focuses on England, Canada, the Pacific Northwest, Native-Indigenous ancestry, and genetic genealogy. She has presented lectures/workshops for the BCGEducation Fund’s Putting Skills To Work, the SLIG Advanced Analysis Practicum course, Family History Academy, the Denver Library, and several genealogical societies. She’s served as a coordinator and secretary for the ProGen Study Groups, and as a mentor for the GenProof Study Groups and the Certification Discussion Group. Robbie worked for over 40 years as an editor and writer before becoming a professional genealogist. She lives in Skagit County, Washington.

Monday, April 20, 1–2pm PT: Tech Users Group (Online). Topic: Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Notebook LM, Photos, for Genealogy. We’ve not discussed these tools since 2004. What has changed, and what are good alternatives?

The Tech Users Group is for sharing knowledge and learning about technology tools, media, apps and websites. Please join our free email group for meeting information and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG.

Monday, April 27, 1–2pm PT: Genealogy Chat (Online). Meet up and chat about genealogy subjects and topics. We have no agenda; we just like one another! https://skcgs.groups.io

Friday, May1,12:30–2:30pm PT: German Interest Group. (EGS)(Online) Topic: “Locating Records from Poland Online” by  Julie Roberts Szczepankiewicz. Visitors welcome and more information at https://gig.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org/ 

Registration is required:  https://tinyurl.com/rp2zubuw

Finding records from Poland for genealogical research is a critical step in exploring our Polish ancestry but Poland’s complex history and the language barrier can be confusing.

After a brief overview of Poland’s changing borders and their impact on the languages in which historical records were created, Julie will explain the process of identifying one’s ancestral village and illustrate the use of gazetteers to determine the parish and civil registry offices. She will introduce key websites for locating historical records online and offline, with an emphasis on sites that offer indexed records and digital images. Julie will suggest strategies to help you get around the language barrier, and demonstrate how you can trace your Polish ancestry from the comfort of your own home.

Julie Roberts Szczepankiewicz is a genealogist, writer, and speaker with nearly 30 years of experience in researching her family’s origins in Poland, Germany, the U.S., and Canada. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the State University of New York in Buffalo and a master’s degree in endocrinology from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Her passion for genealogical research started when she was a graduate student, after she was given a copy of her great-grandparents’ marriage record as a gift. After reading the names of a previously unknown generation of ancestors on that document, she was hooked.

 She currently serves as President of the Polish Genealogical Society of New York State (PGSNYS) and has previously served as Vice-President for the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, Inc, and Secretary of the Polish Genealogical Society of Massachusetts (PGSMA). She administers several genealogy-related Facebook groups. Her articles have been published in the newsletters of the PGSNYS, the PGSMA, the Polish Genealogical Society of America, the Western New York Genealogical Society, and the Irish Genealogical Society International, and she is the author of a genealogy blog, From Shepherds and Shoemakers.

Saturday May 2, 10–11am: Family Tree Maker User Group (Online). Topic: General Q&A for the Family Tree Maker Program. Join our free SKCGS FTM email list for meeting reminders and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG

Tuesday, May 5, 6:30–7:30pm PT: SKCGS Board Meeting (online). All SKCGS Members welcome; write to Board@skcgs.org for the Zoom link.

Monday,May 11 May, 1–2pm PT: Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (Online). Topic: Proving your Family Tree with DNA. See DNA in Action 1 of 6: Proving Your Pedigree with DNA: https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/dna-in-action-1-of-6-proving-your-pedigree-with-dna.

This group is for genealogists who use DNA data as part of their research. Join the free email group for meeting notices and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy

Wednesday, May 13, 2–3pm PT, WikiTree Users (online). Topic: Powering Wikitree with your DNA data, easily & safely. Start here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:DNA. Wikitree Users collaborate to create the best collaborative tree on Earth. Join our free online group: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Wikitree-SIG. 

Thursday, May 14, 11am–1pm: Genealogy Help with SKCGS at Renton Main Library (In-person).  Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer. 100 Mill Avenue S, Renton, WA. 

Friday, May 15, 1–3pm, Research Workshop (in-person). SKCGS Members only. In-person research at the Kent FamilySearch Center, 12817 SE 256th St, Kent, WA. RSVP in advance to Winona Laird (206-818-7610).

Saturday, May 16, 10–11:15am PT: SKCGS Speaker Series (Online) Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal:”Research at the library…without leaving home!”

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SKCGS Speaker Series: Monthly on the third Saturday, 10am. F 

  • September 20 2025: Roxanne Lowe “Write Your Own Obituary”
  • October 18 2025: Craig K Gowens “The Border Reivers: The Beginnings of America’s Scotch-Irish”
  • November 15 2025: Mags Gaulden “WikiTree’s DNA Features, With A Splash of mitoYDNA.org”
  • January 17 2026: Mary Kircher Roddy “Putting Your Learning to Work: Getting the Most From an Educational Opportunity”
  • February 21 2026: Robyn N. Smith “Cluster Research: Using Other People to Find Your People”
  • March 21 2026: Winona Laird “Publish Your Story using AI and Kindle Direct Publishing”
  • April 18 2026: Robbie Johnson “Writing for Relatives 101-–From Research to Family History” 
  • May 16 2026 Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal “Research at the library…without leaving home!”
  • June 20 2026:  Steven Morrison Part1, “Digging Up New Dirt:  Unearthing the Real New England Immigrant” AND Part 2, “Finding, Proving and Publishing”

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MEMBERSHIP:  We welcome guests to our meetings and special interest groups, which are free. Naturally we hope that visitors will want to become members. Support like yours helps us to educate and engage with our community to foster interest in family and local history. You can find more information about membership at our website at https://www.skcgs.org/support-skcgs/membership.

You are receiving this email because you have attended a SKCGS meeting and indicated you would like to receive periodic notice of events. If you would like to be removed from our list and stop receiving emails from us, send an email to skcgsfriends+unsubscribe@skcgs.org.

Like – Facebook :: Blog :: Website – SKCGS.org :: Member support – info@skcgs.org

SOUTH KING COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Society Spotlight Kootenai County Genealogical Society

by Charles Hansen

The Kootenai County Genealogical Society welcomes you! Our society is dedicated to aiding individuals in their genealogical pursuits including fostering education and interest in genealogy, gathering and preserving genealogical and historical data, and aiding members in their genealogical or historical research and in compiling their family histories.

Our meetings are at 1:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month (February – June and September – November) at:

Hayden Library

8385 N. Government Way

Hayden, Idaho 83835

Web address: www.kcgs.org

Email address: kcgsid@gmail.com

Social media: Facebook

Our monthly meetings are on video and posted on Facebook.

Our special genealogical collection is located in the Hayden Public Library. Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday, 10 am to 7 pm

Friday – Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm

Membership dues are $15 annually, $20 per couple. Membership year is January to December.

We have a research specialist to help the public, starting at $15. We have one computer dedicated to genealogy use, with access to ancestry.com as well as other sites, and we have one microfilm machine. We recently acquired our own book scanner, available during our volunteer Wednesdays.

Volunteers are available Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Hayden Library to assist members and visitors with genealogical research. We now have a scanner that utilizes flattening curved book page technology allowing it to replicate the individual flat pages of a curved book. The scanner is only available for use with a KCGS volunteer on Wednesday afternoons. We also have classes from time to time. Examples are: Introduction to Genealogy in three consecutive sessions and Introduction to Google Earth Pro, in two consecutive sessions.

Some highlights of our collection include:

Kootenai County births, deaths, marriages

North Idaho funeral home records

Polk Directories for Coeur d’Alene, ID and Spokane, WA

Yearbooks of the local high schools, North Idaho College and some University of Idaho yearbooks

The Mayflower series (“silver books”)

The Filby Immigration Books

The Domesday English Census

Shelves of family histories already published and donated

Check us out!

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree Software SIG Meeting April 2026

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree Software SIG Meeting
Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm virtual via Zoom

This month we will continue with notes and topics that Siri Nelson presented in her Legacy User Group and has graciously allowed me to use in our group. The topics are: Geo Location Database, Changing field names in the Individual Information Screen,   Reviewing reports and options – Individual, Name List, and Birthday Calendar.

This is our monthly meeting to share tips & tricks, problems & solutions. Sometimes we will watch videos or share our screens to aide 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

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

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History April 2026

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

The Writing Family History Special Interest Group (WFH-SIG) supports TPCGS members in documenting, writing, and preserving their family histories—formally or informally. Monthly meetings will provide a mix of presentations, writing exercises, and peer reviews to help members make progress in their projects.

Date & Time: Every month on the Second Wednesday, starting at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

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

Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMoc-2qqDMjHNXnACfWJ0dop_pMeQXMRoYM/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvqz8uGNKduR-GRpwEGY-gLOrwplxEgo1lkj7GBRd5Mgf5Jt1SH7dOKPXi

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87544268961?pwd=oNtdztP51tePuSn3bt45J3wuxnGXzl.1
Meeting ID: 875 4426 8961
Passcode: 328639

One tap mobile:
+12532158782,,87544268961#,,,,*328639# US (Tacoma)
+12532050468,,87544268961#,,,,*328639# US

Dial by your location:
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
• +1 253 205 0468 US
Meeting ID: 875 4426 8961
Passcode: 328639

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kclCP1SsOV

Heritage Quest Research Library April 2026

by Charles Hansen
April Happenings 2026 Happy National Volunteer Month!
At Heritage Quest Research Library, we are forever grateful for the dedicated volunteers who show up week after week. Your commitment keeps our doors open six days a week and our collections up to date.
We also extend a huge thank you to the members who step forward whenever called upon to assist with outreach and fundraising.  We couldn’t do this without you!!
A major fundraiser like the America 250 Patriot Celebration has many moving parts—from planning and coordinating different types of “events within the event” to managing volunteers. It takes little imagination to realize that many hands are needed to ensure a successful outcome.   Your consistent willingness to step forward in support of our mission has always been a cornerstone of our success. We are confident that our upcoming Celebration will be no exception. To ensure this milestone event is truly unforgettable, we ask all our members and patrons to participate.
American 250 Patriot Celebration Getting involved Watch for details in May Happenings
Upcoming Events

Wednesday April 1
America 250 Patriot Celebration Tickets Go on Sale HQRL is excited to announce that purchasing tickets for this event has never been easier. The QR code above will immediately connect the buyer to a screen that is easy to navigate, and a receipt will automatically be sent when the transaction is finished. —–

Thursday, April 2
Introduction to WikiTree  11:00 am to 12:00 pm Heritage Quest Research Library (Classroom & Zoom) Join Shonda Feather to learn about WikiTree, which has a live chat so you can ask questions of genealogists all over the world. (WikiTree a shared tree like Family Search). Register online using the HQRL Store link on the library website or in-person at the Library $20+tax for members, $25+tax for non-members
Attend in-person at the HQRL classroom (limit of 8 persons), or via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts. —–

Tuesday, April 14
America 250 Patriot Celebration Planning Meeting HQRL Library Classroom 1pm – 3 pm —–

Wednesday, April 15 Management Team Meeting Heritage Quest Research Library 12-2 pm —–

Thursday, April 16
Exploring the Community: Researching Beyond Your Ancestor 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Heritage Quest Research Library (Classroom & Zoom) Learn about cluster research and explore resources with Julia A. Anderson to help you better understand the jurisdictions and history of areas where your ancestors lived. Register online using the HQRL Store link on the library website or in-person at the Library $20+tax for members, $25+tax for non-members
Attend in-person at the HQRL classroom (limit of 8 persons), or via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts. —–

Thursday, May 7
Beginning Your Family History   11:00 am to 12:00 pm Heritage Quest Research Library (Classroom & Zoom) This FREE class will be taught by our research librarians. Learn how the library can help you and how to start. Sign up in the HQRL Store so we know you are coming and we can send you handouts/or a zoom link. —–

Thursday, May 21
Unusual Places to Find Irish Births & Naturalizations in American Records  
11:00 am to 12:00 pm Heritage Quest Research Library (Classroom & Zoom)

Debra M. Dudek explains how and where to widen your search for your Irish ancestors birth date, place of origin, and their American naturalization details from a variety of underutilized resources! In this lecture, you’ll learn how to utilize a combination of research methodologies and combine them with military rosters, sailing registers, professional registrations, and much more! Register online using the HQRL Store link on the library website or in-person at the Library $20+tax for members, $25+tax for non-members
Attend in-person at the HQRL classroom (limit of 8 persons), or via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts..  

Tribute to Heidi!
Heidi Geise has a long history as an educator and her expertise serves us well in her role as Education Coordinator. She excels in bringing us quality presentations on a variety of topics month after month. Arranging for first class speakers twice a month is no little undertaking, and Heidi seems to do it seamlessly.
Whether a beginner or a seasoned veteran, attendees always find valuable take-aways. Additionally, those who attend in-person find the added benefit of visiting with fellow researchers. There is something special about that “after-class” energy—often, the most breakthroughs happen over a casual conversation or a shared research hurdle.

Many, Many Thanks Heidi!

The Management Team Managing “On the Shelf” Research To avoid the “out of sight, out of mind” trap when life gets busy, you need a “re-entry” system. Research is often a long game. In a packed schedule, research must be “chunked” into manageable parts rather than treated as one giant task. When you have to pause your research use these techniques to ensure you don’t lose your momentum:
The “Breadcrumb” Note: End every session by writing exactly one sentence on what you were about to do next (e.g., “Check the 1920 census for John Smith next”).
A Research Log: Maintain a research log or spreadsheet to track which databases you’ve already searched and which keywords you used, so you don’t repeat work.
Recycling Files: If you delete or set aside sections of writing, move them to a “recycling file” instead of the trash—you might need those ideas or quotes later.
Citation Managers: Use the organizing feature in your genealogy software, or tools like One Note to save papers and data, ensuring you never ask “who was I researching?”.
The One-Hour Research Plan
If you only have one hour, focus on these high-impact, discrete tasks.
First 10 mins: Review your previous “breadcrumb” note to re-orient yourself.
Next 40 mins: Execute one specific search or read one key source.
Last 10 mins: Update your notes and write the next “breadcrumb” for your future self.
Selective Reading
Instead of reading full manuscripts, quickly scan abstracts, discussions, and conclusions to decide if a source is worth a deeper dive.
Successful Micro-Researching
Set a timer to stay on task and maintain a research log to pick up where you left off. Enjoy your Quest

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week Rootstech Revolations

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK – 10 ROOTSTECH REVELATIONS

By Kate Penney Howard

RootsTech 2026 wrapped up on March 7. The theme was “Together,” but the unofficial theme was clearly artificial intelligence. AI crashed the party at every forum, every expo booth, and most of the talks. Here are the ten announcements and moments that had people excited.

1. FamilyTreeDNA Rewrote the Rules on Autosomal Testing
FamilyTreeDNA launched new Family Finder tests that analyze over 400 times the genetic data of their previous version — roughly 9% of your genome compared to just 0.02% before. The best news? Upcoming Family Finder Discover reports will be available to all Family Finder test takers, whether they tested recently or years ago.  

2. GEDmatch is Getting a Complete Overhaul
GEDmatch has been the scrappy workhorse of the genetic genealogy world for years. The company previewed a major redesign planned for later in 2026, incorporating AI-powered tools to help users interpret DNA matches and make organizing, filtering, tagging, and analyzing notes far easier. This has been a long time coming.

3. FamilySearch Released Its AI Tools from the Lab
For months, genealogists have been testing FamilySearch AI features in beta. At RootsTech, the AI Research Assistant and AI Hints officially came out of Labs and are now available to all users. Full-Text Search also graduated from Labs, and users can now attach search results directly to the family tree.  

4. FamilySearch Is Testing Natural Language Search
If you have ever wished you could just talk to a database like a person, this one is for you. Simple Search, currently in Labs, is being tested to allow users to search records using natural language. Ask it a question the way you would ask a librarian. See what it tells you!

5. All Revolutionary War Pension Files Are Now Fully Searchable
Ancestry announced that its Fold3 collection of Revolutionary War pension files are now fully searchable thanks to optical character recognition. Researchers can now search for veterans and their next of kin by name, rather than relying on a limited index. For those of us working on pre-1800 American genealogy, this is a genuine breakthrough. They also announced new AI features, including a record and document transcription tool where AI transcribes, summarizes, and provides source citations for documents and photos uploaded to your Gallery.

6. Ancestry Introduced “AI Stories” — And It’s Exactly What It Sounds Like
A new tool called AI Stories narrates a brief story about a document in a shareable, podcast-style audio file. The possibilities here for people who struggle to write about their ancestors are significant. It could be a meaningful bridge for beginners. It raises questions about voice and accuracy that researchers will need to monitor carefully, but the concept is compelling.

7. LifeWeaver Crashed the Party as a Platinum Sponsor
No one saw this one coming. Newcomer LifeWeaver made a significant splash as platinum sponsor of RootsTech 2026. The tool archives and searches through text messages, emails and other digital communication files to create a story from those pieces. LifeWeaver also allows users to add older phones, computers, hard drives, and scanned handwritten journals, digitizing their contents while preserving images of the originals so they can be shared with family. And critically, users’ data is private. The company does not sell data or use it to train AI models.  

8. MyHeritage Unveiled Scribe AI
MyHeritage announced Scribe AI at the RootsTech Innovation Forum, demonstrating how the feature analyzes historical documents and photos to uncover genealogical insights.  The tool provides record suggestions, photo descriptions, and transcriptions. The MyHeritage team also announced Country Coding, a feature that helps sort and organize international records and visualize your ancestors by country.

9. Ancestry Preserve Wants to Digitize Your Shoeboxes
The new Ancestry Preserve service, heavily featured in the Expo Hall, aims to help customers preserve and digitize their old media, including photographs, slides, film tapes, and more. For genealogists who have inherited closets full of analog memories, this fills a real need. The long-term implications for family history are significant. Your grandmother’s slides deserve better than a dark box in a garage.

10. Marlee Matlin and Tara Roberts Reminded Us What This Is All For
The technology announcements were remarkable. But these two keynotes stopped the room. Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress, shared her inspiring journey of overcoming obstacles and connecting personal triumphs to family history. As a deaf actor, she did not utter a word, but her facial expressions, animated signing, and story had audiences listening with their eyes and hearts. Tara Roberts, National Geographic explorer, shared her extraordinary work documenting slave ship wrecks and reconnecting descendants with their ancestral past.  

RootsTech 2026 made one thing clear. The technology is accelerating faster than most of us can keep up. The challenge for our community is to stay human in the middle of all of it. The records are the beginning. The stories are the point.Join SGS Today

* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page
and click the green renew membership button.

 

DONATE TO SGS

Your donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org. 
 

Seattle Genealogical Society April-May 2026

by Charles Hansen
various images showing citizenship, Civil War veterans, New Deal works programs and a railroad land grant map with the words SGS Spring Seminar: Pivotal Moments. Door Prizes: Ancestry DNA test kits, Family Tree Maker software, My Heritage (one year) and Ancestry (on year) TWO-DAY SEMINAR COVERS KEY POINTS OF AMERICAN HISTORYSaturday-Sunday, April 11-12Join Seattle Genealogical Society this spring for a two-day virtual seminar exploring turning points in American history, the records created, and how they can transform your genealogical research.

Presented online via Zoom
Saturday, April 11, 2026,  9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon (PT)
Sunday, April 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (PT)

Program includes:Great Expectations: Union Pacific Land Grants & East-West Expansion
Presented by Annette Burke Lyttle, CG

Hidden Narratives: Reconstructing Families Through Civil War Pension Records
Presented by Mica L. Anders

U.S. Citizenship: The Law and Records of Naturalization
Presented by Rich Venezia

The New Deal: Putting your Ancestors to Work
Presented by Michael Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™There will be Door Prizes including: Ancestry DNA test kits Family Tree Maker software My Heritage membership (one year) Ancestry membership (one year) Registration fee: $60.00 (SGS Members – $45.00). Join the Seminar!images courtesy of Library of Congress and National Archives

 image of an old photo album with the words: Cataloging digital images Second Saturday: May 9, 1:00 p.m.Tame your digital family photographs by adding names, dates, and other information to images to make them searchable. This presentation outlines a simple and effective process – from scanning, tagging, and saving images to organizing and backing up these image files – so you can do it once and do it right.

Nancy Loe, a professional genealogist and archivist with decades of experience, helps family historians search smart, find more, and stay organized. As a presenter, she specializes in search strategies, information management, and U.S. and European research and records, speaking at conferences and webinars in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.Sign Up Today!NO SECOND SATURDAY THIS MONTH: SGS will be offering our Spring Seminar: Pivotal Moments: Records that Changed Lives, Families, and History. Learn more and sign up. photo courtesy of laura-fuhrman / Unsplash SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658Hours :  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday   
** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. **  Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. Meeting content is for personal genealogy learning and may not be recorded or transcribed.   All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.,  Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website.

Thursday, April 2, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org.

Saturday, April 4, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list.

Saturday, April 4, 2026,  1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. NOTE the change of day due to the Easter holiday.

Monday, April 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information.

Monday, April 6, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. 

Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org.

Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12, 2026, Saturday 9:00 a.m-noon, and Sunday 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. SGS Spring Seminar, “Pivotal Moments: Records that Changed Lives, Families, and History” Presented by Annette Burke Lyttle​​, Mica Anders, Rich Venezia, and Michael Strauss. Register here.

Monday, April 13, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information.

Monday, April 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Transcription SIG, Want to strengthen your ability to read, transcribe, and analyze original records? This SIG is ideal for anyone looking to practice, build confidence, and sharpen their research skills in a collaborative setting. The group meets at the SGS Library. Send questions to Betsey Cotter at sgstranscription@seagensoc.org.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Sheyna Watkins at sgsWriteItUpSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month.

Saturday, April 18 2026, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research. View SGS calendar for details on joining this group.

Saturday, April 18 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), Using FamilySearch’s Full Text Search function. Allyn Brosz will be sharing his experiences using this feature to research his German families in the U.S.. Register on the SGS website.

Monday, April 20, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information.

Friday, April 24, 2026, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 p.m. Family Tree Maker SIG, Join Eastside Genealogical Society and SGS to learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker by Software MacKiev. The meetings open about 15 minutes in advance. You can join and/or leave whenever you have to, and you may email your question(s) in advance or bring them up during the meeting.

Monday, April 27, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. NOTE: New Zoom link for January – June.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday.

Wednesday, April. 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Mexican SIG (Virtual), Share information and discuss Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, and Hispanic genealogical research. Email Diane Hughes-Hart at SGSMexSIG@seagensoc.org to join. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month.

Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list.

Sunday, May 3, 2026,  1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join.

Monday, May 4, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information.

Monday, May 4, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. 

Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.,  Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website.

Thursday, May 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org.

Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Cataloging Digital Images” Presented by Nancy Loe. Register here.

Monday, May 11, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. 

Monday, May 11, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list. 

Thursday, May 14, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026.   

OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND      
Fiske Genealogical Library Various Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. (virtual)

April 1: Are you really my Ancestor? 
Speaker: Claire Smith 

April 8: Unlock the 1926 Census of Ireland for Irish Family Research 
Speaker: Susan McKee 

April 15: Women of Letters: Voices from the Frontier
Speaker: Sylvia Doolos

April 22: Tracing Female Ancestors Through Everyday Records 
Speaker: Sylvia Doolos 

April 29: Back to School: Making the most of School Records 
Speaker: Tina Beaird 

May 6: Is it True? Using Manuscripts and Family Records for Genealogical Proof 
Speaker: Steven W. Morrison 

May 13: Moonshine & Coal Mines: Unraveling Stories & Secrets to Reconstruct a Family through Oral History documents and DNA 
Speaker: Lisa Vogele 

May 20: From Territory to State: Records you Might Miss 
Speaker: Sylvia Doolos 

May 27: Mapping your Migrating Ancestors 
Speaker: Tina Beaird

For more information and to register.


“What Could Have Happened? Creating and Proving Hypotheses to Solve Tough Problems,” with Kory Meyerink
Eastside Genealogical Society
Thursday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. (virtual)

One tool of advanced researchers is the well-developed hypothesis, which serves as a starting point for detailed research that can often prove relationships not apparent in standard sources. Learn how to effectively use this approach for your “brick-wall” problems. For more information and to register.

Lower Columbia Genealogical Society
Various Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. (virtual)

April 9: Researching Newspapers Outside of Newspapers.com  
Speaker: Amber Oldenburg

May 14: Subject TBA 
Speaker: Maggie Cogswell

June 11: Missing: Reward! Locating Widows, Spinsters, and Bachelors 
Speaker: Sara Cochran

Learn more and register here.  

“It’s What They Answered To: Understanding Ashkenazic Jewish Names” with Emily Garber
Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State
Monday, April 13, 7:30 p.m. (virtual)

Name changes, both in adopted countries and in the old world, make determining Ashkenazic (central and eastern European) Jewish names a genealogical puzzle. This presentation will provide some of the basic clues for a researcher to recognize the same person recorded under a variety of names.. Get more information.

 TIP OF THE WEEK – 10 ROOTSTECH REVELATIONSBy Kate Penney HowardRootsTech 2026 wrapped up on March 7. The theme was “Together,” but the unofficial theme was clearly artificial intelligence. AI crashed the party at every forum, every expo booth, and most of the talks. Here are the ten announcements and moments that had people excited.

1. FamilyTreeDNA Rewrote the Rules on Autosomal Testing
FamilyTreeDNA launched new Family Finder tests that analyze over 400 times the genetic data of their previous version — roughly 9% of your genome compared to just 0.02% before. The best news? Upcoming Family Finder Discover reports will be available to all Family Finder test takers, whether they tested recently or years ago.  

2. GEDmatch is Getting a Complete Overhaul
GEDmatch has been the scrappy workhorse of the genetic genealogy world for years. The company previewed a major redesign planned for later in 2026, incorporating AI-powered tools to help users interpret DNA matches and make organizing, filtering, tagging, and analyzing notes far easier. This has been a long time coming.

3. FamilySearch Released Its AI Tools from the Lab
For months, genealogists have been testing FamilySearch AI features in beta. At RootsTech, the AI Research Assistant and AI Hints officially came out of Labs and are now available to all users. Full-Text Search also graduated from Labs, and users can now attach search results directly to the family tree.  

4. FamilySearch Is Testing Natural Language Search
If you have ever wished you could just talk to a database like a person, this one is for you. Simple Search, currently in Labs, is being tested to allow users to search records using natural language. Ask it a question the way you would ask a librarian. See what it tells you!

5. All Revolutionary War Pension Files Are Now Fully Searchable
Ancestry announced that its Fold3 collection of Revolutionary War pension files are now fully searchable thanks to optical character recognition. Researchers can now search for veterans and their next of kin by name, rather than relying on a limited index. For those of us working on pre-1800 American genealogy, this is a genuine breakthrough. They also announced new AI features, including a record and document transcription tool where AI transcribes, summarizes, and provides source citations for documents and photos uploaded to your Gallery.

6. Ancestry Introduced “AI Stories” — And It’s Exactly What It Sounds Like
A new tool called AI Stories narrates a brief story about a document in a shareable, podcast-style audio file. The possibilities here for people who struggle to write about their ancestors are significant. It could be a meaningful bridge for beginners. It raises questions about voice and accuracy that researchers will need to monitor carefully, but the concept is compelling.

7. LifeWeaver Crashed the Party as a Platinum Sponsor
No one saw this one coming. Newcomer LifeWeaver made a significant splash as platinum sponsor of RootsTech 2026. The tool archives and searches through text messages, emails and other digital communication files to create a story from those pieces. LifeWeaver also allows users to add older phones, computers, hard drives, and scanned handwritten journals, digitizing their contents while preserving images of the originals so they can be shared with family. And critically, users’ data is private. The company does not sell data or use it to train AI models.  

8. MyHeritage Unveiled Scribe AI
MyHeritage announced Scribe AI at the RootsTech Innovation Forum, demonstrating how the feature analyzes historical documents and photos to uncover genealogical insights.  The tool provides record suggestions, photo descriptions, and transcriptions. The MyHeritage team also announced Country Coding, a feature that helps sort and organize international records and visualize your ancestors by country.

9. Ancestry Preserve Wants to Digitize Your Shoeboxes
The new Ancestry Preserve service, heavily featured in the Expo Hall, aims to help customers preserve and digitize their old media, including photographs, slides, film tapes, and more. For genealogists who have inherited closets full of analog memories, this fills a real need. The long-term implications for family history are significant. Your grandmother’s slides deserve better than a dark box in a garage.

10. Marlee Matlin and Tara Roberts Reminded Us What This Is All For
The technology announcements were remarkable. But these two keynotes stopped the room. Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress, shared her inspiring journey of overcoming obstacles and connecting personal triumphs to family history. As a deaf actor, she did not utter a word, but her facial expressions, animated signing, and story had audiences listening with their eyes and hearts. Tara Roberts, National Geographic explorer, shared her extraordinary work documenting slave ship wrecks and reconnecting descendants with their ancestral past.  

RootsTech 2026 made one thing clear. The technology is accelerating faster than most of us can keep up. The challenge for our community is to stay human in the middle of all of it. The records are the beginning. The stories are the point.Join SGS Today* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page
and click the green renew membership button.

 DONATE TO SGSYour donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org. 
 
April 1, 2026

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