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One of our most exciting agenda items will be the announcement of the 2023 Outstanding Volunteer and Team recipients! We’ll also talk a little about the WSGS, our programs and services and how to get involved.
We hope you join us! If you want more information, email Info@wasgs.org.
More than 1,500 Washington Pioneers have been documented in our Pioneer Pursuit Contest. Thank you to all who have submitted genealogies, but we’re looking for more! It is estimated there were nearly 350,000 people living here in 1889, and thousands more who came and went before 1889.
As an incentive for submitting (and having approved) a genealogy of a Pioneer and his/her descendants, you will earn a prize. Yes, everyone earns a prize:
Top three local societies with the most submissions (based on the number of members in the society): $300, $200 and $100.
Each society that participates will receive $20.
Top three individuals submitting the most submissions: $150, $100 and $50.
Each individual who participates will receive a year’s membership in WSGS.
Remember, you don’t have to be related to a Pioneer — just pick someone. Here is a list of places to start.
We want to document every man, woman and child living in Washington Territory on or before Nov. 11, 1889. YOU can help us do that! For more information, visit the Pioneer Pursuit web page or email us at Info@wasgs.org.
Many of you have embraced the Pioneer Pursuit contest with enthusiasm and vigor. We’re very excited about all the submissions (more than 1,500 so far!). It’s hard to know exactly how many people lived In Washington Territory, but there are estimates that about 350,000 individuals were here in 1889, so we have a ways to go.
We acknowledge we’re a little behind on posting the submissions in the index, but we’re working hard to get caught up. Thanks for your patience.
Even though we’re still posting your submissions, don’t let that slow you down. We’re still looking to document every man, woman and child who lived in Washington Territory on or before 11 Nov 1889. And don’t forget there are prizes for every individual and genealogical society that submits a Pioneer.
The submission form, instructions, examples, frequently asked questions and research hints are all available here. If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at Info@wasgs.org. We’re here to help!
Nominations from local societies for the Outstanding Volunteer and Outstanding Team awards are almost due. The deadline to send your nominations to Info@wasgs.org is Saturday, July 1, 2023. The forms are available here. The virtual announcement will be made Thursday, August 31, 2023.
A few FAQs about the Recognition program:
Local societies can submit up to two individuals or one team/project for recognition.
The Outstanding Volunteer/Team Award program is not a competition – it is locally driven. All nominees from local societies will be honored with an Outstanding Volunteer/Team certificate, but we want these awards to be special, so please don’t nominate your whole society (even though they are outstanding!).
Posthumous awards are, of course, acceptable.
Nominees may have received an Outstanding Volunteer award previously. Click here for a cumulative list of awardees (alpha by name and by society).
For more information about the awards, check out the Recognition page of the website. For more information, email Info@wasgs.org.
Do you know who’s running the show at the Washington State Genealogical Society? Who are these people? In the coming months, we’ll introduce them to you, so you can say “hi” the next time you see them. (Note: a variation of Roxanne’s story was published in September 2017.)
Roxanne in 1958, age 3
In today’s “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Roxanne Lowe. Roxanne lives in McCleary (Grays Harbor County) and is WSGS’s secretary, web manager and on the blog team. She’s also in charge of the Recognition program. She has been a member of the WSGS since 2008. She was named as a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer in 2010. She’s a proud, long-time member of the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society, serving as president and newsletter editor of the GHGS Family Tree Searcher newsletter.
Roxanne was born in Aberdeen, Washington in January 1955, the first child of George and Patricia (Murphy) Ferbrache. She is the great-granddaughter of Patrick Murphy and Mary Donovan who moved to the Chehalis River Valley in the spring of 1888 from New Brunswick, Canada.
Patrick Murphy, Roxanne’s great-grandfather
Roxanne’s interest in genealogy began as a child. Her paternal grandmother gave her a written family history, loaded with names, dates and locations. It was many years, however, before Roxanne learned enough about genealogy to realize that:
• Ferbrache can be spelled a multitude of ways. • There may be more than one (or two or 10) Daniel Murphy’s, Lawrence Ryan’s – and even Thomas Ferbrache’s. • Middle names are not a big deal in her family (Roxanne doesn’t even have one). • Her descendants moved around – a lot – with little or no regard to leaving a paper trail. • Whoever wrote that family history was a creative writer.
Fortunately for Roxanne, she joined the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society who taught her a thing or two about genealogy research. She’s attended many conferences, workshops and seminars – learning something new at each. She’s even traveled to Ireland and New Brunswick, Canada looking for Murphy’s and Ryan’s. Next on her travel wish list is to go to Guernsey in the Channel Islands (with a side stop in London) to visit her Ferbrache ancestral land.
Roxanne retired a few years ago from the Washington State Auditor’s Office in Olympia. She had previously worked for Governors Gregoire and Locke as a project manager on the welfare and performance measure programs. When not searching for her family history, she enjoys scrapbooking, quilting, sewing, machine embroidery and just about every other paper and fabric art. She and her husband Gary have five children and nine adored grandchildren. You can often read about Roxanne’s fun-filled adventures with her grandchildren on her Facebook page.
Roxanne on Stanserhorn Mountain in Switzerland, June 2023.
A few more interesting tidbits about Roxanne: • Favorite genealogy websites: Ancestry, MyHeritage and Google • Favorite color: Red • Favorite dessert: Apple pie • When asked for one word that described her, she replied, “Busy!”
Now you know a little more about another of the WSGS Board members. The next time you see Roxanne say hello and thank her for her service to WSGS.
The French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut (FCGSC) is a small society that operates a genealogical research library focused primarily, though not exclusively, on French Canadian and New England ancestry. During the past several years they have received a large number of donated books, many of which either duplicate current holdings or do not fit into the scope of their collections. With limited storage space in their 200-year-old building, they are offering these excess books for sale. Most are used, many out of print and difficult to obtain. The majority are library copies that have been on their shelves or in donors’ collections, though some are new and unused.
A list that is being updated frequently can be found on their website at https://www.fcgsc.org/books-for-sale. Please contact then at info@fcgsc.org, ATTN: Library Director for additional information.
The Washington Pioneer Pursuit contest is a little over half done. So far, we have more than 600 pioneers identified in our index and many more in the review process. While the contest part (a prize for everyone!) ends October 31, 2023, the program will continue as we march toward identifying every man, woman and child that lived in Washington Territory on or before Nov. 11, 1889.
We’re sure you’re not the only one with a question or two about the Pioneer Pursuit Contest. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. To see a list of other FAQs, click here.
I don’t have any ancestors who were in Washington Territory. Can I still participate in Pioneer Pursuit?
You bet you can! You don’t need to be related to any Pioneer to submit their name (& two subsequent generations) in the Pioneer Pursuit. Just pick a Pioneer from a census record, land record or any other good source, and start researching!
I don’t belong to WSGS or a genealogical society. Can I still participate?
Yes! You do not have to be a member of WSGS to participate, but please consider it. To join, click here. Or if you’re interested in a local genealogical society, click here. But if you’d rather go it alone, we’re happy to accept your submissions.
Click HEREfor a video presentation explaining Pioneer Pursuit and answering questions. This video recording is from the Pioneer Pursuit Roundtable discussion, 24 Apr 2023.
The Washington Pioneer Pursuit contest is a little over half done. So far, we have more than 500 pioneers identified in our index and many more in the review process. While the contest part (a prize for everyone!) ends October 31, 2023, the program will continue as we march toward identifying every man, woman and child that lived in Washington Territory on or before Nov. 11, 1889.
We’re sure you’re not the only one with a question or two about the Pioneer Pursuit Contest. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. To see a list of other FAQs, click here.
Are Pioneer Pursuit and the Pioneer Certificate program the same?
No, they’re not the same. The Pioneer Pursuit Contest is designed to document every man, woman and child that lived in Washington Territory on or before November 11, 1889. The Pioneer Certificate (and First Citizen) program is a way to purchase a certificate signifying that your ancestor was in Washington Territory on or before statehood. If your ancestor was in Washington on or before December 31, 1900, you may be eligible to purchase a First Citizen Certificate. To get more information about the Pioneer Certificate program, click here.
I already have a Pioneer Certificate. Can I use that information for Pioneer Pursuit?
Absolutely! All you need to do is complete the Pioneer Pursuit application form, noting your pioneer ancestor is in the Pioneer Certificate program. We’ll pull the information over from one program to the other.
Click HEREfor a video presentation explaining Pioneer Pursuit and answering questions. This video recording is from the Pioneer Pursuit Roundtable discussion, 24 Apr 2023.
Do you know who’s running the show at the Washington State Genealogical Society? Who are these people? In the coming months, we’ll introduce them to you, so you can say “hi” the next time you see them. (Note: a variation of Frank’s story was published in July 2017.)
Frank McLean
In today’s “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Frank McLean. Frank lives in Yakima and is the WSGS Treasurer and chair of the Pioneer and First Citizen Program. He is also one of the main reviewers of the Pioneer Pursuit submissions. He has been a member of the WSGS since 1986, previously serving as President and Vice President. He was named as a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer in 2003, 2005 and 2006. He’s been a proud member (and past President) of the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society since 1986.
Frank’s high school picture
Frank Leroy McLean was born in Chewelah (Stevens County), Washington in 1937 to Jonathan Cornelius and Margaret Ella (Starz) McLean, the third of six children. After high school, Frank served proudly in the Army for 20-plus years, then worked for 19 years at the U.S. Department of Defense, with a short break in between working in Spokane. In 1958, Frank married Delma Dee Roloff. They have three surviving children and seven grandchildren.
John Robertson McLean (1847 – 1919). Frank’s grandfather was born in Nova Scotia and moved to St. James, Minnesota in 1870 where he started a church in a boxcar.
Speaking of Germans from Russia…that’s how Frank got his interest in genealogy. No, he doesn’t have German ancestors from Russia, but Delma does. She joined the Central Washington chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Society in 1985 and Frank tagged along as “driver, cemetery walker and microfilm cranker.” From there, his interest grew. His ancestors hail from Germany, Nova Scotia, Maine and Minnesota. Frank’s grandfather, John Robertson McLean (pictured at left) was born in Nova Scotia, but moved to St. James, Minnesota in 1870. While there, he started a church in a boxcar. Frank and his family attended the 125th anniversary of the church, where they were given a copy of the picture that hangs in the church. There is also a miniature replica of the boxcar on the lawn in front of the church.
Frank likes the research part of the genealogical search, but he’s not as thrilled with the documentation part. He also prefers his hard-copy paper charts and lists over paperless research.
A few more interesting tidbits about Frank: • Favorite genealogy website: Family Search • Favorite color: Blue • Favorite dessert: Lemon Cream Pie
Now you know a little more about another of the WSGS Board members. The next time you see Frank, say hello and thank him for his service to WSGS.
The Washington Pioneer Pursuit contest is a little over half done. So far, we have more than 250 pioneers identified in our index and many more in the review process. While the contest part (a prize for everyone!) ends October 31, 2023, the program will continue as we march toward identifying every man, woman and child that lived in Washington Territory on or before Nov. 11, 1889.
We’re sure you’re not the only one with a question or two about the Pioneer Pursuit Contest. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. To see a list of other FAQs, click here.
What is the Washington Pioneer Pursuit challenge?
Our goal is to research and document the family histories of every man, woman and child who lived in Washington Territory on or before Statehood was declared on November 11, 1889.
At a minimum, we want genealogies for the Pioneer, his/her children, and his/her grandchildren – a total of three (3) generations. If you want to include additional generations, please do so.
The family histories are posted online for any interested family history researcher. There is no charge to access the histories and you do not have to be a member of WSGS.
Are Pioneer Pursuit and the Pioneer Certificate program the same?
No, they’re not the same. The Pioneer Pursuit Contest is designed to document every man, woman and child that lived in Washington Territory on or before November 11, 1889. The Pioneer Certificate (and First Citizens) program is a way to purchase a certificate signifying that your ancestor was in Washington Territory on or before statehood. If your ancestor was in Washington on or before December 31, 1900, you may be eligible to purchase a First Citizen Certificate. To get more information about the Pioneer Certificate program, click here.
How do I get started?
Before beginning your research, we suggest you check the WSGS Pioneer Index. You may find the Pioneer you’re planning to research has already been researched. If you do find the Pioneer in the index, please send an email to Washington State Genealogical Society asking to see the genealogical data associated with the pioneer. If you are a WSGS member, you already have access to the complete Pioneer histories in the Members’ Only section. If you’re not a member, we encourage you to join so you have full access to all the data. It is only $12.00 per year.
We also suggest you take a look at the Hints and Helps document available here.
Click HEREfor a video presentation explaining Pioneer Pursuit and answering questions. This video recording is from the Pioneer Pursuit Roundtable discussion, 24 Apr 2023.
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