 images of the Denny Hotel (later the Washington Hotel)
and the Denny Hill regrade courtesy Library of CongressSPOTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR SGS TOUR EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF SEATTLE’S DENNY HILL Between 1898 and 1930, Seattle completed its most audacious engineering change by eliminating Denny Hill at the north end of downtown. By the end of the project, Seattleites had washed and scraped more than 11 million cubic yards of landscape, reducing the previously 240-foot-high mound to its present pancake topography. Join author-naturalist David B. Williams on May 14 as he guides attendees on this walking tour of this historic part of Seattle. Williams will discuss the full scope of this massive regrade project, point out often overlooked but still existing evidence of the topographic changes, and explain how this reshaping of the Seattle’s landscape continues to shape Seattle and those who call it home.
The walk covers about two miles of flat terrain and lasts between 90-120 minutes, depending on how many questions are asked.
Registration fee: $40 (SGS Members $30)Register NowDavid B. Williams is an author, naturalist, and tour guide whose award-winning books include Homewaters: A Human and Natural History of Puget Sound and Too High and Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle’s Topography, as well as Seattle Walks: Discovering History and Nature in the City. His newest book, Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature is a best of collection from his free weekly Substack newsletter, the Street Smart Naturalist.edc. BEGINNING GENEALOGY CLASS STARTS
TUESDAY, MAY 13
Motivated to learn more about your family’s story? Want to learn how DNA can help?SGS will be offering a new beginning Genealogy class this month. This class fun, online and interactive will give you the tools to succeed in your research. Act quickly, spots are still open for both the morning and afternoon times.
This class includes four weekly sessions online with a fifth, optional session in person at the SGS library. The class covers how to successfully conduct, organize, and record research for your genealogy. How to begin? How to evaluate evidence? What are the best sources? Where are the records–online and off? What can DNA tell us?
Classes start on May 13 with two options for class time: Afternoon class, Tuesdays 1:00-2:30 p.m. Evening class, Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 p.m. Weeks 1 – 4 will meet virtually and consist of lecture, discussion, and workshop for one-and-a-half-hours each session.
Week 5 (optional) includes a library tour and one-on-one research assistance.
There is a limit of 20 people per class. Class fee $80 (SGS members $60).
Learn More and Register SECOND SATURDAY PRESENTATION TO FOCUS ON JEWISH GENEALOGYWherever you are in your Jewish family history journey, this is a session you won’t want to miss. Learn how to start your research, document your findings, and explore the cultural and historical context that shaped your ancestors—and still shapes us today. Rhoda Miller, Ed.D., CG®, breaks down this fascinating area of research in a way that’s insightful and accessible for both beginners and those with experience.Register NowMiller has been a certified genealogist since 1998, specializing in Jewish research and Holocaust studies. Rhoda retired from Ancestry ProGenealogists in 2023. She is Past President of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Long Island and currently serves on the Liaison Committee of the International Association of Jewish Genealogy Societies. She is a past board member of LitvakSIG and currently coordinates the Svencionys Research District.NEXT MONTH’S SECOND SATURDAY: “Genealogical Proof for the Everyday Genealogist,” presented by Annette Burke Lyttle. How do we know if the facts we’ve uncovered about our ancestors are correct? How can we be sure we’re not accidentally attaching someone else’s family to our tree? This presentation explores these common challenges and how the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) acts as a framework for producing reliable, accurate research. Sign up separately for this event held June 14.
image of a Ketubah marriage record courtesy of Library of Congress
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING COMING JUNE 14 — JUST BEFORE SECOND SATURDAY PRESENTATIONCome early for the June Second Saturday presentation and be a part of what SGS has planned for the year ahead. Join us on Zoom June 14 at 12:30 p.m. to meet the 2025-2026 SGS Board and discuss the election results. This meeting will be followed by the Second Saturday presentation.
DIGITAL KNOW HOW: PRESERVE YOUR RECORDS AND YOUR PRIVACYJoin SGS’s Virtual Sunday gathering May 18 for a practical session on managing family history in the digital era while maintaining privacy. Learn effective techniques for collecting family photos and documents from various sources, implementing organizational systems with proper tagging, creating secure preservation methods outside of cloud services, and developing private archives that support both personal storytelling and genealogical research.
Speaker J.C. Figueroa of Mylio — a maker of digital photo management tools — is passionate about empowering families to preserve and celebrate their cherished memories. As an underwater photographer, photo organization educator, and media technology professional, Figueroa brings a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise to the art of legacy preservation. His mission is to inspire families to take control of their photo collections and turn them into meaningful stories that can be shared and treasured for generations.
4CULTURE INCREASES FUNDING TO SGSKing County’s 4Culture program has been powering SGS for more than a decade. They have provided SGS with annual funding in support of our library operations, and in exchange SGS allows free access to anyone who wants to use the library or its computers. Last year SGS received $5,700 from the sustainment grant with 4Culture, and this year they are increasing that to $23,000 and are hoping to provide at least that much in 2026 and 2027! This wonderful gift from King County will allow SGS to look at expanding our offerings and programs. Be sure to thank your King County representative for this great program.
SGS LIBRARY NEWS:SGS Digital HoldingsHave you checked out the SGS Digital Holdings lately? We have over 300 items and continue to add to our digital holdings materials. These include: Family Collections (personal papers, documents – some even include Civil War pension files – and manuscripts related to family history research); Surnames (materials previously shelved in our Family Section); and Digital Archives (a variety of materials including, newspapers abstracts of early Seattle births, marriages, divorces, and naturalizations, and cemetery surveys). To search our catalog for specific items in our Digital Holding, enter the following in the search fields:
 The Digital Holdings files may only be accessed on one of the library’s patron
computers.
HISTORY GUILD ACCEPTING PRESENTATION PROPOSALS FOR UPCOMING CONFERENCEThe Pacific Northwest Historians Guild will hold its biennial conference on Saturday, October 11, at the Central Seattle Public Library. They are accepting proposals for anyone who may be interested in presenting at the conference. Past conferences have included presentations from public historians, teachers, students and independent scholars, museum professionals and volunteers, as well as scholars affiliated with colleges and universities. There is no charge to attend or participate in the conference.
Apply by June 15, 2025 to be considered.
This year’s conference title is “Challenging History.” Organizers invite you to share your experiences of meeting challenges faced in reporting, teaching or preserving history, or in telling stories of those who have faced challenges in our region’s history. Potential areas of focus might include: The impact of modern technology on historical research and study Meeting challenges in the classroom – truth, fiction and historical analysis Challenges facing local historical groups Making history through collaborative group effort Ethical challenges when shaping the collective memory Preserving and archiving history Proposals for panels or roundtables are also welcome. The organizer should include a panel abstract along with summaries of each presentation and bios of all participants. Workshops or interactive presentations are encouraged. Scholarships are also available to undergraduate and graduate students for travel to the conference.
The Guild was founded in 1980 to encourage the teaching and appreciation of Northwest history and to promote communication among historians and history enthusiasts. We look forward to your proposals, as we continue our rich tradition of sharing Pacific Northwest history.
SGS MEMBERS — IT’S TIME TO RENEWTo renew your membership for 2025-26 log in to your account online at Members Home. Or print a membership application and send it together with your dues payment to SGS. Or… take a stroll through the spring blooms at the Good Shepherd Center and stop by the SGS Library to renew your membership in person!
Renew in the Member’s PortalWant to become a member? Read all about it at Join SGS.
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. All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted Thursday, May 1, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), At this first meeting, we will get acquainted, discuss ideas and goals for this new SIG. Topic: “AI and genealogy. What?”, Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org.
Saturday, May 3, 2025, 10:15 a.m.- 12:15 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 4, 2025, 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 5, 2025, 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 5, 2025, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., NEW! 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 7, 2025, 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 websiteSaturday, May 10, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Jewish Genealogy 101” Presented by Rhoda Miller. Register here.Monday, May 12, 2025, 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 12, 2025, 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 13, 2025, 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.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., NEW! 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.
Tuesday, May 13 2025, 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. Different Day, this month only!
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-noon, SGS Walking Tour of Denny Hill, The Secrets of Seattle’s Disappearing Hill with David B. Williams. Limited to 15 people. Register now.
Wednesday, May 14 2025, 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 15, 2025, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., SGS Quarterly Program Planning (Virtual), be a part of SGS’s strategic planning effort, collaborate with the leaders of our education programs (e.g., SIGs, field trips, classes, seminars, discussion groups). Register here.
Saturday, May 17, 2024, 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, May 17, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), Share what you know OR get help with problems in your own research. Register on the SGS website.
Sunday, May 18, 2025, 1:00 pm- 2:30 pm, Virtual Sunday: Something Old, Something New, Digital Family History: Preserving Your Legacy with Privacy
Speaker: J.C. Figueroa, sponsored by Mylio.com. Please register in advance.
Monday, May 19, 2025, 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.Tuesday, April 20, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-noon, “Pass It On” Writers’ Group, Create your family history and share with others in an effort to improve your writing. This group is currently accepting new members. Send queries to SGSPassItOn@seagensoc.org.
Wednesday, May. 19, 2025, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., SGS Library Evening Hours, Come by and join host, Lisa Oberg, for a quiet, comfortable place to work on your genealogy research. Every 3rd Wednesday of the month.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 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 the change to Wednesday.
Thursday, May 22 2025, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Eastern European SIG, Learn about researching family history from the Balkans to the Baltics and in between. For more information email sgseasterneuropesig@seagensoc.org.
Monday, May 26, 2025, 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.Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 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.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 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.
Sunday, June 1, 2025, 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, June 2, 2025, 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, June 2, 2025, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., NEW! 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, June 4, 2025, 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 websiteSaturday, June 7, 2025, 10:15 a.m.- 12:15 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.
Monday, June 9, 2025, 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, June 9, 2025, 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, June 10, 2025, 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.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., NEW! 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.
OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND Fiske Genealogical Library Classes (Free)
Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m. May 7 — Who “Owned” Solomon? A Case study of 19th Century African American Research with Janice Lovelace May 14 — “Packrat or Genealogist? Effective Methods for Organizing Your Family History Research” with Lisa Alzo May 21 — “Wills & Probate Records for Genealogy Research” with Claire Smith May 28 — “The Nuts and Bolts of Accreditation” with Jenny Hansen For more information and links to the meetings see the Fiske Library website.
Family Tree Maker SIG
Eastside Genealogical Society
Friday, May 16, 2025, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 p.m.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.
English Immigration to the American Colonies
American Ancestors by NEHGS (Virtual)
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, noon—1:00 p.m.Whether your ancestors arrived at Jamestown, on the Mayflower, or came over in the years following, the majority of us with colonial ancestry hope to trace our family trees back to England. In this online lecture, Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure will highlight key records and resources available to help you in your search—including published genealogies, compilations, indexes, websites, and more. Get more information and registration, or learn more about events offered through American Ancestors.
“Using Synagogue Records to Reconstruct a Community” (Virtual)
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State
Monday, May 12, 7:00 p.m.
Presenter Tammy Hepps shares tips for using these records vital to learning about a community. Register to attend.
“After You’re Gone: Future Proofing Your Genealogy Research”
Lower Columbia Genealogical SocietyThursday, May 8, 2025, 6:45 p.m.
Thomas MacEntee shares information about passing your research on to the next generation. Sign up for Zoom link on their website.
Join SGS Today* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page
and click the green renew membership button. May 1, 2025
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photos courtey Zoshua Colah, Erol Ahmed, Dan Cristian Padure,
Annette
Bernice Keller Keller joined SGS more than thirty years ago and has contributed her talents and energy to the society throughout her membership. During 2000-2009 she was one of the six dedicated volunteers who completed the massive King Co Court Records indexing project, creating what we know today as the “KC3I” database. She has been a regular Thursday volunteer on the Archives Committee since at least 2012, while also serving as a Library Trustee (2011-14), on the Nominating Committee (2014), and on the Financial Review Committee (2015). Bernice was twice honored as the SGS Volunteer of the Quarter (Spring 2012 and Summer 2024).
TOP: Author-naturalist David B. Williams points to a portion of a photo from the Denny regrade. Williams led SGS attendees on a tour of downtown Seattle May 14.
courtesy Susan McKee David B. Williams shows attendees features on a map. The Denny regrade was Seattle’s most audacious engineering change eliminating Denny Hill at the north end of downtown. By the end of the project, Seattleites had washed and scraped more than 11 million cubic yards of landscape, reducing the previously 240-foot-high mound to its present pancake topography. 
MAY HAPPENINGS
