THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition October 24, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Grab the Last Seats at Genealogy Boot Camp for Beginners

Ever been squeezed out of Boot Camp because the class was full? Hate being in large classes? Worried about finding parking? Then this may be your best opportunity to attend. There are a few seats left. But act now, because registration closes tonight, Oct. 24, at 11:30 p.m.

Laurel Smith will cover how to get started, organization, online trees and database programs, the census, and vital records — all geared toward beginners — but basic computer skills are a prerequisite. All communications are done via email, and you must be able to download and print the class notes. Bring a sack lunch, snacks, and a beverage so you can keep going as the class does. Free for GFO members! Just $20 for non-members. Genealogy Boot Camp for Beginners on October 27th has lots of seats still available. Please register today!

Register Now

Save the date: December 3rd is Giving Tuesday

What if all GFO’s members came together on just one day to give? For GFO, GivingTuesday isn’t about fundraising. It’s about banding together for a volunteer blitz to accomplish one large task.

Please save the date: December 3rd Come to the GFO for all or part of the day to help. GFO will provide pastries, fruit, and coffee in the morning, pizza and pop in the afternoon. You provide the people power. All participants are eligible to receive a pass for free admission to the GFO library–for themsleves or others that can be used later. Please help.

Halloween = Shorter Hours

Just a reminder! The GFO Library will close early at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31.

The Missing Link…

Oops! We left a link out of the handout from last Saturday’s GenTalk on death records by Pam Vestal. Click this button:

Death Records Link

This is the International Classification of Diseases decoder key for the code entered in the cause of death section on death certificates, which is useful because the handwriting often is unreadable.

Seminar Tables For Sale

As we mentioned last week, the GFO recently replaced its classroom tables with ones that weigh less and will be easier to move when reconfiguring the room. Our old tables are still in great shape. They’re great for crafts too. They’re 6 feet long but only 18 inches deep, making them great for more compact spaces.

Do you know anyone who could use them? Their strong legs are metal and the table tops are laminated wood with rubber edges. All fold-flat when not in use. We have 7 of these tables left for sale and are offering a discount on the set: $20 a piece, or $130 for the set of 7. Please contact library@gfo.org if you are interested. Pickup is required at the GFO library.

PCS Offers GFO Discount to New Play “Redwood”

We are delighted that Portland Center Stage is offering friends of GFO two special offers for an upcoming play that happens to revolve around genealogy! Redwood is billed as “a beautiful, humor-filled excavation of our shared history. When Steve Durbin sets out to chart his Black family’s ancestry online, his revelations unwittingly throw his entire family into turmoil.”

On October 26, GFO President Vince Patton and Director at Large Julie Ramos, will speak before the performance, at about 6:45 p.m., about all the GFO offers and why we find building personal links to history so valuable. Redwood runs from October 26 through November 17 at Portland Center Stage at the Armory. PCS has two offers for friends of the GFO: October 26: Use promo code “GFO” for $25 tickets. October 27-November 17: Use promo code “COMMUNITY” for $10 off tickets. Get tickets here.

Surplus Book: Larson/Johnson Family History

Maggie Kitts poured her heart and soul into A Larson/Johnson Family of East Union, Minnesota, published in 1994. This family history runs an impressive 562 pages, tracing families of this region back to the early 1800s. Added bonus: the book begins with Grandma Nilla’s Filled Oatmeal Cookies recipe!

This comprehensive tome is in excellent shape. In fact, the GFO has five copies of this family history in mint condition. Pick up at GFO Price: $10 Ship to You Price: $16 If you’d like to buy one, help yourself to one copy on our $10 shelves up front, or contact booksales@gfo.org for the other copies in storage.

This week at GFO …

Saturday, October 26th Advanced DNA 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tim Janzen will give a presentation about using autosomal DNA to help trace unknown ancestors who were born in the 1700s or in the early 1800s. He will illustrate the various approaches that one can take to solving these types of genealogical challenges. Multiple case studies will be presented. Please check the GFO Online Calendar for a link to the handout. Sunday, October 27th Beginner’s Boot Camp 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm Join Laurel Smith for her popular full-day class aimed at helping the beginner with getting started, organization, online trees and database programs, the census, and vital records. Basic computer skills are a prerequisite. Registration is required by 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24. Wednesday, October 30th GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 31st Happy Halloween! GFO Library Closes at 1:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition October 17, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Genealogy Boot Camp for Beginners

Ever been squeezed out of Boot Camp because the class was full? Hate being in large classes? Worried about finding parking? Then this may be your best opportunity to attend.

Laurel Smith will cover how to get started, organization, online trees and database programs, the census, and vital records — all geared toward beginners — but basic computer skills are a prerequisite. All communications are done via email, and you must be able to download and print the class notes. Bring a sack lunch, snacks, and a beverage so you can keep going as the class does. GFO members may attend for free, non-members $20. Genealogy Boot Camp for Beginners on October 27th has lots of seats still available. Please register today!

Register Now

Free GenTalk: Life in the Records of Death

Mark your calendars. Professional genealogist Pam Vestal returns on Saturday, October 19 with a free GenTalk from 2 – 3 p.m. called Discovering Your Ancestor’s Life in Records of Death. Sometimes the best way to learn about an ancestor’s life is to dig into the mountain of paperwork created by his death. We’ll explore the surprisingly abundant information that is collected when a death occurs and glimpse just how much these records can reveal, not only about our ancestors’ deaths, but also about their lives. Pam Vestal entered the field of genealogy after a 21-year career as a professional writer. She does genealogical research for clients, has articles published in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, and lectures up and down the West Coast. All GenTalks are free and open to the public at the GFO Library.

Immediate Opening: Editor Needed for The Forum Insider

Would you be willing to help share vital information about the GFO and genealogy with our subscribers? This key position will be vacant soon. We need someone (or a team) who can compile, layout, and distribute eight Insiders per year. Helpful skills: Intermediate-level computer software skills; writing and editing skills a plus; clear communication skills, both written and verbal; ability to interact with GFO’s Board Members, patrons, committee members, and affiliate organization representatives. The editor edits and lays out articles using Microsoft Word, and ultimately, Adobe Acrobat. We will provide the software, training, and a team of editors and proofreaders to help. Work follows a strict schedule so that distribution deadlines are met. Please contact our president, Vince Patton, at president@gfo.org if you can help!

Save the date: December 3rd is Giving Tuesday

What if all GFO’s members came together on just one day to give? For GFO, GivingTuesday isn’t about fundraising. It’s about banding together to accomplish one large task.

Please save the date: December 3rd and come to the GFO all or part of the day to help. GFO will provide pastries, fruit, and coffee in the morning, pizza and pop in the afternoon. You provide the people power. Please help.

Seminar Tables For Sale

The GFO recently replaced its classroom tables with ones that weigh less and will be easier to move when reconfiguring the room. Our old tables are still in great shape. Do you know anyone who could use them?These “Seminar Tables” are 72 “ (6-feet) long and 18” deep. They stand 29 inches high.

Their strong legs are metal and the table tops are laminated wood with rubber edges. All fold-flat when not in use. We have 10 of these tables for sale: $20 a piece, or $175 for the set of 10. Please contact library@gfo.org if you are interested. Pickup is required at the GFO library.

PCS Offers GFO Discount to New Play “Redwood”

We are delighted that Portland Center Stage is offering friends of GFO two special offers for an upcoming play that happens to revolve around genealogy! Redwood is billed as “a beautiful, humor-filled excavation of our shared history. When Steve Durbin sets out to chart his Black family’s ancestry online, his revelations unwittingly throw his entire family into turmoil.” On October 26, GFO President Vince Patton and Director at Large Julie Ramos, will speak before the performance, at about 6:45 p.m., about all the GFO offers and why we find building personal links to history so valuable. Redwood runs from October 26 through November 17 at Portland Center Stage at the Armory. PCS has two offers for friends of the GFO: October 26: Use promo code “GFO” for $25 tickets. October 27-November 17: Use promo code “COMMUNITY” for $10 off tickets. Get tickets here.

Surplus Book: Kegley’s Virginia 1840-1785

Do you remember when Virginia was the southwest edge of the American frontier? No, we don’t either. But your ancestors might well have been part of the early colonial settlements. This 786-page book could be a treasure trove for those with Virginia roots. Kegley’s Virginia Frontier, The Beginning of the Southwest, The Roanoke of Colonial Days, 1740-1783, with Maps and Illustrations by F. B. Kegley was published in 1938 by The Southwest Virginia Historical Society.

“The arrival of each newcomer with his place of settlement is chronicled and his experiences and subsequent movements appropriately recounted,” wrote F. B. Kegley in the preface. This book is full of wonderful fold-out maps, and the pages are are as crisp and readable as the day they were printed. The binding is starting to come loose at the rear cover. Otherwise, it’s in very good shape. Pickup at GFO Price – $45 Ship to You Price – $52 If you’re interested in buying it, contact booksales@gfo.org.

Survey Results: Using the GFO Online Catalog

There were 37 responses to last week’s survey which asked about using GFO’s online library catalog. We hope those of you who haven’t checked out the catalog will do so soon.

Most of the comments indicated that respondents have used the online catalog BOTH at home and at the library. One person said, “It’s really handy to look up books at home then go to the library prepared with a list,“ and we couldn’t agree more. It’s a fabulous tool.

And for the person who said, “Have not yet used the library – live too far – so I do not use the catalog,” we’d like to encourage you to check out the catalog no matter how far away you are. We may have a resource that would help your research. Our research team (for a small fee) can copy a small portion of a book or check our resources for you. Also … some content in the catalog is available wherever you are. And that content is growing all the time. Look up Bliss or Idaho Newspaper Clippings to see a sample of what’s available from your home.

New Survey:

For those who’ve used GFO’s online library catalog, we’d like to know what features you’ve used and what you like best or find most helpful.

Take the Survey

This week at GFO …

Saturday, October 19th Genealogy Problem Solvers 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Martha Ellen Adams was born in 1839 in Mississippi and had FOURTEEN brothers and sisters. But the ancestral trail back into history stops there. Who were her parents, especially the rugged woman who was mother of these fifteen children? Please join us as we plunge headlong into 1800 Tennessee, the brick wall state, to determine a GFO member’s 3rd great grandparents. Beginners and intermediate researchers are encouraged to submit problems to work on at future meetings. For questions or more information contact Katie Daly at GPS@gfo.org. African American Ancestry Group 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. “Bring Your Own Brick Wall.” Bring your problems, questions, and documents (copies, please, no originals), and we will brainstorm to come up with information and suggestions that can direct your next steps and may help you solve some of your family mysteries. For more information, contact us at african_american@gfo.org. GenTalk: Records of Death 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Join Pam Vestal as she presents Discovering Your Ancestor’s Life in Records of Death. We’ll explore the surprisingly abundant information that is collected when a death occurs and glimpse just how much these records can reveal, not only about our ancestors’ deaths, but also about their lives. GenTalks are free to the public. Sunday, October 20th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. Noon There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. Family Tree Maker for Beginners 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. This is a beginning class for Family Tree Maker users and for those considering a purchase of the software. This class is offered quarterly. Questions? Or if you have Family Tree Maker topics you’d like covered, email Joyce and Laurel at FTM@gfo.org. French Canada Group 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Share stories of our history. Come and join this group to learn more about French Canadian ancestry and Acadia. The group leader is Bob LaMarche and you can email him at FrCan@gfo.org. Wednesday, October 23rd PMUG College (Mac Users) 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Portland Mac Users Group College features: Getting Creative with Apple’s Free Apps • See how Pages Templates assist your creativity • Amaze your friends with Keynote Slideshows • …. and much more! Bring your Mac/iPad to participate with instruction. To register: Call 503-228-1779; Email: college@pmug.org. If you would like additional info for attending this class, please email us. This is free for GFO members. GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition October 10, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Genealogy Boot Camp for Beginners

Ever been squeezed out of Boot Camp because the class was full? Hate being in large classes? Then this may be your best opportunity to attend.

Laurel Smith will cover how to get started, organization, online trees and database programs, the census, and vital records — all geared toward beginners — but basic computer skills are a prerequisite. All communications are done via email, and you must be able to download and print the class notes. Bring a sack lunch, snacks, and a beverage so you can keep going as the class does. GFO members may attend for free, non-members $20. Genealogy Boot Camp for Beginners on October 27th has only a few folks registered. Register today!

Register Now

Free GenTalk: Death Records

Join us for our next free GenTalk on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 2 – 3 p.m. Presenter: Pam Vestal Sometimes the best way to learn about an ancestor’s life is to dig into the mountain of paperwork created by his death. We’ll explore the surprisingly abundant information that is collected when a death occurs and glimpse just how much these records can reveal, not only about our ancestors’ deaths, but also about their lives. Pam Vestal entered the field of genealogy after a 21-year career as a professional writer. She does genealogical research for clients, has articles published in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly, and lectures up and down the West Coast. All GenTalks are free and open to the public at the GFO Library.

GFO October Star: Cathy Lauer

Anyone who visits the GFO library is likely to see Cathy Lauer’s friendly face and welcoming smile, as Cathy works our front desk more than anyone else. Cathy managed the schedule of Research Assistants for a decade! That’s longer than most of us have been volunteering. She works on vital library projects when things are slow, and she rarely misses a Sunday Work Party. We can’t think of anyone more deserving of Star status! Thank you, Cathy!

Immediate Opening: Editor Needed for The Forum Insider

We are so grateful to LauraDenise White for her superb service for the last two years as the editor of The Forum Insider. Unfortunately, she must step away and we need someone to edit our almost-monthly newsletter.

Would you like to be the one who shares key information about genealogy and the GFO with members and non-members alike? It’s critical we get information out and need someone who can compile and distribute it eight times per year. The editor collects articles and lays them out using Adobe Acrobat. We’ll provide the software and the training. Editing of submissions is often required, following the GFO style guide. Work follows a strict schedule so that we can meet our distribution deadlines. If you have interest or experience, please contact our president, Vince Patton, at president@gfo.org.

News from the GFO Library

The GFO Library recently received, Index to Virginia Estates 1800-1865 by Wesley E. Pippenger. With help from two generous donors, GFO now has the complete series of these books (volumes 1 – 10) the contents of which are arranged by geographic region and provide an index of all items recorded in will books created by a Virginia county or city from 1800 to 1865. The newest arrivals are on the New Book shelves, but will soon find their way to the Virginia section in the library, call number 975.40 .Court Est 1800-1865.

PCS Offers GFO Discount to New Play “Redwood”

We are delighted that Portland Center Stage is offering friends of GFO two special offers for an upcoming play that happens to revolve around genealogy! Redwood is billed as “a beautiful, humor-filled excavation of our shared history. When Steve Durbin sets out to chart his Black family’s ancestry online, his revelations unwittingly throw his entire family into turmoil.” On October 26, GFO President Vince Patton and Director at Large Julie Ramos, will talk before the performance at about 6:45 p.m. about all the GFO offers and why we find building personal links to history so valuable. Redwood runs from October 26 through November 17 at Portland Center Stage at the Armory. PCS has two offers for friends of the GFO: October 26: Use promo code “GFO” for $25 tickets. October 27-November 17: Use promo code “COMMUNITY” for $10 off tickets. Get tickets here.

Surplus Book: 122 Year Old Wisconsin Blue Book

Many states publish Blue Books. They encapsulate that year with information about the state’s politics, election results, census, economy and more. They’re a great snapshot in time. The GFO has a spare copy to sell of the Wisconsin Blue Book of 1897. It was compiled under the direction of Secretary of State Henry Casson. Ours is a retired library copy, with library marks on page edges.

The book is in good shape with a sound spine, but visible wear around the edges of the cover. Our price: $28 if you pick up at the GFO $33 if we mail it to you. Please contact booksales@gfo.org if you are interested.

Survey Results: Education of your Ancestors

We had 54 responses to our queries about ancestral education. The majority of respondents’ parents and grandparents graduated high school or received a GED.

And the majority had one or more parents who received schooling after high school.

Here are a few of the comments we received: ▪ I have a great picture of my grandfather graduating from Night High School in New York City in @ 1904. ▪ I have a 2 great grand uncle who graduated from medical school in 1890’s as well as a uncle who did it in 1930’s.

▪ My paternal grandfather, his siblings, and parents immigrated from Germany in the 1880s. He died when my father, the oldest of five, was 11 years old. Dad had to work on the farm they rented. My generation had more opportunities: four of my father’s five children graduated from college—one with a PhD; the fifth has an Associate Degree. The generation after us? The cost of higher education has been challenging. Many who have graduated from college are saddled with student loans.

New Survey: Using the GFO Online Catalog

We’d like to know how many of our readers have used GFO’s online library catalog. Please take this week’s survey to let us know.

Take the Survey

This week at GFO …

Friday, October 11th Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. This Special Interest Group (SIG) pertains specifically to Mexican ancestors from Mexico and the American Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California). Beginning and intermediate researchers are welcome. Some subjects will include online parish records, Hispanic genealogy societies, Family History Library/FamilySearch.org. Ancestry.com, solving genealogical problems, methodology of organizing your research, etc. For questions or comments, please email group leader Vince Ramirez at sw@gfo.org Saturday, October 12th Great Lakes Region Interest Group 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. This month we will talk about what interests you! Were there any loyalists, criminals, preachers, or soldiers in your family? Any new research surprises? What parts of the region’s history capture your attention lately? What brick walls can we help you with? Bring your ideas for a smörgåsbord of topics about the Great Lakes Region. If your ancestors were in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or Ontario CANADA, or if you simply want to come to listen, you are most welcome to attend. For more information contact Lynn Rossing at GreatLakes@gfo.org Writers Forum 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. This is a peer group of genealogists, who meet to learn about writing and to share our writing with each other. Peggy Baldwin facilitates this group and can be reached at writers@gfo.org. Sunday, October 13th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. Noon There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. Wednesday, October 16th Learn and Chat 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. In this group, some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan and Sandy Alto. Questions? learnandchat@gfo.org DNA Q&A: The Basics 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Today’s presentation will be “Jumpstart You DNA Discoveries”, which covers the steps to set up your autosomal DNA testing account to make it more inviting to your matches so that they want to connect with you. It also covers some biogeographical estimation (ethnicity) comparisons and basic navigations of Ancestry.com and My Heritage companies’ websites. It is ideal for those new to DNA testing for genealogy and may also be helpful to those who are having difficulty navigating the websites. If you want to follow along, bring your laptops or other mobile devices. The handout can be downloaded here. This meeting is for those who are just beginning to use DNA testing for genealogy. Each class begins with a presentation of general information about DNA testing. General questions regarding DNA testing are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. Lisa McCullough leads this group.. Questions? dna_qa@gfo.org Irish Interest Group 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Lisa McCullough, Leader of the GFO DNA Q&A, will be the guest speaker at our October meeting. We are so fortunate to have Lisa McCullough who hosts the GFO’s DNA beyond the basics (1st Wednesday of the month) and DNA basics (3rd Wednesday of the month) to present her analysis of a Y-DNA challenge from our own Irish SIG and her strategy for working through DNA Irish results, too! While Irish research can be challenging there are next steps that only DNA can answer! Second hour we will tackle brick walls starting with one submitted by Patricia Delich. Contact Irish@gfo.org for more information. GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition October 3, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Seats Available: Last Chance for Fall Seminar

You still have time to sign up for this weekend’s Fall Seminar, Deutsche & Dutch on Oct. 5 & 6. Professional genealogist Fritz Juengling brings us lessons on German genealogy on Saturday and Dutch research on Sunday. He’s an accredited genealogist for Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium and serves as a German, Dutch, and Scandinavian Research Consultant at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. He dazzled us at a previous smaller workshop at the GFO. Now is your chance to benefit from his rich expertise by attending one or both days. Seats are still available, but online registration closes at noon on Friday Oct. 4, and lunch orders closed yesterday (Wednesday). There will be space available for walk-ins both days, so if you miss the Friday noon deadline we’d love to see you anyway on Saturday and/or Sunday morning! Download the flyer for full details.

Register Now

Seminar Bonus: $5 Books and $1900 in Prizes

Here’s another nifty reason to attend this Saturday’s Fall Seminar. We’ll have books discounted to just $5 each. Even better, we have $1900 worth of prizes to raffle, including DNA test kits, subscriptions to pricey genealogy databases, and lunches with guest speaker Fritz Juengling or GFO DNA expert Lisa McCullough.

The book sales will be on the honor system. Please bring exact change as no one will be at the table to make change. Raffle tickets cost $1 for one ticket and $5 for six tickets.

Beware! Marathon Route Skirts GFO on Sunday, Oct. 6

If you’re coming to the GFO on Sunday, Oct. 6, please allow extra time to drive in. The Portland Marathon has changed its route from previous years. For the first time, it’s coming through southeast Portland and will run just blocks from the GFO. This could affect day two of our fall seminar and library researchers in the afternoon.

This map shows the portion of the 2019 Portland Marathon that comes closest to the GFO on Oct. 6.

If coming from the west side of the river, you’ll want to avoid the area near OMSI, or SE Water Ave. near the Morrison and Hawthorne bridges. The Ross Island Bridge and Powell Boulevard will remain open, so that’s a good route to plan on. You can see the course map here. Use that map’s zoom tools to enlarge the area you want to see. Sunday’s Seminar on Dutch genealogy will start promptly at 9:30 a.m. The Library will open for patrons at 12:00 p.m.

Free Monday Reminder

Don’t forget, the GFO Library is free to everyone on the First Monday of each month. That’s next Monday, October 7.

Support the GFO with Amazon Smile in Shopping App

If you are an AmazonSmile customer, you can now support Genealogical Forum Of Oregon Inc. in the Amazon shopping app on your Android device! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations. 1. If you have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping App, open the App on your Android device. 2. View Settings and select AmazonSmile. 3. Follow the in-App instructions to complete the process.

If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping App, you can update your App. Click here for instructions. AmazonSmile is not currently available for Apple iOS users. Amazon will let us know when it becomes available. If you haven’t yet registered to support the GFO while you shop, click here to get going! And we’d like to say, “Thank you!” to all of you who are already AmazonSmile users.

Two Genealogy TV Series Air Soon

If you enjoy watching genealogy stories unfold, you’ll have two TV shows to choose from this fall. Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. returns for its sixth season on PBS. It will feature a wide range of well known people including Terry Gross, Jordan Peele, Nancy Pelosi, Queen Latifah, Jeff Goldblum and Angelica Huston, to name a few. It debuts on OPB on Tuesday, October 8 at 8 p.m.

A brand new program called A New Leaf by Ancestry is coming to NBC. Unlike other genealogy programs, A New Leaf focuses on everyday people, not celebrities finding their roots. If you read online that it’s part of the network’s Saturday morning line-up, that does not hold true in Portland. KGW-TV is airing the first episode on Saturday, October, 5 at 6:30 p.m.

PCS Offers GFO Discount to New Play “Redwood”

We are delighted that Portland Center Stage is offering friends of GFO two special offers for an upcoming play that happens to revolve around genealogy! Redwood is billed as “A beautiful, humor-filled excavation of our shared history. When a hip hop lovin’ uncle obsessed with Ancestry.com starts digging into the past, an interracial couple finds that they have a lot more (and a lot less) in common than they thought. Filled with comedy, wit, and dance, this singular American story is about learning to live and love in a present that’s overpopulated with ghosts.” On October 26, GFO President Vince Patton and Director at Large Julie Ramos, will talk before the performance, at about 6:45 p.m., about all the GFO offers and why we find building personal links to history so valuable. Redwood runs from October 26 through November 17 at Portland Center Stage at the Armory. PCS has two offers for friends of the GFO: October 26: Use promo code “GFO” for $25 tickets. October 27-November 17: Use promo code “COMMUNITY” for $10 off tickets. Get tickets here.

Survey Results: Years dedicated to family history

Last week, we asked how many years you’ve been doing genealogy, and at what age you began.

How old were you when you started?

▪ preteen – 4 ▪ teens – 7 ▪ 20s – 8 ▪ 30s – 12 ▪ 40s – 17 ▪ 50s – 6 ▪ 60s – 8 ▪ 75 – 1 The average being 38.17 years. Common themes among the comments were the wish to have started sooner and how much fun it is to research. Here are a couple of comments we particularly enjoyed. I was interested, yes, but mainly since my new husband was working an insane number of hours, I just needed something to do. I enrolled in a community education course and have been hooked ever since, much to my husband’s chagrin. All his fault! I still love everything but my piles of paper. If you’d like to see all the comments, you can do so here.

New Survey: Ancestral Education

Many of our ancestors didn’t have the opportunity to get much schooling. There were chores and farming to be done. This week, we’re asking questions about high school and advanced education your ancestors may have received. Take the survey now.

Take the survey now

This week at GFO …

Saturday, October 5th Fall Seminar with Fritz Juengling: German Research 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Held at Self Enhancement, Inc., 3920 N Kerby Ave, Portland, OR 97227, USA (map) This event requires registration. GFO Library Closed all day. Sunday, October 6th Fall Half-Day Seminar with Fritz Juengling: Dutch Research 9:30 a.m. – Noon Held at the GFO Library. This event requires registration. GFO Library opens to patrons at 12:00 p.m. See above for information regarding traffic impacts due to the Portland Marathon. Monday, October 7th Free First Monday 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. GFO Library open to non-members for free. Tuesday, October 8th Board Meeting 6:10 – 8:10 p.m. Wednesday, October 2nd PMUG College 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Join us for Mac Photos 101. ▪ Make your photos look their best ▪ Learn how to retrieve photos from other sources ▪ …. and much more! To register: Call 503-228-1779; Email: college@pmug.org. Bring your Mac/iPad to participate with instruction. If you would like additional info for attending this class, please email us. GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition September 26, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

GFO Brings Nationally Known German Expert to Portland

German Americans are the second largest ancestry group in the nation. But can you make sense of the names? Can you decipher records you find written in German? Sure you can, if you listen to Fritz Juengling’s lessons. Do a deep dive into locating German records using FamilySearch. Learn key German words, phrases, and phonetics to decipher records, as well as naming conventions to identify who is who. Understand the well-known, and lesser-known, factors for emigration. The GFO is proud to bring Fritz to Portland for our annual Fall Seminar on Oct. 5 and 6. Saturday is all about German research and will be held at the Center for Self Enhancement (3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland). Sunday’s half-day seminar, held at the GFO Library, focuses on learning the best way to approach Dutch research, what records were created and why, and how to access those records. Become familiar with key words, phrases, and naming patterns to decipher and understand what you find. Seats are still available. Register now for one or both days! Download the flyer for full details.

Register Now

Fall Seminar: Great Prizes

There are another three dozen great reasons to attend our Fall Seminar: Prizes! Everyone who attends will receive a free online course from GenealogicalStudies.com. Everyone who attends qualifies for discounts on Family Tree DNA test kits. In addition, we offer a raffle. Prizes include: * FamilyTreeDNA Family Finder test kit ($60) * Living DNA Test Kit from find my past * 1 Year Subscription to GenealogyBank ($70 – 2 winners) * 3 Month Tier One Subscription to GEDMatch * Copy of Legacy Family Tree software * 1 Year of Legacy Family Tree webinars ($50) * 3 Months Access to HistoryGeo.com ($60 – 2 Winners) * 1 Year Membership in Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon plus 2 hours personal research coaching * 1 Year Membership in Virtual Genealogical Association * 2 online courses from the full 250 lesson catalog from GenealogicalStudies.com * Lunch with speaker Fritz Juengling (5 Winners) Plus dozens more! Raffle tickets are $1 a piece or 6 for $5, so bring some cash.

2 Volunteers needed for GFO Fall Seminar

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to help at our Fall Seminar. We still need one or two people on Saturday to help with the raffle in the morning, only until lunch time. Might you be able to help?

Volunteer Here

GFO’s Connie Lenzen Receives Another National Honor

The Association of Professional Genealogists awarded Connie Lenzen the APG Professional Achievement Award at its recent conference in Salt Lake City. This recognizes exceptional professional achievement and ethical behavior with contributions to the field of genealogy. APG’s announcement says, “A researcher, educator, author, and volunteer, Connie was chosen for the award for her impact on genealogy in Oregon, as well as in the U.S.” She is a past president for the Board for Certification of Genealogists, a past president for the APG Oregon Chapter, an instructor for the Boston University Genealogy Certificate Program, and authored Research in Oregon, 2nd edition. It’s quite a year for Connie. Last spring the National Genealogical Society awarded her a fellowship. A member of the GFO for 45 years, we consider Connie to be part of the GFO’s DNA. We’re thrilled for you, Connie!

DNA Q&A Group Updates Its Focus

Have you noticed the change to our DNA Q&A Special Interest Group this fall?

The first Wednesday of the month is now DNA Q&A: Beyond the Basics. This meeting is for those who have already taken a DNA test, understand the results and have begun to use the results in expanding your family tree. The third Wednesday of the month is now DNA Q&A: The Basics. This meeting is for those who are just beginning to use DNA testing for genealogy. Group leader Lisa McCullough has a gift for explaining these complex topics in language everyone can understand. Feel free to drop in for either monthly session at 1 p.m. Remember, all our Special Interest Groups are free and open to everyone, non-members included.

New African American History Resources at GFO

Here are just a few of GFO’s newer library acquisitions to help those of African American descent to research their family history. Most, if not all of these, were recommended by Tony Burroughs when he was here for the GFO Spring Seminar. Bentley, George R. A history of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Octagon Books, 1970 [©1955]. Berlin, Ira. Families and freedom: a documentary history of African American kinship in the Civil War Era. New Press, 1997. Berlin, Ira. Free at last: a documentary history of slavery, freedom, and the Civil War. The New Press, 1992. Blackmon, Douglas A. Slavery by another name: the re-enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II. Anchor, 2008. Dictionary of Afro-American slavery. Praeger, 1997. Ginzburg, Ralph. 100 years of lynchings. Black Classic Press, 1988. Hait, Michael. Records of the Slave Claims Commissions, 1864-1867. Hait Family History Research Services, 2010. Oubre, Claude F. Forty acres and a mule: the Freedmen’s Bureau and Black land ownership. Louisiana State University Press, 1978. Potts, Howard E. A comprehensive name index for the American slave. Greenwood Press, 1997.

PCS Offers GFO Discount to New Play “Redwood”

We are delighted that Portland Center Stage is offering friends of GFO two special offers for an upcoming play that happens to revolve around genealogy! Redwood is billed as “a beautiful, humor-filled excavation of our shared history. When Steve Durbin sets out to chart his Black family’s ancestry online, his revelations unwittingly throw his entire family into turmoil.” On October 26, GFO President Vince Patton and Director at Large Julie Ramos, will talk before the performance, at about 6:45 p.m., about all the GFO offers and why we find building personal links to history so valuable. Redwood runs from October 26 through November 17 at Portland Center Stage at the Armory. PCS has two offers for friends of the GFO: October 26: Use promo code “GFO” for $25 tickets. October 27-November 17: Use promo code “COMMUNITY” for $10 off tickets. Get tickets here.

Surplus Book: 1889 First Edition History of “The Elbow Tract”

Anyone with colonial roots may be captivated by History of the Town of Palmer Massachusetts, Early Known as The Elbow Tract: Including Records of The Plantation, District and Town 1716-1889. J. H. Temple compiled this 602-page local history, complete with a genealogical register. It was published by the town of Palmer in 1889. Even 130 years ago, Temple knew he was preserving valuable information when he wrote, “The lists of names of the early settlers and of residents at various dates down to modern times, will possess special interest to genealogists.” Two maps set this book apart. Map 1 folds out to show the Original Elbow District from 1716 to 1752, including the names of individual land owners. Map 2 folds out to show Palmer in 1761.

All the pages and maps are as dark and readable as when they were published. However, the hardback cover has separated from the spine. Other first editions of this book sell online for $169. Due to the spine separation, our price is $60 if you pick it up at the GFO Library. $68 if we ship it. Please contact booksales@gfo.org if you are interested. (Do not inquire at the reception desk first; receptionists do not handle these book sales.)

Survey Results: Closest Brick Wall

Many of the missing ancestor stories we received centered on DNA discoveries (not the parent expected), orphans, and out of wedlock births. Also, according to respondents, Irish ancestors are particularly elusive. Among the interesting stories were these: ▪ Amazingly, I’ve managed to identify most of my 4th great-grandparents, but three sets of them have proven to be brick walls for me (one set in North Carolina, one set in Ireland, and one set in Sweden). I’ve begun to wonder if those particular ancestors were part of an early 19th-century witness protection program… ▪ I don’t know much about my maternal grandfather who supposedly was orphaned at a young age and raised by his grandparents. I have a set of names, but are they the names of the people who raised him or of his parents? ▪ I have been at my brick wall for 21 years. My 3rd great grandfather’s name was William Pender. He was from Ireland and was in the British 99th Regiment of Foot. His Regiment was sent to Canada to fight the Americans in the war of 1812. His wife’s name was Elizabeth Pepperhide. I cannot find anything beyond them. I know that William signed his military papers near Roundtree, Ireland. After the War of 1812, they stayed in Canada and two generations later my great grandfather and his family immigrated to Washington. They were among the first settlers in Clark county.

New Survey: How long have you been doing genealogy?

We know our hobby typically has a “more mature” demographic. We’re curious, how many years have you been working on family history?

Take our Survey

This week at GFO … Saturday, September 28th British Group 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. This month we will discuss: * Online sources for News * Duane Funk will report on this year’s trip to England and Scotland * Any Recent Successes * Brick walls: Yours if you got ’em Anyone with an interest in English/Welsh/Scottish research is welcome to join us. Questions may be directed to: Duane Funk at uk@gfo.org Sunday, September 29th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. Noon There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. Tuesday, October 1st Italian Ancestry Group 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. This month’s topic: Find your ancestor’s Italian civil records Italian Civil Records represent one of the greatest record sets in size, importance, and availability in all of Italian genealogical research. Your immigrant ancestor’s Italian Civil Records don’t need to be a mystery anymore. Come join other Italian-American genealogists and find out what civil records are, how to excavate them, and what types are available since Italian Unification, 1866 – 1910! Ci vediamo! If you have questions or want more information, contact Nancy Metheny at italian@gfo.org. Wednesday, October 2nd Learn and Chat 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Co-facilitator Sandy Alto aptly named Learn and Chat as a “genealogy self-help” group. Please bring tales of your latest genealogy related adventures and a wish list of subjects to build our calendar. Facilitators: Jeanne Quan and Sandy Alto. learnandchat@gfo.org DNA Q&A: Beyond the Basics 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. The presentation will cover the free DNA analysis tools at GEDmatch, a third-party DNA website. GEDmatch is a great place to compare your DNA with others who have taken a DNA test from any one of the many DNA testing companies and have uploaded their DNA results to GEDmatch. This meeting is for those who have already taken a DNA test, understand the results and have begun to use the results in expanding your family tree.General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. Lisa McCullough leads this group.. Questions? dna_qa@gfo.org GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition September 19, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

GFO Brings Nationally Known German Expert to Portland

German Americans are the second largest ancestry group in the nation. But can you make sense of the names? Can you decipher records you find written in German? Sure you can, if you listen to Fritz Juengling’s lessons. Do a deep dive into locating German records using FamilySearch. Learn key German words, phrases and phonetics to decipher records, as well as naming conventions to identify who is who. Understand the well-known, and lesser-known, factors for emigration. The GFO is proud to bring Fritz to Portland for our annual Fall Seminar on Oct. 5 and 6. Saturday is all about German research and will be held at the Center for Self Enhancement (3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland). Sunday’s half-day seminar, held at the GFO Library, focuses on learning the best way to approach Dutch research, what records were created and why, and how to access those records. Become familiar with key words, phrases and naming patterns to decipher and understand what you find. Seats are still available. Register now for one or both days! Download the flyer for full details.

Register Now

September Free Gen Talk

Join Dale Deatherage at the GFO for this free GenTalk, Evernote for Genealogy, Part 2, on Saturday, September 21 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Evernote is a cloud-based app designed for note taking, organizing, task lists, and archiving. Notes can be made up of written information, audio files, photos, and even video files. Once created, files can be viewed and worked on across all of your electronic platforms (iOS, Android, etc.). This is a continuation of the presentation Dale gave at the GFO Open House in March. He will review the basics and spend more time helping you dial in some of the more advanced features. We hope you will join us!

September Star: Maggie McNair

Many people don’t realize how deep the GFO website is. It features thousands of records. We can all thank our outgoing webmaster, Maggie McNair, for valiantly bringing our website into the modern era. She insured that everything made it from the old site to the new site and looks great to boot. Maggie has since shepherded the updated site through two redesigns. For her many years of managing our site, the board is pleased to name Maggie as our GFO Star of the Month.

GFO Membership Needs Volunteer

Are you comfortable with a computer and data entry? Our Membership team is facing some imminent long-term absences. We need to be able to keep up with member renewals and welcome new members without inordinate delays. We’re weeks away from losing a significant portion of our team. Please contact Membership Chair Jane McGarvin at membership@gfo.org if you could help us once a month (or more)! Remember, the GFO is all-volunteer. We’ve never paid anyone. You are the reason the GFO is so strong.

Mac Group Returns to GFO September 25th

The Portland Mac Users Group (PMUG) College offers free attendance for GFO members. The topic next Wednesday will cover:

▪ Email on the Mail program ▪ How to create and manage bookmarks ▪ Email on a web browser ▪ Find out how iCloud works ▪ Discover how iCloud synchs ▪ … And more!

PMUG meets at the GFO Library at 6:00 p.m. Sept. 25.

Volunteers still needed for GFO Fall Seminar

The Fall Seminar is just around the corner, and event preparations are kicking into high gear. Even if you do not plan to attend the seminar, there are still ways you can help fulfill one of the GFO’s core missions: Education! Volunteer opportunities are available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at both the GFO and the venue (Self Enhancement, Inc., which is on N. Kerby just above Fremont). Many positions are only a couple of hours, but those couple of hours are really important! Please click on the link below to see if one of the seminar tasks is a fit for your schedule. Thank you so much for your help!

Volunteer Here

PCS Offers GFO Discount to New Play “Redwood”

We are delighted that Portland Center Stage is offering friends of GFO two special offers for an upcoming play that happens to revolve around genealogy! Redwood is billed as “a beautiful, humor-filled excavation of our shared history. When Steve Durbin sets out to chart his Black family’s ancestry online, his revelations unwittingly throw his entire family into turmoil.” On October 26, GFO President Vince Patton and PCS Director at Large Julie Ramos, will talk before the performance at about 6:45 p.m. about all the GFO offers and why we find building personal links to history so valuable. Redwood runs from October 26 through November 17 at Portland Center Stage at the Armory. PCS has two offers for friends of the GFO: October 26: Use promo code “GFO” for $25 tickets. October 27-November 17: Use promo code “COMMUNITY” for $10 off tickets. Get tickets here.

Troutdale Historical Society particpates in Museum Day

Our friends at the Troutdale Historical Society are participating in the free Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day on Saturday, September 21. The Harlow House and the Barn Exhibit Hall will be open from 9am – 4pm. Museum Day is an annual celebration of boundless curiosity hosted by Smithsonian magazine. Participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. The Museum Day ticket provides free admission for two people on Saturday, September 21, 2019. Follow this link to get your tickets to all participating museums.

This week at GFO …

Saturday, September 21st African American Interest Group 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Our presenter will be Harold Hinds, discussing the new bibliography of resources for black genealogical research within the GFO Library. This bibliography will be made available at the library and online as a reference for researchers. Attendees at the meeting will each receive a copy of the bibliography. You do not have to be a GFO member to participate! For more information, contact us at african_american@gfo.org. GenTalk: Evernote for Genealogy, pt. 2 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Join presenter Dale Deatherage for a continuation of his Evernote for Genealogy presentation given at the GFO Open House in March. He will review the basics, and spend more time helping you dial in some of the more advanced features. Sunday, September 22nd Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. Noon There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. Wednesday, September 25th PMUG College 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free for GFO Members! This evening’s topics: * How to create and manage bookmarks * Email on the Mail program * Email on a web browser * Find out how iCloud works * Discover how iCloud synchs * … And more! Bring your Mac to participate with instruction. If you would like additional information for attending this class, please email us at college@pmug.org. GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition September 12, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Volunteer Shortage Threatens GFO Hours

The GFO has always been an all-volunteer organization. Keeping our library open 7 days a week is a tribute to everyone who gives their time so generously. We require a minimum of two people on duty per shift for the safety of our volunteers. However, not enough volunteers are offering to serve as research assistants. Our schedule is full of regular holes.

The board of directors has now begun grappling with some difficult questions. Should we reduce hours of operation? Do we close entirely on certain days?

We are making one change immediately due to lack of demand and volunteers: First Free Mondays will close at 5 p.m. rather than staying open late to 8 p.m. Might you be willing to help at our reception desk or aid our patrons in their research? We need you. We offer training! We’re not experts and you don’t need to be either. It’s all about sharing what we know and learning together. Please contact volunteer coordinator Alice Duff at volunteer@gfo.org.

GFO Fall Seminar – Coming Soon!

Seats are still available! Come for a full day of German Genealogy lessons and a half day of Dutch resources. Professional genealogist Fritz Juengling returns to Portland for the GFO’s 2019 GFO Fall Seminar On Saturday, Do a deep dive into locating German records using FamilySearch, and learn key German words, phrases and phonetics to decipher records, as well as naming conventions to identify who is who. Understand the various factors that led to emigration. On Sunday, learn key words, phrases and naming patterns to decipher Dutch records, then get started locating those records. Sign up for one or both days! The full-day German session on Saturday, October 5th, will be held at the Center for Self Enhancement (3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland). The half-day Dutch presentation will be at the GFO Library on Sunday, October 6th. Download the flyer for full details.

Register Now

Dr. Juengling brings amazing expertise as a German, Dutch, and Scandinavian Research Consultant at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. He is an Accredited Genealogist® (through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists) for Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden, and is certified by the Verband deutschsprachiger Berufsgenealogen. We hope to see you there!

September Free Gen Talk

Evernote is a cloud-based app designed for note taking, organizing, task lists, and archiving. Notes can be made up of written information, audio files, photos, and even video files. Once created, files can be viewed and worked on across all of your electronic platforms (iOS, Android, etc.). Join Dale Deatherage at the GFO for this free GenTalk, Evernote for Genealogy, Part 2, on Saturday, September 21 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. This is a continuation of the presentation Dale gave at the GFO Open House in March. He will review the basics and spend more time helping you dial in some of the more advanced features.

Columbia County Conference Features GFO Speakers

Just a reminder that the St. Helens Public Library is offering a full day of genealogy classes in its Bridges to the Past conference on Saturday, September 21. You can choose from an array of GFO stars to hear from. Every single speaker is a GFO Member! Kate Eckman offers the keynote address. Laurel Smith teaches five classes, Gerry Lenzen two, and Janice Handsaker and Sue LeBlanc each teach one. The best part…this conference is entirely free to attend! Registration is limited. Only 80 seats are available. If you would like to attend, you may register here.

New German Books at GFO!

These are just a few of the German books we have at GFO to aid your research. We hope you’ll come in to check out the robust collection—remember, it’s not all on the internet. And don’t forget to register for our Fall Seminar with Fritz Juengling. He dazzled attendees when he was here last. This is one not to miss!

Volunteers needed for GFO Fall Seminar

The Fall Seminar is less than a month away and event preparations are kicking into high gear. Even if you do not plan to attend the seminar, there are still ways you can help fulfill one of the GFO’s core missions: Education!

Volunteer opportunities are available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at both the GFO and the venue (Self Enhancement, Inc., which is on N. Kerby just above Fremont). Many positions are only a couple of hours, but those couple of hours are really important! Please click on the link below to see if one of the seminar tasks is a fit for your schedule. Thank you so much for your help!

Volunteer Here

Cemetery Seeks Volunteers for the Tour of Untimely Departures

Photo provided by Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery The Friends of the Lone Fir Cemetery need volunteers now for the 2019 Tour of Untimely Departures event at Lone Fir Cemetery. All positions are available; actors, guides, set up, and logistics, starting now and up to the evening of the event, Saturday October 26th. They need folks to make this popular Halloween event amazing. You will help protect the cemetery while learning about Portland history and having fun. Volunteer opportunities available (listed in order of time/experience requirements from most to least).

▪ Set Up: The weeks and days leading up to the event are full of preparation. ▪ Actors: Dress in costume as a cemetery resident from long ago and tell your tale of untimely departure to groups of 20 as they stop by your grave site. ▪ Tour Guides: Dress in costume and act as a historical tour guide or assistant tour guide. ▪ Greeters: Dressed in costume, greeters welcome guests, provide information and help set up tour logistics. ▪ Ghouls: In costume, “ghouls” roam the cemetery re-lighting candles and torches, checking on actors, giving breaks, monitoring gates and providing frightful ambiance for guests. ▪ Logistics Volunteers: Help set up and/or take down tents, tables, candles, torches. Assist our site maintenance coordinators ▪ Gate: Seeing 1200 people, there will be long lines needing organizing and questions that need answering. ▪ Musicians/Entertainers: Do you love to perform? Or have a skill to share? Lend a bit of ambiance to the tours. Station yourself, or wander the grounds. Friends? Family? Group?: Sign up together and share the duties of the night. Enjoy your Halloween together a fun, unique way for a good cause! Proceeds from this event go towards the historic preservation efforts at Lone Fir Cemetery. For more information and to sign up please email info@friendsoflonefircemetery.org

Surplus Book: Skamania County Obits 1900-1929

Know anyone with roots in the Columbia Gorge in Skamania County? Here’s a great resource for them. Obituaries from the Skamania Pioneer Newspaper, 1900-1929, features 476 death notices compiled by Homer and Alice Townsend. Don’t judge this book by its 116 photocopied pages. Its rarity and the stories inside make this so valuable that others are selling this book on the internet for $53.

Our copy happens to be autographed by Homer Townsend himself! Your price to pickup at the GFO Library: $24 Price to mail it: $28 Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy it. (Please don’t just come to the library to get it.)

Survey Results: Transportation Accidents

It’s not surprising that trains and automobiles grabbed the lead as the most reported accidents.

Some of the stories you sent were very interesting. Here are a few of our favorites: On a stormy night, in the winter of 1925, Grandpa’s pickup slid into the Rouge River when driving home after a party at Agness. Both he and Grandma Dolly managed to escape the sunken truck and were eventually picked up several miles downriver by others heading home. My father was given the job of driving his grandmother, Mur, from Papa Nelson’s farm to her home into Dublin, Georgia. As a teenager Dad couldn’t resist applying leather and the buckboard dashed down the country road. At a turn, Mur bounced off and laid unconscious in the dust. She recovered, promising not to tell when Dad swore he’d be a safer driver.

My great-great-grandparents Anthony Simpson and Helen Crawford and their four children, including my great-grandmother Emma Jane age 8, departed New York on May 22, 1865, aboard the 530-passenger steamer Golden Rule destined for Nicaragua. They planned to cross to the Pacific, then continue up the coast to Oregon where Helen’s brothers lived, and where Anthony was to take up a post as a minister with the Presbyterian Church. Only eight days later, the ship ran aground on the infamous Roncador Reef off the Nicaraguan coast. Miraculously, all passengers survived and took refuge on a nearby island for 10 days before they were rescued and taken to Aspinwall, Panama. They crossed the isthmus by train and boarded the steamer America for San Francisco on June 30. Helen wanted to stay longer in San Francisco to replace their clothing ruined in the disaster. Anthony insisted they take the next boat north – the Brother Jonathan. They averted another shipwreck by leaving quickly. On July 30, the subsequent journey north of the Brother Jonathan, the ship wrecked off Crescent City and only 19 of the 240 persons aboard survived.

New Survey: Closest Brick Wall

This week we’re asking about your first (generationally) brick wall ancestor. Take the survey to tell us the closest generation where you are stuck.

Take the Survey Now

This week at GFO …

Saturday, September 14th Great Lakes Region Interest Group 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. We will be welcoming two guest speakers. First, Ray Ashmun will tell the story of his great-great-grandfather’s brother, Samuel Ames Ashmun (1799-1886). At 19 years of age, Samuel walked from his home in Champlain, NY to Montréal to become a “clark” with the American Fur Company. He then spent time traveling the Great Lakes and was a pioneer of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Our second topic addresses a common quandary: Now that I’ve collected all this great information about my family, how do I organize it all? Second, Elsie Deatherage will demonstrate a spreadsheet system that can help both organize and analyze our genealogical research data. For more information or if you know someone who might be interested in speaking to our group, contact us at GreatLakes@gfo.org Writer’s Forum 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. We are currently working with Bruce Tarshis’s “How to be Your Own Best Editor,” chapters 14 and 15. and If you are already a part of this group, look also for the message coming with more specifics about this month’s meeting. If you are new to the group, just show up and we’ll get you started! Peggy Baldwin facilitates this group and can be reached at writers@gfo.org. Sunday, September 15th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. Noon There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. Family Tree Maker User’s Group 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. The topic will be importing media and photos into the program. Users of FTM can also bring other questions to discuss with the group. Join other users who want to work through the 2017 Companion Guide to Family TreeMaker. Bring your laptop with 2017 version of FTM installed and an empty usb thumb drive. Facilitated by Joyce Grant-Worley. FTM@gfo.org French Canadian Interest Group 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Share stories of our history. Come and join this group to learn more about French Canadian ancestry and Acadia. The group leader is Bob LaMarche. FrCan@gfo.org Wednesday, September 18th Learn and Chat 10:00 a.m. – Noon At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan and Sandy Alto. Questions? learnandchat@gfo.org. DNA Q&A: The Basics 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Today’s presentation will cover DNA Basics, which includes YDNA, mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA. It is ideal for those new to DNA testing for genealogy. It will include an introduction to DNA terminology and what DNA tests are available from various companies. General questions regarding DNA testing are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. Lisa McCullough leads this group.. Questions? dna_qa@gfo.org. GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition September 5, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Workshop this Sunday- Newspaper Resources at GFO

There are still a few seats available! Newspapers can provide information about births, deaths, marriages, moves, business, naturalizations, court cases, and more. The GFO provides access to several newspaper subscription sites, plus additional databases. Join GFO’s Janice Sellers for a half-day workshop to get an overview of what is available and techniques to help improve your chances of finding information about your relatives. Janice is a professional genealogist who specializes in forensic, Jewish, Black, and newspaper research. The session will be held in the GFO Library, Sunday, September 8, from 9:30 a.m. – Noon. For more detailed information, download the flyer. Registration is $25.00 for GFO members, $30.00 for non-members.

Register Here

GFO Fall Seminar – Just One Month Away!

It won’t be long until the 2019 GFO Fall Seminar, featuring Fritz Juengling, Ph.D., AG! This will be an exceptional educational opportunity that we are exited to bring to our membership and the community at large. Dr. Juengling is an Accredited Genealogist® (through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists) for Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden, and he is certified by the Verband deutschsprachiger Berufsgenealogen. He is also a German, Dutch, and Scandinavian Research Consultant at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The full-day session on Saturday, October 5th, will be held at the Center for Self Enhancement (3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland) and will focus on German Research, while the half-day presentation at the GFO Library on Sunday, October 6th, will provide an introduction to Dutch research. Download the flyer for full details. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and register early!

Register Now

Free “First” Monday is here again!

Don’t forget, due to our Labor Day closure, this coming Monday the GFO Library is free to everyone as we will hold our monthly Free First Monday on September 9th. Plus, we’re now open late until 8:00 p.m. that day. Please tell your friends. We’d love to see them.

Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society – September Meeting

Craig Hector, sexton of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Cemetery in The Dalles, will be sharing photos and stories of the IOOF organization and its unique history and values at the Saturday, September 14 meeting of the Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society. The meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m.- Noon at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, Oregon. Craig will also be sharing some “cemetery tales” from local IOOF cemteries. A $1.00 donation for room rental is kindly appreciated.

PMUG’s Biannual Event: Fall MacCamp October 11-13

The Portland Macintosh User’s group presents its three-day Fall MacCamp, which offers a solid overview of Apple’s upcoming Operating System updates. There are SO MANY changes in macOS Catalina, iOS 13, plus the introduction of the brand new iPadOS, you really need to prepare before migrating to these exciting new updates. Special Offer: GFO membership saves you the additional $42 PMUG membership fee that is usually added to MacCamp registration for non-members.

Cost: $175.00 for a shared room, or a single for $40 more. Includes all classes, dinner Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. MacCamp is held at Oral Hull Park outside of Sandy Oregon, which features gardens and walking paths to explore throughout the weekend. Bring your laptops and iPads to participate in classes. For questions, more information, or to register, refer to the flyer. It provides complete details as well as a link for the application for the camp.

Survey Results: Natural Disasters

There were only a few responses to our query about other natural disasters that impacted ancestors. Here are a few of the comments we received. My grandmother told me her brother sent her scurrying out the barn door and into the house when a storm came up. He was in the doorway of the barn when lightning struck and he died. He was engaged at the time. My uncle was the victim of a landslide in 1940, but he wasn’t my ancestor. My family, including me, survived Hurricane Eloise in 1975. We but rode out the storm 11 miles from our home, in my father’s automotive garage business, which was in a solidly built concrete building. During the three days we were stuck there, my mother was zapped by lightning once while talking on the phone.

New Survey: Transportation Accidents

You asked for a survey about shipwrecks, train wrecks, and more. So, here it is! Help us wrap up our disaster survey theme with a bang! To learn more about all types of disasters in U.S. history, check out the GenDisaster website.

Take the Survey Now This week at GFO …

Saturday, September 7th Virginia Interest Group 10:00 a.m. – Noon After catching up with everyone’s summer, we will have discussions about Jamestown and the 1619 Project. We will also be planning for future meetings, so come ready to discuss your research goals. For more information see our blog: Virginia Roots and Vines. You can also reach this group’s leaders, Judi Scott and Carol Currency, at virginia@gfo.org. German Interest Group 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. German Immigration to America in the Mid-1800s (Heidi Mathis) The German Interest Group was formed in the spring of 2011. It is intended to be a source of information and inspiration for anyone with German speaking ancestors. One goal is to provide information on a variety of topics related to Germanic history and migration. We also will provide time for members to share their research journeys and connect with others who may be researching the same region or time period. For questions or more information, contact german@gfo.org. Sunday, September 8th Workshop: Using Subscription Newspaper Websites at the GFO Library 9:30 a.m. – Noon Newspapers can provide information about births, deaths, marriages, moves, business, naturalizations, court cases, and more. The GFO provides access to several newspaper subscription sites, plus additional databases. This class gives an overview of what is available and techniques to help improve your chances of finding information about your relatives. Presenter: Janice Sellers. Registration is required for this event. Monday, September 9th GFO Free Monday We are open free to the public 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 10th Board Meeting 6:10 – 8:10 p.m. Wednesday, September 11th PMUG College 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tonight’s topic: Ten Crucial Questions about macOS * How is the Apple menu used? * How to combat Malware * How do I keep my software up to date? * What does Auto Save do? * Using Dropbox * Where is Keychain Access & Activity Monitor? * What is Disk Utility for? * iCloud around home or out on the web * Can I back up my data in case the computer fails? * Does my computer have Emoji and other symbols? * How can I get other language characters? … And more! Free for GFO Members. Bring your Mac to participate with instruction. If you would like additional information about this class, please email college@pmug.org GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition August 29, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Labor Day Closure Delays Free Monday

Please remember that the GFO Library will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, September 2. Our usual Free First Monday for the public will be honored one week later on Monday, Sept. 9.

Newspaper Research: Do You Know What GFO Offers?

Newspapers can provide information about births, deaths, marriages, moves, business, naturalizations, court cases, and more. The GFO provides access to several newspaper subscription sites, plus additional databases. Join GFO’s Janice Sellers for a half-day workshop to get an overview of what is available and techniques to help improve your chances of finding information about your relatives. Janice is a professional genealogist who specializes in forensic, Jewish, Black, and newspaper research. The session will be held in the GFO Library, Sunday, September 8, from 9:30 a.m. – Noon. For more detailed information, download the flyer. Registration is $25.00 for GFO members, $30.00 for non-members.

Register Here

Fall Seminar Needs Raffle Donations!

As we prepare for our upcoming Fall Seminar this October, can you help? We need items for our raffle. Do you have anything to donate? If your item is not new, it must be in exceptionally good condition for us to be able to offer it. Suggestions include genealogically-related books, household decorations, carry bags, certificates toward GFO membership or research costs, and computer items. Leave the item(s) at the library reception desk with a donation form noting that it’s a donation for the seminar treasures raffle. At the seminar, tickets are sold for $1 each or 6 for $5, and they are placed in separate paper sacks for each prize, so you win only something you want. Thanks so much!

Jewish Genealogy Presentation

The GFO’s own Janice Sellers will be delivering a presentation entitled “Jewish Genealogy: How Is This Research Different from All Other Research?” at the upcoming September meeting of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State. The meeting will be held beginning at 7:15 p.m. Monday evening, September 9, 2019, at the LDS Factoria Building, 4200 124th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98006 Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for all to enjoy the extensive JGSWS Library’s genealogical resources, including free access to the Family History Center computers and genealogical websites! Free Wi-Fi is available. Come early to network with other attendees!

Columbia County Conference Features GFO Speakers

There’s a genealogy conference coming up next month in our own backyard. The St. Helens Public Library is offering a full day of genealogy classes in its Bridges to the Past conference on Saturday, September 21. You can choose from a cavalcade of GFO stars to hear from. Every single speaker is a GFO Member! Kate Eckman offers the keynote address. Laurel Smith teaches four classes, Gerry Lenzen two, and Janice Handsaker and Sue LeBlanc each teach one. Oh, and here’s a really special feature. This conference is entirely free to attend! Registration is limited. Only 80 seats are available. If you would like to attend, you may register here.

Multnomah County Library Class: The Historical Oregonian

The Historical Oregonian is an amazing resource for finding obituaries, death and funeral notices, and even researching your house history. The Multnomah County Library will be offering a class to help you learn the skills and techniques for searching this computer-based archive of local newspaper articles. There will be two offerings of this class. Registration is currently open for the class offering at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at the Central Library Computer Learning Center, 801 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205. Registration will open September 1, 2019 for a second offering of the class to be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 22, 2019 at the Library’s Belmont Reading Room, 1038 SE César E. Chávez Boulevard, Portland, OR 97214. Seats are limited and you can register here.

Railroad Expert Explains Train Dilemmas Near GFO

Fifty-year railroad industry employee Bill Burgel gave an eye-opening presentation at the Ford Food & Drink cafe above the GFO library on Monday about why we see so many trains blocking the roads near the Ford Building. Bill did not speak on behalf of any company, but he’s been intimately involved in rail operations in Portland for years, so he knows the ins and outs of the rail lines and roads. Thirty-six people came out to hear him, including State Representative Rob Nosse and employees of the city of Portland.

GFO President Vince Patton spoke up for our 1088 members, expressing concern about the safety risk of people getting trapped – literally – either on 11th Ave., or in the parking lot, by the stopped trains. Vince says he was “gobsmacked” by a couple of details: Trains leaving the Brooklyn Yard just southeast of the GFO can stretch to 8,000 feet – more than 1.3 miles long. Before a train leaves, a brakeman must do an important safety test at the rear of the train, then walk more than a mile to the front of the train before it can move. Vince says he was dumbfounded to learn that the Union Pacific considers this the most efficient way to operate. Next time you see a train parked for 45 minutes to an hour, there’s a good bet they’re waiting for the brakeman to walk the entire length of the train.

Surplus Book: French Cookery of 1950

Sometimes we receive books that have nothing at all to do with genealogy. Here’s a perfect example. The Home Book of French Cookery by Mme. Germain Carter includes a foreword by T. C. Rapp, British Ambassador to Mexico. Carter wrote this recipe book in 1950, eleven years before Julia Child released her tome on French Cooking. What is most remarkable is that she wrote the bulk of it while a prisoner of war during World War II, exiled to four different internment camps, as Germany controlled her French countryside.

Rapp, who was imprisoned with her, writes, “unbelievably succulent food was produced from the contents of Red Cross parcels (and how sought-after were the occasional American and Canadian parcels with their tin of real butter!)” Read about her remarkable story, and learn the cooking at which she excelled. Recipes include Duck with Orange, Veal Cutlets with White Wine, Potato Croquettes, and Hasty Cake. This 278 book features recipes and suggested menus for all seasons. This book is in sound, sturdy condition, with a few stains on pages and many yellowed edges from age. Someone previously (and oddly) encased the cover in shelf paper. Your price to pickup at the GFO Library: $14 Price to mail it: $19 Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy it. (Please don’t just come to the library to get it.)

Survey Results: Fire Survivors

Not many of you reported the impact of fire on your ancestors. Percentages approximate:

5% forest fire 5% major city fire 45% other fire events 45% don’t know But those who responded shared stories of loss and survival. (Responses have been edited for brevity) A Christmas Eve fire broke out in my grandparents’ house while they were babysitting an infant cousin. Everyone survived unharmed and my cousin has a tale for her children and grandchildren. My maternal grandfather lost his first wife and their two infant children to a coal oil explosion/stove fire in 1888. He then married his second wife (my maternal grandmother) in 1895. My great-grandmother’s skirts caught fire while she was cooking … She was badly burned and although it was 1924, they did skin grafts, and these were effective. It is amazing to me that she lived before antibiotics. My great-grandparents had just immigrated from Switzerland. They were living in Bakeoven, Wasco County with their first child. A chimney fire chased them out of the house, and they lost everything. But Aunt Minnie always said, “They saved the most precious thing, me!” Bakeoven, remains today only as a cemetery.

New Survey: Other Natural Disasters

If we haven’t hit on a natural disaster that impacted your ancestors—perhaps this is the week for you: Landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and more.

Take the Survey Now

This week at GFO …

Sunday, September 1st Library Work Party – Manuscripts 9:00 a.m. – Noon Explore our manuscript, personal papers and Bible collection while we organize, scan and create finding aids. Drop by at the time that works for you. Questions? Send a note to manuscripts@gfo.org. Monday, September 2nd GFO is closed in observance of Labor Day. Our usual Free First Monday for the public will be honored next week on Monday, Sept. 9. Tuesday, September 3rd Italian Ancestry Group 10:00 a.m. – Noon This month’s topic: Find your ancestor’s naturalization records. Your Italian immigrant ancestor’s journey to U.S. citizenship comes alive in U.S. naturalization records. Learn the twists and turns your ancestor navigated when we learn about the naturalization process, what laws governed the application process, and where to find this genealogy gold during the Great Migration of paesani from Italy 1880 – 1924. Instructor: Nancy Bronte Matheny. If you have questions or want more information, email italian@gfo.org. Wednesday, September 4th Learn & Chat 10:00 a.m. – Noon Co-facilitator Sandy Alto aptly named Learn and Chat as a “genealogy self-help” group. We are reconvening after the traditional summer hiatus. Please bring tales of your latest genealogy related adventures and a wish list of subjects to build our calendar. If you have questions or want more information, email learnandchat@gfo.org. DNA Q&A Beyond the Basics 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Emily Aulicino will be joining us and giving her presentation “DNA Led the Way: A Y-DNA Case Study” Do you have Y-DNA matches for which you cannot find the common ancestor(s) even though the genealogy time frame is reasonable? Have you hunted all over the web to find the answer, but are still fighting that brick wall? Learn how several Y-DNA matches were able to find their common ancestor(s) in just one day! You can download the handout here. Lisa McCullough leads this group..Questions? dna_qa@gfo.org GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition August 22, 2019

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR. Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Newspapers Galore: Do You Know What GFO Offers?

Did you know the GFO offers access to two different databases filled with historic newspapers? We pay for Newspapers.com and Genealogy Bank, both of which would cost you a pretty penny at home. What’s the difference between the two? Here’s a great way to find out how to get the most out of each. Join Janice Sellers for a half-day workshop, Using Subscription Newspaper Websites at the GFO Library. The session will be held in the GFO Library, Sunday, September 8, from 9:30 a.m. – Noon. Click here for more detailed information. Registration is $25.00 for GFO members, $30.00 for non-members.

Register Here

Register for GFO Fall Seminar!

The 2019 GFO Fall Seminar, featuring Fritz Jeungling, Ph.D., AG, will be an exceptional educational opportunity that we are exited to be bringing to our membership and the community at large. Dr. Juengling is an Accredited Genealogist® (through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists) for Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden, and he is certified by the Verband deutschsprachiger Berufsgenealogen. He is also a German, Dutch, and Scandinavian Research Consultant at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The full-day session on Saturday, October 5th, will be held at the Center for Self Enhancement (3920 N. Kerby Ave., Portland) and will focus on German Research, while the half-day presentation at the GFO Library on Sunday, October 6th, will provide an introduction to Dutch research. Download the flyer for full details. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and register early!

Register Here

NGS and FGS Announce Intent to Merge

In a historic move, the boards of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) and the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announced on August 21st, 2019, their intent to merge. The two organizations, both non-profit leaders in the dynamic genealogy industry, will form one consolidated group that will continue to operate as the National Genealogical Society. Both boards approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this week, and jointly announced the news at the Opening Session of the FGS Family History Conference in Washington, D.C. Leaders of both organizations believe this merger will serve the genealogy community by improving support of both individual members and societies in the pursuit of genealogical excellence. The organizational structure of NGS will be modified to increase functions that support genealogical societies and family organizations. Digitization projects of genealogical importance such as the War of 1812 pensions will continue. The two groups will continue to operate independently while all details of the merger are completed, no later than October 1, 2020. Plans are still in place to hold the annual FSG Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2020. Starting in 2021, the combined organization will hold one conference with four full days of genealogical lectures and a fifth day dedicated to society management topics. We will keep you apprised as plans continue to develop.

BCG to Host Six Free Webinars

The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) will host six free webinars live from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 6 September 2019. The hour-long webinars begin at 11 a.m. U.S. Eastern time (9 a.m. Mountain time, 1500 GMT) and continue throughout the day.

The sponsored lecture series is in memory of BCG’s former trustee and vice president, Joy Reisinger, Certified Genealogist Emeritus. The schedule for the lectures and broadcasts is: 11 a.m Eastern time. Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, “Reasonably Exhaustive Research: The First Criteria for Genealogical Proof.” 12:15 p.m. Eastern time. Martha Garrett, PhD, CG, “Finding Immigrants Who ‘Disappeared’: A Research Approach Based on Recognizing and Challenging Assumptions.” 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, “Share and Share Alike: The Rules of Genealogical Privacy.” 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. Karen Stanbary, CG, “Details of New and Modified DNA-Related Standards.” 4:45 p.m. Eastern time. Melinda Henningfield, CG, “How to Write a Case Study that Meets the New Standards for DNA: As Codified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists.” 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. Rick Sayre, CG, CGL, “Reconstructing an Entrepreneurial Woman’s Life: From Family Intrigue to Water Rents.” Free registration for the live webinar broadcasts, as well as additional information on speakers and lecture topics, can be found here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. In order to accommodate those who might have schedule conflicts, each webinar can be accessed at no charge for a week after the broadcast.

Learn About Train Operations in Southeast Portland

We all know how freight trains paralyze southeast Portland near the GFO, sometimes multiple times a day. In response, the GFO has donated to a group raising money to study rail solutions. Here’s a chance to learn more from the railroad’s perspective. Bill Burgel spent 50 years in the railroad industry and he knows well the issues specifically related to the streets, rail lines, and rail yard near the GFO. Bill has offered to talk about the factors involved and Ford Food & Drink has offered him its stage as a venue. You can come hear Bill talk at the café just one floor up from the GFO on Monday, August 26 at 6 p.m.

Nominate the Next GFO Star

Did someone at the GFO go out of their way to help you recently when you came in for research? Are you a volunteer who sees another volunteer go above and beyond? Please nominate our next GFO Star! Drop your nomination in the box behind the reception desk or email it to secretary@gfo.org. (Board members are not eligible)

Surplus Book: First Edition: Memoirs from 1863

The Rev. Dr. George W. Bethune wrote a short biography of his mother, Mrs. Joanna (Graham) Bethune, just a year before he died. “Memoirs of Mrs. Joanna Bethune. By her son, The Rev. George W. Bethune, D.D.” was published in 1863 by Harper & Brothers, Publishers in New York. He was described as an “eloquent and distinguished scholar, poet, preacher, and orator… but nothing from his pen will be read with greater admiration than this simple memorial of the mother who taught him to speak.” His tribute to his mother is joined by a 125-page appendix full of his mother’s own writings.

The tales include a sketch of the journey of Joanna’s mother in 1772 before the Revolutionary War, through lands of New York with the help of native tribes and then sailed to Antigua, then to Scotland and then back to New York in 1789. This first edition is a former library book containing library marks and stamps. Tape holes the cover to the spine, and pages inside show some separation. However, all the paper is in fine shape with text as clear and readable as when it was printed 156 years ago. Your price to pickup at the GFO Library: $10 Price to mail it: $15 Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy it. (Please don’t just come to the library first to get it.)

Survey Results: Flood Survivors

Last week we asked if your ancestors had dealt with high water or floods. While only a few responded, several shared dramatic stories. 55% of respondents named a flood, 9% named a storm at sea and 41% said they didn’t know. Here are a few of their stories (edited for brevity).

After the great Iowa flood of 1851 carried off most of their stock, the Sunderland family hit the Oregon Trail. Being wary of flooding, they naturally established their new farm on the Columbia Slough. My great aunt and great uncle, an immigrant from Germany, lost their home and farm in Oklahoma Territory when the Canadian River flooded in 1904. Neighbors carried their two young daughters through the waters to safety; my great aunt carried her baby; my great uncle and his son got some of the livestock to higher ground. Mar. 19 / 1905 Mrs Molly St John Dear cousin – lost every-thing I had in the flood except a few dollars and the clothes I had on and my house, the house had no floors in it, and I cobbed it to a mesquite tree when I came out, the house floated, and the cobb was too close to the top and it turned over and every-thing I had floated off down the River or somewhere else, my house goods in the way of furniture, stove, table, dishes, and everything like that, with my trunk and all my clothing, my loss was about $300. – Your cousin Thos Knox

New Survey: Fire!

Were any of your ancestors victim of a fire?

Take our Survey

This week at GFO …

Saturday, August 24th Beginners DNA 9:00 a.m – Noon Using the questions our beginning members raised, this meeting will include a variety of topics: The basic DNA tests Suggestions for determining common ancestors Ancestry’s Dots, Stars, Notes, Shared Matches and ThruLines MyHeritage’s Theory of Family Relativity Spreadsheets Triangulation vs. In Common With Using a spreadsheet to organize the matches for whom you have found common ancestors for all companies A brief view of the Leeds Method and Auto Clustering We should have time for questions and your additional suggestions on the above topics. Please download the handout and review it before attending. Bring it with you! You are welcome to send your questions before the meeting. Email: dna@gfo.org Sunday, August 25th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – Noon We Really Need Your Help This Sunday! We have received several large donations of books and we need to check them against the books we already have. This will involve looking each book up in the online library catalog. If we have the book, the call number is written on a paper inserted into the book, and the book is checked against the one on the shelf. We have several hundred books to check. And we need to do so quickly because there’s another batch in the wings to be done next week. So we need YOUR help! The back door of the library opens at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. Wednesday, August 28th GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, August 24th Beginners DNA 9:00 a.m – Noon Using the questions our beginning members raised, this meeting will include a variety of topics: The basic DNA tests Suggestions for determining common ancestors Ancestry’s Dots, Stars, Notes, Shared Matches and ThruLines MyHeritage’s Theory of Family Relativity Spreadsheets Triangulation vs. In Common With Using a spreadsheet to organize the matches for whom you have found common ancestors for all companies A brief view of the Leeds Method and Auto Clustering We should have time for questions and your additional suggestions on the above topics. Please download the handout and review it before attending. Bring it with you! You are welcome to send your questions before the meeting. Email: dna@gfo.org Sunday, August 25th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – Noon We Really Need Your Help This Sunday! We have received several large donations of books and we need to check them against the books we already have. This will involve looking each book up in the online library catalog. If we have the book, the call number is written on a paper inserted into the book, and the book is checked against the one on the shelf. We have several hundred books to check. And we need to do so quickly because there’s another batch in the wings to be done next week. So we need YOUR help! The back door of the library opens at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. Wednesday, August 28th GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.