 Explore the Exceptional Genealogy Classes at HQRL! Join us online via Zoom or in person at HQRL and connect with fellow genealogy enthusiasts who share your curiosity and drive—together, we can explore the fascinating world of family history! Just a reminder of upcoming class March 19, 2026! Don’t miss out, sign up today!  Finding Your Dutch Roots Thursday, March 19, 2026 Alexander Tolksdorf click here for class flyerMany communities across the United States boast a rich Dutch heritage, owing their founding and regional culture to the influence of Dutch immigration. This presentation will explore resources and techniques to trace your Dutch ancestors in the United States and back into the Netherlands, with additional emphasis on cultural and historical context that surrounded the lives of your Dutch ancestors. Join Alexander Tolksdorf to explore resources and techniques to trace your Dutch ancestors in the United States and back into the Netherlands, with additional emphasis on cultural and historical context that surrounded the lives of your Dutch ancestors. Click Here to Sign-up Click Here to See All of Our 2026 Classes! Visit our blog for great tips & hints exploring your family story! HQRL.com / Classes & Events / Contact |
| Heritage Quest Research Library | 2102 East Main Ave Suite 105 | Puyallup, WA 98372 US |
Category Archives: Society News
Heritage Quest Research Library Quest Connections March 2026
| QUEST CONNECTIONS March 2026 Volume 31 – Issue 1 In this Issue ~ Directly Speaking ~ Celebrate America250 ~ Yearly fees increase ~ Upcoming Events ~ Have Your Heard? ~ Our New Members ~ Super Supporters ~ Above and Beyond ~ New Library Books ~ A Wee Bit of Fun  What Were Your Ancestors Doing During the American Revolution Era?This year we celebrate the 250th year of American Independence. Many of our ancestors lived in the colonies along the Atlantic Coast and survived through seven years of fierce hardships that marked the struggle to break free of tyranny. Those families risked everything—their homes, their safety, and their lives—for an idea called liberty. Today, their names sit silent in pension files and brittle ledgers. It’s time to bring them back into the light. By tracing our Revolutionary roots, we aren’t just looking at the past; we are honoring the courage that made our present possible. At HQRL, we believe that as we get to know and understand the stories of our Revolutionary Era ancestors, we learn more about ourselves. Our talented and knowledgeable volunteers here at HQRL are available six days a week to help you uncover the stories of your Revolutionary ancestors. Whether you’re just starting or hitting a brick wall, we’re here to help you bridge the gap to the past. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence, why not make your family’s history a research priority?  Directly Speaking Heritage Quest Research Library Celebrates America250As we approach the historic milestone, I find myself reflecting on why we do what we do here at Heritage Quest Research Library. Beyond the dates and the documents, we are in the business of collecting and building family histories. The 250th anniversary of the United States isn’t just a national holiday; for us, it is a deeply personal journey. Somewhere in the branches of your family tree—or those of the researchers we help every day—there are patriots. These were the individuals who lived through the sparks of the American Revolution, whose choices 250 years ago shaped the world we walk in today. In Celebrating our Past We Build our Future To honor this legacy and ensure HQRL can continue serving our community for years to come, I am thrilled to invite you to our America250 Celebration & Fundraiser on June 9, 2026. This isn’t just another dinner; it is our most significant event of the year. The funds raised on this night will directly support: • Expanding our Revolutionary-era research collections. • Updating our technology to make “Patriot finding” faster and more accessible. • Securing the future of our library in Puyallup as a premier West Coast genealogy hub. MARK THIS VERY IMPORTANT DATE!  Big events take big effort and we need the hands-on support of our amazing members and patrons. please join us in planning our America250 celebration!Where: Heritage Quest Research Library When: 1 pm March 10, 2026 Where: 2102 E Main Ave, Suite #105 Why: Learn more about the event · Make important decisions · Help coordinate activities I am calling on you to help us make June 9th a success. Whether you can donate a unique item for our auction, volunteer for a setup shift, or simply join us for the evening to share your own family discoveries, your presence is what makes this library a community. Let’s honor the past by building a stronger future for HQRL. I look forward to celebrating 250 years of history—and your family’s place in it—this June. Carolyn Pasquier, Director America250 Patriot Celebration Fundraiser! Farm 12, Puyallup WA We can’t do this without you: Our major fundraiser is here! To our incredible members, supporters, and patrons, We are gearing up for our biggest fundraiser of the year, and to be honest, the clock is ticking! This event is vital to our mission, and because time is short, we are turning to the people who have always been our backbone. You have always stepped up when the need is great!! Today, we are asking for that same incredible spirit to help make this event a rousing success. Please consider volunteering on any the committees listed below, please contact Carmen McIntrye, Promotions Coordinator: camway@outlook.com Event Management & Staffing Auction Planning (silent & live auction and raffle) Sponsorship and Major Gifts Volunteer Coordinator Registration, check-in & guest assistance Marketing and Communication Finance Management Membership Fees Increase HQRL membership fees will increase starting April 1. Individual Membership – $50.00 Individual Membership with mail $65.00 Family membership $60.00 Family membership with mail $75.00 Patrons can join and members can renew during March at the current rate and can pay for more than one year if they choose. Upcoming Events HQRL Class Thursday March 5 What is Your Name? presented by Virginia Majewski Heritage Quest Research Library – classroom (limit of 8) and Zoom 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Join Virginia to learn about naming patterns. She will explain the use of four research concepts to improve your success when researching. Register at the library or online using the HQRL Store icon. Fee: $20+tax for members, $25+tax for non-members. (A zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts) ~~~~~ Thursday, March 5 through Saturday, March 7 ROOTS Tech 2026 in person (Salt Lake City) and on-line ROOTS Tech 2026 registration open. ~~~~~ Sunday March 8 Research Sunday Heritage Quest Research Library 10 am – 4 pm ~~~~~ Tuesday March 10 America250 Planning Meeting Heritage Quest Research Library 1 pm – 3 pm ~~~~~ Wednesday, March 18 Management Team Meeting HQRL Classroom 12 noon – 2 pm ~~~~~ Thursday, March 19 HQRL Class Finding Your Dutch Roots presented by Alexander Tolksdorf Heritage Quest Research Library Classroom (limit of 8) and Zoom 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Alexander will explain resources and techniques to trace your Dutch ancestors with additional emphasis on cultural and historical context that surrounded the their lives. Register at the library or online using the HQRL Store icon. Fee: $20+tax for members, $25+tax for non-members. (A zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts) ~~~~~ Saturday March 21 5th Annual African American Conference 10 am – 2 pm Tacoma Family History Center 12th and Pearl. Tacoma, WA (lunch included) Have You Heard? RootsTech 2026 is just around the corner! This three-day genealogy conference is hosted by FamilySearch, March 5–7 2026. Get ready to celebrate your family and learn something new about your heritage. This year’s conference is packed with a variety of family history activities, including: And the Best Part It’s online and it’s free It’s not too late to register and it’s easy, though you may need to set up a FamilySearch account if you do not already have one. Navigate to the Rootsech registration page by clicking the button below. RootsTech Registration Welcome Our New Members January Lynette Allen Nancy Brakke Karen Kephart Sandy Kramer Michael Lafreniere Martha Leonhardt Stefanie Patterson Kim Pohl Diane Rogers Julie and Steve Stockert February Cathleen Howell Michael J Howell Jeffery Poso Super Supporters Oct-Dec 2025 We’re still here because of you. Your generosity keeps our doors open and our community growing. Christopher Loseth David Grimm Durina Taylor James Foote Judy Line Kenneth Shipman Kristi Arnold Lyn Johnson Lynne Stallcop Patricia Fiebke Phyllis Kleist Rachel Farley Tamara Ching Valerie Jacobs ~~Thank You So Much~~ Above and Beyond Volunteers David Grimm, Mike Bartlett and Richard Pasquier were on hand to help with the recent relocation and addition of bookcases at the library, willing giving their valuable time to complete this project. AND, it was done in record time! Thanks to Mike who transported new shelving to the library; to Mike and Richard for assembling the shelves and to David, Mike and Richard who gave up a Sunday to tackle the heavy lifting of moving and installing library shelving. These guys are awesome! ~~Our Heartfelt Thank You~~  MIKE  DAVID  RICHARD New Library Books Discover our New Book Shelf – the first shelf to the left of the classroom door. The books are from these generous donors: Eliza Jane Meeker Chapter DAR, Elaine Root, Lori Bast, Dale Loseth, Elizabeth Bender. Thank you for keeping our collection new and fresh. DC 016 We, the people, the story of the United States capitol United States – Capitol Historical Society IA Black Hawk 002 v.1 History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people V1 (1915) – John C. Hartman IA Black Hawk 002 v.2 History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people Volume 2 – Anonymous IA Chickasaw 002 History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa – Robert Herd Fairbairn IL Edgar 002 Combined standard atlas Edgar County Illinois 1870 – 1894 – 1910 –Warner & Higgins Publisher IN 035 Pioneer history of Indiana, stories, incidents, customs of the early settlers – Col. William M Cockrum IN 036 Yesterday’s Indiana, Seemann’s historic states series no. 4 – Byron L Troyer IN Clay 003 History of Clay County Indiana historical, biographical [1884] – Charles Blanchard IN Jefferson 005 Early architecture of Madison, Indiana – John T. Windle, Robert M. Taylor Jr. NJ 022 Pine Battens of New Jersey – Lester S. Thomas NJ Warren 003 Authentic list of marriages in Warren County, New Jersey 1834 –1868 – Elder Edward Barrass VT 015 Lake Champlain and the Upper Hudson Valley – Edward P. Hamilton WA 000 History 35 Washington images of a state’s heritage – Carlos Schwantes, Katerine Morrissey, David Nicandri, Susan Strasser WA Benton 004 Prosser, 1964-74 Changing Times – Paul Fridlund WA Benton 005 Two fronts: a small town at war – Paul Fridlund WA King 052 Coals of Newcastle, a hundred years of hidden history – Richard and Lucile McDonald WA Pierce Tacoma yrbk Lincoln 1927 Lincolnian Annual 1927, Lincoln High School, Tacoma, Washington WA Stevens 007 Rich heritage, Summit Valley’s past – Kathryn “Kate” Carlson Immigration SCOTLAND 017 Cargoes of despair and hope, Scottish emigration to North America 1603-1803 – Ian Adams, Meredyth Somerville WI 026 Early German Immigrants in Wisconsin, Section I Geographic Origin of German immigration to Wisconsin, Section II The German element in the United States Vol. I – Kate Everest Levi, Alber Bernhardt Faust WI 027 Old cemetery burials of Milwaukee County Wisconsin Vol 2 – Elizabeth Doherty Herzfeld Mayflower 038 Mayflower, the voyage from hell – Kevin Jackson Military NAPOLEON 001 Diary of a Napoleonic foot soldier – Jakob Walter Military REV WAR 075 Located graves of soldiers and patriots of the American Revolution 1977-1982 – National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Military CIVIL WAR 068 Complete Civil War The definitive fact file of the campaigns, weapons, tactics, armies and key figures – Philip Katcher Military WWII 023 Day we bombed Switzerland – Jackson Granholm Native American 056 Gridiron gypsies, how the Carlisle Indians shaped modern football –Tom Benjey Pacific NW 034 Lumber ghosts, a travel guide to the historic lumber towns of the pacific northwest – Kenneth A Erickson Religion METHODIST 004 Bishop Asbury comes to Holston [Excerpts from Bishop Asbury’s Journals. One of the first. Methodist traveling preachers who brought Methodism to Eastern Tennessee, Southwest Virginia – 1788-1816] – Bishop Frances Asbury, Marvin Kincheloe, Robert L Hilton US HISTORY 022 The frontier years – Mark H Brown, W.R. Felton US History WEST 041 Osborne Russell’s Journal of a Trapper – Osborne Russell US History WEST 042 Mountain men and fur traders of the Far West – LeRoy R Hafen US History WEST 043 Diary of a Forty-Niner – Chauncey L Canfield US History WOMEN 032 Good wives image and reality in the lives of women in northern New England 1650-1750 – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Foreign CANADA Ontario Lanark 003 Perth, tradition & style in Eastern Ontario – Larry Turner Foreign CANADA Ontario Frontenac 007 Sandhill cemetery – Kingston Branch Ontario Genealogical Society Foreign ENGLAND 000 Military 13 Eminent Victorian soldiers seekers of glory – Byron Farwell Foreign ENGLAND Cambridgeshire 003 History of Huntingdonshire – Michael Wickes Foreign ENGLAND Cornwall 002 Little land of Cornwall – A.L. Rowse Foreign GERMANY 000 Research 25 Family tree German genealogy guide, how to trace your Germanic ancestry in Europe – James M. Beidler Foreign GERMANY 053 Concise history of Germany second edition 2004 [early middle ages to present] – Mary Fulbrook Foreign SCOTLAND 124 Victorian and Edwardian Highlands from old photographs – Francis Thompson Foreign WALES 000 Research 05 Welsh family history, a guide to research, second edition – John Rowlands, Sheila Rowlands Source ADOPTION 009 Courageous blessing, adoptive parents and the search — Carol L. Demuth Source COMPUTER 022 Turn your ipad into a genealogy powerhouse – Lisa Louise Cooke Source COMPUTER 023 Mobile genealogy, how to use your tablet and smartphone for family history research – Lisa Louise Cooke Source GENEALOGY 071 Genealogy do-over workbook –Thomas MacEntee Source ORGANIZING 003 Organize your genealogy, strategies and solutions for every researcher – Drew Smith  A Wee Bit of Fun Did you know that St. Patrick Wasn’t Irish: Born in Britain (possibly Scotland or Wales) to Roman parents, he wasn’t even in Ireland until he was 16. Was a slave: Irish pirates kidnapped him and sold him into slavery in Ireland, where he spent six years working as a shepherd before escaping. Used the Shamrock to illustrate the Trinity: He famously used the three-leaf clover (shamrock) to explain the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Blue, not green was his original color: Green becoming popular later due to Irish nationalism. Didn’t drive snakes out of Ireland: The legend says he drove snakes out of Ireland, but Ireland was too cold for snakes after the Ice Age, so they never lived there. Patrick wasn’t even St. Patrick’s given name: St. Patrick’s given name was Maewyn Succat. It wasn’t until he became a priest that he adopted a new name – Patrick, after Patricius (which relates to the Latin root meaning father).  |
| Heritage Quest Research Library | 2102 East Main Ave Suite 105 | Puyallup, WA 98372 US |
Kootenai County Genealogical Society Breaking The Silence Closing the Book on Cold Cases
Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society 3 Types of DNA 5 Testing Companies Help Me Understand!
Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society
Topic: 3 Types of DNA, 4 Challenging Types of Families, and 5 Testing Companies – Help Me Understand!
Speaker: Kelli Jo Bergheimer
Join us Saturday, March 21, 2026 @ 10am
In Person at the Bainbridge Public Library and via Zoom
This presentation includes a review of the three kinds of DNA. The speaker will also discuss the four kinds of challenging families that make working with DNA matches difficult. The presentation closes with a review of the highlights of five testing companies.
Kelli Jo Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and international genealogical speaker. Kelli is Director of Curriculum and Assessments for Blue Kayak, a K-12 textbook company. She works as the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide. She also runs a small business called “Mess on the Desk,” a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel, and is the facilitator for Genetics, Genealogy, and You, an online DNA Interest Group.
Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records by Judy Russell
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Connecticut Research
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society
1901 S. 12th Avenue
Union Gap, WA 98903
Phone: (509) 248-1328
Email: yvgs@yvgs.net
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society
General Meeting
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Following the General Meeting, Kathy Sizer will be giving a presentation on ways to research the state of Connecticut. In January 1788, Connecticut became the fifth State of the union, played a crucial role in the early history of the United States, being one of the original thirteen Colonies has plenty of rich history to explore. Join us in learning how to expand your ancestry through researching Connecticut.
Carla Adams
Social Media
Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society March Educational Meeting 2026
Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Monthly Educational Meeting
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, starting at 6:00 pm
This month’s presentation: A free RootsTech video titled “Using the FamilySearch Wiki” presented by Angela Thorup of the Family Search Library.
The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a free, online, genealogical guide that helps you find ancestors from around the world. Learn how to effectively navigate and use the Wiki to find websites, databases, records, and research strategies.
We hope you will attend and share your experiences using the Wiki as well as any questions you may have.
This month’s meeting will be Zoom Only until we can find a new physical location to meet in person.
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZIqduGpqjgsHtBNs9zc8CGna6R-KHlcz5so/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGuqToiG9CWth2DRpwAB4j4WevwiHZdgrd_sgy8GSMLQST4N7Rwf5lXHNvK
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86718143644?pwd=S0FjYU5acVVKbDEyamdXWWZVekFjdz09
Meeting ID: 867 1814 3644
Passcode: 630507
One tap mobile
+12532050468,,86718143644#,,,,*630507# US
+12532158782,,86718143644#,,,,*630507# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 867 1814 3644
Passcode: 630507
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcFbCNTY39
Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society Ancestry Revisit New, Updated and Upcoming Features
Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society
Monthly Business Meeting & Presentation
Ancestry Revisit – New, Updated and Upcoming Features
Tuesday, March 10th
1:00 pm
SVGS Library
6111 188 PL NE, Arlington, WA
Our speaker at the library this month will be SVGS society member, Sue McNeil. This event will be in person only. Everyone is welcome to attend this free presentation.
Sue’s topic: Ancestry Revisit-New, Updated and Upcoming Features
There have been many small and large additions and changes to Ancestry over the past year and many more coming. Have you looked at Ancestry lately?
Sue’s Bio:
Sue has been a member of the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society for many years and a family history addict. Her research in the United States has focused on the deep south, Washington, Michigan and just starting New England, Internationally, she has focused on Canada, Sweden and Germany. Autosomal and Y DNA have been a challenging but fun addition!
There will be a short break with refreshments after the presentation followed by our monthly business meeting.
For more information visit stillygen.org
Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Did Your Ancestor Work on a Railroad
Attorney, Genealogist and Blogger
His topic is
Did Your Ancestor Work on a Railroad
Speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s
March 12th 2026 Zoom meeting is James Tanner. His topic is Did Your Ancestor Work on a Railroad.
Virtual meeting doors will open at 9:30 am
Speaker’s program will begin at 10:00 am
The public is invited to attend
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event
Whatcom Genealogical Society Tips & Tricks for using Ancestry.com
