HQRL Happenings November 2026  With heartfelt thanks to the members who keep our history alive.

Holiday “Fun-Raising” Bazaar

December 1 – 19

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We will accept donations beginning Monday, November 2. The items that were successful last year were:

Handmade crafts and creations

Vintage holiday items

Christmas home and tree decorations

100% cotton fabric

Crafting supplies

Thank you for your continued support and participation.

We appreciate you!

All proceeds help pay the bills!

Upcoming Events

HQRL Class

Thursday, November 5

11 am – 12 noon

HQRL Classroom and Zoom

Collateral & Cluster Research

Join Laura Street Chaplin to learn these fascinating techniques.

Register in the HQRL Store or at HQRL, $20+tax for members, $25+tax for non-members.

Attend in the HQRL classroom (limit of 8 persons) or via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts.

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“Fun-Raising” Bazaar Meeting

Tuesday, November 10

10:30 to 12 noon

HQRL Library Classroom

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HQRL Class

Thursday, November 12

11 am to 12 noon

HQRL Classroom and Zoom

The Genealogy Roll-up:

Essential Shortcuts Every Genealogist Needs

(This class was originally on Feb. 5, 2026, but was rescheduled)

Join Jennifer Patterson Dondero to learn shortcuts for your family research.

Register in the HQRL Store or at HQRL, $20+tax for members, $25+tax for non-members.

Attend in the HQRL classroom (limit of 8 persons) or via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to your email 1-2 days before the class along with any handouts.

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Management Team Mtg

Wednesday, November 18

12 noon – 2 pm

HQRL Classroom and Zoom

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2027 Dinner Auction Meeting

Tuesday, November 24

10:30 am – 12 noon

HQRL Classroom

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Thanksgiving Quiz

Why did the Pilgrims celebrate a “Day of Thanksgiving” in the fall of 1621?
Was Turkey on the menu at the first Thanksgiving?
When was Thanksgiving made a national holiday?
Who was Rebecca who lived in the Calvin Coolidge White House?
When and Where did the traditional “Wishbone Snap” originate?
What was not on the first Thanksgiving menu?

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HQRL Signs are Finally Going Up!

After many meetings and the tireless efforts of David Grimm, the city signs are up. One of the city signs is located on Pioneer Way between 13th and 15th streets. The other sign is located by the American Legion Post on East Pioneer and 5th Ave Southeast. The Highway signs are ready for the the Department of Transportation to install. These will be located on the Highway 512 East and West exits.

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Lead the Legacy

Volunteer Opportunities at Heritage Quest

Help Us Stay Organized! Be our Management Team Secretary.

Love history but short on time? Our non-profit genealogy library needs a Management Team Secretary. This is a vital leadership support role with a very low time commitment: just one meeting a month and a tiny bit of follow-up.

Are You Tech-Savvy? Help Us Keep the Library Connected!

Our non-profit genealogy library is seeking a computer-literate volunteer to serve as our Tech Support Helper. Our patrons rely on our computers to trace their family trees, and we need your help keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

What You’ll Do:

Keep software and operating systems up to date.
Tackle simple tech glitches (unfreezing apps, fixing printer connections, or troubleshooting basic browser issues).

This is a highly flexible role that can easily fit your schedule. If you’re the go-to tech person in your friend group or family, you are exactly who we need!

Help Us Bring History Experts to Our Community

Our Education Coordinator position is open!

Our non-profit genealogy library hosts two 1-hour classes each month, and we are looking for an Educational Coordinator to help us find the perfect presenters!

The best part?

You don’t have to teach the classes yourself!

Your job is simply to find the people who do. If you love networking, organizing, and chatting with interesting history buffs, this is the perfect volunteer role for you.

Become a Cornerstone of Our Library. Be a Weekly Volunteer Librarian.

Do you have a passion for genealogy and a desire to make a steady, meaningful impact? HQRLis looking for Volunteer Librarians who can commit to anchoring our space at least one day a week. This uniquely rewarding role blends collection care with direct community service. You’ll be the face of the library for a day!

What You’ll Do:

Guide the Curious: Sit down with patrons to help them navigate databases, track down missing ancestors, and sort through historical records.
Care for the Collection: Keep our physical books, records, and family folders organized, shelved, and easy to find.
Cultivate Community: Welcome visitors and ensure the library is a warm, productive space for discovery.

Interested?

Send us a message or email Info@hqrl.com or phone the library (253) 863-1806 and leave a message for our Volunteer Coordinator, Susan Nolan.

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Thanksgiving Quiz Answers

To the deeply religious Puritans and Pilgrims, a "Day of Thanksgiving" was an official, strictly religious event called in response to a specific act of divine providence.

Turkey wasn't at the first Thanksgiving in 1621; the three-day harvest festival likely featured venison, duck, goose, lobster, clams, and fish.

Abraham Lincoln established the national holiday in 1863 during the height of the Civil War, intentionally using it as a way to promote national unity and healing.

President Calvin Coolidge was once gifted a live raccoon meant to be Thanksgiving dinner. The President pardoned her and the Coolidge household named her Rebecca and kept her as a pet instead.

This tradition traces its roots back over 2,000 year. The ancient Etruscans believed birds had oracle powers. They would dry out the wishbone and stroke it while making wishes. Today, Americans still dry out the bone, and two people pull it apart until it snaps—whoever gets the larger piece gets their secret wish granted.

No Cranberry Sauce: The Pilgrims had cranberries, but they had long since exhausted their supply of sugar, making sweet cranberry sauce impossible. No Mashed Potatoes: Neither white potatoes nor sweet potatoes had been introduced to New England agriculture yet. No Pumpkin Pie: The colony lacked butter, wheat flour, and ovens capable of baking pastries or pie crusts.

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Heritage Quest Research Library | 2102 East Main Ave Suite 105 | Puyallup, WA 98372 US

Delicious Gifts, Great Cause: Order See’s Candies Today! Give the gift of delicious Holiday Candies! Every order of Sweet Treats 🍬supports HQRL! 🍬

OR JUST CLICK HERE TO ORDER     Heritage Quest Research Library | 2102 East Main Ave Suite 105 | Puyallup, WA 98372 US