Category Archives: Society News

Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society January Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society will meet on January 11, 2020 in the downstairs classroom at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. This months program will be the ” Individual Research Assistance” project. The project consists of members collaborating with other members in solving their research dead ends or brick walls.The project will run both January and February. Members are encouraged to bring their laptops and their research data. A short business meeting will begin at 10:30 followed by the beginning of our research assistance project. There is no admission charge to the Discovery Center for attending our meetings. A $1.00 donation is appreciated to cover room rental.  

Heritage Quest Research Library Closed for Holidays

by Charles Hansen
Holiday Greetings
No matter how you choose to celebrate the holidays, we take this opportunity to wish you a joyous New Year and to THANK YOU for your support of Heritage Quest Research Library.  We exist because of you and we continue to serve the genealogy community with your help.
The Library will be CLOSED:
Tuesday, December 24th
Wednesday, December 25th 
Tuesday, December 31st
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
so that our volunteers may celebrate with their families.
We look forward to seeing you in the near future to help you “become the family historian and bring your ancestors to life.”

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

SPEAK OUT NOW TO PRESERVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO GENEALOGY RECORDS – HELP! 
Dear SGS members and supporters,

You have all probably seen some mention of a significant proposed fee increase by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Essentially what they are proposing for fees are: raising the search fee 269% from $65 to $240 and the cost of the actual file 481% from $65 to $385. 

For those not familiar with the types of records genealogists want from USCIS, here is a sample:  Naturalization Certificate Files (C-Files), September 27, 1906 to March 31, 1956 Alien Registration Forms (Form AR-2), August 1940 to March 1944 Visa Files, July 1, 1924 to March 31, 1944 Registry Files, March 1929 to March 31, 1944 A-Files, April 1, 1944 to May 1, 1951 If you had relatives who immigrated to the United States in the 20th century, USCIS is the place to order the above records. 

USCIS has provided an opportunity for the genealogical community to comment on this proposed Rule that dramatically impacts the USCIS Genealogy Records Program. We want to encourage our members to make their voices heard and express your concern with this outrageous proposal. 

The Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC) is sending in a letter outlining some of our objections. Your help is needed! Please write to the NCIS responding to their request for comment. The deadline is 30 December. You can find a link to sign up and more information at “Records, Not Revenue” at: https://www.recordsnotrevenue.com  

Be sure to contact your Congress people as well!

If you would like to read the proposed rule, see: 
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-11-14/pdf/2019-24366.pdf 
The Genealogy section is Section N which starts on page 62315-62316. 
See Section 103.40 for Genealogical Research Requests on page 62359. 

The Washington Post had an article on the proposed fee increases last Thursday which may be read at: 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/12/05/genealogy-boom-has-hit-roadblock-trump-administration-plans-huge-fee-hikes-immigration-records/ 

The link to send a comment is at https://www.recordsnotrevenue.com/ 

We encourage the individual members of our society to get behind this process and let USCIS and your local representatives know that you object to this unsupportable, exorbitant charge for access to value genealogical documentation. 

Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, you may feel free to contact me. 
  Sincerely,

Jill Morelli
President, Seattle Genealogical Society
   
IT’S THE GIVING SEASON!   Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support the Seattle Genealogical Society and Library during our Annual Appeal this December.    SGS 2019 Annual Appeal Donate Now Online   If you have a Paypal account, you may donate to SGS via the Paypal Giving Fund. The transaction fee will be waived and your gift will be matched with an additional 1% by the fund. Go to:  Paypal Giving Fund – SGS     THANK YOU!
  2020 CENSUS JOB OPPORTUNITIES   Want a temporary job? If you are an experienced genealogist, you may be interested in and well qualified for positions supporting the 2020 U.S. Census. The Census Bureau is looking to fill literally thousands of positions – enumerators, clerks, supervisors. SGS member, Ellen Stewart, wants to help out with the 2020 Census so she’s very excited about her new position and encourages other SGS members to check out the opportunities. She suggests you visit the official site, set up an account, and complete the application online. The application includes an assessment to help match your skills to the available job opportunities. 
Here’s the link for the official website:  2020census.gov/jobs        SAVE THE DATE  
Spring 2020 SGS Seminar 
with Fritz Juengling,
Fairview Christian School,
844 NE 78th St,
Seattle, WA
Saturday, May 16, 2020   Mr Juengling is the German, Dutch and Scandinavian Research Specialist at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. SGS is happy to have Fritz as the presenter for our spring seminar.   SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
  Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes,  and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The Library will be closed Dec 21, 2019 – Jan 1, 2020 for the Winter Holiday. 
  JANUARY   Saturday, January 4, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch  SIG, with leader Lou Daly, discover the many ways to use Family Tree & FamilySearch.org. Each meeting will feature an aspect of the FamilySearch website.  There will be time for Q&A.  
  Sunday, January 5, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, DNA Workshop SIG with leader Cary Bright

Wednesday, January 8, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC Computer SIG, co-chairs Lisa Marker & Diane Hettrick. Meets every other month at the Fiske Genealogical Library in Madison Park, 1644 43rd Ave E, Seattle, WA. Jointly sponsored by SGS & Fiske. Open to the public. Focuses on resources for users of Macintosh/Apple computers & the Reunion Program.

Saturday, January 11,  1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Second Saturday Series: “Fraktur und Fremdworter: Hacks for Reading Foreign Books & Newspapers” –  presenter will be Mary Kircher Roddy.

Sunday, January 12,  1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Scandinavian SIG, lead by Karen Knudson, this group will be reviewing new searches from Arkivdigital (Swedish Research) and Digitalarkivet (Norwegian Research). Everyone is welcome to come and share their research.

Saturday, January 18, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Irish  SIG, with Jean Roth
Saturday, January 18, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, German  SIG, with Jean Roth

Saturday, January 25, 10:00am-12:30pm, DNA SIG, Meets quarterly in the fellowship hall of Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle. Come early for the Beginner Session 9:30-10:00am. Co-chairs Cary Bright & Herb McDaniel. An annual $5 contribution is collected at the door to fund rental of the space.
 

German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The German Interest Group

of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, January 3, 2020 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm

(Doors open at 12:10 for networking)

Where: Relief Society Room of the Latter-day Saints Church

10675 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA 98004

Topic: “German Immigration Patterns Prior to the Revolutionary War” – There were 3 waves of German immigrants to America prior to the Revolutionary war.  He will emphasize the 3rd wave of immigrants, those coming from 1717 to 1775. It’ll include where they came from and why plus where they went.  He will also cover why most did not come to America but went to Eastern Europe.  Much of his material is drawn from Hopeful Journeys, German Immigration, Settlement and Political Culture in Colonial America from the late 1600’s to the start of the Revolutionary war.

Presenter:  Bill Frisinger – His ancestor Ludwig Friderich Freysinger immigrated to Philadelphia in 1754.  The ship and where most of its immigrants came from are well documented but no one has any documentation of where in Europe he came from although most “know” where.  It is just that they are almost certainly wrong.  It is this puzzle that drew him into genealogy.  Later when he received a copy of a journal passed down on his maternal side, he began a more formal study of his ancestors.

More information: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/ . Visitors are always welcome.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society January Luncheon

by Charles Hansen

Save the Date

Our Year of Change!

Join us for a great Pasta Luncheon at Mukogowa. Enjoy an informative webinar: “Do You Have Brick Walls?” from the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS). And Honor and visit with our past Presidents.

When: January 4, 2020. Time: Doors open at 11:30 Lunch at 12:00-

Program to Follow

Where: Mukogowa | 4000 W. Randolph Road | Spokane, WA. 99224

Buffet Pasta Bar and Webinar

Registration: $25.00

By Pay Pal at ewsgi.org

OR

Mail Check to:

EWGS

P.O. Box 1826

Spokane, WA 99210

Finding your Female Ancestors at the Hayden Library

by Charles Hansen

Dear Friends,

I’ve scheduled a three-month genealogy series to delve into the extraordinary lives of our female ancestors, in particular, those born during the early 20th century when the women’s suffrage movement led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The workshop will last about an hour with informal sharing, so bring your bagged lunch as we have the room until 12:00 p.m.

FINDING YOUR FEMALE ANCESTORS AT HAYDEN LIBRARY
Saturday, Jan 11 at 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Where Were Your Female Ancestors Celebrating the Vote: 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage


Saturday, Feb 8 at 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Finding American Women’s Voices through the Centuries: Letters, Diaries, Journals, Newspapers, and Court Records

Saturday, March 14 at 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Nineteenth Century Women Settlers Confront the Far West

“The Seneca Falls Convention framed a national discussion about women’s rights in America and marked the beginning of a massive civil rights movement that would span the next 70 years. The right to vote was seen as the first step to change the traditional and unjust systems that existed. Women worked for equal rights.” 

You might want to get your hands on a good book or two for “light” reading. I’d recommend The Ladies of Seneca Falls: The Birth of the Woman’s Rights Movement (Studies in the Life of Women). You could goggle using the terms: “books on women’s suffrage” or just read websites. 

Merry Christmas, and I hope will to see you soon.

Your friend,

Kim Morgan

https://www.facebook.com/findingmyancestor/

https://www.findingancestors.net

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Holiday Gala

by Charles Hansen

Please join us on Tuesday, December 10th for our Holiday Gala, beginning at 6 pm.  This is always a “fun” event.  A chance for us to socialize, share some great snacks, and maybe even play some genealogy games. Bring a friend — or two!  This is a great way to introduce family and friends to TPCGS.

Bates Technical College South Campus,  2201 S 78th St, Building E, Tacoma, WA.

Take exit 129 onto Tacoma Mall Boulevard; Turn left and go to 78th Street; Turn right into the college: 2201 S 78th St.We look forward to seeing you there!

Jane Irish Nelson TPCGS Webmaster