Category Archives: Society News

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

COME MEET PBS GENEALOGY ROADSHOW HOST,
KENYATTA BERRY

 

Kenyatta D Berry, genealogist, lawyer, writer and host of the PBS Genealogy Roadshow, will be at the Northwest African American Museum for a brief talk and reception, Sunday, August 20, 3:00pm-6:00 pm. Admission is free. You’re invited to come hear her speak, as well as meet and mingle with other fans of the show.

Kenyatta will also be a featured keynote speaker at the upcoming Northwest Genealogy Conference, August 16-19, 2017 in Arlington. See our Save the Dates section for more info on this popular conference.

The Northwest African American Museum is at 2300 S Massachusetts St, Seattle, WA 98144 – phone 206 518-6000.

For more information on this event or the museum, visit the website :

www.naamnw.org

GLAD WE COULD HELP

 

After last issue’s Tip of the Week about Oklahoma’s online vital records index called OK2Explore, we received a message from a subscriber that this tip helped her break through one of her brick walls. It’s always nice to hear we have helped a fellow genealogist since that is our mission.

 

A few years ago, she had requested a death certificate from the state of Oklahoma. She had a full name and date of death from an obituary. The state couldn’t locate a record from the information she provided.

When she read our tip in the last issue, she immediately went to try to locate this record for herself.

She first tried entering the full name; that returned no record. Next she tried surname plus death year; that also returned no record. Next she tried surname plus a 5 year range; that returned too many records.

In a last ditch effort, she tried leaving surname blank, but entering a first name, middle initial, and death year; bingo! That returned an entry showing the surname had been grossly misspelled and the death date was one day different from what was reported in the obituary.

Needless to say she’s happy, and it’s satisfying to know we’ve been of help.

SAVE THE DATES

 

NW Genealogy Conference 2017,
Arlington, WA
August 16 – 19

The Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society is putting on their annual four day conference. Remember the first day is geared toward beginners and is free. Among those presenting is current SGS president, Jill Morelli, past SGS vice president, Janice Lovelace, active SGS member, Mary Kircher Roddy, and don’t miss PBS Genealogy Roadshow host, Kenyatta Berry. Visit their website for more information, to register for the conference, or to register for the free day: www.nwgc.org

Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS),
2017 Conference – “Building Bridges to the Past”,
Pittsburgh, PA
August 30 – September 2, 2017

Ready for a road trip? This conference is open to anyone with an interest in family history. FGS is teaming up with the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society to put on this four day events. There will be various tracks to suit the individual researcher; beginner to experienced.

For more info visit : fgs.org

SGS 2017 Fall Seminar
Speaker: Dick Eastman
Fairview Christian School,
Seattle, WA
October 21, 2017

SGS is excited to have Dick Eastman for the Fall Seminar. Registration will open in early September. Mark your calendar.

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 Family Tree Interest Group with Lou Daly will not meet in August or September. The Irish, German, and Canadian Interest Groups are not meeting in August; they will return to their regular schedule in the fall. The Scandinavian Interest Group will not meet in September. The SGS Library will closed September 2 – 4 for Labor Day weekend.

 

AUGUST

Wednesday, August 16, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, Beginning Genealogy Class with SGS past president, Linda Fitzgerald. Feel free to bring your brown bag lunch.

SEPTEMBER

 

Saturday, September 9, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, new “Second Saturday Speaker Series”, with guest, Cyndi Ingle

Sunday, September 10, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, Led by Cary Bright with first hour on a specific topic, and the second hour open for sharing DNA issues with focus on GenomeMate Pro.

Saturday, September 23, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, SGS Fall Membership Meeting

 

 

 

German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) will meet on Friday, September 1, 2017, from 1 to 3 pm in the Relief Society Room of the LDS Church at 10675 NE 20thSt, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.

 

Topic:  What I Wish I Had Known . . .  before I started researching my ancestors.  Members of the interest group will share their experiences and lessons learned in researching in Germany – the importance of understanding law, the importance of location, the importance of siblings, understanding time period differences, dealing with data differences and brick walls.  Come learn from experienced genealogists who are willing to share their research adventures.

 

Facilitated by Janet O’Conor Camarata, a genealogist with over 25 years experience and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.  She is a seminar presenter and trainer in genealogy societies across Washington and supported genealogy by volunteering in a variety of ways – newsletter editor, program coordinator and as past-president of South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS).

 

For more information, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .

Eastside Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Thursday, September 14, 2017 in the Bellevue Regional Library (Room 1), 1111 – 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:30 pm for networking.

 

Topic: “How Did You Know That?!” Using the Research Wiki in FamilySearch.org presented by Celia McNay.  Explore this wonderful tool with tips and guidelines at your fingertips.  Whatever the genealogical topic, it’s covered in the Wiki!  It’s like the Red Book but so much more!

 

Also see our website for FREE genealogical help and other Special Interest Group meetings. Visitors are always welcome at all meetings. https://eastsidegenealogicalsociety.com/

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY September Seminar

by Charles Hansen

JEFFERSON COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (JCGS)

PO Box 627

Port Townsend, WA 98368

Contact for this media release: Judy Tough 385-3065 or tough@olympus.net

FOR RELEASE: July 6 – September 15, 2017

A Decree of (Temporary) Divorce: My Life Without Ancestry.com

Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) is offering to the community a day-long Seminar on Saturday, September 16, featuring professional genealogist, Mary Roddy, who will give two presentations at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, in Chimacum, WA. Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. and the program begins 10:00 – 11:40 followed by the afternoon session 12:30 – 2:00. Suggested donation is $10.00 for the Seminar. Bring your own lunch, and snacks to share. Coffee and tea provided. Genealogy books from Heritage Quest will be for sale on

site. <www.wajcgs.org>

Mary Roddy says of her morning presentation A Decree of (Temporary)

Divorce: My Life Without Ancestry.com:  “Learn how I found free substitute records for many of the records I used to pay for at Ancestry.com, and how I discovered some new sites as well.  My temporary ‘divorce’ forced me to examine my genealogy from a different viewpoint with a fresh perspective.  You, too, can recharge your genealogy, and save a few pennies as well.” 

Mary says her afternoon presentation FamilyBrowse: “FamilySearch.org 

has millions of images on its website, many of which are un-indexed and

not searchable. But if you know how to get into the catalog and browse around, you can find images of birth and death certificates, naturalization papers, deeds, will, estate inventories and more. And FamilySearch is

adding more and more images every month. To take advantage of this ever-increasing bounty its important to know how to find these types of records.”

Mary Roddy, a Certified Public Accountant, earned a certificate from the Genealogy and Family History program at the University of Washington. She is an active member of the Seattle Genealogical Society and speaks frequently in the Seattle area. Mary is a regular contributor to YourGenealogyToday and Internet Genealogy magazines, and a webinar presenter with Legacy Family Tree Webinars. She is working on a novel which incorporates stories of ancestors she has discovered in her research.

Whatcom Genealogical Society September Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Whatcom Genealogical Society will meet Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the
Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way. Program: Summer research finds, and a discussion of
changes in the genealogy community (Family Tree Maker, Legacy, My Heritage, Family Search
microfilm, and upcoming educational opportunities.) Visitors welcome! Contact: 360-733-8300

 

Sharon Neem
WGS Publicity Chair
_________________________________________________________________

Olympia Genealogical Society Genealogy Cafe

by Charles Hansen

GENEALOGY CAFE  Meet with Olympia Genealogical Society experts for free personal help with your family history research. Thursday August 17 and Saturday August 19 at Olympia Timberland Library, 313 8th Avenue Southeast, from 1-3 pm

Thank-you,  JOYCE OGDEN, PUblicity

=======================================================================
Joyce T. Ogden
jtogden@comcast.net

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

You Took the  DNA Test…The “Now What” for Genealogists

On Saturday, September 9, from 1:00-3:00pm, the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society presents a special science based program. Join retired scientist, educator, internationally acclaimed lecturer and genealogist, Barbara Johnson, for a discussion on how to use DNA testing for ethnicity to improve your family history research, and make connections with your DNA matched contemporaries. Bring your questions about those “Huh!?” and surprise ethnicity discoveries and Barbara will help you find answers. This program is free to the public and will be held at the Burlington Senior Community Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave., Burlington, WA. For more info. about SVGS and a schedule of upcoming monthly educational programs visit: skagitvalleygenealogy.org or email: genealogy0715@gmail.com.

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

DICK EASTMAN, POPULAR NEWSLETTER AUTHOR,
COMING TO SGS SEMINAR THIS FALL

Eastman’s On Genealogy Newsletter by Dick Eastman is a vastly popular, widely read site. I’m sure most of you have read his Free Standard Edition and gleaned a lot of useful information from it. And I’m also sure many of you subscribe to his reasonably priced Plus Edition. It costs about $.38 a week, as either $19.95 a year, or $5.95 per quarter. The Plus Edition has more articles and no advertising.

Since you enjoy his newsletter so much, come see him live at the fall seminar. Mark it on your calendar. Save the date.

 

DOUBLE DATING AND OTHER WOES

“In 1752, England changed her calendar, too” is a little rhyme I made up to help me remember the year England and her colonies, including here in America, switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. This was much later than most other countries.

As a quick recap, there was a Roman calendar, a Julian calendar, and finally the Gregorian calendar. Many countries switched over to the Gregorian calendar between 1582 and 1701, but as mentioned, England didn’t switch until 1752. I thought this date thing was pretty straight forward, but soon learned it could be rather sticky.

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