Please Join Us for our educational classes to learn more about researching your family roots! (offered online via Zoom and in person at HQRL) Cost per individual: Non-members – $25 Members – $20
September 4, 2025 11am to 12pm PDTMeans, Motive & Opportunity: The Sad Saga of George Richards This case study of a man whose choices served to confuse his descendants is reconstructed in this lecture. He was there, then gone, then back—see how a variety of records, unlocked his real story. From England to the US, George’s life was filled with conundrums and poor choices. See how to locate original records (not all online), separate fact from fiction, and assess evidence for accuracy.
Jean Wilcox Hibben; PhD, MA, former So. Cal. college speech professor (MA – Speech Communication; PhD – Folklore), is a national speaker and author. A member of the DAR, she is the former director and current family history consultant for the Corona, CA FamilyHistory Center, has worked on background research for two genealogy television programs, and was a host for podcasts on social history. A former Board-Certified genealogist with over 45 years of research experience, she is a former board member of APG and past president of the Corona Genealogical Society, as well as webmaster for that same organization; and participant on a number of other society boards. Jean writes the “Aunty Jeff” column for the Informer, the newsletter of the Jefferson County NY Genealogical Society. Her website: circlemending.org.
UPCOMING CLASSES! Check them out!
Citing Your Sources: It’s Easier Than You Think! September 18, 202511am to 12pm PDT(in person only at HQRL)LEARN MORE HERE!
Inspiring the Next Generationof GenealogistsNovember 6, 202511am to 12pm PDT LEARN MORE HERE!
Monthly Meeting & Presentation – Sons of the American Revolution and Revolutionary Era Genealogy
Tuesday, August 12th
1:00 pm
SVGS Library
6111 188 PL NE, Arlington, WA
You are invited to this free presentation at the SVGS library. Everyone is welcome!
Jason Rice, a SVGS member, will be giving an inpersononly presentation at our library. Our business meeting will follow the presentation.
Jason’s Presentation: Sons of the American Revolution and Revolutionary Era Genealogy
Founded in 1889, the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) stands as a prominent non-profit, non-political organization deeply committed to the core tenets of volunteerism, a comprehensive understanding of American History, and fervent Patriotism. Since its inception, the SAR has cultivated an extensive international network, currently encompassing over 550 chapters strategically located throughout North America and Europe. The SAR boasts a substantial membership exceeding 35,000 individuals, each of whom has meticulously documented their lineage, demonstrating a direct ancestral connection to the Patriots who played pivotal roles in the American Revolutionary War. These esteemed ancestors encompass a wide spectrum of individuals who either rendered military service in the Continental Army or Navy, or who actively contributed to the cause of American independence through various forms of support, including political activism, financial contributions, and the provision of essential resources. The SAR serves as a vital link to the nation’s foundational history, fostering a profound appreciation for the sacrifices and ideals of the Revolutionary War era among its members and the broader public. Through its diverse programs and initiatives, the organization actively promotes historical education, civic engagement, and a deep-seated sense of national pride.
Bio:
Jason attended Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois – Springfield, studying Political Science, Philosophy, and Public Administration. He began genealogical research in 2013. He is a member of the Southern Illinois Genealogical society, Pope County, Illinois Historical Society, Jackson County (Illinois) Historical Society, SVGS, and currently the Chapter Genealogist of Supplemental Applications for the Ranger Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.
There will be a short break with refreshments. The monthly meeting will follow at 2pm.
New England Interest Group – 1st Tuesday of the Month
The SVGS New England Interest Group (includes New York and Pennsylvania) meets at the SVGS Library on the first Tuesday of the month at 10am. This is a hybrid group. You may attend in person at our library or join via Zoom.
If you have not joined us yet and would like to receive emails in the future for this group or wish to attend via Zoom, please send an email to info@stillygen.org and request to be added to the New England Interest Group email list and receive monthly
Zoom invitations.
DIG – DNA Special Interest Group – 3rd Thursday of the Month
Also join us at the SVGS library from 1-3pm on the 3rd Thursday of the month for the DNA Special Interest Group (DIG). This group works together to develop a better understanding of DNA techniques and strategies for finding relatives, discuss and review new DNA developments and tools and help members with their research problems.
All DNA skill levels are welcome to attend.
If you have a specific DNA topic you would like to discuss or have any other suggestions for this group, please send an email info@stillygen.org
Also, if you have not joined us yet and would like to receive emails in the future for the DIG group, please send an email to info@stillygen.org and request to be added to the DIG email list.
The Clark County Genealogical Society (CCGS) announces a searchable list of surplus books for sale on our website. You may also download a pdf of available titles. All books are on display in our library.
There are two ways to purchase a book.
In person: purchase from a Librarian at the CCGS Library with cash or a check.
By mail: contact Denise Erkkila at denisee@ccgswa.org to determine book availability and total cost (book, sales tax, USPS postage). Payment is by check only.
We hope you take a look and find something that will support your research!
Please come and visit our library in Vancouver, WA. The library is open from 10 am to 3 pm, Tuesday through Friday, and from 11 am to 3 pm on the second Saturday of each month.
Questions? Call 360-750-5688 or send an email to info@ccgswa.org.
Please Join Us for our educational classes to learn more about researching your family roots! (offered online via Zoom and in person at HQRL) Thursday, July 24, 2025 11am to 12pm PDT Introducing American Ancestors This program introduces the viewer to American Ancestors – who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. With a focus on what is available to virtual viewers, this program talks about navigating our website, exploring our databases, finding subject guides, research templates and more. Our online accessible collections cover a wide range of genealogical records from the 17th to 21st century and span geographic locaƟons from New England, the rest of the United States, as well as Canada and Europe. Our services include online courses, Ancestry, our tree platform, online chat as well as Research for hire. Join this program to learn how American Ancestors can help you accomplish your genealogy goals. Claire Vail Claire Vail has twenty years of experience as a digital marketing and content strategist for high-profile institutions in higher education, publishing, and media. Before joining American Ancestors, she was Director of Web Communications at Tufts University, where she oversaw the implementation of large-scale website redesign and content management implementation projects for several Schools, including the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Claire has a master’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University and a second master’s in English literature from the University of Delaware, with a concentration in eighteenth century British and American studies. Her ancestry is Northern Italian (though Ancestry insists she’s actually French and German), British and Irish. Her interest in family history stems from finding her great grandmother’s name on a ship manifest from Palermo, a single line that listed her as “housewife” and “illiterate.” Claire is hoping to continue researching her ancestry back as far as possible, and to visit Udine, the town in the Friuli region of Northern Italy, to meet her cousins and learn more from them about the family. CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP
What are you doing for your genealogy this summer? Here are few ideas. Join our Vice President at the SGS Library tomorrow (6pm, Wed July 16) for research! Sign into seagensoc.org as a member and watch one of the great recorded videos of a presentation you missed? Visit a cemetery or a historical society you’ve never been to before. Renew your SGS membership because your forgot to a few months ago? Talk to your elders or cousins to add family details to what you already know. Join our SGS Facebook Networking group for questions and conversation? Spend a few hours organizing your files? Review our Special Interest Groups and join a new one? I just finished a big genealogy project and am planning a new one. I will research my second great grandfather’s brother, who was one of Seattle’s earliest inhabitants. He had no children who lived to adulthood, so he has no direct descendants to tell his story.
We have some surprises for you that we are working on at SGS. For one, our SGS logo at the top of this message may be new to you. This logo lost its gold years ago due to concerns over the costs of yellow ink. The Board is re-introducing it because there is no ink to purchase for delivering this message!
Have a great genealogy-filled summer!
Kathy Weber President of the Board president@seagensoc.org
Have you always wanted to do your genealogy but did not know where to start? The Skagit Valley Genealogical Society has the class for you…SVGS, in conjunction with the Celtic Arts Foundation, presentsGenealogy 101, a two-hour course on the basics of family history research, Saturday July 26, 2025. Choose either the morning (9-11am) or afternoon (1-3pm) class. This is SVGS’s 2025 fundraiser, tickets are $15, go to https://www.celticarts.org/event/genealogy-101 for tickets.
You are free to copy articles to any non-commercial web site or message board or printed publication you wish. Don’t bother to ask permission, just do it.
Jean Wilcox Hibben; PhD, MA, former So. Cal. college speech professor (MA – Speech Communication; PhD – Folklore), is a national speaker and author. A member of the DAR, she is the former director and current family history consultant for the Corona, CA FamilyHistory Center, has worked on background research for two genealogy television programs, and was a host for podcasts on social history. A former Board-Certified genealogist with over 45 years of research experience, she is a former board member of APG and past president of the Corona Genealogical Society, as well as webmaster for that same organization; and participant on a number of other society boards. Jean writes the “Aunty Jeff” column for the Informer, the newsletter of the Jefferson County NY Genealogical Society. Her website: circlemending.org.
Citing Your Sources: It’s Easier Than You Think! September 18, 2025 11am to 12pm PDT (in person only at HQRL) LEARN MORE HERE!
What’s your family’s story? We can help you explore your family heritage!
Claire Vail Claire Vail has twenty years of experience as a digital marketing and content strategist for high-profile institutions in higher education, publishing, and media. Before joining American Ancestors, she was Director of Web Communications at Tufts University, where she oversaw the implementation of large-scale website redesign and content management implementation projects for several Schools, including the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Claire has a master’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University and a second master’s in English literature from the University of Delaware, with a concentration in eighteenth century British and American studies. Her ancestry is Northern Italian (though Ancestry insists she’s actually French and German), British and Irish. Her interest in family history stems from finding her great grandmother’s name on a ship manifest from Palermo, a single line that listed her as “housewife” and “illiterate.” Claire is hoping to continue researching her ancestry back as far as possible, and to visit Udine, the town in the Friuli region of Northern Italy, to meet her cousins and learn more from them about the family. 
Visit our website at 