Category Archives: Society News

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM SGS

The Board of the Seattle Genealogical Society wishes you a happy holiday season.

While we are taking a break from classes, meetings and presentations, now is a great time to take advantage of our website resources.

Take a look at the Women’s Suffrage page, including our Resource Guide, stories of female ancestors and 57 Washington women suffragists.

Read recent issues of the Journal of SGS and eNews!

Check out our Member Surname Registry – available for review whether or not you are a member. We currently have 218 names on record. Now is a great time for members to add family names. Here is your chance to begin a collaboration with someone in our own organization.

View recordings of our Fall 2020 Second Saturdays (members only).

Get ready for 2021! Check our Calendar of Events for more Special Interest Groups, Second Saturdays and classes. There you will find our full listing of offerings through June 2021.

If you have not checked out our new meetings, mark your calendars now:
Tech Tuesdays will next meet after the holidays on January 12th at 10:00 am PST and continue on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Bring your challenge or question and one of our rotating facilitators will be on hand to help. Brags and Bricks, our informal social hour and exchange of genealogical gems will resume on January 6, 2020 at 10:00 am PST and meet every Wednesday.

Have a safe and happy holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in 2021.    Heidi L. Mair Director of Education Seattle Genealogical Society https://seagensoc.org

HOLIDAY SPECIAL GIFT PACKAGES FROM NGS
Looking for a special and meaningful gift for a family member or friend? Have you been promising yourself a gift to learn more about an area of genealogy that will help advance your own family history?

The National Genealogical Society (NGS) has holiday special packages for some of their most popular genealogy courses with great savings for both NGS members and non-members. All of the courses are online using an e-learning system so students can join from home or on-the-go, and complete coursework at their own pace and on their own schedule.

Hurry! The holiday sale starts December 7 and ends January 5, 2021. To find out more visit their
Web page : 
https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/holiday-special-gift-packages-from-ngs/

SGS 2020 ANNUAL APPEAL LETTER
Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support the Seattle Genealogical Society and Library during our Annual Appeal this holiday season. Send your check to SGS, PO Box 15329, Seattle WA 98115-0329, or use your credit/debit card to:
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!    

SAVE THE DATE“Finding Your Roots: Using the Entire Genealogy Tool Box”, Jewish  Genealogical Society of Washington State,
Bellevue, WA
Monday, December 14, 2020 
7:00 PM PST

Coral Grant will be the presenter for this online, virtual meeting. The “room will open” at 7 PM and the meeting will begin at 7:15 PM.  Visit their website for more info and the meeting id. 
https://www.jgsws.org

RootsTech Connect 2021 (Virtual),
hosted by FamilySearch International
February 25-27, 2021

This 2021 virtual conference is free. They do ask that you register. Something for everyone, no matter your age or experience:

  • Genealogy Classes
  • Food and Cultural Demonstrations
  • Mind-break Activities, Exercise and Relaxation
  • Travel and World Heritage 

Visit the website for more info and registration. 
http://www.rootstech.org/?lang=eng
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS*

In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed until further notice and SGS in-person events have been replaced with online events.
** Go to the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links and for any last minute updates or changes to the schedule.  
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, 

Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 
Saturday, Jan 9, 2021,  10:15 am – 12:15 pm,

Family Tree Maker Users Group, Learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker 2017 by Software MacKiev™ . Want to join this SIG? Email operations@seagensoc.org. Chaired by Rob Sexton.
Saturday, Jan 9, 2021,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm,

Second Saturday Series:”From Church Archives to KBG”, presenter will be Carolyn Schott founder of the Black Sea German Research Community 

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm,

Scandinavian Interest Group, chaired by Karen Knudson, Share information and discuss Scandinavian ancestral research.

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021, 10:00 am-11:00 am,

Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link. 
Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm,

 Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 

Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, 

MAC Computer Interest Group (Virtual),  Chaired by Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick, these meetings address topics and resources helpful for those using MacIntosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion program in their genealogy research. The link to logon will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. People wishing to attend should email dhettrick@earthlink.net to be added to the mailing list.  

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, 

Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 

Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, 

Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021,  10:00 am – 12:30 pm,

SGS DNA Interest Group workshop , will be meeting via Zoom.To be included you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join. Link to be sent to the email group prior to the meeting along with the pdf handout.    

MyHeritage Norway Census

by Charles Hansen

I am delighted to announce the addition of two new collections of Norway Census records —  the 1875 Norway Census and the 1870 Norway Census. Digitized in collaboration with National Archives of Norway (Arkivverket), the 2 million records in these collections include high-quality scans of the original documents.

Search the new Norwegian Census Records

The collections hold particular interest as they cover a unique time in Norwegian history. The largest single wave of emigration from Norway occurred between 1879 and 1893. Spurred on by the promise of new opportunities, 250,000 Norwegians left Norway for other countries like the U.S. The 1875 census offers the opportunity to catch a snapshot about these Norwegian ancestors while they were still in Norway. For those in the U.S. and abroad with Norwegian heritage, this census collection may unlock important details about their Norwegian roots.

Beyond their historical significance, the collections are important as they contain details that are not often found within a typical census collection. In addition to listing the person’s name, residence, position within the family, gender, marital status, and occupation, the census also includes information on languages spoken, birthplace of the residents, and their birth years. In specific cases, even medical conditions are listed. Also included are individuals who were temporary residents of the household or those registered to a household who may have been absent at the time of the census count. This means that a single individual may have been listed in more than one entry, if they were visiting another home at the time the census was taken. 

Please find the official blog post here with some nice example records from this collection.
We would be grateful if you share this news.

image4-11

With the release of these collections, and the recent release of 42 million Norway Church records, MyHeritage now offers 246 million records from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, making MyHeritage the market leader for Scandinavian family history.

Searching the Norway Census Records on MyHeritage is completely free. If you have a family tree on MyHeritage, our Record Matching technology will notify you automatically if records from these collections match your relatives. To view these records or to save records to your family tree, you’ll need a Data or Complete subscription.

Enjoy,

Daniel Horowitz

Heritage Quest Research Library Holiday Shopping

by Charles Hansen
It’s time for Holiday shopping!
We had such a great response from all of you that we have made an effort to be OPEN for the next 2 Saturdays in December.
   
We hope that you will come on in and check out the USED BOOK SALE in the classroom.  We are also continuing to offer “no sales tax on “our Bookstore items. 

Saturday, December 12, 2020 –  We OPEN at 10.00 AM
Saturday, December 19, 2020 –  We OPEN at 10:00 AM

 

Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society Christmas Chat

by Charles Hansen

Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society announces our virtual December meeting:


“A Christmas Chat”Monday, December 14, 2:00 p.m. at your computer.

Contact wagslibrarian@wags-web.org to get the Zoom link.
This will be an informal get-together to share our experiences and accomplishments in 2020, and hopes for the new year. You’re also invited to show-and-tell something you have that’s really old. We’re looking forward to finishing our year in this most pleasant manner!

Thank you, Susan Rumble

WAGS

South King County Genealogical Society December Meetings

by Charles Hansen

???? Saturday, December 5, 10 am – noon PDT, Family Tree Maker User Group. Question & Answer. Join https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG for discussion and meeting reminders. All our meetings have Closed Caption available.
???? Monday, December 7, 1–3 pm PDT, Research Group, Persons of Interest #ResearchOpportunity. Join https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Research-Group for meeting reminders and discussion. All our meetings have Closed Caption available.

???? Monday, December 14, 1–3 pm PDT, Genetic Genealogy/DNA: How to Use Wikitree as a DNA Research Tool.  Join https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy for meeting reminders and discussion. All our meetings have Closed Caption available.
???? Monday, December 21, 1–3 pm PDT, Technology User Group: Wassail party! Bring your beverage of choice and we’ll chat about genealogy, tech, computers, websites or whatever has come up this past month or year. For invitations and discussion, join https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG. All our meetings have Closed Caption available.
???? Monday, December 28, 1–3 pm PDT, Genealogy Chat. Meet up and chat about genealogy subjects and topics. We have no agenda; we just like one another! Join https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Society for discussion and meeting reminders. All our meetings have Closed Caption available.

Olympia Genealogical Society’s December Meeting

by Charles Hansen

“Academic Archives and How to Use Them in Your Research” is the title of the Olympia Genealogical Society’s December 10 Virtual meeting. Mark O’English and Gayle O’Hara from the Washington State University will give us a look at the types of materials held in archives and special collections at colleges and universities, what you can expect to find there, and how to find materials around the region and the country useful to your genealogy. They will share relevant collections, examples from genealogy researchers they’ve aided, and tools for identifying and locating resources. We’ll learn how academic special collections can help, both in today’s complex outbreak times and when we return to “normal.”   To access the virtual meeting, log onto our website https://OlyGenSoc.org a few minutes before 7 pm on Thursday, Dec. 10 and follow the entrance code given.  Questions, info@OlyGenSoc.org       Thank-you   JOYCE OGDEN, Publicity  

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

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

 GIVING TUESDAY WAS DECEMBER 1st

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support the Seattle Genealogical Society and Library during our Annual Appeal this December.
SGS 2020 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!  

FROM OUR SGS PRESIDENT

I am sorry to have to notify the membership that our Library Director, Sue Jensen, has told the Board that she needs to step down from that position effective immediately for health-related reasons. Sue has held that post since June 2018, and in a recent discussion had told me she hoped to stay on through May 2022 in order to help us continue our move to a more digital library. Unfortunately, her doctor felt otherwise. Sue has done an outstanding job as the Society’s Library Director, and filling her shoes will not be an easy task. Annie Wright, who was the Library Director from June 2015 through May 2018, has agreed to act as the interim director while we search for Sue’s replacement. She has been working closely with Sue as the Library Technician, so the transition should be smooth.

We all wish Sue the best, and with luck we may not have seen the last of her involvement in SGS. She hopes to be able to return at some point to continue running the new “Brag and Bricks” sessions that she has just initiated. That program has proven to be a popular one, and we are all hoping that she can return to host that program again.

Jim Secan
President, SGS Board of Directors

THE CERTIFICATION DISCUSSION GROUP 
WITH JILL MORELLI
The sign up for the winter session of the popular online Certification Discussion Group (CDG), a review of the requirements for certification with the Board for Certification of Genealogists, is starting. If you are interested in signing up for the course, we urge you to do so now. SGS members are given preference. 

To find out more and sign up for the waitlist, go to:
https://theCDGseries.wordpress.com

RESEARCH SERVICES AT 
SEATTLE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (SGS)
SGS volunteers provide research services to members and non-members, utilizing our library holdings, SGS databases, and the Seattle Public Library holdings. After submitting your online research request, the researcher will search for information in the following record sets. We cannot provide images of certain records where we are prohibited from copying due to the owner’s Terms of Service. This primarily affects Family Search records. We cannot guarantee we will be successful in fulfilling your request; nevertheless, our fee will still be charged.





The fee for research services for non-members is $10.00 per hour per name, minimum of $7.50, except as noted above.  For members, the first hour is free. If our research is expected to exceed one hour (including for members), our researcher will contact you with an estimate of the additional time it will take to complete the research before proceeding. Please be specific about who we should research, with dates and places for the relevant events. Include the specific resources you would like us to check. We charge for the time involved in searching for information, scanning documents and reporting the results of our research to you.

SAVE THE DATE
“Washington’s Undiscovered Feminists”, 
with Mayumi Tsutakawa
Seattle Public Library/Humanities Washington 
Saturday, December 5, 2020 
11:00 AM PST

Join in remembering some of the remarkable, but often unsung, women of the Pacific Northwest. Please register online at The Seattle Public Library for the virtual meeting information.   “Finding Your Roots: Using the Entire Genealogy Tool Box”, 
Jewish  Genealogical Society of Washington State,
Bellevue, WA
Monday, December 14, 2020 
7:00 PM PST

Coral Grant will be the presenter for this online, virtual meeting. The “room will open” at 7 PM and the meeting will begin at 7:15 PM.  Visit their website for more info and the meeting id. 
https://www.jgsws.org

RootsTech Connect 2021 (Virtual),
hosted by FamilySearch International
February 25-27, 2021

This 2021 virtual conference is free. They do ask that you register. Something for everyone, no matter your age or experience:

  • Genealogy Classes
  • Food and Cultural Demonstrations
  • Mind-break Activities, Exercise and Relaxation
  • Travel and World Heritage 

Visit the website for more info and registration. 
http://www.rootstech.org/?lang=eng


SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS*

In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed until further notice and SGS in-person events have been replaced with online events.
** Go to the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links and for any last minute updates or changes to the schedule.  


Wednesday, Dec 2, 2020, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), With Sue Jensen, hostess/facilitator – Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 
Saturday, Dec 5, 2020,  10:15 am – 12:15 pm, FamilySearch Interest Group, Discover the many ways to use Family Tree and FamilySearch. Featuring a different aspect of the website each meeting. There will be time for Q & A.  Chaired by Lou Daly.


Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link. 


Wednesday, Dec 9, 2020, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), With Sue Jensen, hostess/facilitator – Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 

Saturday, Dec 12, 2020, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm,  SGS Holiday Celebration – Virtual, join us for our annual Holiday Gathering. This year it’s virtual. There will be a trivia contest with prizes. Share a favorite family recipe. Send it along now to library@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org and it will be compiled and shared on our website as well as at the party. Visit our website for the Zoom link to this celebration. 

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Holiday Traditions around the World

by Charles Hansen

  Just a Happy Reminder for you all regarding Saturday December 5th Virtual (on ZOOM) Meeting:  

Holiday CelebrationSaturday, December 5 Holiday Celebration  (EWGS Meetings) 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm Via Zoom Holiday Traditions Around the World    
See you on ZOOM at 12:30 on December 5…

PSSSST….Want to know how to win $25.00?   We will be holding a drawing for all early renewals again this year. Make an excellent move and submit your dues before midnight 12/31/2020    to be entered into the drawing for a $25.00 Gift Card.  

Focusing on all the positive actions EWGS has taken this year, one that stands out to me is that we voted to use ZOOM.  This enabled us to reach out to you and offer programs/events using the ZOOM platform.  It is exciting to see the number of participants grow with each event.  Our society is thriving despite the COVID-19 fall out!   Why should you renew?  Allow me to share with you some of the more recent positive comments made by our members:

  • “I have FREE access to all our (TAG, Refocus, Workshops, Seminars, Monthly) meetings”
  • ​​​“ I no longer have to worry about icy roads when attending EWGS meetings”
  • “No parking problems”
  • “Not having to social distance or even wear mask when Zooming-in for a meeting”
  • “ I like that we as members get DISCOUNTS for public priced events”
  • “Website convenience to our EWGS website, Facebook and Blog sites for up-to-date information on         events.”
  • “FREE expert help and advice for your personal genealogy searches”

2020 is fast coming to a close please take action now and renew your membership for the upcoming year. This letter is your first reminder that we already have renewal options in place under the For Members Only side bar at www.ewgsi.org.  There you will find a printable mail in application if you prefer to use a check to renew your membership.  There is also the option to use PayPal if you’d like to go paperless.   I hope you will take advantage of one of these options and renew for 2021 before midnight December 31.

Last but not least we have a message from our President, Dolly Webb:“What a challenging year 2020 has been. Not only for EWGS but the entire world. I now have several face masks in my car and by the outside doors. I’ll visit with you in the only place I go (the grocery store) both wearing masks and 6 feet apart.“What does this have to do with EWGS you might ask?  Well, everything. All our meetings now use this ‘newfangled’ thing called Zoom. It is such a wonderful way to connect with your genealogy friends and share.  It can be so easy to withdraw and feel isolated at this difficult time, or become reluctant to try out new things.  Are you reluctant to try that ‘ZOOM’ thing? Go to our website www. HYPERLINK “http://www.ewgsi.org/”ewgsi.org and on the HOME page you will find easy directions for how to sign into ZOOM to take advantage of all the upcoming meetings listed on that page.“Get your membership dues in and come ZOOM with us. Chat with your friends and participate in our educational programs.”  Thank You, Dolly”   Hope to hear from you soon, Jennilyn Weight, Membership Committee  

Heritage Quest Research Library Open Small Business Saturday

by Charles Hansen
Small Business Saturday!
Happy Holidays!
With Thanksgiving upon us and the holidays fast approaching, we will be OPEN to assist you with your research or your shopping needs for the Genealogy guru or budding Genealogist on your Holiday gift list.

Come on in this Saturday!
We’re OPEN from 10 to 4

Can’t make it in this Saturday? 
Don’t worry!
We will be open, Saturday, December 5th too.
 
We’re also open, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 
from 10 to 2