Kathleen Ochs Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Kathleen Ochs of Colville, Washington who was selected by the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society as its recipients of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Kathy is currently our treasurer, an office she has held since 2022. Prior to that, she served as our librarian. She has been and is still our liaison with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she volunteers at the FamilySearch Center. Kathy has taught several classes for us and helps plan and present our all-day annual seminar. She is always willing to help wherever it is needed. She is truly a very valuable asset to our society and an inspiration for all of us.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA SIG June 2026

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA Special Interest Group Meeting

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Starting at 7:00 pm via Zoom

Discussion group focused on various topics regarding the use of DNA testing in genealogy.

Calendar reminder: TPCGS DNA Special Interest Group Meeting

Every month on the Fourth Tuesday beginning at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYqdeyrrz0iEtx-c_J3gNfcI8mebT1zajLo/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqTkvGdWTuBGPRpwQB4joZ-nzmCFHj7dF0RzaKXNUTAX1H7pPN7BLQcLR

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82725316888?pwd=MDc3UEZrUVJNbmxmK2ZORmw5YzdDdz09

Meeting ID: 827 2531 6888
Passcode: 811780

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,82725316888#,,,,*811780# US
+12532158782,,82725316888#,,,,*811780# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 827 2531 6888
Passcode: 811780

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kIKCyZLQy

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Mystery Book Club June 2026

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Mystery Book Club
Saturday, June 20, 2026, starting at 3:30 pm via Zoom

Please join us as we discuss a fictional genealogical book, Family Promises, the third book in the Ellie McLellan series, by Beth Farrar.

More information at:
Amazon: Family Promises
T
his book may also be available in print from various book stores or libraries.  Available free on Kindle Unlimited.
TPCGS Book Club Zoom Meeting

Every month on the Third Sat beginning at 3:30 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUkfuCqrzgsG9RrrhNAdU65Lz86P0s92mu1/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGppzIjGNWWthiHRpwcHYr4XerzmHZdjfpvjg3tLQFXV1WjGvgaZIIvA4GC

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81999213610?pwd=Qkk2WFZTZ2Rzdzc1Z0szN1AzdEZCUT09
Meeting ID: 819 9921 3610
Passcode: 479394

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,81999213610#,,,,*479394# US
+12532158782,,81999213610#,,,,*479394# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 819 9921 3610
Passcode: 479394

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keibNHDdyf

Kimberly Nichols Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Kimberly Nichols of Shohomish, Washington who was selected by the Eastside Genealogical Society as its recipients of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Kimberly joined EGS in 1990 and has been an active volunteer in a variety of roles over the years. She started and led three special interest groups, the most recent being the Genealogy Book SIG earlier this year. She served simultaneously for many years as webmaster and newsletter editor. She is currently vice president, serving as a valuable right hand to our president who lives out of state. Kimberly developed and organized our first “What’s In Your Attic?” heirloom sharing event last fall and is doing so again in 2025. She also collected, organized, and found homes for over 200 genealogy books belonging to two members who had passed away.

Kimberly is a hard-working, organized, thorough, and dependable volunteer. She definitely lives her belief that the more you get involved in any group you belong to, the more you get out of it. She is a pleasure to work with and consistently brings good ideas to the table.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line

Let’s Talk About: Museums To Visit

by Donna Phillips

We be well into summer and have you any travel plans? Why not visit a museum…… especially a weird museum. Guarantee you (and your kiddos) will enjoy such a visit. Except for the one in Iceland. *Mutter Museum in Philadelphia features anatomical specimens, including Einstein’s brain and a cast of Chang and Eng, the famous Siamese Twins joined at the abdomen.

** International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, NM, focuses on the 1947 Roswell UFO incident and alien lore. 

** SPAM museum in Austin, MN is dedicated entirely to the history and culture of the canned meat product. Great gift shop.

** National Mustard Museum in Middleton, WI, displays over 5000 types of mustard from around the world.

** Pizza Brain Museum in Philadelphia showcases the world’s pizza culture and pizzeria.

** Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, TV, explores the history of barbed wire. 

** Museum of Salt & Pepper Shakers in Gatlinburg, TN, features thousands of sets of these.

** Lunchbox Museum in Columbus, GA, is the world’s largest collected of lunchboxes featuring over 5000 vintage metal and plastic lunchboxes.

** Hammer Museum in Haines, AL, is dedicated to hammers; founded in 2002 it contains over 1400 hammers and related tools ranging from ancient times, through colonial days to the industrial age.

** Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles is a surreal institution blending fact and fiction.

** Probably not for children, the Penis Museum in Reykjavik, Iceland, features “more than 200 penises and penile parts representing almost all Icelandic land and sea mammals.”  (Yes, hubby and I visited this museum  in 2019 and it wasn’t so bad.) 

Bob and Micki McMath Named Two of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Bob and Micki McMath of Shelton, Washington who was selected by the Mason County Genealogical Society as its recipients of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Bob and Micki are new members of our society and the amount of work they have accomplished in just six months is astounding.  Not only have they contributed financially to our little group, but they have single-handedly taken on the scanning of a community member’s very large photo album, measuring two feet by one-and-one-half feet! The community member approached our society asking if we could digitize the album for her son as soon as possible, as she had a terminal condition. The project was just too daunting for the rest of us, but Bob and Micki graciously invited the lady into their home where they set up two scanning stations and worked tirelessly with her each week, four-hour sessions at a time, to make headway on this massive project.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Remembering Frank McLean: A Legacy of Leadership and Service

by Roxanne Lowe

The Board of the Washington State Genealogical Society is saddened to inform you of the death of Frank McLean of Yakima.

Whether you knew Frank or not, you likely knew of his accomplishments and contributions to Washington pioneers and our WSGS family.

Frank McLean

Frank joined WSGS in 1986 and remained a dedicated and contributing member until his passing on Monday, June 8, 2026. He served as President, Vice President and most recently, as Treasurer. Frank was named a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and YVGS Yard Sale Team Award Volunteer for 2018.

Frank was instrumental in the development of the WSGS Centennial Pioneer Certificate Project, working with others who shared the vision of tracing all pioneers and Indigenous individuals living in Washington Territory at the time of statehood on November 11, 1889. He devoted countless hours reviewing submitted genealogies, carefully verifying source documentation, and helping add approximately 44,000 names to the WSGS Pioneer database.

In 2023, Frank assumed a similar role with the Pioneer Pursuit program. An excellent researcher and historian, he diligently reviewed more than 2,750 names of those living in Washington at statehood, ensuring that all supporting documents were accurate and well-sourced. His commitment to ensuring those genealogies would be available for free on the WSGS website is a testament to his commitment to family history.

In addition to his service with WSGS, Frank was President of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and also served on its Board. He was deeply involved in his local organization, the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society, where he served in many roles, including President, Membership Chair, Publicity Chair, and Bulletin Printing Assistant. He also headed the society’s semi-annual yard sale and, since 2004, served as Building and Maintenance Supervisor for its library. As the society’s “tech guy,” Frank helped digitize thousands of obituary records from paper files and index cards and kept the computer working. Frank was also involved in copying and extracting information from Yakima County School Census records from 1900 to 1930.

To learn more about Frank, read his “Meet the Board” feature on the WSGS Blog here.

Frank is survived by his wife, Delma Roloff McLean and sons Bruce, Scot and Mark and wives and grandchildren and preceded in death by daughter Ann. Brookside Funeral Home, Yakima is handling the arrangements.

Frank McLean

by Charles Hansen

Members, your Board would like to inform you of the death of Frank McLean. Frank was president of Washington State Genealogical Society from 1994 to 1996. He joined WSGS in 1986 and has been a contributing member ever since. Currently, he held the position of Treasurer since 2022. Frank was instrumental in Pioneer Project along with others with the vision to trace all pioneers and indigenous individuals in Washington at statehood 11 November, 1889. He spent countless hours reviewing the genealogies submitted verifying the source information was correct helping to add about 44,000 names to our data base of pioneers. He also sent out Pioneer Certificates upon request. Frank later assumed the same position for Pioneer Pursuit (past president Virginia Majewski’s brain child project) and, again, reviewed over 4,000 names of those at statehood making sure the sources were correct.

Frank was president of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and served as a Board member with them. He was heavily involved with his local society Yakima Valley Genealogical Society serving as president, membership, publicity and helped with bulletin printing; head of the semi-annual yard sale and, from 2004, on has served as Building & Maintenance Supervisor of this library and as “Tech” guy, he helped scan all our thousands of obituaries from paper and index cards.

Frank (3 January 1937-7 June, 2026) is survived by his wife Delma Roloff McLean.

Donna McLain Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Donna McLain of Longview, Washington who was selected by the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Donna has been a member of LCGS for many years, and during her tenure she has served as a member of the society’s board, as a greeter at in-person meetings and two terms as secretary.  Her secretarial skills are outstanding, and her minutes are presented in a very businesslike and detailed manner.  She has also been an active participant on the program committee, and she recommends presentations of interest. Donna is a great asset to our society, as she consistently offers thought-provoking input to all board discussions, and she is always willing to see a project through to its completion

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.