Let’s Talk About…. Google for Genealogy

by Donna Phillips

Google should be one of the most-used tools in your genealogy tool box. The “wag” is that you can ask Google for information on a zillion subjects. (No, Google will NOT be able to tell you where great-grandma was buried.)

Family Tree Magazine offered this 8-page Cheat Sheet as an insert in their magazine a while back. My opinion? It’s worth the $9.99 but ONLY IF you use it! 😐

Here are the front page Google Search Tips:

  • Save time; search properly
  • Disregard punctuation
  • Disregard capitalization
  • Don’t stress spelling
  • Put the most important search term first
  • Use the Advanced feature
  • Set up Google alerts/automated searches
  • Use Google Chrome

Did you know Google offers (for free):

  • Google Books, 40 billion books
  • Google Translate
  • Google Maps
  • Google Earth
  • Google Drive
  • MORE!

There are dozens of tutorials on YouTube (also part of the Google family) to teach you!

Genealogical research is more than just picking the “low-hanging fruit” and sitting back. Genealogical research is learning how to reach that “higher” fruit!  Google can help, I guarantee. 😀

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy SIG

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting

Tuesday, February 6, 2024, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm virtual via Zoom

This month’s topic is: Cleaning up your Legacy Family File.

This meeting we will be working on our Legacy Family Files so we will be backing them up, loading the sample file making changes to the sample files and showing you how to cleanup Legacy lists like the Master Location List.

If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them in.

This is our monthly meeting to share tips & tricks, problems & solutions. Sometimes we will watch videos or share our screens to aid in learning more about using Legacy Family Tree software.

Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the learning. If you are just thinking about trying Legacy for the first time, you’ve been using it for a year or two or you are an old pro with many years of experience using Legacy this is the group for you.

We look forward to meeting with you, every month on the First Tuesday at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

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

Monthly Calendar Reminder: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYpfuyuqDovHNwtBgxtQjWKOjDQ8k5Q9bPD/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqjIvHNKUtR-PRpwQBor4Z-7wpn5Ygo1KiD3iGzRiaDTdGehmA-p0RemJ

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82495661568?pwd=dy85YmluVzF5aEU4SzFTcTUrVDlTUT09

Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568

Passcode: 715731

One tap mobile:

+12532050468,,82495661568#,,,,*715731# US

+12532158782,,82495661568#,,,,*715731# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:

+1 253 205 0468 US

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568

Passcode: 715731

Find your local number:

https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcphK19I1E

Tacoma Family Search Center 3rd Annual African American Event “A Proud Heritage”

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma FamilySearch Center is sponsoring the 3rd annual African American Family History Event “A Proud Heritage”, February 24th 2024 9am-2pm at 1102 S Pearl St, Tacoma WA 98465. A Proud Heritage is free. The event expects to have over 300 people from the community throughout Western Washington – and more than that over live zoom from anywhere. Many of those who attend will be new to Family History and looking for additional help and groups to join.  We have free informational tables for Family History, Museums and other organizations to use to let people know what they offer. Those with tables will be listed in the program and on the webpage. Several tables are still available to reserve at 253-223-1719.

This event will feature a local community figure, Willie Stewart , the first African American Vice Principal, Principal and administrator in the Tacoma School District as keynote speaker. Willie will speak about his first experience in Family History research during the past few months and exciting stories about his ancestors.

Our main speaker this year is Thom Reed, a Chief Genealogical Officer for FamilySearch International, liaison for FamilySearch to the International African American Family History Museum and the 10 Million Names Project. Thom organizes the African American presentations for Rootstech, too. He has helped with our Event before, but this is the first time he has been able to come in person. Thom will be speaking about 10 Steps to Reclaiming Your African American Roots. He will be attending live and will teach two classes and be available for questions this year.

There will be Oral History booths available for recording a favorite family story and Story Telling as well as One-on-One FamilySearch support, and a delicious free catered lunch.

The Tacoma FamilySearch Center will be open during this event for tours to see what this FamilySearch Center offers and especially to show the Memory Lane Digitizing Equipment – which is free to reserve and use at this Center. Patrons can sign up for a day and time to use 7 different types of equipment to digitize slides, photos, books, movies (super 8, Reg 8, VHS and more), audio cassettes and reel to reel. Training and support is provided. for this free service which enhances what Tacoma FamilySearch Center has to offer patrons who visit.

New for this year as part of the African American Family History Event is “Your Proud Family”, a youth conference within a conference, planned, taught and attended by led by African American Youth from various local High Schools. Youth will be working on beginning Family History, recording a Family History Story, DNA tips, and painting a Family Tree with support from local artists. The youth event is housed in the same building and is mainly for African American youth 12 and up and their friends. There will be contests with prizes.. Advanced sign up is necessary because of the supplies involved please.

.We encourage those with African American Heritage – adults and youth as well as those who enjoy assisting in their research to sign up in advance for our free event  at tacomaaafhe.com

Questions?

Mary Anderson

Tacoma FamilySearch Center Co-Director

253-564-1103

253-223-1719

msynergy007@gmail.com

WA_tacoma@familyhistorymail.org

Tacoma Family Search Center Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/153994266492384/permalink/790402896184848

or come to the Tacoma FamilySearch Center

1102 S Pearl St, Tacoma WA 98465

Open  Tues, Wed, Thurs 10am – 8pm, Sat 10am – 1pm

Carol Jenner Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

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 2023 award recipients and learn why they received the 2023 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Carol B. Jenner of Olympia, Washington, who was nominated by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (PS-APG).

Carol began her family history journey by visiting NARA in Washington, DC in 1973 to inspect the newly released census records. After that she became the family historian, collecting its odds and ends over the years. In 2010, Carol completed a University of Washington certificate program which intensified her focus. She has since attended 19 genealogical institutes. These provided Carol with the solid educational foundation to become a Certified Genealogist (CG) in 2022.

Carol joined the PS-APG in 2017. During her term as chapter representative, the chapter website failed. She singlehandedly took on this project. Within weeks she was able to move the entire website onto the free WordPress platform. This resulted in a secure and stable website that now incorporates a mobile-friendly design. Where would PS-APG be today without those people who can make “magic” happen?

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….. Expo ’74

by Donna Phillips



Did you attend Expo ’74 in Spokane? Do you realize that that was 50 years ago? I expect that there will be many activities and celebrations marking that anniversary during the coming year. 

How did Expo ’74 get started? And how come in Spokane?

A little booklet titled Spokane: Background to Expo ’74 by Dr. William B. Merriam, Professor Emeritus at WSU, provided lots of background to answer those questions.

In the early 1960s, Spokane began to undergo a change from a perceived “overgrown country town” into a city with the civic leadership, the resources, the courage and imagination to conceive and stage an Expo ’74. 

Through the 60s and into the 70s, plans to “make Spokane better” were snowballing. River bank beautification was a top priority. Back in 1913, the Olmstead Brothers had offered to design a Great Gorge Park to extend from the city center past the then Natatorium Park and Fort Wright. Obviously, their proposal was never acted upon. But rediscovered their report, and reading their words, helped push Expo ’74 along: “Nothing is so firmly impressed on the mind of the visitor to Spokane as the great gorge into which the river falls near the center of the city. The city should preserve what beauty and grandeur remains of its river gorge.” 

All the ideas, thoughts and plans came together by 1973 when promotion and construction feverishly began. Much demolition was required along with re-designing and landscaping. 

“By spring of 1974, Spokane was set for the opening, on time, of the biggest event in the city’s history…. Expo’74…conceived, planned, promoted and constructed in record time.”

Do you have a memory from Expo ’74 that you’d be willing to share? If so, let me know, please. My memory is of our 7-year-old son getting lost in the crowds and finding him, in tears,  being held and soothed by a handsome Black man who was selling cotton candy on the Washington street bridge. 

Heritage Quest Research Library Comparing RootsMagic and Family Tree Maker

by Charles Hansen
Comparing Family Tree Maker
and
RootsMagic Learn strategies to build a robust, portable, sourced, cloud-synchronized digital tree.  Learn about privacy options and how to backup your tree to prevent losing everything.  Learn strategies to maximize your DNA information–messaging matches, sharing trees, and how to use surname message boards.  Several popular family tree software options will be discussed including Family Tree Maker and RootsMagic.  Kelli Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and international genealogical speaker. She works as the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide. Kelli runs a small business – Mess the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. She is a facilitator for Genetics, Genealogy, and You, an online DNA interest group.  She is a member of APG and the Genealogical Speakers Guild.   When: Thursday, February 1, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where: ZOOM
Cost: $20 members / $25 non-members Go to hqrl.com and click on the HQRL Store 
Be sure to sign-in as a member to receive the discount.
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Yakima Valley Genealogical Society “Townships”

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting

Saturday, February 3, 2024

10:00 a.m. 

Y.V.G.S. Library

Speaker: Richard Kyle

Subject: Townships

Richard will be giving a presentation on “Townships”. Come and find out about the different types of townships and where to find them.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Lori Gibson Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

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 2023 award recipients and learn why they received the 2023 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Lori Gibson of Bainbridge Island, Washington, who was nominated by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS).

Lori took over the position of website administrator in 2016. She has served tirelessly, maintaining the site on a day-to-day basis, finding illustrations and creating layouts, posting and archiving material, and handling all the site’s technical needs. In the process, she worked successfully with several different BIGS newsletter editors and contributed to those communications as well. The website was originally developed in HTML. Lori migrated the site to WordPress and provided a leadership role in two separate “website refreshes.”

Most recently, Lori integrated PayPal into the website, allowing BIGS to collect dues via the web. In addition to her work on the website, Lori also volunteers as a member of the hybrid meeting committee.

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.