Last February the EWGS program featured Cyndi Ingle. Her (too-short) time with us was fact-and-tip filled and her 8-page handout was a thorough reminder of what she taught us that day.
Some quick-and-always-good-to-review points to keep in mind:
Records were and are created by humans.
Humans make mistakes.
Humans misspell things.
Humans are inconsistent.
Humans miscommunicate things.
Just because many more things are digitized now doesn’t mean that searching is really any easier than it was before.
We MUST think about ow and why humans created any set of records and the circumstances of their times and methods in doing so.
We must consider how archivists and librarians catalogued their records’ collections.
We must consider HOW those records made their way into the digitized world.
Cyndi also explained that mysterious word database. What is a database? A database is a container filled with records. Think of a phonebook; it’s a database filled with records, no? So Ancestry is a database of records, right? Then to be worthwhile, a database must be indexed for the words, fields and records to be searchable.
With a big smile Cyndi said that “every database is unique depending on the data it contains and depending on the software used to create it. Everybody did it their own way!”
Then search engines. These are tools we use to search databases. And as with databases, every search engine is unique depending on the software and hardware used to make it.
Learn how Y-DNA testing of suitable males can trace and confirm paternal lines in your family tree. See how to choose the right test and how to work with your genetic matches. Examples cover STRs, SNPs, genetic distance, match thresholds, Tip reports, the Y-DNA tree, haplogroups, group projects, account settings, and more.
Richard Hill, the first adoptee to identify his birth family through DNA testing and genetic genealogy, created the DNA Testing Adviser website in 2008. Over the next 13 years, he educated thousands of readers and answered a regular flood of individual questions. Selling that website in 2021, he launched his “DNA Favorites” website, self-published “Finding Family: My Search for Roots” and the “Secrets in My DNA” and became an in-demand genealogical speaker on all topics DNA.
This is Part 3; parts 1 and 2 were in the immediately-previous posts.
The travelers remarked on the lovely larkspur flowers but quickly learned that wild larkspur was very bad for horses but okay for oxen and that chockcherry was bad for oxen. Animals, being animals, too often just munched away but were too important and valuable not to be watchful of.
The Oregon Trail travelers eventually learned about other plants:
Western Buttercup – Indians used it to poison arrows
Snakeweed – toxic to kidneys and liver
Death Camas – white ones WERE deadly but BLUE ones were okay; only way to tell was when they flowered in spring, a luxury the immigrants did not have.
Selenium – an element in the soil taken up into the plume grasses which cause digestive problems for the animals.
Greaseweed – they started seeing these plants about Chimney Rock and quickly learned that it was good/safe for animals to eat in early spring but poisonous in summer.
Horsebrush – this was toxic in many ways to animals
Locoweed – there were many kinds of “loco weed”
Texas Blue Bonnets – very toxic, producing birth defects in both men and animals
Water Hemlock – growing vigorously along rivers but toxic
Wild Parsnips – ditto
Wild Milkweed – ditto
By the time they reached Owyhee County, Idaho, “there was scarcely a train without sick oxen on it” due to the many bad plants in the alkali areas which they couldn’t keep the animals from eating. In the Blue Mountains of Oregon, the journal entries were pretty routine by this point. Little mention is made of plants except poison ivy. “They must have encountered this all along the way but only here is it often mentioned,” Ms. Packard said. Following Grandma’s advice that “if you don’t know it don’t eat it,” was sound advice but to hungry people, they had to learn on their own. Children helped show the way!
TIP OF THE WEEK – DIAGRAM YOUR TREE IN DIFFERENT WAYSTry visualizing your tree in new ways. Diagram what state or country each person was born in, or what church or religious community they joined. You may find trends. Did one line of your families move more often than others? Did one line of your family have more people die young? Did your ancestors in one line gravitate to similar jobs? What does that tell you about your family today? Get as broad or as granular as needed. For example, this circle tree chart shows the birth state of each ancestor, not just the country. May 1, 2024
SGS eNews! comes out the first of every month. contact eNews!
stock cemetery photo Scott Dressel / Unsplash; all others Library of Congress
PRIVATE TOUR OF HISTORIC CEMETERIES TO BE LED BY FOUNDER OF CIVIL WAR SEATTLE
This walking tour of two of Seattle’s most historic cemeteries will explore the diverse and extensive historical connections between Seattle and the American Civil War. Thousands of veterans of the conflict migrated to Washington State in the decades following the war. They became a vital part of Seattle’s formative era. Join Civil War Seattle’s Richard Heisler as he shares their stories from the battlefields of the Civil War to the shores of Puget Sound. Important historical connections abound between local history and some of the nation’s most pivotal events. Gain historic context and “meet” some of Seattle’s Civil War veterans!
This 2-hour outdoor walking tour will be Saturday, June 1 at 2:30 p.m. Cost is $25 for SGS members and $30 for non-members. It is limited to 20 people so RSVP today.
Commemorate their service with this GAR fillable form. This is one of many free resources the Library of Congress provides.
LEND A HAND: HELP PLAN FUTURE FIELD TRIPS
Would you like to join other SGS members to create a field trip schedule for the next year? Can you help “host” the resulting field trips? Members have asked for more local field trips to archives, libraries, museums and cemeteries. Help others understand unique locations for genealogical research and gain historical context. Reply to vicepresident@seagensoc.org if interested.RELATIVES OF 1924 AIR CORP FLIERS FOUND, THANKS TO SGS VOLUNTEERS
In 1924, eight Army Air Corps fliers lifted off from Sand Point Airfield to embark on a 175-day journey to circumnavigate the world. As part of their planned celebration in recognition of this amazing feat, the Friends of Magnuson Park wanted to invite living relatives of the eight fliers and needed help. Would SGS be able to assist? Of course! Four intrepid SGS members, Carol Jenner, Karen Knudson, Shirley Mouer, and Karen Portzer rose to the challenge and SGS successfully delivered contact information for numerous living relatives of all eight fliers. Beginning September 26, 2024, Magnuson Park will be the site of a multi-day centennial celebration. To learn more about the 1924 flight and planned events, visit the Friends of Magnuson Park website and click on the First World Flight Centennial.
On behalf of SGS and the Friends of Magnuson Park, a big thank you to the four SGS members for volunteering their time and research expertise with this 1924 Fliers project. JUNE eNEWS WILL COME OUT JUNE 4
Look for eNews a couple days later than usual next month. Submit material for the June eNews no later than Sunday night, June 2.
SAVE THE DATEOlympia Genealogical Society Celebrates 50th Year Saturday May 18, 2024, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
The kick-off party for OGS’s year-long celebration will be held at the Capital Vision Christian Church, 1775 Yew Avenue NE, Olympia, on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. There will be a short presentation about OGS’s origins followed by an open Q&A period. Scrapbooks documenting the OGS history will be available for review, and a video diary of OGS pictures and documents will be shown before and after the oral presentation. The event is free and open to the public; refreshments will be served.
Spring Virtual Classes Fiske Genealogical Library Wednesdays 10:00 a.m.-noon
Join the Fiske’s free virtual classes.
May 1: “Bagging a Live One: Reverse Genealogy in Action” with Mary Roddy
May 8: “Becoming the Ancestor” with Beth Swartz
May 15: “Across the Pond to Scotland” with Winona Laird
May 22: “Disaster Proofing Your Research” with Sara Cochran
May 29: “Pruning Your Family Tree” with Jenny Hansen
For further information see the Fiske website.SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTSGood Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. ** Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise notedWednesday, May 1, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual) (Special Interest Groups), Topics this month: 1. Short history of Oregon Territory, 2. Oregon and Washington State Archives, 3. Oregon and Washington State Libraries.
Register on the SGS website.
Sunday, May 5, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop SIG, Message SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join.Monday, May 6, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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, May 8, 2024, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list.
Monday, May 13, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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.
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help.
Monday, May 20, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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.
Monday, May 27, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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.
Tuesday, May 28, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help.
Sunday, June 2, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright, Craig Gowens and Michelle Carroll. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual) (Special Interest Groups), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. This new SGS-sponsored special interest group meets monthly on the first Wednesday of the month.
Welcome to Italian Genealogy Let’s explore the world of Italian genealogy together, one person at a time.
ZOOM MeetingTopic: St. Cabrini: First Italian-American Saint and her Influenceon the world including Seattle When: 18-May-2024, Saturday Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (PST)
(Italea Rediscover your Italian origins – Official travel promotion program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was the Italian-born founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and the first United States citizen to be canonized. She was born on July 15, 1850, in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Lombardy, Italy, and died on December 22, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. She was canonized on July 7, 1946, and her feast day is November 13. Cabrini was sent to the United States by Pope Leo XIII and spent the rest of her life working with Italian immigrants, particularly in New York City and Chicago.
Newspaper Research or “That’s My Family.” So, why do we need to research in newspapers? Why look for them? How do we find them? Judy will help us answer all these questions. We will learn how to find vital statistics, death notices, obituaries, marriage notices, local news and more, all in the NEWSPAPER. And she won’t forget to help us find these valuable resources themselves. Taught by our very own Judy Line Judy has been doing genealogy for over 30 years. She has completed formal education programs, and holds several certificates for genealogy from the NIGS and Boston University. Judy is our resident DNA specialist. When: May 2, 2024 Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Where:ZOOM Limited space in-person Cost: $20 member $25 non-member Sign up: www.hqrl.com Go to the hqrl.com and click on the HQRL Store Be sure to sign in as a member to receive the discount. Did You Know? We are OPEN in our new location and would love to see you. If you’re interested in taking a tour of the new location, just give us a call. If you are a Genealogy Society and would like to bring your group in, let us know and we’ll set a date and time.
Our mailing address is: Heritage Quest Research Library 2102 East Main Suite 105 Puyallup, WA98372-3205
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Try visualizing your tree in new ways. Diagram what state or country each person was born in, or what church or religious community they joined. You may find trends. Did one line of your families move more often than others? Did one line of your family have more people die young? Did your ancestors in one line gravitate to similar jobs? What does that tell you about your family today? Get as broad or as granular as needed. For example, this circle tree chart shows the birth state of each ancestor, not just the country. May 1, 2024
Welcome to Italian Genealogy Let’s explore the world of Italian genealogy together, one person at a time.
Days Hours Minutes Seconds
Taught by our very own Judy Line