South King County Genealogical Society December 2023 Meetings

by Charles Hansen

Season’s Greetings!

Be in the know! Receive notices for our virtual meetings, as well as the latest genealogy news and tips, by subscribing (free) to the online group at https://skcgs.groups.io

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PROGRAM UPDATES

  • All meetings are online via Zoom
  • In-person Research Group, in-person Genealogy Help at the Auburn Library, 4th Monday of the month online Chat, and online Study Group are canceled for December.
  • No General Membership Meeting/Speaker in December
  • Live transcription (captioning) is available during our Zoom meetings by request
  • Online meeting participants need to register for SKCGS Zoom meetings.Register at our website skcgs.org or use links below. Upon registration, Zoom will send a confirmation email with instructions on joining the meeting.


DECEMBER 2023  – EARLY JANUARY 2024 MEETINGS & EVENTS

Monday, December 4, 2023, 11:00am PT
Beginning Genealogy Class: Immigration, Emigration, and Naturalization Records (online)
More details at https://www.skcgs.org/meetings-events/classes/bgc

Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 6:30pm PT
SKCGS Board of Directors Meeting (online)
All SKCGS members are invited to attend; only Officers and Directors may vote. Write to Board@skcgs.org for the meeting link.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 7:00pm PT
Beginning Genealogy Class: Immigration, Emigration, and Naturalization Records (online)
Repeat of the December 4th class
More details at https://www.skcgs.org/meetings-events/classes/bgc
Monday, December 11, 2023 ⋅ 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT
Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (online)
Topic: Most Useful Testing Companies & Third-Party DNA Websites
Please come ready to discuss what you find most useful and how those features help you answer your research questions.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIucuCvqTsqHNcN7wBEC0fB_3-TRYD1rZLm
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Subscribe to the free SKCGS Genetic-Genealogy email list for meeting reminders and discussion:  https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy

Monday, December 18, 2023 ⋅ 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT
Technical User Group (online)
Topic: New Ways to Use Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy Research.
Watch in advance: You CAN use ChatGPT for genealogy (with accuracy)! Here’s how: https://youtu.be/LnBKjprPTPo?si=wohtHb4pss-7be-H (13 mins)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAucuigqj4uH92bWWD2uycX9Z1uSsRLY4K6
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Subscribe to the free SKCGS Technical User Group email list for meeting invitations and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG


Wednesday, December 20, 2023, 7:00pm PT
Introduction to Genealogy Class: Research Techniques (online)

Hosted by King County Library

Join professional genealogist, Winona Laird, from South King County Genealogical Society for the last class in a series of programs to help you along on your genealogical journey. King County Library will email a Zoom link no later than 24 hours before the program start time. If you do not see an email, check your Junk or Spam folder. If you need assistance, please contact Jennifer at jwooten@kcls.org. 

More details at https://www.skcgs.org/meetings-events/classes/kcls

Tuesday, January 2, 2024, 6:30pm PT
SKCGS Board of Directors Meeting (online)
All SKCGS members are invited to attend; only Officers and Directors may vote. Write to Board@skcgs.org for the meeting link.

Friday, January 5, 2024 ⋅ 12:30-2:30 PM PT
EGS German Interest Group (online)
Topic: The Best Websites for German Genealogy presented by Dan JungclasFor meeting registration, visit https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/

Saturday, January 6, 2024, 10:00am – 12:00pm PT
Family Tree Maker Users Group (online)
Question & Answer. Each month, we will learn about using the features of FTM.
Register in advance for this Zoom meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsdu6uqzgiGdDn7eCsOAgkvdOXktX127sz
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Subscribe to the free SKCGS FTM email list for meeting reminders and discussion:  https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG


PLAN AHEAD:

Saturday, January 20, 2024, 9:30am PT social time; 10am – 11:30am PT program (online)
South King County Genealogical Society & Eastside Genealogical Society present
Angela Packer McGhie “Document Analysis: Digging into the Details”
Learn to analyze documents by studying the background and context. Assess the reliability of the source and the information it contains. Compare the information with details from other records. See these principles in action as we look at two different documents and analyze them using a set of questions provided. Use your knowledge and the questions provided to assess the documents you are researching. This session will walk step-by-step through analyzing two documents to:
• assess the characteristics affecting the reliability of documents
• demonstrate detailed background analysis
• seek the law that influenced the creation of the document
• look at the legal terminology used in the document
• compare to other documents of the same type
• investigate the provenance of a document
• determine who the informant was and if they provided primary information

Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA has a passion for teaching genealogy. She is the Education Director of the National Genealogical Society and a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Angela enjoys teaching at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, as well as other genealogy conferences and institutes. Angela serves as trustee for the BCG Education Fund and was the first administrator of the ProGen Study Program.
The program will be recorded for playback by SKCGS Members. Guests are welcome! Register at https://www.skcgs.org

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MEMBERSHIP:  We welcome guests to our meetings and special interest groups, which are free. Naturally we hope that visitors will want to become members. Support like yours helps us to educate and engage with our community to foster interest in family and local history. Regarding our programs, even if and when we can meet again in person, we will continue with some virtual programs. You can find more information about membership at our website at https://www.skcgs.org/support-skcgs/membership.

You are receiving this email because you have attended a SKCGS meeting and indicated you would like to receive periodic notice of events. If you would like to be removed from our list and stop receiving emails from us, send an email to skcgsfriends+unsubscribe@skcgs.org.

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SOUTH KING COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
PO BOX 143
BLACK DIAMOND, WASHINGTON 98010 

Let’s Talk About: A December Quiz!

by Donna Phillips


This is, I’m 100%, a Christmas tree the likes of which you’ve never seen. This was a page in the L.L. Bean catalog, a clothing company based in Maine. And in case you cannot tell, it’s a tree built by stacking lobster traps!!  Way cool and most unusual, no?Now for some December chuckles:

  • What do you call an elk that can sing & dance?  ELFIS!
  • What do you get when you mix a Christmas tree with an iPad? A PINEAPPLE!
  • What is the Grinch’s least favorite band?  THE WHO!
  • What goes Ho-Ho-Whoosh, Ho-Ho-Whoosh?  SANTA CAUGHT IN A REVOLING DOOR!
  • What kind of photos do elves take?  ELFIES!
  • Why was the snowman looking through the carrots? HE WAS PICKING HIS NOSE!
  • What did the reindeer sing to Santa on his birthday? FREEZE A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW!
  • Knock, knock.  Who’s there.  Dexter. Dexter who? DEXTER HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY.

Yes, these are pretty cheesy but you laughed, didn’t you? Took me a minute to get the iPad one………. 

Let’s Talk Fun Facts & Trivia!

by Donna Phillips



What would December be without a blooming amaryllis? In any of their gorgeous colors, they are the quintessential December flower. Did you know that according to Greek mythology, the first amaryllis grew from the droplets of blood of the nymph Amaryllis, who was smitten with a handsome but aloof shepherd named Alteo. That beautiful flower helped win his heart.  Well, now you know!

Here’s a tantilizer for you: How many “people” are you? Daughter – Child – Mother – Parent – Sister – Sibling – Wife – Spouse – Niece – Grandmother – Granddaughter – Aunt – Cousin – Great-grandmother – Mother-in-law – FRIEND …….. can you add something I missed?  Could do the same thing for gentlemen.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society announced that they’re offering a Genealogists Handbook for Portuguese Research. There will be some folks delighted with that bit of news.  (Click to www.AmericanAncestors.org) 

Here’s how to fool people and make a new document look old:  Create a sample on plain paper with black or dark brown pencil.  Make a dark, strong tea and let it cool. Then put your paper in the tea and leave them there for 3 days. Squeeze and crush the papers daily. Finally, remove the paper from the tea and air dry in a surface where the tea will not stain.  Why does this work? Tea contains tannin, a dark chemical that stains paper. 

A funny from Chuckleberries, from the Huckleberry Press:  A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.  After explaining the commandment to “honor thy father and mother,” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat, one little boy answered: “Thou shalt not kill.” 

Want to expand your vocabulary? And impress your family and friends? Google this: “100 Totally Weird Words.”  There you’ll learn about words like “argle-bargle” which means “copious but meaningless talk or writing.”   Perhaps you would think this post was argle-bargle?

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting

Tuesday, December 5th at 7:00 PM

Let’s try this one more time, this month we are going to finish the free Legacy Family Tree Webinars video: Sources and Citations Made Simple, Standard, and Powerful.

Remember, if you have any questions, problems, tips or tricks about using Legacy PLEASE share them with the group, your attendance and participation will be greatly appreciated!

Topic: TPCGS Legacy Family Tree Special Interest Group Meeting

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: 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/kcphK19I1

Let’s Talk About: Billion Graves vs Find A Grave

by Donna Phillips


What IS the difference between these two “finding grave memorials” websites? 

Both Billion Graves and Find-A-Grave do have similarities. Both websites have cemetery data.The biggest and main difference is that Billion Graves included the GPS coordinates which, they say, follows the Genealogical Proof Standard.

Billiongraves.com was begun in 2010 with the stated mission to provide accurate gravestone data with both images and GPS coordinates. To date, the website has millions of headstone images and they’re closing in on nearly two million records.

Find A Grave started in 1995 with the stated mission to post memorials, remembrances and virtual flowers first for celebrities and then for every-day people. They now exceed two million records. 

As I see it today, the best thing for you to do to understand the differences is to click to both sites and click around, seeing what they offer and how the data offered. Pick a little cemetery that you know of and see if there are transcribed memorials for that cemetery. 

Additionally, you can take your own grave marker photos and upload them to both sites, and you can assist with the indexing of the tombstone information. 

Today’s Laugh: Many in the Northwest are elk hunters; I hope they and you get a laugh from this postcard. It reads “The morning after the last day of elk season. Idaho.” These delightful cards are the creation of Paul Stanton and produced by Clay Salzman. He offers a bunch of similar cards; click to www.duckboy.com.  (He did give me permission to use this image.) The caption reads: “The morning AFTER the last day of elk season, Idaho.”

Let’s Talk About: Remember GPC?

by Donna Phillips

Remember getting catalogs from Genealogical Publishing Company (based in Baltmore, Maryland)? I sure do….. sometimes I did order a book but more often I made note of a book pertinent to my research and would look for it next time at a big library. Maybe you did that too?  Well, GPC has morphed into My GPC Library and comes offering books to you in a brand new format: digitally. Click to www.genealogical.com to get all the info. But, bottom line, you’ll have access to 800 books for a yearly subscription of $135, or for six months for $75, or for three months for $45.  (What a great idea for our long winter days, no?)

Before you read on, here’s a warm fuzzy for you from EWGS member Rosemary Braun. She has a granddaughter born when her parents were in South America, and was named Xochitl……. “so-CHEE.”  The name is Mayan and means “beautiful flower.”  Rosemary assures us that she loves her name. 

Breakdown of the major categories:

  • Industry leading how to books and manuals – an unsurpassed collection of more than 140 of our best titles that you cannot find anywhere else
  • More than 375 genealogy books on colonial American families
  • Over 239 books on New England or Mayflower genealogy
  • Nearly 200 immigration titles covering Colonial America to about 1865
  • Native American guides and records
  • The best collection of titles on Royal and Noble genealogy
  • More than 90 titles on Irish and Scottish genealogy
  • Guidebooks for African American genealogy and records of families prior to 1870
  • Nearly 800 titles in all, and growing

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Frontier Justice and Cookie Exchange

by Charles Hansen

Frontier Justice: Exploring the Territorial Court Case files of Eastern Washington
Saturday, December 2
Frontier Justice: Exploring the Territorial Court Case files of Eastern Washington (EWGS Meetings)
1:00 pm
Shadle Park Library in Person and on ZOOM
Our Dec. speakers will be Dr. Larry Cebula and Tim Harrington

The Washington State Archives is in the process of digitizing and putting online the Territorial Court Case files. These records, dating from 1853 to 1889, is a treasure trove of historical documentation of life in the Washington Territory during its frontier period. Horse thieves and prostitutes, poisoners and pests encountered the legal system of the day. The case files are both a Who’s Who of territorial Washington and a window into the lives of individuals who left no other trace in the historical record. Dr. Larry Cebula and Tim Harrington, will describe the status of the digitization effort and highlight some of the more interesting cases.

Start Time Note: Meeting actually starts at 1:00 pm but all, including Zoom, is open at 12:30 PM. The meeting usually ends around 3:00 pm.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA SIG

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA Special Interest Group Meeting

Tuesday, November 28 at 7:00 pm via Zoom

We will continue studying Genetic Genealogy in Practice by Blaine Bettinger and Debbie Parker Wayne.

This month we will discuss Chapter 8: Incorporating DNA Evidence in a Written Conclusion, and Chapter 9: Conclusion.

This book is available from The National Genealogical Society (the publishers, Amazon, or perhaps through your local public library or via Inter-Library Loan.

Check WorldCat to see what libraries may have copies.

Meeting Invite:

Every month on the Fourth Tue 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

Heritage Quest Research Library Fund Raiser

by Charles Hansen
https://www.yumraising.com/secure/heritageqrl_heritage_quest_research_library6/GloGbr3577/candy Help Heritage Quest Research Library turn Candy into Cash See’s Candy – Yum Raising

You are invited to help Heritage Quest Research Library with their fund raising store-front.
This is an online store that is open for the month of November.  Shipping is free if over $70.  Shipping will start as early as November 10th. 
Proceeds to HQRL average 25% of the purchase price.
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