We are delighted to announce that Knute Berger will be the keynote speaker for our SGS100 Birthday Party. The Party will be held on 20 October at Dunn Gardens, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm so mark your calendars now.

Knute Berger is a well known Seattle-based historian and writer whose work has been instrumental in preserving and sharing the heritage of the Pacific Northwest. He is widely recognized for his compelling storytelling and deep-rooted passion for unearthing the hidden narratives that define our region. Berger’s writings have graced the pages of prominent publications, including Seattle Magazine, and HistoryLink, and serves as Editor-at-Large of Crosscut.com  You probably know him best as the producer and presenter of the popular “Mossback Northwest” series on KCTS9.

Berger’s ability to connect the past with the present, painting a vivid portrait of the people and events that have shaped our surroundings with humor and perception, is a testament to his dedication to the preservation of our cultural legacy and a perfect adjunct to the SGS100 celebration where “Our Heritage, Our Future” is our vision for the next 100 years.

KAREN KNUDSON 2023
VOLUNTEER OF SUMMER QUARTER 

Karen Knudson has been a member of SGS for 15 years. After retirement in 2014 she began volunteering at the front desk, then quickly moved to a position on the SGS Board as treasure. She worked under three SGS Presidents for eight years until June 2023. Karen’s contributions helped to stabilize the role as Treasure. Jill Morelli, one former SGS President shared, “Karen, brought a commitment to excellence. What she didn’t know, she learned. She consolidated accounts and worked with others to quickly handle the payments and receipts of the organization and taught us best practices. SGS was lucky to have Karen serve multiple terms of office.” 

Jim Secan, current SGS President wrote: “Karen worked to both simplify and document the job as treasure and brought us up to date on understanding the role of treasure, which includes understanding state and federal rules and regulations of non-profit organizations.” 

Karen Knudson

“I have attended many Fall and Spring Seminars,” Karen recalled, “a beginning genealogy class and the Irish Special Interest Group and several other specialty presentations, such as the DNA (SIG) and Brag to Bricks.” She enjoys meeting other people who are researching their genealogy and like them, she enjoys the process. 

Speaking of Brick Walls, her mother’s paternal line, Forbes, ends in New York state in the mid 1800s, where she has hit that proverbial wall. 

Her mother’s sister, Irene Edwards was a member of the Seattle Genealogical Society who in 1993 created a two-volume set which proved to include a Mayflower ancestor and beyond. Karen applied to the Mayflower Society for membership and is waiting to hear back. She also shares that there is a connection with the Whitman Mission Massacre in Washington among other interesting stories.  

Karen says her father’s side is “completely Swedish, so I spent a great deal of time learning to research in the Swedish church books. I even took Swedish language classes for several years.”

Studying Swedish records may have been why Karen started the Scandinavian Special Interest Group — which now has SGS Librarian Kathi M as co-host. Karen focuses on Swedish records, while Kathi shares her knowledge of Norwegian records. They meet quarterly and their next gathering will be in person at the SGS Library on Tuesday, 3 October, from 10:00-12:00PM. 

Karen’s other interests include sewing, knitting, crocheting and other types of needlework. She’s a membership chair and treasure for the Tyee Triumph Club. She and her husband enjoy going to car shows. They sold their sailboat and are now “land sailing” in an RV. They have two young grandsons who play soccer and baseball, which they enjoy attending their games. They are also looking forward to traveling to Europe and seeing relatives in Sweden sometime soon. 

FAMILY STORY CONFIRMED THANKS TO SGS LIBRARY

By Jill Morelli

Bernice Engleton, California, makes an exciting discovery at the SGS library, August 18.

Bernice Engleton, visiting from California, came into the SGS library on August 18 seeking help finding the death of her great grandfather John Martin Stutzman. As the story was told to her, he had died at sea in 1895 between Seattle and Alaska. Bernice knew that the story may be true, false or partially true. She had been looking for his death for years and hoped that we would be able to help.

As a desk volunteer, I knew Newspapers would be the most likely option so I set up the patron workstation with three possible databases that might provide some information: the Washington State Digital archives for death certificate, Seattle Public Library for The Seattle Times newspaper collection and Chronicling America for the Post-Intelligencer.

Bernice, an experienced researcher, sat down. I barely had sat down back at the front desk before I heard an exclamation from Bernice! “I found it!” and indeed she did. John Stutzman drowned at sea with the rest of the crew and passengers in 1898. The sinking was covered on the front page of the P-I and then continued on page 6 for the entire page in very small print! Her great grandfather’s name and his home town was listed, confirming the match.

“I have been looking for his death for years and here it is!’ Bernice exclaimed.

Bernice’s good luck didn’t stop there. Another visitor that day was SGS member Trish Nicola, NARA volunteer extraordinaire. Trish shared what NARA might have and how they were taking appointments. Bernice and her sister-in-law left almost immediately and went over to Sand Point.

Bernice said, “The last time I was here I had such good luck.” Well, Bernice it appears that your luck and the SGS library’s is still holding. Thanks for making this desk volunteer’s day!

LOST COAT

This coat was left behind in the shelter during the ice cream social. It appears to be a men’s jacket. The brand is Pierre Balmain, size is large and the color beige.

100 YEARS AGO: 25 AUG 1923

“Electric Home Will Open This Afternoon” was the headline on page 8 of the Saturday edition of the Seattle P-I on 25 August 1923. It was to be the opening of the model electric home on Bothell Way. Even the Lieut. Governor “Wee” Coyle was to attend this dedication of “the home to the housewives of Seattle”. The model home contained the features of the electrical exposition which was being held nearby.

— “Electric Home Will Open This Afternoon,” Seattle Post-Intelligenecer, 25 Aug 1923, p 8, col 3; digital image, NewsBank (https://infoweb-newsbank-com : accessed 15 Aug 2023).

* Watch each eNews! issue for “100 years ago”, our new anecdotal series. We will be running it for the duration of 2023, our centennial year.

SAVE THE DATE

EGS Family Tree Maker SIG
September 15, 2023, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

Join Eastside Genealogical Society and SGS to learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker by Software MacKiev.  The meetings open about 15 minutes in advance.  You can join and/or leave whenever you have to, and you may email your question(s) in advance or bring them up during the meeting.
 
If you want to be on the Eastside Genealogical Society Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group email list, send your request to ftmsig@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org.

Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, 
usually 2nd Monday meetings
usually 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Pacific Time

JGSWS meets on the second Monday of each month, from Sept-June. Doors open at 6:30 pm unless noted otherwise. The next meeting is Sept. 11, 2023, “What’s in a Name? Trouble!” presented by Ron Arons. For more information see
http://www.jgsws.org/meetings.php

SGS100 Birthday Party
October 20, 2023

Mark your calendar now! SGS is turning 100. Join the celebration at Dunn Gardens on October 20th. There will be a keynote speaker you will not want to miss! See story above for more details.

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658

The elevator is back in service!

Please call ahead to make sure our library will be open. We are short on front desk volunteers.

Hours :  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday   
** 10:00 am – 3:00 pm **

Masks are recommended  inside the Good Shepherd Center. Due to COVID the events listed below continue to be virtual, online via Zoom. 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. 

NOTICE: SGS has imposed more security on our Zoom meetings. Some meetings will begin with a waiting room.  The host must take action to let people into each meeting.  The host will try to open the waiting room about 10 minutes ahead of time. Please be patient.

All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted 

Monday, Sept 4, 2023, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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, Sept 9, 2023, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Second Saturday: Trips for Breaking Brick Walls (Virtual), Every genealogist runs up against brick walls at some time. Come learn about some simple techniques to help break through these walls. Please visit the SGS website to register in advance for this event.

Monday, Sept 11, 2023, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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, Sept 11, 2023, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm,  SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. 

Monday, Sept 11, 2023, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group  to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Alaine Keisling at keisling@gmail.com 

Tuesday, Sept 12, 2023, 10:00 am-11:00 am, 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. 

Wednesday, Sept 13, 2023, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC Computer SIG,  Co-chaired by Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick. Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. Meetings are on the second Wednesday of alternating months. 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. 

Saturday, Sept 16, 2023, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. New Zoom link started in July.

Sunday, Sept 17, 2023, 1:00 pm- 2:30 pm, Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New, This month’s topic is writing and publishing a book. Please visit the SGS website to register in advance for this event.

Monday, Sept 18, 2023, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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, Sept 19, 2023, 10:00 am-12:00 pm,  Family History Writers’ Group (Social Interest Group), Create your family history and share with others in an effort to improve your writing. Please note: The Writers’ Group is at the maximum number of participants and is not currently accepting any new members.

Monday, Sept 25, 2023, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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, Sept 26, 2023, 10:00 am-11:00 am, 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. 

Saturday, Sept 1, 2023, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, DNA SIG, To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join. 

Sunday, Oct 1, 2023, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join.

Tuesday, Oct 3, 2023, 10:00 pm-12:00 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group SIG (in person), Share information and discuss Scandinavian ancestral research. This event will be in person at the SGS library.