LeeRoy Kind 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 LeeRoy Kind of Marysville, Washington who was selected by the StillaguamishValley Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

LeeRoy spearheaded the Weller’s Funeral Home Card Project for SVGS. This project required the digitization of 4,000 3×5 cards. These cards span funerals from the 1880’s to the 1980’s and contain valuable family data which had not been publicly available until now. He also indexed the cards in preparation for loading them onto our website.

When the project stalled, LeeRoy stepped up and completed it on his own. LeeRoy’s willingness to work from home, as well as during his volunteer shifts at the library, has been instrumental in completing this project. We continue to be grateful for his diligent work ethic.

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: Indian Princess Buried In Utah?

by Donna Phillips

 Some time ago, a friend told me that as a youngster, she enjoyed roaming a nearby cemetery where she lived in Beaver, Utah. She clearly remembers seeing this tombstone and asking folks who this was? Here’s what Google taught us:

“The “Indian princess” story associated with Beaver, Utah, is a family legend about an East Indian woman who converted to the LDS faith and moved to Beaver. The narrative is a specific family tale and there is no historical record of an “Indian princess” of this kind in Native American history or in the founding of Beaver, Utah. The concept of an “Indian princess” is often a romanticized and inaccurate portrayal of Native American nobility which didn’t exist in the European sense.”

Just for fun, I did some sleuthing on FindAGrave. Entering “King” in the first name box yielded 15,958 hits.  Entering “unknown” showed 307,472 hits.  What really was sad was the entries for “baby” as the first name:  786,412. This one really was awfully sad.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Dragons?

by Charles Hansen

Dragons?

Cymru & Dragons: Wales Research

Please Join us to learn more about Wales Research.

Date: June 06, 2026

Time: 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Location: The Hive (Door Code: 985426#)

Zoom Link and Class Handouts will be available on the website the day prior to this event. EWGSi.org

Cymru & Dragons

Speaker: Donna Potter Phillips

Nearly two million Americans today claim some Welsh ancestry….. are you among them?

Donna’s program will tweak your Welsh beak to learn about the history, culture and research resources for Cymru descendants.

 (That’s the ancient name for Wales.)

Cookies   Coffee  Free Stuff  Raffles  $50-50$

Bring any items you’d like to donate to the Fall Auction.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG June 2026

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree Software SIG Meeting
Tuesday, June 2, 2026, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm virtual via Zoom

This month we are continuing with Siri Nelson’s Legacy SIG notes: Shortcut Keys and What to do if parents aren’t married.

This is our monthly meeting to share tips & tricks, problems & solutions. Sometimes we will watch videos or share our screens to aide 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

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

Heritage Quest Research Library What is Social History and Why Should a Genealogist Care?

by Charles Hansen

Explore the Exceptional Genealogy Classes at HQRL! Join us online via Zoom or in person at HQRL and connect with fellow genealogy enthusiasts who share your curiosity and drive—together, we can explore the fascinating world of family history!
JOIN US for our next class on June 4, 2026! Don’t miss out, sign up today!
Click Here to See All of Our 2026 Classes!
Visit our blog for great tips & hints exploring your family story!
HQRL.com / Classes & Events / Contact
Heritage Quest Research Library | 2102 East Main Ave Suite 105 | Puyallup, WA 98372 US

Let’s Talk About: FindAGrave vs. BillionGraves

by Donna Phillips

I’d bet we all use one of these cemetery-searching websites. Maybe some of us use both. Is one better than the other? What’s the difference between the two? Well!
The focus of Findagrave.com is on the individual. Contributors can create a “memorial” (web page) for anyone. There is no requirement for a photograph of a headstone or anything else but a name. BUT a Findagrave memorial can potentially contain much additional information such as biographical information, photos, obituaries and information on other family members.
The focus of Billiongraves.com is photographs of headstones with their geolocation tags. To submit a photo to BillionGraves, one must use their app and a GPS enabled camera or smart phone. Having these GPS coordinates, can save hours of wandering time when visiting a large cemetery. 
Both websites are free to use, so you decide. Just do realize that all of the information on these two websites is secondary, not primary (with the exception of the location of the grave). Despite efforts to ensure accuracy, there is no way on either site to document the primary sources of the information…. with the exception again of folks adding other forms of documentation. 

Even though a date is “carved in stone” the stone is a secondary source, not a birth or death certificate.

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society Researching Women in the American Revolution

by Charles Hansen



Join SVGS as we celebrate America 250 on Saturday June 13, 2026, at 1pm at the Burlington Public Library with “Researching Women in the American Revolution” with Melanie McComb. Melanie is a Senior Genealogist with American Ancestors (originally known as the New England Historic Genealogical Society). Come learn how women contributed to the American Revolution from boycotts to the battlefield, and how you can discover your female ancestors from this period. Can’t make it to the Burlington Library, request a zoom link by emailing info@skagitvalleygenealogy.org.

Let’s Talk About: Women’s Safety Bicycles

by Donna Phillips


In the carriage house adjacent to the Campbell House in Spokane was a most interesting display of  a Woman’s Safety Bicycle in the 1890s. “Medium-sized wheels and a chain drive eased the physical strain of bike riding. A string skirt guard, hygienic breathable leather seat, and pierced metal chain guard made riding safer for women.” The image is of Helen Campbell riding on the handlebars of just such a bicycle. Below is that bicycle. 

Bicycles revolutionized women’s lives. It necessitated changes in clothing (shorter skirts and (horrors) trousers); it offered independence from home or husband; it became a symbol of women’s liberation and a tool for the feminist movement. 

These early bicycles were heavy (up to 50 pounds) compared to today’s bikes at 20-30 pounds. In 1890, a new safety bicycle cost between $100 and $150, roughly $3000 to $4500 in today’s money, making it a luxury item for the wealthy. Prices did drop to an average of $75 by the mid-1890s due to increased competition. They represented a significant investment, often costing one to two month’s wages for an average worker. So Google says. 

What garb do you wear when riding your bike? And what is your bike like? Aren’t you once again you live today and not in the 1890s?