Do you know who’s running the show at the Washington State Genealogical Society? Who are these people? In the coming months, we’ll introduce them to you, so you can say “hi” the next time you see them. (Note: a variation of Kathy’s story was published in October 2017.)
Kathy and her 2nd cousins, once removed in England.
In today’s “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Kathy Sizer. Kathy lives in Granger (Yakima County) and is WSGS’s President. She has been a member of the WSGS since 2011. She is also a member of the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society where she has been president, vice president, recording secretary, hospitality chair and current treasurer.
Kathleen Louise was born in Oakland, California in 1951 to August Edward and Vivian Jane (Washburn) Weddle. Her mother liked the name Kathleen (as did approximately one million other mothers at the time), but when she told her husband, he said he did too as his former fiance’s name was Kathleen. Horrified, Kathy’s mother said they needed to pick another name, to which her husband replied, “I didn’t marry her. I married YOU, didn’t I?”
Kathy’s interest in genealogy began when her grandmother Edith Clarke Washburn and her sister Avice Ramos Clarke were discussing family history when Kathy was in the 4th grade. That discussion sparked Kathy’s interest. Later, after college, Kathy found a handwritten family history her grandmother had done and that really secured her lifelong passion.
Kathy with her cousin Diana Walcom at their great grandfather John Clarkes’ home in Gargrave England.
Kathy and cousin Diana Walcom in England during Diana’s first trip to see the family home.
Even though her DNA ancestry says she’s only 36 percent English, Kathy’s ancestors come from England, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Scotland, Arabic and Ireland. She has been lucky enough to travel to England and Scotland to see where her grandmother’s family was from. A genealogist’s work is never done!
Kathy has quite a few interesting characters in her ancestry. Her distant grandmother, Sarah Lord Wilson of Andover, Massachusetts, and daughter Sarah Wilson Preston (also Kathy’s grandmother) were imprisoned for witchcraft, but released when the community began to realize the awful practice of imprisoning (or worse) was wrong. Kathy also has a great grandmother, Marie R. Cornioley, who was governess to Louis Comfort Tiffany, the famous glass maker. And what about John Billington, her distant grandfather, who came over on the Mayflower and was the first man in the Plymouth Colony to hang for killing a man? True story.
When not searching for her ancestors, Kathy enjoys gardening, travel and reading. She has four grown children and seven grandchildren. “Her two sons are adopted from India and have done their DNA and have English and Irish blood (Queen Victoria and her British Empire most likely came into play).”
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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.
As WAGS’ technology chair, Hank had set up a digitizing system in 2018/19 for the society, creating a state-of-the-art digitizing station, and programming and building a website and database to archive digitized items. These very successful projects garnered Hank the WAGS Outstanding Volunteer designation in 2019.
Then WAGS got word that EasyNet Sites, our web provider, was going out of business. Hank suggested we create and maintain our own website, and volunteered to take on the task. He had previous experience making websites for family and some smaller groups around town, but WAGS was a bigger challenge, needing to include ordering merchandise; creating and tracking memberships and receiving payments; creating specialized pages for historical photos and large databases; the previous digitized archive and other databases; and a specialized search engine. Hank’s perseverance and commitment to making documents available to others has resulted in an attractive and functional new website. An important part of his approach is training others to be able to navigate the site and edit and revise.
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.”
On this particular trip, I didn’t see very many cemeteries but always and of course, those I did see made an impact on me.
Top Top: A typical rural cemetery near New Orleans. Away from New Orleans, in-ground burials work fine, apparently. Top Bottom: Take from a book on New Orleans, a typical city cemetery….all above-ground crypts.
Top Bottom: The final resting place of more than 17,000 Union dead at Vicksburg National Memorial Park. Look closely and you’ll see some upright stones and some flat stones. The flat ones were when the identification of the soldier was unknown. Scanning the whole scene, it was so sad to see how many flat ones there were.
The park signboard on the right also shares this: “At hundreds of Civil War battle sites the remains of fallen soldiers lay nearly forgotten, scattered in woods, fields and roadside ditches.” Now did they gather those up to bury here???
Burials in cemeteries in New Orleans are tightly packed together and above ground. Why? The water table is too high for in-ground burial. The deceased are not put into coffins (in many cases) but are just laid on a shelf in an above-ground mausoleum…… and such crypts have been, in some cases, used by the family for 150 years.
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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.
Tina joined SKCGS in February 2020, just in time to help us pivot to an online-only world. Soon after accepting the publicity team leader role, she began to actively administer the society’s Google Workspace, which was previously mostly unused. By creating a shared calendar, shared drives for each team, and improving the team email lists, she greatly facilitated the work of the board. Then she created an internal website, The Hub, for board volunteer use, along with hundreds of hours of private volunteer training.
SKCGS would not have been able to thrive without her invaluable support to the board and other volunteers. She has quietly given each of the members hours of her time, not just giving resources such as The Hub, but also individual help and training. “The Magic Show” (collaborative, participatory meetings) could not have existed without the support of the board and Tina’s technical and personal expertise.
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.”
TIP OF THE WEEK – IMAGE ONLY RECORDS ON FAMILYSEARCH
A large percentage of FamilySearch records are not indexed. Sunday, February 19, 2023, at 1:00 pm, for our “Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New”, Jill Morelli will teach you how to navigate the image only records on FamilySearch. Preregistration is required. Visit our SGS website for registration.
SGS SPRING 2023 SEMINAR – 2 DAYS FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2023 SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2023 “RESEARCH LIKE A PRO” REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
We are excited to have Diana Elder, AGⓇ, and Nicole Dyer, authors of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and its companion volume, Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence, and hosts of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast, for our seminar. They will present 4 lectures over 2 days:
Friday evening, 5-8pm
Saturday morning, 9am-noon.
Program includes–
Objectives, Analysis, and Locality Research
Research Planning, Source Citations, Research Logs, & Written Conclusions
Presentations will be recorded and available (only) to registrants for a limited time. Registration fee: Full Seminar – $55.00 (SGS Members – $45.00)
* NOTICE * SGS GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2023 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
SGS Members, mark your calendars. Come hear updates on SGS business including changes to the bylaws. This meeting will be online via Zoom.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Virtual Sundays presentation directly following the membership meeting.
HELP NEEDED
St Patrick’s week activities are coming soon and SGS will have an information booth during Irish Festal at Seattle Center on Saturday, March 11, 2023 and Sunday, March 12, 2023. The booth will operate from noon to 6:00 pm both days. Volunteers are needed to man the booth for two hour shifts and answer simple genealogy questions. If you can help out, please call or text Jean Roth at 206-510-5202. This outreach activity helps SGS obtain it’s annual 4Culture grant funding.
100 years ago: 15 February 1923
ICE IMPERILS RESUMPTION OF TROLLEY CARS”, warned the headlines noting that there was “scant hope held for Motor Service Improvement”, noting “Freezing Rain Becomes New Hazard”, and that the cold weather was breaking 24-year records. Sixteen inches of snow fell in Pioneer Square and sixteen to eighteen inches of snow fell on Queen Anne Hill since Sunday. Courts and schools were closed and the railroad was operating in a haphazard fashion. People ended up sleeping in hotels because they couldn’t make it home.
“Ice Imperils Resumption of Trolley Cars,” Seattle Post Intelligencer, 15 February 1923. p. 1, col 8.
* 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
Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, usually 2nd Monday meetings usually 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST
JGSWS meets on the second Monday of each month, from Sept-June. Doors open at 6:30 PM unless noted otherwise.
Check out all the activities that will be available for Irish Week, from Soda Bread Baking class on Feb 25, 2023, through Irish Genealogy Workshop on March 18, 2023. Check these out at the SGS Calendar of Events and the Irish Heritage Club : https://irishclub.org/irish-week-2023/
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658
New Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm ** Please call ahead to make sure our library will be open. We are short on front desk volunteers. *** The elevator in the Good Shepherd Center will be out of service for the next several weeks.
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
Friday, February 17, 2023, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Family Tree Maker SIG, the FTM by Software MacKiev user’s group meets via Zoom on the 3rd Friday of each month. If you would like to attend and are not on the SIG e-mail distribution list, please send an e-mail to egsgenealogyhelper@yahoo.com no later than Thursday, March 16th to request the meeting link.
Saturday, February 18, 2023, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm, German SIG, with Carolyn Schott See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. Notice there is a new Zoom link.
Sunday,February 19, 2023, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm, Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New, Jill Morelli is the usual host.
Monday, February 20, 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, February 27, 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, February 28, 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, March 4, 2023, 10:15 am- 12:15 pm, FamilySearch SIG, with Lou Daly. Discover many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email Lou to get on the email list: loudaly@nwlink.com
Sunday, March 5, 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.
Monday, March 6, 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.
Friday, March 10, 2023, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm, SGS SPRING SEMINAR, Day 1, (Virtual), with Diana Elder, AGⓇ, and Nicole Dyer, authors of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and its companion volume, Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence, and hosts of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast, will present 4 lectures over 2 days: Friday evening, 5-8, and Saturday morning, 9-noon. Registration required.
Saturday, March 11, 2023, 9:00 am-12:00 pm, SGS SPRING SEMINAR, Day 2, (Virtual), with Diana Elder, AGⓇ, and Nicole Dyer,
Monday, March 13, 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, March 13, 2023, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Board of Directors Meeting at SGS (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. Remember SGS has several board positions open. We need to fill them. Maybe you have the skills and time.
Tuesday, March 14, 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.
Friday, March 17, 2023, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Family Tree Maker SIG, the FTM by Software MacKiev user’s group meets via Zoom on the 3rd Friday of each month. If you would like to attend and are not on the SIG e-mail distribution list, please send an e-mail to egsgenealogyhelper@yahoo.com no later than Thursday, March 16th to request the meeting link.
Sunday, March 19, 2023, 12:30 pm-1:00 pm, SGS General Membership Meeting, Topics: what’s new at SGS and bylaw changes.
Sunday, March 19, 2023, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm, Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New, Jill Morelli is the usual host. Topic TBD.
Monday, March 20, 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, March 27, 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, March 28, 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.
Early bird Q&A about IGGP conferenceCheck out the list of both on-site and virtual speakers at #IGGC2023, now posted on the website. You’ll see for yourself the amazing range of topics they’ll cover.
Still not sure about whether to attend? Then join us on Monday, Feb. 20 when IGGP President Ingeborg Carpenter and 1st Vice President Kent Cutkomp will talk about the exciting program of speakers and other activities coming at IGGP 2023. We’ll also answer your questions.And then you still have time to get your ticket to attend in-person or virtually before the early registration deadline passes on March 3.We are offering two sessions:Monday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. Eastern. Register here.Monday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern. Register here.You’ll receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link. If you need to cancel your registration, use the link in the email as attendance is limited.Contact us at info@iggp.org.
The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library is available for research when you attend the IGGP conference, in-person or virtually.
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Hybrid Meeting at Shadle Park Library, Spokane, WA
Continuing our Heritage from the Heartland Series: Michigan
Genealogy Research in the Great Lakes State
Guest Speaker: Jessica Trotter
From Indigenous peoples, to France, to Britain, to a state now filled with “Yoopers” and “Trolls”
Michigan has been a destination and pass through state for a large swath of travelers and immigrants. This presentation will offer a quick geography and history lesson and a detailed
discussion on researching Michigan genealogy.
Social time at 12:30 P.M. meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.
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Copyright (C) 2023 International German Genealogy Partnership. All rights reserved.