Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society Finding Difficult Women

by Charles Hansen

Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society

Presentation: Difficult Women-The Ways Our Female Ancestors Confound Our Research and SVGS monthly meeting- In-person and virtually

Tuesday, February 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day!

1:00 pm – SVGS Library 6111 188 PL NE, Arlington, WA

You are invited to an educational presentation at our society library. If you prefer to watch virtually, a Zoom link and a syllabus to download can be found on our website www.stillygen.org

Janet Camarata will be speaking in-person and our monthly business meeting will follow the presentation.

Janet’s topic: Difficult Women: The Ways Our Female Ancestors Confound Our Research

The names of our female ancestor’s changed in expected and in some cases, unexpected ways. Onomatology is the study of names. Of all the problems encountered in genealogical research, names are some of the toughest.

Janet’s Bio:

Janet O’Conor Camarata is a genealogist with over 30 years experience. She is a seminar presenter, educator, and trainer in genealogy societies, libraries, retirement centers and senior centers across Washington. She has supported genealogy by volunteering in a variety of ways – newsletter editor, program coordinator, publicity, Education Director and past-president of South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS).   She is the winner of the Washington State Genealogical Society Volunteer of the Year award for 2019.  Janet is a graduate of the University of Washington Genealogy and Family History program.  She has a B.A. (Education) degree from Central Washington University and a Master’s degree from Antioch University.  She also taught at w Pierce College – Puyallup and within The Boeing Company and the University of Phoenix.

Tri City Genealogical Society Upcoming Meetings

by Charles Hansen

  Please join us for Tri-City Genealogical Society’s February General meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 8.  The meeting will be held on Zoom.  See below for the link.  Michelle Hedgepeth will be presenting on Finding Grandpa – The DNA Connections

  Planning continues for further speakers in 2023 with the intention to have the presentations continue to occur on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.  Currently planned for March 8 is a presentation by Richland Family History Center director Wayne Ross on the FamilySearch Wiki.  This presentation will be in person at the Richland Family History Center.  Please mark your calendar.

  Also in the planning stages are presentations on April 12 by Michelle Hedgepeth, on May 10 by Ryan Bennett who is a volunteer at the East Benton County Historical Society in Kennewick and on June 14 by Margie Belden.  Topics, location and Zoom status to be announced as plans firm up.

  RootsTech 2023 is scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 2 and run through Saturday, March 4.  If you cannot attend in person you may register for the virtual presentations at no cost.  Search for RootsTech 2023 to register.

  Everyone is encouraged to join and / or renew their membership in TCGS.  The links for renewal are on the TCGS web site at http://tricitygenealogicalsociety.org/q/join/join_renew/ or http://tricitygenealogicalsociety.org/q/wp-content/uploads/TCGSBrochure.pdf

Topic: TCGS February 8 General Meeting

Time: Feb 8, 2023 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84179205291?pwd=RXNJTVJIMldIdm96QTVXUlZ5dUJtUT09

Meeting ID: 841 7920 5291

Passcode: 397011

Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Event Correction

by Charles Hansen

Dave Obee will present a  program using Google for Genealogy research for the Thursday  February 9, 2023  Zoom meeting of the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society

  Mr. Obee is an award winning international researcher, Author, Editor, publisher and public speaker.

The public is invited to join the Zoom meeting that will open at 6:30 pm for welcome of visitors and announcements.  Program will start at 7:00 pm.  For a Zoom link contact

Andrea Hoskins Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Andrea Hoskins of Bainbridge Island, Washington, who was nominated by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS).

Within a short time of joining BIGS in 2018, Andy Hoskins volunteered to serve as newsletter editor, where she helped redesign its content and appearance. She also volunteered to lead the Writers Workshop SIG.

Andrea Hoskins

Andy’s true gifts became obvious when she agreed to serve as president (beginning her term in April 2020) just as the COVID pandemic arrived. Andy has demonstrated effective leadership, adaptability, creativity, and quiet problem-solving, all while effectively conducting the day-to-day business of the organization in extraordinary times. She led the board to clarify major areas of focus and to revise the society bylaws to better define board position responsibilities with an eye toward increasing participation of current and future members.

Andy brings a quiet leadership – leading by example and vision – offering ideas and possibilities for the future of the organization. BIGS looks forward to Andy’s excellent leadership as BIGS continues to evolve post- pandemic.

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.”

Let’s Talk About…John Deere & Spam

by Donna Phillips

 No matter where in the world you live, and certainly in America, you’d recognize the “Nothing Runs Like A Deere” logo. 

John Deere was born in 1804 in Vermont and moved to Illinois in 1836 and began manufacturing tools. He made pitchforks, shovels and plows. In those days, a product was not made until ordered, which was a very slow business model. By 1857, the company was manufacturing a variety of farm equipment; that year their sales reached 1120 implements per month. John Deere as an American business icon was off and running.  

There are three main John Deere museums and a big selling item these days are the John Deere tractor toys.

SPAM is another iconic midwestern product. I always thought the letters stood for “Special Processed American Meat,” meat that was portable and sent to the troops in Europe during WWII.
SPAM is a brand of cooked pork introduced by Hormel in 1937. The origin of the name is not fully documented (so maybe I’m right?).  SPAM was a lifesaver to U.S. soldiers in Europe because of the difficulty in having fresh meat for the soldiers on the front lines. Some 150,000,000 pounds of SPAM was purchased by the military before war’s end. Nowadays SPAM can be found on grocery shelves in 41 countries.


When was the last time you had fried SPAM? SPAM and eggs? A SPAM sandwich??

Eastern Washington Genealogy Society Join us in Wisconsin

by Charles Hansen

Please Join us in Wisconsin!

Saturday, February 4

12:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Hybrid Meeting (Zoom and In-Person) at Shadle Park Library, Spokane, WA

The handout for this presentation is already posted on the website…be sure you print it out before you get there.  

Don’t miss the Cookies, the Raffles, and the Great Company!

If you join us by Zoom be sure to wave!

“Genealogy and the Wisconsin Historical Society”

Presented by Lori Bessler

Reference Librarian and Instructor of local and family history

Lori Bessler has worked at the Wisconsin Historical Society Library Archives since 1988.  She is a Reference Librarian and instructor in local and family history.  Lori has lectured throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest on genealogical topics for over 30 years and has been researching family history for over 45 years.  She specializes in breaking down brick walls and finding hard-to-find resources.​

Zoom login will be on the EWGS website about a day before the meeting.

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week SGS Centennial Store

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK –
SGS CENTENNIAL STORE

Commemorate 100 Years of the Seattle Genealogical Society with t-shirts, mugs, totes and more, available in the Centennial store here https://www.cafepress.com/seattlegenealogicalsociety100
 

Show your support at events this year as we continue to honor our SGS legacy and look to the future. 
 
Don’t see something you would like to have? We can make that happen. Just contact pastpresident@seagensoc.org

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

THE HISTORY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Initiated for the first time on February 7, 1926, Negro History Week, as it was called then, was the brain child of Carter G Woodson, PhD, historian, author, journalist, and educator. 

Carter G Woodson was born in 1875 into a sharecropping family. He got a late start on his education as he was needed to work on the farm. At 17 years old, he went to work as a coal miner to help support his family. By 20 years old, he had saved enough money from coal mining to start his formal education. He attended Frederick Douglass High School, in Huntington, WV; one of only a few high schools available to an African American. He finished high school in two years, as he was self-taught in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Carter went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Berea College in 1903. He continued on, earning his master’s in history from the University of Chicago. Later, Carter would earn a doctorate from Harvard.  

Dr Woodson realized early on that African Americans, their history, and their contributions were woefully missing in American history and academic textbooks. He made it his life long mission to rectify that. He was a co-founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now named the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). In 1921, he founded Associated Publishers Inc, to publish and distribute the works of African Americans, women, and minorities, giving a voice to underrepresented groups that traditional publishing companies ignored. 

In February 1970, the students, faculty and administration of Kent State, in Ohio, designated the entire month of February as a celebration of Black History—preceding the national holiday designation, established in 1976 under Gerald Ford. The story is that February was chosen as the month to celebrate because Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, and Abe Lincoln, both have birthdays in February. 

Each year, ASALF designates a theme for Black History Month. This year’s theme is Resistance. Follow this link for a list of events happening nationally this February: 
https://blackhistorymonth.gov/

Locally, Janice Lovelace, PhD, is presenting two classes; both virtual online. One is sponsored by Fiske, Wed, February 8, at 10:00 AM, “Precarious Lives of Free Blacks Pre-1865”. The other sponsored by SGS, Saturday, February 11, at 1:00 AM, “Black Miners in the Western US”. Links for both of these are under Calendar of Events on the SGS website page. 

VOLUNTEERS 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 get it’s annual 4Culture grant funding.

100 years ago: 31 January 1923

“TELEGRAMS IN SUBWAY SPEED” article celebrated the installation of the new pneumatic tube that ran down Union to First Avenue and then to Cherry Street. The Western Union office on Fourth Avenue was also served by the pneumatic tube. The article exclaimed, “It’s only forty seconds now from Henry Building to First Avenue and Cherry Street by Western Union Tube”. And it was “possible to get a message from the Henry branch to New York in eight minutes.”

“Telegrams in Subway Speed,” Seattle Post Intelligencer, 
31 January 1923. p. 13, col 2. 

* 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. Next meeting is Feb 13, 2023. The topic is “How to Read a Jewish Tombstone” with Robin Meltzer. 

http://www.jgsws.org/meetings.php

“RootsTech 2023”, 
Family History Library, 
Salt Lake City, Utah
Mar 2-4, 2023

Choose how to attend; in person or online! Visit the website for more info and registration. Virtually attendance is no fee. In person is only $98. 

https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/home?mc_cid=d8c7b37731&mc_eid=2ae79ab586

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 


Saturday, February 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, February 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, February 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.

Saturday, February 11, 2023, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, Second Saturday: Black Miners in the Western US,  with Janice Lovelace. 

Monday, February 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.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. 

Saturday, February 18, 2023, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm, Irish SIG, with Susan McKee and Jim Ryan. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. Notice there is a new Zoom 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), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. 

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society

Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting Feb 7th, 2023, 7:00 pm

This week we will be reviewing a series of short videos presented by Geoff Rasmussen that are free and available from the Legacy Family Tree Webinars site. 

How to customize Legacy’s Family View
How to make a backup of your Legacy family file
Legacy software tip: How to unlink a child, spouse or parent if needed
How to Import a Family Tree Maker file into Legacy
How to make a Family Calendar using Legacy Family Tree software
Creating a Migration Chart with Legacy Family Tree software
Working with gaps in Legacy Family Tree
Legacy QuickTip: How to create a Mother’s Chart
Blank Forms in Legacy Family Tree software

We hope to see you this coming Tuesday, February 7th!

Our meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 7:00 pm until 8:30. The link to the reoccurring Zoom Meeting is located at the bottom of this page.

The first half of each meeting we will work thru training videos, watching, and then pausing to talk about the section we just watched before moving on to the next section.  The second half will be used for open discussion of topics related to using Legacy. This could include any questions or problems we are having with the program or tips and features we have discovered.  If you think of something you would like to bring up, please write it down so you can share it with the group.

Meeting Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82495661568?pwd=dy85YmluVzF5aEU4SzFTcTUrVDlTUT09

As always if a hyperlink is not active just copy and paste it into your browser.

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society Documents DNA Methods Luck

by Charles Hansen

On February 17, 2023 BIGS Presents

At 10AM, Friday, Feb 17, 2023, on Zoom,

Elizabeth Williams Gomoll will present:

“Documents + DNA + Methods + Luck,”

Combining Tools to Find Biological Family

Finding an adopted child’s biological family is especially challenging for genealogists. This presentation uses a success story to show how good methodology combined with document research and DNA matches (plus a dose of good luck) finally put to rest a decades-old question.

Elizabeth Williams Gomell, A recipient of many awards, Liz is co-editor of Minnesota Genealogist, the quarterly journal of the Minnesota Genealogical Society and immediate past-president of the Association for Professional Genealogists Northland Chapter and has served on numerous boards and committees.

Liz is based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

So, please join us on February 17th at 10AM for this informative presentation. The Zoom link will be available on our website bigenealogy.org on February 16th, the day before the meeting.

Everyone Welcome! No membership necessary.