Saturday, March 11th at 10:00 the Genealogical Society of Clallam County will meet. Steven Morrison, a professional genealogist who is known for his wonderful presentations throughout the Northwest will present a talk entitled, WESTERN OVERLAND TRAILS – Following the Seven Ts
He will discuss seven major trails from the Midwest to the West in this session. The principal routes include the Oregon and California Trails, the Mormon migration, the Santa Fe Trail, and some of which we are less familiar. These trails were the OVERLAND RIVERS which helped populate the West. The stories of these adventurous travelers are relevant to the character of Americans at that time in history.
Steven’s genealogical journey began in 1998 with the publication of a remembrance of his grandmother. Since then, he has authored many articles and books, and has shared his research with Societies, History and Genealogical Conferences and Symposiums. His material is always well researched, organized and presented.
Everyone is invited to join the Society for this event. The lecture will be presented as a Zoom presentation. One can watch the program at the CCGS Research Center at 403 E. 8th Street in Port Angeles, or call the Society to obtain the Zoom meeting number and passcode. Call 360-417-5000 for the codes Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, or Saturdays noon to 4pm.
For more information either call the Society, or consult the website www.clallamcogs.org.
Hybrid Meeting (Zoom and In-Person) at Shadle Park Library, Spokane, WA
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.
Like many other genealogical organizations, due to COVID 19 worries, the Fiske Library in Seattle started conducting their classes online via Zoom in 2020. Fiske has an online class opportunity each Wednesday. The Wednesday class usually runs from 10:00 AM until noon. They recently published their Winter 2023 Class Schedule. You can find it here: https://fiskelibrary.org/2023WinterClasses.pdf
THEIR OWN THOUGHTS The time of year is upon us that we start piecing together the slate of candidates for positions on the SGS Board of Directors for the May election. There is a commitment of a certain amount of your time and energy when you serve on the board, but aside from helping SGS what is the ROI (return-on-investment, for those who don’t speak “business”) for the volunteer? Here are the thoughts from four current board members on this question.
Jill Morelli (Past President):
My first elected position to the Board was as Publications Director, in charge of 2 Bulletins and 4 major newsletters. I remember when the recruiting committee called and suggested I run for the position. I had seen the request and thought I could do it. I served in that position for 3 years. during that time I learned a lot about the Society, felt that we published some very innovative issues and started the conversation of going all electronic. I gained writing skills, layout and graphic skills and met a lot of nationwide writers.
I served as President for 3.5 years, We each bring skills to the table and the president applies those skills to the betterment of the Society. I felt I brought to the board: organization and discipline, a focus on the financial affairs, and the embracement of electronic media for all we do. What would you bring to the Board?
Ceil Rogers (Director of Education):
A few years ago I was recruited to serve on the Nominating Committee. I was new to Seattle and to SGS, and I was flattered to be asked. Finding candidates for board positions turned out to be beyond my capabilities, so I just volunteered to fill one of those positions myself. It wasn’t a job I was particularly well suited for, but I met other board members–a group of active and interesting people. I was then able to slide into another board position, more aligned with my abilities and interests. I became aware of opportunities I would not otherwise have known about, and I met dozens of other genealogists, all of whom had something to teach me. I don’t look at serving on the board as an obligation as much as an opportunity to actively participate in the social network of SGS. I encourage you to do the same.
Karen Knudson (Treasurer):
I joined SGS to start work on my genealogy. I had visited the library a few times and had gotten to know some of the desk volunteers. After I retired the society was in need of a treasurer. After a few pleas for a volunteer I decided to be that volunteer. I had no experience in financing for a non-profit. It became a learning experience, not only in the running of a non-profit, but I also met a lot of great genealogists that helped me advance in my research. I found out about many resources that I may not have learned about had I not volunteered. Yes, there is work to do, and yes, there is a commitment, but it is not a hardship, but an opportunity for learning.
Jim Secan (President):
I’ve been fortunate to be the SGS President during a period of many transitions: the physical relocation of our library, a shifting in the society’s focus from physical objects (books, periodicals, etc.) to virtual ones (images, databases, etc.), and the growing importance of new technologies such as DNA matching and online meetings. It has been a challenge to all involved, but working together with a great group of SGS volunteers has been fun as well. I joined SGS in June 2018 to try to repay those in other societies in other states who have helped me over the years (think “Paying It Forward”). Every job in SGS, from library front desk volunteer to the president, is involved in this endeavor providing a sense of satisfaction that comes with helping others. I wasn’t sure about taking this job when Jill Morelli asked me to consider it, but I am certainly glad that I did.
If you feel you’d like to be a candidate for a position on the board, or for any other volunteer position at SGS, please contact any SGS Board member and they will help you get in touch with the right person within SGS to get you set up. Or you can email your questions, comments, or thoughts to: nominations@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org
100 years ago: 1 January 1923
“Seattle has Wettest of Dry New Year Fetes” was the sub-headline for the day. Cafes, theaters, and streets had scenes of wild enthusiasm. As the newspaper explained “It was the wettest celebration since state-wide prohibition, after a threat that it might become the driest.” A complication arose when the whisky runners got caught in some bad weather, resulting in the bootleg market raising their prices $1 and $2 a quart.
“Seattle Has Wettest of Dry New Year,” Seattle Post Intelligencer, 1 January 1923. p. 1.
* 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.
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
Monday, January 16, 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, January 20, 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, January 19th to request the meeting link.
Saturday, January 21, 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, January 21, 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, January 22, 2023, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm, Japanese American SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Densho, this group meets quarterly on the fourth Sunday of the month (July, October, January, and April) at 1:00 p.m. (Pacific). Meetings address topics and resources helpful for those conducting Japanese genealogy research.
The link to logon will be sent to the Japanese American SIG email list. People wishing to attend should email family.history@densho.orgto be added to the mailing list.
Co-Chairs:Caitlin Oiye Coon and [a co-host is still very much needed]
Monday, January 23, 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, January 24, 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, January 28, 2023, 9:00 am- 10:00 am, DNA SIG for Beginners, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. Special session for beginners, held annually before the first regular meeting of the DNA SIG in January. To participate, contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com.
Saturday, January 28, 2023, 10:00 am- 12:00 mm, DNA SIG, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. The first regular meeting of the DNA SIG in 2023. To participate you need to be on the DNA SIG email list; to join contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com.
Monday, January 30, 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 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.
In Memphis, in a pouring rain, I went to see Elvis. The statue above is in the Memphis Visitors’ Center. Then the bus took us to Graceland.
Elvis bought Graceland in the spring of 1957 when he was just 22 years old, paying $100,000 for the mansion and grounds. It was on the outskirts of Memphis then but surely is not today. Touring the mansion today is stepping back into a “day with Elvis” for the rooms are kept true to when he was there. (Want to see the rooms? Ask Grandma Google.) Elvis died there on August 16, 1977; he was only 42.
Under the watchful eyes of Priscilla, the upstairs of the mansion is kept for the family to use and they do still come and have big family celebrations around the big dining room table that fills the room. Elvis and Priscilla had one child, a daughter, Lisa Marie, born in 1968. Lisa Marie had been married four times: (1) Danny Keough; had Danielle Riley and Benjamin Storm with him; (2) Michael Jackson; (3) Nicolas Cage; (4) Michael Lockwood; had twin girls Harper and Finley with him. Lisa Marie’s only son, Benjamin, died by suicide in 2020 and is buried in the family cemetery on the grounds behind Graceland. Lisa Marie died in January 2023 of cardiac arrest and will be buried there too.
A tour of Graceland is to walk through several separate museums……… one for his Army career, one for his motorcycles, one displaying all the many costumes he wore, one for all his gold records, one for his growing up years and more. It was a $125.00 extravagance to visit Graceland but I’m glad I went. Have you been there? Do go if you’re in Memphis!
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.
Cindy Fuerst
Today we’re introducing Cynthia “Cindy” Fuerst of Yakima, Washington, who was nominated by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS).
Cindy joined YVGS in 1985 “because Cousin Kathy made me do it.” The genealogy bug hit Cindy hard, but she didn’t have to be hospitalized! Cindy volunteered as librarian one day a week and the Thursday night shift at the old YVGS library at First Christian Church in downtown Yakima across from the police department and next door to Shaw & Sons Funeral Home. The night genealogist had to take the money bag over to the night drop box at the funeral home. Such a brave genealogist! Later, Cindy moved to the coast with husband Kenny and joined the South King County Genealogical Society. During her time there, she was membership chair and greeter while retaining her membership at YVGS. After moving back to Yakima, she started attending meetings again, became a librarian and served two terms as YVGS’s corresponding secretary.
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.
Who hasn’t taken Tums for the tummy? On our bus ride from the boat to the Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis, and not in the best-looking part of town, we passed a 5-story red brick factory building……. the home to Tums for nearly 100 years. Everything comes from somewhere and Tums come from St. Louis, Missouri. Here’s a bit from their website:
Insomniac snacks, car crashes, tax audits, pink slips… Imagine all the gushes of gastric acid those Tums have neutralized. The brand leads the industry, selling more than 60 million bottles or rolls a year—almost double the total of its second-place rival, Rolaids. And 99.9 percent of those Tums, more than 6 billion tablets, are made right here. (The .1 percent? Wrafton Laboratories in England.)
Now you’re ready to be a Jeopardy champion!
Here’s another bit of trivia for you:
When did hurricanes start getting named? It was back in 1950 when the U.S. Weather Bureau began using the phonetic alphabet (Able-Baker-Charlie). In 1953, women’s names were substituted and in 1979 the World Meteorological Organization switched to a list that included men’s names. Now you know.
Minding the many, many vessels going up and down the Mississippi River is a huge challenge. There would be total chaos were it not for rules. I learned about two interesting websites to learn more about these rules and thought you might want to check them out too. First was www.MarineVesselTraffic.com. From an opening menu, you do a search for a specific ship (where it is), sea ports, military ships and planes tracking, container ports, cruise ships and more. Quite interesting if that’s your thing.
I also learned that while the U.S. Corps of Engineers is charged with keeping the river open and safe for traffic, the U.S. Coast Guard has charge of the ships. The National Vessel Movement Center is a fairly new organization, functioning since 2001. At this website, you can learn the rules and regulations concerning the ships using the Mississippi River (and they fill volumes).
Jan. 10, 2023: All Nonprofit Annual Report, Formation and Reinstatement filings are back online. We are continuing to process documents in the order they were received, and there will be delays. If your documents were recently submitted, please disregard any automated late notices while we update all records on the website. Please do not resubmit. On Dec. 19, 2022, all Annual Report forms were replaced with instruction sheets, and Annual Reports should be filed online via the Corporations and Charities Filings System. If you have any questions concerning this matter or need to request a form, please let us know by using one of the methods available on the Contact Us page. To log into CCFS, please be sure to refresh and/or remove browser cache before you log in. System requires you to reset your password every 120 days, please follow the prompted steps to reset your password.
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