Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Chat

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Genealogy Chat

Tuesday December 20th at 7:00 pm

Do you have thoughts, ideas, questions, or comments about anything related to genealogy? Then this is for you.  Please plan to attend, share, and expand your knowledge of all thing’s genealogy all from the comfort of your own home.

We look forward to seeing and chatting with you Dec 20th, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time

Every month on the Third Tue, until Dec 19, 2023, 16 occurrence(s)

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Tri-City Genealogical Society Cool New Features in Family Search

by Charles Hansen

Wednesday, January 11, 2023, TCGS member Veronica Anguiano will be presenting on Cool New Features in FamilySearch.  Presentation will be on Zoom.  Link to be sent out next month. 

  Planning continues for further speakers in 2023 with the intention to have the presentations continue to occur on the second Wednesday of the month.  Please mark your calendar.

  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

Let’s Talk About: Sears Christmas Wish Book

by Donna Phillips


How many of us remember drooling over the pages of the Sears catalog Christmas Wish book? I do!

The first Sears Christmas Book debuted in 1933 and came in the mail for 60 years, until 1993 (when Sears went totally out of the catalog business). 

Through the decades, the items offered varied. In 1937, tractor sets and Shirley Temple dolls were offered. By 1949, Western TV shows and movies exploded and the book offered a wide variety of Roy Rogers inspired gifts and even school supplies. As America entered the space race in 1968, children everywhere dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Marking America’s Bicentennial in 1975, nostalgic theme toys appeared: fife and drum sets, Colonial dolls and models of the USS Constitution.  Transformers exploded on the scene in 1984. 

What likely did your grandparents or parents or YOU order from the Sears Christmas Wish Book???

Ruth Caesar 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.

Ruth Caesar

Today we’re introducing Ruth Caesar of Arlington, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS).

During the last two years of pandemic lockdowns, mandates and uncertainty, Ruth has been the “glue” that has held the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society and Library together. Along with fulfilling her own duties as society president, she has taken on many tasks that others have been unable to perform. During discussions considering “boxing up the books and shutting down the library,” Ruth continued to advocate for maintaining our community presence, which has been successfully accomplished. She was also able to work with the City of Arlington to secure rent relief during the lockdown as well as continuing to lead fundraising efforts which have been instrumental in paying for necessary services.

The SVGS library is now back open, welcoming staff and visitors and the business of the society is being conducted as before, thanks to Ruth’s leadership and commitment.

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.

Heritage Quest Research Library Fire Update

by Charles Hansen
ATTENTION!
Good News! 
We’re Still Here! We are happy to announce that while the library has received damage from the fire and the entire contents are out for cleaning, we are still here.   Many of you have been following us through personal connections, phone calls, connections with some of the library volunteers or the latest newsletter.  We wanted everyone to know that we are still a viable genealogical resource and that we have not given up.

The library space at 1007 Main Street in Sumner Washington has been given over to the building owner from whom we rented the unit.  They will be doing extensive repairs to the space due to the fire next door.  Those repairs may take as long as a year. 

What that means for us, is that we are now tasked with finding another space for our library and bookstore. You can help us in that endeavor by keeping an eye on what’s happening in your neighborhood.  We will continue to keep you informed as we move forward in our search for a new home. 

We will continue to offer ZOOM classes on a monthly basis.  Our Beginning Genealogy “A” class will be held on January 5, 2023, and on January 19, 2023, Caron Prima-Brennan will speak on “Where Did I Put Great-Grampa? Organizing for Genealogists”. 
We hope you will continue to follow us through our webpage at www.hqrl.com or by email at research@hqrl.com. You can also find us on Facebook.  

At the beginning of October, we celebrated our 40th anniversary and we certainly hope to celebrate 40 more.

International German Genealogy Partnership 2023 Conference

by Charles Hansen
INTERNATIONAL GERMAN GENEALOGY PARTNERSHIPANNOUNCES 2023 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEESThe International German Genealogy Partnership has announced registration fees for its 2023 hybrid conference, to be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 9-11 next year.
You will have access to more than 100 presentations. Almost 70 presentations are expected to be given live on-site and/or virtually, along with a large number of on-demand, recorded programs.
Participants also can attend IGGP Connection Sessions, where individuals can talk with and learn from other attendees interested in shared topics. And Whova, the conference app, offers a multitude of ways for individual participants to make their own connections.
In addition, you will be able to visit our sponsors and exhibitors both on-site and virtually.
A reminder that hotel information is posted on the IGGP website. We’ve added to the number of rooms available at a conference rate, so take a look.
Registration for the conference will open in early January with an “early-bird” discount period. Fees will increase after that ends. So it’s worthwhile to register early.
Here is the list of registration options.
● Early-bird in person = $250 (for the person traveling to Fort Wayne)● Early-bird virtual = $225● Normal pricing in-person = $325 (after the early-bird period closes)● Normal pricing virtual = $300 (after the early-bird period closes)● USB conference works = $50 (buy as an add-on to your registration)
The USB conference works will have all the available recorded presentations. NOTE: This USB will be sold ONLY to those who register and pay for the conference. It will not be sold as a separate option to attendees or the general public after the conference ends.
In addition to the general IGGP conference, June 9-11, there are two special events being held on Thursday, June 8.
● IGGP Librarians Day is being hosted by the Allen County Public Library for librarians, archivists and others who assist patrons with genealogy research questions. The speakers will provide advice on how to assist patrons in their German research specifically. The programs will be available for those who attend in person or virtually. Registration costs $10 and is separate from the general conference.
● IGGP Leadership Day is for representatives and other leaders of the societies that are partners in the IGGP. These activities are available for those who attend in-person as well as virtually. Registration costs $25 if attending in-person to cover the cost of catering. Virtual participants may attend at no cost. Again, this registration is separate from the general conference.
Attendees will register through Whova, using a debit or credit card, when the early-bird period opens. As part of registration, you will set up your Whova account. When the conference goes live, you’ll be able to follow announcements, meet fellow attendees and set up your personal schedule of activities in Whova – whether you are coming in person or through cyberspace.
We believe we are providing a unique conference experience that is accessible to the greatest number of attendees. But some people may look at the fees and find them too high for comfort. So let’s take a minute to explain what your registration is paying for:
● The largest portion of your fee covers the cost of putting together a team of highly qualified, experienced speakers. The range of topics is tremendous, and we are proud to offer presentations in languages other than English. The cost of bringing you these speakers is the same whether you attend in-person or virtually.
● If you attend in-person, the remainder of your fee covers the cost of the facilities in which we will meet and the staff to make sure things run smoothly.
● If you attend virtually, the remainder of your fee pays for the technology and staff to get you connected and ensure you can participate.
As many societies, small and large, are discovering … hybrid is not easy or cheap. We all sort of know how to put on an in-person conference and have done it with the help of hundreds of volunteers. But when you bring virtual into the picture, you hire people with the expertise and experience to ensure success.
When you break down the cost vs. benefit, we hope you will agree that registration for the 2023 IGGP conference is a bargain! So stay tuned for the announcement that registration is open and get in early. Questions may be emailed to info@iggp.org.

Let’s Talk About: Want Picture of Ancestor’s Ship?

by Donna Phillips

Then www.shipindex.org is the website for you to find that image!!  I know the copied image above is fuzzy but the first paragraph says it all:

“ShipIndex.org simplifies vessel research. Whether you’re a genealogist, a maritime historian, a researcher, or just curious, we can help you learn more about the ships that interest you. We tell you which maritime resources, such as books, journals, magazines, newspapers, CD-ROMS, websites and online databases mention the ships that interest you. We enhance these references by noting which ones include illustrations or crew and passenger lists and where you can find or purchase the resource.”

You can barely see that “our full database had 3,151,517 citations to ships in 1004 resources.”

You can do a quick first index search for free but you’ll need to subscribe to view the citation…………. a whopping $6.00 for two full weeks. 

From the Mayflower to the Titanic to the Queen Mary this website will delight you and enhance your family history stories, I guarantee.

Cary Lynn Bright 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 Cary Lynn Bright of Snohomish, Washington, who was nominated by the Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS).  

The biggest change in genealogy in the past decade has been the low-cost availability of DNA testing and the development of tools for using DNA information for genealogical research This technology has exploded, and its rapid expansion makes it difficult to keep current with the latest and greatest ways to use these data for digging into your family roots. Cary Bright has kept the Seattle Genealogical Society and its members current in this invaluable methodology as leader or co-leader of SGS’s DNA Special Interest Group (SIG) since 2009. During the COVID-19 shutdown, this SIG continued to be SGS’s strongest performer, making the transition from in-person meetings and workshops to an all online operation where it is drawing in people from far outside the Seattle area. DNA-based research and online programs and research are the future of genealogy, and Cary has helped SGS stay on the forefront of both.

Congratulations, Cary, on a job well done!

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.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Book Club

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Book Club Meeting

Saturday, December 17th at 3:00 pm via Zoom

Please join us as we discuss a genealogical murder mystery.

This month’s book is The Somme Legacy by MJ Lee, the second book in the Jayne Sinclair series.

WorldCat: https://worldcat.org/title/1099772373

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542821975

We will also discuss the direction in which we would like this group to go and choose future books. 

Click here to get Zoom sign in:

EWGS’s Audio/Visual Team Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Teams

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 the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society’s Audio/Visual Team. Members of the team included Julie Rosenoff, David Luders, Harold Young, John Wilson and Duane Beck.

On March 7, 2020, the Eastern Washington Genealogy Society had its final in-person meeting. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a world-wide pandemic, and by March 17th all schools in Washington State were closed. All social gatherings were forbidden. EWGS was stunned by the isolation.

The EWGS Audio/Visual team jumped at this challenge. They learned how to “Zoom” and by June 2020, the society was having Zoom business meetings.  In September 2020, EWGS was able to conduct a full Zoom program celebrating their Mayflower ancestors.

When COVID restrictions began to ease, the Audio/Visual Team researched hybrid meetings. They practiced and prepared…a lot. In April 2022, EWGS went “hybrid” offering its first all-day seminar to both in-person and Zoom attendees. It was a huge success!

EWGS continues to thrive and bring in new genealogy enthusiasts in large part due to this team of intrepid volunteers.

Congratulations, EWGS Audio/Visual Team. Job well done!

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.