Heritage Quest Research Library Classes Upcoming in January 2026

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! Classes Coming Up in January 2026!
Using City (and Other) Directories in Your Research  Thursday, January 8, 2026 Janice Sellers
Directories were not only for cities. Many counties and rural areas had directories, as did locations in other countries. You can also find professional directories, social directories, and more. Learn what they contain and how they can be used to flesh out your family’s lives and track them through time. 
Click Here to Sign-up
Janice M. Sellers is a professional genealogist and international speaker whose grandparents told her she is related to actor Peter Sellers and to John of Gaunt, son of a king and father of a king. Unfortunately, they were wrong, but that’s why she has been researching her family for 50 years and now helps others finds the right pieces to fit their genealogical puzzles. She specializes in Jewish, Black, dual citizenship, and newspaper research. She has done research and appeared on camera for the television series The Dead Files.
A New Strategy for Brick Walls Thursday, January 22, 2026 Kim Richardson

Ever feel like you are engulfed by a pile of research? Do you ever think, “If I could just get organized, I could solve this mystery?” If so, this presentation is for you! This session explains why complex genealogy problems feel overwhelming and how to overcome it through a new way of organizing. Click Here to Sign-up
Kim Richardson enjoys serving the genealogy community by coaching and enabling others to do their own research successfully. She assists other genealogists to accomplish their goals and helps clients solve genealogy mysteries. Kim created the Brick Wall Buster Cards to show others her secret to solving tough genealogy problems. She regularly writes for various genealogy society magazines and wrote the “Mississippi Research Guide” for Family Tree Magazine and researches for Finding Your Roots and Who Do You Think You Are?

Click Here to See All of Our 2026 Classes! HQRL.com / Classes & Events / Contact
Heritage Quest Research Library | 2102 East Main Ave Suite 105 | Puyallup, WA 98372 US

Italian Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society Italian POWs in the US

by Charles Hansen
Italian Interest Group (IIG) January 2026 Meeting

If you aren’t a
registered member,
Click Here for
meeting registration.
Date:
Time:
Topic:


Presenter: January 17, 2026
1:30 PM (PT)
Italian POWs in the US during WWII
     and
The Ferramonti Concentration Camp in Italy
Kathy Kirkpatrick
Presentation #1: Italian POWs in the US during WWII Description: During World War II there were 1,210 POW camps, hospitals and cemeteries for German, Italian and Japanese soldiers in the United States. Among those POWs were 51,000 Italian soldiers. The camps not only gave the Italian prisoners a glimpse of American life, but enabled interaction with Americans leading to friendships and even marriage. About two-thirds of Italian prisoners chose to become Allies and served in Italian Service Units here and as part of the Allied push to liberate Italy. This presentation discusses camp life and rules, work by the POWs, and postwar activities. A variety of records and repositories in the US and Italy are described in detail with links.
Presentation #2: The Ferramonti Concentration Camp in Italy Description: This presentation takes us to Italy to learn about the Ferramonti Camp and the local Italian community. Out of the 3,823 prisoners, only fifty died. One hundred forty-one of these prisoners were Italian, the rest having fled from Europe before capture in Italy, Bengasi (Libya) and Rhodes (Greece). Most of the prisoners were Jewish and were able to observe that religion in the Camp. There were also non-Jewish people from China, France, Greece, and Yugoslavia. The cooperation between the camp staff, prisoners, and the community enabled this situation in a dark time. Sources and repositories described.
Presenter: Kathy Kirkpatrick Kathy Kirkpatrick earned her B.A. in History from Humboldt State University at Arcata, California.
She is currently President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Utah. Kathy has written family histories, genealogical and Italian research instruction, and eight volumes on American Prisoner of War Camps since 1986. Kathy speaks locally and internationally on a variety of topics since 1993, including at RootsTech, National Genealogical Society, the Foundation of Eastern European Family History Studies (FEEFHS), and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). Kathy’s research takes her on-site to Italy (including the Vatican Secret Archives since 2015), Sicily, Greece, the United Kingdom, and France as well as close to home in the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. Her extensive websites are at www.gentracer.com for genealogy
and www.gentracer.org for military research and cemeteries.
COUNTDOWN TO THE MEETING:
Days Hours Minutes Seconds
Italian Interest Group (IIG) of the Eastside Genealogical Society P.O. Box 374
Bellevue, WA 98009-0374

Let’s Talk About: Christmas Trees

by Donna Phillips

One of the most recognizable symbols of the holiday season is the Christmas tree. They can be seen in homes, public spaces and many prominent locations everywhere during December. 

Did you know that most Christmas trees that we buy from those corner lots are raised on tree farms? Christmas trees are an agricultural product with roughly a million acres dedicated to tree farming. The top tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington. 

Did you know that approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. every year? 

Did you realize it can take as long as 15 years to grow a typical tree?

Did you know that the Germans are credited with bringing the first Christmas trees into the home and decorating them in the spirit of Christmas. The first recorded reference dates back to the 16th century.

Did you guess that the most common Christmas tree species are balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine. (Why some capitalized and some not??) 

Why not be different this year and have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree? You could find a little scraggy pine most anywhere and “rescue” it from oblivion. It’s one of my favorites!

Italian Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society No December Meeting

by Charles Hansen
Italian Interest Group (IIG) NO DECEMBER MEETING
Tanti auguri di buone feste!
(Best wishes for happy holidays!)
Save the Date
DATE:
TIME:
 January 17, 2026
1:30 PM (PT)
COUNTDOWN TO THE MEETING:
Days Hours Minutes Seconds
Italian Interest Group (IIG) of theEastside Genealogical Society P.O. Box 374
Bellevue, WA 98009-0374

Longview Family Search Center

by Charles Hansen

Hello – this is Michael and Barbara Berry – we are Directors of the Family Search Center located in Longview within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We are actively looking for volunteers to come and help individuals interested in doing Family History work.  Although we are located within the church ALL PEOPLE interested in Family History are welcome.  In fact we could use additional volunteers from varying backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. We feel diversity is really important as we try to reach out to all peoples.  

We simply want to share this valuable resource and have an opportunity to help people who may be struggling in finding resources, reference documents and navigating various softwares.  We find that many people would like to do Family History work, but don’t know where to start.  Family Search accounts are FREE and consultants offer a wide array of skills associated with gathering and verifying accurate information.  Our current volunteers are wonderful, welcoming and friendly.  We staff the center on Sundays from 1:30 pm to 3pm, Tuesdays from 10 am to 1pm and 6:30 pm to 9pm.  Even just one shift a month would provide considerable help, given we like to have at least 3 volunteers to every shift, both for adequate coverage and safety.  Our center offers 9 computers, a printer and scanner and a wealth of seasoned ideas for gathering information across various sites.  

We would LOVE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS and hope you might want to join our team.  

Give us a call – Mike 406-596-2008 and we would gladly meet you at the center and discover how you could become a part of our team.

Our best,

Michael and Barbara Berry

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society United Empire Loyalists

by Charles Hansen

Do you have colonial New England roots and Canadian cousins, or vice versa? In 2026 our nation celebrates its 250th birthday. SVGS begins our 2026 Winter Speakers Series by recognizing that not all Colonists supported the Patriot cause. Some Colonists were Loyalists who supported the King, and many families had relatives on opposing sides. Join SVGS Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1pm at the Burlington Public Library for “United Empire Loyalists” the Colonists loyal to the Kingwith Brian McConnell. Brian is a Canadian Author, Genealogist and Historian. Come learn about the Colonists that opposed the American Revolution and resettled north of the border in Canada.  Can’t make it to the Burlington Library, request a zoom link by emailing info@skagitvalleygenealogy.org.

Let’s Talk About: Don’t Overlook Collateral Research!

by Donna Phillips

To me, this candle-lighted village epitomizes the concept of collateral research. Everybody in the village knows everybody and most of them are related.

Pamela Bell Dallas gave a super presentation to EWGS in October, 2025. She defined Collateral Research as a common term in genealogy, meaning investigating relatives who are not direct line ancestors….. like aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings …… to hopefully find information about a direct ancestor.

“Why do this?” she asked. “To help us over come so-called brick walls by finding the answers and information you’ve been seeking “forever.” 

Dallas explained that people can be tied together by blood, circumstances, law, emotions, common beliefs and common experiences. Two little girls of the same age formed a bond that lasted a lifetime even though they were cousins with different parents and surnames. “The strongest family ties are between women,” Dallas quipped. 

Rather than turn this bit into a 20″ long column, I’ll refer you to Grandma Google. Ask her “how to do collateral research” and you’ll have enough hits to occupy a full day of your time.

I want to share my story: While researching James, the youngest son born in the early 1800s, I concentrated on him like most all beginners do. WELL.  The oldest child, a daughter, born 20 years before James, never married but cared for siblings and parents all her life. She joined DAR and was very proud of her ancestry. Her obituary reflected this passion for it was inches long listing all her ancestors! Which of course, were James’ ancestors too. DUH on me and please learn from my silliness. 

Looking for a Last-Minute Gift?

by Roxanne Lowe

If your ancestor lived in the Washington Territory before it became the nation’s 42nd state on November 11, 1889, you may be eligible for a Washington Pioneer certificate. Or if your ancestors arrived a little later — before December 31, 1900 — you can get a First Citizen certificate. What a great gift for yourself and your family members!

We began the Washington State Centennial Pioneer Certificate Program in 1984 in anticipation of the state’s centennial admission to the union in 1889. The initial certificates were issued to applicants who could prove their ancestors were in Washington Territory on or before November 11, 1889. Those descendants’ names, almost 18,000, were printed in a two-volume set of books entitled “Washington Pioneers” in 1992. A third volume, published in 1993, included Pioneers and First Citizens (those in the state on or before December 31, 1900). The three original volumes are out of print, but an index is available here. WSGS members have access to family lineages in the Members’ Only section of the website.

firstcitizen

Pioneer and First Citizen Certificates are still being issued, although they are published only on the WSGS website at this time. If you can prove your ancestor was in Washington prior to November 11, 1889, you may be eligible to purchase a Pioneer Certificate. If your ancestor was in Washington on or before December 31, 1900, you may be eligible for a First Citizen Certificate. More information, including resources to prove residency, is available in the Pioneer and First Citizen Program brochure. An application and instructions are available here.

Let’s Talk About: Go Zags

by Donna Phillips

How many ardent Zags fans known where the name Gonzaga originated? I did not, nor did my rapt-BB-fan-son-in-law. 

“Gonzaga was named for Aloysius Gonzaga who was born in the castle of Castiglione on March 9, 1568. As a youth, and often with his father, he traveled widely in Italy and Spain. In 1581 he formed the resolution of becoming a Jesuit, renouncing his noble family’s wealth in favor of his brother (to their father’s dismay). Before the end of his novitiate, he passed a brilliant public act in philosophy…… when he was in Spain he distinguished himself in philosophy. 

“In 1591, while in Italy, a famine and pestilence broke out. Though in delicate health, he devoted himself to the care of the sick and while serving others he himself fell ill in early March.

“Aloysius Gonzaga died on June 21, 1591.”

It was Father Joseph Cataldo who, in 1887, was the founder of the school in Spokane, named the school after his fellow Italian saint. St. Aloysius Gonzaga is known as the patron saint of youth.