TIP OF THE WEEK – SALT LAKE TRIBUNE ONLINE 133 YEARS OF THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE are now keyword searchable and available to the the public online thanks to a partnership between the University of Utah – J. Willard Marriott Library, Newspapers.com, a division of Ancestry, and The Salt Lake Tribune. The site now covers the years 1871-2004 of the Salt Lake Tribune. There are over 6.7 million pages on this site and another 2 million pages will come online in the next two to three years.
The Tribune issues can be accessed through Utah Digital Newspapers, a collaborative project based at the J. Willard Marriott Library since 2001. Powerful searching options allow users to find terms in combinations or terms that appear in proximity to one another. Check out “How to Use Advanced Search” help here: https://digitalnewspapers.org/help/search_results
WRITING CONTEST WINNERS Congratulations to the winners of last fall’s “They Survived” writing contest!
Thank you to all who submitted pieces relating stories of challenging times, perseverance, and survival. Three submissions in particular stood out to our judges and they will be showcased in the upcoming Journal.
First place goes to Scott Kampen with his story about the Children’s Blizzard of 1888 in Dakota Territory. Scott will receive free entry to the SGS seminar of his choice as his prize.
The second place piece is by Julia Marconi, whose story includes the sinking of the SS Eastland in the Chicago River on July 24, 1915. Julia will receive a renewal membership to SGS.
And third place goes to Edward Swierczewski, Jr. who presents his family lines as seen through the lens of survivorship. Edward will receive a copy of “Walking with Your Ancestors” by Melinda Kashuba.
We hope these works will inspire and encourage you to sharpen your own pencils and get writing!
THE 1890 SEATTLE CENSUS SUBSTITUTE In the Fall of 2011, SGS formed a coordinating committee headed by member Chuck Richards to investigate the viability of producing an 1890 US Census substitute for the Seattle area. After several ups and downs, and the efforts of many SGS members, this database is now available on the SGS website. SGS is still working on a online searchable interface for this data, but for now it can be accessed via a research request; the same way you place a research request for the King County Court Cases Index (KC3I) and VFW members card databases. On the SGS website home page’s left-side menu, click on “Research and Databases”. Then you will see “Research Services” in the sub-menu that drops down; click on that “Research Services. Our plan is to have this database’s search function operational for our membership within the next few months. This census substitute is the result of many hours of work by many SGS volunteers. The initial project committee was chaired by Chuck Richards and included Chuck Richards, Jackie Lawson, Lynn Magnuson, Sue Melville, Mary Kircher Roddy, and Jan Walker. Over the many years it took to compile this dataset and prepare it for use, the following individuals helped in the effort: Dona Bubelis, Bruce Finlayson, Lyndall Foulds, Chris Hanley, Tina Hollingsworth, Kate Johnston, Kerri Keil, Michelle Khuon, JoAnne King, Donna Koerker, Marilyn McGuire, Virgil Morgan, Nancy C. Parks, Emily Phillips, Winifred Price, Ginny Sommarstrom, Judy Tomassene, Doug Whalley, Clarice Wilson, Charlotte Wixon, and Ann Wright.
We thank all of them for their efforts.
SGS MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE The next SGS Membership Meeting will take place Saturday, June 11, 2022, at 12:30 PM. This will be a virtual meeting via Zoom. The results of the upcoming SGS election will be announced. The Second Saturday presentation by Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal will follow at 1:00 PM.
Preregistration is required. After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. You will also receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. One registration will work for both the membership meeting and the Second Saturday presentation.
SAVE THE DATE
Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, 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.
On Monday, May 9, 2022, “JRI-Poland: Exploring Your Roots in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian Empires” will be presented by Robinn Magid & Howard Zakai. The meeting will open at 6:30 pm for networking. The presentation will start at 7:00 pm. Registration is required.
Beginning in May, our library will be open on Wednesday, too.
New Hours : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658Masks are recommended inside our library at the Good Shepherd Center. Due to COVID the events listed below continue to be virtual, online via Zoom.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 posted are Pacific time unless otherwise noted. Saturday, Apr 30, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:30 pm, DNA SIG with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens.To participate you must be on the DNA SIG email list. Contact Cary at sgsdnasig@gmail.com to join.
Sunday, May 1, 2022, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens.To participate you must be on the DNA SIG email list. Contact Cary at sgsdnasig@gmail.com to join.
Wednesday, May 4, 2022, 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, May 7, 2022, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch Interest Group with Lou Daly (Virtual), Discover the many ways to use FamilySearch. At each meeting a different aspect of the website will be featured. There will be time for Q & A. Want to be included on the mail listing? Email Lou: loudaly@nwlink.com
Monday, May 9, 2022, 7:00 pm -8:30 pm, Write It Up SIG (Virtual), This new group will discuss and share writing projects, resources, and ideas. Group contact is Alaine Keisling.
Tuesday, May 10, 2022, 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.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 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.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC Computer Interest Group (Virtual), Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske for users of MAC (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software. Co-chairs Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick. You must be on the MAC SIG email list to join the meeting. Email macusersig@seagensoc.org to be included on the list.
Saturday, May 14, 2022, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm. Second Saturday: Giving Our Female Ancestors a Voice, with Stephanie O’Connell. The absence of women in historical records often makes our research challenging. Using social history to create rich biographical sketches allows us to bring our female ancestors out of the shadows of the law or their husbands. This presentation offers a narrative lineage set in 19th century Ireland, England, and the U.S., which uses historical context to bring the unique stories of women to life. Please register in advance.
Sunday, May 15, 2022, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm, Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New, Jill Morelli is the host. Visit the SGS website Calendar for details and updates. Please register in advance. Topic will be Orphan Train Rides.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022, 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, May 21, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm, Irish SIG is back! With Susan McKee and Jim Ryan. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. Saturday, May 21, 2022, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German SIG is back! With Carolyn Schott. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information.
Sunday, May 22, 2022, 1:00 pm, Japanese American SIG, with Caitlin Oiye Coon. This is one of our new SIGs. Please sign up if you would like to attend; send an email to family.history@densho.org
Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 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.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 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.
Autosomal DNA Matches You have a beginning understanding of DNA terminology and what it all means. You have taken a look at the possible tools that you can use to do your DNA testing and what they each can do for you. Maybe you have taken the next step to actually get tested and you are beginning to see matches in your DNA.
Now what? What can you learn from the matches? What can you do to learn? Take Judy’s class and find out!
Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00 – 12:00 PM zoom Cost: $20 members $25 non-members Come in to the library or sign up at hqrl.com or call 253-863-1806 After you have signed up, be sure to check your spam or promotions folder if you do not receive your link to the zoom meeting.
Members must log into the member page and then proceed to the hqrl store in order to obtain the member discount.
Are you proud of the landmarks and landscapes in your area? We want to highlight different areas of our beautiful state on our Blog banner.
Elaine Anderson of Hoquiam and a member of the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society sure is proud of her area. An amateur, but talented, photographer, Elaine submitted six photos she snapped in Grays Harbor County. Her photos include:
Boat shop and Beacon Hill from a strategic point in Hoquiam
Washaway Beach (North Cove near Grayland) looking South
A barn in the Quinault Valley
The surf at Point Brown, Ocean Shores
A drive through the scenic Quinault Rain Forest
Overlooking the Wynoochee Valley
Let us highlight your scenic photos of your city or county on the WSGS Blog. It’s easy — just submit 4 – 6 photos of your city or county (horizontal photos are best).
Guidelines for the photos are few: •Landscapes, landmarks, and scenery photos are preferred. •Photo will be cropped to 1100 x 250 pixels, so keep that in mind. If in doubt, send it to us & we’ll figure it out. •Final decisions on suitable photos will be made by the WSGS Blog Team.
To submit your photos, please email the images (jpg only, please); what, where, when, and by whom the photos were taken to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org.
Photographing Family Heirlooms, Artifacts, Photos and Documents
Saturday, April 30, 2022 – 10 am-noon
Clark County Genealogical Society and Library
Local technology expert Steve Young’s jam-packed two-hour class will instruct you in the use of digital SLR cameras. Bring your own DSLR camera and learn how to incorporate a lightbox when photographing family heirlooms, artifacts, photos and other documents. He will touch on technical aspects of lighting and exposure for best results and will also suggest some best practices when using thumb drives, USB cards and readers to move images to your computer. Steve will also provide suggestions for using these images to connect with your relatives by creating documents or through social media. To reserve a place in the class, call the Clark County Genealogical Society and Library at 360-750-5688, sign up at the CCGS library, or send an email to education@ccgswa.org. To reserve a place in the class, call the Clark County Genealogical Society and Library at 360-750-5688, sign up at the library, or send an email to education@ccgswa.org. Fee: $15/members; $20/non-members.
Getting Started Tracing Your Family Tree
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 – 10 am-noon
Clark County Genealogical Society and Library
Local genealogist Brian Runyan will get you started researching your family tree. Topics include collecting information from the family, family group sheets, pedigree charts and genealogy database program. Start your research with the right tips and techniques. To reserve a place in the class, call the Clark County Genealogical Society and Library at 360-750-5688, sign up at the library, or send an email to education@ccgswa.org. This introductory class is free.
Quickly Organize Your DNA Matches with the Leeds Method Webinar
Wednesday, May 4, 2022: 11 am-12:30 pm
Clark County Genealogical Society and Library
When you take an autosomal DNA test, you get a list of people who share DNA with you from common ancestors. Genealogist Diane Leeds uses “Shared Matching” to create colorful groups of these matches. Each group is likely related to you through one part of your family, and many people get four groups based on their four grandparent lines. This method is based on DNA, not trees, so it is also often effective in cases of unknown parentage. This free Legacy Family Tree Webinar presentation will help you create a Leeds Method chart, understand your results, and use that chart to learn more about your family tree.
There’s Gold in Them Thar Probate Records
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 – 10 am-noon
Clark County Genealogical Society and Library
Local genealogist Dale Deatherage will teach about the types of documents found in probate files, where they can be found, and why they should be an important part of genealogy research. Dale has been working on family history for nearly 20 years. He has been especially interested in a fourth great grandfather who fought in the Black Hawk War. Dale has attended numerous national institutes and enjoys sharing knowledge learned in these learning situations. To reserve a place in the class, call the Clark County Genealogical Society and Library at 360-750-5688, sign up at the library, or send an email to education@ccgswa.org. Fee: $15/members; $20/non-members
Indirect Evidence – A Case Study Webinar
Wednesday, May 18, 2022: 11 am-12:30 pm
Clark County Genealogical Society and Library
This Connecticut-based, indirect evidence case study will highlight techniques for researching a woman whose maiden name is known, but her parents are unknown due to deficiencies in the vital records. In this free Legacy Family Tree webinar, techniques will be demonstrated that rely on forming hypotheses and gathering evidence to test those hypotheses.Thorough research of neighbors and associates (the FAN principle) will yield enough evidence to tie this woman back into her family. Records used include pre-1850 census records, deeds, probate, church, and court. Death records of family members provide the final clues that tie them all together.
Accessing Genealogically Relevant Materials In Your Bunny Slippers
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 – 10 am-noon
Clark County Genealogical Society and Library
articles and other non-vital record materials without leaving home. Genealogist Brian Runyan will provide his tips for some of the many ways of getting the right content in front of your eyes.To reserve a place in the class, call the Clark County Genealogical Society and Library at 360-750-5688, sign up at the library, or send an email to education@ccgswa.org. Fee: $15/members; $20/non-members.
Understanding the History of the U.S. Census Webinar
Wednesday, May 25, 2022: 11 am-12:30 pm
Clark County Genealogical Society and Library
Just who was it that created the documents genealogists typically turn to first? What rules did they follow? How long did they have to complete their job? How big is an enumeration district? These questions, and more, probably occur to anyone doing extensive research in the U.S. Census reports. This free Legacy Family Tree webinar reviews the staffing, training, search for accuracy, penalties for non-cooperation, and bureaucracy of the U.S. Census from 1790 through 1950.
Just a little reminder to local societies: your nominations are almost due for the Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Team and President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement awards. The deadline to send your nominations to Info@wasgs.org is Sunday, May 1, 2022. The forms are available here.
For more information about these awards, check out the Recognition page of the website or the Blog posts on March 29, 2022 (Outstanding Volunteer and Outstanding Team) and March 30, 2022 (President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement).
** Every coin has two sides. The front is called “heads” and, from early Roman times, usually depicts a country’s head of state. The back is called “tails,” a term possibly originating from the British ten pence depicting the raised tail of a heraldic lion. (Our Daily Bread, April 2020)
** In 1787, Benjamin Franklin designed America’s first penny, often referred to as the Fugio cent. Fugio, Latin for “fly,” was stamped on the coin next to an elaborate sundial with a shining sun overhead. The ever-pithy and quick-to-quip Franklin was sending the message that time flies.” (Boyd Matteson, Deseret News)
**Did you realize that thanks to DNA, they are still identifying veterans’ remains after 80 years?? William Eugene Blanchard, age 24, serving on the U.S.S. Oklahoma, went down with his ship on December 7, 1941, in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Once remains were found, the soldier’s son provided DNA samples which identified him. Blanchard had been buried in the National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu but will be reinterred in Tennessee. I found this a heart-warming story. Wonder if it would work on Civil War remains???
** Vonnie’s ring. That’s what I call this next photo. Vonnie is a dear friend living here in Spokane. She has 6 children and many grandchildren. She also has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. During a lunch together recently, she was talking about all she was going to do “before it’s too late to think of what to do.” She showed me this photo of her mom’s wedding ring set. Their wedding day and time is written in the lid of the box. Vonnie is giving this NOW to her eldest daughter. Giving it NOW while she can still enjoy the giving.
Writers’ Group (in person special interest group) When: Wednesday, May 4, 2022 Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM Where: 1901 S 12th Avenue, Union Gap, Washington (509-248-1328)
YVGS General Meeting (in person) When: Saturday, May 7, 2022 Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Where: 1901 S 12th Ave, Union Gap, Washington (509-248-1328)
Program – Foreign Census Records Presenter – Kathleen Sizer
You have crossed the pond. Now what? Come learn about foreign census records. Not all countries took censuses and you don’t want to waste time looking for records that don’t exist. Come learn what is available and how to find the census records. Handouts of sources will be available.
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