What?: October Olympia Genealogical Society Monthly Member Meeting
When?: Thursday, Oct 14th, 7:00pm
Where?: virtual via Zoom link available on the OGS website: olygensoc.org
Why?: We all have a story and sharing with others may lead to new discoveries. Come share your family lore or maybe you have ghost story or two to share. Members and those interested in genealogy are welcome to attend. Questions about becoming a member: membership@olygensoc.org. Thank you, Mandy StahreOGS – Publicity chair
Be in the know! Receive notices for our virtual meetings, as well as the latest genealogy news and tips, by subscribing (free) to the online group at https://skcgs.groups.io
Skcgs.groups.io is the SKCGS online discussion and collaboration arena where:
we communicate and share information with each other
other than your email, you are not required to provide personal information
you can unsubscribe at any time
PROGRAM UPDATES
IMPORTANT: Be sure to check meeting invitations for updated Zoom meeting links this month
All meetings except the Research Group are virtual
Live transcription (captioning) is available during our Zoom meetings by request
Monday, October 11, 2021, 1:00pm – 3pm PT GG/DNA (virtual) Family Tree DNA Y & mtDNA Surname projects; locality & haplogroup projects Using Y and mt DNA testing is a team sport! Find your teams on the Family Tree DNA site and elsewhere. Family Tree DNA has specialized groups for Y and mt DNA, including haplogroup groups, and also some locality and other special groups. How can these help you with your research? How do you find, join, and get help from them? Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy for meeting link, meeting reminders and discussion.
Friday, October 15, 2021, 1:00pm – 3pm PT Research Group (in-person) For SKCGS members Kent Family History Center 12817 SE 256th St. Kent Seating is limited RSVP REQUIRED to Winona at w.laird@skcgs.org
Saturday, October 16, 2021, 9:30am PT social time; 10:00am – 11:30am PT program SKCGS General Meeting (virtual) Thomas McEntee presents “You Can Do This, Photo Organizing Preservation”
Are you sitting on a pile of old family photographs and wondering what is the best way to preserve them? What about boxes of family vacation slides, photo negatives or home movies? As more and more Baby Boomers take on the task of organizing family history materials, we’re uncertain about the best way to preserve these memories. And an over-abundance of technology doesn’t help! Participants will learn the best ways to organize and preserve family photos including outsourcing as well as the DIY approach. Starting with quick and easy inventory and organizing tips, we’ll move on to creating a strategic plan to finally get this photo project done! Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. NOTE: Session will be recorded and available to SKCGS Members for playback in the Members Only section on our website a week or so after the event. Interested in becoming a member? More info at http://skcgs.org/membership.
Sunday, October 24, 2021, 11:00am – 1pm PT SKCGS/BDHS present Janice Lovelace “Black Miners in the West” (virtual) South King County Genealogical Society hosts Janice Lovelace presenting “Black Miners in the West” to the Black Diamond Historical Society Annual Meeting in Black Diamond. They invited historians and genealogists alike to learn the little-known story of the Black families who moved west to mine coal and other minerals. Register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0rde2srzwjEtZ3Wa1B8mt7xbaaYvQhhr2y After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Monday, October 25, 2021, 1pm – 3pm PT
Genealogy Chat (virtual)
Meet up and chat about genealogy subjects and topics. We have no agenda; we just like one another! Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Society for meeting link, discussion and meeting reminders.
Friday, November 5, 2021, 12:30pm-2:30pm PT German Interest Group (EGS) (virtual) The topic will be “Learning about my Oswald and Rendtorff Ancestors.” Speaker Janice Leitzke highlights discoveries made while researching the German branch of her family tree. Visitors are always welcome and can request an invitation via Contact tab on the website no later than 2 days prior to the meeting: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/
Saturday, November 6, 2021, 10:00am PT Family Tree Maker Users Group (virtual) Question & Answer. Each month, we will learn about using the features of FTM. Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG for meeting link, meeting reminders and discussion.
———-
MEMBERSHIP: We welcome guests to our meetings and special interest groups, which are free. Naturally we hope that visitors will want to become members. Support like yours helps us to educate and engage with our community to foster interest in family and local history. Regarding our programs, even if and when we can meet again in person, we will continue with some virtual programs. You can find more information about membership at our website at http://skcgs.org/membership.
“You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.” –Maya Angelou
Saturday, October 16, 2021 Online, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (Pacific Time) Click here to register SGS Members $40, Everyone else $55 Our speaker, Ari Wilkins, is a genealogist and librarian from Texas with “boots on the ground” experience. Her knowledge of records of the south and of genealogical methodology in general is extraordinary. Besides all that, she is a wonderful speaker. Her topics are important for all genealogists, especially those with ancestors in the south. Come and learn something new! Seminar Topics Black and White Southern Families in Southern Plantation Records Learn about the genealogical value of the Southern Antebellum Plantation Records – how they are organized, how to search the collection, and apply it towards your genealogical research. The case studies will highlight the personal documents of a white Southern family and the indirect documentation of an African American family. Mysterious Relatives Many researchers encounter mysterious persons living in the household of a relative; or a letter signed by an unknown ‘cousin.’ As a researcher, it is important to investigate and understand the relationship between these strangers and your person of interest. This lecture will discuss cluster research methodology. Reconstructing Communities Using Sanborn Maps, Census Records, and City Directories Recreating neighborhoods can provide rich and insightful details about an ancestor’s life and surroundings. This lecture will demonstrate ways to build a map using Sanborn Fire insurance maps, census records, and city directories in Google Maps.
Friends of Friends: Quakers and African American Communities Well-known for their anti-slavery views, Quakers began to migrate to the slave-free territories in the 19th century. As they migrated out of the South, Quakers emancipated and traveled with their newly freed slaves. Once settled, the sect continued their abolitionist cause by supporting the Underground Railroad – transporting runaway slaves to free states. In turn, free blacks established their own settlements, while still maintaining ties with the Quaker community. Meet the Speaker Ari Wilkins is a graduate of Louisiana State University. She has been actively researching family history since 1998, specializing in African American research. She is a genealogist and library associate at Dallas Public Library, where she provides genealogy-programming education. She worked with the esteemed genealogist, Dr. James Rose, on his project, “Generations: The WPA Ex-Slave Narrative Database.” Ari has spoken nationally at the National Genealogical Society, Federation of Genealogical Societies, RootsTech, Texas State Genealogical Society, Ohio Genealogical Society, the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, American Library Association, and a multitude of local societies. Learn about Ari’s work with Black Genesis.
Building Your Family Story You have decided to take on this role as Family Historian, so now what? • What to find in home treasures • Common roadblocks and how to avoid them • What to find at a research library
The October Whatcom Genealogical Society meeting will be held Monday, October 11 at 2 pm at the Pioneer Pavilion at 2007 Cherry Street in Ferndale, WA. The featured speaker will be Diana Elder, professional genealogist, podcast host, lecturer and author of “Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide”. Her topic will be Make Progress in Your Genealogy Research: Learn to Research Like A Pro. We look forward to seeing everyone in person. We follow the Covid guidelines for in-person meetings. Don’t forget your mask!
Join the Bainbridge Island Genealogy Society (BIGS) Monthly Program on Friday, October 15, 2021, 10AM-Noon, on Zoom, when Nicka Sewell-Smith presents “Case Studies in Gray: Identifying Shared Ancestries Through DNA and Genealogy.”
If you’ve ever identified a group shared of DNA matches, but were stumped on how you were all related, this presentation is for you. Learn how to let DNA take the lead in determining who and where to search to uncover the group’s most recent common ancestor.
Nicka Smith is a professional photographer, speaker, host, consultant, and documentarian with more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist. She has extensive experience in African genealogy, and reverse genealogy, and is expert in genealogical research in the Northeastern Louisiana area, and in researching enslaved communities.
It’s free, and the public is most welcome! Pick up your Zoom link at our website, http://www.bigenealogy.org under “Events.”
Tell the Story – Unity Through Historical Truth Discovering, preserving, and presenting the stories of Blacks in Utah since 1822 - Presented by Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation and the Utah Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society - Hosted by the University of Utah Black Cultural Center and Fort Douglas Military Museum - Sponsored by Utah Dept. of Heritage and Arts – Thrive 125 - In partnership with Project Success Coalition, Brigham City Museum, Union Station Museums, Mormon History Association, and Utah Humanities DAY OF REMEMBRANCE CELEBRATION Friday, October 8, 2021, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Fort Douglas Post Theatre, The University of Utah 245 Fort Douglas Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84113 BLACK HISTORY CONFERENCE Saturday, October 9, 2021, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Fort Douglas Military Museum Cannon Yard – Opening Ceremonies and Museum Tour 12:30 PM – 6 PM – UofU Guest House – Granite Ballroom & Black Cultural Center – Lectures and presentations *** THIS IS A HYBRID LIVE AND VIRTUAL EVENT * Register Here Now
Date of Press Release: September 23, 2021 Critical Date: October 8-9, 2021
Contact: Robert Burch, Executive Director (404) 399-9934 (mobile) admin@semahadithi.org
Announcing the 2021 Annual Day of Remembrance Celebration and Black History Conference SALT LAKE CITY, UT — The Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation and the Utah Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society are excited to announce the programming for this year’s Day of Remembrance Celebration and Black History Conference. The events will take place on October 8-9, hosted by the University of Utah Black Cultural Center and the Fort Douglas Military Museum. The theme of this year’s conference is Tell the Story: Unity Through Historical Truth. The Day of Remembrance Celebration will take place on Friday, October 8th from 5-8 pm at the Fort Douglas Post Theatre. The conference will run from 9 am-6 pm on October 9th at Fort Douglas Military Museum and University of Utah Guest House. Topics for this year’s sessions highlight some of the active working groups involved in Sema Hadithi Foundation’s research, such as the Buffalo Soldiers, black women, lynchings and the community remembrance project, and the Black church. Museum Director Beau Burgess will also lead a tour of the Museum and Fort. “This is an opportunity for the public to gather to learn about the amazing research that is being done into the untold Black stories of Utah,” said Robert Burch, Executive Director and co-founder of Sema Hadithi Foundation. “Our incredible team of professional and amateur researchers work hard all year to discover these stories. This is their chance to share the work they devote their time to. We can’t wait to bring everyone together to “tell the story” during this weekend of programming.” Registration is free, thanks in part to a generous sponsorship by the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement’s Thrive 125 project. The program is presented in partnership with Project Success Coalition, Brigham City Museums, Union Station Museums, Mormon History Association, Preservation Strategies, and Utah Humanities. To register or to learn more about the programming, visit semahadithi.org/events. Corporate sponsorships are welcomed as well as individual contributions to support the conference and the work of the foundation. Please contact Kirk Huffaker, Board Managing Director, at kirk@kirkhuffaker.com with your interest. # # # Founded in 2020, the mission of Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation strives to “tell the story” of African-ancestored history, heritage, and culture by researching, preserving and disseminating information throughout the community. To support the work of the Sema Hadithi Foundation, you can donate here. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/semahadithifoundation-1 # # # To learn more about how you can contribute to research or donate to support one of the many great research projects we have underway or planned visit the future projects page here. https://www.semahadithi.org/future-projects
If your local genealogy society needs financial assistance for a special project or purchase, consider applying for a WSGS Supportive Grant. Applications are being accepted through October 31, 2021.
The grants, up to $250 each, are designed to fill a need or support a special project of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Ideas are limited only by societies’ creativity. Some ideas include:
Equipment, such as video camera, microphone, tripod, mixing board, or screen, as your society moves to hybrid meetings.
Purchase of furniture, equipment, books, magazines or other publications/ subscriptions for an existing or new society library.
Locating, inventorying, restoring and/or preserving a local cemetery.
Hosting a special event, presentation, or workshop.
Purchasing genealogical-related software, scanner, projector, peripherals or other equipment or technology.
Developing a project serving special populations, e.g. senior citizens, children/teens, tribal members, ethnic organizations, etc..
Restoring and/or preservation of photos or original documents.
Identifying and unifying old photos, Bibles, quilts, letters or other significant memorabilia with family members, museums, or other good homes.
Creation of a website, blog or other communication tool.
Publication of local history or narratives.
The awards do not have to be repaid — they’re yours to support worthy projects. Two grants will be awarded in 2021.
The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. There is also additional guidance on the program. For more information, visit our website at http://www.wasgs.org/cpage.php?pt=49.
Questions should be directed to Info@wasgs.org. Please note “Awards” in the Subject Line.
Virginia “Ginny” Majewski has announced she will not seek another term as president of the Washington State Genealogical Society. President since January 2017, Ginny feels it’s time to pass the gavel to someone else.
In a recent interview, Ginny was asked her proudest accomplishments in her five-year tenure. She replied:
Finding ways to help genealogical societies in Washington State through these difficult times. I am very proud of the financial support we provided to all of the genealogy societies during the Covid epidemic. Although WSGS could not give much to each society, in total we distributed over $10,000 to 40+ societies. I would like to think it helped keep some of our societies alive.
Also, I was honored to work with DSHS and with the IJGS and FGS to keep access to vital records in Washington State open for genealogists. Although we did not get everything we wanted, we were able to maintain access rather than have vital records be totally closed for 50-100 years. That process took over a year of conference calls and legislative interactions, but was worthwhile in the long run.
When asked where she hoped WSGS would go in the future, she expressed her optimism:
WSGS has found its niche. We are here to help genealogical societies and be a conduit for genealogical information. My hope for the future is that WSGS will be THE go-to place when searching for genealogical resources, information and activities in Washington State. I would like to see our website become more interactive and our blog have more contributions and highlight society events. I would also love to see us find a way to honor our wonderful society volunteers again.
If you think Ginny is going to end her presidency quietly, you’re wrong. Her parting comment was “I am looking forward to announcing WSGS’s plans for honoring our Pioneer ancestors next month.” We’re looking forward to that!
If you’d like to read more about Ginny, check out this “Meet the Board” article.
The WSGS Board is looking for members to serve on a nominating committee. If you’re interested in this very important short-term opportunity, please email the Board at Info@wasgs.org and type “Nominating Committee” in the subject line.
Navigating Your Way Through FamilySearch With Cyndi Ingle (Cyndislist.com) “FamilySearch is so much more than just a family tree hosting platform. FamilySearch is a massive website that is made up of dozens and dozens of research tools. The site includes tools for learning and for reference. It is home to the world’s largest digitized collection of records and sources for our research. And all of this is free for everyone to use. We will explore each of the features that FamilySearch offers and we will hone in on how to dig through the site from a variety of entry points to find what we need.”
Our mailing address is: Heritage Quest Research LIbrary1007 Main St Sumner, WA 98390-1412 Add us to your address book
You are free to copy articles to any non-commercial web site or message board or printed publication you wish. Don’t bother to ask permission, just do it.
“You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.”
Ari Wilkins is a graduate of Louisiana State University. She has been actively researching family history since 1998, specializing in African American research. She is a genealogist and library associate at 
Check the 
