Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

 HAPPY NEW YEAR AT SGS

  Start out 2021 on the right foot, don’t miss the first Second Saturday Series of the new year, on Saturday, January 9, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.   

In this presentation, Carolyn Schott, will be following  the footsteps of the Billigmeier family, who left the Pfalz region after the “Year Without a Summer” to immigrate to Russia in search of a better life. After years of peaceful prosperity in the Beresan (Odessa) area, the fate of two branches of the family diverged. One branch went to Bessarabia and then on to homestead in North Dakota. The branch that remained in the Odessa region had their farms seized and collectivized, suffered during the famine genocide, and finally faced arrest and execution. Some family members were exiled to Kyrgyzstan.

The presentation blends historical events and the story of a specific family. It will also review the documents that were used to re-create the lives of this family, from church records. to local histories, to copies of KGB/NKVD files.

Carolyn Schott has researched her German ancestors for 20 years. She’s a founder of the Black Sea German Research Community, a former board member of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society, and author of the book, “Visiting Your Ancestral Town.”  

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY
  As some of you may have heard, the owner of the company that hosts our SGS website, EasyNetSites.com (ENS), has run into legal problems. The result is that ENS will only be hosting websites through the end of June 2021 (at best).  Our Webmaster, Ann Wright, has formed a small team to identify a new host and plan a transition of our website to the new host. If you, or someone you know, has experience with current website technology and would be interested in consulting on this effort, please contact Ann at webmaster@seagensoc.org.

David Rimmer,
Director of Technology

SAVE THE DATE“A Post-Holocaust Genealogical and Family History Journey:
From the USA to Ukraine”, Jewish  Genealogical Society of Washington State,
Bellevue, WA
Monday, January 11, 2021 
6:00 PM PST

Notice the time is earlier than normal. Visit their website for final info and to get the meeting id. 
https://www.jgsws.org

RootsTech Connect 2021 (Virtual),
hosted by FamilySearch International
February 25-27, 2021

This 2021 virtual conference is free. They do ask that you register. Something for everyone, no matter your age or experience:

  • Genealogy Classes
  • Food and Cultural Demonstrations
  • Mind-break Activities, Exercise and Relaxation
  • Travel and World Heritage 

Visit the website for more info and registration. 
http://www.rootstech.org/?lang=eng
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

* In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed until further notice and SGS in-person events have been replaced with online events.
** Go to the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links and for any last minute updates or changes to the schedule.  


Saturday, Jan 2, 2021,  10:15 am – 12:15 pm, FamilySearch Interest Group with Lou Daly, Discover the many ways to use Family Tree and FamilySearch. At each meeting a different aspect of the website will be featured. There will be time for Q & A.  Want to join the mailing list? Email Lou: loudaly@nwlink.com

Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, 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, Jan 9, 2021,  10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Maker Users Group, Learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker 2017 by Software MacKiev™ . Want to join this SIG? Email operations@seagensoc.org. Chaired by Rob Sexton.
Saturday, Jan 9, 2021,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Second Saturday Series:”From Church Archives to KBG”, presenter will be Carolyn Schott founder of the Black Sea German Research Community 

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group, chaired by Karen Knudson, Share information and discuss Scandinavian ancestral research.

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021, 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 welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link. 


Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, 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, Jan 13, 2021, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC Computer Interest Group (Virtual),  Chaired by Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick, these meetings address topics and resources helpful for those using MacIntosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion program in their genealogy research. The link to logon will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. People wishing to attend should email dhettrick@earthlink.net to be added to the mailing list.  

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, 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, Jan 26, 2021, 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 welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link. 

Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, 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, Jan 30, 2021,  10:00 am – 12:30 pm, SGS DNA Interest Group workshop , will be meeting via Zoom.To be included you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join. Link to be sent to the email group prior to the meeting along with the pdf handout.

MyHeritage Year in Review

by Charles Hansen

Throughout an exceedingly difficult year, family history became an increasingly important outlet for people and helped them remain connected to their loved ones. At MyHeritage we worked hard to fill that need by developing new features, adding historical records, and giving back to the community. Read more about what we did in 2020 in our year in review blog post: https://blog.myheritage.com/2020/12/2020-myheritage-year-in-review/   Please feel free to share the link to the blog post, and the following info graphic, with your followers.

2020 Year in Review

I wish you and your family the best for this coming 2021!

Happy New Year!

Daniel Horowitz
Genealogy Expert

MyHeritage Ltd., P.O.Box 50, 3 Ariel Sharon Blvd., Or Yehuda 60250, Israel 60250, Israel, +972-3-6280000

Rogue Valley Genealogical Society Civil War Classes

by Charles Hansen

Happy New Year! January 8, the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society hosts the first of two virtual classes, “Was My Ancestor in the Civil War?” Renown genealogist and speaker, Brian Rhinehart, will show participants how to discover if their ancestor participated in the Civil War. Attached is a photo of Brian. We would appreciate it if you will share this with your members, and possibly post on your website and in your newsletter.

Thank you for your support! If you need more information, please contact Pat Jenkins at 541-415-0465, or pjenkins2364@gmail.com.

Pamela Sasseen, Publicity & Public Relations

Rogue Valley Genealogical Society

psasseen1@charter.net

541-608-8091

********************************************

Do you know if your ancestor was in the Civil War?

Brian Rhinehart, graduate of Boston University’s Certificate in Genealogy Research course, and professional genealogist and speaker, is a direct descendent of six Civil War soldiers. He specializes in Civil War, and War of 1812, records at the National Archives in Washington DC. January 8, Brian will teach the first of two classes on researching Civil War records, “Was My Ancestor in the Civil War?” It is possible, as about 9% of the US population fought in the Civil War in the 1860s. In this class, Brian will share tips on how to determine if your ancestor was in the Civil War, using (mostly) free resources.

January 8, 1:30-3:00pm, $20 for non-members, $10 for members. To register for this virtual presentation, go to https://rvgslibrary.org/FormPage.asp?FormID=10. Once you’ve completed your registration, you will receive an email the day before the presentation with your Zoom link.

Happy New Year

by Charles Hansen
Postcard from my grandmother Anna Hansen’s postcard collection, the back is just addressed to Anna Hansen Sebeka Minn, but no stamp or postal cancellation, they moved to Columbus Montana just after the 1910 census so this card is probably from 1910

Happy New Year

Been an interesting year, never had to post so many seminar and meeting cancellations, but eventually we learned to have our meetings online on Zoom, Web-ex, Google and even Facebook. That allowed us to join meetings in other states without travel, motels, parking and traffic. The only bad part was we all miss meeting our friends in person. Lets hope we can get back together in 2021, but still have the ability to listen in to seminars a long way from our homes. We are learning to work together in ways we never dreamed we could so lets expand that and help all the Washington genealogical societies. I also post a lot of seminars on the WSGS Facebook Page, because it goes out immediately not once a week like the WSGS Blog, check it out.

I have been asked how am I doing by a lot of people, and I am doing fine, I like peace and quiet and do not like crowds, my favorite volunteer job was doing research in a quiet archive, and I got to do that for eight years at the county courthouse in the auditors archives. That ended when all the records were digitized and the originals were moved to the Washington State Regional Archive in Cheney Washington. They then moved the Law Library in the space that used to have the auditors records.

I am also a volunteer with Scribe and by the end of the year I will have digitized 92,000 names in 2020 and 370,000 names since they started counting, but that was many years after I had started. At first we got a 3.5 inch floppy disk and paper copies to digitize records.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society January Luncheon

by Charles Hansen

Saturday, January 9, 2021 Annual Luncheon and Officer Installation (EWGS Meetings) 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm Meeting via Zoom
We will have a “virtual” luncheon, meaning prepare your own favorite dish for lunch and why not include a fun beverage 😉 We will acknowledge past presidents and install new officers for 2021.


Janice Fritsch, PLCGS will present on the Civil War
Bio: What began as the task of completing a family tree for a family reunion turned into a lifelong passion. Over 25 years ago Janice Fritsch began her genealogical journey with her mother, sister Lynda Keenan, and her twelve year old daughter. It has been quite a journey taking her places she had not anticipated.
Her experiences include: ​
Serving as the president of the Illinois State Genealogical Society 2010-2012
Served as a board member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2011-2016
Formed “It’s Relative”, a research/lecturing business with Jane Haldeman
Certification from National Institute of Genealogical Studies in American Records & Methodology in Aug 2009
Hundreds of research road trips throughout the U.S and Ireland
Days spent in cemeteries, libraries and archives

January with South King County Genealogical Society

by Charles Hansen

Saturday, January 2, 2021, 10am-noon PT

Family Tree Maker User Group

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. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.

Monday, January 4, 2021, 1pm-3pm PT

Persons of Interest #Research Opportunity

Join us to help tackle the brick walls in your family tree! Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Research-Group for meeting link, meeting reminders and discussion. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021, 6:30pm-8:30pm PT

Board Meeting

SKCGS Board Meeting. All SKCGS members are invited to attend; only Directors may vote. Write to Board@skcgs.org for the meeting link.

Friday, January 8, 2021, 12:30pm-2:30pm PT

German Interest Group (EGS)

Topic is: “The Anabaptists and Finding My Brallier Roots in Alsace.” Speaker Paul Brallier will discuss how wars, politics and religion led to the formation of the Anabaptists and how his ancestors played a part. Visitors are always welcome. Request an invitation at least 4 days before the meeting: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/

Monday, January 11, 2021, 1pm-3pm PT

Genetic Genealogy/DNA

“How to Get Started with Your New DNA Results.”

Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy for meeting link, meeting reminders and discussion. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.

Saturday, January 16, 2021, 9:30am PT Social time, 10am-Noon Program

General Meeting & Speaker

“Armchair Mysteries Solved at Home with Old School Communication and New School Technology” presented by Patti Gillespie, B.A., M.S., of Family Lines & Stories.

Learn tips, tricks and techniques to successfully resolve ancestor mysteries using both online sites and offline sources for information.

For meeting link and meeting reminders, go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/society

This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.

Monday, January 18, 2021, 1pm-3pm PT

Technical User Group

“Google Photos for Identification of Mystery People.” Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG for meeting link, meeting reminders and discussion. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.

Monday, January 25, 2021, 1pm-3pm PT

Genealogy Chat

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. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.

Family History Fanatics Winter Virtual Conference

by Charles Hansen

We wanted to let your group know about the 3rd annual A Winter of DNA virtual conference coming up on Saturday, 30th January 2021 The past virtual conferences were very successful and had great attendance. 
Speakers will be talking about the following:

DNA & Law Enforcement – Marian Woods
GEDmatch Basics – Kitty Cooper
Tracing Ancestral Lines in the 1700s Using DNA – Tim Janzen
A Guide To Chromosome Browsers & DNA Segment Data – Michelle Leonard

The online sessions will begin at 10am Eastern Time on Saturday, 30th January 2021. Some answers to common questions that people have asked us:

1. Yes, the sessions are live. These are not pre-recorded, so if you have questions, then please ask them in the chat during any of the sessions and we’ll get them answered.

2. Yes there are door prizes. 

3. No, you don’t have to be watching the live presentations to win (although we hope you do), everyone who is registered will be eligible to win the door prizes.

4. Yes, recordings of the sessions will be available for 30 days after the virtual conference so even if you can’t make the live session, register so that you can watch the recordings.

5. Yes we use our webcams. You don’t have to watch slides all the time. You also get to see people. 

6. Yes, this event is open to anyone who wants to register.  No need to travel or even change out of your pajamas if you don’t want to.

As with past events there will be a 5th hour panel discussion where you can ask questions about any of the topics or even anything else related to genealogy and research. Early bird registration is only $19.99 until January 22nd. The regular registration price is $24.99. Learn more at the website (https://www.familyhistoryfanatics.com/winterdna) and register today.
Feel free to post this information on your website or Facebook page and let your members know. If you would like graphics to post, let us know and we can send them to you.
Thanks,Andrew & Devon Noel Lee
Family History Fanatics Humble, TX | 346-704-1433familyhistoryfanatics.comYouTube: Family History Fanatics   | Twitter: @FHFanatics Facebook: Family History Fanatics  |  Twitter: @FHFanatics | 

Public Comment on Sale of Seattle National Archives Building

by Charles Hansen
— NEWS RELEASE —
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 29, 2020
 
AG Ferguson to host remote public comment meeting on National Archives facility and records
Feds did not solicit input in the Pacific Northwest before deciding to sell the building and move the region’s records
 
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced he will host a remote public meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, so the public can share their comments on plans by the federal government to sell Seattle’s National Archives building and move the records thousands of miles away.
 
The federal government did not hold any meetings of its own in the Pacific Northwest, and did not consult with state, local, or tribal leaders in the region prior to announcing its decision to sell the Archives facility.
 
One member of the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) recently said the sale would allow the Archives building to “become a part of the community, as opposed to what it is today.”
 
The office will record the public comments and forward them to the PBRB. Ferguson will also formally invite the PBRB members to attend the remote public hearing. The public meeting will be held via Zoom from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2021.
 
Zoom link: https://atg-wa.zoom.us/j/83852186385?pwd=amIvSHA4MHJJdzRVcDgzRSthQjdpQT09
Meeting ID: 838 5218 6385
Passcode: 426894
Phone: 253-215-8782, 838-521-863-85#
Find your local number: https://atg-wa.zoom.us/u/kBnoJrmI5
 
Individuals with questions about the meeting or looking to provide assistance with the case should use this form.
 
“The federal government continues its complete indifference for the communities, tribes and individuals impacted by its plan to sell the National Archives facility and export archival records out of the region,” Ferguson said. “The bare minimum American taxpayers should expect is the ability to provide public comment before bearing the brunt of important government actions that cannot be undone. Unfortunately, in this matter, the federal government utterly failed to meet that low bar, which is why my office is forced to do it for them. I’m inviting Washingtonians to tell the federal government what this building, and the millions of records it houses, means to them and their communities.”
 
On Thursday, Dec. 4, Ferguson announced that his office recently uncovered a dramatic change in the plan for the proposed sale of the National Archives building buried in a 74-page meeting minutes document from October. During the October meeting, the PBRB disclosed that it would move to immediately sell the Archives facility, along with a “portfolio” of other federal properties, in early 2021. It had planned on selling the properties individually over the next year.
 
Ferguson’s legal team is finalizing a lawsuit to stop the federal government from proceeding with an expedited sale of the National Archives facility in Seattle.
 
Additionally, Ferguson’s office already filed four lawsuits seeking access to public records about the PBRB’s decision. Judge Robert S. Lasnik of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington will preside over the four cases. On Dec. 10, Ferguson filed a motion for summary judgment in the records case against the PBRB.
 
Decision to sell the Seattle National Archives building
Last year, the PBRB identified a dozen federal properties around the U.S. as “High Value Assets” and recommended their sale in a manner that will “obtain the highest and best value for the taxpayer” and accomplish the goal of “facilitating and expediting the sale or disposal of unneeded Federal civilian real properties.” Among those properties — many of which involved abandoned or unused warehouses or buildings — was the National Archives building in Seattle, a building housing critical historical documents of the Pacific Northwest, including extensive tribal records. No local, state or tribal officials were consulted in its initial selection.
 
In January, OMB approved a recommendation from the PBRB to sell the building on Sand Point Way in Seattle. The board’s recommendation included removing the contents of the Seattle archives and relocating them to facilities in Kansas City, Mo., and Riverside, Calif.
 
The Seattle archives contain many records essential to memorializing Washington’s history, including tens of thousands of records related to the Chinese Exclusion Act, records of the internment of Japanese Americans, and tribal and treaty records of federally recognized tribes throughout the Northwest. Researchers, historians, genealogists and students routinely use these records.
 
Washington’s tribal leaders, historians and members have noted the federal government has excluded them from most discussions on selling the building and moving documents — many of which are the only tribal treaties or maps in existence — more than a thousand miles away. Notably, tribal officials were never consulted regarding the proposed sale notwithstanding agency tribal consultation policies requiring such consultation.
– 30 –
  The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
 
Contacts:
Brionna Aho, Communications Director, (360) 753-2727; brionna.aho@atg.wa.gov

The Year in Review

by Charles Hansen
Well are you glad 2020 is almost over? I know I am. Lets hope 2021 will be better than 2020. Above is the Google Analytics view of the top ten most clicked on pages in the WSGS Blog for 2020 (thru December 28th).
I was not really surprised by number 1 as many subscribers just click on the blog, but I was totally surprised by number 2 as it was written by Roxanne Lowe in June of 2015 about an upcoming genealogy class at the university of Washington. I do know it popped into the top ten most clicked on posts several weeks during the year.
Number 3 on the list continues to be read and I hope it has helped a lot of societies that use Easy Net Sites.
Number 4 on the list is 2020 Seminars-Conferences which was pretty much a disappointment to everyone this year.
Number 5 and 6 are on how we are changing from in person conferences to online conferences.
Number 7 and 8 was kind of new as I had shied away from posting about the Payed genealogy sites before this. Should I cover them more in the blog?
Number 9 is kind of sad for me as it was on the death of my cousin Myra Vanderpool Gormley. Myra is probably the reason I am here blogging, and I was amazed by E-Mails I received from all over the USA after I wrote this blog post. Myra will be missed.
Number 10 is from Skagit Valley Genealogical Society one of the societies that has switched to online meetings.