I want t wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Special thanks goes out to everyone that has kept sending me the information for monthly meetings, seminars, and general genealogical news.
Charles Hansen
Merry Christmas
German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society January Meeting
Rest in peace, Fred Pflugrath
Rest in peace, Fred Pflugrath
The genealogy community throughout the state will be saddened to know that Fred Pflugrath passed away peacefully on the evening of Thursday, December 17.
Fred joined the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society in 1995. He edited our Appleland Bulletin for many years, and was one of our senior researchers. In the spring, before the snakes came out, he could be found walking old cemeteries throughout North Central Washington, and WAGS members always looked forward to his cemetery tours. He was a human encyclopedia of local history (especially the Upper Wenatchee Valley), and fulfilled numerous speaking engagements at area museums and retirement homes.
Perhaps his best-remembered contribution will be his Civil War research. He single-handedly identified, researched, and documented information on almost 2,500 Civil War veterans from all over Eastern Washington. Much of this research is available in 35 binders in the WAGS Library with an index available online. Additionally, he took the extra step of submitting this information to the National Grave Registration Project (part of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War). Fred considered it part of his mission to connect families with their Civil War ancestors, arranging for headstones and markers, and orchestrating dedication and memorial ceremonies.
Some say his heart was even bigger than he was! He always willingly shared data, resources and expertise with anyone wanting information, whether inside or outside Chelan and Douglas counties.
In 2015, Fred was the first recipient of the Washington State Genealogical Society’s President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement, a recognition designed to single out that rare individual who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations. Those who were blessed to have known Fred will agree that he good-naturedly and self-deprecatingly fit this description to a T, and we will miss seeing him hard at work at his computer over in the corner.
Susan Rumble
WAGS President
Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week Google Search
TIP OF THE WEEK – GOOGLE SEARCH BY CATEGORY
An SGS member reported that he found this article on Google Searches by the Legal Genealogist very helpful
https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2020/11/24/google-that-but/
Possibly you have never noticed that when you do a Google Search it is, by default, searching “All”, or everything. If you look under the Search Box you see you can search by a category/subset such as :
- All
- News
- Images
- Maps
- Shopping
- More … where you will find these categories/subsets :
- Videos
- Books
- Flights
- Finance
Experiment with it. For example, sometimes it may make more sense to search the category (subset) “Books” or “News” instead of searching “All”, which would return so much irrelevant data.
Seattle Genealogical Society News
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM SGS
The Board of the Seattle Genealogical Society wishes you a happy holiday season.
While we are taking a break from classes, meetings and presentations, now is a great time to take advantage of our website resources.
Take a look at the Women’s Suffrage page, including our Resource Guide, stories of female ancestors and 57 Washington women suffragists.
Read recent issues of the Journal of SGS and eNews!
Check out our Member Surname Registry – available for review whether or not you are a member. We currently have 218 names on record. Now is a great time for members to add family names. Here is your chance to begin a collaboration with someone in our own organization.
View recordings of our Fall 2020 Second Saturdays (members only).
Get ready for 2021! Check our Calendar of Events for more Special Interest Groups, Second Saturdays and classes. There you will find our full listing of offerings through June 2021.
If you have not checked out our new meetings, mark your calendars now:
Tech Tuesdays will next meet after the holidays on January 12th at 10:00 am PST and continue on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Bring your challenge or question and one of our rotating facilitators will be on hand to help. Brags and Bricks, our informal social hour and exchange of genealogical gems will resume on January 6, 2020 at 10:00 am PST and meet every Wednesday.
Have a safe and happy holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in 2021. Heidi L. Mair Director of Education Seattle Genealogical Society https://seagensoc.org
HOLIDAY SPECIAL GIFT PACKAGES FROM NGS
Looking for a special and meaningful gift for a family member or friend? Have you been promising yourself a gift to learn more about an area of genealogy that will help advance your own family history?
The National Genealogical Society (NGS) has holiday special packages for some of their most popular genealogy courses with great savings for both NGS members and non-members. All of the courses are online using an e-learning system so students can join from home or on-the-go, and complete coursework at their own pace and on their own schedule.
Hurry! The holiday sale starts December 7 and ends January 5, 2021. To find out more visit their
Web page :
https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/holiday-special-gift-packages-from-ngs/
SGS 2020 ANNUAL APPEAL LETTER
Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support the Seattle Genealogical Society and Library during our Annual Appeal this holiday season. Send your check to SGS, PO Box 15329, Seattle WA 98115-0329, or use your credit/debit card to:
Donate Now Online
If you have a Paypal account, you may donate to SGS via the Paypal Giving Fund. The transaction fee will be waived and your gift will be matched with an additional 1% by the fund. Go to:
Paypal Giving Fund – SGS
Thank You!
SAVE THE DATE“Finding Your Roots: Using the Entire Genealogy Tool Box”, Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State,
Bellevue, WA
Monday, December 14, 2020
7:00 PM PST
Coral Grant will be the presenter for this online, virtual meeting. The “room will open” at 7 PM and the meeting will begin at 7:15 PM. Visit their website for more info and 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.
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.
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.
Please Read if Your Society Uses an Easy Net Site
You may have heard recently that the owner of Easy Net Sites (ENS), Tom Ryder, has been accused of serious crimes in Florida. He is currently being held without bail in the Hillsborough County Jail, awaiting a hearing on 21 Dec 2020.
I understand many of your concerns about the future of your website. In light of this unsettled time, I suggest you watch Thomas MacEntee’s free “Genealogy Society Town Hall” that was live on Monday, 14 Dec 2020, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Thomas will discuss options available to you to move your society’s website host to a new host. He will cover all the options available (WordPress, Wix, Weebly, Wild Apricot). Current charges against Tom Ryder will not be discussed nor will comments about the charges be permitted. Thomas’s town hall is not an attempt to undermine another genealogy vendor’s business or to capitalize on an unfortunate situation. He is providing information so we (societies using ENS) can make informed decisions about our websites, and you can consult your board once you have options.
| MY APOLOGIES for those of you who could not get into the Genealogy Society Town Hall last evening! We had 776 registrants with what was supposed to be 500 participants but Zoom only set me up for 300! Please see the links below and PLEASE SHARE with your fellow gen soc board members and regular membership! Genealogy Society Town Hall December 14, 2020 HANDOUT Genealogy Society Town Hall December 14, 2020 VIDEO Genealogy Society Town Hall December 14, 2020 SLIDES |
Please thank Thomas MacEntee for the links.
MyHeritage Norway Census
I am delighted to announce the addition of two new collections of Norway Census records — the 1875 Norway Census and the 1870 Norway Census. Digitized in collaboration with National Archives of Norway (Arkivverket), the 2 million records in these collections include high-quality scans of the original documents.
Search the new Norwegian Census Records
The collections hold particular interest as they cover a unique time in Norwegian history. The largest single wave of emigration from Norway occurred between 1879 and 1893. Spurred on by the promise of new opportunities, 250,000 Norwegians left Norway for other countries like the U.S. The 1875 census offers the opportunity to catch a snapshot about these Norwegian ancestors while they were still in Norway. For those in the U.S. and abroad with Norwegian heritage, this census collection may unlock important details about their Norwegian roots.
Beyond their historical significance, the collections are important as they contain details that are not often found within a typical census collection. In addition to listing the person’s name, residence, position within the family, gender, marital status, and occupation, the census also includes information on languages spoken, birthplace of the residents, and their birth years. In specific cases, even medical conditions are listed. Also included are individuals who were temporary residents of the household or those registered to a household who may have been absent at the time of the census count. This means that a single individual may have been listed in more than one entry, if they were visiting another home at the time the census was taken.
Please find the official blog post here with some nice example records from this collection.
We would be grateful if you share this news.
With the release of these collections, and the recent release of 42 million Norway Church records, MyHeritage now offers 246 million records from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, making MyHeritage the market leader for Scandinavian family history.
Searching the Norway Census Records on MyHeritage is completely free. If you have a family tree on MyHeritage, our Record Matching technology will notify you automatically if records from these collections match your relatives. To view these records or to save records to your family tree, you’ll need a Data or Complete subscription.
Enjoy,
Daniel Horowitz
Heritage Quest Research Library Holiday Shopping
| It’s time for Holiday shopping! We had such a great response from all of you that we have made an effort to be OPEN for the next 2 Saturdays in December. We hope that you will come on in and check out the USED BOOK SALE in the classroom. We are also continuing to offer “no sales tax on “our Bookstore items. Saturday, December 12, 2020 – We OPEN at 10.00 AM Saturday, December 19, 2020 – We OPEN at 10:00 AM |
Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society Christmas Chat
Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society announces our virtual December meeting:
“A Christmas Chat”Monday, December 14, 2:00 p.m. at your computer.
Contact wagslibrarian@wags-web.org to get the Zoom link.
This will be an informal get-together to share our experiences and accomplishments in 2020, and hopes for the new year. You’re also invited to show-and-tell something you have that’s really old. We’re looking forward to finishing our year in this most pleasant manner!
Thank you, Susan Rumble
WAGS
AGENDA FOR JANUARY SCOTTISH VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
Scottish Virtual Webinar: January 22 and 23, 2021