Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week African American Genealogical Research

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK – FREE INTRODUCTION TO
AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH   Want a preview of the SGS Fall Seminar? 

An introductory presentation by Ari Wilkins, sponsored by the Chemung County (NY) Library District, will discuss the methodology, challenges, and myths regarding African American genealogical research. It will be an overview of useful sources for researching people of African American ancestry.

Ari Wilkins is a genealogy professional and staff member at the Dallas Public Library. She specializes in African American research and will be the speaker for our SGS Fall Seminar. 

This introductory event will be held via Zoom today, Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 4:00 pm PDT. Hurry, this event is free, but you must register in advance:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrcuiorD4tE9ZdfkNOETRo9hBYkjtGIiH8

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

THE SGS LIBRARY
IS RE-OPENING!

  The long wait is over! The Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) library will be open on Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, starting Saturday, July 3, 2021. 

Since we are hard at work preparing to move our library this fall, the material in our stacks (e.g., books and journals) will not be accessible. However, the SGS computers and network will be available, allowing access to SGS subscription services like Newspapers.com and records through the Family Search Affiliate Library program. We encourage members and patrons to bring personal computers such as laptops or tablets rather than depend on SGS computer stations, which may be in high demand. Six work locations with “sneeze guards,” including two with computers, will be limited to 60 minutes at a time if others are waiting. Because resources are limited, we recommend calling ahead to inquire about expected wait time before traveling a long distance to get here. For the present, masks will be required and social distancing will be enforced. Group meetings will continue to be held virtually, at least until we complete the move to Good Shepherd.

Special thanks to all our members, family historians, and genealogists who waited so patiently for the library to open again.

        They Survived! 

Pandemics. Disasters. Wildfires.
  Famines. Depressions. Racism.
  Prejudice.






“An immigrant boy carries luggage at Ellis Island,” 
  photo of original by Mákvirág via Creative Commons

For well over a year, the world has battled the effects of COVID-19, including often severe economic challenges. In addition, floods, violent storms and forest fires have beset whole regions of the U.S. In many places, these have led to food insecurity or – globally – threat of famine. And violence toward people of color has catalyzed an unprecedented movement to understand and eliminate racial inequities.

Many of our ancestors faced some of these challenges as well – and they survived. What is your ancestor’s survival story? The Seattle Genealogical Society is holding its family history writing contest to support and encourage the writing of family history, local history, and memoirs, both by genealogists and the public at large.

Contest rules and deadlines:

  1. Keep the word count under 3,000 and submit a MS Word document.
  2. Cite your sources as end notes (interviews, letters, books, websites, censuses, etc.).
  3. Unpublished works are preferred. If your story has been published before, ensure you have permission to republish. Let us know the name and date of publication.
  4. A committee will review all submissions and award prizes. Some entries selected for publication will receive prices.
  5. Subjects need not relate to Washington, the Pacific Northwest, or the United States.
  6. The committee makes all decisions and all decisions are final.
  7. Contact us at publications@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org if you have questions.
  8. This is a great summer project!

Submit your entry by 1 September 2021 to:
publications@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org
* SAVE THE DATE *

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG),
Virtual Fall 2021, 
Registration opens June 19, 2021

Billed as in-depth education in the comfort of your home, these virtual classes will begin this fall. There is far too much information to list here so see their website for all the details:
https://slig.ugagenealogy.org/cpage.php?pt=611

The International German Genealogy Partnership presents,a
“Researching Together Worldwide / Weltweit Gemeinsam Forschen”, 
the first ever International German Genealogy Virtual Conference, 
July 17-24, 2021

Is German genealogy one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2021? If so, be sure to mark your calendars for July 17-24, 2021. The IGGP Conference, which only takes place every two years, is your chance to take a deep dive into all things German genealogy – and learn from the experts themselves. This year, the conference will be virtual, which means you can tune in from anywhere in the world!

https://iggp.org  

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS*

As of July 3, 2021, the SGS Library will be open Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, with limited resources, some restrictions,  and a temporary schedule in effect. Visit the SGS Website for details. We recommend you plan your visit and call ahead – 206 522-8658.
** Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links and for any last minute updates or changes to the schedule.  Wednesday, July 7, 2021, 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. 

Sunday, July 11, 2021,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm,  Scandinavian Interest Group, chaired by Karen Knudson, Share information and discuss Scandinavian ancestral research. 

Tuesday, July 13, 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 welcome. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021, 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, July 14, 2021, 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm, MAC SIG Interest Group, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske, this group meets every other month from October through June on the second Wednesday of the month. They decided to meet in July 2021. 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.

Co-Chairs: Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick

Wednesday, July 21, 2021, 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. 

Tuesday, July 27, 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 welcome. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021, 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. 

MEMBERSHIP
  SGS members, did you remember to renew? If you have not done so, please take a few moments to renew your SGS membership. It is our 98th year! When you renew online you can pay your dues with a credit/debit card right away, or print out your invoice and send it with your dues payment to SGS. Log in at Members Home, then go to your Member Profile and click the green “Renew Membership” button. If you have never logged in before or have questions, send an email to membership@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org.
Not a member yet? Join online today and enjoy a full year of discounted class and event fees, free research requests, special interest groups, and access to exclusive SGS publications and databases, as well as video recordings of some of our past Second Saturday presentations. 
  Find out more about membership at Join SGS.  

Book Launch Pioneering Life of Peter Kirk

by Charles Hansen

Book Launch–August 4, 2021

The Pioneering Life of Peter Kirk—From Derbyshire to the Pacific Northwest

Paperback, ISBN 978-1-09837-091-6, LOC 2021912014, 318 pages, cover price $19.95 US

Steel tycoon. Visionary. Town-builder. Peter Kirk was raised in his family’s 100-year old iron business during the heady Victorian years of rail expansion. He invented his way out of market slumps with new products and machines that made his iron works more efficient. But the American steel industry was a run-away train that threatened his bottom line. Instead of fighting it, he decided to join in by establishing a large-scale foundry in the Pacific Northwest frontier.

He carved a town out of the old growth forests and imported 5600 tons of machinery. To Peter Kirk, “It was a small price to pay to launch so rosy a project.”

He met with hostile immigrant sentiment and feuding railroads. It was an uphill battle to build a steel mill from the ground up, rivaled only by the rugged Cascade Mountains the company had to penetrate to get the ore. The great Financial Panic of 1893 pushed Kirk and his dream to a precipice as his “hope was buried in the womb of the future.”

The Pioneering Life of Peter Kirk is a comprehensive biography compiled from his business papers, family letters, accounts by his business partners, newspapers, and other archived material in England and Washington. It traces his family back to the Industrial Revolution in Chapel-en-le-Frith, England and explains how he was poised for success in the Second Industrial Revolution in Queen Victoria’s reign with the explosion of innovations. This book details Kirk’s success with his Moss Bay Hematite Iron & Steel Company in Workington before traveling 7000 miles to launch a sister mill in the town he helped found–Kirkland, Washington.

Saundra Middleton received her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Alaska. She has published dozens of articles for Alaska Business Monthly, Alaska Magazine, and other publications. After studying her family history for decades, she knew Peter Kirk’s unique immigration story had to be shared.

Contact Saundra Middleton, (253-306-3702) for more information or to schedule an event:

Email: saundramiddleton1@gmail.com; Website: www.saundramiddleton.com

Buy books at Bookbaby Bookshop: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-pioneering-life-of-peter-kirk, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s and other major distributors.

In the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk, Waterstones, and Bookshop.org

Scribe

by Charles Hansen
What’s in Scribe now:
Birth records from Whatcom County.
Census records from King County.
Marriage records from Clallam, Clark, Franklin, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Skagit, Snohomish, and Yakima counties.  
Naturalization records from Jefferson, Kitsap, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties.  
School district registers and censuses from Clark, King, Lewis, and Pierce counties.
Haven’t used Scribe in a while?
Has it been a long time since you indexed records in Scribe? Did you index one record and forget about it? That’s OK! This program was designed for volunteers to use whenever they get the chance. Operate on your own schedule, and do it from home (even when you’re not quarantined).
Whether you index one record or thousands, your help and time are greatly appreciated.
Our mission is to make as many records as we can freely accessible to the public, and it wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers. Every second of your time you put toward our mission is invaluable. So thank you for that one record three years ago, or the hundreds of records you did this week, and anything in between!
If you want to get back into Scribe, log in here. There are tools to recover your username and password if needed, or to create a new account. If you have any questions, please contact us. Happy Scribing!

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week Ancestry DNA Sale

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK – ANCESTRY FATHER’S DAY SALE
  As it does multiple times each year, Ancestry has put their autosomal AncestryDNA test on sale for $59 ($40 savings). That’s a nice deal, but if you are interested in a 3-month Ancestry research subscription, here’s a great deal for you! They have bundled their AncestryDNA test with a 3-month World Explorer Membership for only $60 ($118 savings). World Explorer Membership gives you access to all research records Ancestry has to offer, both international and US, as well as access to all public family trees on Ancestry. This bundle offer is for new and returning subscribers only. It cannot be used for renewal of current subscriptions. The sale lasts until 11:59 ET on June 20, 2021.

A link to the offers:

https://www.ancestry.com/c/dna/offer/?o_iid=115349&o_lid=115349&o_sch=Web+Property

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

SGS has signed a five-year lease with Historic Seattle for space in the Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle, to begin on August 1, 2021. The Good Shepherd Center is a designated Seattle Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Our current lease for the Sand Point Way NE facility extends through December 31, 2021, allowing time to prepare the new space, make the move, and remediate the current space as needed without undue rush/pressure.   

Schedule planning is underway, with the expectation to begin physically moving items in September/October. 

That brings us to this plea for volunteers:

We will be paying movers to do the heavy lifting, but to keep our library holdings safe and organized, we will need volunteers to do the boxing and re-shelving before and after the physical move to the Good Shepherd Center. Please sign up now by contacting Volunteers@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org  

SPRING SEMINAR IS SOON!
Our 2021 Spring Seminar on English research with Paul Milner is Saturday, June 26, 9:00 am – 3:00 PM PDT. If you have already registered and paid for this virtual seminar, you’ll be receiving your login instructions via email. If you have not registered, but would like to like to attend, register online at this link: Eventbrite – SGS 2021 Spring Seminar

If you have questions, feel free to contact Elizabeth Miller at: 
seminar@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org

VIDEO RECORDING FOR OUR MEMBERS
Our Second Saturday Speaker Series is popular and well attended. On June 12th, Susan V.H. Fabian spoke on “Earning Your Wings: Volunteering As a Search Angel”.  A recording of that session is now available to SGS members on the SGS website. It will be available for six months and it can be accessed by navigating to the SGS website and then clicking  Members Home and then Watch a Program Video. Currently, recordings of these five past Second Saturday presentations are available to SGS members:

  • “Earning Your Wings: Volunteering as a Search Angel”
  • “Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy”
  • “For the Record: Memoir, Oral History, and Writing Family Stories”
  • “Did My Ancestors Really Pay For The Mayflower Voyage?”
  • “House Histories – The Intersection of Architecture and Genealogy”

SGS MEMBERS, 
TIME TO RENEW FOR 2021-22   If you have not done so already, please take a few moments to renew your SGS membership. It is our 98th year! When you renew online you can pay your dues with a credit/debit card right away, or print out your invoice and send it with your dues payment to SGS. Log in at Members Home, then go to your Member Profile and click the green “Renew Membership” button. If you have never logged in before or have questions, send an email to membership@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org.  
JUNE 21-24
GRIP PRESENTATIONS
  Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) is offering evening presentations (7:00 PM EDT, 4:00 PM PDT) June 21-24. They are free and open to the public. Anyone interested can come and hear these sponsored presentations. The schedule can be found at :  
programswww.GRIPitt.org/evening-

NOT A SGS MEMBER YET?
Join online today and enjoy a full year of discounted class and event fees, free research requests, special interest groups, and access to exclusive SGS publications and databases, as well as video recordings of some of our past Second Saturday presentations. 
  Find out more about membership at Join SGS.
* SAVE THE DATE *
Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG),
Virtual Fall 2021, 
Registration opens June 19, 2021

Billed as in-depth education in the comfort of your home, these virtual classes will begin this fall. There is far too much information to list here so see their website for all the details:
https://slig.ugagenealogy.org/cpage.php?pt=611

The International German Genealogy Partnership presents,a
“Researching Together Worldwide / Weltweit Gemeinsam Forschen”, 
the first ever International German Genealogy Virtual Conference, 
July 17-24, 2021

Is German genealogy one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2021? If so, be sure to mark your calendars for July 17-24, 2021. The IGGP Conference, which only takes place every two years, is your chance to take a deep dive into all things German genealogy – and learn from the experts themselves. This year, the conference will be virtual, which means you can tune in from anywhere in the world!

https://iggp.org  

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, June 16, 2021, 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. 

Tuesday, June 22, 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 welcome. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.

Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 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, June 26, 2021, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm PDT, SGS 2021 Spring Seminar, a day of English research with Paul Milner. This seminar will be virtual online using Zoom.  

Saturday, June 26, 2021, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm, DNA Interest Group, To be included you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join. Chaired by Cary Bright and Craig Gowans. 

Wednesday, June 30, 2021, 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, July 7, 2021, 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. 

Sunday, July 11, 2021,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm,  Scandinavian Interest Group, chaired by Karen Knudson, Share information and discuss Scandinavian ancestral research. 

Tuesday, July 13, 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 welcome. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021, 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, July 14, 2021, 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm, MAC SIG Interest Group, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske, this group meets every other month from October through June on the second Wednesday of the month. They decided to meet in July 2021. 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.

Co-Chairs: Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick

Wednesday, July 21, 2021, 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. 

Tuesday, July 27, 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 welcome. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021, 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. 

Family History Fanatics A Summer of DNA

by Charles Hansen

We wanted to let your group know about the 4th annual A Summer of DNA virtual conference is happening on Saturday, 31st July 2021 The past virtual conferences were very successful and had great attendance. 
Speakers will be talking about the following:

  • DNA Ethnicity in 2021: More Inclusive, Specific, Accurate and Meaningful (Diahan Southard)
  • Jewish DNA: Strategies to Analyze Endogamy (Alec Ferretti)
  • DNA Strategies for African American Genealogy Research (Shannon Christmas)
  • Leveraging DNA to Research Your Irish Ancestry (Maurice Gleeson)

The online sessions will begin at 10am Eastern Time on Saturday, 31st July 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 July 17th. The regular registration price is $24.99. Learn more at the website (https://www.familyhistoryfanatics.com/summerdna) 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

Austin, TX | 346-704-1433

familyhistoryfanatics.com

YouTube: Family History Fanatics   |

Twitter: @FHFanatics | 

Facebook: Family History Fanatics

Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society Genealogy Disaster Planning

by Charles Hansen

Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) will hold its June meeting via Zoom on Monday, June 14, at 2:00 p.m. Email WAGSLibrarian@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link.
Our speaker is Julie Miller of JPM Genealogy Research in Broomfield, Colorado. She will give us “An Ounce of Prevention: Making a Genealogy Disaster Plan.” After seeing what happened in Texas last winter, and knowing our own ongoing wildfire threat, we decided to have a program focusing on planning for the worst. Our documents, photographs and databases can be lost in an instant in the event of a disaster. This lecture will show how to plan before the crisis occurs, so that loss is minimized and your genealogy legacy is preserved for future generations.