SGS CENTENNIAL PLANNING MEETING

  On October 18, 1923, eight family history researchers got together with the mission of forming an active genealogical society and creating a genealogy library collection available to all Pacific Northwest researchers. That Society is Seattle Genealogical Society and those original members were : 

• Alexander Craig Dermond
• Eleanor M. Freeman
• Elizabeth A. Hubbart
• Susan M. Keppel
• Lida R. McKercher
• Harry Denton Moore
• Alice V. Robinson
• George E. Tilton 

Join us on Saturday, August 1, 2020, and help us make plans to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Seattle Genealogical Society, an important milestone. 

As you might suspect, and as has become the norm, this will be a virtual online Zoom meeting. The Zoom meeting id link can be found on the SGS website, under Calendar of Events. 

TRANSCRIBERS NEEDED FOR
ANTI-SLAVERY MANUSCRIPTS
Here’s an intriguing project. The Boston Public Library is asking for volunteers to transcribe documents in their Anti-Slavery Collection. Much of this collection is the handwritten correspondence of 19th century abolitionist leaders. 

In the late 1890s the family of William Lloyd Garrison, abolitionist and editor of “The Liberator”, donated his letters and papers, dated from the 1830s-1870s, to the BPL. Others followed suit, and now the Boston Public Library has arguably the largest and most important collection of abolitionist material in the US – about 40,000 pieces of correspondence, newspapers, pamphlets, books, and memorabilia. Other anti-slavery activists with materials in this collection include the Weston sisters, Deborah Weston and Maria Weston Chapman, publisher of “The Liberty Bell”, Wendell Phillips, and many others.

The goal is to get this collection of handwritten documents transcribed into text so it can be indexed and searched, making it more easily read and researchable by students, teachers, historians, and electronic data applications.

If you would like to help by transcribing some of this collection, you can find instructions and sign up here:
https://www.antislaverymanuscripts.org/

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS***

In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed until further notice and all SGS in-person events have been canceled, postponed, or replaced with an online event.
Stay home – stay healthy – but stay engaged by attending one of our live, online events!   

SGS LIBRARY STATUS

The SGS Board has reviewed the status of the SGS library facility in the context of the State and King County plans for reopening the community. We decided to link our plans for reopening the library to the State plan; the library will not be reopened for use by our members and guests until King County has moved to Phase 4 of the State plan. We are as anxious to reopen the library as our membership, but we believe that the safety of our membership is paramount, and the guidance provided by the State plan makes it clear that it is not safe for us to reopen the library until Phase 4. We will keep you posted on the library’s status via eNews! notices.  

NEED A LOOKUP? SEND US A RESEARCH REQUEST!
Throughout our nearly 100-year history, the Seattle Genealogical Society has  compiled many databases and indexes from unique sources that you will not find anywhere else. Although the library is closed for now, we continue to provide research lookups in these databases, as well as in books and online archives. Research Requests are your lifeline to all SGS library resources.

For example, you might request a specific lookup in the King County Court Cases Index 1881-1980 (KC3I), Seattle area Veterans of Foreign Wars Membership Cards, SGS Bulletin and Journal 1952-2020, Seattle Obituaries, Seattle City Directories 1890-1990, or any of the books and periodicals listed in the  SGS Library Catalog.

Research requests may be submitted by anyone for a non-refundable fee of $7.50 per name, or by SGS Members at no charge. For more information, and to make a Research Request, click here: 
SGS Research Services

WALTER CLINTON 1952-2020
Very sad news. We just received notice that SGS member Walter Clinton, 68, of Seattle, passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2020. He was a much-appreciated volunteer here at SGS, serving most recently as Chair of the Nominating Committee for our 2020 election. Our condolences to his family.
  You may read Walter’s full obituary or share your memories of him here:
https://www.emmickfunerals.com/obituary/Walter-Clinton

MEMBERSHIP MEETING REPORT 
  The Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) held its June Membership Meeting on June 13, 2020 with over 50 members tuning in on Zoom for a virtual meeting.  James Secan, the new President of the Society, welcomed the new Board, presented Marilyn Rose with a plaque in recognition of her Past President’s status, and reviewed both past, present, and future activities for the Society.

Minutes and attachments, such as financial statements, are located on the SGS website for members. Lori Lee Sauber gave an informative presentation on Trello and Kanban.

THE SCANDINAVIAN SIG IS BACK!
On Sunday, July 12th starting at 1:00 PM, Karen Knudson, leader of the Scandinavian SIG, will be hosting their first online virtual meeting via Zoom. Anyone interested in Scandinavian research is invited to join in. You will find the link for this Zoom meeting on the Calendar of Events section of the  SGS website: www.seagensoc.org 

STORIES OF OUR FEMALE ANCESTORS – JUNE 2020
As part of the SGS commemoration of Women’s Suffrage, we are sharing women’s stories of 100 and more years ago. This month, we share The Boughten Dress.

Singer began mass-producing domestic electric sewing machines in 1910 and transformed many women’s lives. Imagine hand-sewing clothing for 12 children! The Boughten Dress, written by Jan Johnson illustrates the significance of the sewing machine in her grandmother’s and mother’s lives. They lived in desperate poverty during the Great Depression in northern Minnesota, close to the Canadian border. Jan inherited her grandmother’s machine and her love of sewing. She cherishes her memories and has carried on the tradition of sewing for her family.

You can view this story and others on the SGS website – Women’s Suffrage in Your Family History: https://seagensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=125

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS*** In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed until further notice and all SGS in-person events have been canceled, postponed, or replaced with an online event.
Stay home – stay healthy – but stay engaged by attending one of our live, online events!