Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

A LETTER FROM THE SGS PRESIDENT

To: SGS Genealogical community,
Re: Closure of SGS in the near future

In an abundance of caution, the SGS Library will be closed as follows:

1. The Library will be closed the month of May. The Board will consider that June 2, 2020 is the next possible open date.
2. We will have no programs or group meetings until the end of June, following the Seattle Public Libraries model.
3. Starting June 18, 2020 and subject to modification by the Board or the President, we will allow single individuals to enter the facility if they have SGS work to be accomplished,  but social distancing practices must be maintained, masks worn at all times and hands washed upon entry and frequently. The following are pre-approved for entry: Wright, McGinnis and individual Board members. All others must be pre-approved by the President.
4. The earliest we will schedule desk volunteers is June 16, 2020.
5. The Board will revisit this at our next Board meeting May 11, 2020, but the incoming president has the flexibility to make changes to the above if situations change and are warranted.

With our vulnerable population, it is wise to err on the side of caution. I thank you for your cooperation.

Stay safe!

Jill Morelli, CG
Seattle Genealogical Society, President

SGS MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE
  Please note the next membership meeting of the Seattle Genealogical Society has been scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2020  from 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm PDT.  This will be a real time, online meeting via Zoom. The room opens at noon and the meeting starts at 12:30 pm. The new SGS officers will be introduced.

Bring a genealogical discovery to share. Below is the Zoom meeting link.

Join the Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81599981851?pwd=ckd2OTZqcThKWVFsejV5VmI2UEtKZz09
STORIES OF OUR FEMALE ANCESTORS – APRIL 2020 
What was life like in Seattle in the 1870’s and 1880’s? Our April contributor, Valarie, writes a local history blog, Wedgwood in Seattle History. She shared the story of Viola Kenyon, an early Seattle homesteader and teacher. Read about Viola here and on Valarie’s blog.

*** REGISTRATION OPEN ***
SGS 2020 Spring Virtual Seminar
with Dr Fritz Juengling: Old European Records
Saturday, May 16, 2020
9:00 am – 1:00 pm PDT      The SGS Spring Seminar has gone virtual! Dr. Fritz Juengling will present a talk via Zoom on “Old European Records Research” including presentations on: 

“Names – Their Origins, Meanings, and Characteristics” – Meanings of given names and the four types of surnames.   

“Historical Events that Affect European Genealogical Research” – Learn about historical events, such as wars and foreign occupation, and their impact on European research.

“The Genealogical Value of Guild Records” – The history, structure, and purpose of guilds.

Zoom space is limited to the first 97 registrants. There are still seats available. 
Cost:  SGS Members $30.00, Non-Members $40.00
Register for Online Seminar

Registration must be submitted before 9:00 pm Wednesday, May 13, 2020. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting and a Syllabus by email on May 15th.
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP THE MODERN WAY
SGS members, it’s time to renew for 2020-21. We’re experts at exploring the past, but this year let’s take a step into the future. Use the quick and convenient “Renew Membership” button at the SGS website. You can print out an invoice and mail it to SGS with a check. Or, you can pay your dues right then and there with a credit or debit card, the modern way!

Yes, you must first log in to your member account – then your renewal button will be just a click away. If you haven’t tried logging in yet, now is your chance. Go here: Members Home

Remember, you can always email for help to membership@seagensoc.org.

Are you an eNews! reader who hasn’t joined SGS yet? You too can join the modern way! Our membership year runs from June 1, 2020 through May 31, 2021. Now is a great time to become a member and obtain a full year of discounted class and event registration fees, free research requests, and access to exclusive SGS publications and databases. Annual dues are $40.00 individual, $50.00 dual (two at the same mailing address). Click here: Join SGS
DONATIONS TO SGS 
Just a note, SGS will not be participating in GiveBig Washington 2020 and will instead focus on our annual donation drive around the winter holidays. If you would like to donate now, please go to our website, or mail in your donation. Thank you.

SAVE THE DATE Spring 2020 SGS Seminar
with Fritz Juengling: Old European Records Research
Saturday, May 16, 2020 *** Online Event ***
9:00 am – 1:00 pm PDT   Mr Juengling is the German, Dutch and Scandinavian Research Specialist at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This will be an online, virtual seminar  Register for Online SeminarSGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS   Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes,  and corrections. 
MAY
*** In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed for the month of May and all SGS in-person events for May 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! 

Date: Friday, May 1, 2020
Time: 12:30 pm PDT

Webinar: Friedrich Christian Eiler: Scoundrel, Bigamist, and More 
Presenter: Jill Morelli

Not all our ancestors are fine upstanding citizens, but Friedrich challenged all parameters of exemplary citizenship. But, who was Friedrich Eiler? The ability to combine fragments of identity to form a single individual is an important skill. This case study illustrates the techniques used to identify the unknown!

The Eastside Germanic SIG of the Eastside Genealogical Society has invited SGS members and friends to join in this event.   
  No pre-registration required. Meeting live, online via Zoom.

Follow this link to join: https://zoom.us/j/978964694?
pwd=T0pQenI5YnhIWTZsRHkxQjJZbDBYQT09

After entering the link, use this password: 367866
Meeting ID: 978 964 694



Saturday, May 9, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm PDT

Second Saturday Series : “1890-1920 – The Progressive Era and Women’s Rights”
Presenter: Heidi Mair

A wide range of social movements arose across the U.S. from 1890 – 1920, a period known as the Progressive Era. Progressive reformers sought to end political corruption, improve the lives of individuals and increase government intervention to protect citizens. How did the Progressive Era impact women in their communities, including your ancestors?

Meeting live, online via Zoom.

Follow this link to join in: https://zoom.us/j/811505083



Wednesday, May 13, 2020
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PDT

Online class : “How to Write Your Family History”
Presenter: Jill Morelli 

It is said that after three generations our ancestral stories are lost. What stories do you have of your grandparents, your parents or yourself that should be shared? Let’s talk about writing those stories. I am a big proponent of “small bites”, i.e. writing the short vignettes first.    Meeting live, online via Zoom. There will be plenty of time for Q & A. 

Follow this link to join in: https://zoom.us/j/653218845    

Heritage Quest Research Library

by Charles Hansen
We remain Closed at this time.
HQRL remains closed at this time. 
We hope you are safe and well at home and have taken the opportunity to work on your family history.
We are continuing to follow the guidelines of the CDC and the Governor of the State of Washington, Jay Inslee.  Be assured that we are still working to re-open as soon as we are able.
Ancestry Remote Login and Forums
As a current member of Heritage Quest Research Library you have access to our FORUMS page and the ANCESTRY REMOTE LOGIN.
Currently the Forum topics range from “What are you doing during the Pandemic?” to “What you would like to see on the website and/or in the “library” and “What classes would you like to see?” 
Please note that this is not available to the general public and you must be a member in good standing to participate.

Staying at Home

by Charles Hansen

I am glad so many people are staying at home so we can get this covid virus under control. So How do I know you are staying home? Because of the statistics generated here by the people reading this blog. For about a year the top city reading this blog has been Chicago, but with a 100% bounce rate I think it is a bot collecting information. Number two has always been Seattle which makes sense as the largest city in Washington. Spokane was usually near number five, and the cities between Spokane and Seattle was almost always different each week depending on what was written each week. Spokane Valley the city east of Spokane seldom showed in the top 15 cities.

For the last month Kent has been the number one city, and Seattle and Spokane are down in the #4 Group (they are alphabetical when they have the same number of sessions). So instead of reading the blog at work, people seem to be reading from their homes. Keep it up and we will be able to meet in person again soon.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday 2020 E-News

by Charles Hansen
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition April 23, 2020
Memberships will be extended after we reopen.
Thank you to all who have renewed already, especially those who included a donation with your renewal.
We are so grateful for your loyalty and support.
This is different from how I have posted the GFO Evening E-News before, they now have it in PDF format online, so click on the easy-to-read version below.
Want to share an easy-to-read version of this E-News? Click here

Olympia Genealogical Society Spring Seminar

by Charles Hansen

The Olympia Genealogical Society spring seminar, originally scheduled for March 28 and then cancelled, has been RE-SCHEDULED as a Webinar on May 9. Teresa Steinkamp-McMillin will talk on “Ancestral Origins Through the Eyes of a German Genealogist”  For details see our website www.OlyGenSoc.org
Thank-you    JOYCE OGDEN, PUBLICITY =======================================================================
Joyce T. Ogden
jtogden@comcast.net

Seattle Genealogical Society Spring Seminar Online

by Charles Hansen

SGS 2020 SPRING SEMINAR
NOW ONLINE!

SGS is happy to announce we have put together a SGS 2020 Spring Virtual Seminar with Dr Fritz Juengling as the speaker. Registration opens today, April 20, 2020. Zoom space is limited to 97 registrants, so hurry.

Also please note, the Zoom links have changed for the April 23, 2020 presentation “Dancing with the Spanish Lady” and the May 1, 2020 presentation “Friedrich Christian Eiler: Scoundrel, Bigamist, and More”. You must use these new Zoom links to join these meetings. 




SGS 2020 Spring Virtual Seminar
with Fritz Juengling:
Old European Records
ONLINE via Zoom
Saturday, May 16, 2020
9:00 am – 1:00 pm PDT      Presentations:

“Names – Their Origins, Meanings, and Characteristics” – Meanings of given names and the four types of surnames.  We also take a ‘world tour’ to learn how constructed in different cultures.

“Historical Events that Affect European Genealogical Research” – Learn about historical events, such as wars and foreign occupation, and their impact on European research, especially records and jurisdictions, looking at examples where appropriate.

“The Genealogical Value of Guild Records” – The history, structure, and purpose of guilds. Then, we look at some of the many record types that guilds created and how they can be of use to the researcher, especially when church records are missing and how these records can fill those gaps.

Registration begins Monday, April 20th.
Zoom space is limited to the first 97 registrants.
SGS Members $30.00, Non-Members $40.00
Register for Online Seminar

Registration must be submitted before 9:00 pm Wednesday, May 13, 2020. Registrants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting and a Syllabus by email on May 15th.

Dr. Juengling holds a Master’s and Doctorate in German Philology with minors in both English and Linguistics. Philology is a highly specialized field of study, combining languages, linguistics, paleography and history. He is an Accredited Genealogist for Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden. Fritz is the German, Dutch and Scandinavian Research Specialist at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and speaks widely at genealogical conferences and seminars. 

NEW ZOOM LINK!

Dancing with the Spanish Lady: 
The Influenza Pandemic of 1918  
(Online Class and Discussion)
Thursday, April 23, 2020 
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm PDT

Follow this link to join:  https://washington.zoom.us/j/204565857

Here’s a timely topic to be presented by Lisa Oberg. 

Schools canceled, closed theaters and churches, social distancing… all of these public health measures in effect today were used to help combat the influenza pandemic of 1918.

NEW ZOOM LINK & INSTRUCTIONS!

Webinar: Friedrich Christian Eiler: Scoundrel, Bigamist, and More
Presenter: Jill Morelli
Date: Friday, 1 May 2020 
Time: 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm PDT

Follow this link to join: https://zoom.us/j/978964694?
pwd=T0pQenI5YnhIWTZsRHkxQjJZbDBYQT09
  Not all our ancestors are fine upstanding citizens, but Friedrich challenged all parameters of exemplary citizenship. But, who was Friedrich Eiler? The ability to combine fragments of identity to form a single individual is an important skill. This case study illustrates the techniques used to identify the unknown!   This is an online meeting via Zoom of the German Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/    SGS Members are welcome to join in!   After entering the link, use this password: 367866 Meeting ID: 978 964 694  

Snowbound Stagecoach

by Charles Hansen

The people involved in this account came from the following families;  Stephens, Miller, Allphin, McClain, Scott, Mulkey, Riddle, Davis, Glover, Nichols, McDonald, Niles, Jeffries, Moody, Gay, Jagger, Graham, Irvin, James, Wellington, Bolton, Wilson, Thompson, Hogg, Hunter, Stocking, Johnson and others.”Snowbound Stagecoach” is available from the publisher, Moonglade Press, or from Amazon.

Heritage Quest Research Library Temporary Closure

by Charles Hansen
What happens when a library is closed? We are happy to say that many things are happening during this COVID-19 Closure.  
The library has been thoroughly cleaned, we have added a new computer to the back office and replaced our oldest, very slow computer with the one from the office.  Our Office Manager is still picking up the mail from the Post Office so that we can process your inquiries, memberships and donations from the Nourish Our Roots Campaign. 
On the tech side, we have held our first online Board Meeting with amazing success. 
Our Tech Manager and our Web Manager have worked closely to get our online Forum and the Ancestry Remote Login up and running for our MEMBERS.
Closely here is OK because one is in Sumner and the other is in Montana!
Our Collections Manager is still working on cataloging our microfilm so that we can add it to our database.  We have our Education Manager working on procuring classes for us when we re-open.
All in all, even though we are at home like all of you, we are busy keeping things running. 
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE!
  Ancestry Remote Login and Forums
As a current member of Heritage Quest Research Library you have access to our FORUMS page and the ANCESTRY REMOTE LOGIN.
Currently the Forum topics range from “What are you doing during the Pandemic?” to “What you would like to see on the website and/or in the “library” and “What classes would you like to see?” 
Please note that this is not available to the general public and you must be a member in good standing to participate.