GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday 2020 E-News

by Charles Hansen
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition January 30, 2020
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
Northwest Loses National Archives in Seattle
The National Archives Seattle. We have a sad update to our top story from one week ago. The National Archives in Seattle is being closed. The public was never offered a single hint this was coming nor any chance to comment. Our Northwest historical records will end up at least 1,000 miles away in Riverside, California, or 1,800 miles away in Kansas City, Missouri, or both. The Seattle Times reported on the decision: “The move comes despite a letter sent Friday to the OMB by all senators from Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Idaho, and eight of the 10 Washington state representatives to Congress. The letter concluded the recommendation to close the archives “was flawed” and should be rejected.” Meanwhile, there may be one last fight over this decision. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson might sue the Trump administration over the failure to follow legally required procedures. Ferguson says, “It’s the Procedural Act that requires them to take certain procedural steps before they make changes to people’s lives and they simply don’t do it over and over and over again.”
Spring Seminar with Karen Stanbary: Solve Puzzles with DNA
Join us for our 2020 Spring Seminar, “Solve Puzzles with DNA,” on April 4 & 5, to be presented by nationally-known genetic genealogy author and educator Karen Stanbary, CG®, MA, LCSW.
The Saturday, April 4 classes, will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.at Portland’s Center for Self Enhancement (SEI). Karen will guide experienced beginners and above in learning how to manage and interpret DNA evidence, then how to incorporate it into existing documentary research and provide guidance on managing conversations about unexpected DNA results. If you register now, the cost for GFO members for this full day is just $45 and for non-members, $50. The Sunday half-day classes on April 5 will be held at the GFO from 9:30 a.m. – Noon. Deepen and expand your intermediate- to advanced-level skills as Karen presents more complex genealogy puzzles requiring more complex DNA evidence analysis. Early registration price for this half-day is just $25 for GFO members and $30 for non-members. Download the Seminar Flyer for more details.

Take advantage of those Early-Bird Registration prices! On March 1, all prices will increase by $5. This is a great opportunity to learn more about solving those genealogy puzzles with the use of DNA.
Register Now
February Workshop: Advanced Excel for Genealogy
Spreadsheets can be a powerful tool to help you analyze your genealogical data and keep track of your research; and they are essential in managing your DNA information.
From 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, join BCG Certified Genealogist Mary Kircher Roddy as she presents a hands-on guide for the experienced spreadsheet user using Excel to gain perspective on and to further your genealogy research. For a more complete description, download the seminar flyer. Seating is limited to 30 people! Everyone gets a spot at a table. Participants should bring their (fully charged) laptops pre-loaded with Excel. Mary is an active member of Seattle Genealogical Society, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the National Genealogical Society. She has published articles in Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy, and the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. For Early-Bird Registration on or before Jan. 31, the fee is $30.00 for GFO Members and $35.00 for non-members. You’ve got until tomorrow before the price increases $5 on Feb. 1.
Register Now
GFO Open House Brings 42 Free Events in March
It’s time for a genealogy conference in your backyard which doesn’t cost a dime! Save these dates for the 2020 GFO Genealogy Open House: March 13-22. Over these 10 days, the library is free to the public and everyone is invited to all classes. Of particular note, we have an Evening with Special Guest John Schmal on Mexican Ancestry, a Beginners Day, DNA Day, Software Day, and Irish Day. Check out the full schedule and save your favorite classes on your calendar. 42 events in all! It’s like having a free genealogy conference in your own backyard. Join us! There are no events that require registration this year.
News from the Library
Does anyone have research to do in Washington County, Indiana? Our most recent donation, listed below, is from the estate of Cindy Holsapple-Boone. Many thanks to her family for their generosity, and the help of her friend Trudie, who sent them cross country to the GFO.
New Books:
• [Cemeteries] Washington County, Indiana, Posey Township, 1982, partial list 1983
• Affidavits and consents for persons making application for marriage license in Washington County, Indiana, years 1844-1877
• Bible records (Washington County (Indiana) Historical Society)
• Celebrating Salem & Washington County, Indiana, 1814-2014
• Cemeteried [sic]:Franklin Township, Washington County, Indiana
• Cemeteries in Pierce Township, Washington County, Indiana
• Cemeteries of Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana
• Census of Indiana Territory for 1807
• Death records, Washington County, Indiana, 1882-1950
• Divorce records for Washington County, Indiana, 1814-1921
• Early marriages in Indiana
• Guardianships, 1820-1859, Washington County, Indiana
• Map of Washington County, Indiana: showing the townships, sections, divisions & farm lands …
• Obituaries, selected newspapers of Washington County, Indiana
• Pioneer pickings, by Horace Heffren
• Salem cemeteries, Washington County, Indiana
• The Faris family of Washington County, Indiana: a genealogy of the descendants of William Farrie …
• Washington County, Indiana Brown Township
• Washington County, Indiana Franklin Township cemeteries
• Washington County, Indiana Vernon Township cemeteries
• Washington County, Indiana, Howard Township cemeteries, 1984
• Washington County, Indiana, Jackson Township cemeteries: copied from obituaries, death records, marriage records, family records, cemetery records, old church records
• Washington County, Indiana, Jefferson Township cemeteries.
• Washington County, Indiana, Madison Township, 1984: copied from death records, old church records, grave stones, obituaries, mortuary records, marriage records, newspaper items
• Washington County, Indiana, Monroe Township cemeteries, 1985: copied from death records, old church records, grave stones, obituaries, mortuary records, marriage records, newspaper items
• Washington County, Indiana, Polk Township_
New Digital Files
• Alabama heritage: The Alabama Statehood Bicentennial Issue
• Cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions of Benton County, Oregon, Index to volumes 1-5
• Genealogy news about our members, for our members (British Columbia Genealogical Society)
• Inscriptions in St. Mary’s churchyard, Tickhill, Yorkshire, England
• Last leaf (Montana)
• Marriage records, Douglas County, Oregon: Book 1 (1852-1871) and Book 2 (1871-1879)
• Mountain memories (Page County, Virginia)
• Newsletter of Willamette Valley Genealogical Society
• Portrait of an English parish church: St Mary the Virgin, Tickhill, Yorkshire
• The Beall News
• The Headhunter (Redondo Beach, California)
• The Root digger (Solano, California)
• Willamette Valley Genealogical Society News
Do You Have Professional Genealogy Skills to Offer?
Sometimes finding ancestors is just too daunting to do ourselves. Professional genealogists can help break down brick walls. The GFO lists the names and contact information of such researchers and other professionals on our Professional Resources page. Are you a professional and wish to be included?
Some of the professionals have formal certification, some do not. All have experience in various facets of genealogy. You must be an active member of the GFO in good standing to be included. We invite you to submit your name, contact information and credentials to: info@gfo.org.
Surplus Books: Washington History Set of 4
Here’s a fun collection of Pacific Northwest history preserved in four editions of the Washington State Genealogical and Historical Review published in 1983. These four periodicals are retired library copies with a label on each spine. Each is in very good condition.
Featured stories include:
Carbonado Mine Explosion December 9, 1899
The Great Seattle Fire June 6, 1889
The Pig That Went To War June 15, 1859
The Great Mount Baker Marathon August 10 & 11, 1911
Our price to pick up this set of four: $40
Price to ship to you: $45 If you’d like to buy these, email booksales@gfo.org.
Survey Results: Your Learning Style
Respondents had a lot to share about how they learn best. Reading in a book and hands-on workshop topped the list with one-on-one training and live presentations not far behind. Many indicated that a combination was best.

Here are a few of the comments: • If it’s technology then a hands-on workshop is better for me. For genealogy I’ve found the online reading the best.
• I teach adults and know about the four learning styles – very important that instructors understand how all students learn so that he/she can offer training that fits everyone.
• The advantage of an in-person lecture is being able to ask questions of the person you’re learning from while they’re fresh in your mind.
• I’m a visual and kinesthetic learner. I learn best when seeing and doing—-not by just listening! Reading online is ok but reading it in a book makes it easier to go back to an example or reread an explanation without so much fumbling with the computer version. Also you can use post it note tabs to mark things that are important to you to be able to find [it] fast.
• Learning depends on the topic. Some require reading, research; others hands on.
• Too much rambling can turn me off and I may miss something important. Taking notes is also important as a means of learning.
• I usually learn best by reading a paper or book (or online). But classes can be good too depending on the speaker/teacher.
• I learn best when I have to teach something or explain it to another. Then it “sticks” and I don’t forget it.
New Survey: Vintage Family Photos This week’s survey asks about the oldest photo in your family history collection, what it is of, how old it is, and how you dated the image.
Take the Survey Now
Our Privacy Policy: No Sharing
The GFO never shares your information. Period. Our website uses cookies to function but not to collect information about you. How’s that for a succinct privacy policy?
This week at GFO …

Saturday, February 1st
Virginia Group 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Topic: The Natchez Trace. Those of us with ancestors in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and more, may have ancestors who floated their goods down the Mississippi to sell, or fought with Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812. Maybe they fought in the Civil War battle of Shiloh, or were early settlers in Tennessee or Mississippi. If so, the Natchez Trace may have played a part in your family history. But even if it didn’t, this short-lived rough road played an important role in the settlement and growth of the United States. We’re going to talk about the “Kaintucks,” the Native Americans, the soldiers, a mysterious death that is still being debated today, and even the bandits along the Trace. And show photographs that might entice you to take a trip through history yourself. For more information see our blog: “Virginia Roots and Vines.”
German Group 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Join us as we provide information and inspiration for anyone with German speaking ancestors. We touch on a variety of topics related to Germanic history and migration. We also will provide time for members to share their research journeys and connect with others who may be researching the same region or time period. Send questions to german@gfo.org.
Sunday, February 2nd
Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – noon
Come and help us preserve the periodicals!
We’ll be working to prepare periodicals for scanning and doing some scanning too! Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.
Monday, February 3rd
Free to Non-Members All Day
A great time to sample our resources.
Tuesday, February 4th
Italian Group10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
The Italian group is dedicated to promoting Italian family history and genealogy through education using nationally-recognized genealogical standards and practices. If you have any questions, feel free to contact facilitator Stephanie Silenti at italian@gfo.org.
Wednesday, February 5th
Learn & Chat 10:00 a. m. – Noon
Join our “genealogy self-help” group. Please bring tales of your latest genealogy related adventures and a wish list of subjects to build our calendar. Facilitators: Jeanne Quan and Sandy Alto. learnandchat@gfo.org
DNA Q&A: Beyond the Basics1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
This meeting is for those who have already taken a DNA test, understand the results and have begun to use the results in expanding your family tree. The meetings begin with a presentation or discussion regarding current changes in DNA testing, different DNA testing tools and analysis methods. General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. Lisa McCullough leads this group.. Questions? dna_qa@gfo.org.
GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.

Closure of Seattle National Archives

by Charles Hansen

Closure of the National Archives in Seattle

On Monday, January 13, 2020, the staff at the National Archives at Seattle received notification that within the next four years, the facility will be closed, and the records will be transferred to the NARA facilities in Kansas City, Missouri or Riverside, CA.

The National Archives at Seattle  has 50,000 case files from the Chinese Exclusion Act from Chinese who entered the U.S. through the ports of Seattle, Sumas, Port Townsend,  Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Vancouver, B.C. from 1882 to 1943.  A dedicated staff of local volunteers is indexing these files.  If these records are moved 1,000 miles away, this valuable work will end.

Anyone who has ever gotten research assistance from the National Archives staff appreciates their vast institutional knowledge of the records. This will be lost if the National Archives is closed and moved from the Pacific Northwest.

More background information on the closure can be found at Save National Archives at Seattle.

For a thorough discussion of the proposed closure and updates go to Feliks Banel’s My Northwest online column

See Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) for the complete report. Submit your comments to the PBRB at  fastainfo@pbrb.gov

Call the National Archives at 1-86-NARA-NARA (1-866-272-6272) or contact them at archives.gov/contact

Please call your senators, congressional representatives and let them know you want these records to remain at the National Archives in Seattle.

Thank you.
Trish Hackett Nicola
Blog Editor

Closing the Seattle National Archives

by Charles Hansen

Seattle Branch of the National Archives to Close

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Leland Meitzler —

It has been announced that the Seattle branch of the National Archives is being closed. I’ve spent a lot of time researching at the Sandpoint Way facility. Not only did I research my family (using the Federal Census microfilm prior to digitization), but I’ve done a lot of local history research, most relating to the early history of Pierce and King County, Washington. That was all working with original documents. However, the biggest losers in the move may be the many Native American tribes of the area – some 272 of them!

They say that the records can be stored in Kansas City and Southern California. Historians researching Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho will have a long way to go to search the records. They say that .001% of the collection is digitized, so that’s not going to help. This is about the money. I’d bet that no one working on the OMB board that made this decision has Pacific Northwest roots. Suddenly it all comes close to home, making us realize how much power a few unnamed bureaucrats in D.C. have over us lowly taxpayers.

Following is an excerpt from an article published in the January 25, 2020 edition of the Seattle Times:

The decision to pack up and move the National Archives at Seattle to Southern California and Kansas City, Missouri, has rattled those who have spent hours doing research in the mammoth facility.

A panel charged with looking at ways to trim federal properties deemed excess has recommended the 73-year-old building and its 10-acre site be sold. The U.S. Office of Management and the Budget (OMB) agreed and announced its decision late Friday that the facility should be closed.

“I’m deeply disappointed that OMB failed to heed bipartisan Congressional requests & approved selling #Seattle’s archives facility w/out engaging state & local officials & affected communities as required by law,” tweeted Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the Democrat whose 7th Congressional District includes the Sand Point archives property.  “We must get answers about why the law wasn’t followed in this case.”

The move comes despite a letter sent Friday to the OMB  by   all senators from Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Idaho, and eight of the 10 Washington state representatives to Congress. The letter concluded the recommendation to close the archives “was flawed” and should be rejected.

On Saturday, after learning of the approved closure, Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell said, “Trying to move these articles from the region with their historic content just shows an absolute disregard for the importance of them and their significance to our region.”

Read the full article.

Thanks for letting me post this Leland.

Seattle Genealogical Society Save the Seattle Archives

by Charles Hansen
Your Help is Needed to Keep the National Archives in Seattle!
Act Now! 
The National Archives at Seattle is slated for closure. Please act now to try to keep this invaluable facility in Seattle. In the Seattle Times today, Saturday, January 25, 2020, the article on the closure has the headline, “Terrible and disgusting: Decision to close National Archives at Seattle a blow to tribes, historians in 4 states”. We at SGS agree. Genealogists all over the Northwest will agree. Tribal members and Alaskans will agree. 

The deadline for public comment is Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Please take the time to contact your senators and your representative now! There are some talking points and insight into the issues at the bottom of this message. 

For more information, please read the note written by Trish Nicola Hackett that has been inserted here. Also read the Seattle Times articles in the Saturday, January 25, 2020,  and Sunday, January 26, 2020, editions.   Note from Trish Hackett Nicola, genealogist, historian, and researcher of Chinese Exclusion Act files at the National Archives in Seattle : 
  As you have probably heard from several sources, the Seattle branch of the National Archives will close in the next two to four years and the records will be transferred to Kansas City, Missouri and Riverside, CA.   It is important for genealogists to let our government officials know what an outrage this is and that this move will deprive researchers of access to local records.    As researchers we know that it is a myth that all records are or can be digitized. Records are being digitized as quickly as possible, but it takes time, money, and staff to do this overwhelming job. Archivists add important metadata to enable researchers to find the material they are seeking. Digitization is a goal, but it is far from reality at this point.   I have attached a summary of some more talking points. Please,call or write your senators, congressional representatives, local officials, the members of SGS, and anyone interested in keeping the records from Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho in the Pacific Northwest. If possible add  a short personal anecdote from your research experience.   The Seattle Times will feature a version of this essay in the newspaper on Saturday, January 25. Sunday’s issue will include a dramatic story and photos of a National Archives volunteer finding her aunt’s Native American file with a completed 4-generation pedigree chart.    Help save the National Archives for the Pacific Northwest!   Thank you.   Trish Trish Hackett Nicola Familytraces.com
ChineseExclusionFiles.com
2908 27th Ave West
Seattle, WA 98199-2853 Talking Points and Insight into the issues: 

Closure of National Archives in Seattle

On Monday, January 13, 2020, the staff at the National Archives at Seattle received notification that within the next four years, the facility will be closed, and the records will be transferred to the NARA facilities in Kansas City, Missouri or Riverside, CA.

There was no advance notice of this decision.  The staff or the public was not notified that public hearings were held in Washington, D.C., Laguna Niguel, CA; and Denver, CO in June and July 2019.  No meetings were held in the Pacific Northwest.

The National Archives at Seattle holds 58,000 cubic feet of historic records from the Pacific Northwest for Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska. These records belong in the Pacific Northwest. People here need access. These records should not be stored a thousand miles away.

When the Alaska regional facility of NARA was closed in 2014 and the records transferred to Seattle, the residents of Alaska were promised that the records would stay in the Pacific Northwest in perpetuity. Tribal members use these files to establish or keep membership in tribes. Proof of tribal citizenship is used to obtain education funds. Tribal records have been used for retaining fishing rights, as in the Boldt Decision. Native school records from Alaska and Oregon are included in the NARA collections. Another broken promise to Native Americans…

These historic records are used for research by students at the University of Washington and other local colleges and include Federal court cases for over 100 years, 1890 to 2000, and naturalization records. There are 50,000 case files from the Chinese Exclusion Act from Chinese who entered the U.S. through the ports of Seattle, Portland, Sumas, Port Townsend, and Vancouver, B.C. from 1882 to 1943.
 
Genealogists and historians rely on these records. They’re the basis for scores of books and articles. Among the many authors who have used the collection are Lorraine McConaghy, Eric Liu, Jennifer Ott, Knute Berger, Karen Abbott, Bennet Bronson, Chuimei Ho, and Marie Rose Wong. Countless stories about the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and the building of the Ballard Locks could never have been written without NARA’s documents.

It is a myth that all records are or can be digitized. Records are being digitized as quickly as possible, but it takes time, money, and staff to do this overwhelming job. Archivists add important metadata to enable researcher to find the material they are seeking. Digitization is a goal, but it is far from reality at this point.

Nothing can replace the feeling of holding an original, historical record of your ancestor. These original documents connect you directly to your ancestor.

If the National Archives is closed and moved from the Pacific Northwest, the vast institutional knowledge of the staff will be lost. The National Archives depends on volunteers to help make records accessible to researchers. If these records are moved 1,000 miles away, this valuable work will end.

Closing the National Archives at Seattle and moving the records to Missouri or California does not reflect the mission and values of the National Archives

Mission of the National Archives 
https://www.archives.gov/about/info/mission
Our mission is to provide public access to Federal Government records in our custody and control. Public access to government records strengthens democracy by allowing Americans to claim their rights of citizenship, hold their government accountable, and understand their history so they can participate more effectively in their government.

Values of the National Archives
Our Values reflect our shared aspirations that support and encourage our long-standing commitment to public service, openness and transparency, and the government records that we hold in trust.

Purpose of the National Archives
https://www.archives.gov/about/info/whats-an-archives.html

The National Archives holds historical documents of the U.S. Government (federal, congressional, and presidential records) on behalf of the American public so that citizens, public servants, Congress, and the Courts can obtain the information they need to exercise their rights and responsibilities.

FASTA (Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act) identifies the factors for consideration during the review and assessment of property recommended for disposal, consolidation, or re-development of the government property.

According to the FASTA Factors report:
“Mission Alignment: Disposition of the property will better support mission alignment.”
The mission of the National Archives is to provide public access to Federal Government records. Moving the Pacific Northwest historic records 1,000 miles away does not provide public access. It makes it difficult for citizens to participate more effectively in their government.

According to the FASTA Factors report: 
“Access to Services: A portion of the property is open to the public for research purposes. NARA has determined that it can fulfill its mission needs at the target relocation facilities.”

It does not matter if the facility is open to the public. Pacific Northwest citizens would still need to travel over 1,000 miles to have access to their records. This puts an extreme burden on anyone wishing to do research of the Pacific Northwest records.

The FASTA report says their conclusions align with the mission, values, and purpose of the National Archives. They don’t.  NARA is saying that they can fulfill its mission in spite of moving the records. They can’t.

For the complete report, see Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB), https://www.pbrb.gov 
Go to Recommendations, then go to Official Updated PBRB Submission to OMB, December 27, 2019.  Submit your comments to the PBRB at fastainfo@pbrb.gov

And please, if you care about history, call your senators, congressional representatives and anyone interested in access to the past.

Call 1-86-NARA-NARA (1-866-272-6272) or contact them at archives.gov/contact

 

Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society February Meeting

by Charles Hansen
The Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society will host Richard Hanks (President of the Stanwood Area Historical Area) who will present “The Parentage and Personality of Abraham Lincoln”. Mr. Hanks is related to Lincoln through his Mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln. The meeting is February 11th at 1PM at the society library located at 6111-188th Pl. NE, Arlington, Washington.

Contact photo