GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen
GFO Logo Halo 2 Large

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News Edition

November 8, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
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Cyndi Ingle Rocks, Attracts Record GFO Audience!
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Cyndi Ingle 1

Wow! That’s the easiest way to say it. We can’t thank you enough for making the GFO Fall Seminar a record-setter.

More than 200 people came on Saturday and more than 100 on Sunday to hear Cyndi Ingle, the creator of the comprehensive genealogy website, Cyndi’s List.

We also sold a record number of raffle tickets, a great way to help us pay our rising bills. Special thanks to these sponsors for donating valuable prizes: Southern California Genealogical Society, Find my past, Fold3, Family Tree DNA, History Geo, and Newspapers.com.

And our biggest thanks go to Cyndi herself. If you made it to the seminar you know how engaging, informative, entertaining, and funny she can be.
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GFO Becomes FamilySearch Affiliate Library
FamilySearch Logo Affiliate

We’ve got great news! The GFO is now an official FamilySearch Affiliate Library. This grants you access to many FamilySearch records not available when you search their site from home. FamilySearch has billions of records online and adds another 300 million free genealogical records and images online every year.

Access to FamilySearch computers at the GFO will be free to anyone.

GFO membership or payment of day-use fees will be required to use the other resources in our library.
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Pulitzer Prize Winner Brings Writing Tips To GFO
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The job of the journalist and that of the genealogist are surprisingly similar: we both research the facts and the context of people to tell their stories.

Genealogists tend to focus more on the research, but journalists must do both.

Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Hallman, Jr., of The Oregonian knows a thing or two about journalism, and he is coming to the GFO to share his insights with us.

Join us for our next GenTalk at the GFO Saturday, November 17 at 2 p.m.

This talk is free and open to the public.
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African American Ancestry Group Help Session
African American SIG

The next meeting of the African American Special Interest Group (SIG) is scheduled for Saturday, November 24, from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Our meetings are regularly held on the fourth Saturday of the month. We recently realized that for November this is the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.

Because we figure many people will be spending time with family instead of other family historians, rather than have a speaker and program, we will be holding an open-ended Help Session for this month’s meeting.

If you’re stuck in your research, want some advice, or just want to share your family history stories with fellow researchers, come on by! SIG coordinator Janice Sellers will be there for the entire time and will be happy to talk with you.

Questions? Comments? Send Janice a note at African_American@gfo.org.
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History In The News!
Betsy Ross sewing

Ever wondered what it would be like to have New York’s State Archives at your finger tips?

Well, wonder no more! The National Park Service and the Institute of Museum and Library Services granted $125,000 last month to the New York State Archives and the Archives Partnership Trust to allow them to digitize and post historical documents from the Revolutionary War era to the State Archives’ website.

The archivists began their work on November 1st, so keep an eye out for updates as they make progress on this amazing accessibility project.

Access to our history is always a revolution in and of itself!
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This week at GFO …
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FRIDAY, November 9th

Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Finding your Hispanic ancestors from Mexico, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California! This Special Interest Group (SIG) pertains specifically to Mexican ancestors from Mexico and the American Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California).

Beginning and intermediate researchers are welcome. Some subjects will include online parish records, Hispanic genealogy societies, Family History Library/FamilySearch.org. Ancestry.com, solving genealogical problems, methodology of organizing your research, etc. Of course this group will also be about sharing our research experiences, and having fun.

If you know of any other people interested in Hispanic genealogy tell them about the up and coming group. They don’t have to be a GFO member to participate.
For questions or comments, please email Vince at sw@gfo.org.

SATURDAY, November 10th

Great Lakes Region 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Duane Funk will talk about the War of 1812, and in particular its effects on the Great Lakes region and our research there. Also, we will check in with our database. After that we will have time for sharing research and brainstorming some possible solutions to your genealogy questions.

Interest in the Great Lakes Region can be broad and diverse, as some ancestors settled and remained there for generations, while others spent a short time there before moving on. The group’s interests include migration, travel, trade, historical events, and research techniques specific to the area. For more information contact Lynn Rossing at GreatLakes@gfo.org.

Writers’ Forum 1 – 3 p.m.

Purpose: This is a peer group of genealogists, who meet to learn about writing and to share our writing with each other. Peggy Baldwin facilitates this group and can be reached at writers@gfo.org or 503-916-9410.

Book we are using: Roy Peter Clark’s Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer published by Little, Brown and Company in 2006. Each month we cover a tool. To see what tool we are covering at a particular meeting, please visit our web page here.

SUNDAY, November 11th

Library Work 9:00 a.m. – noon

There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. 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.

Heritage Quest Research Library Developing Roadmap to Success

by Roxanne Lowe

The venerable Heritage Quest Research Library is undergoing a revitalization. Long known for packing more than 15,000 foreign and state books, family histories and special subject titles; microfiche; historic maps; computers; classes and a bookstore into a small space in Sumner, Washington, the Board of Trustees of the all-volunteer-run institution is looking to the future with fresh eyes. The library, begun in 1985 by Leland Meitzler with his personal collection, has changed and grown over the years. With today’s changing needs and resources, however, the Board of Trustees and Management Team felt it was time to develop a roadmap for the future.

HQRL Board Chair Laura Livingston, Director Jo-Anne Huber and Vice Chair Doug Sawyer

In June and July 2018, the Board administered a survey to its members asking a wide range of questions related to who uses the library, how information is conveyed, what services are used and the volunteer experience. An astonishing 30 percent of its members responded to the survey. Using the insightful information gleaned from the survey, as well as conversations with the Management Team, the Board began to work on a long-term strategic plan. Once the plan is drafted, it will be posted on the HQRL website for review and comment. A revised plan is scheduled for unveiling at the HQRL annual meeting in January.

One thing appears clear about the HQRL effort: the passion and dedication to make HQRL a  premier genealogy resource for its members, patrons and guests of the library is resolute. The Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Laura Livingston, has stepped up their role to include more management of day-to-day operations. Working closely with HQRL Director Jo-Anne Huber and the Management Team, the Board is excited about ensuring the future stability and visibility of the library.

The research library, located at 1007 Main Street in Sumner, is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday. If you’re interested in becoming a member of the HQRL, single memberships are $40 per year; $45 per year for a family.

Tri-City Genealogical Society December Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Our December 12th meeting will be at the Benton County PUD Auditorium in Kennewick on the corner of Hwy #395 and 10th Street
The program for this year will be the Show & Tell event and we will not have a Beginning Genealogy Class that evening. This activity starts at 7:00 p.m., but for those of you who are setting up displays, please come as early as 6:15 p.m.
Show Off Your Heritage
 
Members and guests are asked to bring items about your family heritage/history as well as what you interests you have.
1. Photographs
2. Documents
3. Family heirlooms, antiques
4. Hobbies, collections or recreation interests
Your legacy will one day be handed down to your children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren and they will want to know what hobbies and collections you had as a child/teenager or as an adult.
You can display your family photographs and documents on a poster or a tri-fold or on the table.
This will be a fun event for everyone to have a glimpse of your family history as well as the antiques/heirlooms, hobbies and collections that you either inherited or have or previously engaged in.
Refreshments:
Please bring homemade or store bought cookies, candies, fudge, muffins, quick breads (banana, zucchini, apple, pumpkin), cake, etc.  Beverages, plates, napkins and utensils will be provided.
Thank you for your continued interest in TCGS
Art

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Know what this is? It’s Solanum tuberosum…… does that help?? Does this?

Washington is known for its apples but did you realize that potatoes in Washington have a much longer history. Back in 1792, Salvador Fidalgo, a Spanish marine explorer, supervised the planting of the first garden in Washington (by white folks) at Neah Bay. He used potato starts brought from San Blas, Mexico. The crop yielded enough to feed his crew.  Then in 1795, Englishmen planted potatoes near present-day Ilwaco. In 1825, Fort Astoria had a “promising crop” of potatoes. Didn’t take long for farmer-settlers to realize that Washington’s fertile soil would yield bounteous potato crops; “many a farmer reported harvesting potatoes that weighed eight to ten pounds and tasted far better than cake or ice cream.”

“Read all about” this subject in the Fall 1996 issue of Columbia,  a magazine of northwest history. I’m gleaning from an article by Jacqueline Williams.

Eastern Washington Gen Soc Hosts Successful Fall Seminar

by Roxanne Lowe

Dave Obee with the WSGS Blog Team: Charles Hansen, Roxanne Lowe and Donna Potter-Phillips.

Despite a last minute venue change, the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society‘s annual Fall Seminar went off without a hitch — at least to the 70+ attendees.

Leading Canadian genealogy expert Dave Obee delivered five presentations in an information-packed day. One of my favorite gems was my introduction to CanGenealogy.com — a Canada only version of Cyndi’s List. So many resources to investigate to learn more about my New Brunswicker great-grandparents!

Organizers of the EWGS Fall Seminar should be very proud of themselves for pulling off this event. I felt so welcome — just like one of the group. If you’re looking for a well-done workshop, mark your calendar for Saturday, April 6, 2019. EWGS is hosting popular lecturer Sunny Jane Morton for their Spring Seminar. Donna Potter-Phillips (my gracious weekend hostess and fellow blogger) gave us a heads-up in this blog post.

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Today being Election Day, and feeling “hooray it’s over” because of all the verbal wrangling, I must reflect that politics has always since Day One of this country been cause for passionate verbal exchanges. Now, too, it’s on TV and social media. In the olden days, it was cartoons in the newspaper. Here’s one from 1860. Do you think it was pro-Lincoln or against Lincoln?

I’ve read enough U.S. history (and bet you have too) to know that there were strong divides of opinion over Abraham Lincoln and the campaigning was most rancorous. Just like today, eh?

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society Civil War Records

by Charles Hansen

The Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS) presents “Anatomy of a Civil War Record” on Friday, November 16, 2018, at 10am to noon at the Bainbridge Island Pubic Library. The guest speaker is Jill Morelli, C.G. and President of the Seattle Genealogical Society. Free to members, a $5.00 donation is suggested for nonmembers. For more information go to https://bigenealogy.org/ BIGS is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.
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Thank you,
Sue Elfving
PR
Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society

Monday Mystery

by Charles Hansen

Our very recent EWGS Fall Workshop featured Dave Obee from Victoria, BC, who is a recognized expert on Canadian research. (He’s the founder of www.cangenealogy.com.)

One “mystery” thing he explained to us was how our ancestors thought nothing of going back-and-forth across the Canada-U.S. border and did so multiple times during their lives. I never thought about that. Asking “Grandma” Google, I found there are 29 official border crossing points between the two countries along WA-ID-MT with British Columbia and Alberta. This explains why an ancestor of my dau-in-law’s came to and lived his life in Washington but married a lady from Victoria IN Victoria. It was no big deal in those days.

If you have Pacific Northwest connections, have you double-checked to see if you have Canadian connections too?

 

SCRIBE……and lovin’ it!

by Charles Hansen

Last few dreary, rainy days I’ve been indexing Washington state records through the digital archives program, SCRIBE. As you see, I’ve done 470 names….. may seem like a lot but you’ll also notice that I’m only number 159 on the list which means that 158 folks have done way more than me.

Notice WSGS past president, Steve Baylor’s number? And Charles Hansen’s number?

IT’S NOT ABOUT NUMBERS…… it’s about paying it forward, making a contribution to the genealogy community of Washington state. I like the knowing feeling that I’m helping.

What about you??????