Puget Sound Genealogical Society
Tomorrow, May 16th, is the birthday of my only granddaughter, Aleena Christine. We live 300 miles apart and don’t get to hug nearly often enough. Here she is about age 10:
My purpose here today is not to brag, but to tell you about a something project I’ve done for each of my grandchildren. I wrote up my memories of “The Day You Were Born.” For instance, she was born in the middle of the night, in a very nighttime-quiet hospital, and both of us grandmas were blessed to hear her first HOLLER echoing loudly down the hall right after she was born. Now don’t you think she’ll want to know that someday??? I just wrote what each family member was doing that day, and especially what Gramps and I were doing in eager welcoming anticipation of her arrival. I happily pass the idea on to you all.
If I were to ask you, “Ever heard of Frenchtown…..and where is it?” What would be your answer………… I said Frenchtown, Montana, just west of Missoula, when Margie Beldin asked me this question. “Nope,” she said, “Frenchtown near Walla Walla!” WHAT??
Here’s the story summary: The French Canadian voyageurs travel throughout Canada and then down into the Pacific Northwest. As decades passed, and as they intermarried with local women, they did establish “Frenchtowns” or at least that was the designation given to these settlements.
It’s a forgotten bit of Northwest history that there was such a settlement just off Hwy 12 near the mouth of the Walla Walla River was established about 1824. The settlers in this area retained “their French Canadian character with their architectural forms, land division patterns and Roman Catholic religion.”
Margie Beldin, who has French Canadian ancestry, will give a presentation (in costume!) on this forgotten bit of Northwest history to the TCGS (Tri City Genealogical Society) meeting in October. Can’t wait!
**The quote is from www.historylink.org, the website for Washington history; an essay by Stephen B. Emerson posted in 2008.
Breaking Through Brick Walls; a panel discussion with Janet Camarata, Marylynn Strickland and Karen Sipe will be the topic of the May meeting of the South King County Genealogical Society. The meeting will be held Saturday, May 19, from 10 am – 12 noon, at Wesley Lea Hill, 32049 109th Pl SE, Auburn.
Puget Sound Genealogical Society
A section of the Fort Vancouver Tapestry
For those attending the Clark County Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar, don’t miss viewing the Fort Vancouver Tapestry on exhibit at the CCGS Annex, 717 Grand Blvd., Vancouver. This exquisite textile will be on display from Thursday, May 24 through Monday, May 28.
The tapestry was completed over a six-year period (1999 – 2005), using over 100,000 hours of volunteer effort. The 70 panels, stitched by 57 talented embroiderers, depicts the history and growth of the American West all the way to the banks of the mighty Columbia. The tapestry is 108 feet long and has more than 22 miles of woolen yarn.
An amazing work of art not to be missed.
CEMETERY RESEARCH
varies greatly, and to learn how to approach it, we look forward to having LAUREL SMITH, President of the GENEALOGICAL FORUM OF OREGON, to share her experience with us.
LOWER COLUMBIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walcolgs/
SOMERSET RETIREMENT APARTMENTS
2025 TIBBETTS DRIVE, LONGVIEW
DINING ROOM 7:00 PM
June 14, 2018
VISITORS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’sThursday EveningE-News, Edition10 May 2018 |
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For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you! For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here. Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for May 2018, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” > “Our Publications” menu at www.gfo.org. |
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member! |
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Votes Counted: New Board Elected |
The election for GFO’s Board has concluded and the votes have been counted. The new term for these officers begins July 1. |
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Another of GFO’s members has submitted a genealogical puzzle for our experts to try and solve! This time, however, our inquiring member has offered GFO a $500 donation prize if the Genealogy Problem Solvers can crack the case! Join us for this free presentation on May 19th, and marvel at the research wonders of experts Harold Hinds, Kristin Parks, Duane Funk, and Tom O’Brien. Will the problem solvers be able to demolish the brick wall? Will GFO get the $500 donation? Attend the GPS meeting on Saturday, May 19th at 9:30am to find out! |
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The next Mexican Ancestry meeting will consist of finding records of border crossings, people from Mexico entering into the U.S. through entry ports such as Eagle Pass and El Paso Texas, Nogales, Arizona, San Isidro, California, and many others. Official record keeping began in 1906 and information taken at the port of entry varied from state to state. We’ll take a look at what records are available through the Family Search website. These records also tie in with naturalization records for Mexican Americans. Within the naturalization records is a wealth of detailed information such as the port of entry, place of birth, last foreign residence, and more. The Genealogical Society of Hispanic America – Southern California has a four volume set of books for sale through its website, “Naturalizations of Mexican Americans” by John P. Schmal. Over 1,200 extractions are included in these four volumes. The leader of this free Special Interest Group will bring Volume 1 to share with the group. Questions? Send a note to the group leader, Vince Ramirez at sw@gfo.org. |
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GFO Needs You! Bulletin Editor & Membership Assistant |
This is important. The current Editor is finishing up her last Bulletin. As with every organization, we are soon to lose some of our most valuable volunteers to retirement. We’re currently in need of a Managing Editor for our quarterly publication, The Bulletin. The good news is, we have a substantial stockpile of articles so this will give the next Editor a big help before they begin. Email volunteer@gfo.org if interested! |
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Read all about how a group of Oregon students and other citizens helped the State Archivists preserve the state’s constitutional document. This completely inspiring article, complete with pictures and videos, can be read and experienced HERE. |
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Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery needs enthusiastic volunteers for this upcoming event. Saturday, May 12th, 2018 is Oregon Cemetery Clean Up Day. They need as many volunteers as possible to help spruce up Lone Fir for spring as part of this state-wide effort! The shift runs from 10:00am to noon, and the duties include picking up debris and weeding around headstones. Tools, training, and snacks will be provided. The more hands we have the more fun! This is a cooperative project between Friends of Lone Fir, METRO, and SOLVE. To sign up for this opportunity please fill out the form here. |
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FRIDAY, May 11thMexican Ancestry Group 11:30am – 1:30pm This meeting of the Mexican Ancestry group will consist of finding records of border crossings, people from Mexico entering into the U.S. through entry ports such as Eagle Pass and El Paso Texas, Nogales Arizona, San Ysidro California, and many other ports. 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, May 12thGreat Lakes Region Group 9:30 – 11:30am At this meeting, we will look at the Ohio River as a major regional transit corridor. At this meeting, Judi Scott’s recent presentation on orphan trains, a genealogy visit to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and ancestor’s puzzling move from Bohemia to Minnesota. You are invited to bring stories about your family and research in the Great Lakes Region. Questions? Contact Lynn at GreatLakes@gfo.org. Writers’ Forum 1 – 3pm 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 peggyrbaldwin@gmail.com or 503-916-9410. SUNDAY, May 13thMaps Work Party 9am – Noon We are planning to continue working on on our collection of maps on the second Sunday of the month from 9:00am until noon or whenever. Come when you can. Doris Cruickshank is our map project coordinator. WEDNESDAY, May 16thLearn & Chat 10am – Noon At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jean Quan. DNA Q&A 1 – 3pm Lisa McCullough leads a discussion on various DNA related subjects, with each meeting focused on a particular subject. General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. Questions? Send a note to Lisa McCull at dna_lm@gfo.org. |
Flyer: Jensen, Benton County PUD Auditorium
We know what a seagull is, right? Would you guess how many different types of gulls there are?? This is Mr. Resting Seagull that I spotted in New Zealand…. just posing for tourist photos, no doubt.
“There are at least 28 types of gull species seen in North America. These birds are fairly well distributed throughout the continent along the coastlines and at sea. Although gulls are referred to as seagulls on a daily basis by most people, they are simply referred to as “gulls” in the birding society.” (Quoting from this website: https://www.birds-of-north-america.net/gulls.html )
From another website, I learned that there are 50 species world wide! Gracious. Never would have guessed. Would you?
