GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

1 February 2018
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 February 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!

 

Don’t Miss GFO’s Open House, March 3rd – 11th

 

Click for the Flyer and schedule HERE. Click the picture above for a video.

Continue reading →

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

Not selling you a darn thing today but I am singing the praises of a genealogy tool that I’ve had for a year and am finally putting to good use. That would be a Flip-Pal.

Probably like you, I had a couple of shoe boxes full of family photos….. photos that only I knew who they were and photos not attached digitally to their family. Photos destined for a black garbage bag.

Took me less than a day to sit and scan all those photos with my Flip-Pal. They are scanned onto a teeny chip, which is then inserted into your computer and then you can save/place the images wherever you wish. Lift the lid, lay the photo on the screen, close the lid, press go. Easypeasy. 

And now hubby’s cousins are talking a First Cousins Only reunion in 2018. Light bulbs are going off! I’m going to ask them to bring their old family photos and I will scan them in so as to share with everybody. Hallelujah!

To me, a big flatbed scanner is not the tool for the job because it takes much longer and I wanted each photo to be scanned individually. So, dear reader, take my words of experience or not. But if you want, just Google Flip-Pal.

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK –  THE CLEVELAND NECROLOGY FILE

Prior to 1976, the Cleveland Public Library staff clipped death notices from the local newspapers and maintained a file of these notices known as the Cleveland Necrology File. The Library has converted this file into an on-line database that is a breeze to search, readily accessible, and free to everyone. This is about 800,000 paid death notices and local cemetery records available online. No need to be a Cleveland Public Library patron.

It contains the complete full text of paid death notices as published in the following newspapers during the time periods listed:

  • The Cleveland Plain Dealer – 1850-1975
  • The Cleveland Herald – 1833, 1847-1848, 1876, 1878-1879
  • The Cleveland Press – 1941-1975
Just go to :  http://newsindex.cpl.org and enter your search criteria. To narrow your search results, be sure to enter your search criteria  in the format “last  name, first name”.  Example : “Doe, Jane”

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

LIV BIRGIT CHRISTENSEN LIVE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2018

 

Join us on Sunday, February 18th from 10:00-11:30 AM to learn more about researching your Norwegian ancestors with Liv Birgit Christensen. Liv will be speaking live from Norway with examples of how to research your ancestors.
For 20 years, Liv has been doing research and helping others with their genealogy. Some areas of interest are the home counties of her grandparents, establishing provenance to family heirlooms, identifying persons and places in pictures and DNA. She is the administrator and contributor to many local and family Facebook pages.

Liv is the president of the organization “Friends of the Local/Baerum Library”. They work to make the politicians uphold and increase the library services in the municipality with 125,000 inhabitants. She says about travelling in Norway, “I always try to visit the local libraries and archives. In the ‘hunt’ for new knowledge from the archives, I have found much new material to include in my research, which gives the research a richer story.”

Not only does Liv speak Norwegian, English, German, and some French, she also understands Danish and Swedish.  From 1968-1969, she lived stateside, in Atlanta, Georgia.

2ND SATURDAY SERIES

Our Second Saturday Series presentation this month will be “Using Academic Libraries for Genealogy Research” by Lisa Oberg. Academic libraries (college and university libraries) can feel intimidating, but scratch beneath the surface a bit and you’ll discover the millions of books, government documents, historical photographs, maps, atlases, journals, magazines, microfilm and newspapers in these collections can provide unexpected details for your family history research. Lisa Oberg will demonstrate how academic libraries can aid in your genealogical research and she will provide tips for searching library catalogs and databases.

Join us for this presentation Saturday, February 10, 2018  from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

IRISH GENEALOGY SEMINAR WITH PRESENTERS FROM
THE ULSTER HISTORICAL FOUNDATION, BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
Here’s a great opportunity sponsored by the Irish Heritage Club and Seattle Galway Sister City Association.  Finton Mullan is the executive director, and Gillian Hunt  is a research officer of the Ulster Historical Foundation, Belfast, Northern Ireland. They will be the presenters at the Irish Genealogy Seminar at Seattle Center, on March 18, 2018.  It will be in the Upper Armory (formerly the Center House).

Welcome and registration starts at 9:30 AM. A full day of presentations start at 10:00 AM, ending with an opportunity for questions and answers at 5:30 PM.

Cost is just $35 per person, or $25 for registering before February 21, 2018.  Cost is also $25 for current 2018 members of the Irish Heritage Club.  Lunch is not provided.  A small registration fee may apply.  Check out all the details at :
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irish-genealogy-seminar-tickets-42301967323?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR IRISH WEEK
Volunteers are needed to help man the SGS Booth at the Seattle Center’s Irish Week Festival that takes place on Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18.  If you can help on either day, please contact Jean Roth at 206 782-2629 or jeanaroth@juno.com  
SAVE THE DATE
SEATTLE’S 2018 IRISH FESTIVAL,
Seattle Center Armory,
Seattle, WA
Saturday and Sunday, March 17 & 18, 2018
FREE admission both days

This year the festival is actually on St Patrick’s Day.  How fun will that be!  More info :
http://irishclub.org/irish-festival-seattle/

IRISH GENEALOGY SEMINAR,
Seattle Center Armory,
Seattle, WA
Sunday, March 18, 2018
9:30AM – 6:00PM  

See the feature article about this event in this issue of the eNews!  You won’t want to miss speakers Finton Mullan and Gillian Hunt from the Ulster Historical Foundation, Belfast.  Registration and more details at :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irish-genealogy-seminar-tickets-42301967323?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_event_email&utm_term=viewmyevent_button
          SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. Note there will be no Irish or German Interest Group meeting in March due to the Irish Week festivities that same weekend.

FEBRUARY

Friday, February 2, 10:15 am – 3:00 pm, Beginning Genealogy Class,  All you need to bring is a pencil and a sack lunch! You are welcome to bring your laptop. The instructor, Linda Fitzgerald, will provide a handout of class materials.

Saturday, February 3, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org

Sunday, February 4, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, DNA Workshop, Led by Cary Bright with first hour on a specific topic, and the second hour open for sharing DNA issues with focus on GenomeMate Pro.

Saturday, February 10, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group, leaders Reiley Kidd & Betty Ravenholt, this group meets  the second Saturday of every even month, FTM is the tool long associated with Ancestry.com

Saturday, February 10 , 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Second Saturday Speaker Series, “Using Academic Libraries for genealogy Research” with Lisa Oberg

Sunday, February 11, 1:30pm – 3:00pm, Scandinavian SIG, with Karen Knudson. Jill Morelli will give her talk “Finding your Nordic Parish of Birth” & be available for questions following the presentation.

Saturday, February 17, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth
Saturday, February 17, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, German SIG, with Jean Roth

Sunday, February 18, 10:00am – 11:30am, Norwegian Webinar, with Liv Birgit Christensen

MARCH 1-15th

Saturday, March 3, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org

Saturday, March 10 , 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Second Saturday Speaker Series, “Using Academic Libraries for genealogy Research” with Lisa Oberg

Whatcom Genealogical Society February Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Whatcom Genealogical Society Meeting Monday, February 12, 2018, 2 p.m. at the Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way.  Guest Speaker:  Cyndi Ingle. Cyndi is a Certified Genealogist, and owner of the “Cyndi’s List” Web site.  She will speak on “Back to Basics:  Research Planning and Execution Online.”  Visitors are welcome!
Contact:  WGS President Galen Biery – 360-733-8300

Patricia Hert Awarded 2017 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 500 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Patricia Hert

Today we’re introducing Patricia Hert of Yakima, Washington, who was nominated by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS). She was recognized for her steadfast support of a number of projects in the society.

Ms. Hert became a member of the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society in 2011. She is an active volunteer, assisting with their library inventory and indexing projects as well as participating in their yard sale and rest stop fundraisers.

Currently, Ms. Hert is the society’s treasurer and an assistant librarian.  She is also a member of the Washington State Genealogical Society, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR) and the Central Washington Chapter of AHSGR.

Ms. Hert is a respected and diligent member of the YVGS. Her contributions demonstrate that she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Interim Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Outstanding Volunteer Nominations Due Feb. 15

by Roxanne Lowe

Attention all Societies & Organizations:

The deadline to name your 2018 Outstanding Volunteer is Feb 15. All we need by that date is the name of your honoree. To view other deadlines, click here.

The Outstanding Volunteer and Outstanding Team Awards are presented each year at the Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony to members nominated by their local society. Nomination criteria is left to the individual societies, but limited to two individuals or one team. This year’s Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony will be at the Clark County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Workshop on Saturday, May 26 in Vancouver.

Honor those outstanding members and teams that help your organization be successful. If you’ve got questions, contact Roxanne Lowe, Interim WSGS Recognition Chair.

 

Archives Staff Share Tips About Preserving Records

by Roxanne Lowe

A newspaper clipping from 1800 about George Washington’s death?
A pair of cowboy boots fit for a baby?
A set of old photos fused together?
Your great grandmother’s passport?

Jeff Adamson from Richland braved the snowy pass to attend, wanting to know how to preserve his unlabeled panoramic photo, possibly a Navy detachment from World War II.

What do all these treasures have in common? They were just a few of the possessions brought to a recent presentation by the staff from the Southwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives on how to preserve records and memorabilia. Those lucky enough to get into the free class (with a waiting list!) were educated about disaster preparedness (what five things would you grab if you had an emergency???); what records to keep and for how long; and scanning, preservation and organizing photos and documents. We also heard author and historian Drew Crooks explain how he organizes his digital collection of  drawings by Edward Lange, an artist who drew highly detailed panoramic drawings of the state and British Columbia from 1889 – 1912.

Archivists Mary Hammer and Tracy Rebstock (middle and right) give advice to WSGS member Joanne Huber (left) on her ancestor’s fragile, faded marriage certificate from Canada.

The presentations certainly held the attention and interest of the roomful of genealogists and family historians, but the creme de la creme was the “show and tell” where attendees got expert advice about how to preserve the item they’d brought. While we first sat politely in our seats listening to the history (or unknown history) of each item, by the end, we clustered around the owner eager to hear from the archivists about how to preserve and document the prized possessions.

Tracy Rebstock, Southwest Regional Branch archivist, will be taking her (shortened) show on the road to the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society on Feb. 8 and the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society on June. 9. The Southwest Regional Branch of the State Archives includes Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties.

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society February Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society’s
Saturday, February 10, 2018 Educational Program:
“Fir Island and Conway History”

BURLINGTON — Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS) meets on the second Saturday of the month from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Burlington Senior Center, 1011 Greenleaf Ave. (Use the East entrance) The program for Saturday, February 10 is: Fir Island and Conway History discussed by co-authors, Patricia Hanstad-Pleas, Andrea Millward-Xaver and  Janet K. Utgard. The panel discussion program will focus on the early days of this area of Skagit County and some of the pioneer families who settled there. Free and the public is welcome. For details: skagitvalleygenealogy.org / genealogy0715@gmail.com. Reminder: SVGS has genealogist volunteers available to assist you with your research at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave. on the first Saturday of the month from 11am-1pm (except holiday weekends). For more information email: rootsproject@frontier.com .

Jefferson County Genealogical Society February Meeting

by Charles Hansen

 

LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES

We all make mistakes, no matter how long we have been doing genealogy research, and Diane Young is no exception. She has been working on her family history for over 40 years and has accumulated several of her own missteps as well as collected stories from other genealogists. Some people may be reluctant to admit their mistakes, but because Diane thinks they are great learning experiences, so she will be sharing her errors with us. There will also be time for other brave folks to “fess up” and share their own blunders.

The public is welcome to attend monthly meetings of the Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) on the third Saturday of the month; Saturday, February 17, 2018, at theTri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum. Social time 9:30 to 10:00 am; 10 to 11:30 am brief announcements and the program. Visit JCGS website at www.wajcgs.org.

Diane Young is a Jefferson County Genealogical Society member who is currently spending time helping raise her family’s next generation in California. Before retiring to Port Ludlow, Diane taught business courses at Glendale Community College and at California State University Northridge. Her specialties include research in Sweden and in the Czech Republic. 

JEFFERSON COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (JCGS)

PO Box 627

Port Townsend, WA 98368

Contact for this media release:  Judy Tough 360-385-3065 or tough@olympus.net

Release Dates: February, 2018