Noel McRae 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.

Noel McRae

Today we’re introducing Noel McRae of Kelso, Washington, who was nominated by the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society (LCGS). Noel has been an exemplary member of the LCGS, as he is not a genealogist. He has been a member of the society for the past eight years in order to support his wife’s genealogical pursuits.

Noel has served as president of the society for three years. He has shared his technical experience for all program presentations, and has served as the society’s liaison with the head of the meeting facility to ensure that all equipment is in good working order. He has headed a computer interest group which meets twice a year, and has devoted his time working at the annual rest stop fundraiser.

Noel has also assisted several members who are not as computer adept as he to design PowerPoint presentations.

Noel is highly deserving of being awarded a 2017 Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Washington State Genealogical Society and Lower Columbia Genealogical Society.

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.

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

Hubby and I recently spent over two weeks in New Zealand; it was (of course) fabulous. In this blog-spot and over the next few weeks, I shall share some New Zealand serendipity with you………… Scotch Broom, as we call it, is found all over the Puget Sound region…… I look forward to visiting my family in Port Angeles in spring for the extra reason of seeing all the Scotch Broom in bloom. BUT…………………..

This familiar plant, also known as Scot’s Broom, is an invasive flowering shrub that grows commonly throughout the Puget Sound region. Originally introduced from Europe as an ornamental and for erosion control, it is highly aggressive and forms dense, monotypic stands which reduce wildlife habitat and hinder re-vegetation of upland sites and wetland buffers.

We saw this plant (not blooming, too late in the summer) all over New Zealand. Very surprised to see it but people from Scotland did settle there, especially in Dunedin on the South Island.

In fact, Mark Twain must have visited Dunedin because he wrote, “This town was settled by the Scotch. They were on their way home to heaven and stopped here. Thinking they had arrived, they stayed.”

So think of it! Washington and New Zealand have something in common, Scotch Broom!

Tri-City Genealogical Society March Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Dear TCGS Members and Guests:

I hope you are planning on attending our March 14th meeting where Heather Murphy will be teaching the Beginning Genealogy Class on “Using FamilySearch Wiki” at 6:15 p.m.

Then, at 7:00 p.m., Jan Seely and Ericka Young will be talking about Researching Adoption Records and A Personal Adoption Journey.

We will continue to have our Genealogy Book Sale, so come and see what may be on the table that you may need.

As always, please invite a friend. Thanks for your continued support for TCGS.

Sincerely,

Art Kelly

 

Flyer  TCGS Mar 2018 Flyer

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

 

Dandelions. The bane of a pretty-lawn-seekers existence. What earthly good are dandelions?? WELL!

According to the magazine Birds & Blooms, Apr/May 2017, dandelions make a dandy drink…”Pharmacists in 19th century England made tea from roasted dandelion roots; the drink is still trendy today, thanks to a coffee-like taste and color without the caffeine.” Google dandelion tea for many hits………. even today it’s a desirable drink.

Bet you did not know that dandelion flowers can reach heights of 6 to 24 inches and their roots can be as deep as 10 to 15 feet………..which I can attest to! Every spring, my digger, bucket and I go on a killing spree…….. but now I know why the rascals always come back.

From blossom to root, 100% of this plant is edible “for most people.” (Humm….what might that mean?)  A cup of chopped raw dandelion greens provides 112% of the daily requirement for Vitamin A at only 25 calories.

Tuesday Trivia`

by Charles Hansen

Prospective parents ponder long and hard to find just the right name for their baby. This is true today and it certainly must have been true yesterday. In our genealogy we often “fuss” when Richard Allen-1 names his son Richard Allen-2 and then comes Richard Allen-3, and so on. But we raise our eyebrows equally high to find some downright (          ) (you fill in the blank!!) first names. I say odd, unusual, seemingly crazy and hard to spell much less pronounce.

Did you read where Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have three children named, North (girl), Saint (boy) and now Chicago (girl). Those dear children will never find their name on a doodad.

Yesterday first-naming a baby was no different. Cases in point:

Nicholas, King of the Jews……….. a baby boy in 1870 in Tennessee.

Alabama, Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia, all big sisters to baby brother Northwest Territory, another census finding.

What crazy-odd-funny-unusual first names are found in your family tree?

(Thanks to Google and “meandmason” blog on WordPress.)

Monday Mystery

by Charles Hansen

Today’s Mystery: What was a Conestoga wagon???

What is your mental image of a Conestoga wagon? Like “all the pioneers” used? Well, they didn’t all use a Conestoga wagon but many did. Here’s a wonderful description:

“A Conestoga wagon in all its glory was a brave sight. The wagon body was that color so dearly loved by the Pennsylvania Dutch, a light but brilliant blue; the great wheels and all running gear was black and the hempen homespun top was white; the great wheels and all the running gear was well as the sideboards were vermilion. The horses were often black or bay; over the horses were bows of bells…rising were flat iron hoops with three to eight bells carefully selected to chime………..

Can you imagine or picture that grand sight? Here tiz:

Want to read “the rest of the story,” I’m reading The Pennsylvania Dutch by Fredric Klees, 1950, page 227.

 

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Spring Seminar

by Charles Hansen

Saturday, April 7
Washington State & National Archives research  (Seminar)
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Country Homes Christian Church, 8415 North Wall St., Spokane WA
Presenter – Lee Pierce – Tips, Tricks and Techniques – Washington State Digital Archives Research and Resources.
Lee Pierce a Washingtonian, born and raised in the Seattle area, but moved here in 1994 to attend Eastern Washington University. He earned a BA in history and an MA in American history with an emphasis on Military history in the modern era. He has written and published two novels, and has a third on the way. He is also a member of the Cheney Historic Preservation Commission.
Presenter – Carol Buswell – her presentation will address the following topics:
1) Using the National Archives Online Catalog and DocsTeach.org to place your ancestory in historical context and lead you to more primary sources for your ancestors.
2) Using and conbtributing to the National Archives’ Citizen Archivist program.
3) Special NEW National Archives’ approaches for finding records about Native Americans.
Carol Apperson Buswell has a long background in education, public speaking and writing, particularly about United States, Native American and Family History. She has been the Education Specialist for the National Archives at Seattle since 2005. She holds degrees in Elementary Education, Fine Arts, and American Indian Studies. Her most recent publications include “Primary Sources for American Indian Research,” and “Exploring Your Own Community.”  (http://honoringtriballegacies.com) 2015
The schedule is as follows:
Doors open 8:00 AM
Registration 8:15AM – 9:00 AM
General Meeting 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Lee Pierce, Washington State Archives part 1 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Break 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Lee Pierce, Washington State Archives part 2 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Lunch Break 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM (Board meeting 12:45 PM – 1:15 PM)
Carol Buswell, Seattle Branch National Archives part 1 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Break 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Carol Buswell, Seattle Branch National Archives part 2 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Questions 3:30 PM —
Online registration will close at 8:00 PM March 31st 2018. After that date registration will be taken on the day of the seminar at the door.
The fee for this seminar is as follows:
Members $20 US,  Non members $25 US.
For lunch we will have our favorite – pot luck!  Using the first letter of your last name we ask you to bring one of the following:
A – E   Main Dish                         F – I   Salad of your choice
J – M   Desert of your choice       N – R   Cookies
S – Z   Appetizers

Jefferson County Genealogical Society March Meeting

by Charles Hansen

A Direct Link to the Past – City Directories

 

The monthly meeting of Jefferson  County Genealogical Society will welcome back popular JCGS speaker, professional genealogist Mary Roddy, on Saturday, March 17th, 9:30 – 11:00 am.  Mary’s topic “A Direct Link to the Past – City Directories” can fill in those gaps about ancestors that occur between census years and may lead us to clues for further follow-up research. Mary will demonstrate City Directories’ address searches, alternate spellings, advertisements, and how to ‘mine’ historical images that might not be available elsewhere. The public is welcome to attend JCGS meetings free of charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. Join JCGS members at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Rd in Chimacum. <www.wajcgs.org>.

Mary Roddy, a Certified Public Accountant, earned a certificate from the Genealogy and Family History program at the University of Washington. She is an active member of the Seattle Genealogical Society and speaks frequently in the Seattle area. Mary is a regular contributor to YourGenealogyToday and Internet  Genealogy magazines and a presenter with Legacy Family Tree Webinars.

Whatcom Genealogical Society March Meeting

by Charles Hansen

 

The Whatcom Genealogical Society will meet Monday, March 12 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way.  The program will be “Remember Mama – But Not Her Maiden Name” with Mary Kircher Roddy, Professional Genealogist – Women can be hard to identify.  If they married, they probably changed their names. See more than 20 great strategies for finding the maiden name of “troublesome” women in your family’s past – and a few more strategies for discovering married names for those sisters, daughters and aunts who have “disappeared.”   Visitors are welcome.  Contact:  Galen Biery, President, 360-733-8300.

 

Sharon Neem

WGS Publicity Chair