GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen
GFO Logo Halo 2 Large

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Wednesday Evening

E-News, Early Edition

13 December 2017

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 November 2017, 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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Hot Off The Press – OREGON DIVORCES ARE DONE!
OR Divorce CD Cover

The fourth and final volume of the Oregon State Divorces from 1925 – 1945 has been published!

The volume is number four covering 1940-1945. There are 32,822 divorces; a few divorces were recorded by the counties outside of 1940-1945 timeframe.

This volume is a PDF file available in three formats for $10.00 each; a CD, a USB drive, or as a PDF file sent by email.

All volumes of the Oregon State Divorces 1925-1945 and Oregon State Marriages 1925-1945 may be purchased at our library or on our website. Click on “Oregon Marriage & Divorce Records”.
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Personal Archiving Day at GFO is around the Corner!
Personal Archiving

GFO’s GenTalk: Saturday, December 16th, 2 – 3pm

Join LauraDenise White, GFO’s resident archival consultant weekend after next.

Get ready for the holidays with Personal Papers & Archiving! Learn how to not only preserve some of those family heirloom papers and photographs you know are just sitting in the attic and basement, but also see how you can put together wonderful family history gifts with these fabulous relics of the past. Learn how to weave the fabric of your family history into inspiring and lasting treasures.

Attendees are encouraged to bring in a sample of items of their very own to work on during this interactive session. Photographs and letters and diaries, oh my! Bring them on in! We’ll work on them together while discussing ways to keep them safe AND ways to share them with family and friends both far and near.

Remember! All our GenTalks are FREE events, completely open to the public. Help us get the word out! CLICK HERE for FLYERS
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African American Special Interest Group – Jan 27th
Akee Tree Image

Come here Stephen Hanks talk about his book Akee Tree!

Stephen Hanks is a legal process server in the state of Oregon, and a specialist in African American genealogy, volunteering his time in helping to promote African American genealogy through his network, Genealogical Networking Services. In 2006 Hanks was a contributor to the PBS special “African American Lives—Oprah’s Roots” which examined the genealogy of Oprah Winfrey. He lives in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of Akee Tree: A Descendant’s Search for His Slave Ancestors on the Eskridge Plantations. He will discuss – helpful hints to African descent genealogy; overcoming roadblocks in your research; and share his personal family research.

All of our Special Interest Groups are Free and Open to the Public!
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GFO’s Annual Appeal Is Upon Us!
piggy bank thinker

Don’t let 2017 slip away and miss out on your tax write-off.

Because GFO is a 501(c)(3) organization, your donations are tax deductible.

Give now by visiting our Annual Appeal page HERE.

Remember GFO is a 100% volunteer-reliant organization. That’s right! We have no paid staff.

So every gift goes directly to keeping the lights on, the doors open, and the to providing the best resources possible for family history researchers!

The simple truth is: GFO relies on donations for our continued existence.

If you prefer to send a check or money order, you can use our paper form HERE and mail it with your gift to: Genealogical Forum of Oregon, 2505 S.E. 11th Ave., Suite B-18, Portland, OR 97202.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Psst! GFO belongs to the Oregon Cultural Trust (now easier to find as “Genealogical Forum of Oregon”) and has attained a silver-star rating on GuideStar.
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voting booth

Call for Nomination Committee Members!

Are you a GFO Member? The GFO needs your help this new year!

The following positions are available for new candidates this coming fiscal year, and we need a very special Nominating Committee to help find people to fill these positions. Interested?? Email president@gfo.org today!

Candidate Proposals Needed For:
* GFO President
* Director-at-Large
* Secretary

Also, if you’re interested in being one of the potential candidates, again email Laurel Smith at president@gfo.org.
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This Week at the GFO…

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Go on! Click the calendar. I dare ya!!

SATURDAY, December 16th

Genealogical Problem Solvers 9:30 – 11:30am

GPS is a monthly support group where we help each other find information about a family line. We will learn to do a reasonably exhaustive search and develop research plans. The focus will shift depending on the needs of the group. Several experienced researchers have volunteered to help. Beginners and intermediate researchers are encouraged to submit problems to work on. For more information contact Katie Daly at GPS@gfo.org.

GenTalk – Personal Archiving 2 – 3pm

Presenter: LauraDenise White, GFO’s Resident Archival Consultant

Get ready for the holidays with Personal Archiving! Learn not only how to preserve some of those family heirloom papers and photographs you know are collecting dust in the attic and basement, but also see how you can put together wonderful family history gifts with these fabulous relics of yesteryear. Learn how to weave the fabric of your family history into inspiring and lasting treasures.

SUNDAY, December 17th

Library Work Party 9am – 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 and you’€™re welcome to do the same. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.

WEDNESDAY, December 20th

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.

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

Between 1890 and 1900, Spokane increased population by 85%. Seattle increased by 88%.  Population of Spokane in 1880 was 350; in 1890 is was 19,922; by 1900 it was 36,848. By contrast, in 1880 Seattle didn’t exists; in 1890 its population was 42,837; by 1900 it was 80,671.  Spokane and King counties were the two most populous counties in the states.

King:  1890/63,989  —  1900/110,653

Spokane: 1890/37,487  —  1900 57, 542

The smallest county, by population, was Franklin.

I gleaned these facts from the book, Our Republic, by Edward S. Ellis, published in 1900, 567 pages and included “the official census of 1900 statistics.”

A gem I found in Ellis’ book was this quote:  “One of the strange facts that no one fully understands is that while God created men in His own image, He made so wide a difference in their color and looks….” Amen to that, Mr. Ellis.

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

Signs posted up along the walls in a high school classroom in Arlington, Washington, that I think could apply to each of us, every day and in every activity. We are never too old to learn!

WHAT I FIRST THINK                     WHAT TO ASK MYSELF

I don’t understand.                              What am I missing?

I cannot do that.                                    I’m going to train my brain to it!

That’s good enough.                              Is this really my best?

I give up.                                                   I’ll use some stuff I’ve already learned.

I’m not good at this.                                I’m on the right track!

I’ll never be as smart as (   ).                  I’m going to figure out what (   ) does

and try that.

I can’t make this any better.                   But I can try harder!

This is too hard.                                        This may take more time and effort.

I made a mistake.                                     Mistakes help me improve.

Time to Renew Your WSGS Membership

by Roxanne Lowe

It’s time to renew your Washington State Genealogical Society membership and we’ve made it pretty easy!

Kathy Sizer, Membership Chair

Washington State Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903-1256

  • Pay online using PayPal by clicking on the Members Only button on the WSGS website and going to your “Profile.”

If you’ve already renewed, THANK YOU for your continued support!

Please help us continue to support the genealogical community in Washington State. For more information, contact Kathy Sizer at sizer@bentonrea.com.

Tri-City Genealogical Society December Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Gentle Reminder – Don’t forget our Dec 13th meeting

SHOW OFF YOUR HERITAGE
 
1. Bring your ancestral photographs, documents, memorabilia, antiques, heirlooms, and samples of your own hobbies and collections to display
 
2. Bring your homemade or store bought Christmas goodies to share
 
3. Invite a guest
 
4. Renew your membership at a 10% discount – this offer expires on 12-31-17
 
Beginning Genealogy Class:  6:15 to 6:45 (Genealogy Education)
 
Program: 7:00 p.m. (see above)
 
This will be a fun evening to socialize with members and guests alike and to view the special items that people will display.
 
We hope to see you Wednesday night at the Benton County PUD Auditorium in Kennewick (corner of Hwy #395 & 10th)
 
Art Kelly

It’s Time to Recognize Your Outstanding Volunteers and Teams

by Roxanne Lowe

Now is the time for genealogical societies and organizations to select their local outstanding volunteers and teams so they can be honored at the WSGS Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on May 26, 2018 in Vancouver. The annual meeting will be held in conjunction with the Clark County Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar.

Each year, the State Society recognizes local volunteers and teams nominated by their society or organization at the annual conference. In 2016, more than 20 local volunteers and four teams from 20 organizations were recognized for their support and dedication to their society and the researching public.

The process for this year’s Outstanding Volunteer Award program is much like last year’s – no significant changes. In addition to the traditional Outstanding Volunteer Award program, there are three other recognition awards: Outstanding Project, Outstanding Communication, and the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. Information about those awards will be forthcoming, but should not impact organizations’ Outstanding Volunteer Award nominations.

Letters to local societies and organizations, with additional details, have been emailed to society contacts. If you have not received that information, please contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair. The milestones for this year’s nomination process are:

  • No later than February 15, 2018: Submit the name(s) of your honorees to the Recognition Committee.
  • By March 15, 2018: Submit a narrative (approximately 150 words) explaining the accomplishments of your nominee and why you are honoring him/her. Include a good quality digital photograph (at least 300 dpi).
  • May 26, 2018: Formal announcement and presentation of certificates at the Annual Meeting and Recognition Ceremony in Vancouver.

Additional details and deadlines, plus indexes and narratives of accomplishments of past honorees, since 2003, may be found at the WSGS website here.

Please contact Roxanne Lowe at roxanne@thekeeffes.com if you have questions or suggestions.

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

It’s almost Christmas. As I thought upon what was the Christmas gift that you were most excited about as a child, my mind went back to the little green plastic pocketbook (that’s what purses were called back then) that I got in about 1952.

We lived in California; my Aunt Ruth lived in Michigan. She always sent presents. Cool presents. This particular year she sent a wrapped-hard-something that had broken through the paper on one corner. It was green! It was hard! It sat with the other presents upon the piano, supposedly out of reach (hahahaha). I could NOT leave it alone; I was only nine. That already-half-opened gift was the first one I torn into when opening time finally arrived. I was not disappointed; I was in heaven; it was beautiful.

What favorite or special memories do you have of a Christmas gift? Have you written it in your journal? Told it to your grandkids? 

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Everybody enjoys granola in one form or another. …. cereal, bars, ice cream topping, etc. And most everybody knows the basics of ingredients: oats, nuts, honey, etc.

Seems a bakery in Massachusetts had listed, among the items in their ingredient list for their granola, the item “love.”  The “ingredient” was a nod to the passion bakers put into their product and wink to fans of the snack.” The company’s chief executive officer was quoted as saying: “People ask us what makes (our products) so good. It’s kind of nice that we can say there’s love in it and it puts a smile on people’s faces.”

But the Food & Drug Administration didn’t see it that way. “A human emotion, it said, cannot be an ingredient in baked goods.” They published a warning letter to the bakery, telling them to “stop claiming that its granola contains love.”

(The FDA) “expects the company to correct the serious violations found upon FDA inspection, as noted in the warning letter.”

How would you have responded to this situation??

(Bangor Daily News, Oct 6, 2017)

Washington State Historical Society Celebration

by Charles Hansen

 

WSHS
 

 You’re invited! Join us to celebrate.
January 18, 2018, 5:00 PM, with special guest Governor Jay Inslee.

Celebrate new galleries in the Great Hall of Washington History
We’re celebrating the opening of our recently renovated galleries in the Great Hall of Washington History and you are invited! Please join us for a performance, remarks, and a ribbon cutting on January 18 (Third Thursday).
This event will mark the completion of two galleries, recently renovated thanks to financial support from the State of Washington capital budget. The State’s contribution to revitalizing the Great Hall supports our mission to partner with our communities to explore how history connects us all.
Hear from special guest Governor Jay Inslee at the ribbon cutting ceremony with community partners and exhibit contributors.
5:00 PM – Program
  • See the award-winning Living Voices perform the multimedia theatrical performance Northwest Passages
6:00 PM – Remarks and Ribbon Cutting
  • Remarks from dignitaries with special guest Governor Jay Inslee
  • Ribbon cutting and welcome to the Great Hall
  • Light refreshments on the Mezzanine
Free and open to the public. We hope to see you there.

Monday Mystery

by Charles Hansen

Yes, last week’s mystery photo was the backwash from a ferry….. Pat Manning was first to post the correct answer. We be Washingtonians!

Question: Are there now, or have there ever been, any Homes for Aged Women in Washington???

Well there was in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1861. I think today they’re called Long-Term Care Facilities, or some such. Interesting idea, I thought. And especially for this place to be established right before the Civil War.

Wonder what’s listed on the 1870 census for this place???