Tri-City Genealogical Society Research Logs

by Charles Hansen

Heather Murphy wrote an interesting blog post on Research Logs.

Have I Been Here Before? How Research Logs Keep You From Going in Circles

With shaking leaves and record hints showing up in many websites it is easy to hop from link to link looking for more records.  How often do you take a couple extra minutes to note the record collections you search so you don’t find yourself looking at the same thing a few months later?  Research logs aren’t one of the “fun” parts of research, but if you spend a small amount of time creating them you can save yourself time in the future.

Monday’s Mystery

by Charles Hansen

(PLEASE NOTE: Due to my traveling schedule, I sometimes do the posts for this blog weeks ahead. If you wanna answer the Mystery question, please refer to the DATE it was posted. Big thanks!)

Last week’s mystery and photo was of FDR’s special wheelchair that he used when he came to view the completed Grand Coulee Dan in 1937. I photographed it at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitors’ Center.

Today’s Monday Mystery is this: What Washington town, dedicated on July 4, 1957, celebrates each Fourth with a huge cherry pie…. 8-foot square pan with 100 gallons of pie cherries, 200 pounds of sugar…takes 3 hours to bake and another 4 hours to cool. (Humm…do they still do this??)

National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair

by Charles Hansen

 
FREE NARA 2017 Virtual Genealogy Fair (save the date — 25 October 2017) #genfair2017
From our friends at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)!  An always great opportunity to learn about federal records and just how valuable they can be to your genealogy research.
WHAT: The National Archives will host a live, virtual Genealogy Fair via webcast on YouTube. Participate in our biggest genealogy event of the year! Sessions offer advice on family history research for all skill levels. Topics include Federal government documents on birth, childhood, and death; recently recovered military personnel files; Japanese Americans during World War II; 19th century tax assessments; and a “how to” on preserving family heirlooms. For the schedule, videos, handouts, and participation instructions, visit the Virtual Genealogy Fair online.
WHEN: October 25, starting at 10 a.m. EDT
WHO: Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero and records experts from National Archives’ facilities nationwide.
WHERE: Anywhere! Participate during the Fair while it is live streamed on the US National Archives’ YouTube channel
Captioning: Live captioning will be available online. If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for the event, please send an email to: KYR@nara.gov or call 202-357-5260 in advance.
Background: The National Archives holds the permanently valuable records of the Federal government. These include records of interest to genealogists, such as pension files, ship passenger lists, census, and Freedmen’s Bureau materials. See “Resources for Genealogists and Family Historians” online.
Follow the National Archives on Twitter @USNatArchives and join the Genealogy Fair conversation using #genfair2017.
Do you plan to attend?
What federal records group would you most like to learn about?

Sharon Liebert Named Region 8 Representative

by Roxanne Lowe

Sharon Liebert

Sharon Liebert of East Wenatchee has been appointed the WSGS Representative for Region 8 by President Virginia Majewski. Besides being a member of WSGS, Sharon is a member of the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society.

Region 8 includes Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties. There is still a vacancy for Region 1 South which includes parts of Island and Snohomish Counties. For more information about the responsibilities of the Regional Representative, click here.

Sharon will be featured in a future “Meet the Board” story. Welcome to the Board, Sharon!

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society October Meeting

by Charles Hansen

  The Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS) will meet Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, at the LDS church on Bainbridge Island, 8677 Madison Ave, from 10:00a.m. – 12 noon. Noted researcher and guest presenter Janet O’Conor Camarata will be speaking on “Location In Context“. Free to members, a $5.00 donation is suggested for nonmembers. For more information go to http://www.bigenealogy.org or call 206-780-8009. BIGS is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.

Monday’s Mystery

by Charles Hansen

(PLEASE NOTE: Due to my traveling schedule, I sometimes do the posts for this blog weeks ahead. If you wanna answer the Mystery question, please refer to the DATE it was posted. Big thanks!)

Today’s Mystery is a question: Who built Maryhill (on the Columbia River) and how, in the beginning, did he get his workers?

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

 

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s
Wednesday Evening
E-News
4 October 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!

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for October 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 our new website (still gfo.org).
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
***
Call for a Raffle Volunteer…Bueller…Bueller…Bueller?
raffle tickets

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our Fall Seminar’s Raffle!!
Now all we need is someone extraordinary to manage the raffle table at the Seminar on Saturday, Oct 14th! Is it you??

This special volunteer will get to listen and sit in for FREE at the Seminar (although they’ll be busy busy busy the 3rd portion of the 4-part series of talks that day). Think of it! That’s a $50-55 value for so little effort.
Interested? Email seminar@gfo.org now! No, right now!! Why are you still waiting?
***
Fall Seminar AND Fall Workshop Open for Registration!

Don’t miss out! We’ve moved the Fall Workshop to the Milwaukie Center!

Oct 14th, 10am to 4:30pm, AND Oct 15th 9:30am – noon at the Milwaukie Center

Those already on the Workshop’s Wait-List will be contacted directly. If you’re not on the wait-list for the Workshop, you better act fast!! Click the Register link below before it’s too late, again!

Did you know genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States? Have you also noticed how much hubbub there has been lately about DNA and how DNA can help find missing links, missing parentage, and more?

The GFO’s Fall Seminar has all of these hot topics and more! Registration for Saturday’s Seminar AND for Sunday’s Workshop is open open open. Click HERE to register now.
Download a flyer to share with family, friends, and coworkers.
REGISTER
Continue reading →

Clark County Genealogical Society October Meetings

by Charles Hansen

THE WPA: SOURCES FOR YOUR GENEALOGY

Wed 18 Oct 2017: 11 am – 12:30 pm

CCGS Education Center

The Works Progress Administration left behind a legacy that is used by family historians today. This Legacy Family Tree webinar presentation will discuss the WPA, projects under the WPA that are relevant to genealogy, and how you can research some of those records today.

 

General Membership Meeting: UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF DNA TESTING

Tues 24 Oct 2017: 10 am – 12 noon

CCGS Education Center

 

How can DNA testing help me discover my ancestry? Which test should I take? Which company should I use? Speaker Lisa McCullough will cover the basics of DNA and DNA testing and will explain how it can help further your genealogy research. Lisa has a B.S. in engineering and has taken two week-long classes focused on DNA. She leads a DNA Q&A special interest group that meets twice monthly at the Genealogical Forum of Oregon.

MIDWESTERN & PLAINS STATES LEVEL CENSUS RECORDS

Wed 25 Oct 2017: 11 am – 12:30 pm

CCGS Education Center

Many Midwestern and Plains states have superb state census records. Learn about the indexes, the many personal details these censuses include, locating the censuses, and alternate sources. This Legacy Family Tree Webinar includes specific examples from these enumerations, with an overview of state censuses for Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and where to find them.

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Ever have your feet measured for new shoes with the shoe clerk using one of these gadgets??? I’ve not seen one in years. Also, do you remember the big X-ray machine for your feet? You’d put on your new shoes and stick your feet into this machine and the X-ray picture will tell Mom if the shoe was the correct size. But MANOHMAN what all those X-rays did to your feet and we never knew.

Access to Public Domain Records Threatened

by Charles Hansen

Genealogists’ access to public domain records is still being threatened in many locations. One of the biggest threats these days is New York City. However, you can make your voice heard.

The following was written by D. Joshua Taylor, President of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society:

Dear Friends,

As promised, the NYG&B has launched a landing page outlining steps everyone can take in making our voices heard regarding the proposed restrictions on access to New York City’s birth and death records.

The page can be found at: https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/nyc-vital-records-access and allows visitors to do the following:

  • Download and sign a sample comment letter that can be mailed directly to the Department of Health.
  • Add their own name to the NYG&B’s comment letter.
  • RSVP to attend the hearing alongside fellow members of the NYG&B community.
  • Share the information (via email) with others.

Thus far we have had a very positive response from the community. Please feel free to share this information with your leadership, members, and others who might be interested. We also stand ready to assist your organization as needed in preparing their own comments.

Sincerely,
Joshua