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

Seattle Genealogical Society Special Presentation

by Charles Hansen

 

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A

SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY

Mary Roddy

NATIONALLY REKNOWN GENEALOGIST

“Trails West: Crossing the Continent 1840-1869”

Before the transcontinental railroad was completed Easterners and Mid-Westerners began to settle the West.  How did they get there and what was the journey like?  Presentation covers overland and water routes with descriptions of the journey and using clues to discover how and when your ancestor traveled.

If you have heard Mary’s presentation on “Bagging a Live One” or her excellent explanations on how to use Excell in genealogy, you know what a treat is in store for you when you attend this presentation.

SATURDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2017

1:00 – 2:30 P.M.

SEATTLE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY LIBRARY

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

In the recent past, I’ve posted several bits from the workers’ newspaper in Mason City, the little town formed for the workers on the dam in the 1930s. I never really knew where it was but viola! Stopping at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitors’ Center, and then walking both ways across the highway bridge there, I found out!  Mason City is shown below:

Washington Archives Month Strange Washington

by Charles Hansen

The Washington State Archives is celebrating its annual Archives Month in October by making “Strange Washington” this year’s theme.|

Three events related to Archives Month will be held in Olympia over the coming weeks:

  • Oct. 7: Tales of Strange Washington – Hear speakers talk about some infamous individuals and incidents in our state. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., State Archives Building, 1129 Washington St. SE, Olympia.
  • Oct. 27: Haunted Tours – Archives staff will take visitors on a tour of the Archives’ underground stacks. There will be four separate tours in 30-minute increments. 6–8 p.m. State Archives Building, Olympia.
  • Nov. 2: History Happy Hour – Here is a chance to enjoy some fun, historical trivia! There will be prizes, food and drinks. 7-9 p.m., 3 Magnets Brewery, 600 Franklin St., Olympia.

The State Archives’ Puget Sound Regional Branch (Bellevue) is hosting a workshop called The Basics of Historical Research on Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. People attending the event can learn about research sources and how to use them.

Other Archives Month-related events will be held in October at various Washington State Archives branches. Contact the State Archives at (360) 586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov for more details.

As always, the State Archives has a great-looking free poster to commemorate the monthlong celebration. The poster features classic color and black-and-white photos of strange things and events that have occurred here in Washington. The poster is available in the State Archives headquarters in Olympia, the front desk of our Executive Office at the Capitol and at all regional Archives branches in Bellevue, Bellingham, Cheney and Ellensburg, as well as several local historical societies, universities with archives/library collections, museums and heritage centers. Make sure to get a poster while supplies last!

If you want to download the digital version of the new poster, just go here. The poster includes images from archival institutions across the state, including the Odessa Public Library, Seattle Municipal Archives, University of Washington, Western Washington University, the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, and the State Archives.

 

https://blogs.sos.wa.gov/FromOurCorner/index.php/2017/10/strange-washington-is-2017-archives-month-theme/

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK –
ROBERT G SHAW GENEALOGY/HISTORY INDEXES

Here’s a nice genealogy resource for those of you researching ancestors that lived in either of the adjoining counties of Menominee County, Michigan or Marinette County, Wisconsin.

The Robert G. Shaw Genealogy/History Indexes is a free online collection of databases, articles, and obituaries compiled by local historian, Robert G. Shaw, who read through all the pages of the local newspapers serving Menominee,MI, Marinette, WI and Peshtigo, WI. He put together an extensive index of obituaries/death notices printed in the papers.

This database, largely of newspaper articles and obituaries, can be accessed on the web site of the Spies Public Library of Menominee :

http://joomla.uproc.lib.mi.us/Spies/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=131

Although the index does not provide links to the actual obituaries, it will give you the date/page number to find them yourself using online newspapers, or to request them from the local public library or historical/genealogical society.

While you are at their web site, check out the other resources in the drop down list of the Genealogy tab. There’s a link to a list of Menominee Count Cemeteries as well as a link to Riverside Cemetery Burial Records, plus a few other resources.

Seattle Genealogical Society October News

by Charles Hansen

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO CAROLYN SCHOTT

The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors announced the winners of their Excellence-in-Writing Competition and Carolyn Shott took 2nd place in the category of Columns for her “Welcome Back to Osthofen”. Our hearty congratulations to Carolyn, a member of SGS since 2014.

 

***** SPOTLIGHT ON OUR FALL SEMINAR *****

 

There is still time to register for the 2017 SGS Fall Seminar, “Becoming a More Organized and Effective Genealogist”, featuring Dick Eastman. Remember registration fees will go up after Oct 15th.

For more information, see the online brochure at :

http://www.seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Fall%202017%20brochure.pdf

You may register online, in person at the SGS Library, or use the brochure and register by mail.

For online registration visit the SGS Website Seminar page at :

http://www.seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/content/seminars

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Clark County Genealogy Society October Meetings

by Charles Hansen

Below are classes and meeting listings for the Clark County Genealogy Society through Oct 17.

 

 

Legacy Genealogy Software User Group

Mon, Oct 2, 2016: 10 am-noon

CCGS Education Center

If you use Legacy Family Tree Software for tracking your genealogy research, there is a Legacy Users Group that meets monthly to discuss tips, tricks and problems. You will always come away with some new ideas. The meetings are held regularly on the first Monday of the month. Members and non-members are welcome.

 

Is Your Genealogy Research a Mess?

Mon, Oct 2, 2016: 12-1:30 pm

CCGS Education Center

Is your family history research going the way it should? Have you  hit a brick wall or are confused about which direction to go?  Learn how to re-start, re-set and re-group with guidelines set by nationally-known researcher, Thomas MacEntee, in his “Genealogy Do-Over Workbook.” Free classes are held on the first Monday of each month. Brown baggers are welcome.

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THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

 

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s
Wednesday Evening
E-News
27 September 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 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).

EXTRA NOTE: We had some mailed _Insider_copies go out labeled as November’s issue. The link above has the corrected version, as November’s issue is still being birthed. Our sincerest apologies for the confusion.
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
***
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
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