Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG July 2025

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting
Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm virtual via Zoom

This is our monthly meeting to share tips & tricks, problems & solutions. Sometimes we will watch videos or share our screens to aid in learning more about using Legacy Family Tree software.

Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the learning. If you are just thinking about trying Legacy for the first time, you’ve been using it for a year or two or you are an old pro with many years of experience using Legacy this is the group for you. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them in.

We look forward to meeting with you, every month on the First Tuesday at 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Download: Meeting invite with Links

Meeting Invite with Links in file attached below:

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly Calendar Reminder: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYpfuyuqDovHNwtBgxtQjWKOjDQ8k5Q9bPD/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqjIvHNKUtR-PRpwQBor4Z-7wpn5Ygo1KiD3iGzRiaDTdGehmA-p0RemJ

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Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568
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Let’s Talk About: Cigar Store Indians

by Donna Phillips

(Skaneateles, New York)

Have you ever seen a “real” cigar store Indian? Weren’t they often seen in days of yore? 

The cigar store Indian was an advertisement figure, in the likeness of a Native American, used to represent tobacconists. The figures were often three-dimensional wooden sculptures measuring several feet tall. They are still used for their original advertising purpose but today are more often seen as decorations or advertising collectibles. 


Why wooden Indians to sell tobacco??? Because of general illiteracy of the populace, early store owners used descriptive emblems of figures to advertise their shops’ wares; for example, barber poles advertise barber shops and the three gold balls represent pawn shops. American Indians and tobacco had always been associated because American Indians introduced tobacco to Europeans. As early as the 17th century, European tobacconists used figures of American Indians to advertise their shops.


Don’t we still today look for advertising images??? The Golden Arches? The Starbucks mermaid? The Nike swoosh? 

Let’s Talk About: Balloons Bomb Oregon?

by Donna Phillips

In the last desperate year of WWII, the Japanese attacked the American continent with thousands of large balloons carrying bombs. 

Using the newly discovered Jet Stream, the first such weapon was  launched from Honshu, directly beneath the Jet Stream, on 3 Nov 1944. U.S. officials at first thought the balloons were errant weather balloons. Between that November and the following July, some 9000 bombs were launched and 268 of them making it to North America. 

Imagine! These balloons were constructed by Japanese school children to paste together paper balloons in seven factories near Tokyo. By 1944, Japan was suffering acute wartime material shortages. 

The only American fatalities were the Mitchell family. On Sunday, May 5, 1945, the Rev. Archie Mitchell and his pregnant wife, Elsie, were taking five of their Sunday School students on a picnic near their home in Bly, Oregon. As Mitchell was parking his car, he heard his wife call out: “Look what we found! It looks like some kind of balloon!” Before Mitchell could warn his wife to keep away, the bomb went off. Elsie and four boys were instantly killed and one girl died later from her injuries. The above image is of a memorial to those dear Americans.

The really sad part of this tale is that the War Department had known about these balloons since December, 1944, but had its Office of Censorship keep information out of the news in order not to cause panic. That press blackout was lifted o May 22 in an effort to prevent further injuries or deaths. 

Sources: Charles Apple’s Further Review in The Spokesman Review newspaper, 4 May 2025;  The Pacific Northwesterner, Summer 1976, article by Randall A. Johnson: image from Wikipedia. 

Hazel Thornton Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2024

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 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 2024 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Hazel Leise Thornton of Wenatchee, Washington who was selected by the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Hazel became interested in genealogy when computers first came into our lives in the early ‘90s. By the early 2000s, she was busy volunteering at the Puget Sound Genealogical Society in Kitsap County. Early in 2020, their loss became WAGS’s gain when she moved to Wenatchee.

Hazel volunteered immediately to help where and how she could. We gave her a big job — membership chair – and she jumped right in, learning the website’s membership procedures and offering suggestions to improve the service in the future. Besides heading up membership, she works as a librarian, board member, and on the website advisory team. She always has her eye out for things that can be better organized or improved. Her energy and passion are vital to our organization’s success!

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Let’s Talk About: U.S.-Canada Border Crossings

by Donna Phillips


Ever find a brand new pencil in your desk or cupboard? Looking at it, you wonder where on earth did I pick up this pencil???? So it was with this pencil. Brand new, never sharpened. But it did sprout the idea of a blog to share with you!

According to the Ancestry Family History Learning Hub: The U.S. and Canada share the longest international border in the world with its 5525 miles stretching from Maine to Alaska. The Alaska portion of the border is 1538 miles long! Today, the 120 land ports of entry are busy as folks regularly cross the border for work, to visit family and to vacation. 

The U.S.-Canada border as we know it today only dates back to 1903. It formed as a result of centuries of colonization, war, revolution and land acquisition through treaties with Indigenous peoples as well as through diplomacy. (Dave Obee, www.CanGenealogy.com, gave a great presentation to EWGS couple of years ago on how often ancestors went back-and-forth across the Washington-Alberta-British Columbia border.) If your ancestor lived in either country near the border you might realize this and research accordingly.

Despite all of the conflict surrounding the border, the U.S. and Canada have often worked together to build roads, bridges and canals along it to streamline trade and the movement of people. The earliest cross-border infrastructure projects were in the east…. Niagara Falls, NY, and Albans, Vermont, to name two. The iconic Peace Arch crossing sits between Seattle and Vancouver. Our Washington shares 427 miles of border with British Columbia and has 13 border crossing stations.

My son and dau-in-love (yes!) regularly transverse the Oroville-Osoyoos crossing. Perhaps they picked up that mystery pencil??????

Washington State Library Closing to the Public

by Charles Hansen

I just wanted to send out a quick email and let you know that the Washington State Library will be closed to the public starting July 1, 2025. My position as the Genealogy Services and Newspaper Librarian has been eliminated. For more information, please see this press release and article:

Washington State Library’s Research Library, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library Closed to Public Due to Budget Shortfall

Washington State Library closing to the public, 12 jobs getting axed

Items will still be available through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), so if you need a newspaper on microfilm or a book from our Northwest Collection, please go to your local library and request the item through ILL.

The LibGuides will still be available.

Newspapers of Washington State

Genealogy at the Washington State Library

And be sure to check out the County Research LibGuides! I hope to have all of the counties completed before June 30th.

Please stay tuned to the Washington State Library homepage for more information on available services at the library.

Dusty

Dusty Gorman (she/her)
Genealogy Services & Newspaper Collections Librarian
Washington State Library | Office of the Secretary of State

6880 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA  98501
O: 360-704-5268 | Dusty.Gorman@sos.wa.gov

Let’s Talk About: Mourning Rings

by Donna Phillips

Have you a mourning ring in an ancestor’s memorial box? Have you ever heard of mourning rings? Mourning Rings were (and sometimes still are) jewelry worn to remember someone who has died. Such rings ran the gamut from plain bands to diamond studded. 

Mourning rings of yore were engraved with the person’s name and death date and might have contained a hand-painted image or lock of hair. Today, they might have a tiny box for ashes. The tradition of mourning rings dates to ancient times although they gained popularity during the Victorian era. 

The article I was reading gave several examples of metal-detector folks have found such treasures buried in the sand or under a house. 

“If you think one of your ancestors may have had a mourning ring, we recommend searching their last name and the keyword “mourning ring” on the Newspapers.com homepage.”

(Found this in the official blog of Newspapers.com; bit penned by Jenny Ashcraft, 8 Oct 2024.)

Hawthorne Cemetery Team Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Teams in 2024

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 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 2024 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the SkVGS Hawthorne Cemetery Team who was selected by the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SkVGS) as their recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Team Award. The team is composed of Sylvia Ammons (co-leader), Dottie Chandler (co-leader), Rene Vance, Barbara Johnson, Dan Royal, Bill Cayford, Karen Strelow, Margie Wilson, Carol Nersten, Patty Gowler, Judy Hakins, Linda Holland and Margie Lauer.

This team of genealogist volunteers worked during the Covid-19 pandemic and after for long hours, and for many months to complete a long dormant project of reading and transcribing gravestone inscriptions at Hawthorne Cemetery in Mount Vernon, WA. This team demonstrated attention to detail, cooperation, dedication to the task, and enthusiasm for this project throughout the course of many months. This team’s exemplary work will serve the genealogy community for many years to come.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

State Library to Close to Public on July 1

by Roxanne Lowe

(Reprinted from Eastman’s Online Newsletter, 07 Jun 2025. Read the press release from Secretary of State Steve Hobbs here.)

State funding shortages will force the Washington State Library in Tumwater and the Seattle-based Washington Talking Book and Braille Library to close public access starting July 1.The state libraries will cut 12 jobs because of financial constraints.

The secretary of state’s office announced Friday that closing these facilities will restrict access to historical and governmental collections maintained by the state and result in the termination of multiple services and programs.

Many communities throughout our state rely on libraries as foundational institutions for both civic engagement and educational support. According to Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, library closures will threaten the availability of essential information and resources for communities.

The move comes after lawmakers and Gov. The state budget lacked a $6.7 million allocation from Governor Bob Ferguson to address a revenue shortfall from decreased real estate transaction fees.

Library patrons contacting the Tumwater library through Ask A Librarian or the main switchboard or sending emails should anticipate receiving a response that might take up to seven days. The library will stop providing newspaper and genealogy database subscriptions and will significantly reduce the purchase of new materials.

The Talking Book and Braille Library closure to public access will lengthen the voicemail response times. The public library will provide reduced service speeds for both circulation and registration operations.

The library will no longer offer multisensory story time programming together with Low Vision and Touch of Braille workshops. The state’s sole accessible library service for blind people and those with disabilities will experience reduced production of braille and audio materials.

According to Washington State Librarian Sara Jones these disruptions threaten equal information access for Washington’s most underserved residents who can’t read regular print. The current funding shortage impacts our staff and crucial services immediately despite future financial support from a recently enacted bill.

Governor Ferguson signed a bill on May 19 to establish a $50 surcharge on superior court clerk filings with $20 earmarked for the secretary of state’s office to support library operations and state heritage projects. A fiscal analysis projects that this initiative would create up to $6 million during the complete biennium.

Important Upcoming Dates for Local Societies

by Roxanne Lowe

Local societies, don’t forget the following deadlines for Outstanding Volunteer/Team awards, Supportive Grants and the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.

  • Outstanding Volunteer/Team awards: Due July 1. Every year, WSGS supports the nominations of local society members and teams that make societies better.
  • Supportive Grants: Due July 1. Two grants for $250 each may be awarded to projects that support the work and mission of local societies.
  • President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement: Due August 1. This award is given to single out that rare individual, society or organization who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations.
  • WSGS Annual Meeting: August 21, 6:30 p.m. The agenda will include the announcement of the 2025 Outstanding Volunteer and Team recipients, President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Supportive Grant awards. 

Questions? Email Outreach@wasgs.org (Supportive Grants) or Info@wasgs.org (Outstanding Volunteer/Teams and President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement).