Wednesday Nostalgia

How many of us grew up with a fear of dentists? No wonder. “Back then,” meaning even thirty years ago, having your teeth worked on was a dreaded, rather painful, process. So how about a 1917 dentist visit? OUCH!

Found this display in the Pend Oreille County Historical Society Museum in Newport, Washington. If you want to really know more about “ancient” dental history, click to www.youtube.com and then search for “Explore Dental Art, Dental Teeth….and More!”

(Boy do I remember spitting blood into that water-swirling white ceramic bowl. YUK.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tri-City Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

1 Aug 2017

Dear TCGS Guests:

Please be advised that Legacy Family Tree is providing free webinars in August on the following topics:

Tracing Your West Country Ancestors

A Taxing Matter: Using Tax Lists in Genealogy

Using Pictures With Legacy Family Tree

Analyzing Probate Records of Slaveholders To Identify Enslaved Ancestors

Finding Your Ancestors in German Directories

How to do Mexican Research and be Successful

Getting Started With Evidentia

See: https://familytreewebinars.com/

Have fun viewing whatever you choose. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Art Kelly

Tri-City Genealogical Society Program Chair/V.P.

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

TIP OF THE WEEK –
OKLAHOMA VITAL RECORDS INDEX

Oklahoma’s Dept. of Health now has an online vital records index, called OK2Explore. This is a free, searchable index of births and deaths in the state of Oklahoma; included are details of births more than 20 years ago, and of deaths more than 5 years ago. One may search this site using any combination of the subject’s name, date of event (birth or death), county of event, and sex of the subject.

 

Records of births occurring more than 125 years ago and those of deaths occurring more than 75 years ago are open to the public, and no proof of eligibility is required to order them. More recent records require proof of eligibility.

If you find a record you want a copy of, the site provides several ways in which to order it.

Here is the URL for this site:

https://ok2explore.health.ok.gov/

Seattle Genealogical Society News

DICK EASTMAN, POPULAR NEWSLETTER AUTHOR,
COMING TO SGS SEMINAR THIS FALL

Eastman’s On Genealogy Newsletter by Dick Eastman is a vastly popular, widely read site. I’m sure most of you have read his Free Standard Edition and gleaned a lot of useful information from it. And I’m also sure many of you subscribe to his reasonably priced Plus Edition. It costs about $.38 a week, as either $19.95 a year, or $5.95 per quarter. The Plus Edition has more articles and no advertising.

Since you enjoy his newsletter so much, come see him live at the fall seminar. Mark it on your calendar. Save the date.

 

DOUBLE DATING AND OTHER WOES

“In 1752, England changed her calendar, too” is a little rhyme I made up to help me remember the year England and her colonies, including here in America, switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. This was much later than most other countries.

As a quick recap, there was a Roman calendar, a Julian calendar, and finally the Gregorian calendar. Many countries switched over to the Gregorian calendar between 1582 and 1701, but as mentioned, England didn’t switch until 1752. I thought this date thing was pretty straight forward, but soon learned it could be rather sticky.

Continue reading

BOTO to NW Genealogy Conference

Buy one (registration) and take one (youth) free!

If you know a teenager who might be interested in a great start to genealogy and you’re registered for the Northwest Genealogy Conference, the organizers of the conference want to help you develop that interest! New to the many benefits of the NWGC is a complimentary youth registration (ages 13-17) with one full paid registration. (Does not include extra syllabus or meals.)

Email nwgc@stillygen.org for further information. Let’s get that younger generation interested!

Kenyatta Berry Ready to Come to Arlington

Photograph by Roberto Valladares

Noted genealogist and TV personality Kenyatta Berry will be a featured keynote speaker at the upcoming Northwest Genealogy Conference. Ms. Berry was recently interviewed by the Arlington Times about her love of genealogy and a sneak peek at what she’s got planned for the Arlington conference. An online and audio version of the interview is available here.

Professional genealogists Daniel Earl and Diahan Southard will also be keynote speakers during the August 16 through August 19 event.  Click here for more information and registration.

Tuesday Trivia

I’ve been typing the life story of a dear couple of 90-year-old friends of mine who are legally blind. Yes, they full well realize that they should have done this sooner but alas, they didn’t. (Are YOU taking notes here?) He was from the logging/lumbering area in the north Idaho panhandle and I must admit that I’ve learned much more about that industry than I would have ever guessed. Did you know that in these deep piney woods of the Pacific Northwest, which is latticed with streams and lakes, that lumber camps would be built on a stream site for only 2-3 years or until they had cut down all the nearby trees. Then they would pick up and move the mill ten miles or less to another site and begin the process all over again. They land they logged was purchased by a timber company and when the mill and men moved on, the “logged cut” acres were then sold to settlers and homesteaders. Railroads were vital to the hauling of the timber and then to the settling of the area. Small towns already established by a nascent logging camp would grow when the railroad arrived for not only would they be improved as supply centers for the people already established around them but they would be the collecting centers for the products shipped out. And these same values would cause new communities to be established. ​
(Did you have ancestors involved in the timbering or logging industry in the Pacific Northwest?)

Northwest Genealogical Society Conference Speakers

2017 Genealogy Conference Speakers

Click above to register.

Kenyatta D. Berry is genealogist and lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in genealogical research and writing. She began her genealogical journey while in law school and studying at the State Library of Michigan in Lansing. A native of Detroit, Berry graduated from Bates Academy, Cass Technical High School, Michigan State University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She has deep roots in Detroit, her ancestors have lived in Detroit since the 1920’s.
A frequent lecturer and writer, she focuses on African American, Slave Ancestral Research and DNA. Berry has been featured in Real Simple, Jet, Wall Street Journal, Orange County Register, Sacramento Bee, Wave Newspaper and other publications. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including MakeItPlain #WomensWednesday on SiriusXM Radio.
On March 11, 2016, Kenyatta received a California Legislature Assemblyman Resolution from the Honorable Jim Cooper on the floor of the State Capitol where he declared March 11th, Kenyatta D. Berry day. The Resolution recognized her work in the genealogy industry and on Genealogy Roadshow.
She also received a Resolution from the City of Sacramento on March 12, 2016, recognizing her work in Slave Ancestral Research and on Genealogy Roadshow. Kenyatta has appeared on numerous morning news shows in various markets and recently appeared on The Real where she revealed the DNA results of the Hosts. An avid sports fan, Kenyatta loves to watch the Lions, Tigers and Red Wings from her home in Santa Monica.
Daniel Earl got his start in family history at age 10 when his father took him to the grave of his great-grandfather that sparked a lifetime of interest in family history. Daniel has spent the last 25 years researching his own family history and helping others make history a part of their story. In addition to being a professional genealogist and genealogical lecturer, Daniel is married and the father to six wonderful kids. He lives just outside of Lansing, Michigan.
A microbiology graduate, Diahan Southard has spent 15 years in the genetic genealogy industry. In her current position as Your DNA Guide, she provides personalized, interactive experiences to assist individuals and families in interpreting their genetic results in the context of their genealogical information.
She is also the author of DNA Quick Guides, producer of a video tutorial series, as well as a featured author for Family Tree Magazine, regular contributor to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems, and recurring writer in Your Genealogy Today magazine.
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, was involved in genealogy before she was even born. The daughter of avid genealogists, she was spending time in courthouses and cemeteries while other children were playing on swings and going to the beach. The love of her family’s history has never left her, for she vividly remembers interviewing her grandparents, all of whom were born in the 1800’s. She felt when she touched their hands, she was touching history. With her experience serving as a Family History Director, she frequently speaks at genealogical societies, workshops, seminars, and webinars where she loves bringing genealogy to life. Some of those would include The Ohio Genealogical Society, The Ohio State University, Brigham Young University, and many other state and local genealogy societies. It was over fifteen years ago that she felt to further her knowledge and become Accredited. Her area of expertise is the mid-South, where every one of her ancestors planted their roots. She has recently completed several Legacy QuickGuides on Appalachia, which are also available on www.legacyfamilytree.com and www.amazon.com, and is an instructor at Ancestry Academy. She has recently been asked to be part of the GenealogyDotCoach consulting team.

Monday Mystery

Today’s mystery is another location, most appropriate for these hot summer days………… what beach is this, specifically? Bet many of you have been there!

 

Congrats and Strawberry Shortcake to Curtis Hoffman for being the first to identify last week’s mystery photo as Steptoe Butte in Whitman County, south of Spokane. He remembers his family driving up there in the 1960s.

Anne Grimm and Sonji Ruttan also gave correct answers. Good for youse guys!

Spotlight on the Northeast Washington Gen Society

I had a delightful, catch-up lunch a few days ago with Karen Struve and Susan Dechant of the NeWGS. Karen is the current president and Susan is immediate past president. We talked about NeWGS, their plans, progress and problems. (Karen on left below.)

NeWGS was founded in 1981 with the goal of preserving the histories of Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties (the far northeast corner of Washington). Their membership averages about 60, with 25-30 coming to meetings, and their genealogical collection is housed in the Colville Public Library.

Their biggest problem is the same as so many societies face: lack of participation of members and a core group doing all the work. Susan and Karen have bounced the presidency back and forth several times. Their long-standing publication, Pioneer Branches, has been discontinued because nobody would step up to be editor/coordinator. Their day-of-meeting computer classes have also been cancelled, again due to lack of folks stepping up to help.

No bearers of gloom and doom, Karen and Susan were upbeat and enthusiastic. “We just got three new members!” Karen told me. Their biggest project is to maintain the Evergreen Cemetery (which they own). Member Lora Rose has crafted several tombstones for known burials that had no marker. Member Sue Richart regularly drives the 160 miles to Pullman to digitize papers from the WSU special collections that pertain to their area. And they will again this year have a promo booth at the Colville Fair in August.

They do work with the Stevens County Historical Society and will do research by mail. Check out their website, www.newgs.org.

I’m proud to do a spotlight on the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society today!