Whatcom Genealogical Society will meet Monday, October 9 at 2 p.m. at the Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way, Bellingham,WA.
Program: Claudia Breland will speak on “Beyond Outlander – Discovering your British, Scottish, and Irish Ancestors.” Visitors welcome!
I found this totally fascinating: While at the Fiske Library in Seattle, I browsed some old issues of a New England periodical I’d heard of but had never taken the time to view. The Vol. 1 issue of The Essex Antiquarian was published in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1897. Paging through this first volume, I spotted a query posted by somebody from Castle Rock, Washington! In 1897!
The query read: “Wanted, date of birth of William Baker, of Ipswich, who married in 1686 to Sarah Fitts.” (Signed) Mrs. E.R.H., Castle Rock, Wash.
Wonder if Mrs. E.R.H. ever found her William Baker??
P.S. Castle Rock was incorporated in 1890.
The Washington State Genealogical Society is asking its members and blog readers to support the state’s Digital Archives in October. We are unbelievably lucky in this state to have a resource like the Digital Archives. What a wealth of information, including historic photographs, BDM records, cemetery directories, maps and land records — many from pre-statehood. All access, all free. Transcribed and indexed by volunteers like you! Click here to join the army of volunteers.
Today, we’re highlighting two Digital Archive transcriber super stars:
Steven Baylor started indexing before there was a Scribe (the super easy online transcription application used to transcribe records). Since official counting began, he has transcribed almost 150,000 records — and growing every day as it’s something he works into his daily schedule. Whenever he has a half hour here or a couple hours there, he sits down and indexes a dozen or so documents. According to Steve who is a former President of WSGS and member of the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society:
“It’s all part of paying it forward. My research has been made easier by others who have spent hours indexing and I’m pleased I can do my part to increase accessibility of public records. Now that my wife has Alzheimer’s, I need to be at home most every day. Indexing is something I can do and still feel like I am contributing to the genealogical community without having to travel anywhere.
Steve started indexing many years ago when he and other WSGS members worked with the Secretary of State’s office to index the 1910 Federal Census of Washington. After that labor-intensive undertaking, the Archives Office began using a “hybrid” system where they would mail paper copies of documents to transcribers who would index them online or on a disk and mail the paper copies back to Olympia. Steve’s wife assisted him by reading names to him while he typed, then she would double-check the finished product before they clicked the send button. Great teamwork!
Charles being recognized for his accomplishments by former Secretary of State Sam Reed.
Charles Hansen started in 2003 when the Digital Archives was being built near the Eastern Washington University campus in Cheney (Charles lives in Spokane). State officials began asking local genealogical societies to donate records to put in the infant digital archives. Charles had some DOS databases (remember DOS????) for early Spokane County births, deaths and marriages. He also had indexed the 1887 Spokane County Census. He generously gave those electronic records to start the digital archives. Shortly thereafter, Archives officials asked for volunteers to help index and volunteer at the archives, so he started indexing — being sent paper copies of the records and a floppy disk with the format to index.
The next transcription and index improvement was Scribe — the online digital application that allows users to become “honorary archivists” of the state’s historically important records. By using Scribe, volunteers are able to add information to the images, making them searchable online. It’s easy to use — just fill in the blanks and save the data. Each record can be viewed by many transcribers, but two transcriptions must match exactly before the record can become searchable.
Charles, a member of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society and WSGS’s Blog Master, has indexed 151,240 records since record counts have begun.
But you don’t have to be a super star like Steve or Charles to make a difference! Any record transcribed or indexed is a record available to the public. To date, I’ve transcribed nine records (yes, 9!), but I’m committed to making these records available for public access. Help me!
To sign up for Scribe, click here.
WSGS, the Washington State Genealogical Society, exists for one reason: To be of assistance to all the genealogical societies in the state. That mission statement was loud and clear at the recent Board meeting in Yakima.
The Board consists of 16 good folks and 13 were present; that’s dedication. They come from all four corners of the state; Ginny Majewski, the president, comes from Sequim…. that’s a 500 mile round trip!
The meetings are kept to agenda, business is accomplished, Parliamentary rules are followed, and everybody participates. It’s a good group!
All projects, plans and programs were discussed. Website problems and updates were discussed. The use of ZOOM for virtual meetings (not just for this Board but any society in the group) was discussed. Questionnaires were sent to all genealogical societies in the state and Ginny is coordinating the returned into; to wit, how can WSGS help YOU?
A new state-wide project was opened for business. WSGS wants to have a listing of all Civil War burials in Washington and will partner with http://www.civilwarvetswastate.com
to create and maintain such a list.
I am proud to be associated with this great group of dedicated workers and hope that if you are approached to help WSGS that you will not think twice but will answer “YOUBETCHYA!”
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To access the flyer which contains a registration form please download the file October Flyer
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Free all day Family History Conference in Surrey, BC, October 14th, 2017.
Speakers include Mary Kathryn Kozy, Dave Obee, Brenda L. Smith and M. Diane Rogers. The BC Genealogical Society will be there too!
Family History – Finding Your Roots Conference – Surrey, BC, Canada – FREE
Saturday October 14th from 8:30 am – 4:20 pm
Pre-register at www.findingyourroots.ca so you can download handouts. Come for a class or two or stay all day.
See the schedule on-line – 38 classes.
Lunch available – please preorder.
6270-126 St., Surrey, BC, Canada
604 597 9695
Schedule
For
October, November, December
October 4th @ 1:30 p.m.
Wilson Research Center
Agenda
“RE-Hash” of September 9
What we learned, how to improve our next Speaking
Nomination for 2018 Officers
What we want for the
“End Of The Year Party”
November 9th @ 1:30 p.m.
Wilson Research Center
Agenda
Short Meeting
Program By
Carol Buswell
speaking on American Indian Records
December 7th @ 1:30 p.m.
Short Meeting
Elections 2018 Officers
“End Of The Year Party”
Electronic Records Day is designed to raise awareness among state government agencies, the general public, related professional organizations, and other stakeholders about the crucial role electronic records play in their world.
To assist you in this endeavor the CoSA State Electronic Records Initiative’s Advocacy and Outreach Subcommittee has developed several informational resources which can be found below. You are also encouraged to share your own resources and information with the public or other archival stakeholders in your community.
For more information click here
(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 this: Whose special chair was this and where was it used?
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s
Wednesday Evening
E-News
20 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!
Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for August 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!
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Write It Up! Saturday, October 21st, 2 – 4pm
Presenter: Marti Dell, Co-Editor, GFO Bulletin
You’ve been meaning to write up your family history stories and findings, but with several thousand people on your tree, the task is overwhelming. Never fear, though, because help is here! The GFO’s own Marti Dell, Co-Editor of The Bulletin, can help you identify just one thing you really need to share with others, then write it up! Does anyone else know how your grandma and grandpa met? Why are so many of your female relatives named “Oney”? Some day your 9-year-old grandson will want to know about your family history trip to Sweden. You won’t get everything written until you get one thing written.
And since you’re writing up just one thing anyway, consider sending a copy to The Bulletin for publication. We have editors and proofreaders who will make sure your commas are in the right place and your source citations are formatted properly. What we don’t have, but need, is your story.
This is one of GFO’s monthly GenTalks, which means it’s completely FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
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Celebrate your German Ancestry during Octoberfest!
Family Tree has some amazing deals this month to help you save 40% on their German research resources.
“There is more to Oktoberfest than beer and loud music. With these must-have German research resources, you can learn how to trace your German ancestors, how to interpret and use German-language records, and much more! Even if you can’t be physically in Germany for Oktoberfest 2017, you can still immerse yourself in your German heritage with help from Family Tree. Sale ends September 26, 2017.”
See all the savings and selections HERE.
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Special Upcoming Learn & Chat Sessions at the GFO
Wednesday, October 4th, 10am – noon
Getting the Most out of GFO’s Website and Online Catalog
Our very own Laurel Smith will demonstrate some tricks to navigating the GFO website. She’ll show off how to use the website as a tool to bolster your research. And she’ll demonstrate how many new features the website offers. Then she’ll give examples of how accessing GFO’s online library catalog can uncover hidden resources and improve your productivity during your GFO Library visits.
Wednesday, October 18th, 10am – noon
Gerry Lenzen will demonstrate the use of Family Search to view unindexed records online. See a case study of land records researched for John Day, Grant County, Oregon. Bring questions regarding your personal need for any type of record of interest. We’ll do specific searches for your problems during the session.
As one of our Special Interest Groups (SIG’s), these are free meetings, open to the public.
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Still some books to review! Get ’em before they fly off the shelves!!
The following titles need to be reviewed for our Insider publication. Let Joan know if any catch your eye!
1. Dobson, David. SCOTTISH-AMERICAN GRAVESTONES, 1700-1900, Volume II.
2. Mills, Elizabeth Shown. QUICK SHEET, CITING ONLINE HISTORICAL RESOURCES, Evidence Style.
3. Mills, Elizabeth Shown. QUICK SHEET, CITING ANCESTRY. COME DATABASES AND IMAGES, Evidence Style.
4. Mitchell, Brian. THE TOP 300 SURNAMES OF DERRY-LONDONDERRY.
5. Murray, Sonia Bennett. THEY CAME TO BELIZE, 1750-1810. Compiles from Records of Jamaica, the Mosquito Shore, and Belize at the British and Belize National Arches.
6. Ports, Michael A. GENEALOGY AT A GLANCE,GEORGIA GENEALOGY RESEARCH.
7. Ports, Michael A. INDIAN WARS OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH, 1610-1858. A Guide for Genealogists and Historians.
8. Thode, Ernest. SWISS PIONEERS OF SOUTHEASTERN OHIO. The re-Discovered Settlements of Jacob Tisher, Baron Rudolph de Steiguer, & Ludwig Gall (plus John Joseph Labarthe in Louisiana).
9. Kemp, Thomas Jay. INTERNATIONAL VITAL RECORDS HANDBOOK. 7TH EDITION. Births, Marriages, Deaths. Application Forms and Ordering Information for the Vital Records You Need for Driver’s Licenses, Passports, Jobs, Social Security, Proof of Identity, etc.
If you’re interested in reviewing one of these titles, please email Joan at bookreviews@gfo.org.
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This Week at the GFO…
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd
British Interest Group 1 – 3pm
Researching in the British Isles, including England, Wales, Scotland, and Scots-Irish. We try to have speakers who provide interesting experiences or online databases for research in these countries. One hour of the two hour meeting is devoted to Brick Wall questions. Anyone with an interest in English/Welsh/Scottish research is welcome to join us.
Questions may be directed to: Duane Funk at duanefunk@comcast.net.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th
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.
