Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

Couple of years ago, when the WSGS confernce featured David Rencher and was in Ellensburg, I took the opportunity to visit the Central Washington Branch of the Washington State Archives. While there I scanned through whatever looked interesting to me.

The M.W.A.K. Columbia (the Mason Walsh Atkinson Kier Company, builders of Grand Coulee Dam) was a newsletter for the citizens of Mason City. This city was built for the workers and their families. The first issue announced a contest with prizes of $1 up to $10. The contest asked for “a list of the four most dangerous hazards which you have observed and suggest how you would correct each of them.” (Meaning working conditions. Never found the results.)

That issue also touted that “Mason City, only three months ago a sage brush waste is now an ultra modern city with 64 homes, businesses, a soda fountain, a bank and a general store.”  And “free typhoid fever inoculations offered!”

Another item: “The workers’ payroll runs to $121,000 per week…mid Feb to mid-Mar there were 3218 employees…and 157 accidents, including two fatal ones.”

The April 1935 issue featured an anatomical drawing showing the workers where the pressure points were on the human body to use in an accident to stop the bleeding.”

Will continue with this theme next week………….

 

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

 

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Wednesday Evening

E-News

12 July 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 July 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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WE’RE REBOOTED!!! Thank you all for your donations!

 

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Calling All Volunteers! Calling All Volunteers!!

Library Office Revitalization Party – This Sunday!

We need strong and agile bodies to please please please help us reorganize the east wall of the GFO Library Office.

If you’re unafraid of climbing ladders or of lifting boxes and old equipment around, please email Laurel Smith at president@gfo.org, or feel free to stop by when you can. We’ll be working on this project and on labeling the rest of the Oregon section of books in the library.

We’ll be working away from 9am to noon! Hope to see you there! You know you want to!!

 

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The Problem Solvers Special Interest Group (SIG) is cancelled for this month.

But why?!

Because no one has given the group a problem to work on. What a shame!

Three genealogy experts willing to help you with your own personal research problem–all for free–and no one has asked for help!

Have you hit a brick wall in your family tree research?

Get help from our Problem Solvers Group today! Send your problem to gps@gfo.org and a team member will contact you.

 

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Just a few spots left for the Half-Day Workshop, Saturday, Aug 5th

Tips and Tricks: Finding What Your Need and Making the Most of What You Find

WHEN: Saturday, Aug 5th, 9:30am – noon
WHERE: GFO’s Multi-Purpose Room (map)
WHO: Pam Vestal, professional genealogist and lecturer
WHAT: As they say, borrow from the good, steal from the best! In this half-day workshop, you’ll learn from Pam, who is certainly one of the BEST, how to avoid popular pitfalls in genealogical research.

Click HERE to register now!

Don’t miss out! Sign up today!!

 

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Book Reviewers Needed….

Below is a list of what’s on deck this month. If you’d like to read and review any of these, we’d be ecstatic!

 

 

 

1. KEMP, Thomas Jay. INTERNATIONAL VITAL RECORDS HANDBOOKS (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.)

2. Mitchell, Brian. THE TOP 300 SURNAMES OF DERRY-LONDONDERRY.

3. Murray, Sonia Bennett. THEY CAME TO BELIZE (1750-1810). Complied from Records of Janaica, the Mosquito Shore and Belize at the British and Belize National Archives)

4. Ports, Michael A. GEORGIA GENEALOGY RESEARCH. Genealogy at a Glance.

5. QUICK SHEET, CITING ONLINE HISTORICAL RESOURCES. Evidence Style.

6. QUICK SHEET. CITING ANCESTRY.COM DATABASES & IMAGES. Evidence Style.

Anyone interested in reviewing one of these books, please either contact Joan or come by the GFO to pick up their book-of-choice from the bookshelf between the two offices and fill out the clipboard form. There is also a book review form on the shelf that can be used. For further information, please contact Joan Galles at bulletin@gfo.com.

If you’re currently reviewing a book, please let Joan know how it’s going and if you have questions!

 

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Publishing Chair & Mail Labeling Assistant Needed

We’re still looking for someone to assist our Publishing Chair with attaching address labels on our quarterly Bulletin, and folding our Insider publications eight times a year for mailing. This work is generally scheduled on the third Wednesday of the month, but times may be adjusted depending on the printing schedule.

Thank you for all you do for the GFO! Contact publisher@gfo.org to sign up.

 

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This Week at the GFO…

 

 

 

FRIDAY, JULY 14th

Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30am – 1:30pm

This Special Interest Group (SIG) pertains specifically to Mexican ancestors from Mexico and the American Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California). Beginning and intermediate researchers are very welcome. Some subjects will include online parish records, Hispanic genealogy societies, Family History Library, FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, solving genealogical problems, methodology of organizing your research, and so much more! Of course this group will also be about sharing our research experiences, and having fun.

If you know of any other people interested in Hispanic genealogy tell them about the up and coming group. The group is free and open to the public! For questions or comments, please email Vince at sw@gfo.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 15th

Illinois Interest Group noon – 2pm

Ciao to everyone interested in Italian genealogy research. This is a great opportunity to learn, share, and enjoy others with a common interest. Italian genealogy research in the Portland area now has a home. Come join our group. Facilitated by Keith Pyeatt.

SUNDAY, JULY 16th

Library Work Party 9am – noon

There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come, and we’re pullin’ out all the stops and need your help reorganizing the Library Office space! There will also be lots of labeling 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!

Family Tree Maker for Beginners 1 – 3pm

This is a beginning class for Family Tree Maker users and for those considering a purchase. It will be repeated quarterly.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19th

DNA Q&A 1 – 3pm

Lisa McCullough leads a discussion on various DNA related subjects, with each meeting focused on a particular subject. General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion.

 

Local Society Management Classes Offered – Free!

by Roxanne Lowe

WSGS President Ginny Majewski (center) with Board Members Nancy Cordell and Patty Olsen at “Nuts and Bolts of Society Management” class

Ginny Majewski, WSGS President, recently presented her “Nuts and Bolts of Society Management” class to a group of local genealogists hosted by the Lewis County Genealogical Society. By all accounts, the class was well-received and packed with valuable information, as well providing answers to a lot of society management questions — and some questions that attendees didn’t even know to ask.

Ginny’s “Nuts and Bolts” class is one of two society management classes being offered by WSGS on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at the Northwest Genealogy Conference in Arlington, WA. The other class, taught by WSGS VP Donna Potter Phillips, is “How to Attract and Keep Members…Awake.” More information about the FREE society management classes is available in this Blog post.

For those local societies not able to take advantage of the management classes at the Northwest Genealogy Conference, arrangements are possible to present the classes at a more convenient time and location. Contact Ginny for more information.

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Ah, the good old days when most every grade school child was ushered into the nurses’ office and given a wooden spatula to cover first the right eye and then the left and was told to read the letters on this lighted eye chart. Did you pass? If not, a note was sent home with you to your parents that you needed glasses. Very scientific.

Meet the Board: Donna Potter Phillips

by Roxanne Lowe

Do you know who’s running the show at the Washington State Genealogical Society? Did you know we have an Executive Committee, six standing committee chairs and three appointed non-elected officers? Who are all these people? In the coming months, we’ll introduce them to you, so you can say “hi” the next time you see them.

Donna Potter Phillips

In today’s “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Donna Potter Phillips. Donna lives in Spokane and is WSGS’s Vice President, Communication Chair, on the Blog Team, and Region 7 Representative for Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens Counties. She also served as WSGS Vice President a number of years ago. She is a proud member of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society where she has been president (twice!), program chair, newsletter editor and held “jack of all” jobs. She is currently EWGS’s Federation of Genealogical Societies’ representative and Education chair.

Besides being a member of WSGS (since 1984) and EWGS, Donna is a member of the Mayflower Society, DAR, St. Clair County (Illinois) Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, Whitman County Genealogical Society and the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society. In addition, Donna was named a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer in 2008 and 2014. That’s a lot of genealogy, but that’s what Donna does!

Donna, age 5

Donna Ruth Potter was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Francis Harold and June Magdalen (Gurney) Potter. She was named for the heroine Lady Dona in Daphne Du Maurier’s 1941 novel “Frenchman’s Creek.”

Donna and her husband John are the proud parents of three, grandparents of eight and great-grandparents of 2-3/4 great-granddaughters.

Donna’s been interested in genealogy for more than 40 years – since she first learned she was a direct descendant of Englishman William Bradford of the Mayflower. She got “hooked” in 1971, joined EWGS in 1976 and has been researching, sharing, educating and promoting genealogy ever since. One of her favorite experiences was going with her son Benjamin and his son Austin to Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane to see a B-52 bomber jet on display. According to the serial number on the plane, it was one Donna’s father flew as an Aircraft Commander in the U.S. Air Force. Such serendipity! And speaking of “serendipity,” Donna publishes a weekly feature on the WSGS Blog called “Friday Serendipity” – assorted musings to entertain one and all. She also publishes “Monday Mystery,” “Tuesday Trivia,” and “Wednesday Nostalgia.”

On Donna’s ever-growing genealogy To Do List:
• Get all her genealogy research and information in order in case…well, you know.
• Upload her photos to www.Forever.com.
• Put her family tree on Ancestry, FamilySearch and MyHeritage.
• Make sure her list of contacts and passwords are updated.

When Donna’s not doing genealogy, she enjoys gardening (both inside and out), reading, rock collecting, taking educational classes and travel, including her ancestral homelands: Germany, England and Wales. She’s also a devoted dachshund lover!

A few more interesting tidbits about Donna:
• Favorite genealogy sites: Ancestry, FamilySearch and the Washington Digital Archives
• Favorite color: red
• Favorite dessert: Anything chocolate
• Word or phrase that describes her: Outspokenly energetic!

Now you know a little more about another of the WSGS Board members. The next time you see Donna, say hello and thank her for her service to WSGS.

Okanogan Genealogy Society September Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Okanogan Genealogy Society

Donna Potter Phillip will be speaking September 9 @ 8:30 a.m.
at Okanogan P.U.D. Auditorium.

1331 2nd Ave. N. Okanogan, WA.

“Bring Your Own Bag Lunch & Drinks

Face Book:  “Okanogan Genealogy”

If you need more Information, Please let me know

Email:  okanogangenes@gmail.com

Noma Wyllson, President

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Would you rather live on Beet Street or Frog Hollow Road?

These are two for-real street names near Walla Walla.

Don’t we smile to see Bluebird Lane, Cricket Street, or Kennedy Parkway but we scratch our heads at Itani Street (a real street in Pullman). How would you react to these…. found photos of each on a website so I’m not pulling your tail……….

Priest River, Idaho:  GOA Way

Story, Alaska:  Farfrompoopen Road (said to be 200 miles from a reststop)

Bainbridge Island, Washington: Toe Jam Hill Road

Troy, Michigan: Intersection of Crooks Road / Corporate Drive

Great Meadows, New Jersey:  Shades of Death Road

New Portland, Maine:  Katie’s Crotch Road

Blountville, Tennessee:  Meth Bible Camp Road / Dead End

Littleton, Colorado: Jackass Hill Road

Heather Highland, Michigan: Divorce Court

 

Puget Sound Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Puget Sound Genealogical Society
Saturday July 22 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
at Kitsap Regional Library 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton
Webinar: Researching Ancestors in the Era of Freedom
with Angela Walton-Raji. Find record sets and maps
reflecting the years after the Civil War and how they
provide critical background for your family story.
Registration is required: call Genealogical Center
(360)475-9172
Jackie Horton, Publicity Chairperson

Blog is Success, Thanks to You!

by Roxanne Lowe

WSGS Blog Team: Roxanne Lowe, Charles Hansen & Donna Potter Phillips

Since our first post in January 2015, the Blog Masters have posted 1,o90 genealogy-related articles, special features, events announcements and a plethora of other postings and musings. To date, almost 600 genealogy enthusiasts from around the region subscribe to the blog.

You can help us continue our success:

  • Send information about your local society, workshop, genealogical tip, or a research query to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org. Charles, our Head Blog Master, will get it posted in a jiffy. We’re always looking to publicize local events and workshops, feature stories, updates from your society, and other genealogical information that might be of interest to our subscribers.
  • Encourage your friends and local society members to subscribe to the Blog for the most up-to-date information from around the state. It’s easy — just click here.

Thanks for making the Washington State Genealogical Society Blog a success!