Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society June 2025 Genealogy Chat Meeting

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Genealogy Chat Meeting
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Please join us and let’s chat!

Discussion starter topic TBD

This is a monthly opportunity to connect with others and talk about anything and everything genealogical. The value of this meeting increases with the participation of each person that attends and contributes to the conversations. This is your chance to celebrate the breaking down of a brick wall in your research, or ask questions of others that can help you find records or relatives. Everyone, members and guests are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate.
Visitors welcome.

Meeting invite with links in file attached below.

Date & Time: Every month on the Third Tue, from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM Pacific Time

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

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMldOCprTsqGtSoVglOBTElUaBRgTq5IEgI/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvpjgjG9eVsBmHRpwEGojCXevztmJfjbdukyniDw9xVib6A-NgALVLAY35

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87839130000?pwd=dGdHY2wrZ0d1bDNRTEQ4Uk15OVk0Zz09
Meeting ID: 878 3913 0000
Passcode: 836216

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,87839130000#,,,,*836216# US
+12532158782,,87839130000#,,,,*836216# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 878 3913 0000
Passcode: 836216

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdesX0el3t

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society Norwegian Genealogy

Uff Da don’t miss out! Join SVGS this Saturday, June 14, 2025, 1pm at the Burlington Public Library for Norwegian Genealogy with Dana Kelly, Executive Director of the Norwegian American Genealogical Center (NAGC). Dana has researched her Norwegian ancestors for over 20 years and speaks, writes and reads Norwegian and has a degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Can’t make it to the Burlington Library, request a zoom link by emailing genealogy0715@gmail.com.

Puget Sound Genealogical Society Getting Started in Family History

Up coming events for June.

On June 21, we will finish our series “Getting Stated in Family History” with Cheri Hudson Passey.  This class will focus on Research Plans & Logs, Staying Organized, and Avoiding Mistakes. Class starts at 10:30am.

Our monthly Program on June 25 will be “25 Uncommon Sources for Your Genealogy with Gena Phililbert-Ortega.  The Program will start at 1:30pm.

These will be hybrid, with in person at the Sylvan Way Library (1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton WA), and on Zoom.  The Zoom link will be posted the day before on our website (psgsociety.org)  and our Facebook page.

Let’s Talk About: Washington Digital Newspapers

Bet you’ve searched online newspapers at the several websites offering such. But did you know that there is a website devoted to our very own state newspapers?? Here’s the fine print in the image: Washington Digital Newspapers brings together over 600,000 pages from Washington’s earliest Territorial newspapers to the present day, freely accessible to the public. And this collection continues to expand! Clicking to the website, you can search by title, by date or by subject.
When I first learned of this resource back in February 2025, I did a search for the surname PHILLIPS, 1900-1960, and got 43,186 hits!  For the surname OSWALD, 3996 hits! For Fort George Wright, 12, 690 hits! 


If you have ancestors, direct line or collateral, and they lived and worked in the Evergreen State, do check out this resource. 

Remember I’ve taught you always: If it’s free, take two! 🙂 

Heritage Quest Research Library Railroad Ancestors

Just the Ticket to Find Your Railroad Ancestors If Gramps was working on the railroad, what railroad was it?  What did he do? How can you learn more? 
Discover the many different kinds of records a trainman’s life might have created. Mary Kircher Roddy, Certified Genealogist, is also a Certified Public Accountant. She lectures in Washington State and across the Us and is a regular presenter for LegacyFamilyTree Webinars.  Mary’s list of publications is long and varied. She is currently a trustee for the Board of Certification of Genealogists. More about Mary can be found at https://www.mkrgenealogy.com 

  WHEN: Thursday, June 19, 2025
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

WHERE: ZOOM and limited in-person (8 only)

COST: $20 members
            $25 non-members Sign-up and Payment:
ZOOM
Go to hqrl.com and click on the HQRL Store (Sign in as a member to get the discount)

IN-PERSON (8 only)
Call HQRL at 253-863-1806 or come into the library located at 2102 E Main, Ste 105, Puyallup, WA 98372
Copyright © 2025 Heritage Quest Research Lbrary, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
Heritage Quest Research Lbrary
2102 East Main Suite 105
Puyallup, WA98372-3205

California Genealogical Society French in California


CaliforniaAncestors.org

Don’t miss this free talk on the French in California.
Learn about French genealogy records!
CGS is happy to announce this opportunity to discover your heritage, and save!
Register today for the Saturday, July 12th lecture, held online from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. PDT.
French genealogists will get special access to bonus lectures at a SPECIAL PRICE! Free! Register Today! When you register for Anne Morddel’s free lecture Revolution or Gold: What Sent the French to 1850s California, which is scheduled for JULY 12, you will have the option to access four of Anne’s video lectures covering vital and other French records at an incredibly reduced rate.
These essential video lectures will be available to you online for four weeks only beginning June 12. Anne Morddel is the renowned author of The French Genealogy Blog. Her video lectures are available on her website for $15 each, but the California Genealogical Society has arranged to provide all four of them to you for the special price of only $20. During the July 12 online presentation, Anne will answer your questions about the content of the lecture series, as well as any questions about her Revolution or Gold lecture, all to help you learn about your French ancestors. Please sign up today, and help get the word out by sharing!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/revolution-or-gold-what-sent-the-french-to-1850s-california-registration-1352000482839 Free! Register Today!
California Genealogical Society | 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2 | Oakland, CA 94612 US

Let’s Talk About: Vinegar Flats in Spokane


Vinegar Flats – The Keller-Lorenz Vinegar WorksJesse Tinsley crafts a Then And Now column in The Spokesman-Review daily newspaper in Spokane. This bit comes from one of his insightful columns:


In an area that was once a seasonal village of Spokane Indians along Latah Creek, a neighborhood was platted in 1888. It became known as Vinegar Flats because of the tangy aroma from a vinegar production plant that opened in 1889……. The Keller-Lorenz Vinegar Company made cider and vinegar and sold the product to stores in bottles or to wholesalers in barrels…. the company grew rapidly and in 1912 the company used 15,000 tons of apples from Spokane’s orchards to make 225,000 gallons of cider and 5,000 gallons of vinegar…. their two primary products were pickling vinegar, made from barley malt and molasses, and apple vinegar which starts as cider…… eight men worked full time at the plant with up to 14 more added seasonally….. 

“When the factory began operations in 1890, vinegar was especially important for the preservation of a variety of foods. In an era before household refrigeration, pickling in vinegar was a common method of preserving fruits and vegetables. The Vinegar Works operated in the three-story building at 11th Avenue and Spruce Street until 1958 producing cider, malt, and white wine vinegar. It wasn’t until the 1930s that refrigerators became commonplace and the need for pickling foods became less important. This new era of both commercial and domestic refrigeration, coupled with better roads for transportation, meant that factories like the Keller -Lorenz Vinegar Works eventually went out of business.”

 Next time you drive south to Pullman from Spokane on Hwy 195, sniff the air. It just might smell a bit tangy still. 

SKCGS Publicity Team Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Teams in 2024

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 SKCGS Publicity Team who was selected by the South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS) as their recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Team Award. The team is composed of Tina Lawson, Janet Stroebel, Brenda Phillips, Valorie Zimmerman and MaryLynn Strickland.

Under Tina’s leadership, the publicity team has not only performed reliably, but has gone beyond, providing accurate and beautifully presented information to the membership and friends and the general public. Janet deals with the quirky Groups.io calendar system so that SKCGS members and friends get timely meeting reminders automatically. Brenda, as a new member, has volunteered to update the Facebook page. Valorie continues to maintain a presence on X (formerly Twitter), while MaryLynn coordinates the blog presence. Tina not only creates the public calendar on the website, but also maintains SKCGS.org behind the scenes, and crafts the monthly emails to members and friends near and far, including Conference Keeper and the Washington State Genealogical Society Blog.

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.

WHY JOIN A GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY? WHY ATTEND MEETINGS?

WHY JOIN A GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY? WHY ATTEND MEETINGS?

Research can be done through the internet on your computer. That format will never replace group knowledge from members in a society. You ask why?

Anyone can put information on line BUT is it accurate? The problem: too many false family lines. DO YOU WANT TO LEAVE FALSE INFORMATION TO YOUR DESCENDANTS?

You are probably a member of other groups. Think it is not necessary to belong to a genealogical society, then why are you a member of these other groups? Is it sharing of ideas, meeting others, the knowledge others have to help you?

Here is a brief list of what is important for genealogists and belonging to a society:

  • learn how to trace your family tree.
  • education in the monthly programs
  • medical history- what your people died of can help for future medical problems along the way.
  • learn about personalities/character traits to watch for
  • learn more about the history of our country and the world. Knowledge is good!
  • find long lost family members that you have been searching for
  • adoptees finding out something about their history
  • insight into research methods that you may not learn on the internet
  • society holdings that cover specific areas are available to you
  • conversations with members who know the research techniques
  • MANY RECORDS ARE NOT ON LINE – court records, divorces land and criminal records, etc.

Join a society today in an area of your research or locally for expert help!