Tuesday’s Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Today’s trivia is just fun-fun-fun.  Son in Port Angeles took me on a whale watching cruise and yes, we did spot some humped backs of the animals. But the quips of the 22-ish captain were great. We saw a bunch of basking harbor seals on the end of Ediz Hook…… “those are orca bon-bons.” Later, “Whale watching is a lot of whale waiting but it’s whale worth it.”

Much later with few sightings, they rolled out the big ones. “Why did the whale cross the sound? To get to the other tide.”  And “Did you hear about the whale that ate Seattle? It’s a whale of a tale.”  Ouch, eh?

But yes, these Puget Sound whale watching trips guarantee that you’ll see whales or you can come again for free until you do.

Monday’s Mystery

by Charles Hansen

 

Gosh, no cupcakes awarded this week………. seems that nobody knew that that old time contraption I offered last week was a 1922-ish state-of-the-art Easy brand washing machine.  Just imagine how excited the lady of the house must have been to trade in her wash board for this machine!

Today’s mystery is geography. Is there a Dixie in Washington and if so, where might it be?  No fair asking Grandma Google!!  (And this sign might or might not be worthwhile.)

How to Reach Almost 600 Local Genealogists

by Roxanne Lowe

Do you want to broadcast information about your local society, workshop, genealogical tip, or a research query? Just post to the WSGS Blog! You can reach hundreds of genealogists from around the state. Just email a Word document, text file, PDF or graphic to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org and the blog masters will do the rest.

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 many subscribers.

We hope to hear from you soon! And don’t forget to encourage your Society members to subscribe to the Blog for the most up-to-date information from around the state.

You may manage your subscription options here.

Columbia Gorge Gen Soc to Celebrate 40th Anniversary

by Roxanne Lowe

You’re invited to celebrate the Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society‘s 40th anniversary on Sunday, 09 July at Sorosis Park in The Dalles, OR. The potluck celebration will begin at 1:00 p.m. You’ll meet some of the founding and current members, share stories and photos. RVSP by 30 June. Here’s the flyer for more information: 40th Anniversary11

Kids and Genealogy Event in Hoquiam

by Roxanne Lowe

The Grays Harbor Genealogical Society and Hoquiam Library are co-sponsoring a “Kids and Family Genealogy” event on 08 July, 10:30 – noon at the library, 420 7th Street in Hoquiam. Library staff and GHGS members will help kids learn about searching for their ancestors. For more information, visit the library website or contact Info@GraysHarborGenealogy.com.

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

BOOK EXCHANGE

The SGS Library has begun exchanging books and periodical issues with other genealogy libraries around the country.

Thus far, through this exchange, we have added 7 new books (conservatively valued at over $280) to our collection which bolstered our holdings for counties in Virginia and West Virginia. In return, we have either reimbursed the sender for postage, or exchanged some of SGS’ publications with them.

When the SGS Library offered our publications to other libraries, we received requests from seven other genealogical libraries. The response has been very positive.

One librarian checked her own family names in Edmond S Meany’s Living Pioneers of Washington, published by SGS in 1995, and found two family members with full articles, including the date their wagon train left Illinois, and a third relative is mentioned. She hopes to visit SGS in January 2019 when the American Library Association meets in Seattle.

This book exchange is an excellent way to raise our profile within the genealogy community!

GOT ACADIANS OR CAJUNS IN YOUR FAMILY TREE?

The SGS Library has a new section devoted to Acadia. The colony of New France in northeastern North America was known as Acadia. This includes areas of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Maine. Acadians who resettled in Louisiana came to be known as Cajuns. You can find this new section under Canada (CAND/AC/) in the library, but for a while check for items for Acadia on the new acquisitions shelf.

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Serendipity Friday

by Charles Hansen

 

Something rather different today. Few days ago I first drove west over the Vantage Bridge and then drove east coming home. I took the top photo and spent a few miles thinking about perspective.

I’ve flown over the Vantage Bridge and I’ve boated under the bridge. Looking on Google for different-angle photos, I found these two:

As I drove the 140 miles from Vantage on home to Spokane, thinking about perspective, I thought about how different the bridge looks from up high, from looking east, from looking west and from looking north, and from looking up (as we boated under it).  Same bridge; different perspective.

Applying this to genealogy, the “bridge” for us is our current genealogical problem. Have we looked at it from all possible angles?? Some of those angles might be looking forward in time to him/her (as starting with him/her as a child) or looking backward in time to him/her. How about looking through the eyes of his parents? His siblings? His/her children? His employer? His military leader?

Perspective can make a “bridge” of a difference. Must keep that in mind.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

 

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s
Wednesday Evening
E-News
14 June 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 May 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!
***
Calling All Volunteers!! You really MUST come to the Party!! Saturday, June 17th, at the GFO!

We’re throwing you a party this Saturday, as we’d like to show our thanks for all you do for the GFO.

We will be celebrating our volunteers with snacks and prizes during our Annual Meeting, Saturday, June 17th beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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Spotlight on Clark County Gen Society Library

by Charles Hansen

Vancouver, Washington, is a history “hot site” for Washington. With Fort Vancouver’s history going back 200 years and the First People’s history going back much further, Vancouver was an exciting place to visit. 

Past president and current librarian for CCGS is my long-time friend, Lethene Parks. In between sessions of a history conference that we both attended, she showed me around their society’s library. And she just as proudly showed off their Pioneer File.

 

 

Vancouver that weekend was in full bloom and I made a promise to myself to go back and tour and learn more of the rich history of that area. Here is my photo of Fort Vancouver: