Montana State Genealogical Society Annual Conference

by Charles Hansen

The Montana State Genealogical Society (MSGS) and the Yellowstone Genealogy Forum will co-host the state’s annual conference on September 21-23 at the Big Horn Resort in Billings, Montana.

Please inform the societies in your area about the conference.  Registration will be available in July on the MSGS website.

MT State Genealogical Society Annual Conference

Moving Forward Through the Past

Big Horn Resort, 1801 Majestic Lane, Billings, MT

September 21-23, 2017

CeCe Moore and Thomas Jones, national presenters, on DNA & methods of research.

Registration required. See http://montanamsgs.org/

Thank you.

  1. J. Smith, President

Yellowstone Genealogy Forum

https://yellowstonegenealogy.org/

2017 publicity blurb2017

flyer with small logo

Clark County Genealogical Society April and May Meetings

by Charles Hansen

 

Note: CCGS=Clark County Genealogical Society

717 Grand Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98661-4821

360-750-5688

Public library hours:

Tue-Fri: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thurs eves: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

2nd Sat: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

GENEALOGY IN GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS WEBINAR Tues, 18 April 2017: 5-6:30 pm CCGS Education Center

An often under used resource, evidence of kinship abounds in publication such as the Serial Set, American State Papers, and the Territorial Papers. In this Legacy Family Tree webinar, you will explore these publications and discover efficient ways to access them.  This is hosted and sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists.

 

NEIGHBORHOOD RECONSTRUCTION: EFFECTIVE USE OF LAND USE RECORDS WEBINAR Wed, 19 April 2017: 11 am to 12:30 pm CCGS Education Center

 

Did you know that you can use USGS topographic maps, tract maps, plat maps, surveys, deeds, census records, and tax lists to reconstruct the neighborhood where your ancestor lived? This Legacy Family Tree Webinar will show you how to plat your ancestor’s land records and discover what unexpected clues might be discovered in the process.

 

CLASS FOR GENEALOGY SLEUTHS: TIMELINES AND ANALYSIS Tuesday, April 25, 10 a.m. – 12 noon CCGS Education Center Instructor Lethene Parks

You’ve been hot on the trail of an elusive ancestor. You’ve gathered quite a bit of information about them. But, what does it all mean? Organizing all these disparate “facts” into a timeline and subjecting them to critical analysis will help you make sense of it.

Lethene Parks, CCGS Library Director, has been a serious genealogist for over 50 years. She loves sharing her knowledge with everyone. Her passion for scholarly research is surpassed only by the thrill of the hunt.

Classes are $12 for CCGS members and $15 for non-members. Drop-ins welcome on space available basis. To register in advance call the CCGS library, 360-750-5688.

 

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING FOR GENEALOGY ENTHUSIASTS Tue, Apr 25, 2017:  7-8:30 pm CCGS Education Center *The McLoughlin Women*

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site’s Assistant Curator, Meagan Huff, will talk about the lives of Marguerite and Eloisa McLoughlin, the wife and daughter of Fort Vancouver’s Chief Factor, Dr. John McLoughlin. Examining the history of the fur trade through the lens of these two local women allows for a new perspective on the history of women in the northwest. Meagan Huff grew up in Vancouver, Washington, and has been at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site since 2010.

 

FINDING AND USING LAND OWNERSHIP MAPS WEBINAR Wed, 26 Apr 2017 – 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

CCGS Education Center

 

Land ownership maps in this country are generally focused on the county level. Produced largely in the nineteenth-century in single sheet or atlas format, they were sold by subscription and also developed to commemorate events such as the centennial of the American Revolution. In this Legacy Family Tree webinar find out more about locating property using military maps, city directories and fire insurance maps.

 

RESEARCHING CRIMINAL RECORDS WEBINAR

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 – 11 a.m. to 12:30 pm

CCGS Education Center

How do you research for your “black sheep” ancestors? This Legacy Family Tree webinar will show how to use specific records available only for those who broke the law. Specific recommendations will be given regarding the methodology of researching such characters in places such as prison records.

 

CLASS FOR GENEALOGY SLEUTHS: FAMILY SEARCH STRATEGIES Tuesday, May 2, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Instructor Alice Allen

FamilySearch.com is a major go-to site for genealogical research. In addition to continuously adding searchable records, FamilySearch is constantly improving how we access those records. Alice is a “power user” of FamilySearch and will share her insights as to how to make the site “dance” for you.

 

 

Serendipity Friday

by Charles Hansen

*** Rivels?

*** Daffodils vs Narcissus?

*** Cuspidors in the Washington State Capitol

*** Bicycling in the Early Days

*** Columbia River Gorge: Why Steeper on the North? 

 

Ever eaten rivels?  Bet your grandparents and beyond surely did. Here is the recipe for Rivels:  “Mix flour and some salt. To this add one drop of water at a time to stir into the flour and salt. Mix well each time water is added. When flour has stirred into “rivels” add them slowly to hot milk. Ladle into bowls and serve with butter and sugar.”  (This was a recipe in my Aunt Ruth’s cookbook saying the got it from her grandmother.) Think you’ll try rivels??? Let me know if you do.

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What is the difference between daffodils and narcissus? Not much, according to the good folks at Roozengarde near Mount Vernon. Daffodils and jonquils belong to the narcissus family; daffodils usually have longer trumpets. Narcissus have shorter, flatter, “cups” with often frilly edges. Now you know. (NOW is the time to order tulips and daffodils for fall planting from Roozengarde; call to request their catalog or view online.)

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According to the magazine Columbia, publication of the Washington State Historical Society, ” In 1928 the cuspidors for the new Washington State capitol in Olympia cost $47.50 each and no one objected to the spittoons themselves…..every well-equipped office had them at a time when most men chewed…it was the price of them that was shocking.” I guess so!

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This from an article in the periodical Clark County History for 2015 titled  “Bicycling in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century,” by Jan Anderson:  “Bloomers are not only not coquettish, but (are) hideously ugly and unbecoming.” (Quoting a New York journalist on women’s bicycling fashions.) Around 1900 “women took to the wheel and protest came from many critics including fashion experts, clergy, society mavens and even medical professionals, who warned ominously of over stress to weak female bodies, juggled reproductive organs and lascivious urges.  A major cause for panic was the need for a new style of women’s clothing: floor-length skirts and tight corsets didn’t make for safe cycling. Part of the answer was biking bloomers which scandalously showed an inch of ankle.” My, my, my but we have come a long way, baby.

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Doing some reading on the Great Ice Age Floods, which carved Washington and Oregon, I finally learned why the Gorge is much steeper on the Washington (north) side than the Oregon (south) side. A speaker on that subject at a recent conference I attended in Vancouver, WA, explained that the Washington side is less steep “due to the 15,000 years of land slides and mud slides.” Duh. Yessiree. In some places you can certainly see evidence of those slides.

A Day with NEHGS: Researching Early New England Ancestors

by Charles Hansen

A Day with NEHGS: Researching Early New England Ancestors
Saturday, June 10, 2017, 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Bellevue Club,  11200 Southeast Sixth Street, Bellevue, WA 98004
Registration includes five lectures, lunch, and an evening reception.
Cost: $125

From before the end of the Revolutionary War through the 19th century, thousands of New England families moved westward into Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, and other areas. Despite the harsh journey across the Rockies, many of their descendants went further West seeking new land, industry, gold, and opportunity. Today, many families in the Pacific Northwest can claim New England heritage.

Spend the day with NEHGS and learn how to trace your early New England ancestors. Discover essential resources for 17th-c. New England research, understand early settlement and migration patterns, learn how to research your patriot ancestors, and more.

Beyond lectures you will have the opportunity to chat with our genealogists and visiting staff, enter to win door prizes, take advantage of NEHGS membership specials, browse select publications, and enjoy a meal and special reception with fellow family historians. Further your study of genealogy with the experts in family history!

Agenda
9:00     Registration check-in, Bellevue Club
9:30     Opening remarks
10:00     Lecture: Migrations out of New England, David Allen Lambert
11:00     Lecture: 17th-Century New England Research and Resources, Lindsay Fulton
12:00     Lunch (included with registration)
1:00     Lecture: Using Early New England Land Records, David Allen Lambert
2:00     Break
2:30     Lecture: Using Early New England Probate Records, Lindsay Fulton
3:30     Lecture: Researching Colonial and Revolutionary War Soldiers, David Allen Lambert
4:30     Break
5:00     Reception, Bellevue Club
Register Here:

https://shop.americanancestors.org/products/a-day-with-nehgs-researching-early-new-england-ancestors?pass-through=true

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 12 April 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!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 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!
We’ve recently received a lot of questions from our wonderful members asking when their membership expires and how they can track this.

In response, we’re now providing your membership information right here with our weekly e-news blasts. If you want to forward our weekly e-news blasts to a friend, you can also delete your personal information before forwarding the message.

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Atlas of Historical County Boundaries?? It’s back!

The Newberry Library is pleased to announce that their interactive online maps resource is back up for use. AND they’re even bragging some pretty exciting new features for users:
▪ view a base layer map that allows an overlay of boundaries on top of cities, towns and other geographic features
▪ zoom in and out of maps for the level of detail desired
▪ select a date of interest from a drop-down box with all border change dates for that state
▪ view information about border changes in a hover box that changes as users hover over different counties
▪ expand the map view to full screen

To view (and to interact with!) the maps with all their new bells and whistles, click HERE.

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Don’t forget the GFO’s Spring Seminar! Sat. April 29th

REGISTER for SATURDAY’s SEMINAR

There are still PLENTY of seats available for the Saturday Session!!
Online registrations, in-person registration at the GFO Library, or mailed registration. Whatever way is easiest for you!

When APRIL 29TH, 10am – 4:30pm

Where THE MILWAUKIE CENTER (sponsored by the GFO)

Who JOHN PHILIP COLLETTA

What OUR ANCESTORS FROM OVERSEAS

How It’s so simple! Just click HERE to register right now online.
Please note, the Saturday Seminar is NOT sold out yet. Click HERE to register your seat!
John Philip Colletta is a faculty member of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. For twenty years, he worked part-time at the Library of Congress and taught workshops at the National Archives. This is a speaker you definitely don’t want to miss!

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Call for an especially EXCEL-lent volunteer!!

The GFO’s Data Extraction extraordinaire, Loretta Welsh, has recently released another cry for HELP!
Would you like to make a difference in genealogical and historical research across the continent?

We need an excel-genius to help consolidate Loretta’s multiple indexes currently wandering around in various excel documents, and then to format the resulting consolidated file before it can be sent for publication.
If this interests you, please contact Loretta at dataextraction@gfo.org.

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Thank Goodness for Good Indexing!!

Good News!
The Oregon Marriage CD volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been revised. They are now in PDF format, available on CD, USB drive, or as an electronic file you can receive by email. Any or all of the four volumes may be acquired through the following:
▪ Order at our library from the receptionist.
▪ Order by check payable to GFO and send to GFO – Oregon Marriages, 2505 S.E. 11th Ave., Suite B-18 Portland, OR 97202-1061.

Each volume is $10.00, please specify CD/USB/Email. Please add $2 for shipping each CD or USB. If you would like more information or want to pay with PayPal, send an email to research@gfo.org.

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Did you hear?? Legacy Family Tree Webinars hits the Big 5-0-0 this week.
The 500th webinar in its series of marvelous presentations on just about every aspect of genealogy you can imagine will be given this week.

And in recognition of hitting that milestone, Family Tree Webinars is offering free access to all 500 recorded presentations for the entire weekend. The free period starts on Friday and runs through Sunday evening.
To access the magic, go to www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com and browse or search for any topic or presenter and enjoy!

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This Week at the GFO…

SATURDAY, APRIL 15th
Genealogical Problem Solvers (GPS)  9:30 – 11:30am

GPS is a monthly support group where we help each other find information about a family line. We will learn to do a reasonably exhaustive search and develop research plans. The focus will shift depending on the needs of the group. Several experienced researchers have volunteered to help. Beginners and intermediate researchers are encouraged to submit problems to work on. For more information contact Katie Daly at GPS@gfo.org.

Italian 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, APRIL 16th
EASTER HOLIDAY CLOSURE!! Please, please, please! We beg you! Go out and enjoy some colorful eggs and bunnies with family and friends! We’ll see you Monday, April 17th, from 9:30am.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19th
Learn & Chat 10am – noon

Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jean Quan.

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.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Spring Seminar

by Charles Hansen

 

The Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Spring Seminar will take place Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Mount Olive Church, 7809 Tieton Drive in Yakima.

One of America’s foremost genealogists and reputed speaker will be speaking on a variety of interesting topics.  Jay Fonkert is considered to be one of the best and most educated genealogical speakers in the country.

Registration can be online at the YVGS website, or at the local genealogical library at 1901 S. 12th Avenue, Union Gap.  Walkins are welcome, however lunch cannot be guaranteed.   Check in and registration 8:00 – 8:50 and seminar will begin at 9:00 am.  $40. until  April 14, $45 after that.

The Washington State Genealogical Society annual meeting will be during the lunch hour honoring outstanding volunteers and interesting projects.

 

Grays Harbor Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Roxanne Lowe

The next meeting of the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society will feature Jerry Schaefer, a local character known as gunslinger “Doc Shores” in Western reenactment events. Jerry will be changing hats, however, to talk about the Spruce Production Division, a unit of the U.S. Army established in 1917 to produce high-quality Sitka Spruce timber and other products needed to make aircraft for the U.S.’s efforts in World War I. The division had a large impact on logging in the Pacific Northwest. Logging companies adopted working conditions similar to those the division had.

The meeting is Saturday, May 13, 10:00 a.m. at the Hoquiam Library, 420 7th Street, Hoquiam. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email GHGS.

South King County Genealogy Society April Meeting

by Charles Hansen

South King County Genealogy Society General Meeting is scheduled for this Saturday, April 15, 2017, beginning at 10:00 am at Wesley Home – Lea Hill Retirement Center, 32049 109th Pl SE, Auburn.

 
Our topic this month is “Google Tools Beyond Basic Search” Genealogists depend on Google for searching the web, and yet there are many, more frequently un-used Google tools available to assist in researching our ancestors. Learn how to locate photos; find missing relatives; translate foreign records; find obituaries and related news articles; locate county histories and biographies; download books for reading later; keep learning through videos and resolve research problems with discussion groups. Maximize your research experience using Google’s tools.
Our presenter this month is Janet O’Conor Camarata, an SKCGS society member since 2008. As a professional genealogy, seminar presenter/trainer, newsletter editor, program coordinator and past president of SKCG, she’s an experience researcher with many skills to share.

 

Janet O’Conor Camarata
SKCGS – Publicity
206-335-9577

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Could you identify the oldest apple tree in Washington? It’s in Vancouver, near the waterfront and happily tended and protected by a fence. They say it was planted in 1826…..when I was there I could see sprouts coming up from the roots? Way cool to see that venerable apple tree.

On the topic of apples, fellow named Dave Benscotter has become a self-proclaimed “apple detective” in Eastern Washington, mainly in and around Steptoe Butte (north of Pullman). In his research he found that there were 17,000 named varieties of apples in the past in North America, but “only around 3000 still exist today.” He’s hoping to identify some of these long lost apple varieties from sleuthing around the old orchards planted around Steptoe Butte and in Whitman County. He’s working with the Whitman County Historical Society on the “Lost Apple Project” to search, find, rescue and identify “apple varieties that have become extinct.” Or thought to be so. Google that project for an interesting read.