EWGS President Pat Bayonne-Johnson meets Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia

by Charles Hansen

On the EWGS Facebook page today was a link from an article by Megan Smolenyak  telling about an article in the Washington Post by Terrance McCoy on the Georgetown University sale of 272 slaves to pay off debts owed by Georgetown University:Link here ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/06/17/georgetowns-priests-sold-her-ancestors-into-slavery-heres-how-she-cracked-the-mystery/ )

This is a copy of the Blog post I did for the EWGS blog a few days ago where Pat Bayonne-Johnson met the President of Georgetown University:

EWGS President Patricia Bayonne-Johnson descendant of slaves that were sold by Georgetown University in 1838, meets with Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia at the Spokane Public Library. Read the article by Rachel L. Swarns of the New York Times. (https://goodblacknews.org/author/goodblacknews/ ) or the article in the Spokesman Review

Here is some pictures of the meeting:

Pat and John DeGioia

Greeting the team of researchers.

Sitting down to talk about the research.

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

by Charles Hansen

 

Seattle

TIP OF THE WEEK – CANADIAN RESOURCES

Earlier this month the Ontario Genealogy Society had their 2016 conference,  “Genealogy on the Cutting Edge”, in Toronto; 700 attended.   The Legal Genealogist, Judy G Russell, was a featured speaker.  As usually,  she has written a nice article informing her readers of some resources that may be new to them.  If you are researching your Canadian ancestors, check out her blog,  “O Canada”,  here :

O Canada!

Besides the “Library and Archives Canada”, which most Canada researchers would know about,  here are a few lesser known resources she has links to in her blog :

•Canadian.ca
•CanadaGenWeb
•CanGenealogy Historical Newspapers
•Archives of Ontario

Be sure to read the Comments Section written by other users.  They have a few more research recommendations such as The Glenbow Archives and the Surrey Public Library.

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

Seattle

 

SGS RECOGNIZES VOLUNTEER
 BETTY RAVENHOLT

In January, the Board of Directors named Betty Ravenholt as the Volunteer of the Quarter. She was specially honored in the first months of this year.  Betty has most successfully filled a large number of roles and offices in the society, including several years as the Society’s secretary and also as Director of Communications (when a position of that name existed), coordinating and providing look-ups for queries. She served as a seminar co-chair during that same time period.  More recently, she has been one of the very active SGS Library Trustees. In this capacity, she devoted great energy to restoring and substantially increasing financial resources for library acquisitions; and she is in fact a continuing member of the Materials Review Committee, which oversees new additions to our library shelves.

Betty will long be appreciated for her outstanding work as the SGS Seminar chair for 2015.  The fall presentation with Tom Jones, which she organized, was an extraordinarily successful and well attended event.

Betty Ravenholt was born in Middle Tennessee and went to school just outside Atlanta at a small liberal arts college for women, Agnes Scott.  She has since lived in Nashville, Norfolk, Chapel Hill, and the Washington D.C. area.  She notes that she had never lived north of Washington D.C. or west of Nashville until she moved to Seattle with her husband (who had lived here previously) in1987. Betty had worked since the late 1970s in international public health — primarily family planning and maternal and child health – an occupation that necessitated a great deal of travel.  She retired from consulting two years ago and describes herself as “happy to be at home now and tending my gardens.”

Betty’s family has deep roots in the Southeast. She characterizes herself as “the geographically wayward child” of the family. Her family history research is consequently limited primarily to that area — especially the states of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.  Her research goal – she calls it her ‘delirious wish’ — is to be able to identify the immigrant ancestor in each of her families.  Thus she is currently researching seventeenth and early eighteenth century American records.

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THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

GFO1

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM Wednesday Evening E-News 15 June 2016

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 go to www.gfo.org/calendar.htm.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/16-May.pdf.

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Volunteers Thank you  

ThankYou
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June’s GEN Talk – Church Records with Harold Hinds

Church

That’s right! We’ve rebranded the Monthly Meetings, and will now be referring to them as the-all-new, oh-so-snazzy GEN Talks!
Church Records : Their Location and Value for Family Historians
Saturday, June 18th, starting at 2:30pm, the wonderful Harold Hinds will be giving a presentation on how to utilize all those pesky church records everyone’s always talking about.

Was your ancestor church-going? If so, with what church were they affiliated? Where might that church’s records be located? What might you expect to find of value in those records?

This presentation will follow the Annual Meeting. Hey! And don’t forget your handy-dandy, helpful HAND OUT to bring to the session.

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It’s not too late for this year’s Father’s Day Smile Event!

Father

Wait…how much time do I have to still order the best Father’s Day gift ever?? Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19th, and that’s a little over a week away, so there’s just enough time if you hop to it today, my friend!

As you may have heard, when you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase total to the Genealogical Forum Of Oregon Inc.

Use the link HERE to go to Amazon’s website, sign in as you usually would and begin shopping as you usually would. It’s that easy!

As always, thank you for your continued support of the GFO, and for fathers everywhere!

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Fred Meyer Community Rewards Renewal Time…

FredMeyer

It’s that time of year again! Time for excitement and wonder….well, all that too, but also it’s time to renew in the Fred Meyer Community Rewards program!!
Fred Meyer Community Rewards Customer Re-enrollment is happening all through the month of June. Yep. That means right now!

If you’ve had your Fred Meyer’s Rewards Card linked to the GFO since last year, you will need to re-link your Rewards Card before July 1, 2016. Please note that Fred Meyer will assume you’ve had enough if they don’t hear from you, and they will drop from the program any households that don’t re-enroll before the July 1 deadline.

If you do miss the deadline, you may still re-link your Rewards Card online after the re-enrollment period by visiting www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.

Don’t forget to save those dates, won’t you please??

Champoeg Cemetery Tour
Now hear this! Come one, come all to a cemetery tour you’ll never forget!!

The Friends of Historic Champoeg will host a two-hour cemetery tour by bus June 25 that highlights individuals from the historic Champoeg era. Costumed actors will give first-person portrayals. Live music and strawberry shortcake will be served in the restored Donald Manson 1860s barn at Champoeg State Heritage Park following the tour. For more information and registration, visit the park’s website.
Webinars Gone Wild
All the webinars from the recent Southern California Genealogical Society’s Jamboree will continue to be available online HERE until July 5th. What a great chance to learn some new family research tricks!

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What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 18th
Hunting & Gathering Group 9:30am – 11am

Join us for this monthly support group where we help each other find information about different family lines. We share expertise about resources and search strategies, while also learning 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 attend and bring specific problems to work on. Free to members. Visitors may request a guest pass at education@gfo.org.

GFO’s 70th Annual Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation Event 2pm

Come one! Come all! Join us in giving out prizes to our wonderful volunteers in a raffle drawing (wait, aren’t YOU a volunteer? well, you should definitely be there then!!), and add your voice to approving this year’s budget.

June’s GEN Talk 2:30pm – 4pm

Come learn the wonders of researching through historic church records to find your family. Presented by Harold Hinds. Free to the ALL!! Hand outs are HERE.

Mel & Marilyn Wright Named Outstanding Volunteers in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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. Over the last few months, you were introduced to each of the 2015 award recipients and learned why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Mel and Marilyn Wright of Coupeville, Washington, who were nominated by the Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island (GSSWI). They were recognized for what makes a society great: dedication, reliability, generosity, and energy.

Marilyn and Mel Wright

Marilyn and Mel Wright

For years, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, affectionately known as M & M, have been key members of the GSSWI, giving opinions, sharing ideas, and leading volunteer efforts, such as digitizing the society’s collection of obituaries, sponsoring interest groups on New England and New York, and organizing an annual trip to Salt Lake City.

Often the first to arrive and last to leave society meetings, this motivated twosome ensure everything is organized from beginning to end, including room organization, refreshments, audio-visual set-up, and even climbing onto waist-high window ledges to put up temporary rods and curtains to block the light.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright are experienced genealogists who keep up with continuing education and are glad to share their experience and resources with others. For these qualities and all they do for the GSSWI, they richly deserved being recipients of a 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

 

Heritage Quest Research Library June Meetings

by Charles Hansen

Please note these are both evening classes.

June 17th, Friday 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. $15.00

Intermediate Family History or Beginning Class II with Dee Haviland Fournier

After you have searched for birth, marriage and death records and completed your census searches, you are ready for this class. Learn how to find and use: bible records, city directories, death indexes, immigration records, land records, military records, newspapers and wills.

June 30th, Thursday, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. FREE

Beginning Family History Research with Dee Haviland Fournier

Join us in a FREE class and learn about Heritage Quest Research Library (HQRL). This class will help you in the search for your ancestor, by learning how to find and use birth, marriage, and death records. Along with a discussion on how to use Census Records to further your research and some genealogy hints. Everyone is welcome and you may attend as many times as you like.

Coming soon to HQRL – (Roots Magic, Legacy and Gedcom), (Ancestry), (Pennsylvania), (Reading “old” Handwriting), Adoption, Digital Organization, Handwriting Analysis, Kansas, and Publishing Your Family History.

As a courtesy, please do not wear perfume or strong cologne to class.

3 ways to sign-up:

  1. In person at HQRL, 1007 S. Main St., Sumner, WA. The sign-up notebook is at the Front Desk.
  2. E-mail HQRLinfo@gmail.com– provide name, telephone number and your HQRL membership number,           if you are a member.
  3. Telephone HQRL at 253-863-1806between 10:00 am – 4 pm, Monday through Saturday. Provide you           name, telephone number and HQRL membership number, if you are a member.

Serendipity Day

by Charles Hansen

Counties of Washington

Ethic Population Density in Pre-1850 America

Black Sheep in YOUR Family?

Cold Case: Timothy H. Martin, 1835-1902

Heritage of Pierce County, Washington

Scottish Ancestors from the Lowlands

 

Of course you know that there are 39 counties in the Evergreen State but can you name them? And do you know the logistical history of them (when formed, etc.)? I didn’t either and so Googled “List of counties in Washington State” and good-old Wikipedia came to the rescue. The largest (in population) county is King; the smallest is Garfield. The largest in area is Okanogan and the smallest is San Juan. Any idea where each of our counties got their name? Each of those 39 counties has a county seat…… how many can you name? That Wikipedia article will teach you!  I found it most interesting.

By the by, in Washington it’s Okanogan (as in the county or the lake). But just across the border into Canada it’s Okanagan. How did that happen??

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Want to know how many English and Welsh folks lived in the U.S. in 1790? How about Germans in 1790? Or slaves in 1810? An interactive map series on the Ancestors website will show you. Remember the Ancestors shows on public TV?  The show was produced by Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and is still airing (check with YOUR local station). Click to their website, www.byub.org/ancestors  (yes, a second “b”) and on the left you’ll see a list of topics which, when clicked, will take you to an episode where that topic was addressed. You’ll find those ethnocentric maps under “Online Tools,” and then “Maps.”

Where, in 1790, would you have guessed that most of the Scottish immigrants settled? Would you have guessed central and western Pennsylvania?

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Serendipity Day

by Charles Hansen

“A Brief History of Port Angeles” Booklet

Twin Rivers Gen Society’s Cemetery Walking Tour on July 4th

Jigsaw Puzzles: Pastime or Obsession?

TAG (Ancestry Users Group) In Spokane

Five-Generation Pictures

 

Did you have ancestors who lived in Port Angeles? I’m giving away a 24-page booklet, “A Brief History of Port Angeles” by William Welsh, 1941. Yes, I have checked with the Clallam County Historical Society and they tell me that they have several copies. So I’ll send this one to the first requester! (Donna243@gmail.com)

pa

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The Twin Rivers Genealogical Society, in Lewiston, Idaho, is having a fun activity on July 4th. They are doing a Cemetery Walk! They have picked out six historical graves and starting at 9:00am they will offer several 45-minute tours. Locale is Normal Hill Cemetery, 7th Street & 15th Avenue in Lewiston, south of Lewis Clark State College. Did you know that Walt Disney’s wife, Lillian’s, parents are buried in this cemetery? (They spotlighted her last year.) For more information contact Patricia VanBuren, patriciavanburen@lewiston.com

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THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

 

GFO1

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM Wednesday Evening E-News 8 June 2016

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 go to www.gfo.org/calendar.htm.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/16-May.pdf.

***

Fred Meyer Community Rewards Renewal Time…

FredMeyer

It’s that time of year again! Time for excitement and wonder….well, all that too, but also it’s time to renew in the Fred Meyer Community Rewards program!!
Fred Meyer Community Rewards Customer Re-enrollment is happening all through the month of June. Yep. That means right now!

If you’ve had your Fred Meyer’s Rewards Card linked to the GFO since last year, you will need to re-link your Rewards Card before July 1, 2016. Please note that Fred Meyer will assume you’ve had enough if they don’t hear from you, and they will drop from the program any households that don’t re-enroll before the July 1 deadline.

If you do miss the deadline, you may still re-link your Rewards Card online after the re-enrollment period by visiting www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.

***

It’s not too late for this year’s Father’s Day Smile Event!

Father

Wait…how much time do I have to still order the best Father’s Day gift ever?? Father’s Day is Sunday, June 19th, and that’s a little over a week away, so there’s just enough time if you hop to it today, my friend!

As you may have heard, when you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase total to the Genealogical Forum Of Oregon Inc.

Use the link HERE to go to Amazon’s website, sign in as you usually would and begin shopping as you usually would. It’s that easy!

As always, thank you for your continued support of the GFO, and for fathers everywhere!

***

Save those dates, won’t you please??

Champoeg Cemetery Tour
Now hear this! Come one, come all to a cemetery tour you’ll never forget!!

The Friends of Historic Champoeg will host a two-hour cemetery tour by bus June 25 that highlights individuals from the historic Champoeg era. Costumed actors will give first-person portrayals. Live music and strawberry shortcake will be served in the restored Donald Manson 1860s barn at Champoeg State Heritage Park following the tour. For more information and registration, visit the park’s website.
Webinars Gone Wild
All the webinars from the recent Southern California Genealogical Society’s Jamboree will continue to be available online HERE until July 5th. What a great chance to learn some new family research tricks!
Hey! How old’s your map?
Conducting genealogical research is a lot about understanding what the world looked like when your ancestors were alive. xkcd’s recently posted a wonderful guide to knowing how old a map is that you might be struggling with in the course of your research. Don’t be afraid to hold down the “Ctrl” key (“command” for Mac-users) and tap the “+” key (up in the top right-hand corner of your keyboard) to magnify the image so you can follow the “yes-no” trail.
Texas Obituaries Indexes
Check this out! You won’t believe the number of amazing genealogy and local history resources the McKinney Public Library System website has available.

From vital statistics indexes, to obituary indexes for 1884 through 1999, to more contemporary indexes of births, engagements, and marriages found in the local McKinney newspapers for 1980 to 1993, as well as an obituary index for 2000 to current.
Digi News
Genealogical research is becoming easier and more accessible by the day, especially with projects such as Oregon Digital Newspapers website, which features over 140 newspaper titles from all over the state of Oregon. The articles, all pre-1923, are available for word-level searches online HERE.

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What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?

SUNDAY, JUNE 12th
Maps Work-Party 9am – noon

We are continuing to chip away at this project on the second Sunday of each month from 9:00 am until noon…or whenever! Come when you can. Stay for as long as you like or can, as all help is extremely welcome!! Doris Cruickshank will be facilitating as our map project coordinator.
TUESDAY, JUNE 14th
Board Meeting 6pm – 8pm

Our board meetings are open to all interested parties, and they happen the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Come join in to see how the magic happens, and see where you might fit in to lend a hand if possible!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15th
DNA Q&A 1pm – 3pm

Join us for a discussion of how to use Photoshop Elements to present your family history research, pictures and stories. We discuss scanning techniques, photo restoration, creating pages for presentation, resources and anything else participants want to know related to this topic. All are welcome, from beginners to more advanced users. Come and learn and share your ideas and questions. Taught by the lovely and wonderful Sarah Holmes.