Autumn Quest Success

by Roxanne Lowe

By Patty Olsen
WSGS Region 4 Regional Representative
Lewis County Genealogical Society Vice President and Program Chair

Curt Witcher and WSGS board members Patty Olsen and Roger Newman

Curt Witcher and WSGS board members Patty Olsen and Roger Newman

Heritage Quest Research Library’s annual Autumn Quest is in the books, and I’m hoping I use everything I learned. What a great day with Curt B. Witcher, senior manager of special collections at the genealogical phenomenon Allen County Public Library (ACPL) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also manages The Genealogy Center, Allen County’s Rare and Fine Book Collection and the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection of Abraham Lincoln materials.

Curt was funny, entertaining and informative — a master of all three! He spoke on four subjects:

• Doing Effective Genealogy Research in Libraries
• Effective Use of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
• Mining the Mother Lode: Using Periodical Literature for Genealogical Research
• Finding the World with WorldCat

His lecture on the Allen County Public Library really opened my eyes to what an amazing gem the ACPL’s Genealogy Center is. It immediately made just about everyone in the room want to take a road trip to Fort Wayne!

In a fascinating lecture, Curt enlightened us that our heritage records are in the hands of disinterested entities in government repositories. That’s why the ACPL Genealogy Center makes a rigorous effort to collect a diverse collection of records. In fact, the Genealogy Center will accept ANY record! Think about the breadth of their collection (currently at 4.3 million books!). They want your:

• Family histories
• Military packets
• Diaries
• Family Bibles
• School and college yearbooks
• Letters from the war to you and yours
• Programs from events like commencements, tributes, special events, etc.
• Ship itineraries
• Photographs
• Naturalization records
• Land grants
• Wills, probates, adoption papers
• Materials you purchased then discovered it wasn’t about your ancestor
• Memorabilia other entities wouldn’t save
• Weird stuff no one else keeps

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German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

EGS

 

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 1 to 3 pm in the Relief Society Room of the LDS Church at 10675 NE 20thSt, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking.  Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.

 

Topic:  “Books for Researching Your German Ancestors”: Members are bringing the books they have found helpful for researching in the US & in Europe and will very briefly tell about each one. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the best books and get ideas for your Christmas Wish Lists or/and your winter research reading. Also, some of these books may be available through your local library.

 

For more information, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .

 

Eastside Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

EGS

 

The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Thursday, November 10, 2016 in the Bellevue Regional Library (Room 1), 1111 – 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm for networking.

Topic:  “PROFILE OF A QUAKER – Friends in Colonial America” will be presented by Steven W. Morrison, a professional genealogist and speaker.   The profile of a Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) can be as distinctive as a fingerprint. This is due to their ethnic origin, belief system, marriage practices, and separate record structure. This session will teach you profiling techniques, so you can spot a QUAKER in colonial America. Come learn how you might identify a Quaker among your ancestors.

Also see our website for FREE genealogical help and other Special Interest Group meetings. Visitors are always welcome at all meetings. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wakcegs/

Genealogical Forum of Oregon Workshop Sold Out

by Charles Hansen

GFO1

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Special News Flash

Sunday’s Workshop SOLD OUT

16 October 2016
Taylor in October

THIS SUNDAY’s WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT!!

We sincerely apologize for any confusion, but this Sunday’s Workshop with Mr. Taylor is SOLD OUT.

The Library will be closed until 1pm.

NO FAMILY TREE MAKER CLASS

Again, we apologize for any inconvenience, but to make room for the sold out workshop, the Family Tree Maker class has been canceled.

Researchers and general visitors to the Library are welcome to share the GFO’s Library resources after 1pm on Sunday, October 16th.

Thanks so much for your understanding and consideration.

Sincerely,

The GFO

Eastern Washington GS’s Tuesday Gals Awarded 2016 Outstanding Team Award

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 500 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received a 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the Tuesday Gals Team who were nominated by the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society (EWGS). Members of this dedicated team include Carol Anderson, Patricia Ayers, Patricia Bayonne-Johnson, Barbara Brazington, Mary Holcomb, Juanita McBride and Dolly Webb.

EWGS's Tuesday Gals

EWGS’s Tuesday Gals

Started in the 1950s, the “Tuesday Gals” are a longtime tradition of Gene-Helpers in the local library. In addition to helping people with genealogical research, the Tuesday Gals support EWGS’s genealogical holdings that are housed in the downtown branch of the Spokane Public Library by ordering books, binding and/or repairing them and cataloging them. Although they’re usually at the library on Tuesday’s (thus the name), they’re quick to help if needed on a different day.

This group of dedicated volunteers richly deserve being recipients of a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Team by the Washington State Genealogical Society.

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.

Alice Whitman Chapter DAR Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Saturday – 15 Oct 2016

ALICE WHITMAN CHAPTER

DAR is “Historic Preservation – Education – Patriotism”

Ridge Point Clubhouse, 1400 SE Fancy Free Drive, Pullman WA

Luncheon at 12:00 Noon  —  Meeting begins at 1 p.m.

Hostesses:  Mmes. Lohrey-Birch, Dillman, Petura, Muir, Trail, Hawbaker

Please RSVP by 12 Oct with lunch count to Doris Lohrey-Birch – ph 509-338-0425

Program:  DAR Museum – Period Rooms

Speaker:  Joye Dillman, CDIT

Directions to Ridge Pointe Clubhouse:

From South, continue on WA27 (ignore the bypass) to enter Pullman, turn right onto Bishop Blvd at the first stoplight (about 1.2 miles).  Proceed on Bishop through the next two stop lights (about ¾ mile) then turn left into Ridge Pointe and hang a tight left onto Fancy Free Drive.  The clearly marked Clubhouse will be around the bend and on your right.  It is two miles from the bypass).  Ridge Pointe entry is directly across from the emergency entrance to Pullman Regional Hospital.

Directions from East:  Enter via 270 Pullman/Moscow Highway.  Turn left at the Bishop Blvd intersection and stay on Bishop as it winds past the river and curves up the hill.  Turn right into Ridge Point community.  The turn is directly across the small sign marking the emergency entrance to the hospital.  It’s about 8/10 mile from the turnoff from 270.

Parking:  There are spaces in front of the clubhouse and a few across the street.  Also a group of about six spaces on the left at the dead end of Fancy Free at the next left.

Ancestry Day — Quite a Day

by Roxanne Lowe

Over 700 enthusiastic genealogists and family history buffs, new and experienced, packed into the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center recently for Ancestry Day.

People lined up to talk to Crista Cowan -- we couldn't get enough of her!

People lined up to talk to Crista Cowan at Ancestry Day — we couldn’t get enough of her!

Many of us had attended the previous day’s lectures at the Washington State History Museum (see my 9/24/16 blog post), but Saturday, Sept. 25, was the “main event,” sponsored by genealogy records giant Ancestry.com.  After an opening welcome by Secretary of State Kim Wyman and presentation of the colors by the Washington State Color Guard, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), we launched into “Ancestry 101, a Beginner’s Basics Class” with Crista Cowan, the Barefoot Genealogist. (I’m always amazed at how much new info I can learn in a “beginners” class!) Crista has been employed by Ancestry since 2004, and really knows her stuff. (Check out her YouTube Channel for a plethora of genealogy videos.) Her witty stories and valuable lessons entertained us all day.

After the beginner’s class, Crista guided us through the benefits (and cautions) about shaky leaf hints (that don’t shake anymore), family trees, suggested records and the card catalog (her personal favorite resource). My only wish during the info-packed hour was that there was a handout — nearly got writer’s cramp taking notes as fast as I could!

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Meet the Board: Charles Hansen

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.

WSGS Web Blog Manager Charles Hansen

Web Blog Manager Charles Hansen

In our new “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Charles Hansen from Spokane. Charles is WSGS’s Blog Master, as well as chair of the Resource Guide Project. He is a longtime member of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society where he serves as their Registered Agent, email chair, chief researcher (since 1998), head of library volunteers and one of their bloggers.

We know him as Charles, but he was born Charles Michael Hansen and called “Mike” by his family for as long as he can remember – probably to avoid confusion with his maternal grandfather Charles Rupert Kelly after whom he was named. His middle name honored his paternal grandfather Anton Mikkel Hansen.

Born in Spokane, Charles graduated from Washington State University in Pullman in 1971. For many years, he’s been an “Enrolled Agent,” someone considered by the IRS to be the equivalent of a CPA – able to do examinations, collections and appeals. In case you were wondering, the name Enrolled Agent came about soon after the Civil War when Enrolled Agents were authorized by the government to fill out paperwork for the veterans and families of the veterans for benefits provided by the government.

Charles and his grandfather Charles Kelly, Aunt Mayme McMichael and his grandmother Cleo Kelly

Charles and his grandfather Charles Kelly, Aunt Mayme McMichael and his grandmother Cleo Kelly

Charles became interested in genealogy back in 1990 after he and his sister Jacque decided to hold a family reunion. They started looking for their Hansen relatives – not an easy task considering that Charles and Jacque have more than 100 second cousins! After corresponding with their Dad’s first cousin Lorraine Erickson, a Family History Center volunteer in Arizona, Lorraine sent them a group sheet — something Charles and Jacque had never seen before! Lorraine suggested they send blank group sheets with the reunion packets.  Imagine their surprise when they got 350 family group sheets back! They dutifully typed the information into a program called the “Enhanced Family Tree” and printed a book for everyone that came to the reunion.

That started the ball rolling. Wanting to find out more about their family, they took a beginning genealogical course through the local community college taught by Donna Potter-Phillips, past president of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society — and WSGS Vice President. She encouraged Charles and Jacque to join EWGS and the rest is, well…history.

A tip from Charles: I didn’t record who sent me each group sheet, so for the first 500 names in my genealogical file today most have no sources, but I do have the hard copy group sheets. Also the Enhanced Family Tree program did not have the ability to save data as a GEDCOM so when I switched to a better program, I had to retype all the data I had.

Charles and Jacque recently returned from a road trip to visit family and the Montana State Genealogical Society conference in Missoula to hear Judy Russell and Amy Crow. Charles has also visited Minnesota where the five original Hansen brothers settled. He’s also got ancestors from Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, New England, Denmark, England, Scotland and Germany.

When Charles isn’t blogging on the WSGS Blog (or his own blog http://charles-mikkelshus.blogspot.com/), researching at the county courthouse, volunteering at EWGS or doing his own genealogy, he’s out in his garden puttering here and there.

More trivia about Charles:

  • His favorite color is blue.
  • His favorite dessert is ice cream.
  • His most used genealogy website is the Washington State Digital Archives – where he’s transcribed over 523,000 records!
  • He says the single word that best describes him is “introvert.”

Now you know a little more about one of the WSGS Board members. The next time you see Charles, say hello and thank him for his service to the WSGS.