“Our” Jerri Thorpe McCoy’s article in the Mayflower Descendant

Mayflower

Our own Jerri Thorpe McCoy, who has been active with the Washington State Genealogical Society and many other related societies, is a published author!

I was recently in the Family History Library doing some documenting work on my several Mayflower lines and came upon a reference in The Mayflower Descendant, Winter 2 008, Vol. 57, No. 1, “Huldah Gross, wife of Jehiel Gates of East Haddam and Litchfield, Connecticut.” This was a ten page article with 107 source citations. I was most impressed.

Jerri is currently the historian for the Washington State Chapter of the Mayflower (Descendants) Society. If you think you are (or know you are) a Mayflower descendant, and would like to join this group, here is the official link:

http://www.washingtonmayflower.org/04-application.html

We are proud of you, Jerri Thorpe McCoy.

Kittitas County Library Team Named 2015 Outstanding Volunteer Team

Dec13 by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 outstanding volunteers, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers and teams 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 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the Kittitas County Library Team, who was nominated by the Kittitas County Genealogical Society (KCGS). The team was selected for its dedicated volunteer efforts to maintain and promote the society’s library and services.

Erik Bakke

Marilyn Brown

Judy Clayton

J.C. Howard

Kathy Kelly

Julie Large

Karen Spellman

Bob Wieking

Mary Christensen

Tuck Forsythe

The Kittitas County Genealogical Society Library team includes Erik Bakke, Marilyn Brown, Mary Christensen, Judy Clayton, Tuck Forsythe, J.C. Howard, Kathy Kelly, Julie Large, Karen Spellman and Bob Wieking. This team of committed volunteers maintains the society’s unique collection of print materials of interest and value to researchers, as well as computers with subscription databases. The society’s efforts to inform and educate the community about the value of pursuing the study of genealogy would be severely limited if it could not rely on the support and dedication of these vital volunteers who keep the doors open on a consistent basis.

The members of the KCGS Library Team deserve being recognized with a WSGS Outstanding Team Award for making themselves available to the serious researcher and just curious; a personal service not found online.

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.

2016 Northwest Genealogy Conference Announced

Dec10 by Charles Hansen

2016 Northwest Genealogy Conference Announced

2016 Northwest Genealogy Conference
August 17 – 20, 2016
The Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society is excited to announce the 2016 Northwest Genealogy Conference to be held at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington, Washington. The conference theme will be “Family Secrets Uncovered – Lost History Found”.

Key speakers will be:
Blaine Bettinger, The Genetic Genealogist,
Lisa Louise Cooke, Genealogy Gems
Claudia Breland, Writer and Researcher

We invite you to save the dates. Registration will begin February 15, 2016; mark your calendar to register. Visit www.nwgc.org for more information on the conference and watch for the announcement of other speakers.

Genealogical Forum of Oregon Wednesday Evening E-News

Dec9 by Charles Hansen

GenForum

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM OF OREGON’S Wednesday Evening E-News

9 December 2015

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 last month’s newletter, The Insider, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/15-Nov.pdf.

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Suplus Books are 50% off now through December 24th! Did someone say Holiday shopping?

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? All of our Surplus books are 50% off now through December 24th.

Search our available titles on our website here!

To find just the item you’re looking for, please remember that our Surplus Books List is organized by geographical location. For faster searching, however, users may want to try holding down the “Ctrl” key on their keyboards and tapping the “F” key and then type in a search term, such as “England”, “Soldiers”, “Passengers” or “Dutch”.

To order books from the list, please email booksales@gfo.org, and include the ID, title and price. Payments may be made on PayPal or by check.

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Fiske Genealogical Library MAC Interest Group

Dec7 by Charles Hansen

SPECIAL GIFTS….FOR YOU OR?

The new iPad Pro or watch,

some professional research time

or maybe a professional family video?

We will have speakers on all of these topics and more

Hope to see you at the…

Mac Interest Group

Wednesday evening 7:00 p.m.

December 9th, 2015

Fiske Genealogical Library

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Mac Group

is a special interest group of

the Fiske Genealogical Library

1644 43rd Ave E, Seattle 98112

http://www.fiskelibrary.org/

dBug Mac Users Group

http://dbug.org/

Seattle Genealogical Society

http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/

Lou Daly, Chair loudaly@nwlink.com

Diane Hettrick, Co-Chair dhettrick@earthlink.net

Lisa Marker, Reunion Guru lmarker@earthlink.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Genealogical Forum of Oregon Newsletter

Dec3 by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM OF OREGON’S Wednesday Evening E-News

2 December 2015

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 last month’s newletter, The Insider, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/15-Nov.pdf.

That’s right, you heard it here: Genealogy in the News!

Ever wonder what use handwritten letters might have in the future?

Will anyone want to cherish these scraps of paper the way you feel they should be cherished? Will anyone care at all to read and study the tales of family history contained in their ink-stained pages?

An article from The Guardian, November 08, 2015 shows just how valuable long lost letters can be, both to scholars of general history, but also to genealogical research.

Did someone say census data??

Portland State Univesity has created a wonderfully insightful and interactive collection of maps and graphs showing “Oregon’s Road to 4 Million” via census records data from 1859 to current. Researchers with Oregon genealogy in their history can find some very telling information just by viewing the trends in population growth and migration changes over the last 150 years.

Announcing, not one, but TWO new indexes at the GFO!

Try to contain your excitement, folks, but not too much, because the GFO’s Friday Morning Data Extraction Team needs a huge three cheers of thanks.

Because of the hard work of the Extraction Team, we now have two new indexes of Oregon State Divorce records.

The new indexes are available at $10 each and may be purchased as eityher a CD or on a USB drive.

Come get them while they’re still hot:
•Volume 1: Oregon State Divorces 1925-1929
•Volume 2: Oregon State Divorces 1930-1934
•

The team is currently working on divorces from 1935-1939 (expected index availability is 2016) and is in the early stages of working on divorces from 1940 – 1945. Continue reading →

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

Dec3 by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK – DEMYSTIFYING THE CENSUSES
1790 TO 2000

In 2002, Jason Gauthier of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Economics and Statistics Administration produced a 148-page document called Measuring America: The Decennial Census from 1790 to 2000. It explains, in detail, exactly what the census takers were told to do for each and every U.S. Census from the first census in 1790 through the twenty-second census of 2000.

This document will prove invaluable. Besides a good, clear image of each census form itself, you’ll find an expanded definition for every column on the form. No more straining your eyes or guessing.

Reading the instructions to the enumerators tells you what terms such a “housekeeper” vs “keeping house”, “farmer” vs “planter”, or “inmate” meant in the context of the census. And why “indians not taxed” weren’t included in the enumerations. Were you even aware there was a separate questionnaire for “Indian Population” in many of the censuses?

There is just a wealth of information in this document. Check it out. It’s available to read on-line, or to download, absolutely free, at: https://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/pol02-ma.pdf

Seattle Genealogical Society News and Meetings

Dec3 by Charles Hansen

COFFEE ANYONE?

The SGS Library has a new Keurig coffee maker and a cozy sofa setting. Is there any better way to spend part of your day than settled in with a good cup of coffee, browsing the latest issue of American Ancestor, Internet Genealogy, or Family Tree Magazine?

These are only a few of the periodicals available in the library. If you’re unfamiliar with these titles, American Ancestor is published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society and appeals to family historians of all levels. Major topics include useful sources, helpful research strategies, compelling historical accounts, and interesting case studies.

Internet Genealogy focuses on keeping today’s family historian up-to-date with the vast and ever-growing collection of genealogy-related resources, software, tools, products, and technologies. There are website reviews and social networking strategies, as well as tips, and interesting stories from seasoned professional authors.

Family Tree Magazine wants to help ancestry and history buffs learn more about their own families. The content taps into the use of photographs, the internet, newspaper articles, first person testimonials and more. Full of tips and info in a fun, easy-to-read format.

Another favorite is Dick Eastman’s Plus Edition Newsletter. Stop in and enjoy one of these or any of the other periodicals available for your use in the library.

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

All programs are at the SGS Library at 6200 Sand Point Way unless otherwise indicated. Please Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather.

Please note the Brick Wall Session was changed to Tuesday, December 8.

DECEMBER

Saturday, December 5, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, CANADIAN INTEREST GROUP, Leader: Dave Robert

Sunday, December 6, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, SCANDINAVIAN INTEREST GROUP, The new Scandinavian Interest Group has formed and is now an official SGS Interest group. Leader: Karen Knudsen

Tuesday, December 8, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, BRICK WALL SESSIONS
Join SGS members for a problem-solving session. This is an open forum format. Leader: Jean A. Roth

Saturday, December 12, 10:15am – 12:15 pm, IRISH INTEREST GROUP
Open Session – sharing information. Leader: Jean A. Roth

Saturday, December 12, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm, GERMAN INTEREST GROUP
Open Session – sharing information. Leader: Jean A. Roth

There are no classes or programs scheduled at SGS for the last part of December due to the Holidays. Continue reading →

Veronica Anguiano Honored as 2015 Outstanding Volunteer

Dec2 by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 outstanding volunteers, 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 2015 award recipients and learn why they received a 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Today we’re introducing Veronica Anguiano of Richland, Washington, who was nominated by the Tri-City Genealogical Society (TCGS). She was recognized for her commitment to researching and sharing information, even outside her local society.

Veronica Anguiano

Ms. Anguiano has distinguished herself in untiring support of the TCGS as its research chair and helping research Benton and Franklin county histories. Ms. Anguiano has responded willingly and efficiently to numerous requests for information from outside her local society.

Ms. Anguiano has become heavily involved in re-cataloging the TCGS library holdings so the holdings can be searched from the FamilySearch Library Catalog. As the holdings are re-cataloged, the new numbers are uploaded to the FamilySearch system, making them searchable from FamilySearch’s online site.

Ms. Anguiano is a respected and diligent member of the TCGS, and richly deserves being a recipient of a 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.

Bainbridge Gen Society News Flash

Nov30 by Charles Hansen

The Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS) will meet Friday, December 18, in the Bainbridge Island Public Library Meeting Room from 10:00 a.m. until noon, for our annual “Holiday Show and Tell” gathering of members sharing ancestral tales, treasures, and research aids (e.g., pictures, letters, bibles, trinkets, etc) and/or tell about a discovery, progress, a breakthrough, or other highlight of the year. After a brief sharing, there will be an opportunity to walk around to see each other’s treasures, to visit, and to share a holiday treat. This is a very good time to visit if you are interested in becoming a member. For more information go to www.bigenealogy.org, or call 206-842-4978. BIGS is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.

Thank you!

Sylvia H. Nelson

Director, Publicity and Public Relations

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society