David Cosman Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2024

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 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 2024 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing David Cosman of Bainbridge Island, Washington who was selected by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Without the need of any particular title, David has become one of BIGS’s most important mentors. He simply makes himself available to anyone who is willing to ask for help. And David knows how to help, in terms of both his knowledge and his personality. He teaches others with dignity and grace.

David is an outstanding traditional genealogy researcher. Coupling those skills with his personal background as a native of Nottingham, England, has equipped him well to be co-leader of our Great Britain Special Interest Group. David’s career involved cloning genes that regulate the immune system and this technical knowledge allowed him to quickly become one of only a few of BIGS’s members with true expertise in employing DNA for genealogical purposes.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society Public Domain

by Charles Hansen

Members and Friends,


April program coming up! Registration is open! This is a virtual presentation.  Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Gv4IJihtRYCxZjhRiaeuEQ

Ever need an image for a presentation and just can’t find the right one to set the scene?
How about music to create a “mood” for your program or a quotation from a book or publication to add interest?
This program will cover those questions and we will share where to find images, music, and publications and review the public domain structure. The facilitator is Georga Foster.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA SIG March 25

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA Special Interest Group Meeting
Tuesday, March 25, Starting at 7:00 pm via Zoom

We will discuss the DNA company FamilyTreeDNA, their offerings, and take a virtual tour of the website.

Calendar reminder: TPCGS DNA Special Interest Group Meeting

Every month on the Fourth Tuesday beginning at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYqdeyrrz0iEtx-c_J3gNfcI8mebT1zajLo/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqTkvGdWTuBGPRpwQB4joZ-nzmCFHj7dF0RzaKXNUTAX1H7pPN7BLQcLR

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82725316888?pwd=MDc3UEZrUVJNbmxmK2ZORmw5YzdDdz09

Meeting ID: 827 2531 6888
Passcode: 811780

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,82725316888#,,,,*811780# US
+12532158782,,82725316888#,,,,*811780# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 827 2531 6888
Passcode: 811780

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kIKCyZLQy

Let’s Talk About: Pioneer Pursuit

by Donna Phillips

Needing a worthwhile way to spend time these housebound cold winter days?

 How about a Cold Case Ancestor research project?!? The Washington State Genealogical Society still has a long list of individuals and families needing to be researched. These would be those who were known to be in Washington Territory BEFORE statehood (11 Nov 1889). There is an index of these pioneers and indigenous families on their website….. take your pick! 

Resources you might use are Ancestry, FamilySearch, Washington Digital Archives, Find A Grave, USGenWeb, Linkpendium, WA Territorial censuses ……… any resource you’ve used in the past for your own research.

The really good news about this volunteer project is that since it’s not your family, just find what you can find, period. If you find lots, great. But only scarce documentation, that’s fine too. 

Click to Washington State Genealogical Society and then Pioneer Pursuit and look at the Sample, Hints & Helps, Frequently Asked Questions and Instructions. 

Why not get busy helping to document these wonderful Washington pioneers………. and before you know it, spring will be here!

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Spring Seminar 2025

by Charles Hansen

This is one party that you won’t want to miss! 

EWGS SPRING SEMINAR 

Saturday April 5, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

DOORS OPEN AT 8:30 A.M.

Southside Community Center – 3151 E 27th Ave, Spokane, WA 99223

​ Celebrating our 90th Anniversary 

 Presentation by Dolly Webb
 Little known fun facts, stories and surprise guests

  • Thomas MacEntee: 
  • “Creating An Ancestor Sketch”   
  • Class Description: Face it: most genealogists never get around to publishing that family history book based on their genealogy research. How about a different approach: producing short 3-5 page “sketches” about an ancestor? You’ll learn how to include a cover, photos, facts, family stories, source citations and more! And guess what, once you get a few of these ancestor sketches done, you can compile them together for one big book!

James M Beidler: President of PA Society

  •  “Digging Pennsylvania Roots From  Your Desktop”
  • It’s estimated that one in four Americans has Keystone State roots. Much of Pennsylvania research – from church records to land documents – to courthouse filings, can be done remotely.”

Registration is required for this seminar.

 You wil receive a handout via email 2-3 days PRIOR for this seminar. 

You  MUST be registered to receive the handouts & the zoom link.

DEADLINE IS MARCH 31ST

  •  $40 for EWGS members, 
  • $50 for non-members, 
  • $20 for zoomers 
  • IF you pay by check we ask you to include your email address so we can send your handouts.
  • DEADLINE MARCH 26TH IF YOU PAY BY CHECK
  • NO REFUNDS AFTER MARCH 28TH

Let’s Talk About: Trees

by Donna Phillips

Today let’s talk about the oldest tree in the world and the loneliest tree in the world. And we think our “tree” is old! Trees are older by far than our ancestors are.

“Scientists have examined an ancient tree still growing in a remote part of central Chile’s Alerce Costero National Park, claiming it could be the oldest tree in the world. They believe it has survived for more than 5,000 years making it older that California’s 4,850-year-old Methuselah, the bristlecone pine.  Known as “Gran Abuelo,” or great-grandfather, the Patagonian cypress can be accessed only by an hour-long hike and is patrolled by a number of park rangers to make sure it is not harmed. The tree is 189-feet tall and is 13-feet in diameter.” (Bit in Spokesman Review.)

Nestled in a windswept cove on far south end of New Zealand’s Campbell Island, is a lone tree that should not be there. A 30-foot tall Sitka spruce has grown into a cauliflower shape rather than the cone-shape typical of the species. How in the world did a Sitka spruce, native to the North American western coast, end up here? Well, according to Google, the lonely tree was planted about 1900 by New Zealand’s then-governor, Lord Ranfurly. More than 100 years later, the introduced spruce is considered the most isolated tree in the world. 

The conifer endures not only isolation but also the wild weather of the “Furious Fifties” latitudes. Campbell Island has 325 days of rain per year and gale-force winds for 100 days per year. Surprisingly, the spruce seems to be thriving in these conditions and still growing. 

In many Native American cultures, trees are considered to be ancestors, meaning they are viewed as part of the family lineage and are deeply respected as living beings with a spirit, sharing a connection to the past generations and the natural world at large; this belief stems from the understanding that humans and trees are interconnected and part of the same life force. (AI generated response in Google.)

Morrow Family Added to Pioneer Pursuit

by Roxanne Lowe

The Pioneer Pursuit program continues to grow, albeit slowly, so we celebrate every submittal, large or small. Just this week, we approved George and Elizabeth (Wheeler) Morrow and their descendants. The submittal was made by 93-year-old Margaret Morrow Lubbers. She is a member of the State Association of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington (DPW), #19 Ft. Vancouver Chapter. Margaret also submitted her Curtin and Burke pioneer families — a total of 48 names.  

Margaret Morrow Lubbers

According to Margaret (& verified sources) George Morrow (1824 – bef 1870) and his wife Elizabeth Wheeler (1821 – 1873) owned 640 acres of land in Clark County, Washington Territory in 1860. How or when George first arrived in the area is unknown but it is believed that he and Elizabeth came on the steamship Massachusetts in 1848 with the first NY Artillery Battalion sent to Ft. Vancouver to protect the area after the Whitman massacre. George and Elizabeth had nine children: all pioneers born before Washington Territory became a state on November 11, 1889.

George disappears from all records after 1868. It is possible that as a member of the Mounted Rifles he may have been killed at any one of the skirmishes with the Native Indians or sent into the Idaho/Montana area where he was killed. Elizabeth died in 1873 and is buried in the Old Vancouver City Cemetery. Her children stayed together after her death with the younger children living with their older siblings.

There are countless pioneer stories like the Morrow family in the Pioneer Pursuit — just click on a link here. Or better yet: find someone who was in Washington Territory on or before statehood and research them. You DO NOT need to be related to the pioneer.

Check out our Pioneer Pursuit page for hints, resources, submittal form and a sample submittal. We need your help to document every man, woman and child that lived in Washington Territory before statehood! If you have questions, email Info@wasgs.org and put Pioneer Pursuit in the subject line.

CCGS Nomination Team Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Teams in 2024

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 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 2024 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the CCGS’s Nomination Team who was selected by the Clallam County Genealogical Society as their recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Team Award. The team is composed of Jackie Jardine, Pricilla Hudson and Carol Colman.

Finding members of genealogical societies willing to serve on the Board is always a difficult undertaking. Before our election for the CCGS Board of Directors, the members who volunteered to be on the nominating committee called every person on the membership list, asking if they would serve. They also asked for input as to how we could better serve them. These one-on-one conversations brought many suggestions and concerns, as well as reminding members that we are a caring and active Society, and they have chosen to be a part of it.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society Diseases Our Ancestors Faced

by Charles Hansen

Please join the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 1pm for the first of our Spring Series, Diseases Our Ancestors Faced and How Those Illnesses Changed Our World with Gregory C. Gardner, MD, MACP. Have you ever come across a death record listing “Brain Fever,” “Consumption,” “Grippe,” and wondered what those illnesses are? In this presentation, Dr. Gardner brings together his medical background with his passion for genealogy. Topics include death records, life expectancy and the major illnesses that changed the course of history. Can’t make it to the Burlington Library, request a zoom link by emailing genealogy0715@gmail.com.