Donna Potter Phillips 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 Donna Potter Phillips of Spokane, Washington who was selected by the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society (EWGS) as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Donna has contributed nearly 50 years of dedication to EWGS. She has held every position on the Board except Treasurer. She has been the driving force for multi-class workshops, an annual Board retreat, keeping scrapbooks and other EWGS materials, the Walking with Ancestors event and the massive Obituary Indexing Project with more than 100,000 records to date.

Donna has written over 40 articles for the EWGS Digital Digest.  She writes weekly Blog articles for EWGS and WSGS. She also volunteers at the library helping the public find their own story.  Her dedication is an inspiration to all of us!

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.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society May Chat Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Genealogy Chat Meeting
Tuesday, May 20, 2025, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Please join us and let’s chat!

Discussion starter topic – open forum

This is a monthly opportunity to connect with others and talk about anything and everything genealogical. The value of this meeting increases with the participation of each person that attends and contributes to the conversations. This is your chance to celebrate the breaking down of a brick wall in your research, or ask questions of others that can help you find records or relatives. Everyone, members and guests are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate.
Meeting invite with links in file attached below.

Date & Time: Every month on the Third Tue, from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMldOCprTsqGtSoVglOBTElUaBRgTq5IEgI/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvpjgjG9eVsBmHRpwEGojCXevztmJfjbdukyniDw9xVib6A-NgALVLAY35

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87839130000?pwd=dGdHY2wrZ0d1bDNRTEQ4Uk15OVk0Zz09
Meeting ID: 878 3913 0000
Passcode: 836216

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,87839130000#,,,,*836216# US
+12532158782,,87839130000#,,,,*836216# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 878 3913 0000
Passcode: 836216

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdesX0el3t

National Genealogical Society Healthy Aging and the Role of the Family History Community

by Charles Hansen

AgingSymp_3074101.jpg Join NGS, Vivid-Pix, and FamilySearch for a Spcial Symposium on Healthy Aging Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month and the Future of Healthy Aging Dear Friend, In recognition of Mental Health Month, the National Genealogical Society, Vivid-Pix, and FamilySearch invite you to attend the Symposium on Healthy Aging and the Role of the Family History Community, on 22 May 22, 2025 from 1:00 PM–5:00 PM ET with online access via Zoom.* The symposium tackles increasing challenges facing Americans as they age: social isolation, dementia, and mental health.
Register Now
“Family history activities are a pathway to good mental health and combat social isolation. The research, analysis, and writings associated with family history stimulate brain activity; storytelling, photos, and mementos bring back happy memories and intergenerational connection,” said Dr. Charlotte Yeh, Founder, Yeh Innovation, Past Chief Medical Officer, AARP. 
“We’ve witnessed firsthand how photo reminiscence therapy (pRT) can reduce social isolation, improve medication compliance, and enhance connection and cognitive performance with older adults. That’s why we’re dedicated to expanding its availability and making this therapy affordable to all who need it, as well as supporting others’ work to help our community,” said Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix.
Important topics include:
Understanding the health and cognitive issues facing an aging American population.
How aging, isolation, and loneliness affect cognition – and how to assist those impacted.
How the family history community can help our communities and the aging population.
Activities that individuals and organizations, such as genealogy societies, libraries, archives, and museums (SLAMs), are conducting to support healthy aging.
Panelists include leaders in aging health, genealogy, and technology:

Charity Rouse, NGS Delegate Council secretary and Spartanburg County Public Libraries
Crista Cowan, Ancestry
Curt Witcher, Director, Special Collections & Manager, Genealogy Center, Allen County Public Library David Rencher, NGS president and Chief Genealogical Officer, FamilySearch  
Debbie Gurtler, Assistant Director, FamilySearch Library
Dr. Charlotte Yeh, Founder, Yeh Innovation & past Chief Medical Officer, AARP 
Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy, International African American Museum (IAAM)
Ed Donakey, NGS board member and Deputy Chief Genealogical Officer, FamilySearch
Ellen Goodwin, Co-Founder, Artifcts
Jake Rankin, Owner, Talem Home Care, Certified Senior Advisor 
John Dougan, NGS board member and Missouri State Archivist  
Matt Menashes, NGS executive director
Matt Weismantel, NGS Delegate Council chair
Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix Sheri Rose, CEO, Thrive Center 
Theda Heiserman, Director of Training & Education, CERTUS Institute 
Uniquely suited to support activities that promote healthy aging and the family NGS, FamilySearch, and genealogy societies, libraries, archives, museums and companies help thousands of people daily with family history research. “The family history community  . . . helps people learn about their past through research, writing, and storytelling. These activities improve mental health and build strong relationships,” said David Rencher, NGS president and Chief Genealogical Officer, FamilySearch. “We think our community is well-positioned to improve long-term outcomes for an aging population.” “We’ve found that when helping people trace their roots, it can be transformative for a person’s mental health and perspective,” said Dr. Shelley Murphy of the Center for Family History at International African American Museum. “The people who come to programs at the museum come away with new energy, stronger connections to their past, and a newfound passion for family history research.”Plan to join us online. Registration is free.
Register Now
* An authenticated (paid or free) Zoom account is required to register. Copyright © 2025 National Genealogical Society (NGS), all rights reserved. National Genealogical Society · PO Box 128 · Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0128 · USA

International German Genealogy Partnership Celebrate Your German Speaking Ancestors

by Charles Hansen
 
Hello IGGP partners and friends, Time to register for the 2025 German genealogy conference is running out. Registration is closing May 28!The conference will be held June 12-15 at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio. The event is in-person only for attendees.
You can register online and pay by credit card. (The mail-in option has closed.)If you want to have recordings of the weekend presentations, including three bonus sessions not being given live, you can purchase access as an add-on when you pay for a registration — even if you are not able to attend in person.Our speakers and topics are all available for review. As is the weekend schedule. And don’t forget to plan for the social activities on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Our conference app, Whova, is already live and attendees are “meeting” each other and sharing information even before suitcases are packed. You can join the fun by registering today.Questions may be sent to info@iggp.org. For questions specific to registration, email iggp.registrator@gmail.com.We look forward to seeing you in a few weeks!
 LogoCopyright © 2025 International German Genealogy Partnership, All rights reserved.
You subscribed to receive news about IGGP and its activities. Use the links below to change your subscription preferences or unsubscribe.

Our mailing address is:
International German Genealogy Partnership1385 Mendota Heights Road, Suite 100c/o Minnesota Genealogy Center Mendota Heights, MN55120-1367Add us to your address book

Let’s Talk About: Wreck of the Peter Iredale

by Donna Phillips

 

 (note the horse and wagon)   

Strollers along a particular stretch of Oregon beach sometimes are lucky enough to see the fading remnants of a shipwreck. I’d bet that when they do, they wonder “what happened?” 

Ships, and everything about ships, is vital to our collective family history. Our ancestors traveled in ships, fished from small ships, explored in ships, fought battles in ships, migrated in ships ………. and often died in ships. 

The Peter Iredale is rather famous. She was a four-masted steel bark built in Maryport, England, in 1890. In September, 1906, she sailed north from Mexico bound for Portland where she was to pick up a cargo of wheat to return to England. From the Oregon History Project website we learn:

“Despite encountering heavy fog, she managed to safely reach the mouth of the Columbia River in the early morning of October 25. The captain of the ship later recalled that as they waited for a pilot ‘a heavy southeast wind blew and a strong current prevailed. Before the vessel could be veered around, she was in the breakers and all efforts to keep her off were unavailing.’ She ran aground at Clatsop Beach, hitting so hard that three of her masts snapped from the impact. Fortunately, none of the crew were seriously injured.”

Our Washington coast, particularly around the Columbia River mouth, is known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” and has seen approximately 2000 wrecks since 1792 with about 700 lives lost. The sandbar at Columbia’s mouth is three miles wide and reaches seven miles into the open ocean, and being sand, is constantly shifting, making it a navigational nightmare.

Do you have ships mentioned in your family history? If you do, and would enjoy learning more, click to www.ShipIndex.org. This is a fabulous database all about ships………sailing, steam, fighting or sunken ships. 

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Susan Palmer 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 Susan Palmer of Bainbridge Island, Washington who was selected by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS) as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Susan joined the BIGS Board as Director of Programs in April 2022. Selecting topics for and delivering the monthly programs is a major cornerstone of BIGS’ work. Susan jumped in and helped the society move forward with the Zoom platform. She was an essential member of the Hybrid Team to again offer in-person programs. She was instrumental in developing the Zoom registration process. Susan broadened the society’s horizons in the breadth of speakers she engaged, including their first international speaker.

Under her leadership, BIGS was finally able to celebrate its 1st Annual BIGS at the Beach – for members and their families that had been cancelled the previous two years.

Susan developed a very useful planning document, providing speaker and topic information for programs well into the future. This is an effective tool in communicating with the board and the communications team’s use. Susan worked quietly, efficiently, reliably and collaboratively to deliver excellent program results.

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.

Let’s Talk About: Old Postcards

by Donna Phillips

I confess: I cannot help myself from browsing through the boxes of old postcards that I may encounter at a thrift shop.

Case in point, the two above.  Both had writing on the reverse side……….. old German. Which of course I could not read. So I took them with me to RootsTech in March and requested help on B-1 in the FamilySearch Library.

The card at the top was addressed to “Fraulein Luise Koller, Frankfurt a Main, Niederrad.” It was from “Heinrich.” Was Heinrich the handsome suitor of Luise? Or was that a commercial photo? 

The lower one REALLY intrigued me. Was this a real person in real clothes or a costumed funny? This card, dated 1919, was from Erik Lund to “the family Moller in Vestergade.” Erik says he is “sending to you my picture.” Wonder what they thought! 

So teaches Wikipedia: “A postcard is a rectangular piece of thick paper, sent without an envelope and for a lower fee. Production of postcards blossomed in the late 19th and each 20th centuries and an easy and quick way for individuals to communicate. The study and collecting of postcards is termed deltiology. (Remember that when you’re invited to be on Jeopardy.) 

Do you have any old postcards in your collected personal family history archive?

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Mystery Book Club

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Mystery Book Club
Saturday, May 17, 2025 starting at 4:00 pm via Zoom

Please join us as we discuss a fictional genealogical book, Death on a Gravestone: The Newshound Mysteries by M. K. Jones & John F. Wake

More information at:
Amazon: Death on a Gravestone, print and Kindle versions
This book may also be available in print from various bookstores.

TPCGS Book Club Zoom Meeting
Every month on the Third Sat beginning at 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUkfuCqrzgsG9RrrhNAdU65Lz86P0s92mu1/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGppzIjGNWWthiHRpwcHYr4XerzmHZdjfpvjg3tLQFXV1WjGvgaZIIvA4GC

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81999213610?pwd=Qkk2WFZTZ2Rzdzc1Z0szN1AzdEZCUT09
Meeting ID: 819 9921 3610
Passcode: 479394

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,81999213610#,,,,*479394# US
+12532158782,,81999213610#,,,,*479394# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
        +1 253 205 0468 US
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 819 9921 3610
Passcode: 479394

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

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History SIG

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

The Writing Family History Special Interest Group (WFH-SIG) supports TPCGS members in documenting, writing, and preserving their family histories—formally or informally. Monthly meetings will provide a mix of presentations, writing exercises, and peer reviews to help members make progress in their projects.

Meeting invite with links in file attached below

Date & Time: Every month on the Second Wednesday, starting at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

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

Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMoc-2qqDMjHNXnACfWJ0dop_pMeQXMRoYM/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvqz8uGNKduR-GRpwEGY-gLOrwplxEgo1lkj7GBRd5Mgf5Jt1SH7dOKPXi
Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87544268961?pwd=oNtdztP51tePuSn3bt45J3wuxnGXzl.1
Meeting ID: 875 4426 8961
Passcode: 328639

One tap mobile:
+12532158782,,87544268961#,,,,*328639# US (Tacoma)
+12532050468,,87544268961#,,,,*328639# US

Dial by your location:
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
• +1 253 205 0468 US
Meeting ID: 875 4426 8961
Passcode: 328639

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kclCP1SsOV