TIP OF THE WEEK – FIND AN ANCESTOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CENSUS, EVEN IF THEY DIDN’T OWN PROPERTY
If you have an ancestor who didn’t own property and whose location isn’t clear in the census records — maybe the township or division no longer exists, and no census maps are available for that time period. One way to narrow down a location is to look for landowners listed next to your ancestor in a census. See if you can find the location of the neighbor’s land. Since census records were often taken door to door, these people likely lived nearby. Cross examine multiple neighbors property locations through plat maps, deed records and patents to find an estimated location for your family.
Join SGS Today
to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page and click the green renew membership button. January 1, 2025
SGS eNews! comes out the first of every month. contact eNews!
Join Us for Our Annual Holiday Celebration in the SGS Library at the Good Shepherd Center
With the holiday rush over, let’s celebrate the new year. Bring cookies to share and say hello to your SGS friends in person at the library. Come early, come late (but not too late).
Stick around to join us for the Second Saturday Zoom presentation by Rebecca Whitman Koford at 1 p.m.
Catch (or ask for) a demo of library subscriptions and/or equipment
Do you have family history in the Northwest? If so you are likely to benefit from records held by the National Archives at Seattle. This facility maintains and provides access to permanent records created by federal agencies and courts in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
This tour will be Friday, January 17 at 9:30 a.m. It is limited to 20 people.
SECOND SATURDAY PRESENTATION TO HIGHLIGHT RESEARCH LOGS
Organizing is key to understanding. If you can’t find it, how can you compare and analyze the facts and clues in your ancestor’s life? Presenter Rebecca Whitman Koford, Vice President of the National Genealogical Society, will introduce three organizational tools that researches can benefit from using. These include strategic use of timelines, and how they can work together to improve your analysis skills and get closer to finding the answers you need.
This presentation will be offered via Zoom Saturday, January 11 at 1 p.m.
NEXT MONTH: “I Have a Civil War Ancestor: Now What?” Presented by Brian Rhinehart, Saturday, February 8, at 1 p.m. Sign up separately for this event.
SLOTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR GET ORGANIZED CLASS
SGS’s “Organizing for Genealogy” class still has openings. This course will help participants create a system of organization or adapt their current system to meet their specific research needs. The class will be offered over four weeks in February with an option to attend either Monday evenings (7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) or Tuesday afternoons (1:00 to 3:00 p.m.).
Session 1: Organizing Our Self – Our thoughts, actions, time, and space
Session 2: Organizing Our System – Paper systems and Digital Systems
Session 3: Organizing Our Workflow – Research, Records, and Resources
Session 4: Pulling it all together – Developing a tailored organization system
Each class series is limited to 20 participants. Class Fee: $80 (SGS members $60)
SCANDINAVIAN SIG TO SHARE TIPS SEEKING NORWEGIAN AND SWEDISH RECORDS
Join Karen and Kathi on Sunday, January 12th at 1PM via Zoom as they reveal tips for searching Norwegian and Swedish records on both free and subscription sites. Plus, bring your questions— we’ll be answering all your burning inquiries about tracing your ancestors! The Scandinavian SIG was restarted about 10 years ago by Karen Knudson and has a co-leader Kathi M., SGS librarian. The group meets quarterly. See the SGS calendar of events at segensoc.org to register.
MEXICAN SIG LAUNCHES JANUARY 9
Share information and discuss Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, and Hispanic genealogical research. The inaugural meeting for this SIG will be Thursday, January 9th, at 7:00 p.m., via Zoom. Contact Diane Hughes-Hart via Education@seagensoc.org to join.
NEW SIGS IN PLANNING STAGES
SGS is planning to add three new Special Interest Groups. Each of these groups are in early development. Would you be interested in being a co-leader or a participant? Let us know of your interest and availability/preferences for meeting day and time. Please send us an email with your information.
Ancestry.com Ancestry.com has become one of the largest genealogical websites available today. With vast records collections and extensive tree building tools, there’s much to explore and optimize. If you would like to gain greater insight into this site or want to share your knowledge with others, please email: Education@seagensoc.org (Subject: Ancestry SIG).
Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a regions with a rich and complex history and diverse ethic groups. It’s frequent border changes, language barriers and influences from several powerful empires can lead to challenges when researching family history. Share information and questions about this fascinating region. To get involved email: Education@seagensoc.org (Subject: Eastern Europe SIG).
Artificial intelligence The explosive growth in AI has lead to many applications for it in genealogical research. Do you use AI in your research or want to learn more about how to do so? Email: Education@seagensoc.org (Subject: AI SIG).
LIBRARY NEWS:
Evening Hours at SGS Library to Be Offered Once a Month
SGS is offering evening hours once a month at the library starting this month. The library will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every 3rd Wednesday of the month through April when the success of the endeavor will be reevaluated. If it proves popular these hours could continue past April. So use it or lose it. Come to the libary Wednesday nights January 15, February 19 … and show SGS that you want these additional hours.
Get Help Scanning Photos, Learn More About the Library; Tours to Be Offered Once a Month Want to know more about how the SGS library can help your research? With so many resources available it can be easy to overlook something that may be helpful. To help patrons learn more about the library and get help using the photo/document scanner, the SGS library will be offering tours every 4th Saturday of the month. The tour will start at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by assistance scanning documents and photos. The first tour will be Saturday, January 25, followed by February 22. Show up and let SGS know if this is a program that should be continued.
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658
Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting.
All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted
Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, 10:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email Lou to get on the email list: loudaly@nwlink.com.
Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website.
Wednesday, Jan. 8 2025, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list.
Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 a.m., Mexican SIG (Virtual), Share information and discuss Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, and Hispanic genealogical research. Email Education@seagensoc.org to join.
Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Holiday Open House, Join us for our annual holiday celebration in the SGS library at the Good Shepherd Center. Bring cookies to share and say hello to your SGS friends IN PERSON at the library. Come early, come late (not too late). Stay for the Second Saturday Zoom presentation.
Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, 1:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Research Logs: Write or Regret It!” Presented by Rebecca Whitman Koford. Organizing is key to understanding. This presentation introduces three organizational tools, including strategic use of timelines, and how they can work together to improve your analysis skills and get closer to finding the answers you need. Register here.
Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, 1:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Scandinavian Interest Group (Virtual), We will be reviewing free and subscription sites for researching records in Sweden and Norway. hosts Karen Knudson and Kathi M. Share information and discuss Scandinavian ancestral research.
Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.
Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link.
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help.
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., NEW! SGS Library Evening Hours, SGS library introduces evening hours on a trial basis through April. Every 3rd Wednesday of the month.
Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, 9:30 a.m., SGS Tour of National Archives at Seattle (Field Trips), Docent-led tour of the National Archives at Seattle This facility maintains and provides access to permanent records created by federal agencies and courts in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Limited to 20 people.
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), Topic to be announced. Register on the SGS website.
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, 1:00 pm- 2:30 pm, Virtual Sunday: Something Old, Something New, Get a virtual demo of SGS library online resources. Speaker: Jill Morelli. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. Please register in advance.
Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.
Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact SGS Director of Education (education@seagensoc.org).
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., “Pass It On” Writers’ Group, Create your family history and share with others in an effort to improve your writing. Please note: The Writers’ Group is at the maximum number of participants and is not currently accepting any new members.
Saturday, Jan 25, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., DNA SIG, To participate in this quarterly SIG 1you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@seagensoc.org to join.
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, 10:30 a.m., NEW! SGS Library Tour/Scanning Help, SGS library introduces tours of the library and help scanning photos and documents. This is a trial basis through April. Every 4th Saturday of the month. Tour starts at 10:30 followed by scanning help.
Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help.
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, 10:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email Lou to get on the email list: loudaly@nwlink.com.
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join.
Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website.
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, 1:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “I Have a Civil War Ancestor: Now What?” Presented by Brian Rhinehart. Military records can be among the most genealogically significant sources you can find. Register here.
Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.
Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link.
** NOTE: There will be no Irish SIG in January.
OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND
“Finding the Origins of an Immigrant Ancestor” (Virtual) Eastside Genealogical Society Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, 7:00 p.m. (virtual doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Join Eastside Genealogical Society and Debbie Gurtler, AG and Assistant Director of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City as the explore methods to find the homeland of an immigrant ancestor. This presentation will highlight the methodology and U.S. record types that should help you identify their hometown so you can expand your family tree. A case study highlighting the methodology needed will also be presented. For more information about the event see the EGS website.
Registration opens for AppGen Spring 2025 Classes (Virtual) Wednesday, January 15, 2025
The window for registration for the AppGen 2025 Spring semester will open 15-22 January. It is a random draw, not “first come first served.” For more information see the website.
“AI (Artificial Intelligence) Made Easy: Boosting Your Genealogy Research with Technology” (Virtual) Olympia Genealogical Society Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, 8:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Speaker Blaine Bettinger, will outline how AI can aid your research. In this 4-hour seminar he will cover:
Using Artificial Intelligence Tools for Genealogy
10 Generative AI Prompts Every Genealogist Needs to Know
Ethical Issues Associated with Generative Artificial Intelligence
Memories in the Digital Age: AI Transcription of Handwritten Diaries
For more information about the event see the OGS website.
Join SGS Today
to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page and click the green renew membership button. January 1, 2025
SGS eNews! comes out the first of every month. contact eNews!
Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History Wednesday, January 8, 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.
Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting Tuesday, January 7, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm virtual via Zoom
This month we will continue reviewing the free Legacy Family Tree software videos hosted by Geoff Rasmussen. Our next video in this series will be “Legacy 9 Unlocked (part 2): Adding an Online Document” it is a longer video so we will be breaking it up and watching the first half Jan 7 and finishing it next month on Feb 4. Even though Legacy 10 was just released in Jun 2024, almost all the features shown in this video are still in the current program. If you are thinking about trying Legacy or are currently using it, this video can teach or remind you how to properly use the software and be successful with your research. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them in.
Meeting Invite with Links in file attached below:
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
That’s the title of a wonderfully inspirational little book. As the final blog for 2024, may I share some “good stuff?”
I’ve learned that having a baby doesn’t solve marital problems.
I’ve learned that the best thing about growing older is that now I don’t feel the need to impress anyone.
I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I’ve learned that anger manages everything poorly.
I’ve learned that there is no substitute for good manners
I’ve learned that it’s better not to wait for a crisis to discover what’s important in life.
I’ve learned that it’s easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble.
I’ve learned that days are long but life is short.
I’ve learned that successful living is like playing a violin…it must be practiced daily.
That’s the title of a wonderfully inspirational little book. As the final blog for 2024, may I share some “good stuff?”
I’ve learned that having a baby doesn’t solve marital problems.
I’ve learned that the best thing about growing older is that now I don’t feel the need to impress anyone.
I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I’ve learned that anger manages everything poorly.
I’ve learned that there is no substitute for good manners
I’ve learned that it’s better not to
I’ve learned that young people need old people’s love, respect and knowledge of life, and that old people need the love, respect and strength of young people.
I’ve learned that an expensive new blouse is always a spaghetti sauce magnet.
And finally,
I’ve learned that if you smile at people, they almost always will smile back.
Welcome in the New Year with a presentation about German Genealogy Over 40 million Americans have German ancestors, comprising 10 to 15% of the population and forming the largest single ethnic group in the U.S. When researching your German American family history, you will inevitably reach the point where your ancestors crossed the Atlantic. Many people stop when they get to this stage, unsure how to continue researching in Europe. However, this is not where your journey has to end. We will show you how to continue tracing your family’s history using German sources, enabling you to track your lineage one or two centuries further back. Our presentation is designed as a starting point for researching your German ancestors and provides an overview of German genealogy. We begin with a brief history of German immigration to the US, covering routes, numbers and time frames. Following that, I will guide you through the various sources available in Germany, both primary and secondary, demonstrating how to access and utilize them effectively. This includes passenger lists, censuses, church records, administrative documents, personal registers, and more. One of the most challenging aspects of German American genealogy is pinpointing the exact hometown in Germany from which your ancestor emigrated. We will share strategies to help you overcome this hurdle, even when American records lack this crucial information. Additionally, I am happy to answer any questions you may have after the presentation. Till Fehmer Co-founder Fehmer Genealogy (2024) Research Assistant for Professor Andrew Moravcsik at Princeton University (2021-2022) MSc “European and International Public Policy” at the London School of Economics (LSE) (2020-2021) Trainee at the European Commission (2022- 2023) When: Thursday January 2, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where: ZOOM & limited in-person (8)
Cost: $20 members, $25 non-members, Sign-up and Payment: ZOOM Go to HQRL Store at hqrl.com (sign in as a member to get the discount) In-Person (8 only): Call: 253-863-1806 or Come into the library at 2102 E Main Ave. Ste 105 Puyallup, WA 98372 HAVE YOU HEARD?
Dear MYRTLE will be joining us on January 16, 2025, to guide us through the “7 – Habits of Highly Effective Genealogists.” Mark your calendars and get your research ready to tackle the common pitfalls every genealogist encounters.
Today I’d like to ask YOU, dear readers, to share your Christmas memories or stories. What was The Best gift you ever received? What year did you so-want something that you didn’t get? I do invite (and beg!) you to share your memories with me, Donna243@gmail.com. I’ll start with mine. The year was 1950, the place Fairfield, California, next to Travis Air Force Base where my dad was stationed. I recall being SO EXCITED to be invited to go with Mom and her friend on the train to Sacramento to go Christmas shopping in a big department store. Oh the joy! I picked out Daisy……… life-size, soft-fleshed with curly red hair. Oh, she was wonderful. I was in heaven all the train ride home. I knew I’d not see her again until Christmas but that was not for lack of trying! Whenever the opportunity arose, I’d look into every closet, drawer and box but to no avail. Where was she????? Christmas Day, there she was! In a white bassinette and with plenty of real baby clothes! (My brother was born in Aug 1950…this had been his bed and some of his clothes.) So where had she been? My parents, knowing their daughter well, had secreted her in the neighbor’s shed!!! Here she is today in an outfit that was my daughter’s in 1963…
I have one granddaughter and six great-granddaughters. Who will love her next??????
Multiple Lies and an Alias: Solving the Mystery of One Italian Immigrant
A search for any information on the biological father of an 83-year-old Italian man yields unexpected twists and turns. Leveraging a wide variety of records sets – some more obscure than others – this case study of an Italian immigrant in New York in the 1920s reveals many conflicts, scandal, and lies. It’s a case study about how documentary records, DNA, and oral tradition solved the mystery of this elusive man.
Kerri Tannenbaum is a professional genealogist and researcher who works with people looking to learn more about their family history. She specializes in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Irish research. Kerri is a graduate of Boston University’s Certificate Program in Genealogical Research and the ProGen Peer Study Groups. She serves as contributing editor of the Irish Family History Forum newsletter, a recipient of many awards from the National Genealogical Society. She also serves as a guest lecturer and research consultant for several genealogy societies. Kerri founded her company Family Dot Connector LLC in 2018 and has served hundreds of clients since then. She lives on Long Island in New York with her husband and two daughters.
If you aren’t an active member, you must request meeting access. Below is the link to request a meeting invitation.Please send me an invitation link
COUNTDOWN TO THE MEETING:
Days Hours Minutes Seconds
Eastside Genealogical Society – Italian Interest Group P.O. Box 374 Bellevue, WA 98009-0374
You are free to copy articles to any non-commercial web site or message board or printed publication you wish. Don’t bother to ask permission, just do it.
Till Fehmer Co-founder Fehmer Genealogy (2024)
HAVE YOU HEARD?
Multiple Lies and an Alias:
Kerri Tannenbaum is a professional genealogist and researcher who works with people looking to learn more about their family history. She specializes in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Irish research. Kerri is a graduate of Boston University’s Certificate Program in Genealogical Research and the ProGen Peer Study Groups. She serves as contributing editor of the Irish Family History Forum newsletter, a recipient of many awards from the National Genealogical Society. She also serves as a guest lecturer and research consultant for several genealogy societies. Kerri founded her company 
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