Lynne Oliver 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 Lynne Oliver of Bellingham, Washington who was selected by the Whatcom Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

With her experience serving on other boards, Lynne has brought relevant experience to her role as treasurer that directly benefits WGS. She does a fantastic job of keeping the society running in a fiscally sound manner and is always willing to jump in and volunteer with other society projects.

In addition to her role as treasurer, Lynne has spent a great deal of time revising the society’s bylaws and presenting the suggested changes to the board for their input.

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.

Access BRILS for Thrills!

by Roxanne Lowe

Have you heard of Reclaim The Records? If not, you should.  According to their website, Reclaim The Records (RTR) is an activist group of genealogists, historians, researchers, and journalists that works to identify important genealogical record sets that are not online anywhere and not broadly available to the public. They use state Freedom of Information (FOIA) laws to force government agencies and archives to hand over copies of these records to the public, which RTR’s digitizes and puts online for free use. 

In 2018, RTR filed a FOIA suit for the Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) database against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. After numerous rejections and denials over the years, RTR finally won their lawsuit in 2020 and the records were handed over in 2022.

What is BRILS?

It’s possibly the largest public dataset of deceased U.S veterans, ever, with more than 18 million names, covering veterans who served from the late nineteenth century up through mid-2020. The Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) database was originally created and maintained by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It provides an index to basic biographical information on more than 18 million deceased American veterans who received some sort of veterans benefits in their lifetime, including health care, disability or life insurance policies, educational benefits (the GI Bill), mortgage assistance (VA loans), and more. The BIRLS database includes people who served in all branches of the U.S. military, including some branches that no longer exist, such as the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) and the Army Air Corps, as well as a few associated non-military groups and government agencies, such as NOAA. It even includes files for some non-US nationals, including veterans of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Scouts and Guerillas, who served prior to and during the Second World War.

How Do I Request Information?

RTR built and launched a searchable database for the materials to help people to get files from the government for their relatives and research interests. The records are now online and searchable at BIRLS.org. The site even includes a free Freedom of Information (FOIA) filing system to make it easier to request the records.

Writer’s note: I filed a FOIA request on behalf of my late father (Navy & Coast Guard) on 30 Mar 2025. I’m eagerly awaiting whatever is in his file. It was easy to request and I’m hoping for results in the next few weeks.



Let’s Talk About: Honoring Memorial Day Part 2

by Donna Phillips

In a small cemetery in the Dutch city of Roermond, one can visit this most unique set of tombstones. It comprises two almost identical pillars on either side of a wall separating the Catholic part from the Protestant part. Each pillar has a carved arm and hand that clasp the other across the wall. The monument marks the graves of Josephina Van Aefferden, a Catholic, and Jacobus Van Gorkum, a Protestant, who were happily married in life but had to be buried in separate sections of the cemetery. This Dutch listed it as a State Monument in 2002 and the “Grave with the Little Hands” proves that love is stronger than death. (And certainly stronger than mens’ rules.)Did you know that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? In the spring of 1866, Henry C. Welles, a druggist in the village of Waterloo, NY, suggested that the patriots who died in the Civil War should be honored by decorating their graves. A committee was formed and the plan was implemented. Decoration Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 and was first observed officially on May 30, 1868. The South did not observe Decoration Day, preferring to honor their dead on separate days until after WWI. In 1882 the name was changed to Memorial Day and soldiers who had died in other wars were also honored. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May.

 While families may use the day for welcome-to-summer-fun, the original intent was to honor those who died for our freedom. 

23andMe Bankruptcy Information

by Roxanne Lowe

By now, you’ve probably heard that 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. As the company maneuvers through the bankruptcy process, including trying to find a buyer, customers may want to check out the following articles.

What the 23andMe Bankruptcy Means for your Data and Genealogy with Amy Johnson Crow (March 2025)

https://genealogybargains.com/turmoil-at-23andme/  with Thomas MacEntee (March 2025)

April 29, 2025 update: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/23andme-will-have-court-appointed-overseer-genetic-data-bankruptcy-2025-04-29/

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree May 2025 Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting
Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm virtual via Zoom

This month’s topic is: What do you want to learn about Legacy Family Tree Software?

Due to low attendance the last two months I am considering pausing or canceling this special interest group. If you are interested this wil be your chance to provide input on what you would like to see this SIG focus on learning.

This is our monthly meeting to share tips & tricks, problems & solutions. Sometimes we will watch videos or share our screens to aid in learning more about using Legacy Family Tree software.

Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the learning. If you are just thinking about trying Legacy for the first time, you’ve been using it for a year or two or you are an old pro with many years of experience using Legacy this is the group for you. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them in.

We look forward to meeting with you, every month on the First Tuesday at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

Meeting Invite with Links in file attached below:

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

Monthly Calendar Reminder: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYpfuyuqDovHNwtBgxtQjWKOjDQ8k5Q9bPD/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqjIvHNKUtR-PRpwQBor4Z-7wpn5Ygo1KiD3iGzRiaDTdGehmA-p0RemJ

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82495661568?pwd=dy85YmluVzF5aEU4SzFTcTUrVDlTUT09

Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568
Passcode: 715731

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,82495661568#,,,,*715731# US
+12532158782,,82495661568#,,,,*715731# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568
Passcode: 715731

Find your local number:
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcphK19I1E

Puget Sound Genealogical Society May Classes

by Charles Hansen

Classes:  “Getting Started in Family History Series” presented by Cheri Hudson Passey (Legacy Family Tree Webinars) -Classes are on Saturday and start at 10:30am.
These events are hybrid.  In person at the Sylvan Way Library in Bremerton and on Zoom.  Zoom link will be posted on our website (psgsociety.org) and our Facebook page the day before.

 May 3:   Home Sources, Forms, and Family Stories

 May 10:   Documents, Vital Records, and Census Records

 May 31:   Cemetery & Church Records,  Online Research: Finding Family on the Internet, and Researching On Location

Program:  May 28 (Wed), 1pm. ” Inspire the Next Generation” with Sue Schlichting.

 Who’s going to take over the family history quest when you’re no longer able? Getting the younger generation interested in their family history is important work. Learn creative ways to get young people engaged in their own history research.

Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Future Proofing Your Genealogy

by Charles Hansen

THOMAS MacENTEE

GENEALOGIST, AUTHOR, BLOGGER

AFTER YOU’RE GONE:

FUTURE PROOFING YOUR GENEALOGY

Speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s

May 8th Zoom meeting

Virtual meeting doors will open at 6:30 pm

The speaker’s program will begin at 7:00 pm

The public is invited to attend however, non-members will not have access to the handout as per speaker’s request

For a link to join the meeting or to join the society for $20.00 per year contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com

Please make your request for the link 24 hours prior to the event

Italian Interest Group Eastside Genealogical Society Italian Municipal and Tax Censuses

by Charles Hansen

FREE WEBINAR
“Italian Municipal and Tax Censuses”
Description: This lecture examines Italian municipal and tax censuses as valuable genealogical resources. It provides an overview of censuses over time, including the riveli and catasti, highlighting their insights into family structures, property ownership, and community history. Participants will learn how to locate and analyze these records to enhance their family research.
                          ZOOM Meeting When:           21-Jun-2025, Saturday
Time:             1:30 PM (PDT) Presenter:   Suzanne Russo Adams
Kerri Tannenbaum Speaker Bio: Suzanne Russo Adams, MA, AG®, is an Associate Professor of family history and the Director of the Center for Family History and Genealogy at Brigham Young University. An Accredited Genealogist® specializing in Italian research, she holds degrees in Family History/Genealogy and Sociology, as well as a master’s degree in History. With over 25 years of experience in the genealogy field, Suzanne has worked extensively in record acquisition, strategy, and content digitization for Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. She is the author of “Finding Your Italian Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide”.
If you aren’t a registered 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

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Draft Registrations for Civil War, WWI and WWII

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting will be held in the library.

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Speaker – Judy Schuster will be giving a presentation on Draft Registrations for the Civil War, WW1 and WW2.

Carla Adams