Six Societies Awarded Supportive Grants

by Roxanne Lowe

In a one-time departure from the norm, the WSGS Board of Directors awarded Supportive Grants to six of the societies that applied for grants. In the past, only two grants have been awarded. This year, however, the Board agreed with the reviewers that all six society projects deserved funding. The average amount of each grant was $250. Diane Huckabay, WSGS Education Chair, announced the awards at the Annual Meeting on August 30, 2024.

The grants were awarded to:

Black Genealogy Research Group of Seattle – Two registrations to attend the Family Tree Magazine University Courses. The two attendees will share their knowledge at monthly BGRG meetings.

Clallam County Genealogical Society — Defray some of the costs of speakers for their “Speakers’ Series.”

Jefferson County Genealogical Society – Support publicity for the society’s 40th anniversary celebration. It will also support their speaker from Scotland (on Zoom).

Lower Columbia County Genealogical Society – Print and distribute brochures advertising/ promoting the society, so they can be placed around a variety of local establishments, mostly libraries.

Okanogan County Genealogical Society – Fund a web page that documents Okanogan County cemeteries and the individuals buried in those cemeteries.

Sno-Isle County Genealogical Society – Fund the purchase of audio and visual equipment to support hybrid online and in-person meetings.

For more information about the Supportive Grants, click here.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Chat

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Genealogy Chat

Tuesday, September 17, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Please join us and let’s chat!

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.

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

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Book Club

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Book Club

Saturday, September 21, 2024, starting at 4:00 pm via Zoom

Please join us as we discuss a fictional genealogical book, Least Trodden Ground by Elaine L. Orr.

More information at: 

Amazon: Least Trodden Ground

Also available in print from various used bookstores.

We will also choose future books. 

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

Italian Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society Maps for Genealogy

by Charles Hansen
21-Sep-2024 Meeting
Welcome to Italian Genealogy Let’s explore the world of Italian genealogy together, one person at a time.
Maps can be incredibly valuable tools for genealogy research. They allow us to visualize our ancestors’ world, understand historical boundaries, and discover new records. Remember, maps not only provide context but also connect you to the places your ancestors called home. Happy mapping!
                          ZOOM Meeting Topic:    
Using Maps for Genealogy
When:        21-Sep-2024, Saturday
Time:         1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (PDT)
If you aren’t an active member, please request a Zoom meeting invitation.
Meeting Request
COUNTDOWN TO THE MEETING:
Days Hours Minutes Seconds
Eastside Genealogical Society
– Italian Interest Group P.O. Box 374
Bellevue, WA 98009-0374

Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society Solutions to Researching in Today’s Economy

by Charles Hansen

Morning Members and Friends!

Just a reminder of the upcoming program this Saturday, September 14th at 1:00pm. We will be be discussing ways to best fulfill our research quests in today’s rising costs for subscription and membership fees.

We all want reputable and reliable resources for our work but for some researchers that is becoming a unattainable goal. This program bring suggestions and recommendations on how to best navigate resources in genealogy and history research. Laurel Smith will be joining us from the Genealogical Forum of Oregon providing information on their online databases which you can access from home and their new database NewspaperArchive. 

Please join us! The program is free as always and guests are welcome.

Please register here:  https://gorgegen.blogspot.com/ 

See you soon!

Let’s Talk About: Green Peas

by Donna Phillips


“Fresh green peas were considered a delicacy by King Louis 14th of France. To his wife, the subject seemed all consuming. ‘This subject of peas continues to absorb all others….a pleasure of having eaten them and the desire to et them again are among the great matters which have been discussed for the four days past.’ One of Louis’ wives wrote in a letter dated 1696: “It is both a fashion and a madness.”
The history of peas is long and jumped quickly from country to country. Certainly by 1793 in America “peas were popular with all classes of people.”
Recipe for Dressed Peas from a 1744 cookbook published in London:  Place one pound of peas in sauce pot with 6 TB of butter; simmer and dust with flour. Add any sweet herbs desired: parsley, basil, mint. Stir in 1/2 cup flour and bit of boiling water “slowly stewing the mixture.” Lastly, add some diced ham. 
(Thanks to The Magazine of Colonial Williamsburg, September 2023.) 
Did you know that Washington ranks #1 in edible dry pea production, contributing 45% of the U.S. production.  Our dry eastern Washington fields are good for dry peas, lentils (all colors) and chickpeas. There are three types of peas grown here:

  • Garden peas – grown from seeds
  • Sugar peas – grown for the whole edible pods
  • Field peas – grown for dried seeds

Isn’t September a dandy time to make a pot of pea soup???

Fiske Genealogical Library Fall 2024 Classes

by Charles Hansen

Wednesday, September 18       

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Using the Research Wiki to Start Foreign Research

Presented by Jenny Hansen

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Starting research in a new country is a daunting task, especially when foreign languages, cultures and customs are considered.  With the development of the FamilySearch Research Wiki, detailed online help is always available.  This class will show what tools the wiki can offer anyone starting research in a foreign area.

Wednesday, September 25

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Exploring Your Hispanic Roots

Presented by Beth Swartz

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Basic research techniques using online resources to follow your family in the US and Mexico.

Wednesday, October 2     

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Using Collateral Relatives

Presented by Claire Smith

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Have you ever been unable to find the parents of an ancestor? Learn effective strategies to go beyond using your direct ancestors by going sideways to research your collateral ancestors. Learning about relationships across your family can help you reveal ancestors beyond your brick walls.

Wednesday, October 9     

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Hopping Down the Paper Trail

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

The records our ancestors left behind often lead us to other records, and sometimes take us down a rabbit hole. Learn how to scour those records for the next clue, and how to prioritize those clues so that you stay on track.

Wednesday, October 16   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Intuitive Genealogy: Ancestral Healing Practices and Your Family Tree

Presented by Joseph Anderson

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

For millennia human cultures have established and maintained robust relationships with their ancestors through traditional practices. In this class you’ll learn how these practices are being revitalized in contemporary society, and how they can complement your own genealogical explorations. We’ll look at the use of focused and structured imagination to connect with ancestors known and unknown, and to deepen your understanding of the ways they live on in you.

Wednesday, October 23   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Show, Don’t Tell: Creative Nonfiction Writing for Genealogists

Presented by Lisa Alzo

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

As genealogists, we often focus on facts and uncover so much information that our research produces nothing but boring lists. But do you really know what happened between the dashes of your ancestors’ lives? How can you share that information in a compelling way? Learn how to use creative nonfiction writing techniques to produce a “can’t put down” family history.

Wednesday, October 30   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

New Frontiers in Genealogy

Presented by Lisa Alzo

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and the Metaverse. You may have heard these terms on the news, but what do they have to do with genealogy? This session will demonstrate how these emerging technologies will shape a new frontier in family history including how we research our ancestors and share their stories.

Wednesday, November 6  

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Missing: Reward! Locating Widows, Spinsters, and Bachelors

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Have some of the folks on your family tree disappeared?  Pick up some new ideas on how to find widows and never-married adults and then watch these techniques in action in three short case studies.

Wednesday, November 13

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Finding Treasures in NewspaperArchive

Presented by Mary Kircher Roddy

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Newspapers are a fabulous resource to learn more about your ancestors. The National Genealogical Society has recently partnered with Storied to make NewspaperArchive a free benefit of an NGS membership. Learn how to use this website to fill in the details of your ancestors’ lives.

Wednesday, November 20

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

MyMaps: Create a Map of Your Family’s Migration West

Presented by Janet O’Conor Camarata

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Create a private Google map to illustrate your family’s migration path.  Pin their locations, enhance by adding text, pictures or photos, links, and layers. Save to your story of your family or to illustrate your family’s book.

Clallam County Genealogical Society November Seminar with Judy Russell

by Charles Hansen

 November 9th, 2004

An all-day seminar featuring

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL –           The Legal Genealogist

                 **A Legal Perspective for Genealogists**

Clallam County is hosting a three-part seminar featuring the incomparable Judy G. Russell.  She is one of the most popular speakers for Genealogical Societies and National Events.  Her unusual lectures reflect her legal background and are always interesting, educational, and fun to listen to.

Schedule and Topics Information:

          9:15 – 9:30am              Registration Sign-in/Tech Check

                           9:30 – 9:45am              Introductions/ Announcements

                           9:45-10:45am              Session I: Revelers, Hogkillers and Disobedient Children: Early State Laws.                  

The laws our ancestors lived by tell their own story of life in earlier times, and early state laws from every part of the nation tell the stories of Blue Laws, wild animals, and children needing humbling.  Judy will include a look at early Washington State laws.

10:45- 11:00am                 Break

11:00am – Noon          Session II:Landing The Ancestors: Federal and State Land Records

Land records are among the earliest, most complete and most valuable genealogical records and often among the most puzzling. Understanding how land was acquired, measured and recorded under the law is essential to using the records effectively.  This is a good introduction to land records overall according to Judy.

                            Noon – 12:45pm         Lunch Break

12:45 – 1:45pm             Session III:Landing the Fourths: Proving a Case with Court, Land, and DNA Evidence

The father of Gustavus Boone Robertson (1827 MS-1903 TX) was William M. Robertson (c1795 NC-1864 MS). But who was Gustavus’s mother? No record directly identifies her, but court, land, and DNA evidence combine to prove the case as to the identity of this third great-grandmother and, in doing so, landing the fourths—fourth great-grandparents, that is. (This is a complex case study but can readily be followed by a general audience)             

The Seminar will be presented via Zoom so that you may listen to at home, or attend at the CCGS Research Center located at 403 E. 8th Street in Port Angeles, Washington.

The Zoom pass code and meeting number will be sent to participants via e-mail as soon as payment is received. (See below for cost)

Cost: 

$50 for CCGS members               $55 for non-CCGS members and at the door 

Early Bird Registration begins Tuesday, October 1st .  Save $10 off registration fee!

Early Bird Registration ends Tuesday, October 15th

Prepaid Registration by check or Paypal  ends Tuesday, November 5th

For more information, call CCGS Tues-Fri 10am to 4pm, and Saturdays noon to 4pm or visit our website:

Phone:  360-417-5000      Website:  www.clallamcogs.org.

Checks should be made out to CCGS.  Credit cards can use the Paypal app found on our website.

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society Program Change: Cousin Baiting & Cousin Stalking

by Charles Hansen

We apologize for the unexpected change and disappointment. But Christine Cohen’s presentation promises to be very informative and helpful for our

family research.

ITEM 2:  SVGS’ Weekly Digest Communications Chair, Barbara Johnson, is experiencing some unexpected health issues. We most importantly want Barb to get her helpful rest and recover ASAP so she can return to sharing her wit and wisdom with us on Mondays each week. So, two things please note:

1. There may not be an SVGS Weekly Digest this Monday, Sept 9th. That will be up to how Barb is feeling. We all understand and wish her Get Well Soon.

2. RE: Monthly Meeting Zoom Link: Either Barb or I have typically been the ones to email you as an SVGS member the ZOOM Link for the 2nd Saturday Monthly Meetings. Well, this month (September only) I am out-of town and out of reach of cell tower range in the wilderness on vacation and Barb is working on her health recovery. So, please make a note in your EMAIL INBOX and SPAM folder for the Saturday, Sept. 14 Monthly Meeting ZOOM LInk to be sent from SVGS Board MemberGeorge Ridgeway. His email address is:  georgewayjr@gmail.com. 

Please keep a lookout for that email with the Zoom link so you don’t miss the meeting. 

Sorry for the program change at this late date. “Life is what happens while you are making other plans” as John Lennon once said. How true!

I hope you enjoyed a lovely summer break, got lots of genealogy research in during the hiatus and that you will come join us on Saturday, Sept 14 for an interesting and educational program. AND….don’t forget to come join the fun and research help offered on the Genealogy Interest Group on 2nd Tuesdays of the Month from 11am-1pm at the Burlington Public Library (we will either be in the conference room or Gentry Room. So come look for us)

See you in October!

Let’s Talk About: Google, Your Internet Swiss Army Knife

by Donna Phillips

Even if you’ve never used a Swiss Army Knife, I’d bet that some in your family have one and use it regularly. That little pocket tool is just that useful.

That’s why some compare Google to your Internet Swiss Army Knife. Certainly there is not just one all-purpose tool (think kitchen gadgets and pans) but Google for genealogy comes close to fitting that definition. 

How do I use Google? (How do YOU use Google?)

*Google is my home page

*Google is my favorite web browser

*Gmail is my email provider of choice

*Google offers each person several free accounts

*Google lens helps me identify rocks and plants 

*Google translate helps me with languages

*Google drive offers free cloud storage of my documents and lessons

*Google photos stores my photosGoogle offers YouTube!!

With YouTube I can go anywhere in the world and learn about just about anything that piques my interest. Yepper, Google is my favorite Internet Swiss Army Knife. If not Google, what is your favorite???