Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Chat

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Genealogy Chat

Tuesday, August 20, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Please join us and let’s chat!

The conversion starter topic this month will be the results of the Membership Survey that was conducted in June & July.

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

German Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society A Day in the Life of Your German Ancestor

Aug13 by Charles Hansen

German Interest Group

When: Friday, September 6, 2024 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PDT

Zoom Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/4rj86chu

Topic: A Day in the Life of Your German Ancestor
Most family history researchers are interested in the daily events in the lives of their ancestors. This presentation deals with the common activities of families on the farm and in the trades. The details provided represent the culmination of the presenter’s reading on the topic over the last two decades, from hard-to-find literature available only to the German audience.

Presenter: Roger P. Minert

Roger P. Minert received his doctoral degree from The Ohio State University in German language history and second language acquisition theory. He taught German language and history for ten years, and then became a professional family history researcher. Accredited by the Family History Library for research in Germany and Austria, he worked for twelve years as a private genealogical researcher. From 2003 to 2019, he served as a professor of family history at Brigham Young University. The author of more than 200 publications, he directs the research program German Immigrants in American Church Records [GIACR], the series now consists of 40 volumes. In 2019, Minert was recognized for his years of service to the Palatines to America Society and also received the “Shirley Riemer Lifetime Achievement Award” from the International German Genealogy Partnership. In 2020, he was named a fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association. From his home in Provo, Utah he continues to write articles on Germanic genealogy, compile new GIACR volumes, and participate in conferences nation-wide.

More information: Visitors are always welcome. Our website is https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/

Italian Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society Using Maps for Genealogy

Aug13 by Charles Hansen

21-Sep-2024 Meeting

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:

Eastside Genealogical Society
– Italian Interest Group P.O. Box 374
Bellevue, WA 98009-0374

Let’s Talk About: Dutch Cheese!

Aug13 by Donna Phillips

In April 2024, I was blessed to spend two weeks in Holland on a Viking riverboat cruise. Besides learning that Gouda cheese is “wunnerful,” I eagerly soaked up lots of Dutch history. Since many family historians find that they have a family line going back to the Netherlands (proper name of that little country), I thought I’d share some of the Dutch history bits that I learned.

The Dutch are known for their cheese, or kaas, as they say. In some towns, the cheese trade dates back to the 1300s. Today, this country is the largest cheese exporter in the world. We toured a cheese factory…… tour started with meeting the cows all happily munching in their stalls. Holland’s low, flat rich soil, kissed by a salty sea wind, produces grass most healthy for cows….. which produce much milk. Legally, cheese farmers/factories can only have a certain number of cows to graze the land allotted to them. After seeing the adults, we got to meet a 10-day old calf….. her pink muzzle was so darn cute. (Females are kept for milk production; males are sent to become hamburger.)

Here I am with a 20# wheel of Gouda. I learned that there is young Gouda (less than six months), perfect for sandwiches, and mature Gouda, best for eating as cubes to dip in mustard. Wrapped in paraffin wax for export, cheeses do not spoil but they do become harder and saltier. Edam is a close favorite cheese, best eaten as a snack with apples or pears. In days gone by, cheese makers delivered their product to the town square on market day either by horse cart or canal boat. Known as kaasdragers, they carried up to 300 pounds of cheese to the buyers’ stalls. Buyers would purchase a slice of a wheel….. that’s why you see deli cheeses cut in wedges in stores today.Have you had your cheese today? REAL cheese, not those plastic-wrapped slices. 🙂

In days gone by, cheese makers delivered their product to the town square on market day either by horse cart or canal boat. Known as kaasdragers, they carried up to 300 pounds of cheese to the buyers’ stalls. Buyers would purchase a slice of a wheel….. that’s why you see deli cheeses cut in wedges in stores today.

Have you had your cheese today? REAL cheese, not those plastic-wrapped slices. 🙂

Northeast Washington Genealogical Society Ancestor Detective

Aug10 by Charles Hansen

The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society in Colville is trying something new this year for their annual fall seminar. We are partnering with our local FamilySearch Center to present a FREE all-day workshop on Saturday September 21^st at the LDS church in Colville. This FREE event will include 12 different classes to choose from, informational stations and a free lunch. For more information and to register, please go to our website’s Events page at https://www.newgs.org/eventListings.php?nm=88 to download a flyer and registration form.

Let’s Talk About Windmills!

Aug9 by Donna Phillips

Yes, I clicked “publish” too soon few weeks back….. now this post is in order. So sorry.

I learned that over half of this little flat country, right on the North Atlantic, would be underwater if the windmills (and modern pumping stations) didn’t keep pumping. I was told that with rising ocean levels and glacial melting increasing the rivers’ flow through Holland, it’s a constant battle of man against nature.

I heard this wag more than once: “God made the world but the Dutch made Holland.” The industrious Dutch constructed dykes and dams and pumped the water out (into the ocean) and the resulting polders provided rich farmland for a growing vegetables (and tulips!) for a growing population.

The original windmills had a keeper-miller who lived in the base of the tower with his family. He needed to be a good judge of weather. It was his job to keep the blades turning, and the water pumping, but not endanger the structure. The top of the structure rotated as needed by hand to get the blades in best wind-catching position.

I visited a restored windmill and was amazed at the strength and work it took to move those big wooden blades into position, often several times in a 24-hour period.

Windmills were not invented until the 1700s and didn’t come into widespread use until into the 1800s……… before this time, when much of Holland was flat, mushy land, the cities were confined to higher points where they could be found. Before windmills, the early inhabitants built dykes to keep the water from their homes. (Amster was the town began on the Amster’s Dyke.)

Fascinating topic; one could read a big book and not learn all there is to know about Dutch windmills.

You’re Invited to WSGS’s Annual Meeting

Aug7 by Roxanne Lowe

You’re invited to the WSGS’s annual meeting! Friday, August 30, 2024, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

In compliance with Washington’s Nonprofit Corporation Act (24.03A), we’re holding our annual meeting.

Here’s the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89375006911?pwd=ohQLJAEtE26bfgGtBIDOVCRbn3hP0F.1

Meeting ID: 893 7500 6911
Passcode: 547652
Via phone: (253) 205-0468,,89375006911#,,,,*547652# US

The agenda will include the announcement of the 2024 Outstanding Volunteer and Team recipients, President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Supportive Grant awards. We’ll also talk about Pioneer Pursuit, featuring Ralph Brown (who submitted 1,285 pioneers) and Le Anne Koliha (who specialized in Native American research). You’ll also learn more about our Pioneer Pursuit Push to 5,000!

We hope you join us! If you want more information, email Info@wasgs.org.

Pioneer Pursuit Push to 5,000!

Aug7 by Roxanne Lowe

Since its launch last year, the WSGS Pioneer Pursuit project has been a huge success, adding 3,696 pioneers to our index at the end of the contest (31 Oct 2023), and another 120 more names since then. Now, let us try to reach a goal of 5,000 names by November 11, 2024!

We’re encouraging everyone, whether you’re a WSGS member or not, to submit a three-generation genealogy (with sources) for every man, woman and child who lived in Washington Territory on or before November 11, 1889 when we became the 42nd state. We want to have 5,000 names in our free public index — and we need your help!

We’ve made it easy to submit Pioneer Pursuit genealogies. First, check both the Pioneer Pursuit index and the Pioneer Certificate Project index to see if a family or individual is already listed. If you find a name in the Pioneer Certificate Project index, your work is almost done — just include the name(s) on the Submittal Form and we’ll pull the information from the Certificate Project to Pioneer Pursuit.

If you’re new to Pioneer Pursuit, there are lots of resources on our website. To learn more about Pioneer Pursuit, from the WSGS Home Page‘s left navigation bar, select Washington Pioneer Pursuit. Check the Submission Instructions, Submission Example and Frequently Asked Questions to see how to type up your genealogy and add your source materials. The last step is to complete the Submittal Form (available in PDF and Word) and send it to wapioneerpursuit@gmail.com or mail it to Washington State Genealogical Society, Pioneer Pursuit, 1901 S. 12th Ave, Union Gap, WA 98903.

REMEMBER, YOU DON’T HAVE TO RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY – we want to document everyone who was in Washington Territory on or before November 11, 1889. Let’s work together to add additional names. We ONLY NEED about 1,200 more names to meet our goal!

Heritage Quest Research Library Friendly Relations

Aug7 by Charles Hansen

Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society An Introduction to American Ancestors

Aug6 by Charles Hansen

Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society

Monthly Meeting & Presentation – An Introduction to American Ancestors

(This presentation and meeting will not be available via Zoom)

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

1:00 pm

SVGS Library

6111 188 PL NE, Arlington, WA

You are invited to this free presentation at the SVGS library.

Everyone is welcome!

SVGS recently added the American Ancestors library addition to our resources, which can now be accessed by using one of the library computers or by connecting to the library’s WiFi on your personal device. (Laptop or Smartphone)

David Allen Lambert will give a live online presentation that can be watched at our library. Our business meeting will follow the presentation.

David’s topic: An Introduction to American Ancestors

David Allen Lambert from American Ancestors will introduce us to their website, so we can fully utilize the library edition. Following this PowerPoint presentation, there will be time for a Q & A with David.

Bio: David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist, has been on staff with American Ancestors since 1993. He is an internationally recognized speaker on the topics of genealogy and history, as well as a published author. He is an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston MA.

There will be a short break with refreshments. The monthly meeting will follow.

DIG – DNA Special Interest Group

Also join us at the SVGS library from 1-3pm on Thursday, August 15th for our DNA Special Interest Group (DIG). This group works together to develop a better understanding of DNA techniques and strategies for finding relatives, discuss and review new DNA developments and tools and help members with their research problems. This group meets at the same time on the 3^rd Thursday of the month.

All DNA skill levels are welcome to attend.

If you have a specific DNA topic you would like to discuss or have any other suggestions for this group, please send an email info@stillygen.org

Also, if you have not joined us yet and would like to receive emails in the future for the DIG group, please send an email to info@stillygen.org and request to be added to the DIG email list.

For more information visit www.stillygen.org