Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Chat

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Genealogy Chat

Tuesday, March 19, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

Our conversation starter topic this month will be presented by Diane Bertram talking about an NEGHS article on Mayflower Ancestors and then her experience spending last week at the Family Search Library in Salt Lake City, you won’t want to miss it.

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:

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+12532158782,,87839130000#,,,,*836216# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:

        +1 253 205 0468 US

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Meeting ID: 878 3913 0000

Passcode: 836216

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

Grays Harbor Genealogical Society Genealogy Cafes

by Charles Hansen

The Grays Harbor Genealogical Society is partnering with multiple other genealogy and lineage groups to offer Genealogy Cafés at the Ocean Shores and Hoquiam Libraries.

Tue, Apr 23, 2024, from 11 am – 3 pm

Ocean Shores Library

Tue., Apr 23, 2024, from 10 am – 2 pm

Hoquiam Timberland Library

Wed, Apr 24, 2024, from 11 am – 3 pm

Ocean Shores Library

Thu, Apr 25, 2024, from 11 am – 3 pm

Ocean Shores Library

Work one-on-one by appointment with a volunteer to begin building your family tree.  Call or Text Carrie at (206) 276-7889 to schedule an appointment time. 

Regards,

Debbie Stiles-Lusk

Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington, USA

360-624-6258, debbie.stileslusk@gmail.com

Heritage Quest Research Library Finding Female Ancestors

by Charles Hansen
Finding Female Ancestors Uncover more history of the women in your family. Researching women can be difficult as records are so often few.  In this presentation you will hear ideas for helping you discover more about their lives.   M. Diane Rogers has a lifelong interest in local and women’s history and is a Past President and Past Editor of the British Columbia Genealogical Society. She speaks on a wide variety of family history topics, from DNA to “Shocking Genealogy Resources.” She teaches genealogy classes year-round and facilitates the Vancouver and Scandinavian genealogy groups in B.C. 
She is active on social media and blogs at “CanadaGenealogy” or “Jane’s Your Aunt.”
  When:  Thursday, March 21, 2024
Time:    11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Where:  ZOOM
Cost: $20 Members $25 Non-members Sign-up & Payment:
Go to hqrl.com and click on the HQRL Store
Be sure to sign in as a member to receive the discount. The boxes have been emptied, the bookshelves are full and we are almost ready to open.  We need your help and support.  Are you able to give a few hours a week as a volunteer?  In the interim from the fire we have lost some of our volunteer help.  If you can help, give us a call at 253-863-1806
Copyright © 2024 Heritage Quest Research Library, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
Heritage Quest Research Library
2102 East Main Suite 105
Puyallup, WA 98372-3205

Lisa Oberg Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

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 2023 award recipients and learn why they received the 2023 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Lisa Oberg of Shoreline, Washington, who was nominated by the Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS).

Lisa, a 14-year member of SGS, is currently co-chair of the SGS100 Committee, which is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing SGS’s year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of its founding.  She conceived the idea that became the SGS100 Writer’s C(r)amp, a three-day writer’s retreat on San Juan Island, during which she provided consultations based on her professional expertise as well as light meals for the attendees. The event was such a success that SGS is considering making it an annual program.

Prior to the COVID-19 disruption of group meetings, Lisa led many SGS-sponsored cemetery tours such as a trip to the Seattle Civil War Cemetery, where she had members of the group research some of the soldiers interred there. She has also helped with many of the less glamorous SGS jobs, serving several times on the Elections Committee, helping with the creation and early testing of SGS’s internet-based ballot system.

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…. Online Family Trees-Part 1

by Donna Phillips

Is there such a thing as One World Tree? One tree that documents every ancestor back to……. well, as far as records exist. Those advocating a One World Tree believe (as do I) that we’re all children of God and therefore we are related. Somehow. Somewhere in time. But the information on those 20th generation ancestors is beyond our ken and our reach, isn’t it? 

Let’s talk practicality. Ask yourself these questions: 

  • How far back can I, or do I want, to find (and document) my ancestors??
  • Aren’t we mostly happy if we can find records back into the 1500s? That’s 20 generations, a million names! Can we keep track of a million ancestors? Can we know a million ancestors? I think not. I cannot!
  • Do we really care what path other genealogists might choose to pursue?
  • What do know about the last 5 generations of ancestors? (That’s nearly 200 years!) Isn’t that the point of doing family history…. to get to know at least something of an ancestor’s life and times? 

Once those questions have been answered in your mind, consider these:

  • Do I want to share my tree/information or keep it (safely) to myself?
  • Back 200 years (or more) are those folks just your ancestors? Hardly. 
  • Besides, how many answers have I gained for my family tree/ancestors from others?? Isn’t sharing really the best option?
  • Lisa Louise Cooke (FamilyTreeMagazine, May/June 2022) advocated YES for sharing but to “keep the heart of our genealogy at home….. a master family tree of your family tree, built on your own computer, is the key to securing your family history now and for generations to come.” 
  • While I greatly respect Lisa Louise, I puzzle her answer. Just keep my tree on my computer? What if my computer crashes/floods/burns in a fire…… and I’ve not kept backups regularly? And/or shared them with family? All will be lost. 
  • Everything I’ve read, and from all the genealogy/tech gurus, say this: DO have an online tree, do keep it backed up in multiple places, and DO keep your tree in a home computer program on your own computer. 
  • Puzzle and ponder your answer to these questions and “problems”………… Part 2 next time. 

German Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society “Germanic Genealogy on Facebook”

by Charles Hansen

When: Friday, April 5, 2024 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PDT

Zoom Registration required:  http://tinyurl.com/mrz2hzw3

Topic: “Germanic Genealogy on Facebook: Prussia, Austro-Hungary, Russia, Denmark, Swiss & more!”   

This Facebook group was established to provide a forum for those that had ancestors from ANY region where German was, or is, spoken to include Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, etc… and all the areas where those Germanic people emigrated to around the world.  The group is entirely a volunteer-based group, although we have many professional genealogists that are members and donate their time as they are able.

We cover a variety of topics in the group:

·         Genealogy/Family Tree Building

·         Geography of the regions

·         History of the regions including immigration/emigration

·         Cultures/Traditions from the regions

·         Record searching and sources

·         Languages of the regions & translations of records, postcards, letters – mostly German, but also Polish, Russian, Danish, Latin

·         DNA Matching via GEDmatch Ancestor Projects

Presenter:  Laura Kaatz

Laura Kaatz is a semi-retired international business development exec and an avid hobby genealogist who started on genealogy in 1990.  She has traveled extensively throughout Europe for business & pleasure (including genealogy-focused trips) and has a special interest in the former Prussian provinces now in Poland where her husband’s ancestry is from – including Brandenburg, Pommern, Posen & West Prussia.  She and her partners (Native Germans & Americans) who are admins for the Facebook group belong to many other Germanic Facebook groups, but they felt there was a need to cover multiple geographies due to migration of Germanic people and unknown “German” locations for those doing genealogical research.

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

Black Genealogy Cafes

by Charles Hansen

Black Genealogy Cafés 

Saturday, March 23, 2024, 1:00pm–3:00pm

SkywayEvent location: Skyway

Who are your people? What is your family story? How do you start building your family tree? Join members of the Black Genealogy Research Group of Seattle and find out! Get one-to-one help learning about your family history in a friendly space. Please bring your questions and laptop or tablet. Light refreshments will be provided.

Register for Black Genealogy Cafés on 03-23-2024Registration required (27 spots remaining)Register for event

Jill Morelli Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

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 2023 award recipients and learn why they received the 2023 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Jill Morelli of Seattle, Washington, who was nominated by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (PS-APG).

Jill’s genealogical journey began with “Roots” from the 1970s. It really took off after completing a University of Washington certificate course, which led to the ProGen 19 study group. Along the way, Jill attended numerous national conferences and multiple genealogical institutes. She became a Certified Genealogist (CG) and later a Certified Genealogical Lecturer (CGL). Jill is a past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society, blogger for more than a decade, and co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute.

Jill joined the PS-APG in 2014. During 2018-19, the chapter nearly folded due to ailing attendance at onsite meetings. In 2020, chapter meetings went virtual and Jill volunteered to recruit interesting and notable speakers. Her efforts culminated in 2022 when the PS-APG chapter received the “Golden Chapter” award for the most improved APG chapter.

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…. Buffalo Soldiers

by Donna Phillips

American Plains Indians who fought against these soldiers referred to the black cavalry troops as “Buffalo Soldiers” because of their dark, curly hair, which resembled a buffalo’s coat and because of their fierce nature of fighting. The nickname soon became synonymous with all African-American regiments formed in 1866. (Wikipedia)

Idaho has strong connections to Buffalo Soldiers. Units from Ft. Missoula and later Ft. Wright participated in restoring order during the 1890s mining wars, as well as help rescue local townsfolk from the Great Fire of 1910. 

Wallace, Idaho, in June 2019, hosted a group of Buffalo Soldiers re-enactors. They came to shine a light on a little-known chapter in the annals of U.S. Military History. On 14 June 1897, a force of 20 African American soldiers along with two white officers, a doctor and a newspaper reporter set off on an epic 1900 mile bicycle ride from Missoula, Montana, to St. Louis, Missouri. 

Nicknamed the Iron Riders for both their heavy one-speed bikes and their iron hard constitutions. The intrepid group made the trip in six weeks, having battled poor roads, every kind of weather, meager rations and prejudice. But they did receive a hero’s welcome when they arrived in St. Louis. 

Nothing I read explained WHY did they make that ride but it was an extraordinary achievement. 

To learn more about the Buffalo Soliders, click on YouTube and search for The Bicycle Corps, America’s Black Army on Wheels. There is also a Buffalo Soldier National Museum in Houston, Texas. 

To me, every tidbit of American history, done by ANY of her people, I find fascinating. Hope you do too. 

Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society Historic Everett part 2

by Charles Hansen

Join us at the SVGS Library for a free presentation followed by our monthly meeting. Everyone is welcome!

Tuesday, March 12th at 1:00 PM

Presentation: Everett Historical Riverside Mills & Industries

Location: SVGS Library – 6111 188th PL NE, Arlington, WA

Guest Speaker: Neil Anderson of Historic Everett

Neil will be back in person (not available on Zoom) to take us on another tour of old Everett. Last year his presentation took us on a tour of of the numerous mills that once lined the Everett waterfront. This time he will take us on an expedition of the riverside mills and industries when the town was known as “The City of Smokestacks”. Images will be shown of the many prominent companies that lined the Snohomish River from North Everett south to Lowell. Sit back and enjoy the journey down memory lane.

There will be a short break after the presentation with refreshments prior to the monthly meeting.