The Clallam County Genealogical Society’s Speaker Series will host Mike Karsen Saturday, September 9th at 10:00 am.  

In his program, “Sex, Murder, and Genealogy?”  Mike will tell the story of Dora Feldman McDonald, the daughter of German Jewish immigrants, who made the front page of Chicago newspapers in 1907 when she shot her lover. Dora, who was married to one of the most powerful political bosses in Chicago at the time, used murder to end this affair and her lover’s blackmail. 

But what ever happened to her after her dramatic acquittal the following year? Genealogist Mike Karsen uses every trick in his tool bag to set the record straight and follow her trail and brings Sex, Murder, and Genealogy together.

A professional speaker, Mike Karsen is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and the Genealogical Speakers Guild Illinois. He has presented over 300 talks on genealogy topics locally, nationally, and internationally including Newberry Library and Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. Mike is the author of the JewishGen website, “Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland,” and has published articles on genealogy. He holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics/computer science and a master’s in operations research alongside 30 years in telecommunications management.
We enjoyed a previous presentation he provided.  A wonderful speaker and storyteller, he is back by popular demand!

All are invited to attend this free presentation via Zoom or by joining us at the CCGS Research Center and Library.  To obtain the Zoom meeting number and passcode, call or email the society.  
The CCGS Research Center is located at 403 8th Street in Port Angeles, WA.  
For more information and to get the meeting number and passcode:
Our email address:  askus@clallamcogs.org.   
Phone number:  360-417-5000.  Call between the hours of 10am – 4pm Mon-Friday or on Saturdays noon to 4pm.  Otherwise leave a message.

The Speakers Series from the Clallam County Genealogical Society will host John P. Hansel and his presentation “The Mayflower Compact.”  August 12^th beginning at 10:00 AM.

The Mayflower Compact was a written agreement, signed by the male passengers on the Mayflower.  After leaving England, they decided to make and enforce their own set of laws.  Having fled persecutions for their religious beliefs in Holland and England, passengers on the Mayflower had no sponsor, nor a set of regulations to guide them.

The Compact continued to serve as the foundation of the governments of the New England colonies, and many consider it to be America’s “First Constitution.”  Having a set of laws founded and enforced by those who chose to live by them, set the stage for the American way of life.  

John P. Hansel, a graduate of Princeton University, has been active teaching Constitutional Law and Political Thought.  He has also founded the non-profit Elm Research Institute to protect and preserve the American Elm.

All are invited to listen to this Zoom presentation.      One can watch the lecture at 10:00 am at the Clallam County Research Society located at 403 E. 8^th Street in Port Angeles or via Zoom at home.   Email the Society or call to receive the Zoom meeting number and pass code.  The email address is clallamcountyresearcher@gmail.com .  Our phone number is 360-417-5000.

Join us at no cost, and learn about this fascinating and important event in our American History.

Saturday, July 8^th  — 10:00am.

 The Clallam County Genealogical Society will present Claire Smith.  Her topic:  Getting Unstuck: Working Through Research Problems.

Claire Smith is a Professional Genealogist with certificates from Boston University, the University of Washington, and the ProGen Professional Genealogy Study Group.   She is a wizard at presenting an organized approach for finding missing ancestors.  A gifted and popular speaker, she includes humor and supporting details for her topic. 

In this presentation she will share methodologies for breaking down your brick walls.

The program will be available to the public via Zoom or at the Clallam County Genealogical Society’s Research Center located at 403 E. 8^th Street, Port Angeles.  One can obtain the Zoom Meeting Number and Passcode by either calling the center at 360-417-5000 or by email request:  clallamresearcher@gmail.com.

There is no charge to attend this program.  Attendees are requested to sign in at 9:45 am.

Clallam County Genealogical Society Speaker Series Presents:

JUDY RUSSELL, jd, cg, cgs                       

“The Legal Genealogist”

Saturday, May 13,    10:00

Quarantined!  Genealogy, the Law, and Public Health

From the Plague to Tuberculosis, the law worked to protect the public from epidemics.  Learn how public health records can add to any family’s history.

Judy Russell is a certified genealogist who also has a law degree.  She is known as the “Legal Genealogist,” and has used her knowledge to help all of us to understand the archaic legal language and laws to which our ancestors were subjected through her writings, seminars, and webinars. 

 Everyone is welcome to join us to hear her presentation via Zoom. To get the Zoom meeting number and passcode, please contact CCGS at 360-417-5000 between the hours of 10am – 4pm, Tuesday-Friday, or Saturdays, noon to 4pm. You are also welcome to watch the presentation at the CCGS research center: 403 E 8th Street, Port Angeles.

For more information check the CCGS Website: www.clallamcogs.org.

There is no charge for attendance.

DNA Doesn’t Lie, but Needs Help to Find the Truth!  — a presentation by Debbie Smith sponsored by the Clallam Genealogical Society Saturday, April 15^th  at our 10:30 am meeting.

DNA is a valuable tool for use in genealogic research for providing the proof of a genetic relationship. However, it does not stand alone.  Documentary research is needed to confirm genealogic relationships.  This lecture will demonstrate how pairing DNA discoveries with research can strengthen your conclusions.

Debbie Smyth holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University.  Her research and lectures focus on DNA, methodology, lineage society applications, and midwestern and southern states.

The meeting will be available through Zoom.  One can obtain the Zoom meeting number and passcode by calling CCGS Tuesday through Friday — 10am to 4pm, or Saturday — noon to 4pm.  The phone number is 360-417-5000.

The program will also be presented at the CCGS Research Center located at 403 E. 8^th Street in Port Angeles, WA.

There is no cost to attend this meeting and presentation.

For more information visit our website: www. clallamcogs.org.  

DNA Doesn’t Lie, but Needs Help to Find the Truth!  — a presentation by Debbie Smith sponsored by the Clallam Genealogical Society Saturday, April 15^th  at our 10:30 am meeting.

DNA is a valuable tool for use in genealogic research for providing the proof of a genetic relationship. However, it does not stand alone.  Documentary research is needed to confirm genealogic relationships.  This lecture will demonstrate how pairing DNA discoveries with research can strengthen your conclusions.

Debbie Smyth holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University.  Her research and lectures focus on DNA, methodology, lineage society applications, and midwestern and southern states.

The meeting will be available through Zoom.  One can obtain the Zoom meeting number and passcode by calling CCGS Tuesday through Friday — 10am to 4pm, or Saturday — noon to 4pm.  The phone number is 360-417-5000.

The program will also be presented at the CCGS Research Center located at 403 E. 8^th Street in Port Angeles, WA.

There is no cost to attend this meeting and presentation.

For more information visit our website: www. clallamcogs.org.  

Saturday, March 11th at 10:00 the Genealogical Society of Clallam County will meet.  Steven Morrison, a professional genealogist who is known for his wonderful presentations throughout the Northwest will present a talk entitled, WESTERN OVERLAND TRAILS – Following the Seven Ts   

He will discuss seven major trails from the Midwest to the West in this session. The principal routes include the Oregon and California Trails, the Mormon migration, the Santa Fe Trail, and some of which we are less familiar. These trails were the OVERLAND RIVERS which helped populate the West.  The stories of these adventurous travelers are relevant to the character of Americans at that time in history.  

Steven’s genealogical journey began in 1998 with the publication of a remembrance of his grandmother.  Since then, he has authored many articles and books, and has shared his research with Societies, History and Genealogical Conferences and Symposiums.  His material is always well researched, organized and presented. 

Everyone is invited to join the Society for this event.  The lecture will be presented as a Zoom presentation.  One can watch the program at the CCGS Research Center at 403 E. 8th Street in Port Angeles, or call the Society to obtain the Zoom meeting number and passcode.  Call 360-417-5000 for the codes  Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, or Saturdays noon to 4pm.   

For more information either call the Society, or consult the website www.clallamcogs.org. 

There is no charge to join us for this program. 

Saturday, January 14th, the Clallam County Genealogical Society will meet at 10 am. Claudia Breeland will be the guest lecturer. The title of her presentation is “Finding and Using Historic Newspapers.”
Claudia is a professional genealogist, author, and a wonderful lecturer. She shares her experience to illustrate how she has found missing ancestors and answers to questions about the lives they led – answers found in newspapers. We will learn about the many online newspaper databases, both free and by prescription, as well as how to obtain news articles not found online.
News articles may include birth and death announcements, marriage, anniversary and baptism announcements, awards, travelers, parties, and visiting firemen, civil and criminal judgements, advertisements for your ancestor’s business, and so much more.
There is no charge for hearing this Zoom presentation. One can watch it at home or at the County Genealogical Society’s Research Center located at 403 E. 8th Street in Port Angeles. Call the Society to receive the Zoom meeting number and passcodes at (306) 417-5000. For more information about the Society and its programs check out their website: www.clallamcogs.org.  

The Clallam County Genealogical Society would like to announce our programs for 2023.  We hope you will join us and enjoy hearing these outstanding speakers

These presentations will be available to the public via Zoom and inhouse at the CCGS Research Center in Port Angeles, WA.   We do not charge for most of the presentations, the exception being our Spring and Autumn Seminars. 

We encourage all to become members of CCGS, even if you do not live in the Pacific Northwest.  You will receive email notifications about the events, get discounts for the seminars, and support our speaker programs.

The programs take place on the second Saturday of the month and begin at 9:45 am, with the exception of Seminars.  To receive the Zoom codes for a meeting, please call or email the Society about a week prior to the meeting. 

Phone:  360-417-5000         email: clallamresearcher@gmail.com or askus@clallamcogs.org.

January 14 —  Claudia BrelandFinding and Using Historic Newspapers

February 11 – Steve MorrisonWestern Overland Trails

April 8 – Lisa Alzo    Spring Seminar:  It’s About the Women in Our Families

                Session I               Silent Voices: Telling the Stories of Your Female Immigrant Ancestors

                Session II             Finding Your Femme Fatales

                Session III            Chasing Genealogy Clues to Find Elusive Female Ancestors

May 13 – Judy Russell                                    Topic TBA

June 10 – Mike Karson                                   Topic TBA

July 8 – Claire White                                       Topic TBA                               

September 9 – Virginia Majewski              Topic TBA

October 14 – Jill Morelli   Fall Seminar     Topics TBA

November 11 – Sarah Cochran                   Topic TBA

For more information about the speakers, their topics and credentials, visit our website: www.clallamcogs.org

Clallam County Genealogical Society

402 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

Port Angeles, WA 98362

360-417-5000        

www.clallamcogs.org