Tag Archives: Eastside Genealogical Society

German Interest Group of Eastside Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Friday, January 6, 2017, from 1 to 3 pm in the Relief Society Room of the LDS Church at 10675 NE 20thSt, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking. For more information, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .   Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.

 

Topic: “Finding the German Village of Birth for Grietje (Wienenga) Bode”

Jill Morelli will share how she learned the name of the German village where Grietje was born in 1850.   Ostfriesland is located in the extreme northwest corner of Germany and its isolation resulted in many differences of culture and customs from the more typically studied Palatine and Bavaria sections of the country. Come hear about this little known area of Germany, it’s relationship with The Netherlands, the people’s emigration patterns, and the cultural norms they brought to Midwest America. If you are Ostfriesen–even better!

Speaker: Jill Morelli is a professional genealogist who lives in the Pacific Northwest and lectures across the country specializing in methodology, 19th century Midwest and her Scandinavian and Northern German ancestors. She belongs to numerous societies, is currently President of Seattle Genealogical Society and shares her enthusiasm for her passion with whoever will listen.  You can find her at http://genealogycertification.wordpress.com where she blogs about the lessons she has learned while being “on the clock” and her journey to become a certified genealogist.

 

Eastside Genealogical Society January Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Thursday, January 12, 2017 in the Bellevue Regional Library (Room 1), 1111 – 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm for networking.

Topic: “Maps and Genealogy”

Genealogists have many tools to describe what our ancestors did. Maps allow us to describe where they did it. This presentation will demonstrate how to build a custom ancestral map in Google Earth.  Resources to build a custom map, like the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries and U.S. Geological Survey, will be discussed. Other online mapping resources, some directly applicable to Google Earth and some not, will also be discussed.

 

Presenter: Joe Flint

Joe has been doing Genealogy for about 16 years. He is a retired computer programmer and has a Bachelor degree in History from the University of Washington. (Go Dawgs!)  He has been fascinated with maps since childhood and is eager to share the wonders of Maps and Genealogy.

 

Also see our website for FREE genealogical help and other Special Interest Group meetings. Visitors are always welcome at all meetings. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wakcegs/

 

Karen van Haagen Campbell Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 500 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Karen van Haagen Campbell of Bellevue, Washington, who was nominated by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State (JGSWS). She was recognized for her leadership skills, especially those related to promotion of meetings, events and conferences.

Karen van Haagen Campbell

Karen van Haagen Campbell

Serving as the vice president of the JGSWS and in charge of publicity, Ms. Campbell has been creating flyers for monthly meetings and other promotions to increase the visibility of JGSWS and related events, increase interest in Jewish genealogy, and make it easier for those who are interested in Jewish genealogy to connect with like-minded researchers.

Ms. Campbell is also a major contributor on the publicity committee of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Society’s annual international genealogical conference that took place in Seattle from August 7-12, 2016. She is also the leader of the Eastside Genealogical Society’s German Interest Group and helps promote the Black Genealogy Research Group (BGRG) in Seattle.

Ms. Campbell’s leadership efforts in publicizing genealogical groups and events, helping others connect with specific research groups, and her inclusive and enthusiastic personality illustrate that she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

EGS

 

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Friday, November 4, 2016 from 1 to 3 pm in the Relief Society Room of the LDS Church at 10675 NE 20thSt, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking.  Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.

 

Topic:  “Books for Researching Your German Ancestors”: Members are bringing the books they have found helpful for researching in the US & in Europe and will very briefly tell about each one. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the best books and get ideas for your Christmas Wish Lists or/and your winter research reading. Also, some of these books may be available through your local library.

 

For more information, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .

 

Eastside Genealogical Society Meeting

by Charles Hansen

EGS

 

The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Thursday, November 10, 2016 in the Bellevue Regional Library (Room 1), 1111 – 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm for networking.

Topic:  “PROFILE OF A QUAKER – Friends in Colonial America” will be presented by Steven W. Morrison, a professional genealogist and speaker.   The profile of a Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) can be as distinctive as a fingerprint. This is due to their ethnic origin, belief system, marriage practices, and separate record structure. This session will teach you profiling techniques, so you can spot a QUAKER in colonial America. Come learn how you might identify a Quaker among your ancestors.

Also see our website for FREE genealogical help and other Special Interest Group meetings. Visitors are always welcome at all meetings. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wakcegs/

Eastside Genealogical Society October Meeting

by Charles Hansen

EGS

The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Thursday, October 13, 2016 in the Bellevue Regional Library (Room 1), 1111 – 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm for networking.

Topic:  “It’s Show and Tell Night” – Members will tell about their most interesting deceased relative and show some items related to their family history. Come enjoy some very interesting stories and learn more about genealogy.

 

Also see our website for FREE genealogical help and other Special Interest Group meetings. Visitors are always welcome at all meetings. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wakcegs/

Dorothy Pretare

EGS Publicity Chairperson

dpgen@comcast.net

Eastside Genealogical Society German Interest Group

by Charles Hansen

 

EGS

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Friday, October 7, 2016 from 1 to 3 pm in the Relief Society Room of the LDS Church at 10675 NE 20thSt, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking.  Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.

 

Topic:  Marburg, Germany, historic capital of Hessia

The town of Marburg, Germany, with its Marburger Schloss castle, museums, cathedrals and 16th century half-timbered houses, was once the seat of the Hessian government, thus the homeland of many of the early German immigrants to the U.S. In addition to Hessia’s cache of genealogical records, Marburg is home to many intriguing stories, having been at the crossroads of significant events throughout history. In the 1200s, Elizabeth of Thuringia cared for the sick there; the stories of her sainthood and miracles live on through the majestic medieval St. Elizabeth Cathedral. In addition to its Catholic roots, Marburg is the location of the first Protestant university. In 1529, at a key moment of the Reformation, whether or not the various factions of Luther’s Reformation could agree hung in the balance at the Marburg Colloquy. At one time the town was home to the Brothers Grimm. In her powerpoint presentation, Claire Gebben will share sights and history about Marburg she learned while visiting there this past spring.

 

Speaker:  Claire Gebben is the author of The Last of the Blacksmiths, a novel set in the mid-19th century based on the true story of her German immigrant great-great grandfather. Ms. Gebben’s articles have appeared in Family Chronicle Magazine, Fiske Genealogical Foundation Newsletter, and her piece on German Separatist Zoar Village in Ohio appeared in the June/July 2016 issue of German Life magazine. She is the historian of the 163-year-old First United Methodist Church of Seattle, and holds an MFA in Creative Writing through the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts. http://clairegebben.com

 

For more information, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .

 

Dorothy Pretare

GIG Leader

GermanInterestGroupEGS@outlook.com

Eastside Genealogical Society September Meeting

by Charles Hansen

EGS

 

The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Thursday, September 8, 2016 in the Bellevue Regional Library (Room 1), 1111 – 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004 at 7 pm, with doors opening at 6:45 pm for networking.

Topic:  “When It’s Time to Call in the Pros”  –   A panel of three professional researchers, who are members of APG (Association of Professional Genealogist), will discuss the various aspects of hiring a professional.   They will cover such topics as:  where to find someone in the business, certified or not; how time is billed; a range of costs; types of research activities typically covered; Code of Ethics; do’s and don’ts.

 

Also see our website for FREE genealogical help and other Special Interest Group meetings. Visitors are always welcome at all meetings. www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wakcegs/

 

Dorothy Pretare

EGS Publicity Chairperson

dpgen@comcast.net

Eastside Genealogical Society German Interest Group

by Charles Hansen

EGS

 

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society will meet on Friday, September 2, 2016 from 1 to 3 pm in the Relief Society Room of the LDS Church at 10675 NE 20thSt, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking.   Visitors are always welcome at all meetings.

 

Topic: Germanic Surname Distribution Maps can help focus on an area where family surnames most frequently appear. Surname maps are generally created using population lists, such as censuses, electoral rolls, taxation records and telephone directories. The maps “graphically display locations where surnames occurred at different periods in time.”  Where the surname concentration is at the highest, it indicates the region a given spelling of the name was first adopted. The maps are a starting point for research in the home country. If your surname is less common and from families that have remained in an area in the country over time, the better success at using the maps for hints as to where to search next. Additional resources addressed will include general surname search strategies, use of umlauts in German and American surnames and use of wildcards searches in Ancestry.com.

 

Speaker: Janet O’Conor Camarata, as a genealogist, has researched her own family history for over 25 years. She is a seminar presenter and trainer in a variety of genealogy subjects to societies and libraries across Washington; a newsletter editor of the Kittitas County Genealogy Society (KCGS); a publicity chairman and past-president of South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS).   She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and is a graduate of the University of Washington Genealogy and Family History program.

 

For more information, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/ .

Dorothy Pretare

GIG Leader

GermanInterestGroupEGS@outlook.com

Eastside Genealogical Society German Interest Group

by Charles Hansen

EGS

Dear GIG Friends,

I wanted to share with those of you who weren’t able to attend the June 3, 2016 GIG Meeting that I will be stepping down as the leader of the GIG.  I’m sorry to say that I just don’t have the time to commit to it and I can’t make all the meetings, due to working full time.  My goal in taking on the leadership this past year was to keep the GIG from folding after Ann Passe stepped down (after leading it for over 8 years!), to have some new and/or professional genealogists as speakers, and to start having local field trips again.  I hope your expectations were met this past year.

Leadership of the GIG will continue in the capable hands of Dorothy Pretare, who assisted me with programming this past year.  Dorothy has two new Programs co-chairs who will assist her with programming and speakers.  I’m looking forward to hearing what topics and who our speakers will be for the last part of 2016 and 2017! Continue reading →