TIP OF THE WEEK — FIND THE WOMEN IN YOUR FAMILY TREE
Find the names of female ancestors in the ledger in their local general store. Purchases by the family are listed by household account numbers in a day book which often mentions the various family members. There is usually a corresponding account book with additional information.
 19th CENTURY CASE STUDY WILL SHOW HOW DNA HELPED FIND A FATHERSecond Saturday: June 13, 1 p.m.When no birth record exists, how can we identify a biological father? Patricia B. Coleman, Ph.D. will present a case study to SGS that follows a woman born about 1877 in Lee County, Virginia, and demonstrates how DNA evidence can resolve questions that traditional records cannot. Using tools such as Genetic Affairs, One2Tree, and BanyanDNA, this session highlights a clear, step-by-step approach to clustering DNA matches, building trees, and testing hypotheses to reach a supported conclusion. Patricia Coleman is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA analysis and Irish research. Much of her recent work focuses on analyzing Irish records, building DNA match family trees, and identifying shared ancestors through evidence-based methods. She is a moderator for the DNA Painter and Genetic Affairs Facebook user group and frequently presents on genetic genealogy, Irish research, and practical applications of AI in genealogy. Sign Up Membership Meeting: June 13, 2:30 p.m.Learn what is happening at SGS. Election results will be shared after the Second Saturday presentation June 13. Sign up for both the Second Saturday presentataion and membership meeting. SECOND SATURDAY GOES ON SUMMER BREAK: See you in September for “Which Date is Right?” with Carolyn Ladd. Sign up separately for this event held Sept. 12. base image courtesy of Kateryna Hliznitsova / Unsplash SGS ELECTS 2026–2027 OFFICERSThe Election Committee met on May 11 to count the votes and certify the results from the recent SGS elections. The results are as follows: President, Kathy Weber Vice President, Lisa Oberg Secretary, Leslie Vogel Treasurer, Betsey Cotter Director of Education, Stephanie O’Connell Director of Library, Kathi M. Thanks to the membership for participating in our 2026-2027 election. We also wish to thank the Election Committee consisting of Amandalei Bennett, Bruce A Finlayson and Woods Fairbanks. LIBRARY NEWSSGS and Internet ArchiveIn 2021 when SGS decided to move from its location on Sand Point Way to its current location in the Good Shepherd Center, we knew we would not be able to keep our entire library of books. After making difficult decisions on what we would keep, donating hundreds of books to Seattle Public Library and a book sale, we still had approximately 3000 books remaining. Following discussions with Internet Archive, they agreed to accept our donation with the understanding the material would be digitized and made available online (subject to copyright). More than 100 boxes of books were moved to a temporary storage space in Seattle until arrangements were completed for Internet Archive to transport the material to their storage facility. At the temporary storage facility, it was necessary to unpack the 100 boxes, catalog each book for our records and repack the books into sturdier shipping boxes. In addition to the SGS President and Director of Library a team of volunteers – Woods Fairbanks, Ellen Peterson, Allegra Andersen and Melanie Mosher – spent two days completing the necessary work. We recently received notification that our donation to Internet Archive has been digitized and is available to access online. Internet Archive will be listing the material in a metadata field so it will be easy to locate all items associated in the Seattle Genealogical Society collection. As of eNews press time, about one-third of SGS’s donated book are displaying on the site with the correct metadata and can be accessed here. If you are interested in viewing a particular book online that is not displaying, please email library@seagensoc.org with the book’s title and we’ll provide you with a direct link to the book. Archion NewsHaving trouble deciphering the handwritten entries in the church books? With its new text recognition feature, researching the original document is now more convenient. There are two ways to use text recognition: Search and use transcribed church books Church books that have already been transcribed can be found specifically using the new filter function in the location search and used for research together with the original. Use Text Recognition On-Demand for individual pages If a church book has not yet been fully transcribed, individual relevant pages can be sent for text recognition directly from the Viewer. After just a few minutes, the recognized text is available together with the original entry. SGS Desk Volunteers will be available to assist you with using this new feature. Library’s Evening Hours Change; No Evening Hours in AugustEvening Hours at the SGS library will change in June to 6 to 8 p.m. going forward. Evening hours are held every third Wednesday of the month. However, there will be no evening hours in August. SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. ** Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. Meeting content is for personal genealogy learning and may not be recorded or transcribed. All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted Monday, June 1, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. Saturday, June 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. Saturday, June 7, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. NOTE the change of day due to the Easter holiday. Monday, June 8, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “DNA Case Study: Finding a Father ” Presented by Patricia B. Coleman, Ph.D.. Register here.Saturday, June 13, 2026, 2:30 p.m-3:00 p.m., Membership Meeting, Register here. One registration works for both the Second Saturday presentation and the Membership Meeting. Monday, June 15, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Sheyna Watkins at sgsWriteItUpSIG@seagensoc.org. Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 p.m. Family Tree Maker SIG, Join Eastside Genealogical Society and SGS to learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker by Software MacKiev. The meetings open about 15 minutes in advance. You can join and/or leave whenever you have to, and you may email your question(s) in advance or bring them up during the meeting. Saturday, June 20 2026, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research. View SGS calendar for details on joining this group. Saturday, June 20 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), topic: Friedrich Eiler, Building an Identity with Scant Clues. Jill Morelli will be telling you a fun story of researching a German rogue. Register on the SGS website. Monday, June 22, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., DNA SIG (Virtual), Join our quarterly meetings to discover what’s new in genetic genealogy and learn more about select, in-depth topics. Email SGSDNASIG@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, June 29, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Mexican SIG (Virtual), Share information and discuss Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, and Hispanic genealogical research. Email Diane Hughes-Hart at SGSMexSIG@seagensoc.org to join. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month. Check the calendar on the SGS website for the most recent dates and times and for additional events as they are added. CALENDAR NOTES: No Artificial Intelligence (AI) SIG meeting in June. OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND “Exploring the Nuances of FamilySearch for Genealogical Research” with Veronica Anguiano Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State Monday, June 8, 7:00 p.m. (virtual — Zoom opens at 6:30 p.m.) FamilySearch is one of the most powerful—and free—resources available to genealogists, yet many researchers only scratch the surface of what it offers. This presentation will provide a practical overview of FamilySearch’s key tools, including historical records, the collaborative Family Tree, and unique resources such as the catalog, full-text search, and digital image collections. Get more information and register.“Bureaucracy to the Rescue: Unlocking Family Mysteries with State Records” with Crystal Hicks Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State Thursday, June 11, 7:00 p.m. (virtual — Zoom opens at 6:30 p.m.) Genealogists often overlook government publications, but these materials can play a key role in solving difficult research problems. The Washington State Library preserves one of the most extensive collections of state and territorial publications in the country, and many of these resources are available online even when the building is closed. This presentation introduces researchers to these often-underused sources. Case studies will show how government documents can help identify family members, trace migration patterns, and more. Get more information and register. “Following a Civil Case Through Documents Filed in Court” with J. Mark Lowe Eastside Genealogical Society Thursday, June 11, 7:00 p.m. (virtual — Zoom opens at 6:30 p.m.) About our program: Our ancestors often utilized the judicial systems to resolve conflicts and make estate judgments. Finding court records for your family and neighbors can provide a wealth of information for your research. Understanding the arrangements of court records can help you find the right documents. Learn the basics of the legal system. Understand the process of following a case through court including dockets, orders, depositions, etc. Find the key to solving a problem using these records. For more information and to register. TIP OF THE WEEK — FIND THE WOMEN IN YOUR FAMILY TREEFind the names of female ancestors in the ledger in their local general store. Purchases by the family are listed by household account numbers in a day book which often mentions the various family members. There is usually a corresponding account book with additional information.Join SGS Today* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page and click the green renew membership button. DONATE TO SGSYour donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org. June 1, 2026 SGS eNews! comes out the first of every month. contact eNews! forward this email to a friend |
TIP OF THE WEEK – SPRING IS CEMETERY SEASON
Spring is cemetery season for genealogists. Here are the field notes I wish someone had given me when I started.
Bring a kit, but keep it reasonable. You don’t need a backpack full of equipment you won’t use. My kit includes a wide-brim hat, water, sunscreen, and a soft natural-bristle brush. I also carry a spray bottle with distilled water, a rigid notebook, two pens, a small mirror, and a phone with a fully charged battery. I’ve stopped carrying chalk, shaving cream, and flour. Preservation professionals have been clear for over a decade: these substances damage stone.
Document the whole plot, not just the one stone. Family burials cluster. A single ancestor might share a plot with a sibling who died in childhood, a first wife you didn’t know existed, or a cousin whose name appears on no other record. Take a wide photograph of the plot before you zoom in. Note the stones on either side. Note the section and row if the cemetery is mapped.
Read light, not stone. A weathered inscription often reads better at dawn or late afternoon, when the sun strikes the surface at a shallow angle. If you can’t wait for the right time of day, bring a mirror. Stand with your back to the sun, hold the mirror at roughly 45 degrees, and bounce the light across the stone. The shadows in the carved letters will deepen. This costs nothing and harms nothing.
Photograph with care. Shoot straight on, not at an angle. Fill the frame with the stone and not much else. Take one shot for the dates and names, then take a wider shot that shows context, material, and condition. If the inscription is hard to read, take the same photo three times at different exposures. Modern phones do this automatically in HDR mode.
Record as you go. Memory is the least reliable field tool. Before you leave the cemetery, open your notebook. Write the cemetery name, the date of your visit, the weather, and the section if known. Sketch a rough map of where each photographed stone sits. Skip this step, and you’ll return to your desk with thirty-seven images of granite and no idea which one is your great-grandmother.
Respect the living, too. Small rural cemeteries often sit on private land or are maintained by township trustees. Check before you visit. FindAGrave and BillionGraves both list cemetery types and sometimes contact information. A phone call ahead is rarely refused and often rewarded; the person with the key frequently knows more about the cemetery’s history than anything written down.
Upload afterwards. If you photograph a stone that isn’t yet on FindAGrave or BillionGraves, consider adding it. Your picture becomes a permanent record accessible to researchers who may never visit the site. Stones weather. Cemeteries are lost to neglect, development, and flooding. Your image today may be the only image in fifty years.
One last thought. Cemeteries are not laboratories. The people buried there had names and faces and people who loved them. Walk gently. Leave nothing except footprints, and take nothing except photographs and field notes. Join SGS Today
* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page
and click the green renew membership button.
DONATE TO SGS
Your donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org.
 NEW BEGINNING GENEALOGY CLASSES START SOONMorning Classes Begin Wednesday, May 20Evening Classes Begin Thursday, May 21Motivated to learn more about your family’s story? Want to learn how DNA can help? SGS will be offering a new beginning Genealogy class in May. This class fun, online and interactive will give you the tools to succeed in your research. This class includes four weekly sessions online with a fifth, optional session in person at the SGS library. The class covers how to successfully conduct, organize, and record research for your genealogy. How to begin? How to evaluate evidence? What are the best sources? Where are the records–online and off? What can DNA tell us? Start your journey on a foundation of good habits and best practices. Participation will help you develop great genealogy skills. The course finishes with a list of favorite sources for additional learning and an optional meet-up with a personal research session at the SGS library. There are two options for class time, start on May 20 and 21, and both will be taught by Cecellia Rogers: Morning class, Wednesdays 10 a.m. Evening class, Thursdays 7 p.m. Weeks 1 – 4 will meet virtually and consist of lecture, discussion, and workshop for one-and-a-half-hours each session. Week 5 (optional) includes a library tour and one-on-one research assistance. There is a limit of 20 people per class. Class fee $80 (SGS members $60). Learn more. Join the Class!images courtesy of Michael Walk, Mike Tinnion, Johann Siemens, Jennie Razumnaya / Unsplash  Second Saturday: May 9, 1:00 p.m.Tame your digital family photographs by adding names, dates, and other information to images to make them searchable. This presentation outlines a simple and effective process – from scanning, tagging, and saving images to organizing and backing up these image files – so you can do it once and do it right.Nancy Loe, a professional genealogist and archivist with decades of experience, helps family historians search smart, find more, and stay organized. As a presenter, she specializes in search strategies, information management, and U.S. and European research and records, speaking at conferences and webinars in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.Sign Up Today!NEXT MONTH: DNA Case Study: Finding a Father. Sign up separately for this event held June 13. Stay after the presentation for the June membership meeting. photo courtesy of laura-fuhrman / Unsplash SGS ELECTIONS: BALLOTS DUE BY MAY 7; RESULTS AT JUNE MEMBERSHIP MEETINGLet your voice be heard! SGS members can find an email dated April 14 which will contain a link to their ballot. Vote for SGS leaders for the coming year! Election results will be shared at the June Membership Meeting.Membership Meeting: June 13, 2:30 p.m.Learn what is happening at SGS. Election results will be shared after the Second Saturday presentation June 13. Sign up for both the Second Saturday presentataion and membership meeting. USE THE STORIED GENEALOGICAL TOOLKITVirtual Sunday, May 17Join SGS as we kick off The Genealogist’s Toolbox, a new Virtual Sunday series where we look at different tools available for genealogy, and discuss how they might fit into our own work. With so many programs available, it can be difficult to know what exists—or which ones might be useful. This series offers an opportunity to become more familiar with available tools together. This session will feature Storied, a platform that combines family history research with tools designed to help bring our ancestors’ stories to life. We will watch a pre-recorded demonstration, followed by time for questions, discussion, and observations. Sign Up!LIBRARY NEWSFamilySearch AccessSome FamilySearch catalog records and details are only available to users when signed-in to their FamilySearch account. This is due to record permissions, licensing agreements, or access restrictions set by the record custodians. These access requirements may change over time as records are updated or new agreements are established. To ensure the highest level of website security and ensure proper access to records, beginning April 30, 2026 FamilySearch users will be required to sign in to their FamilySearch account in order to access the FamilySearch Catalog. Researching at the SGS Library   Above: Bruce and Steve visited the SGS Library Tuesday April 7.Left: Melanie attending a SIG meeting from the SGS Library. She had a chance to implement what she was learning on a second screen. courtesy Jill Morelli SGS VOLUNTEER OF WINTER QUARTER: HELEN SHAWCROFTHelen Shawcroft has been recognized as SGS’s Winter 2026 Volunteer of the Quarter for her valuable contributions as a Library Trustee over the past several years. She shared the following with eNews:  Helen Shawcroft My genealogy research journey started when I was a child. My father was into family history in the days before digitization of historical records. Everything came from family documents or a few census records. I was always fascinated by the family tree that he put together with his mother and the family history booklet he was given at a family reunion. He shared his love of family history with his favorite first cousin and I have continued that research with the daughter and granddaughter of that cousin.I didn’t really start my genealogy research in earnest until I went on a business trip to the University of Iowa in my role as a senior executive at the University of Washington Medical Center. My father was born in Iowa and I took a vacation day to visit his hometown and its genealogical society. What a treasure trove I found! After that I was really hooked on genealogical research. I didn’t have much time to work on family history until I retired, although I did manage a trip to Tennessee to start my discovery of my mother’s family history. I didn’t know much detail about my mother’s family other than a few anecdotes (with no names attached) like one of my ancestors was a signer of the California State Constitution, someone fought in the Revolutionary War, some ancestors fought on both sides during the Civil War, my great-great grandfather drove 20,000 head of sheep from Chihuahua, Mexico to California, etc. Since I retired I have visited Poland to see the area where some ancestors lived until the 1850’s. I’ve dragged my husband all over central California to see the places my mother’s ancestors lived starting in the 1840’s, including the foothills of the Sierras that the Mono Tribe calls home and the valley where my ancestors were the first white settlers, as well as records regarding my grandfather’s days as the sheriff of Madera County. And soon we will be going to Scotland to do the same. I’ve even found an ancestor in Tucson, Arizona where he was a businessman, philanthropist and governmental leader. That ancestor is related to my current brick wall. My research in Tucson didn’t provide a lot of information back in time, but I still consider it quite a success since it yielded some maps of where he lived and did business and a photo of my great great great grandmother. While I have found lots of records on line and in the SGS Library and learned much about my ancestors that way, I have found that traveling to the places where my ancestors lived to be far more rewarding. Not only did I find new records from those travels, but I gained a greater understanding of their lives. I hope that SGS engenders in its members and visitors to our great library the same interest I have. There are so many resources there and our members are an even greater resource. I found my time as a Library Trustee to be a way to give back to the wider Puget Sound community. I spent my career in health care, the last 35 years as a hospital administrator at the University of Washington. I always looked at my professional career as a way to help people in my community, however broadly one wanted to define it. In my retirement I knew I couldn’t sit still and knew I needed to give back to my community. The SGS gave me one more way to do that. SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. ** Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. Meeting content is for personal genealogy learning and may not be recorded or transcribed. All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. Sunday, May 3, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, May 4, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, May 4, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. Thursday, May 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Cataloging Digital Images” Presented by Nancy Loe. Register here. Monday, May 11, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list. Thursday, May 14, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. Friday, May 15, 2026, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 p.m. Family Tree Maker SIG, Join Eastside Genealogical Society and SGS to learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker by Software MacKiev. The meetings open about 15 minutes in advance. You can join and/or leave whenever you have to, and you may email your question(s) in advance or bring them up during the meeting. Saturday, May 16 2026, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research. View SGS calendar for details on joining this group. Saturday, May 16 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), topic: Friedrich Eiler, Building an Identity with Scant Clues. Jill Morelli will be telling you a fun story of researching a German rogue. Register on the SGS website. Monday, May 20, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:00 p.m., Virtual Sunday, “Genealogist Toolkit: Storied.” Register here. Monday, May 18, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, May 18, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (in-person at SGS Library this month), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. NOTE: New date and venue this month only! Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Sheyna Watkins at sgsWriteItUpSIG@seagensoc.org. Monday, May 25, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Thursday, May. 28, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Eastern European SIG, Learn about researching family history from the Balkans to the Baltics and in between. For more information email sgseasterneuropesig@seagensoc.org. Monday, June 1, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, June 1, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. Saturday, June 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. Saturday, June 7, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. NOTE the change of day due to the Easter holiday. Monday, June 8, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, June 9, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, June 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “DNA Case Study: Finding a Father ” Presented by Patricia B. Coleman, Ph.D.. Register here. Saturday, June 13, 2026, 2:30 p.m-3:00 p.m., Membership Meeting, Register here. One registration works for both the Second Saturday presentation and the Membership Meeting. Monday, June 15, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND Fiske Genealogical Library Various Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. (virtual) May 6: Is it True? Using Manuscripts and Family Records for Genealogical Proof Speaker: Steven W. Morrison May 13: Moonshine & Coal Mines: Unraveling Stories & Secrets to Reconstruct a Family through Oral History documents and DNA Speaker: Lisa Vogele May 20: From Territory to State: Records you Might Miss Speaker: Sylvia Doolos May 27: Mapping your Migrating Ancestors Speaker: Tina Beaird For more information and to register. “Reading Bubbe’s Letters Using AI. Unlocking Jewish Historical Documents: AI-Powered Transcription of Yiddish and Beyond” with Edna Kalka Grossman, Hatte Rubenstein Blejer and Jan Gronski Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State Monday, May 11, 7:00 p.m. (virtual) The speakers showcase the power of AI-driven transcription and translation for handwritten Jewish historical documents, focusing on Yiddish as a primary example. Get more information. “Just Because It Can Be Wrong Doesn’t Mean It Is,” with Paula Williams Eastside Genealogical Society Thursday, May 14, 6:30 p.m. (virtual) Online trees, record hints, DNA predictions, and ethnicity estimates are often shunned, but can still provide valuable clues for our research and lead us to newly available record sets. We’ll discuss ways to evaluate the hints and determine which to use and which to lose! For more information and to register. TIP OF THE WEEK – SPRING IS CEMETERY SEASON By Kate Penney HowardSpring is cemetery season for genealogists. Here are the field notes I wish someone had given me when I started. Bring a kit, but keep it reasonable. You don’t need a backpack full of equipment you won’t use. My kit includes a wide-brim hat, water, sunscreen, and a soft natural-bristle brush. I also carry a spray bottle with distilled water, a rigid notebook, two pens, a small mirror, and a phone with a fully charged battery. I’ve stopped carrying chalk, shaving cream, and flour. Preservation professionals have been clear for over a decade: these substances damage stone. Document the whole plot, not just the one stone. Family burials cluster. A single ancestor might share a plot with a sibling who died in childhood, a first wife you didn’t know existed, or a cousin whose name appears on no other record. Take a wide photograph of the plot before you zoom in. Note the stones on either side. Note the section and row if the cemetery is mapped. Read light, not stone. A weathered inscription often reads better at dawn or late afternoon, when the sun strikes the surface at a shallow angle. If you can’t wait for the right time of day, bring a mirror. Stand with your back to the sun, hold the mirror at roughly 45 degrees, and bounce the light across the stone. The shadows in the carved letters will deepen. This costs nothing and harms nothing. Photograph with care. Shoot straight on, not at an angle. Fill the frame with the stone and not much else. Take one shot for the dates and names, then take a wider shot that shows context, material, and condition. If the inscription is hard to read, take the same photo three times at different exposures. Modern phones do this automatically in HDR mode. Record as you go. Memory is the least reliable field tool. Before you leave the cemetery, open your notebook. Write the cemetery name, the date of your visit, the weather, and the section if known. Sketch a rough map of where each photographed stone sits. Skip this step, and you’ll return to your desk with thirty-seven images of granite and no idea which one is your great-grandmother. Respect the living, too. Small rural cemeteries often sit on private land or are maintained by township trustees. Check before you visit. FindAGrave and BillionGraves both list cemetery types and sometimes contact information. A phone call ahead is rarely refused and often rewarded; the person with the key frequently knows more about the cemetery’s history than anything written down. Upload afterwards. If you photograph a stone that isn’t yet on FindAGrave or BillionGraves, consider adding it. Your picture becomes a permanent record accessible to researchers who may never visit the site. Stones weather. Cemeteries are lost to neglect, development, and flooding. Your image today may be the only image in fifty years. One last thought. Cemeteries are not laboratories. The people buried there had names and faces and people who loved them. Walk gently. Leave nothing except footprints, and take nothing except photographs and field notes. Join SGS Today* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page and click the green renew membership button. DONATE TO SGSYour donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org. | |
| May 1, 2026 SGS eNews! comes out the first of every month. contact eNews! forward this email to a friend | |
TIP OF THE WEEK – 10 ROOTSTECH REVELATIONS
RootsTech 2026 wrapped up on March 7. The theme was “Together,” but the unofficial theme was clearly artificial intelligence. AI crashed the party at every forum, every expo booth, and most of the talks. Here are the ten announcements and moments that had people excited.
1. FamilyTreeDNA Rewrote the Rules on Autosomal Testing
FamilyTreeDNA launched new Family Finder tests that analyze over 400 times the genetic data of their previous version — roughly 9% of your genome compared to just 0.02% before. The best news? Upcoming Family Finder Discover reports will be available to all Family Finder test takers, whether they tested recently or years ago.
2. GEDmatch is Getting a Complete Overhaul
GEDmatch has been the scrappy workhorse of the genetic genealogy world for years. The company previewed a major redesign planned for later in 2026, incorporating AI-powered tools to help users interpret DNA matches and make organizing, filtering, tagging, and analyzing notes far easier. This has been a long time coming.
3. FamilySearch Released Its AI Tools from the Lab
For months, genealogists have been testing FamilySearch AI features in beta. At RootsTech, the AI Research Assistant and AI Hints officially came out of Labs and are now available to all users. Full-Text Search also graduated from Labs, and users can now attach search results directly to the family tree.
4. FamilySearch Is Testing Natural Language Search
If you have ever wished you could just talk to a database like a person, this one is for you. Simple Search, currently in Labs, is being tested to allow users to search records using natural language. Ask it a question the way you would ask a librarian. See what it tells you!
5. All Revolutionary War Pension Files Are Now Fully Searchable
Ancestry announced that its Fold3 collection of Revolutionary War pension files are now fully searchable thanks to optical character recognition. Researchers can now search for veterans and their next of kin by name, rather than relying on a limited index. For those of us working on pre-1800 American genealogy, this is a genuine breakthrough. They also announced new AI features, including a record and document transcription tool where AI transcribes, summarizes, and provides source citations for documents and photos uploaded to your Gallery.
6. Ancestry Introduced “AI Stories” — And It’s Exactly What It Sounds Like
A new tool called AI Stories narrates a brief story about a document in a shareable, podcast-style audio file. The possibilities here for people who struggle to write about their ancestors are significant. It could be a meaningful bridge for beginners. It raises questions about voice and accuracy that researchers will need to monitor carefully, but the concept is compelling.
7. LifeWeaver Crashed the Party as a Platinum Sponsor
No one saw this one coming. Newcomer LifeWeaver made a significant splash as platinum sponsor of RootsTech 2026. The tool archives and searches through text messages, emails and other digital communication files to create a story from those pieces. LifeWeaver also allows users to add older phones, computers, hard drives, and scanned handwritten journals, digitizing their contents while preserving images of the originals so they can be shared with family. And critically, users’ data is private. The company does not sell data or use it to train AI models.
8. MyHeritage Unveiled Scribe AI
MyHeritage announced Scribe AI at the RootsTech Innovation Forum, demonstrating how the feature analyzes historical documents and photos to uncover genealogical insights. The tool provides record suggestions, photo descriptions, and transcriptions. The MyHeritage team also announced Country Coding, a feature that helps sort and organize international records and visualize your ancestors by country.
9. Ancestry Preserve Wants to Digitize Your Shoeboxes
The new Ancestry Preserve service, heavily featured in the Expo Hall, aims to help customers preserve and digitize their old media, including photographs, slides, film tapes, and more. For genealogists who have inherited closets full of analog memories, this fills a real need. The long-term implications for family history are significant. Your grandmother’s slides deserve better than a dark box in a garage.
10. Marlee Matlin and Tara Roberts Reminded Us What This Is All For
The technology announcements were remarkable. But these two keynotes stopped the room. Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress, shared her inspiring journey of overcoming obstacles and connecting personal triumphs to family history. As a deaf actor, she did not utter a word, but her facial expressions, animated signing, and story had audiences listening with their eyes and hearts. Tara Roberts, National Geographic explorer, shared her extraordinary work documenting slave ship wrecks and reconnecting descendants with their ancestral past.
RootsTech 2026 made one thing clear. The technology is accelerating faster than most of us can keep up. The challenge for our community is to stay human in the middle of all of it. The records are the beginning. The stories are the point.Join SGS Today
* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page
and click the green renew membership button.
DONATE TO SGS
Your donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org.
 TWO-DAY SEMINAR COVERS KEY POINTS OF AMERICAN HISTORYSaturday-Sunday, April 11-12Join Seattle Genealogical Society this spring for a two-day virtual seminar exploring turning points in American history, the records created, and how they can transform your genealogical research.Presented online via Zoom Saturday, April 11, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon (PT) Sunday, April 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (PT) Program includes:Great Expectations: Union Pacific Land Grants & East-West Expansion Presented by Annette Burke Lyttle, CG Hidden Narratives: Reconstructing Families Through Civil War Pension Records Presented by Mica L. Anders U.S. Citizenship: The Law and Records of Naturalization Presented by Rich Venezia The New Deal: Putting your Ancestors to Work Presented by Michael Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™There will be Door Prizes including: Ancestry DNA test kits Family Tree Maker software My Heritage membership (one year) Ancestry membership (one year) Registration fee: $60.00 (SGS Members – $45.00). Join the Seminar!images courtesy of Library of Congress and National Archives Second Saturday: May 9, 1:00 p.m.Tame your digital family photographs by adding names, dates, and other information to images to make them searchable. This presentation outlines a simple and effective process – from scanning, tagging, and saving images to organizing and backing up these image files – so you can do it once and do it right.Nancy Loe, a professional genealogist and archivist with decades of experience, helps family historians search smart, find more, and stay organized. As a presenter, she specializes in search strategies, information management, and U.S. and European research and records, speaking at conferences and webinars in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.Sign Up Today!NO SECOND SATURDAY THIS MONTH: SGS will be offering our Spring Seminar: Pivotal Moments: Records that Changed Lives, Families, and History. Learn more and sign up. photo courtesy of laura-fuhrman / Unsplash SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. ** Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. Meeting content is for personal genealogy learning and may not be recorded or transcribed. All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. Thursday, April 2, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. NOTE the change of day due to the Easter holiday. Monday, April 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, April 6, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12, 2026, Saturday 9:00 a.m-noon, and Sunday 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. SGS Spring Seminar, “Pivotal Moments: Records that Changed Lives, Families, and History” Presented by Annette Burke Lyttle, Mica Anders, Rich Venezia, and Michael Strauss. Register here. Monday, April 13, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, April 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Transcription SIG, Want to strengthen your ability to read, transcribe, and analyze original records? This SIG is ideal for anyone looking to practice, build confidence, and sharpen their research skills in a collaborative setting. The group meets at the SGS Library. Send questions to Betsey Cotter at sgstranscription@seagensoc.org. Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Sheyna Watkins at sgsWriteItUpSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month. Saturday, April 18 2026, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research. View SGS calendar for details on joining this group. Saturday, April 18 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), Using FamilySearch’s Full Text Search function. Allyn Brosz will be sharing his experiences using this feature to research his German families in the U.S.. Register on the SGS website. Monday, April 20, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Friday, April 24, 2026, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 p.m. Family Tree Maker SIG, Join Eastside Genealogical Society and SGS to learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker by Software MacKiev. The meetings open about 15 minutes in advance. You can join and/or leave whenever you have to, and you may email your question(s) in advance or bring them up during the meeting. Monday, April 27, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. NOTE: New Zoom link for January – June. Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Wednesday, April. 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Mexican SIG (Virtual), Share information and discuss Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, and Hispanic genealogical research. Email Diane Hughes-Hart at SGSMexSIG@seagensoc.org to join. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month. Saturday, May 2, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. Sunday, May 3, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, May 4, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, May 4, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. Thursday, May 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Cataloging Digital Images” Presented by Nancy Loe. Register here. Monday, May 11, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, May 11, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link. Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list. Thursday, May 14, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND Fiske Genealogical Library Various Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. (virtual) April 1: Are you really my Ancestor? Speaker: Claire Smith April 8: Unlock the 1926 Census of Ireland for Irish Family Research Speaker: Susan McKee April 15: Women of Letters: Voices from the Frontier Speaker: Sylvia Doolos April 22: Tracing Female Ancestors Through Everyday Records Speaker: Sylvia Doolos April 29: Back to School: Making the most of School Records Speaker: Tina Beaird May 6: Is it True? Using Manuscripts and Family Records for Genealogical Proof Speaker: Steven W. Morrison May 13: Moonshine & Coal Mines: Unraveling Stories & Secrets to Reconstruct a Family through Oral History documents and DNA Speaker: Lisa Vogele May 20: From Territory to State: Records you Might Miss Speaker: Sylvia Doolos May 27: Mapping your Migrating Ancestors Speaker: Tina Beaird For more information and to register. “What Could Have Happened? Creating and Proving Hypotheses to Solve Tough Problems,” with Kory Meyerink Eastside Genealogical Society Thursday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. (virtual) One tool of advanced researchers is the well-developed hypothesis, which serves as a starting point for detailed research that can often prove relationships not apparent in standard sources. Learn how to effectively use this approach for your “brick-wall” problems. For more information and to register. Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Various Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. (virtual) April 9: Researching Newspapers Outside of Newspapers.com Speaker: Amber Oldenburg May 14: Subject TBA Speaker: Maggie Cogswell June 11: Missing: Reward! Locating Widows, Spinsters, and Bachelors Speaker: Sara Cochran Learn more and register here. “It’s What They Answered To: Understanding Ashkenazic Jewish Names” with Emily Garber Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State Monday, April 13, 7:30 p.m. (virtual) Name changes, both in adopted countries and in the old world, make determining Ashkenazic (central and eastern European) Jewish names a genealogical puzzle. This presentation will provide some of the basic clues for a researcher to recognize the same person recorded under a variety of names.. Get more information. TIP OF THE WEEK – 10 ROOTSTECH REVELATIONSBy Kate Penney HowardRootsTech 2026 wrapped up on March 7. The theme was “Together,” but the unofficial theme was clearly artificial intelligence. AI crashed the party at every forum, every expo booth, and most of the talks. Here are the ten announcements and moments that had people excited. 1. FamilyTreeDNA Rewrote the Rules on Autosomal Testing FamilyTreeDNA launched new Family Finder tests that analyze over 400 times the genetic data of their previous version — roughly 9% of your genome compared to just 0.02% before. The best news? Upcoming Family Finder Discover reports will be available to all Family Finder test takers, whether they tested recently or years ago. 2. GEDmatch is Getting a Complete Overhaul GEDmatch has been the scrappy workhorse of the genetic genealogy world for years. The company previewed a major redesign planned for later in 2026, incorporating AI-powered tools to help users interpret DNA matches and make organizing, filtering, tagging, and analyzing notes far easier. This has been a long time coming. 3. FamilySearch Released Its AI Tools from the Lab For months, genealogists have been testing FamilySearch AI features in beta. At RootsTech, the AI Research Assistant and AI Hints officially came out of Labs and are now available to all users. Full-Text Search also graduated from Labs, and users can now attach search results directly to the family tree. 4. FamilySearch Is Testing Natural Language Search If you have ever wished you could just talk to a database like a person, this one is for you. Simple Search, currently in Labs, is being tested to allow users to search records using natural language. Ask it a question the way you would ask a librarian. See what it tells you! 5. All Revolutionary War Pension Files Are Now Fully Searchable Ancestry announced that its Fold3 collection of Revolutionary War pension files are now fully searchable thanks to optical character recognition. Researchers can now search for veterans and their next of kin by name, rather than relying on a limited index. For those of us working on pre-1800 American genealogy, this is a genuine breakthrough. They also announced new AI features, including a record and document transcription tool where AI transcribes, summarizes, and provides source citations for documents and photos uploaded to your Gallery. 6. Ancestry Introduced “AI Stories” — And It’s Exactly What It Sounds Like A new tool called AI Stories narrates a brief story about a document in a shareable, podcast-style audio file. The possibilities here for people who struggle to write about their ancestors are significant. It could be a meaningful bridge for beginners. It raises questions about voice and accuracy that researchers will need to monitor carefully, but the concept is compelling. 7. LifeWeaver Crashed the Party as a Platinum Sponsor No one saw this one coming. Newcomer LifeWeaver made a significant splash as platinum sponsor of RootsTech 2026. The tool archives and searches through text messages, emails and other digital communication files to create a story from those pieces. LifeWeaver also allows users to add older phones, computers, hard drives, and scanned handwritten journals, digitizing their contents while preserving images of the originals so they can be shared with family. And critically, users’ data is private. The company does not sell data or use it to train AI models. 8. MyHeritage Unveiled Scribe AI MyHeritage announced Scribe AI at the RootsTech Innovation Forum, demonstrating how the feature analyzes historical documents and photos to uncover genealogical insights. The tool provides record suggestions, photo descriptions, and transcriptions. The MyHeritage team also announced Country Coding, a feature that helps sort and organize international records and visualize your ancestors by country. 9. Ancestry Preserve Wants to Digitize Your Shoeboxes The new Ancestry Preserve service, heavily featured in the Expo Hall, aims to help customers preserve and digitize their old media, including photographs, slides, film tapes, and more. For genealogists who have inherited closets full of analog memories, this fills a real need. The long-term implications for family history are significant. Your grandmother’s slides deserve better than a dark box in a garage. 10. Marlee Matlin and Tara Roberts Reminded Us What This Is All For The technology announcements were remarkable. But these two keynotes stopped the room. Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress, shared her inspiring journey of overcoming obstacles and connecting personal triumphs to family history. As a deaf actor, she did not utter a word, but her facial expressions, animated signing, and story had audiences listening with their eyes and hearts. Tara Roberts, National Geographic explorer, shared her extraordinary work documenting slave ship wrecks and reconnecting descendants with their ancestral past. RootsTech 2026 made one thing clear. The technology is accelerating faster than most of us can keep up. The challenge for our community is to stay human in the middle of all of it. The records are the beginning. The stories are the point.Join SGS Today* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page and click the green renew membership button. DONATE TO SGSYour donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org. | |
| April 1, 2026 SGS eNews! comes out the first of every month. contact eNews! forward this email to a friend | |
TIP OF THE WEEK – NEW FEATURES ON ANCESTRY
Ancestry has been adding new features that are available to all subscribers. While many of the new features on Ancestry are only accessible to users who purchase the protools package, these tools are being rolled out to everyone. Some users may not have access yet, but will soon.
Ideas
This feature uses AI to generate research tasks for an ancestor. It can accessed using the “Ideas” button on an ancestor’s profile page.
Stickies
Just like a Post-It note, this feature is a handy way to save your to-do list on a profile. They are found in the notes section under each ancestor profile (Tools > View Notes). One stickie can be saved to multiple ancestors.
 SGS SPRING SEMINAR TO LOOK AT TURNING POINTS IN U.S. HISTORYSaturday-Sunday, April 11-12Join Seattle Genealogical Society this spring for a two-day virtual seminar exploring turning points in American history, the records created, and how they can transform your genealogical research.Presented online via Zoom Saturday, April 11, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon (PT) Sunday, April 12, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (PT) Program includes:Great Expectations: Union Pacific Land Grants & East-West Expansion Presented by Annette Burke Lyttle, CG Hidden Narratives: Reconstructing Families Through Civil War Pension Records Presented by Mica L. Anders U.S. Citizenship: The Law and Records of Naturalization Presented by Rich Venezia The New Deal: Putting your Ancestors to Work Presented by Michael Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™There will be Door Prizes!Registration fee: $60.00 (SGS Members – $45.00). Join the Seminar!images courtesy of Library of Congress and National Archives  SGS to Tour Puyallup Research Library, Tuesday, March 24Join us for a visit to the Heritage Quest Research Library, the nonprofit genealogy library in Puyallup, managed and staffed entirely by volunteers. HQRL’s collection includes books (over 16,000 titles), and microfiche. The facility also houses a bookstore where you can purchase genealogy books, family tree forms/charts, software and supplies.Upon arrival, the group will gather in one of the library’s large rooms and receive an orientation and tour of the library. There is a computer room with five computers. Researchers who bring laptops can connect to the library’s database while on the premises. The library’s catalog is available online for searching prior to the trip: https://hqrl.com/libraryRecords.php Fee $10 (SGS members) / $15 (non-members). Limit: 24 people Lunch Let us know your preference for bringing a sack lunch to eat in the library or a dining out option. We’ll be in touch with further details as the day draws near. Coffee There is a Wanna Cupcake? next to the library for coffee and sweet treats that visitors can bring into the library classroom. Getting there Drive: The library has plenty of free parking..Sign Up for the Tour images courtesy of The New York Public Library, Max Harlynking and Trnava University / Unsplash TURN YOUR RESEARCH INTO A BOOKJoin a Hands-On Self-Publishing Workshop  Jill Morelli Join Jill Morelli, CG, CGL, Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. as she shares what she learned self-publishing Journeys of the Forgotten: The Orphans of Hamilton County, Iowa. Morelli will walk through the major steps of the process and discuss practical considerations to help genealogists move from research to a finished book.Bring a laptop. Morelli more direct attendees in publishing a document. A document will be provided to those who don’t have something to publish. Everyone will publish something! In person only at the SGS Library. Limited to 25 participants Class Fee: $30 (SGS members $25) Any questions contact registrar@seagensoc.org. Sign Up for the Workshop  Second Saturday: March 14, 1:00 p.m.In April 2026, the long-anticipated release of the 1926 Irish census will occur. Taken on April 18, 1926, this record set captures the first detailed portrait of life in Ireland following the establishment of the Irish Free State.Join Irish genealogist Susan McKee as she introduces the 21 datasets included in this census and explains how they can transform your family history research. Born in Dublin, Susan McKee is a member of the Seattle Genealogical Society, where she facilitates the monthly Irish Special Interest Group. She presents regularly on researching Irish ancestors, including seminars for the Seattle Irish Festival and genealogical societies across the U.S.Sign Up Today!NO SECOND SATURDAY NEXT MONTH: SGS will be offering our Spring Seminar: Pivotal Moments: Records that Changed Lives, Families, and History. Learn more and sign up. photos courtesy of Ulrike R. Donohue and K Mitch Hodge / Unsplash book image courtesy of Library of Congress ‘ANCESTORING’ AUTHOR PUTS RECORDS IN HISTORICAL CONTEXTVirtual Sunday: March 22, 1:00 p.m.In her book Ancestoring: Understanding Records, Family, and Ourselves, Darcie Hind Posz invites genealogists and family historians to look more deeply at the records they use—and at themselves as researchers.Understanding Records affirms the importance of placing records in their historical context. Understanding Family encourages researchers to ask “why,” and to remain objective and nonjudgmental as they uncover ancestors’ decisions and actions. Understanding Ourselves challenges genealogists to recognize their own assumptions and biases when analyzing records and interpreting ancestors’ lives.This Virtual Sunday program offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from the author and explore how a more reflective and contextual approach can strengthen both research and writing. Darcie Hind Posz is an author, genealogist, and researcher. She has been a board-certified genealogist since 2013 and was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists in 2023. A widely published genealogical writer, her work has appeared in several scholarly quarterlies, and her full bibliography is available at darciehindposz.com.Register now WHY I VOLUNTEER WITH SGS  By Jim Secan,Vice President, SGS As the newest person on the SGS Board I’ve been asked to write a short note as to why I chose to volunteer for this position. The main reason is the concept of “pay it forward” as applied to genealogy. I have been able to research my family, none of whom were ever anywhere near the Pacific Northwest, by accessing information collected by volunteer organizations like SGS all over the country, with the information they collected made available either by contacting the organization or through an on-line database. No travel necessary. A lot of key information for my family has come not from Ancestry.com, but from local genealogical society holdings such as these. I see volunteering for SGS, particularly for a Board position, as a way of both paying back these out-of-state volunteers and paying forward to other out-of-state researchers who are tracking ancestors who moved out West and to future genealogists both out-of-state and local. If you have benefited from the help of an individual at the SGS or at any other GS, consider volunteering at SGS. We have Board positions that need a dedicated volunteer, and various ad hoc positions are open as well. Pay back and pay forward!SGS LIBRARY NEWSExercise Your Research Skills. Help Patrons in Drop-In Sessions at SPL Branches Based on the success of the drop-in sessions during the pilot project, the SGS Board and SPL agreed to continue the program through December 2026. Ideally, we would like at least 3 volunteers at each branch – Ballard, Magnolia and Northeast. Many of the people we’ve assisted simply want to know how to get started on their own genealogy. Others may need help with where and how to find available resources. The 1 ½ hour sessions are held once a month and there is no long-term commitment – just whatever fits your schedule. Please consider signing up for one of the drop-in sessions so that we can continue this successful program. Email splvolunteers@seagensoc.org if you have questions or need additional information on this joint SPL/SGS program. SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. * * Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. Meeting content is for personal genealogy learning and may not be recorded or transcribed. All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. Thursday, March 5, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, March 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. Monday, March 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, March 9, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link. Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list. Thursday, March 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. Saturday, March 14, 2026, 12:30 p.m-1:00 p.m., General Membership Meeting, Update on SGS activities and slate of board candidates for upcoming election. The meeting will be followed by a Second Saturday presentation. (See below.). Register here. Only one registration is needed for both the membership meeting and the Second Saturday presentation. Saturday, March 14, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Unlocking the 1926 Irish Census.” Presented by Susan McKee. Register here. Monday, March 16, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. NOTE: New Zoom link for January – June. Friday, March 18, 2026, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 p.m. Family Tree Maker SIG, Join Eastside Genealogical Society and SGS to learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker by Software MacKiev. The meetings open about 15 minutes in advance. You can join and/or leave whenever you have to, and you may email your question(s) in advance or bring them up during the meeting. Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Transcription SIG, Want to strengthen your ability to read, transcribe, and analyze original records? This SIG is ideal for anyone looking to practice, build confidence, and sharpen their research skills in a collaborative setting. The group meets at the SGS Library. Send questions to Betsey Cotter at sgstranscription@seagensoc.org. Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Sheyna Watkins at sgsWriteItUpSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month. Saturday, March 21 2026, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research. View SGS calendar for details on joining this group. Saturday, March 21 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), Share what you know OR get help with problems in your own research. Register on the SGS website. Sunday, March 22, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:00 p.m., Virtual Sunday, “Ancestoring: Understanding Records, Family, and Ourselves” Presented by Darcie Hind Posz. Register here. Monday, March 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 6:00 p.m-8:00 p.m., Your Story, Your Book: Hands-On Self-Publishing, Jill Morelli shares what she learned self-publishing. She will walk through the major steps of the process and discuss practical considerations to help genealogists move from research to a finished book. Register here. Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., DNA SIG, Join our quarterly meetings to discover what’s new in genetic genealogy and learn more about select, in-depth topics. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, March 30, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website.Thursday, April 2, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday, April 4, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list Saturday, April 4, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. NOTE the change of day due to the Easter holiday. Monday, April 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, April 6, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12, 2026, Saturday 9:00 a.m-noon, and Sunday 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. SGS Spring Seminar, “Pivotal Moments: Records that Changed Lives, Families, and History” Presented by Annette Burke Lyttle, Mica Anders, Rich Venezia, and Michael Strauss. Register here. Monday, April 13, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, April 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND Fiske Genealogical LibraryVarious Wednesdays, 10 a.m. (virtual) March 4 The Black Experience in the Revolutionary War Speaker: Janice Lovelace March 11 A Genealogist’s Guide to Lesser Known Research Tools Speaker: Claire Smith For more information and to register. RootsTech 2026 Thursday, Mar. 5 – Saturday, Mar. 7 (virtual) A family history conference. An on-demand learning library. A way to grow closer to the people, places, and stories that matter most. RootsTech is all that and so much more. Join us as we celebrate together the joy of connection. Get more information.Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Various Thursdays, 10 a.m. (virtual) March 12: Did Your Ancestor Work on the Railroad? Speaker: James Tanner April 9: Researching Newspapers Outside of Newspapers.com Speaker: Amber Oldenburg May 14: Subject TBA Speaker: Maggie Cogswell June 11: Missing: Reward! Locating Widows, Spinsters, and Bachelors Speaker: Sara Cochran Learn more and register here. “How to Write a Family History Book,” with Rebecca Shamblin Eastside Genealogical Society Thursday, March 12, 6:30 p.m. (virtual) Maybe it has always been a secret dream of yours to create a book out of your research. We will talk about the research process, what to include, how to turn facts into stories, how to organize your book, how to get it printed, and finally how to share it. For more information and to register. TIP OF THE WEEK – NEW FEATURES ON ANCESTRYAncestry has been adding new features that are available to all subscribers. While many of the new features on Ancestry are only accessible to users who purchase the protools package, these tools are being rolled out to everyone. Some users may not have access yet, but will soon. Ideas This feature uses AI to generate research tasks for an ancestor. It can accessed using the “Ideas” button on an ancestor’s profile page. Stickies Just like a Post-It note, this feature is a handy way to save your to-do list on a profile. They are found in the notes section under each ancestor profile (Tools > View Notes). One stickie can be saved to multiple ancestors. Join SGS Today* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page and click the green renew membership button. DONATE TO SGSYour donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org. | |
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 DECIPHERING FOREIGN NAMES, PLACES, AND DOCUMENTSSecond Saturday: Feb. 14, 1:00 p.m.Researching ancestors from another country can be daunting, especially when names, locations, and records appear in an unfamiliar language. This presentation explores practical tools, strategies, and resources to break through these barriers and turn a foreign-language brick wall into a path forward. Margaret R. Fortier focuses on immigration to New England and dual citizenship with Italy. She specializes in Italian, Portuguese, and French-Canadian research, is fluent in French, and serves on the APG board and the 2021 NERGC Program Committee. Sign Up Today!NEXT MONTH’S SECOND SATURDAY: “1926 Irish Census.” Presented by Susan McKee. Sign up separately for this event held Mar. 14. Arrive early for the membership meeting at 12:30 p.m. Only one sign up is necessary for both events. image of letters courtesy of Ling App / Unsplash map image courtesy David Rumsey Map Collection  Sign UpSigning up here will also get you into the March Second Saturday presentation  image courtesy of Library of CongressSGS Journal Seeks Writers For Spring IssueThe Seattle Genealogical Society publishes a semiannual journal that is distributed through our significant membership along with fourteen different libraries. Our journal is indexed at PERSI in the Allen County Public Library, providing national recognition for authors. We would love to publish your work in our scholarly publication that documents cross-generational family research with a specific focus on families in the northwest. In anticipation of America 250 our spring theme is Westward Movement, articles should demonstrate the path families took to move westward, not necessarily all the way to the northwest. The deadline for spring article submissions is 1 March 2026. We would love to see your article in print, so submit them to journal@seagensoc.org. Please review our Writing Guidelines for more information. Additional questions can be submitted to publications@seagensoc.org.  LET’S TAKE THE TRAIN TO THE WASHINGTON STATE HISTORY MUSEUMLearn more about Washington history with us. We will visit the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma together. This day trip is on Saturday, Feb. 28, making it a good opportunity to bring family or friends! We’ll take the Amtrak train to Tacoma and spend a day immersed in the Washington state history as well as have time to investigate the temporary exhibits. Purchase your Amtrak train ticket on the 8:55 a.m. train from Seattle to Tacoma and the 4:45 p.m. train from Tacoma to Seattle. Cost is $12 each way. From the Tacoma Amtrak station we will walk together 15 minutes to the museum. You will purchase your own museum ticket for $17 (with a discount to $14 for seniors, free for their members). This can be done in advance online or at the door. Let us know you are coming. SGS group registration $10 per person and we’ll be in touch with further details as the day draws near. For anyone who prefers to drive themself, we will have a meet-up spot at 10:30 a.m.. Let us know your preference for a sack lunch picnic or a dining out option.Sign Up for the TourItinerary Saturday, February 28, 2026 Ride the Amtrak train with the SGS Hosts (reserve your tickets here): – From Seattle to Tacoma depart 8:55 a.m. – From Tacoma to Seattle depart 4:45 p.m. or Drive to meet up with the SGS Hosts at 10:30 a.m. (directions to museum here) train image courtesy of Stephen Mease / Unsplash TURN YOUR RESEARCH INTO A BOOKJoin a Hands-On Self-Publishing WorkshopJoin Jill Morelli, CG, CGL, Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. as she shares what she learned self-publishing Journeys of the Forgotten: The Orphans of Hamilton County, Iowa. Morelli will walk through the major steps of the process and discuss practical considerations to help genealogists move from research to a finished book. Bring a laptop. Morelli more direct attendees in publishing a document. A document will be provided to those who don’t have something to publish. Everyone will publish something! In person only at the SGS Library. Limited to 25 participants Class Fee: $30 (SGS members $25) Any questions contact registrar@seagensoc.org. Sign Up for the Workshop  SLOTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR GET ORGANIZED CLASSSGS’s “Organizing for Genealogy” class still has openings. This course will help participants create a system of organization or adapt their current system to meet their specific research needs. The class will be offered over four weeks in February on Tuesday afternoons (4:00 to 6:00 p.m.). Session 1: Organizing Our Self – Our thoughts, actions, time, and space Session 2: Organizing Our System – Paper systems and Digital Systems Session 3: Organizing Our Workflow – Research, Records, and Resources Session 4: Pulling it all together – Developing a tailored organization system Online via Zoom Limited to 20 participants Class Fee: $100 (SGS members $80)Sign Up for the Class ANNOUNCING 2025 SGS VOLUNTEER OF FALL QUARTER Melinda McRae Developing a New SGS Website  Melinda McRae Melinda McRae is SGS’s Fall 2025 Volunteer of the Quarter for SGS. Melinda is working with a small team to redevelop our SGS website, upgrading the backend and adding functionality. She has spent countless hours for more than six months to bring our website to its next generation! Melinda’s background in web development and website maintenance has been a gift to SGS. She spent the last 19 years of her career at University of Washington, where she worked in at least three departments’ websites: Social Work, Global Health and Nursing. She was a member SGS 1970’s and rejoined again a few years ago. She serves as a volunteer on the committee that advises the Board about the needs in the SGS Library, as a Library Trustee. She participates in SGS field trips and SIGs. She grew up in Burien, Washington, the daughter of a mother from Pierce County and a father from Portland, Oregon. Three of her four grandparents were immigrants. She traces her ancestry from Scotland, via Canada, and from Germany with some Swiss heritage. She is the mother of daughter who recently relocated to Washington State. Seasonally, she enjoys flower gardening. Melinda is the author of sixteen historical romance novels published by Penguin. Her era of focus is English Regency period–early 1800’s. After she is done building the new website for SGS, she plans to bring her out-of-print novels to Kindle. She also plans to write more. Her genealogy experience helps her research for writing, and she has lectured aspiring authors on using genealogical research techniques to create characters. What Melinda is most proud of about the new website is that it will be so much easier for both users and the volunteers who maintain it; and new research databases will be available for SGS members online from anywhere.SGS LIBRARY NEWSMore Volunteers Needed for the Drop-In Sessions at SPL Branches Based on the success of the drop-in sessions during the pilot project, the SGS Board and SPL agreed to continue the program through December 2026. Ideally, we would like at least 3 volunteers at each branch – Ballard, Magnolia and Northeast. Many of the people we’ve assisted simply want to know how to get started on their own genealogy. Others may need help with where and how to find available resources. The 1 ½ hour sessions are held once a month and there is no long-term commitment – just whatever fits your schedule. Please consider signing up for one of the drop-in sessions so that we can continue this successful program. Email splvolunteers@seagensoc.org if you have questions or need additional information on this joint SPL/SGS program. What Are The Image Restrictions on FamilySearchHave you ever come across this message when searching FS historical records?  Although the image isn’t available at a FS center or affiliate library, such as SGS, you may still be able to view the image through another website. Regardless of the location, the research wiki has links to the online resources for each location. When one clicks on the Online Resource button, there are links to all the available online resources whether it’s FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, or some other genealogy website. The list will indicate whether the third-party website is free or requires a subscription. When you click on the link, it will take you to that third-party website. SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658 Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. ** Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. Meeting content is for personal genealogy learning and may not be recorded or transcribed. All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. NOTE: New Zoom link for January – June. Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. NOTE: New Zoom link for the rest of 2026. Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. NOTE: New starting time! Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Lost in Translation: Deciphering Foreign Names, Places, & Documents” Presented by Margaret Fortier. Register here. Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month. Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Transcription SIG, Want to strengthen your ability to read, transcribe, and analyze original records? This SIG is ideal for anyone looking to practice, build confidence, and sharpen their research skills in a collaborative setting. The group meets at the SGS Library. Send questions to Betsey Cotter at sgstranscription@seagensoc.org. Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Sheyna Watkins at sgsWriteItUpSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., SGS Quarterly Program Planning (Virtual), be a part of SGS’s strategic planning effort, collaborate with the leaders of our education programs (e.g., SIGs, field trips, classes, seminars, discussion groups). Register here. Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, 10:30 p.m.–12:30 p.m. Family Tree Maker SIG, Join Eastside Genealogical Society and SGS to learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker by Software MacKiev. The meetings open about 15 minutes in advance. You can join and/or leave whenever you have to, and you may email your question(s) in advance or bring them up during the meeting. Saturday, Feb. 21 2026, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research. View SGS calendar for details on joining this group. Saturday, Feb. 21 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), Share what you know OR get help with problems in your own research. Register on the SGS website. Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. NOTE: New Zoom link starting this month. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.,Eastern European SIG, Learn about researching family history from the Balkans to the Baltics and in between. For more information email sgseasterneuropesig@seagensoc.org. Sunday, Mar. 1, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join. Monday, Mar. 2, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. NOTE: New Zoom link for January – June. Monday, Mar. 2, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Organizing for Genealogy SIG, Share information and discuss organization tips, techniques, and habits to enhance your genealogical journey. Contact Susan McKee at sgsOrganizingsig@seagensoc.org to join. Wednesday, Mar. 4, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website. NOTE: New Zoom link for the rest of 2026. Thursday, Mar. 5, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Genealogy SIG (Virtual), explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogical research Email SGSAISIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. Saturday, Mar. 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email SGSFamilySearchSIG@seagensoc.org to join the mailing list. NOTE: New starting time! Monday, Mar. 9, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. See SGS Calendar for more information. Monday, Mar. 9, 2026, 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link. Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. NOTE: Zoom link alternates between 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Ancestry Users SIG (Virtual), The Ancestry Users Special Interest Group is for people who use Ancestry.com (and AncestryDNA) to research their family histories. Email SGSAncestrySIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026. Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2025, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list. Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Publishing SIG, Participate in writing and publishing the SGS Journal twice a year. Email SGSPubSIG@seagensoc.org. NOTE: New Zoom link for 2026.Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026, 12:30 p.m-1:00 p.m., General Membership Meeting, Update on SGS activities and slate of board candidates for upcoming election. The meeting will be followed by a Second Saturday presentation. (See below.). Register here. Only one registration is needed for both the membership meeting and the Second Saturday presentation. Saturday, Mar. 14, 2026, 1:00 p.m-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “1926 Irish Census.” Presented by Susan McKee. Register here. OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND “Finding Females in Naturalization Records, 1790-1952,” with Nancy LoeEastside Genealogical Society Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:00 p.m. (virtual) (Zoom open at 6:30 p.m.) Female ancestors — both foreign-born and birthright — gained, lost, or regained citizenship in the United States between 1790 and 1952. US citizenship and attendant rights for women could be fragile, depending on marital status, prevailing laws, social norms, and other shifting factors. Examples of US naturalization and citizenship records, and search strategies for finding these records are featured in this presentation. Learn more and register.GRIP Registration for 2026 Opens Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh Tuesday, Feb. 3 This year the GRIP offers two sessions of classes: June 22-26, 2026, on Zoom and July 12-17, 2026, in-person! Learn more and here.“Decoding Your Ancestors: The Tech Edition” with Cyndi Ingle Olympia Genealogical Society Saturday, Feb. 7, 8:50 a.m. — 2:30 p.m. (virtual) Four one-hour presentations focused on technology tools for genealogy. Learn more and register.“Family Tree Maker’s New Tools for Collaborative Family History” with Duff WilsonJewish Genealogical Society of Washington State Monday, Feb. 9, 7:00 p.m. (virtual) (Zoom open at 6:30 p.m.) Explore how Family Tree Maker 2024—together with its TreeVault® Cloud Services—can become the central hub of a truly collaborative family history experience. You’ll see how to share your tree in ways that are secure, effortless, and engaging, inviting your relatives to participate with you in building your family story. Learn more and register.Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Various Fridays, 9:45 a.m. (virtual) February 13: The 1890 Census Speaker: Sara Cochran March 13: Your Ancestor’s Occupation: Exploring the 1821 Irish Census. Speaker: Steven Morrison April 10: Jumping the Pond: Connecting Immigrants to Their Homeland. Speaker: Mary Kircher Roddy Learn more and register here. RootsTech 2026 Thursday, Mar. 5 – Saturday, Mar. 7 (virtual) A family history conference. An on-demand learning library. A way to grow closer to the people, places, and stories that matter most. RootsTech is all that and so much more. Join us as we celebrate together the joy of connection. Get more information. TIPS OF THE WEEK – BE S.M.A.R.T. ABOUT RESEARCH bethsteury@gmail.com | www.bethsteury.com By Beth Steury My part of the world is especially dreary in January and February creating the perfect time to delve deeply into all things relating to family history. Truth is, I rarely/never need incentive to peruse old family photos, dive into archived documents and records and memorabilia, OR pore over DNA results. Still, the arrival of a new year encourages me to reflect upon my genealogy agenda for 2026. Because I know that the more intentional the researching/digging/detecting/piecing together of clues, the more effective and successful said researching will be. And intentional pursuits require targets and objectives and strategies. You know, goals. Whether you’re the “must set goals” type or a soul who flees from the very notion, the flip of the calendar can—if you allow it—create an urge to consider your genealogically-inclined pursuits. SO, let’s look at how to be genealogically intentional in 2026. Begin with a mental review of 2025. Consider both PURSUITS—the goals you worked toward and activities you engaged in sans goals—and ACCOMPLISHMENTS—goals achieved, tasks completed, mysteries solved. Next, accept that facts are facts. Whether this review reveals an awesome A+ and you’re now doing a happy dance OR you’re staring at a dismal F and hanging your head in shame, it is what it is. Celebrate where appropriate, for sure, but choose not to sweat what didn’t get done. Consider that reflection’s purpose is to inform future progress, NOT to create a pit in which to wallow sorrowfully. Then, acknowledge that only YOU know if targets for 2026 should extend what took place, or failed to take place, in 2025. Maybe, yes. Maybe, no. It’s a different year, one that likely finds you in a different place, either in minor or major ways. Now, on to the agenda for 2026. The S.M.A.R.T. goal-setting model offers a simple, practical approach for genealogy enthusiasts to strategize effective goals. Even for folks who shy away from the notion of goals. I promise. SPECIFIC Generic objectives such as “research more” aren’t specific enough to be effective. But “research Grandpa Mullins parents” directs a specific course of action. MEASURABLE Hone the specific goal into something tangible. Such as, challenge yourself to find confirmation of Grandpa Mullins parents’ names, children’s names, birth and marriage dates. OR, record all info you can gather in an hour/afternoon/day of focused online research. ACHIEVABLE Think realistic, based on your available time and resources. If an hour of research fits into your schedule while an afternoon would strain your calendar and a day would leave you stressed out about what else wasn’t getting done, then an hour it is. RELEVANT What person/question/mystery interests you most? Did Grandma have a husband before Grandpa as has been rumored for decades? What challenges split your maternal relatives when they set out for the Missouri Territory? The thing you most want to know—that’s where you begin in 2026. TIME-BASED Time and again it’s been proven that deadlines work. An expressed timeline produces a sense of urgency that encourages structure which boosts focus and . . . voilà! You’re on the road to goal-completion success when your S.M.A.R.T. goals include a timeline. If you’ve not tested your DNA, consider joining the 50 million people who’ve completed a DNA test. A wealth of information, answers, and potential connections are waiting to be discovered in the details of your DNA results. Join SGS Today* to renew your membership: log in on the Members Home page and click the green renew membership button. DONATE TO SGS Your donations represent a significant part of the SGS budget. Your continued generosity helps us increase our financial security and expand our services for everyone. We make it easy for you to contribute appreciated stock from your portfolio. We have a brokerage account established and ready to receive your donation from any firm. For details, write treasurer@seagensoc.org. For questions about our needs and our vision, write president@seagensoc.org. February 1, 2026 SGS eNews! comes out the first of every month. contact eNews! forward this email to a friend |