Tag Archives: Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

Barbee Buchanan Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Barbee Buchanan of Yakima, Washington who was selected by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Barbee has been a member of YVGS since 2015.  A retired educator, she has the skills to do our monthly book review, encouraging members to go to our shelves and not always the internet.

Barbee is a librarian every Wednesday and on the second Saturday of each month.  She is willing to be a substitute if someone is gone.  She is working on a marriage records’ project of our old index cards verifying the information is correct before the information is added to our database.  Barbee covers our library phones during yard sale week.  She has been on the vice-president’s program committee for the last 8 to 10 years and is our check-in person at these events.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Michigan Research

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 So. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting

Date: Saturday. May 2, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Judy Schuster will be giving a presentation on ways to research the state of Michigan.  First settled by the Paleo Indians, the French. Not to mention the British. With the many rivers and lakes making Michigan a resourceful state in the region of the Great Lakes. Your family may have lived or toured through Michigan. Come join us in learning how to expand your ancestry.

Coffee and water will be provided.

Carla Adams

Social Media

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Spring Yard Sale

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

Huge Spring Yard Sale

Date: Thurs, Fri, Sat. April 16, 17, 18

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

You will not want to miss this: HUGE YARD SALE

Affordable items: Lots of Furniture, Collectibles, Home Goods, Clothes, Framed Pictures, Books and more.

Carla Adams

Social Media

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Spring Seminar 2026 French Canadian Research

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

Spring Seminar

Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Gerry Shepard will give a presentation on French-Canadian Research focusing on the Quebec Region. Richard Kyle will be speaking on the American Loyalists living in the colonies during the American Revolution. The Canadians welcomed the Loyalists who were forced to leave the colonies, giving assistance and free land. Producing legal papers and records. A number of these families returned to the United States.

The Spring Seminar is Free, at the door we do accept Donation to pay for handouts and refreshments. Please sign up ahead to save your seat. Sign-up sheet on the librarian desk or call the library at (509) 248-1328. Or email Richard Kyle at  rkyle98902@charter.net .Snacks, coffee and water will be provided.

Carla Adams

Social Media

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Connecticut Research

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting

Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Following the General Meeting, Kathy Sizer will be giving a presentation on ways to research the state of Connecticut.  In January 1788, Connecticut became the fifth State of the union, played a crucial role in the early history of the United States, being one of the original thirteen Colonies has plenty of rich history to explore. Join us in learning how to expand your ancestry through researching Connecticut.  

Carla Adams

Social Media

Society Spotlight Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

by Charles Hansen

YAKIMA VALLEY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

1901 S 12th Avenue, Union Gap, WA 98903

509-248-1328

Web address: www.yvgs.net Email address: yvgs@yvgs.net

Social media: Facebook

Library hours of operation: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Membership Dues $25.00 annually; membership year January-December

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society meets the first Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM at the library 1901 S 12th Ave, Union Gap with a general meeting and a program. Narcissa Whitman Chapter D.A.R. usually meets the 3rd Saturday of the month at our library. We have mini seminars.

We offer simple research to the public for free (donations are accepted). We are handicap accessible. We have 6 computers, printers and a copier for members and nonmembers alike to research family history. Our librarians are trained to help you find your family and the source records you need as proof.

We use Ancestry library subscription and are an affiliate library with LDS Salt Lake City and have inter-library loan with libraries across the country. We offer a comfy couch and Wi-Fi for tag-alongs. We have bathrooms and a kitchen on site for your comfort. We also have microfilm and microfiche and readers. Parking is on site.

We have many special collections. A few of our most well-known are:

  • Yakima County and some Benton, Kittitas and Klickitat County obituaries, funeral and grave records; some marriage and births as well
  • Yakima County School Census Records
  • Map collections
  • Complete set of Mayflower through Five Generations books
  • City directories from around the state though not complete
  • High school and college/university annuals from around the state, not complete
  • Some excellent Indigenous (Indian) sources
  • All 50 states – many books including many county histories
  • The Connecticut Barbour collection of town records
  • The Doomsday English census requested by William the Conqueror
  • Many country books from around the world (Canadian and Germans from Russia, etc.)
  • Excellent collection of ship passenger lists
  • Many church materials
  • War room – America’s wars before and after the Revolution including Indigenous conflicts
  • Narcissa Whitman Chapter D.A.R. records collection available for research as well
  • Shelves of Family Histories already published or donated

COME VISIT US!

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society General Meeting and Researching in Arkansas

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting

Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Following the General Meeting, Linda Lantis will be giving a presentation on “How to Research in the State of Arkansas.”

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society FamilySearch Full Text Search

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting

Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Following the General Meeting, Richard Kyle is giving a presentation on the future of Family Search. Come and learn the difference between the record search vs the image search vs the new full text search. Then learn why the full text search may make Ancestry obsolete.  

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting will be held in the library

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Judy Schuster will be giving a presentation on Legacy Family Tree. She will be talking about the basics of the program, how to enter data, how to download it for FREE, and how to transfer trees from a different program.