Tag Archives: Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

YVGS Binding Project Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Teams 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 the YVGS Binding Project who was selected by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS) as their recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Team Award. The team is composed of Larry Ball and Don Boatright.

In 2011, Don became an invaluable member of YVGS. He served as membership chair from 2011-2022 and increased our membership over 300.  He also started helping our librarian rebinding our materials that needed maintenance and binding bulletins.  Don also worked at our semi-annual yard sales for years.

Larry joined our society in 2019 and immediately became a valued member.  He is a retired electrician and has helped maintain our outside and inside lighting and other electrical needs.  He has faithfully worked our semi-annual yard sales and is learning the job of book binding from Don. 

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.

Rosemarie Robins 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 Rosemarie Boat Robins of Yakima, Washington who was selected by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society as its recipients of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

In 2018, Rose became a member of YVGS, and wears many hats in our society, including working as a full-time librarian every Tuesday and is always willing to be a substitute if someone is gone.

With a few other members, she is re-indexing our book collection with better descriptions for locating books for our new card catalog project. Twice a year she is at our yard sale, setting up and taking down tables, folding clothes, selling items and helping customers.  She helps clean up after our monthly meetings and is one of our best workers at our annual library and grounds cleanup day in the fall.

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

Remembering Frank McLean: A Legacy of Leadership and Service

by Roxanne Lowe

The Board of the Washington State Genealogical Society is saddened to inform you of the death of Frank McLean of Yakima.

Whether you knew Frank or not, you likely knew of his accomplishments and contributions to Washington pioneers and our WSGS family.

Frank McLean

Frank joined WSGS in 1986 and remained a dedicated and contributing member until his passing on Monday, June 8, 2026. He served as President, Vice President and most recently, as Treasurer. Frank was named a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and YVGS Yard Sale Team Award Volunteer for 2018.

Frank was instrumental in the development of the WSGS Centennial Pioneer Certificate Project, working with others who shared the vision of tracing all pioneers and Indigenous individuals living in Washington Territory at the time of statehood on November 11, 1889. He devoted countless hours reviewing submitted genealogies, carefully verifying source documentation, and helping add approximately 44,000 names to the WSGS Pioneer database.

In 2023, Frank assumed a similar role with the Pioneer Pursuit program. An excellent researcher and historian, he diligently reviewed more than 2,750 names of those living in Washington at statehood, ensuring that all supporting documents were accurate and well-sourced. His commitment to ensuring those genealogies would be available for free on the WSGS website is a testament to his commitment to family history.

In addition to his service with WSGS, Frank was President of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and also served on its Board. He was deeply involved in his local organization, the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society, where he served in many roles, including President, Membership Chair, Publicity Chair, and Bulletin Printing Assistant. He also headed the society’s semi-annual yard sale and, since 2004, served as Building and Maintenance Supervisor for its library. As the society’s “tech guy,” Frank helped digitize thousands of obituary records from paper files and index cards and kept the computer working. Frank was also involved in copying and extracting information from Yakima County School Census records from 1900 to 1930.

To learn more about Frank, read his “Meet the Board” feature on the WSGS Blog here.

Frank is survived by his wife, Delma Roloff McLean and sons Bruce, Scot and Mark and wives and grandchildren and preceded in death by daughter Ann. Brookside Funeral Home, Yakima is handling the arrangements.

Frank McLean

by Charles Hansen

Members, your Board would like to inform you of the death of Frank McLean. Frank was president of Washington State Genealogical Society from 1994 to 1996. He joined WSGS in 1986 and has been a contributing member ever since. Currently, he held the position of Treasurer since 2022. Frank was instrumental in Pioneer Project along with others with the vision to trace all pioneers and indigenous individuals in Washington at statehood 11 November, 1889. He spent countless hours reviewing the genealogies submitted verifying the source information was correct helping to add about 44,000 names to our data base of pioneers. He also sent out Pioneer Certificates upon request. Frank later assumed the same position for Pioneer Pursuit (past president Virginia Majewski’s brain child project) and, again, reviewed over 4,000 names of those at statehood making sure the sources were correct.

Frank was president of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and served as a Board member with them. He was heavily involved with his local society Yakima Valley Genealogical Society serving as president, membership, publicity and helped with bulletin printing; head of the semi-annual yard sale and, from 2004, on has served as Building & Maintenance Supervisor of this library and as “Tech” guy, he helped scan all our thousands of obituaries from paper and index cards.

Frank (3 January 1937-7 June, 2026) is survived by his wife Delma Roloff McLean.

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!