Seattle Genealogical Society & Library

"Finally Get Organized: Conquer the Clutter Using Your Natural Learning Style" presented by Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal.

Saturday, April 13, 1PM Pacific
(See https://www.seagensoc.org/eventListings.php?nm=67 to register)

Have you tried organizing your family history documents, photos, and digital files, but you just can’t find a system that you can stick to? Start organizing according to your natural learning style! This talk will help you identify your specific learning style and will share brain- and research-based organizing strategies for each style. Learn how you learn so you can finally get organized with the right system for YOU!

Seattle Genealogical Society is delighted to announce a new special interest group (SIG) focused on Pacific Northwest genealogical research. This SIG will meet via Zoom on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM Pacific, 9:30PM Eastern. SGS membership is encouraged but not required. More information at https://www.seagensoc.org/eventListings.php?nm=67 Inaugural meeting May 1st.

For more information and to register, go to
https://seagensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=171

Class size limited. Register now.

Seattle Genealogical Society & Library The Seattle Genealogical Society is committed to furthering genealogical research

Join us for our Virtual SGS Beginning Genealogy Course!
Thursdays, February 1 - 29, 2024 1:00pm-2:30pm Pacific Time

SGS Holiday Open House
Saturday, January 6th
1:00-3:00 PM
At the SGS Library

Come celebrate Twelfth Night, the New Year and something many of us will (likely) relate to, National Smith Day. Bring cookies to share and a Smith ancestor if you have one, and say hello to your SGS friends IN PERSON at the library.

Second Saturday: City Directories (Classes and Workshops)
Saturday, December 9
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Zoom, at home or at SGS library

City Directories
Federal census records were only reported every ten years. With city directories, you can discover where your ancestors lived, their occupations, their family members, and FAN clubs between censuses, including that all important 1880 to 1900 period when few Federal census records remain.
We’ll discuss what city directories are, what information they contain, where to find them, and the clues they contain for further research. Several mini case studies show how genealogical questions were answered, information from other research was correlated, and brick walls were broken.
This class can be viewed at the Library or at home. Please register from the calendar of events page at www.seagensoc.org.

Speaker: Susan V.H. Fabian is a research and genetic genealogist at Your Genealogy Journey / Your Genetic Journey specializing in tackling brickwall problems and adoption cases using DNA. Susan volunteers her time with Search Angels, FindAGrave, and the Maryland State Archives.

Please join us for our Fall Seminar, "Death and Taxes," an exploration of lesser-known record sources to enhance your genealogy research.

Five presentations over three days:

Session 1
Friday evening, November 10
5:00 PM Judy Russell "Polls, Personalty and Property – Making Sense of Tax Lists"

Session 2
Saturday morning, November 11
9:00 AM Annette Burke Lyttle "Obituaries and Other Death Information in Online Newspapers"
10:30 AM Lisa Gorrell "Probate Records: More Than Just Wills"

Session 3
Saturday afternoon, November 18
1:00 PM Nicole Dyer "Tax Records Tell the Story: Cluster and Neighborhood Research"
2:30 PM Gregory Gardner, MD "Digging into Death Certification Data to Uncover Family History and Family Health Information Treasures: A Physician’s Perspective"

Register at www.seagensoc.org
Presentation videos will be available for online viewing by registrants for about a month following the seminar.
If there is sufficient interest, Saturday Sessions 2 and 3 will be screened live for in-person viewing at the SGS Library, Suite 302 at the Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle WA 98103.
Registration fee:
Full Seminar - $55.00 (SGS Members - $45.00)

"Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." - Benjamin Franklin

Image by AdamNir from Pixabay

Second Saturday: Technology to the Rescue (Classes and Workshops)
Saturday, October 14
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Zoom, at home or at SGS library

Technology to the Rescue
Learn how to work smarter, not harder with free tools--from programs to extensions to built-in features from your operating system. These tools help with organization, research, writing, and plotting land deeds, as well as abstracting, extracting, and transcribing records. There is something for everyone, and who doesn’t love FREE?!?!
NOTE: This presentation will be preceded by a general membership meeting of the Seattle Genealogical Society, which begins at 12:30. If you do not wish to attend the membership meeting, you may join the Zoom meeting a few minutes before 1:00. If you wish to attend the membership meeting, come at 12:30. Only one advance registration is required for both events.

To view from home, register from the calendar of events at www.seagensoc.org.
To view at the library, please register for the Membership Meeting.
After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. If you register in advance, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.


Speaker: Linda Debe is a lecturer, writer, and lifelong student with more than 40 years of genealogy research experience. She holds an AAS degree in Electronics Technology from the United States Air Force where she served for 11 years. Linda is a ProGen graduate, volunteers for the Virtual Genealogical Association (VGA), and hosts her own website, "The Sleepless Genealogist."

Knute Berger to be Keynote Speaker at SGS Birthday Party!

We are delighted to announce that Knute Berger will be the keynote speaker for our SGS100 Birthday Party. The Party will be held on 20 October at Dunn Gardens, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm so mark your calendars now.

Knute Berger is a well known Seattle-based historian and writer whose work has been instrumental in preserving and sharing the heritage of the Pacific Northwest. He is widely recognized for his compelling storytelling and deep-rooted passion for unearthing the hidden narratives that define our region. Berger's writings have graced the pages of prominent publications, including Seattle Magazine, and HistoryLink, and serves as Editor-at-Large of Crosscut.com You probably know him best as the producer and presenter of the popular “Mossback Northwest” series on KCTS9.

Berger's ability to connect the past with the present, painting a vivid portrait of the people and events that have shaped our surroundings with humor and perception, is a testament to his dedication to the preservation of our cultural legacy and a perfect adjunct to the SGS100 celebration where "Our Heritage, Our Future" is our vision for the next 100 years.

Visit the SGS website to register for the event at www.seagensoc.org

Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New (Classes and Workshops)
Sunday, September 17
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Topic: Writing and Publishing a Book

NOTE: New Zoom link. You must register each month.
Register in advance from the calendar of events page at seagensoc.org
***Please be sure to select the desired date.

After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. If you register in advance, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Speaker: Jill Morelli, CG, is a writer, lecturer, and researcher specializing in methodology, the U.S. Midwest, and Scandinavia. In 2017, she founded the online “Certification Discussion Group,” sharing her journey and demystifying the process of submission of a portfolio to the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society and co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute.

https://unsplash.com/s/photos/writing-a-book
Photo by Yannick Pulver

Second Saturday: Tips for Breaking Brick Walls (Virtual via Zoom) (Classes and Workshops)
Saturday, September 9
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Tips for Breaking Brick Walls
Every genealogist at some time while researching runs up against brick walls. Brick walls are when a search question such as finding the parents of an ancestor cannot be answered. There are simple techniques to help break through these walls. Come learn about those techniques!

Register in advance for this meeting from the calendar of events page at seagensoc.org.
After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. If you register in advance, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Speaker: Lisa S. Gorrell is a Certified Genealogist®, a ProGen graduate, and an alumnus of multiple genealogical institutes. She gives genealogy presentations and writes about her family on two blogs: “Mam-ma’s Southern Family” (http://mam-massouthernfamily.blogspot.com/) and “My Trails into the Past” (http://mytrailsintothepast.blogspot.com/). She has also written a three-generation family history about her husband’s Swedish ancestors.

Photo courtesy of Estonian Stalker https://www.pexels.com/photo/view-from-broken-brick-wall-into-lake-in-nature-10645596/

JOIN US FOR AN 1923 ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Come out to Meridian Park on August 5th, 3-5PM, for some ice cream and to celebrate SGS’s centennial. We will be dishing out ice cream to all comers 1923-style. The park is located behind the Good Shepherd Center. Watch the SGS website Calendar of Events for more details.

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b13807/

SGS100 Preservation Seminar
Saturday, June 17 through Sunday, June 18
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Meeting via Zoom. Registration Required.

As part of our ongoing centennial celebration, enjoy an extra seminar focused on heirlooms, presented by The Family Curator, Denise Levenick. We will offer 4 lectures over 2 days: Saturday morning, 9 to noon, and Sunday afternoon, 1 to 4 (Pacific times). The registration fee is free to SGS members and reduced to $25 for everyone else!

Program includes--
• Preserving the Past: Archiving and Digitizing Your Family Keepsakes
• Selecting and Preparing Images for Family History Projects
• Archival Storage Strategies and Solutions
• Family History Projects for the Digital Age

To register: https://forms.gle/Dfu6Kz7Jt1YAPtQM8
All presentations will be recorded and available to SGS members and paid registrants until July 17, 2023.

For those who would like to attend at least part of the online seminar in person, on Saturday, June 17th only, SGS will screen the morning presentations from 9 to noon at the SGS Library, Suite 302 of the Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle WA 98103. When you register, please indicate if you plan to attend the Saturday morning screening.

The Family Curator, Denise Levenick, is the author of How to Archive Family Keepsakes and How to Archive Family Photos. Her roots are in Kansas, Illinois, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Germany, and she loves researching in old courthouses and town halls.

Second Saturday:
The 'Push' & the 'Pull,'
Decision-Making of the 19th Century Immigrant
(Classes and Workshops)
Saturday, June 10, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Zoom, at home or at SGS library

Jill Morelli will present "The 'Push' & the 'Pull,' Decision-Making of the 19th Century Immigrant" on Saturday this month in lieu of the usual Sunday presentation.
Rarely does an immigrant write "we immigrated because...." However, diaries, and letters can often yield clues as to why your ancestors left their home country and went to another. Using an 1864 letter written shortly after immigration to his brother still in Germany, we will explore the many reasons that can be extracted from the letter and identify some other sources if your ancestor did not conveniently write about their experience.
To view at the library, please register with the membership meeting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3c__uj0ODCe1PZc381_nIPsyP85a1rEpE8H0ak_xNR9gr4g/viewform

To view from home: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYodeuprz8iHNf3yW8zgD7t3Js9nIisRZDv
NOTE: This presentation will be preceded by a general membership meeting of the Seattle Genealogical Society, which begins at 12:30. If you do not wish to attend the membership meeting, you may join the Zoom meeting a few minutes before 1:00. If you wish to attend the membership meeting, come at 12:30. Only one advance registration is required for both events.

Speaker: Jill Morelli, CG, CGL, is a writer, lecturer, and researcher specializing in methodology, the U.S. Midwest, and Scandinavia. In 2017, she founded the online “Certification Discussion Group,” sharing her journey and demystifying the process of submission of a portfolio to the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society and co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute.

Membership Meeting and 2nd Saturday Lecture, 10 June 2023 -- In-Person Attendance I would like to reserve a seat at the SGS library for the "hybrid" events named above. They will be held in person at the Good Shepherd Center as well as broadcast via Zoom. (See website for directions to library.) The membership meeting will include an update on SGS activities, including election r...

Time-Keeping: Calendars & Feast Days
Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New
(Classes and Workshops)
Sunday, May 21
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

We who sometimes struggle with Eastern time zone vs. Pacific time zone or daylight savings time shift should appreciate the problems with changing a calendar by 11 days! We will review timekeeping in general and then look at the issues confronting the genealogist in trying to define the day, the month, and even the year an ancestral event took place.

Register in advance for this meeting visit www.seagensoc.org

After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. You will also receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Speaker: Jill Morelli, CG, is a writer, lecturer, and researcher specializing in methodology, the U.S. Midwest, and Scandinavia. In 2017, she founded the online “Certification Discussion Group,” sharing her journey and demystifying the process of submission of a portfolio to the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society and co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calendario-gregoriano.jpg

Second Saturday: Creating Keepsakes (Virtual) (Classes and Workshops)
Saturday, May 13
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Creating Keepsakes To Preserve Family Memories
with Mary Kircher Roddy

Sharing your family history can mean more than writing a book. Sprinkle your ancestors into your daily life! Learn how to create jewelry, holiday ornaments, and decorative items using ancestral photos and stories. When your friends and relatives see your ancestors, they will want to know them, too.

To register in advance for the virtual meeting visit the calendar page at www.seagensoc.org
After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. You will also receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Speaker: Mary Kircher Roddy, CG, frequently lectures in Washington State as well as at conferences across the US on methodology and records. She is a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, one of the founders of the Applied Genealogy Institute, and was recently named co-editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ). What her bios don't tell you is that she is also an avid crafter. Wait 'til you see some of her quilts!

Second Saturday: Western Overland Trails (Virtual)
(Classes and Workshops)
Saturday, April 8
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Western Overland Trails--Following the Seven Ts
with Steven W. Morrison

The major trails from the Midwest to the West will be covered in this session. The principal routes will include the Oregon and California Trails, the Mormon migration, the Santa Fe Trail, and more. These were the Overland Rivers, which helped populate the West.

To register in advance for the virtual meeting please visit the calendar of events page at www.seagensoc.org
After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. You will also receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Speaker: Steven W. Morrison has been a professional genealogist since 2006. He has been an active genealogical presenter nationally, internationally, and throughout the northwest. In addition, Steven has taught at national genealogical institutes and been published in journals here and abroad.

Announcing the SGS100 Family History Writing Contest!

The Seattle Genealogical Society is thrilled to request submissions for our Centennial Family History Contest!

100th Anniversary Theme: Family Artifact

All writers are welcomed; you do not need to be an SGS member to submit. Stories with a focus on the Pacific Northwest and/or diverse cultures of the PNW will be given extra credit! Monetary
prizes will be awarded to first ($200), second ($125) and third ($75) place winners in addition to one year of SGS membership. Additional prizes will be awarded to entries featuring stories representing diverse cultures.
Submit your story by July 1, 2023 to [email protected]
For more information visit www.seagensoc.org
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-red-typewriter-1995842/

General Membership Meeting
(VIRTUAL via Zoom)

Sunday, March 19
12:30 pm to 1:00 pm

Update on SGS activities, including proposed changes to the by-laws,

The meeting will be followed by a Virtual Sunday presentation. (See earlier post)

Meeting via Zoom
Preregistration required. Register at www.seagensoc.org

Registration page will display as "Virtual Sundays, Jan thru June." Don't worry; it's the right place. :)

After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. You will also receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. One registration for both the membership meeting and the Virtual Sunday presentation.


Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Topic: Finding Treasures in Academic Libraries

Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New
(Classes and Workshops)
Sunday, March 19
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Academic libraries, archives, and special collections are an often overlooked resource for genealogists. These collections, located on (usually) university campuses, will have resources available nowhere else. One’s ancestor does not need to have been a student or faculty member to find value in an academic library. At first, the academic library may seem intimidating or unlikely to yield information of value to genealogists, but a little preparation will make the trip to your academic library and the use of their special collections enjoyable and even fruitful. Let's demystify the veil of academia and approach these resources with confidence and a plan!

Register in advance for this meeting at www.seagensoc.org

After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. You will also receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

NOTE: This presentation will be preceded by a general membership meeting of the Seattle Genealogical Society, which begins at 12:30. If you do not wish to attend the membership meeting, you may join the Zoom meeting a few minutes before 1:00. If you wish to attend the membership meeting, come at 12:30. Only one advance registration is required for both events.

Speaker: Jill Morelli, CG, is a writer, lecturer, and researcher specializing in methodology, the U.S. Midwest, and Scandinavia. In 2017, she founded the online “Certification Discussion Group,” sharing her journey and demystifying the process of submission of a portfolio to the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society and co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute.

Image from shutterstock.

Consider this unique opportunity! Celebrate SGS's Centennial with a community of family history writers. If you are interested, fill out the form. SGS members will receive a reduced price. https://forms.gle/rikL9v4BLk92d3Fs9

SGS 2023 Spring Seminar
Friday, March 10 through Saturday, March 11
5:00 pm to 11:59 am
Meeting via Zoom. Registration Required.

Diana Elder, AGⓇ, and Nicole Dyer, authors of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide and its companion volume, Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence, and hosts of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast, will present 4 lectures over 2 days: Friday evening, 5-8, and Saturday morning, 9-noon.

Program includes:
Objectives, Analysis, and Locality Research
Research Planning, Source Citations, Research Logs, & Written Conclusions
Organizing DNA Results
Using DNA to Solve a Family History Mystery

Registration fee: Full Seminar - $55.00 (SGS Members - $45.00)
Presentations will be recorded and available (only) to registrants for a limited time.

Register at www.seagensoc.org

Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New (Classes and Workshops)
Sunday, February 19
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Topic: "Using Image Only Records: FamilySearch's Latest Record Search Option"

Register in advance for this meeting from the calendar of events page at www.seagensoc.org

After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. You will also receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Speaker: Jill Morelli, CG, is a writer, lecturer, and researcher specializing in methodology, the U.S. Midwest, and Scandinavia. In 2017, she founded the online “Certification Discussion Group,” sharing her journey and demystifying the process of submission of a portfolio to the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society and co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute.

Please join Dr. Janice Lovelace, PhD, who is speaking on Zoom this Saturday February 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific on "Black Miners in the Western U.S." It is free to attend. Here is the Zoom registration link:

http://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsf-qvqzsvE9AM6zhIIBL7SwhEOdmXgR8B

The discovery of gold and later coal in the mid-19th century drew thousands, including African Americans, to the West Coast. Where did they go and what was life like for these Black men and women? What records can researchers find of their lives? In keeping with our centennial celebration, join us to hear the little-known story of the Black families who moved west to mine coal and other minerals.

Janice Lovelace, Ph.D., a genealogical researcher and lecturer, is an instructor at the Midwest African American Genealogical Institute (MAAGI) and author of the National Genealogical Society’s online continuing education course African American Roots: A Historical Perspective. She presents on DNA, ethnic minority genealogy, and research methodology.

Centennial Kickoff: Will the 2020s Roar Like the 1920s?
(Virtual ONLY event)
Saturday, January 14
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Will the 2020s Roar like the 1920s? by historian William Woodward, in conjunction with Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau.

A pandemic, protests, and economic jolts ushered in the so-called “Roaring Twenties.” Americans adjusted in ways both innovative and counterproductive. What lessons from the 1920s can we apply to our own looming 20s?

This event will be streamed via Zoom. Register for this free virtual event at the SGS website Calendar of Events: https://seagensoc.org

NOTE: In-person attendance has been cancelled due to scheduled elevator repair at Good Shepherd. If you want to test using Zoom before this event, contact Ceil Rogers at [email protected].

William Woodward is an award-winning professor of American and Pacific Northwest history at Seattle Pacific University. His teaching, research, and writing focus on iconic elements of regional and national culture, including the military and baseball. His co-authored pictorial history of the Washington National Guard was released in 2019. Woodward lives in Seattle.

Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New
Soldiers, Spies, and Farm Wives: The Changing Roles of Women During the Civil War

Sunday, January 8, 2023
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Wars are horrific events that tear apart families, sometimes forever. These events, however, also lead to opportunities for women to fill roles that otherwise might be denied to them. Even Eleanor Roosevelt ascribed “The Great War” to advancing her activism into realms she had never dreamed of. The Civil War was no different in offering opportunities—to live life differently or even to die—to a certain group of women of the mid-1860s. We will explore pre-war opportunities and compare and contrast that with wartime and post-Civil war opportunities for women on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqf-CrqzkrGtUE6PrqgJfRXJns94SuTYfm
Or from the Calendar page at www.seagensoc.org

After registering, you will be able to join the meeting immediately from the registration window. You will also receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Speaker: Jill Morelli, CG, is a writer, lecturer, and researcher specializing in methodology, the U.S. Midwest, and Scandinavia. In 2017, she founded the online “Certification Discussion Group,” sharing her journey and demystifying the process of submission of a portfolio to the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Jill is past president of the Seattle Genealogical Society and co-founder of the Applied Genealogy Institute.

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress
https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpbh.04849/
Greenhow, Mrs. and daughter (imprisoned in old Capitol Prison in Wash. D.C.) Confederate spy

Seattle Genealogical Society & Library updated their business hours.

I have a client who needs to have a book of 800 pages scanned. It is located at SPL. I am not interested, but said I would ask around. the SPL librarians have already determined that it would take too much staff time to do. If you are interested, let me know. [email protected]