The May calendar at FamilySearch.org is full of free online learning opportunities for those new to genealogy or new to the FamilySearch website. The classes are free. Registration is required. Start out on the right foot with this invaluable instruction. A sampling of the titles slated for beginners and coming up on the calendar in May are: May 3 – Using the FamilySearch Catalog (Beginner) May 4 – Using the FamilySearch Wiki (Beginner) May 13 – Comenzando tú árbol en FamilySearch (Beginner) May 20 – The US Colored Troops & Buffalo Soldiers: History, Records, Strategies (Beginner) May 25 – Navigate, Add, Edit, Standardize, Print on FamilySearch Family Tree (Beginner) May 27 – Ask Your United States and Canada Research Questions (Beginner)
For a full list visit: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/img_auth.php/0/01/May_FHL_Webinars.pdf
Each quarter, the Seattle Genealogical Society recognizes one member as our Volunteer of the Quarter. Our Volunteer for Spring Quarter 2021 is Sue Schack Jensen.
Sue is being honored for her work as Director of the Library, and the creator and host of the weekly discussion group, Brags and Bricks.
Sue has been a member of SGS for 3 years. She started training to take over as librarian almost as soon as she joined SGS. Her training was following her predecessor, Ann Wright, around the library and absorbing the position! Due to health issues, Sue had to resign as librarian during her second term.
Sue continues to facilitate the Brags and Bricks social group that meets via Zoom each Wednesday from 10-11:30 am. Brags and Bricks is an informal group where participants meet to discuss genealogy, their brick walls, or even brag a little about a success. They share research knowledge, as well as check up on each other’s well-being. It’s been a good group, Sue thinks. She loves meeting with the people in this group and seeing them get answers to their questions.
Sue’s genealogical interests lie in the German areas where she has been unsuccessful researching her paternal side of the family. In retrospect, she thinks this family line might actually be Scandinavian instead of German!! Sue loves researching and will research anything and everything. She has been researching family for over 30 years. Looking for ancestors is just a lot of fun, she says. She started out trying to discover what the “domestic outrage” that occurred in her maternal 2nd great grandparents’ lives really entailed. It involved lies, a seduction, a murder, a trial, and commitment to an insane asylum.
Besides an avid genealogist, Sue is also a knitter, weaver, spinner of yarn, and painter. Currently, she is learning bookbinding, sculpting, and web design with WordPress.
Many thanks to Sue for her service to SGS, both past and present.
IT’S ALMOST HERE! REGISTER FOR OUR SPRING SEMINAR TODAY
Are you knocking on the right door?
Do you know where to search next?
If you’re seeking ancestors in England and throughout the United Kingdom, this event is aimed at bolstering your knowledge of how and where to research across the pond.
Join us Saturday, May 15, 2021, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm PDT for A Day of English Research!
Are you Lost? Using Maps and Gazetteers for English Research:Learn what maps, gazetteers and directories are available for researching your ancestors in England. Learn from examples how to make good use of these tools to find where your ancestors are, what they did, when, where, and why they may have moved.
Effective Use of England’s National Archives Website:Learn how to effectively use the research tools, indexes, educational tools and catalogs on this large website to find your ancestors and to put them into their correct historical context.
English Parish Registers: How to Access, Use and Interpret:Learn how to access, use, and correctly interpret the information found in the christening, marriage, and burial registers of the English parish church. See examples of the problems to watch for and the clues given for further research. Learn what to do when your ancestor is not found.
Buried Treasures: What’s in the English Parish Chest:The English parish was both an ecclesiastical and a civil jurisdiction. Both jurisdictions created informative records and kept them in the Parish Chest. This presentation will examine the breadth and wealth of information that can be found, going well beyond the baptism, marriage, and burial registers.
About our Speaker
Paul Milner, a native of northern England, professional genealogist and international lecturer. He teaches English and Scottish research tracks at SLIG, IGHR and the British Institute. Paul is a recipient of UGA Fellow Award (2018) and the FGS David S. Vogels Jr Award (2019). He is the author of six publications providing how-to guidance for English and Scottish researchers. He is the past-president of the BIGWILL, and board member of the APG, FGS and GSG. Paul focuses on British Isles resources and methodology on his blog at www.milnergenealogy.com
* SAVE THE DATE * Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, “How to Utilize the JewishGen email Discussion Group”, Monday, May 10, 2021, 6:00pm via Zoom
Phil Goldfarb, moderator of the group, will speak. Visit : www.jgsws.org for the link.
Seattle Genealogical Society Spring Seminar, with Paul Miner Saturday, May 15, 2021, 9:00am – 3:00pm PDT
This seminar will be virtual online. Paul specializes in British Isles research. See the feature story in this eNews! for details and registration.
Southern California Genealogical Society, Jamboree 2021, June 11-12, 2021
There is lots going on at SCGS in June : multiple conferences, Genetic Genealogy, June 4-5, and Jamboree 2021, June 11-12, plus mid-week special events, June 7-10. Too much to mention here. All of it virtual, online this year. Check out their website to learn more about it.
https://genealogyjamboree.com
The International German Genealogy Partnership presents,a “Researching Together Worldwide / Weltweit Gemeinsam Forschen”, the first ever International German Genealogy Virtual Conference, July 17-24, 2021
Is German genealogy one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2021? If so, be sure to mark your calendars for July 17-24, 2021. The IGGP Conference, which only takes place every two years, is your chance to take a deep dive into all things German genealogy – and learn from the experts themselves. This year, the conference will be virtual, which means you can tune in from anywhere in the world! https://iggp.org
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS*
In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed until further notice and SGS in-person events have been replaced with online events. ** Go to the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links and for any last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Saturday, May 1, 2021, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, FamilySearch Interest Group with Lou Daly, Discover the many ways to use FamilySearch. At each meeting a different aspect of the website will be featured. There will be time for Q & A. Want to join the mailing list? Email Lou: loudaly@nwlink.com
Sunday, May 2, 2021,1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, To be included you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join.
Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.
Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 am, 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.
Saturday, May 8, 2021, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) , with Rob Sexton, learn and share tips & tricks for using Family Tree Maker 2017 by Software MacKiev. Want to join this SIG? Email operations@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org Saturday, May 8, 2021, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Second Saturday Series: “Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy”, presenter will be Dr Penny Walters
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 am, 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.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm, MAC SIG Interest Group, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske, this group meets every other month from October through June on the second Wednesday of the month. Meetings address topics and resources helpful for those using MacIntosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion program in their genealogy research.
The link to logon will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. People wishing to attend should email dhettrick@earthlink.net to be added to the mailing list.
Co-Chairs: Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick
Saturday, May 15, 2021, 9:00 am-3:00 pm PDT, SGS 2021 Spring Seminar with Paul Milner, all details and registration at: www.eventbrite.com/e/seattle-genealogical-society-spring-seminar-2021-tickets-140606494811 Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 am, 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.
Wednesday, May 26, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 am, 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.
South King County Genealogical Society is pleased to present guest speaker Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL Seminar topics: 9:00AM “FINDING THE LAW” 10:45AM “WHERE THERE IS – OR ISN’T – A WILL” 1:00PM “ROGUES, RASCALS AND RAPSCALLIONS: THE FAMILY BLACK SHEEP” 2:30PM “DNA AND THE GOLDEN RULE: THE LAW AND ETHICS OF GENETIC GENEALOGY”
COME JOIN US FOR A FUN DAY WITH JUDY. WE’LL ALSO HAVE DOOR PRIZES!!
MAY 2021 MEETINGS & EVENTS
Be in the know! Receive notices for our virtual meetings, as well as the latest genealogy news and tips, by subscribing (free) to the online group at https://skcgs.groups.io
Skcgs.groups.io is the SKCGS online discussion and collaboration arena where:
we communicate and share information with each other
other than your email, you are not required to provide personal information
you can unsubscribe at any time
Monday, May 3, 2021, 1pm-3pm PT
Persons of Interest #Research Opportunity
Join us to help tackle the brick walls in your tree! Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Research-Group for meeting link, meeting reminders and discussion. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.
Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 6:30pm-8:30pm PT Board Meeting SKCGS Board Meeting. All SKCGS members are invited to attend; only Directors may vote. Write to Board@skcgs.org for the meeting link.
Friday, May 7, 2021, 12:30pm-2:30pm PT German Interest Group (EGS) “From Pikeman to Pennsylvanian: Swiss Ancestral Origins” presented by Claire Gebben Visitors are always welcome and can request an invitation via Contact tab on the website no later than 2 days prior to the meeting: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/
Monday, May 10, 2021, 1pm-3pm PT Genetic Genealogy/DNA This group is for genealogists who use DNA data as part of their research. Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy for meeting link, meeting reminders and discussion. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021, 6pm-7pm PT “Uncovering Community Stories from Railroad History” hosted by King County Library System Presented by Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive in Burien in partnership with Newcastle Historical Society Learn about our local Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive and the stories and treasures it holds. Access to railroad records can expose new dimensions to genealogy research, local history and communities. This presentation will get you started on learning more about railroad history in the Pacific Northwest. Registration is required: https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/605e08ead8233a450061c85d KCLS will send the Zoom link the day before the program
Saturday, May 15, 2021, 9:30am PT Social time, 10am-Noon Program Annual Membership Meeting – election of officers followed by “Finding WWI & WWII Ancestors Online” presented by KB Barcomb There is an ever-growing multitude of WWI and WWII records and documents available online. Learn what they are, where they are, and how to use them. Most importantly, learn effective strategies for finding online content related to your WWI & WWII ancestors. This class is designed to benefit both advanced genealogists and those new to family history research. Visitors welcome! For meeting reminders and link, go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/society This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.
Monday, May 17, 2021, 1pm-3pm PT Technical User Group “Using Evernote for Genealogy” presented by Carol Friedel The Technology User Group is for sharing knowledge and learning about technology tools, media, apps and websites. Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG for meeting link, meeting reminders and discussion. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.
Monday, May 24, 2021, 1pm-3pm PT Genealogy Chat Meet up and chat about genealogy subjects and topics. We have no agenda; we just like one another! Go to https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Society for meeting link, discussion and meeting reminders. This is a virtual meeting with closed captioning available. Dial-in (audio only) is also available.
Dear Friends at Washington State Genealogical Society,
We are so excited about this year’s virtual Focus on Societies program that we are offering societies a special group discount of more than 42% off the regular registration fee. Focus on Societies is virtual 21 May 2021.
Register five representatives by 12 May for Focus on Societies and you will pay only $20 per person. That’s $15 off the registration fee of $35 per person and a total discount of $75.
NGS is offering such a generous discount to insure that your officers and staff can attend all twelve lectures in three separate breakout sessions. Registrants also will be able to access the lectures on-demand in mid-June.
Communications to Members Finding Good Material for Society Newsletters Focused Learning and Collaboration: Special Interest Groups in Your Genealogical Society Website and Social Media Communications and Content Strategies for Societies Using Your Genealogical Society’s Email List to Nurture and Grow Your Society Managing Events Society Management—Volunteer Motivations: Getting and Keeping Your Volunteers A Walk Among the Tombstones: Preparing for and Presenting a Cemetery Tour Event Management Intro for Local Genealogy Societies Grow Your Society with Quality Events Going Virtual! Online Meetings: Helping Your Society Move into a Virtual World Don’t Reinvent the Wheel: Use the TxSGS Preservation Capture System for Your Society’s Digitization Going Virtual with the Next Generation: Involving Younger People in Virtual Meetings Digital Marketing for the Modern Society Jill Morelli’s opening talk on how challenges and lessons learned during the pandemic led to innovative ideas and new opportunities; Society Shout Out, when we’ll share the best ideas from societies and organizations; and Cheri Hudson Passey’s update on how NGS is supporting societies after its merger with FGS, including plans for new benefits and initiatives. Your leadership team also will enjoy By the way, spread the word since this offer is available to all genealogical and historical societies. Membership in NGS is not required.
To learn more about the NGS 2021 Virtual Family History Conference’s week long events, 17-21 May, visit the conference website and download a copy of the program brochure.
Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society inspires, connects, and leads the family history community by fostering collaboration and best practices in advocacy, education, preservation, and research. We enable people, cultures, and organizations to discover the past and create a lasting legacy. The Falls Church, Virginia, based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian.
Register Today! You have only twelve days left to register for the National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2021 Live! We can give you twelve great reasons to attend. Nineteen Sessions with live Q&A and later available on-demand presented by nationally recognized speakers including Barbara Vines Little, Thomas W. Jones, Elizabeth Shown Mills, and more. Exclusively for NGS Live!—A presentation by special guest speaker and award-winning author Dani Shapiro. Her talk, Family Secrets, will not be available later. Twenty-one, free On-Demand!, sponsored bonus sessions. A Conference Syllabus including more than 130 session handouts for future reference. Admittance to the NGS four-day Virtual Expo Hall, 18-21 May, with more than thirty exhibitors. Free Access to Ancestry, 18-21 May, including Ancestry, Fold3, and Newspapers Publishers Extra. Inclusion in drawings of terrific giveaways, including: Five, Annual World Explorer memberships to Ancestry Five, Annual Fold3 subscriptions Five, Annual Newspapers.com Publisher’s Extra subscriptions Five, Ancestry DNA kits Three, One Year MyHeritage Complete Plans Two, MyHeritage DNA Kits Two, Free registrations for the NGS 2022 Family History Conference in Sacramento, CA Two, One-year NGS Memberships Free access on 18 May to the SLAM! Idea Showcase highlighting innovative projects and programs by societies, libraries, archives, and museums (SLAMs) around the United States. The first of fourteen BCG Skillbuilding Lectures. During Live! Craig R. Scott discusses establishing identity and kinship with military records. On-Demand features thirteen additional BCG sessions. Ten lectures on DNA. Leading off our DNA session during Live! are Angie Bush and Crista Cowan, whose lectures are Leveraging Genetic Networks to Break Down Brick Walls and AncestryDNA: Putting Your DNA Results to Work to Further Your Research, respectively. Eight more sessions on DNA will be available on-demand. Eight sessions focused on African American genealogy. The Live! lectures feature Ric Murphy, The Story of Virginia: Arrival of the First Africans; and Janice Lovelace, Going Offline: Finding African American Resources. Another six sessions are included in On-Demand! Thirteen sessions on the rich genealogical history of Virginia, America’s first permanent English colony. Four leading genealogists open up discussions during Live! They include: Eric G. Grundset, Virginia’s Anglican/Episcopal Church Parishes and Their Surviving Records; Judy G. Russell, Wilde Beasts, Sabbath Breakers, and Incorrigible Rogues: Early Virginia Laws; Vic Dunn, Scotch Irish from Pennsylvania Through Virginia and the Carolinas; and Shelley Viola Murphy, Virginia Burned Counties: So What? An additional nine lectures are included in the On-Demand Virginia track. Additional On-Demand sessions are available in packages of twenty or forty sessions of your choice.
These are just some of the highlights of NGS Live! Don’t miss out on a rich array of learning opportunities for every area of interest and every level of expertise in family history. Register Today!
Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society inspires, connects, and leads the family history community by fostering collaboration and best practices in advocacy, education, preservation, and research. We enable people, cultures, and organizations to discover the past and create a lasting legacy. The Falls Church, Virginia, based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian.
We are inviting all the nonprofit networks in the state to join us for a super network meeting, because, thanks to Zoom, we can! The 90-minute session will feature 3 presenters from the upcoming Washington State Nonprofit Conference, delivering 10-minute power learning presentations, followed by facilitated breakout discussions. The event is free and the content supercharged, so please plan to take notes and not miss a minute. I look forward to seeing you then! Gabriel Cruden
If you are not able to join us at this time, please feel free to send a note with your thoughts or questions and I’ll be sure to share them in the meeting and send out the recording to everyone who is registered.Register for the May 10 meetingHosted by Washington Nonprofits, the Innovia Foundation, and Yakima Valley Community Foundation, this meeting will convene the Spokane, One River, Central Washington, and Ferry & Stevens County Nonprofit Networks. The gathering is open to anyone with an interest in nonprofits.
Saturday, May 1 Monthly EWGS Meeting 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm Meeting via Zoom
Digging Down to the Bare Bones with AnnaLisa Ludwig from Greenwood Cemetery Also, David Luders will talk about the Find A Grave Photo Taking event to be held on May 4th at Riverside Cemetery. Why don’t you volunteer NOW. . . or at Saturday’s meeting.
Get Ready for a Zoom Meeting or Webinar
WITH US??? Due to the COVID 19 pandemic EWGS wants to help us stay in contact with our fellow genealogists while we can’t meet face to face. meeting. We have chosen to use ZOOM for our meetings. For details and instructions to participate, go to “Meeting Information” (listed on the menu at the left side) or just click here.
Are you at a loss over what gift to give for Mother’s Day? Dinner out at a special restaurant may still not work this year. Round-trip airline tickets to visit you may not be an option for everyone just yet either. But, if your special mom is interested in her family’s history, a gift of registration to the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Virtual 2021 Family History Conference might be the perfect gift for her.
On Wednesday and Thursday, 19‒20 May 2021, from the comfort of home she can participate in NGS’s premier, two-day, virtual conference event― NGS 2021 Live!. Speakers include two award-winning authors and nationally recognized speakers who explore a wide variety of topics on researching family history. The two-day event also features a virtual expo hall with the newest genealogical products and services and drawings for exciting genealogy-related prizes.
In addition to NGS 2021 Live!, NGS offers a choice of either a twenty or forty lecture package on-demand. With these options, she may choose from more than eighty-five on-demand sessions available for viewing starting on 15 June. Program content also includes more than twenty additional bonus lectures provided by conference sponsors and sponsoring organizations.
As a free bonus, she can participate in the SLAM! Idea Showcase on 18 May. This debut showcase highlights creative and innovative projects or programs by societies, libraries, archives, and museums (SLAMs) from around the country.
Why not get your special person a wonderfully unique Mother’s Day gift. Purchase a registration for her to the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Virtual Family History Conference. Register a Special Mom Today
Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society inspires, connects, and leads the family history community by fostering collaboration and best practices in advocacy, education, preservation, and research. We enable people, cultures, and organizations to discover the past and create a lasting legacy. The Falls Church, Virginia, based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian.
You are free to copy articles to any non-commercial web site or message board or printed publication you wish. Don’t bother to ask permission, just do it.
Founded in 1903, the 
