Seattle Genealogical Society Monthly Updates

Monthly updates from the Seattle Genealogical Society.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE SGS SPRING SEMINAR

If your ancestors didn’t arrive in the Mayflower, you probably need to learn more about how to research your family history in the Mid-South states of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri!
“Who’s Your Daddy? Researching Your Family History in the Mid-South States”
Speaker: C. Lynn Andersen, Accredited Genealogist (ICAPGen) in Mid-South States

When: Saturday, 9 May 2015. Doors open 9 am. Seminar ends 4:30 pm.
Where: Greenwood Senior Center, 525 N. 85th Street, Seattle WA
Registration: $40 SGS members/$50 non-members (After 30 April, add a $10 late fee.)

Seminar topics include:
An Overview of Internet Resources for the Mid-South States
Internet Resources for Mid-South Will and Probate Records
Finding and Using Land Records Online to Solve Mid-South States Research Problems
A Look at Colonial Land Records for the Mid-South States
Mail in the registration form you recently received, bring in your registration form to SGS, or register online at http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/content/2015-spring-seminar-registration
For more information on the SGS spring seminar, seminar speaker, and driving/parking suggestions, go to http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/springseminar
Come prepared for the famous SGS book sale and for the annual raffle to benefit the SGS Library Fund!
HELP WANTED – current SGS needs and openings:

WANTED: Several able-bodied members who can occasionally help rearrange folding tables and chairs for programs held at SGS (most programs are on Saturday or Sunday, between noon and 3 p.m.) Often our library desk volunteers are physically unable to do this.
We also may need help setting up the screen, computer, and LCD projector for some presentations. It isn’t difficult and we will train you, if necessary.
Commitment: 1 or 2 set-ups per month.
Contact Jean A. Roth, Director of Education at (206) 782-2629 or jeanaroth@juno.com
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

All programs are at the SGS Library at 6200 Sand Point Way unless otherwise indicated. Please Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be postponed.

Saturday, April 4, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm
CANADIAN INTEREST GROUP, Leader: David Robert

Sunday, April 5
EASTER SGS is closed for the day

Wednesday, April 8
MAC Computer Interest Group, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Fiske Genealogical Library, 1644 43rd Ave E, Seattle – Pioneer Hall in Madison Park $3 library use fee
Speakers: Diane Heddrick and Lou Daly

Thursday, April 9 – the Brick Wall Solving Session originally scheduled for this day has been moved to April 14 – See below.

Saturday, April 11
SGS IRISH INTEREST GROUP 10:15 am – 12:15 pm
“Irish Internet Sources” – Speaker: Jean A. Roth

Saturday, April 11
GERMAN INTEREST GROUP 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
“German Internet Sources” – Speaker: Jean A. Roth

Tuesday, April 14 (Date Change)
BRICK WALL SOLVING SESSION 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
Join SGS members for a problem-solving session. This is an open forum format.

Wednesday, April 15
PROGRAM MEETING – HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
This is a two part program. First we’ll give a short introduction to “Accessing Holocaust Databases.” From deportation records to lists of the martyred to survivor testimonies, the Holocaust has generated a vast amount of documents and records – many of which can be researched online.
The second part of the program is a little-known and chillingly unique story of the “The Ahnenerbe – the Nazi Genealogy Ancestral Heritage Program.” Its Family History records can go back into the 1700’s and it has affected German genealogy research for decades both in a negative and positive way. It inspired Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones” movies with the Quest for the Ark of the Covenant and the Search for the Holy Grail. Speaker: Jean A. Roth

Saturday, April 25 – SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
Judith Eccles Wight, AG from Salt Lake City at the SGS Library 10:15 am – 12:00 pm
“My Delia Holland isn’t WHO and WHERE She’s supposed to Be.”
This is based on a case study that Judith did on a woman she researched; her name and place of origin were identified in U.S. records and through family records and stories. There was only one problem – she couldn’t be found in Ireland. Judith will give tips for solving both Irish personal name and place name problems that may prevent you from finding your Irish ancestors.
Judith Eccles Wight, owner of Wight House Research, has been an Accredited Genealogist specializing in Irish research for almost 40 years. She writes extensively for genealogical periodicals including Irish Roots and is a popular teacher and lecturer at genealogical events and Legacy Family Tree webinars. She worked 10 ½ years as a British Reference Consultant at the Family History Library. She and her husband recently completed a 15 month LDS Church mission at the Church History Library where her research skills were put to work in documenting people.
Space is limited to 50; call (522-8658) or stop by the SGS library to reserve a place; we’ll announce this to other groups after April 6, if open seats haven’t been claimed by that date.

Sunday, April 26
ETHNIC SERIES: OSTFRIESLAND 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
“Dear Brothers and Sisters: A Letter to Ostfriesland” An overview of an area of Germany contiguous with the Dutch border, its history, culture and people.
Speaker: Jill Morelli

Saturday, May 2, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm
CANADIAN INTEREST GROUP, Leader: David Robert

Tuesday, May 5 – GIVE BIG DAY – make a contribution to SGS online on this date, and we will receive additional funds from the special non-profit cultural funds. See http://www.seattlefoundation.org/GivingCenter/GiveBIG/Pages/Default.aspx for more details.

Wednesday, May 6th – on-line Webinar
Ginny Sharp Sommarstrom, SGS member and former SGS President, will present a Webinar sponsored by the Minnesota Genealogical Society on this date, titled Researching Your Swedish Ancestry in the 21st Century. More information at http://mngs.org/eventListings.php?nm=38.
(if you’re not familiar with webinars, see the Bonus Tip of the Week, below.)

Saturday, May 9
SGS SPRING SEMINAR – All Day
“Who’s Your Daddy? Researching Your Family History in the Mid-South States
Greenwood Senior Center – 525 N. 85th Street Speaker: C. Lynn Anderson
For more details, see the top of this page.
TIP OF THE WEEK – GENEALOGY GOPHERS
Researching family histories online is an activity that has begun to come of age. Thousands of family history books and magazines can be searched directly from multiple websites. But searching through these websites and combing through the jumble of information they return can be a frustrating, costly, and fruitless process.
The newly launched family history website, GenGophers.com, solves these problems by providing precise and free access to the industry’s most effective online search tools and a growing library of more than 40,000 downloadable family and personal histories, local histories, and genealogy newsletters.
GenGophers.com is the only website that – completely for free – returns genealogy book results only. Results include the publication name and a snippet from the page showing the highlighted search terms. Relevant pages and books can be downloaded for free from the GenGophers.com website.
Check them out at https://www.gengophers.com/#/
BONUS TIP OF THE WEEK: WHAT IS A WEBINAR, ANYWAY?
In short, a webinar is a web-based seminar, that one can “attend” from home.
Here is a link to an on-line explanation of how webinars work: http://blog.geneawebinars.com/p/how-it-works.html