Seattle Genealogical Society Announcements and Meetings

PARKING CHANGES AT SGS

Street parking in front of the SGS Library is often difficult, due to the limited spaces there and the use of those spaces by residents who live in the apartments above the library.
In an effort to improve parking for our patrons, particularly those with limited mobility, in April the Board authorized (and the landlord supported) our application to the City for installation of two two-hour time-limited parking places in front of our entrance.  The signs have now been placed.
Anyone with a handicapped placard or license plate can park in these spaces as long as they wish, without receiving a parking ticket.  Our hope is that the restricted places will make using the library easier for our members who need to park close to the building.  And others can use these spaces, when they are available, particularly for short visits or for dropping things off at the Library.
CONGRATULATIONS TO KAREN PORTZER!

Seattle Metro’s RapidRide buses and stations have a new poem every day of the year through November 2015 as part of the Poetry on Buses public art program.  The poem to be highlighted on July 30, 2015, is entitled “Irish Morn” by SGS member Karen Portzer.  This is the second year that one of Karen’s poems was selected.
If you’d like to read her poem, or any of the other poems in this series, visit http://poetryonbuses.org/collection/.


HELP WANTED

NEEDED: Someone to give one or more presentations on how to use FOLD3, the web site formerly known as Footnote.com.  If you have experience and expertise with this repository of military records, and would like to share that with others, please contact Jean A. Roth, SGS Director of Education at jeanaroth@juno.com.

NEEDED: Several more members for the 2016 Seminar Planning Committee, to join the 4 members we presently have.  This committee has its first meeting at SGS on Wednesday, July 15 at 6 p.m.  Anyone interested in possibly being part of this critical committee, or who has ideas about either subjects or speakers for next year’s seminars is invited to attend and participate.  Many hands make light work!
Contact Jean Roth, jeanaroth@juno.com for more information.

NEEDED: Still need at least two more people each day to help at the SGS Booth at the Scottish Highland games, the last weekend in July. Contact Jean Roth, jeanaroth@juno.com for more information.
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.

Wednesday, July 15, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
PROGRAM MEETING: ROUTES to OUR ROUTES”: EXPANSION WESTWARD FROM THE ATLANTIC
Our “Manifest Destiny” with Trails, Timelines, and Transportation. We’ll discuss North America’s major migration patterns and regional history.
Speaker: Jean A. Roth , SGS Director of Education

Wednesday, July 15, 6-8 p.m.
SGS SEMINAR PLANNING MEETING
Preliminary planning for 2016 and 2017 – topics and speakers

Saturday, July 18, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
BEGINNING GENEALOGY CLASS

An overview of basic genealogy techniques and resources. Advance registration requested at SGS.  Instructor: Janice Lovelace, SGS Vice President

Wednesday, July 22, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm.
BRICK WALL PROBLEM SOLVING
Join SGS members for a problem-solving session.  This is an open forum format.
Leader: Jean A. Roth

Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26 SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES – Enumclaw. SGS will have a booth and offer genealogical help. We need volunteers for both days and for two hour sessions. You will be provided with a ticket for the games.  Please contact Jean Roth at jeanaroth@juno.com or (206) 782-2629

Sunday, July 26, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
PROGRAM: “INSANITY IN THE 19th CENTURY: ONE FAMILY’S STORY”,
Speaker: Jill Morelli.
We are told as children, “Shhh, don’t talk about Aunt Jane.” As genealogists, we may find that she was in an insane asylum or mental health hospital (depending on the era of the confinement). Explore the history of institutionalization and treatment of the insane from Bedlam to the 20th century with an in-depth look at the life of one man confined in Illinois in the 19th century. Records publically available will be compared with those accessible through the courts.

AUGUST

Sunday, August 2, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
PROGRAM MEETING: “USING “FIND A GRAVE” FOR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH.” 
“Find A Grave” is a resource for finding the final disposition of family, friends, and famous people as a virtual cemetery experience.  “Find a Grave” memorials may contain rich content including pictures, biographies and more specific information. Speaker: Karen Sipe.

Sunday, August 16, 1:30-3:30 pm
PROGRAM MEETING: “LOVE, COURTSHIP, SEX & MARRIAGE”
Until Eve – It was a man’s world.  Without women, there would be no genealogy; but their status has changed throughout history, and this has had a profound effect on the records we use for research.  We’ll explore the surprising customs and practices of our ancestors, and the place of women in society over time. Speaker: Jean A. Roth

Saturday, August 22, 1:30 pm  – 4:00 pm
ETHNIC WORKSHOP: “BREAKING THROUGH THE WALL OF SLAVERY: AN INTRODUCTION to AFRICAN-AMERICAN GENEALOGY” Speaker:  Janice Lovelace, SGS Vice-President

Sunday, August 23, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
BRICK WALL PROBLEM SOLVING 

Join SGS members for a problem-solving session.  This is an open forum format.

Sunday August 30, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
PROGRAM MEETING: “USING FIRE INSURANCE MAPS” These maps, including the famous Sandborn Maps, were originally created in the years following the Civil War and used for assessing fire insurance liability in urban areas in the United States. They are a highly useful resource for historical and genealogical research.
Speaker: Jill Morelli

SAVE THE DATES

August 13-15 Northwest Genealogy Conference
Arlington, WA  – details at www.hwgc.orgc

Saturday October 17 and Sunday, October 18
Seattle Genealogical Society Fall Seminar
“The Family History Detective: Finding Solutions to Your Toughest Research Problems.” Speaker: Dr. Thomas W. Jones
Visit http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/content/seminars for more information.