Seattle Genealogical Society News


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR IRISH WEEK!
Volunteers are needed to staff the SGS Booth, pass out brochures, and answer questions at the Irish Week Festival at Seattle Center Armory on Saturday, March 16 & Sunday, March 17. Each volunteer will be scheduled for a 2 hour stint in the booth. If you can help on either day, please contact Jean Roth at 206 782-2629. 
A NOTE FROM HONEST ABE 
With Lincoln’s birthday just last week and President’s Day coming up on Monday, now is the perfect time for an anecdote about my ancestor, Wait Talcott, Abe Lincoln, and Abe’s friend, Elihu Washburne. When visiting the Talcott Free Library in Rockton, IL, the librarian showed our group some pieces of our family memorabilia they held in their collection. Here was this short, amusing note from Abe to Wait. A photo of the note will follow, but for ease of reading, I’ll transcribe it for you. It shows even Honest Abe was not above a little nepotism.

“Executive Mansion,
Washington   Aug 27, 1862

Hon. Wait Talcott,
My dear Sir,

I have determined to appoint you collector. I now have a very special request to make of you, which is that you will make no war upon Mr. Washburne, who is also my friend of longer standing than yourself. I shall even be obliged if you can do something for him if occasion presents.

Yours truly,  A Lincoln”

While Abe requires no introduction, the backstories for Wait and Elihu are, they were all politicians in Illinois. Wait aligned himself with the anti-slavery Liberty Party and was in the Illinois Senate, representing Winnebago, Carroll, Boone, and Ogle Counties, from 1854-1858. During that time he became friends with Abe. After the passage of the Internal Revenue Act, President Lincoln appointed Wait Collector of Internal Revenue for the Illinois 2nd Congressional District, a position he held 1862-1867. Wait was also selected to represent Illinois at Lincoln’s funeral.

Elihu Washburne was in the US House of Representatives from 1853-1869.  He was an early staunch supporter of Lincoln, both in his Senate and Presidential bids. Originally a Whig, Washburne evolved into a leader of the Radical Republicans, supporting African American suffrage and civil rights. 

Certainly, Abe appreciated and rewarded their long standing loyalty, when in his own words “occasion presents”.  

 

SAVE THE DATE

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State proudly presents

“Using MacKiev’s Family Tree Maker Software”

presented by Mark Olsen, Family Tree Maker Ambassador

DATE:  Monday, March 4, 2019 (1st Monday)

Note Date, Time and Place Change for this one evening:
  Downtown Bellevue Public Library, Room 1
  1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA  98004

·        Come early to network with other attendees and to check out the fabulous genealogy section of the Bellevue Library on the 2nd floor!

·        Free Wi-Fi available.

·        Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and Presentation starts promptly at 6:30 p.m.

·        Free admission and refreshments

 

Ulster Historical Foundation, USA Lecture Tour 2019
Lake City Center, 1916 N Lakewood Dr,
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

Wednesday, March 20, 2019, 1:00pm-8:30pm

Enjoy this all day Irish & Scots-Irish Research Seminar with presenters Finton Mullan and Gillian Hunt from the Ulster Historical Foundation, Belfast.  Register by February 20th for the early bird price of $35. It will be $50 after that.

For more information on the USA lecture tour, or the Spokane area Coeur d’Alene, ID stop in particular, visit their website: https://www.ancestryireland.com/lecture-tour-2019/

 

Beyond the Basics in Irish Genealogy,
Fairview Christian School,
844 NE 78th St,  
Seattle, WA 98115
Saturday, March 23, 9:00 am – 5:00pm

Irish genealogy workshop with regional specialists Steven W Morrison and Jean A Roth. Organized by the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle. More information and registration at the link below. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/irish-genealogy-workshop-tickets-55102458938

The ABCs of DNA Genealogy,
With Janet O’Conor Camarata,  
Mercer Island Library,
4400 88th Ave SE,
Mercer Island, WA
Thursday, March 28, 7-8 pm   

Genealogist Janet O’Conor Camarata provides tips and tools for selecting and interpreting DNA results from a variety of health and ancestry DNA providers, like Ancestry, FamilyTreeDNA, 23andMe and more. Designed for the non-technical, genealogy oriented audience. Please register. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library, in partnership with Mercer Island Historical Society.

Registration link:  https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/5c350f9b48fd702a009916d9

Olympia Genealogical Society,
Beyond the Basics: Genetic Genealogy In Practice
Olympia, WA
Saturday, March 30, 8:30am-3:30pm   

Seminar presented by Blaine Bettinger, the Genetic Genealogist. Additional information and registration at : 
https://olygensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=4 

          SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. 

FEBRUARY

Saturday, February 16, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Irish SIG, Jean Roth, leader ** Canceled due to weather **

Saturday, February 16, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, German SIG, Jean Roth, leader ** Canceled due to weather **

MARCH

Saturday, March 2, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly is leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org

Sunday, March 3, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright. Q&A first hour, while focus second hour in on Genome Mate Pro.

Saturday, March 9, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, (FTM) FAMILY TREE Maker Users Group, co-leaders Reiley Kidd & Jess Ramey, meets on the 2nd Saturday of every odd month (Jan 2019, Mar 2019, May 2019). Family Tree Maker is the genealogy software long associated with Ancestry.com  

Saturday, March 9, 12:30 pm-1:00 pm, Seattle Genealogical Society Membership Meeting, important meeting – discuss proposed bylaw changes and board nominees 

Saturday, March 9, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Second Saturday Speakers Series – “Finding Your Female Ancestors” with Lisa Oberg

Saturday, March 30, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm, DNA SIG , this group meets quarterly at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115, co-chaired by Cary Bright & Herb McDaniel. For more info contact SGSDNASIG@gmail.com