WRITING CONTEST WINNERS
Congratulations to the winners of last fall’s “They Survived” writing contest!
Thank you to all who submitted pieces relating stories of challenging times, perseverance, and survival. Three submissions in particular stood out to our judges and they will be showcased in the upcoming Journal.
First place goes to Scott Kampen with his story about the Children’s Blizzard of 1888 in Dakota Territory. Scott will receive free entry to the SGS seminar of his choice as his prize.
The second place piece is by Julia Marconi, whose story includes the sinking of the SS Eastland in the Chicago River on July 24, 1915. Julia will receive a renewal membership to SGS.
And third place goes to Edward Swierczewski, Jr. who presents his family lines as seen through the lens of survivorship. Edward will receive a copy of “Walking with Your Ancestors” by Melinda Kashuba.
We hope these works will inspire and encourage you to sharpen your own pencils and get writing!
THE 1890 SEATTLE CENSUS SUBSTITUTE In the Fall of 2011, SGS formed a coordinating committee headed by member Chuck Richards to investigate the viability of producing an 1890 US Census substitute for the Seattle area. After several ups and downs, and the efforts of many SGS members, this database is now available on the SGS website. SGS is still working on a online searchable interface for this data, but for now it can be accessed via a research request; the same way you place a research request for the King County Court Cases Index (KC3I) and VFW members card databases. On the SGS website home page’s left-side menu, click on “Research and Databases”. Then you will see “Research Services” in the sub-menu that drops down; click on that “Research Services. Our plan is to have this database’s search function operational for our membership within the next few months. This census substitute is the result of many hours of work by many SGS volunteers. The initial project committee was chaired by Chuck Richards and included Chuck Richards, Jackie Lawson, Lynn Magnuson, Sue Melville, Mary Kircher Roddy, and Jan Walker. Over the many years it took to compile this dataset and prepare it for use, the following individuals helped in the effort: Dona Bubelis, Bruce Finlayson, Lyndall Foulds, Chris Hanley, Tina Hollingsworth, Kate Johnston, Kerri Keil, Michelle Khuon, JoAnne King, Donna Koerker, Marilyn McGuire, Virgil Morgan, Nancy C. Parks, Emily Phillips, Winifred Price, Ginny Sommarstrom, Judy Tomassene, Doug Whalley, Clarice Wilson, Charlotte Wixon, and Ann Wright.
We thank all of them for their efforts.
SGS MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE The next SGS Membership Meeting will take place Saturday, June 11, 2022, at 12:30 PM. This will be a virtual meeting via Zoom. The results of the upcoming SGS election will be announced. The Second Saturday presentation by Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal will follow at 1:00 PM.
Preregistration is required. 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 will work for both the membership meeting and the Second Saturday presentation.
SAVE THE DATE
Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State,
2nd Monday meetings
usually 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST
JGSWS meets on the second Monday of each month, from Sept-June. Doors open at 6:30 PM unless noted otherwise.
On Monday, May 9, 2022, “JRI-Poland: Exploring Your Roots in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian Empires” will be presented by Robinn Magid & Howard Zakai. The meeting will open at 6:30 pm for networking. The presentation will start at 7:00 pm. Registration is required.
http://www.jgsws.org/meetings.php
SGS 2022 Spring Seminar, Virtual,
“Lands and Maps and Deeds, Oh My!”
Friday-Sunday, June 3-5, 2022
The schedule:
- Friday, 5:00 PM, keynote with Cyndi Ingle,
“Pin Your Ancestors Down with Google Maps and Google Earth” - Saturday, 9:00 AM – noon
- Angela Packer McGhie, CG
- “Land Entry Files and Tract Books”
- Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL
- “Military Bounty Lands: Revolution to Mexican War”
- Sunday, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Melinda Kashuba, PhD
- “Using Migration Maps in Genealogical Research”
- Kimberly T Powell
- “Deed Book Indexing Systems”
Registration is open. Click here: Register for the SGS 2022 Spring Seminar
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Beginning in May, our library will be open on Wednesday, too.
New Hours : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658Masks are recommended inside our library at the Good Shepherd Center. Due to COVID the events listed below continue to be virtual, online via Zoom.NOTICE: SGS has imposed more security on our Zoom meetings. Some meetings will begin with a waiting room. The host must take action to let people into each meeting. The host will try to open the waiting room about 10 minutes ahead of time. Please be patient.
All times posted are Pacific time unless otherwise noted.
Saturday, Apr 30, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:30 pm, DNA SIG with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens.To participate you must be on the DNA SIG email list. Contact Cary at sgsdnasig@gmail.com to join.
Sunday, May 1, 2022, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens.To participate you must be on the DNA SIG email list. Contact Cary at sgsdnasig@gmail.com to join.
Wednesday, May 4, 2022, 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 7, 2022, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch Interest Group with Lou Daly (Virtual), 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 be included on the mail listing? Email Lou: loudaly@nwlink.com
Monday, May 9, 2022, 7:00 pm -8:30 pm, Write It Up SIG (Virtual), This new group will discuss and share writing projects, resources, and ideas. Group contact is Alaine Keisling.
Tuesday, May 10, 2022, 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 welcome. No appointment necessary.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 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 11, 2022, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC Computer Interest Group (Virtual), Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske for users of MAC (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software. Co-chairs Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick. You must be on the MAC SIG email list to join the meeting. Email macusersig@seagensoc.org to be included on the list.
Saturday, May 14, 2022, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm. Second Saturday: Giving Our Female Ancestors a Voice, with Stephanie O’Connell. The absence of women in historical records often makes our research challenging. Using social history to create rich biographical sketches allows us to bring our female ancestors out of the shadows of the law or their husbands. This presentation offers a narrative lineage set in 19th century Ireland, England, and the U.S., which uses historical context to bring the unique stories of women to life. Please register in advance.
Sunday, May 15, 2022, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm, Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New, Jill Morelli is the host. Visit the SGS website Calendar for details and updates. Please register in advance. Topic will be Orphan Train Rides.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022, 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 21, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm, Irish SIG is back! With Susan McKee and Jim Ryan. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information.
Saturday, May 21, 2022, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German SIG is back! With Carolyn Schott. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information.
Sunday, May 22, 2022, 1:00 pm, Japanese American SIG, with Caitlin Oiye Coon. This is one of our new SIGs. Please sign up if you would like to attend; send an email to family.history@densho.org
Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 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 welcome. No appointment necessary.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 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.