Seattle Genealogical Society News

SGS 2022 SPRING SEMINAR
“LAND AND MAPS AND DEEDS, OH MY!”
FRIDAY – SUNDAY, JUNE 3-5, 2022

Registration for the Spring Seminar is still open.

Just click this link: Register for the SGS 2022 Spring Seminar
Please register by June 1, 2022.

Our spring seminar is a three day event! 

  • Friday, June 3, at 5:00 pm, Cyndi Ingle, creator and innovator of CyndisList.com, is the keynote speaker.
  • Saturday, June 4, Land presentations begin at 9:00 am with Angela Packer McGhie on “Land Entry Files and Tract Books,” Following that  Rebecca Whitman Koford will present “Military Bounty lands: Revolution to Mexican War.”
  • Sunday, June 5, Maps and Deeds presentations begin at 1:00 pm with Melinda Kashuba “Using Migration Maps in Genealogical Research.” Then Kimberly Powell will help us to find the deeds with “Mastering Deed Book Indexing Systems.”

Read more here. You won’t want to miss any of these talented speakers!

VOLUNTEERS OF THE QUARTER   Each quarter, the Seattle Genealogical Society recognizes a member as our Volunteer of the Quarter. For Spring Quarter 2022, SGS is honoring a team of members: Allegra Anderson, Melanie Moser, Woods Fairbanks, and Ellen Peterson. You will probably recognize their photo and the story from the eNews! a few months ago.   

  Due to tight timing constraints that arose as SGS approached the end date on the lease of the Sand Point Way NE library space, over 100 boxes full of books and other materials had to be sent to temporary storage. These materials were slated to go to the Internet Archive, eventually. So over a two-day period in chilly mid-January 2022, the intrepid quartet of Allegra, Melanie, Woods, and Ellen, with assistance from Library Director, Kathi M, and SGS President, Jim Secan, transferred all those books and materials into the stronger shipping boxes provided by Internet Archive and then this crew got the seven pallets of boxes onto the truck for shipment.

Here’s an introduction for each team member. Join us in thanking them for volunteering to do the heavy lifting, quite literally. 

Allegra Anderson joined SGS in 2019 and this is her first time to volunteer. She enjoyed the camaraderie. Many volunteers express that sentiment. About her genealogy, Allegra says, “So many ancestors, so little time!”; also a sentiment many of us share. She has traced her mother’s line back to 1650 New York and her husband’s family crossed on the Oregon Trail in 1852. When not doing genealogy, Allegra enjoys spinning – fibers, not bikes – and then she weaves what she has spun. 

Melanie Moser has been a member since 2014. She was drawn to this project’s mission, digitizing books so they will be accessible to everyone, everywhere.  After researching a Norwegian ancestor, she visited Norway and met third cousins. Recently, she and her daughter visited Salt Spring Island, BC, where one of her ancestors settled in 1859. They even kayaked to an island where this ancestor’s family boat sank. In her free time, Melanie enjoys tennis with her daughter, and reading. 

Woods Fairbanks has been with SGS for a few years. He joined with the goal of improving his genealogical research skills. He helped with the library move and catalog data cleanup. He likes the camaraderie one experiences while volunteering and he likes learning from fellow family history researchers. When not doing genealogy, Woods appreciates film/music, running, and family walks. 

Ellen Peterson has been volunteering for about five of the six years she has been an SGS member. She likes to help with technical things. And she attends many of our events – the FamilySearch SIG with Lou Daly, Tech Tuesdays, the DNA SIG with Cary Bright, and presentations by Jill Morelli, Janice Lovelace, and others. Ellen has researched her own, as well as her wife’s, extended families. DNA testing allowed Ellen to debunk an odd story one aunt told about not being the daughter of her grandparents, but rather the baby sister. Besides genealogy, Ellen enjoys bird watching.   SGS ELECTION RESULTS
The Board of Directors has voted  to accept the slate of candidates. However, there are still 3 open positions, plus openings on the Nominating Committee. Please consider volunteering to fill one of these open positions. This should be an exciting year, with all the Centennial activities on tap.   

BOARD MEMBERS for 2022-2023 Term June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023. 

1. President, Jim Secan 
2. Vice President, Carolyn Ladd
3. Secretary, Alanna Stanton
4. Treasurer, Karen Knudson 
5. Director of Education, Cecellia Rogers 
6. Director of Library, Kathi M
7. Director of Membership: Christine Schomaker
8. Director of Operations, vacant
9. Director of Publications Lisa White 
10. Director of Technology, vacant
11. Director of Volunteers, vacant 
12. Nominating Committee:      * Yvette Beaudoin      * Carole Mercer
     * Vacancies for 3 additional slots on the Nominating Committee
        and 1 alternate

Meet the Board at the SGS Membership Meeting scheduled for 12:30 PM, Saturday, June 11, 2022.     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. The next meeting is June 13, 2022, and the presentation, “Finding Relatives in the Forverts (Jewish Daily Forward)” with Michael Morgenstern, will begin at 7:00PM. 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


For the Schedule, more information, and registration see the 
lead article in this issue of the eNews! Register today!  
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658
New Hours : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Masks are recommended  inside the Good Shepherd Center. Due to COVID the events listed below continue to be virtual, online via Zoom. Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. 

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 listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted 


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 newer 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 appointmentnecessary.

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.

Wednesday, June 1, 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, June 8, 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.

Monday, June 13, 2022, 7:00 pm -8:30 pm, Write It Up SIG (Virtual),  This new group to discuss and share writing projects, resources, and ideas. Group contact is Alaine Keisling. 

Tuesday, June 14, 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, June 15, 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.

Friday, June 17, 2022, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Family Tree Maker SIG,  with the Eastside Genealogical Society. You must be on the email list of attend a meeting; send your request to egsgenealogyhelper@yahoo.com 

Saturday, June 18, 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, June 18, 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, June 19, 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 to be determined – stay tuned. 

Wednesday, June 22, 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, June 25, 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, June 26, 2022, 1:00 pm, Japanese American SIG,  with Caitlin Oiye Coon. This is one of our newer SIGs. Please sign up if you would like to attend; send an email to family.history@densho.org 

Tuesday, June 28, 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, June 29, 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.