Seattle Genealogical Society News

SARAH LITTLE
1947-2023

Sadly we report that long-time SGS member and zealous SGS volunteer, Sarah Little, has passed away. SGS remembers Sarah as a dedicated leader who was determined to see that SGS survived and prospered.

Sarah joined SGS in 1985 and immediately became involved. Jim Secan, current SGS president, provided this list of all the positions she held at SGS and he commented, “She was on the Board pretty much full time from 1987-2003!” 

  • Director of Membership   1986-1987
  • President                       1987-1989
  • Vice President                1989-1990
  • President                       1990-1992
  • Director of Operations     1993-1995
  • Director of Membership   1995-1997
  • Director of Operations     1997-1999
  • President                       1999-2001
  • Treasurer                       2001-2002

Quite deservedly, a SGS Honorary Lifetime Membership was bestowed on Sarah. In addition to all her SGS volunteer work, she also taught a certificate program in genealogy at the University of Washington. 

A service for Sarah is being planned for later this summer.  

You may read Sarah’s full obituary here:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/everett-wa/sarah-little-11249288

HELP IDENTIFY A SUSPECT!

Some of you may be aware that Barbara Rae-Venter, J.D., Ph.D. is the genetic genealogist who cracked the Golden State Killer case using DNA. She needs your help. She emailed the following: “We are working on identifying a suspect for a homicide in Fife, Pierce County. We have very low DNA matches (highest is 23 cM) and would like to do some outreach into the local Slavic community to do DNA testing in the hopes that we could identify some closer matches. Do you have primarily Slavic bio ancestry? If so, would you be willing to do a DNA test? The DNA kits would be provided by FTDNA. In return for the (free) kit, the test taker would provide their family tree going back to their great grandparents, if possible.” 

For more information, please see: 
http://www.FirebirdForensics.org
If you are interested, contact Barbara Rae-Venter at 
genealogyconsult@gmail.com
or 831.620.5621


On 20-23 April ten writers came together on Friday Harbor for the SGS100 Writers’ C(r)amp. The outcome was a lot of writing, some great conversations, and growing camaraderie.

SGS100 Writers’ C(r)amp attendees


SGS CENTENNIAL MEMBERSHIP

Join the Seattle Genealogical Society today and become a charter member for our second century!

If you are already a member, it’s time to log in to your account and renew your membership for 2023-24 as we continue the celebration of our 100th year.

Participate in special Centennial Events and enjoy discounted class and Seminar fees, free research requests, special interest groups, and access to exclusive SGS publications and databases. Your membership will extend through the 2023 Centennial Year and until May 31, 2024. 

Join online with a credit/debit card or print a membership application and send it together with your dues payment to SGS. Better yet, come by the SGS Library and join in person!

Find out more about membership at Join SGS.

FREE! SGS100 SEMINAR

Don’t forget the special preservation seminar coming up is free for SGS members. Non-members will be charged a small fee. 

Register for the SGS100 Preservation Seminar

Seminar dates,  times, and topics:

  •  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Saturday, June 17
  • 1:00 PM –   4:00 PM on Sunday, June 18 
  • Preserving the Past: Archiving and Digitizing Your Family Keepsakes
  • Selecting and Preparing Images for Family History Projects
  • Archival Storage Strategies and Solutions
  • Family History Projects for the Digital Ag

The Family Curator, Denise Levenick, is the author of How to Archive Family Keepsakes and How to Archive Family Photos.

SGS MEMBERSHIP MEETING
HYBRID * JUNE 10, 2023,
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM 

Meet the Board, talk about the election results, SGS business, and the budget. Stay on for the Second Saturday program.

You may attend this meeting in the SGS Library or virtually; your choice. Please register either way. Instructions are on the SGS website calendar of events. 

100 years ago: 17 March 1923

On 17 May 1923, a front page headline in the Seattle P-I read “5 Suspended in High School Pie-Egg War”. The article went on to say “Sons of Capitol Hill People Disciplined After Fracas in Broadway-Garfield fued [sic].” “Instructor Questioned for Reckless Driving Following Capture of Youthful Warriors”.  

5 boys of prominent families were suspended from Broadway High School and an instructor at Garfield was taken to the police station for questioning.  The cause was the athletic rivalry between the two schools. The Broadway baseball team had recently defeated Garfield.  One engagement entailed pumpkin pie throwing by Garfield students at Broadway students, the second involved a “barrage of eggs” thrown by Broadway students at Garfield students.  

“5 Suspended in High School Pie-Egg War” , Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 17 May 1923, p1, col 2.

* Watch each eNews! issue for “100 years ago”, our new anecdotal series. We will be running it for the duration of 2023, our centennial year. 

SAVE THE DATE

Fiske Genealogical Library,  
Spring Classes 2023 – Virtual, 
Wednesdays, 
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Pacific Time


The topic for May 31 is “The FamilySearch Research Wiki” with Celia McNay. The link to the Fiske Library website is: 
https://www.fiskelibrary.org/

Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, 
usually 2nd Monday meetings
usually 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Pacific Time


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 12 2023, and the program is “In Search of Mishpocha – Creative Methods for Finding Cousins” with S Lynn Diamond. 
http://www.jgsws.org/meetings.php

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658


The elevator is back in service!

Please call ahead to make sure our library will beopen. We are short on front desk volunteers.

Hours :  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and 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 

Saturday, June 3, 2023, 10:15 am- 12:15 pm, FamilySearch SIG, with Lou Daly. Discover many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email Lou to get on the email list: loudaly@nwlink.com 

Sunday, June 4, 2023,  1:00 pm-3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join. 

Monday, June 5, 2023, 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 10, 2023,  12:30 pm-1:00 pm, SGS Membership Meeting , meet the board and talk about SGS business. Register for in-person or online attendance.

Saturday, June 10, 2023,  1:00 pm-2:30 pm, Second Saturday: The “Push” and “Pull” Decision Making of the 19th Century Immigrant, with Jill Morelli. Please register in advance. 

Monday, June 12, 2023, 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 12 2023, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm,  Board of Directors Meeting at SGS  (Virtual),  All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. 

Monday, June 12, 2023, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group  to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas.  To join or learn more, contact Alaine Keisling at keisling@gmail.com 

Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help. 

Monday, June 12, 2023, 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 16, 2023,  10:30 am-12:30 pm, Family Tree Maker SIG, the FTM by Software MacKiev user’s group  meets via Zoom on the 3rd Friday of each month. If you would like to attend and are not on the SIG e-mail distribution list, please send an e-mail to egsgenealogyhelper@yahoo.com no later than Thursday, May 18th to request the meeting ld.

Saturday, June 17, 2023, 9:00 am- 12:00 pm, PRESERVATION SEMINAR, with Denise Levenick,  free to SGS members, small fee for non-members, registration required. 

Sunday, June 18, 2023, 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm, Special Preservation Seminar with Denise Levenick continuation. Free to SGS members. Register today. 

Monday, June 19, 2023, 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 24, 2023,  10:00 am-12:30 pm, DNA SIG, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join. 

Monday, June 26, 2023, 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.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help.