Seattle Genealogical Society News

SUSAN McKEE AND CAROLYN SCHOTT,
VOLUNTEERS OF THE SPRING QUARTER

This Spring Quarter 2023 we are celebrating and thanking two of our Society’s Special Interest Group (SIG) leaders – Carolyn Schott and Susan McKee. Carolyn (a member for 10 years) runs the German SIG and Susan (a member of 6 years) heads the Irish SIG along with Jim Ryan.

Carolyn’s area of expertise is Germans who lived in the Black Sea Region (which is now primarily Ukraine) and she is also the co-founder of a Black Sea German Research group (www.blackseagr.org). A fascinating but sad discovery of hers has been getting NKVD (the predecessor to the KGB) arrest records on some of her family members!

Susan, born and raised in Ireland, concentrates her research on her Irish family lines although she has discovered that her mother’s great grandfathers came to Ireland from rural England. “Researching this line continues to remind me of the very complex and long-standing interconnections that exist between Ireland and England and how important it is to remain open to the ever-changing nature of identity”, she says.

Susan and Carolyn enjoy their regular interactions with SIG members and the enthusiasm everyone brings to their research. Both women appreciate the use of Zoom. “Although there are many things I miss about in-person meetings, I actually love doing this by Zoom because we get people attending from all over the U.S. It has also made it possible to line up speakers from all over,” says Carolyn.

When not working on genealogy Carolyn is skiing, hiking, or supporting Ukraine at the local rallies – “Slava Ukraini!” She also loves to travel and is so passionate about it that she wrote the book entitled “Visiting Your Ancestral Town”. Many of Susan’s interests outside of genealogy involve similar skills. She enjoys word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and mysteries, whether in books, films, or escape room experiences!

Both Carolyn and Susan would love you to join their SIG meetings. Both groups meet on the third Saturday of the month (Irish 10:15-12:15 and German 1:00-3:00). Please check the calendar of events at www.seagensoc.org.

Thank you, Carolyn and Susan, for all you do for SGS and our members!

SUMMER BOOK SALE

The SGS Library receives many wonderful donations of books from our members and friends and we simply can’t keep them all. So stop by the library and find a treasure on our surplus book tables, for sale until July 15th.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR
THE CLANS OF IRELAND BOOTH

Continuing our community outreach commitment initiated by Jean Roth, SGS is sharing the Clans of Ireland Booth at the 27th Annual Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival in Mt Vernon, WA, Saturday, July 8, 2023 & Sunday, July 9, 2023, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. Volunteers are needed to help SGS staff this booth. No experience necessary.  

If you can help staff our table in the booth for several hours on either day, Saturday, July 8th, or Sunday, July 9th, please contact James Ryan at janglinjehu@yahoo.com

DON’T GET SCAMMED

You get an email that says it’s from MacKiev, maker of Family Tree Maker software. It has an offer for a free upgrade. Not so fast …. Several people are receiving similar messages by email or chat that are actually fraudulent. Here’s how to spot the scam.

  1. The messages ask you to call a telephone number, but MacKiev does not actually have a phone help line.
  2. The email address provided in the message is not connected to MacKiev. If a message seems to come from a company you know, a good rule of thumb is to use Google to find the company’s real site to validate claims.
  3. Family Tree Maker 2019 is the most current version of the program. There is no 2023 version.
  4. Don’t trust everything you hear in a chat. If you need assistance with Family Tree Maker, go to: https://www.mackiev.com/techsupport/ftm/livechat.html. This way you know you are speaking to a real representative of the company.

WATCH THE SGS100 PRESERVATION SEMINAR

“Just finished watching this wonderful set of seminars by Denise Levenick. Fantastic!”

In Celebration of our Centennial, SGS members may log in to view video recordings of all four presentations from the SGS100 Preservation Seminar with Denise Levenick, The Family Curator, until Monday, July 17, 2023

Not an SGS member? You may register to view the presentations for $25, click here

JOIN US FOR AN 1923 ICE CREAM SOCIAL

Come out to Meridian Park on August 5th for some ice cream and to celebrate SGS’s centennial. We will be dishing out ice cream to all comers 1923-style. The park is located behind the Good Shepherd Center. Watch the SGS website Calendar of Events for more details.

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.


100 YEARS AGO: 15 JUNE 1923

The University of Washington Stadium was noted to be “the only structure of its kind in the country built primarily for a university which is opened to the public uses.” The article pointed out the student body was trying to reduce the remaining indebtedness to save on interest charges. This could allow them to take on other projects such as a basketball pavilion, armory and gymnasium. The article also noted the numerous large affairs to which it was being put – last year’s The Wayfarer, the presentation this year of “Americanus”, when President Harding would be in the city, the Fourth of July Celebration, , and musical concerts.

— “The University of Washington”, Seattle Daily Times, 15 Jun 1923, p 6, 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

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival
Edgewater Park,
Mt Vernon, WA 98271
Saturday and Sunday July 8-9, 2023
9:00 am – 5:00 pm


This Festival, now in its 27th year, attracts over 10,000 people annually. It is part of an annual circuit of Scottish competitions held in the Pacific Northwest and Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The organizers call it “Scottish 3-ring circus” with a wide range of activities for young and old alike.

If you are interested in helping staff our table for several hours, please contact James Ryan at janglinjehu@yahoo.com. For more information see https://celticarts.org

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2024 Classes
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 9:00 am


Registration opens for SLIG 2024 Classes (Virtual Event-$$), SLIG 2024 (virtual) courses run daily, January 22–26 from 7:30 to 3:00 pm PST; some will include homework and other sessions outside those times. Registration opens on 22 July 2023 at 10 am Mountain / 9:00 am Pacific. Some classes fill very quickly. More information on courses, faculty, and registration here.

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 Sept. 11, 2023, topic to be announced. For more information see
http://www.jgsws.org/meetings.php

SGS100 Birthday Party
October 20, 2023


Mark your calendar now! SGS is turning 100. Join the celebration at Dunn Gardens on October 20th. There will be a keynote speaker you will not want to miss!

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 be open. 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 

Monday, July 3, 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.
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Monday, July 10, 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, July 10, 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, July 10, 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 11, 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. 

Wednesday, July 12, 2023,  7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC Computer SIG,  Co-chaired by Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick. Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. Meetings are on the second Wednesday of alternating months. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list. 

Saturday, July 15, 2023, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm, IRISH SIG, with Susan McKee. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. New Zoom link starting this month.

Sunday, July 16, 2023, 1:00 pm- 2:30 pm, Virtual Sunday: Something Old, Something New, Topic TBD,  with Jill Morelli. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. Please register in advance. 

Monday, July 17, 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, July 17, 2023, 10:00 am-12:00 pm,  Family History Writers’ Group (Social Interest Group), Create your family history and share with others in an effort to improve your writing. Please note: The Writers’ Group is at the maximum number of participants and is not currently accepting any new members.

Friday, July 21, 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.

Monday, July 24, 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, July 25, 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, July 31, 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, August 7, 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, August 8, 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.