“A Brief History of Port Angeles” Booklet
Twin Rivers Gen Society’s Cemetery Walking Tour on July 4th
Jigsaw Puzzles: Pastime or Obsession?
TAG (Ancestry Users Group) In Spokane
Five-Generation Pictures
Did you have ancestors who lived in Port Angeles? I’m giving away a 24-page booklet, “A Brief History of Port Angeles” by William Welsh, 1941. Yes, I have checked with the Clallam County Historical Society and they tell me that they have several copies. So I’ll send this one to the first requester! (Donna243@gmail.com)
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The Twin Rivers Genealogical Society, in Lewiston, Idaho, is having a fun activity on July 4th. They are doing a Cemetery Walk! They have picked out six historical graves and starting at 9:00am they will offer several 45-minute tours. Locale is Normal Hill Cemetery, 7th Street & 15th Avenue in Lewiston, south of Lewis Clark State College. Did you know that Walt Disney’s wife, Lillian’s, parents are buried in this cemetery? (They spotlighted her last year.) For more information contact Patricia VanBuren, patriciavanburen@lewiston.com
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History Magazine, published by the good folks who do Internet Genealogy, carried a great little article in the April-May 2016 issue. This article was all about the history of jigsaw puzzles which “nears its 250th birthday.” These puzzles “can be found spread out on card tables in hospital waiting rooms, coffee shops and cottages through the world as well as on thousands of Internet puzzle sites.” In the U.S. alone, there are more than 70 puzzle manufacturers and the sales annually are in the millions. Do the math and then realize that any one of your ancestors might have been entertained (or obsessed?) with jigsaw puzzles since the 1850s. Wow thought, eh?
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The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society has a thriving sub-group: TAG. This stands for the Ancestry Users Group and under the guidance of Marge Mero, the group meets monthly at a local public library. We’ve used the book, Guide to Ancestry, as a basis for our exploring. At the June meeting, member Doug Floyd gave the lesson on understanding a bit about probate and finding probate records on Ancestry.
Doug explained that probate means “the official proving of (as in a will),” or “establishing the validity of (as a will).” He quoted the Legal Genealogist, Judy Russell, as saying that “probate records are the best records in genealogy.” Doug explained the difference in some legal terms; testament refers to disposition of personal property while will spells out personal wishes and guardianship was not necessarily for the child but for the child’s property.
Doug directed us to the Ancestry Academy where there are two specific learning videos there for us to watch. Next he directed us to the Ancestry Card Catalog to look under the topic of “probate records” or jump to doing a locality search and see what Ancestry includes for probate records in your area of focus.
Perhaps this is an idea for a sub-group in your society? (We have a coordinator but take turns with the teaching.)
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We’ve all seen those wonderful 5-Generation Family pictures. Our newspaper publishes them regularly. Likely you have sat and posed yourself in one of these photos. My second great-granddaughter, Cora Kathryn, was born on this last June 7th in Everett, Washington. Soon, I imagine we’ll be doing a 5-Generation photo……… Cora, Adam (father), Jane (mother) and then me standing at the top. And I think little Cora has five generations still with us on her mom’s side too. But here is your Sobering Thought for Today: I remember reading a quote from Jane Fonda back in 1982 when her father, Henry Fonda, died. “It’s sobering to realize you’re next in line,” she said. It is. But with each new baby I understand it to be a sign from God that the world will go on!