Friday, January 19 @ 10AM on Zoom Annette Burke Lyttle will present Get Organized to Write Your Family Stories
Sharing our family stories with others is critical, so those stories don’t get lost. But it can be very daunting to know how to get started. Learn some ways to organize your space, your time, your ideas, and your research results that will make it easier for you to write them up.
Annette Burke Lyttle owns Heritage Detective, LLC, providing professional genealogical services in research, education, and writing. She speaks on a variety of genealogical topics at the national, state, and local levels and loves helping people uncover and share their family stories. She is coordinator of the Fall Virtual Intermediate Foundations course for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Annette leads Best Practices Study Groups for a number of organizations, providing in-depth education on the genealogical research process in an interactive setting. She is president of the Association of Professional Genealogists and editor of The Florida Genealogist
So, please join us on January 19 at 10AM on Zoom Everyone Welcome! No membership necessary but registration is required.
TIP OF THE WEEK – FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT AN ANCESTOR’S CIVIL WAR REGIMENT Do a national search in newspapers for the name of an American ancestor’s Civil War regiment. Letters from other soldiers in the regiment were often printed by their various hometown papers. Coverage of what the regiments were doing is often surprisingly detailed, if a bit profuse in the descriptions of their heroics. This can give you a greater picture of what your ancestors’ experiences in the war may have been like. Remember to compare them against other sources.
CLOSE OUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON THIS SATURDAY WITH THIS DELECTABLE SEND OFF
Come celebrate Twelfth Night, the New Year and something many of us will (likely) RELATE to National Smith Day. We’ll be starting at 1 p.m. this Saturday at the Seattle Genealogical Society Library (Suite 302 of the Good Shepherd Center, 649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle WA).
Bring cookies to share, we’ll drink warm beverages and talk about our favorite topics: family history, genealogy, and our SMITH ancestors.
Contact Melanie at volunteers@seagensoc.org to help or bring cookies, tea, hot chocolate, cider to share.
images courtesy Library of Congress
DAR TO BE THE FOCUS AS SECOND SATURDAY RETURNS TO IN-PERSON AT THE SGS LIBRARY
Learn about the Daughters of the American Revolution’s more than 130 years tradition of historic preservation, education and patriotism.
Paula Furick, former regent of Redmond DAR chapter, will speak at the Seattle Genealogical Library 1 p.m., Saturday, January 13. She will share a little about the work of this organization and how genealogists can use its resources and contribute to its mission.
Patrons can attend the event in person, or view from home via Zoom. Please register in advance so accommodations can be provided.
Do you want to document your family tree using best practices and efficiency? Sign up today for SGS’s new class for beginners. This 4-week virtual class, with an optional 5th week, will cover the basics to help you get started. The first class is 1:00-2:30 pm, February 1 and runs every Thursday that month. Deadline to register is January 30. Get more information about the class on the SGS website. COME SEE HOW SGS’S DIGITAL HOLDING CAN HELP YOUR RESEARCH
During 2023 volunteers in the library have continued organizing and digitizing materials donated to SGS over the years. The digital holdings include family research related material and various materials compiled by SGS volunteers. Included in the compilations are newspaper clippings, abstracts of vital records and obituaries appearing in early Seattle newspapers and cemetery surveys. Although some of the digitized materials may be accessed on the SGS website, the vast majority are only available on one of the library’s patron computers. Throughout 2024, we will add more of these digitized materials to the patron computers. GOODBYE TO SGS’S CENTENNIAL YEAR
2023 is in the history books and the next 100 years of SGS has begun. Look back at some highlights of the year that was.
Over the weekend of April 20-23, SGS’s Writers’ C(r)amp brought together ten family historians for a weekend of a recording family stories, good food and great conversation.
Left: The 1920s-themed Ice Cream Social brought SGS members out to Meridian Playground, August 5, for treats. From left are Sheyna Watkins, Jim Secan, Christine Schomaker, and Amandalei Bennett dressed in the costume of the era. Right: SGS President Jim Secan speaks at the 100th Birthday celebration, October 20.
The Keynote speaker Knute Berger speaks at SGS’s Birthday celebration at Dunn Gardens on October 20. Berger talked about the mission of preserving the history of the Northwest.
100 YEARS AGO: 16 DEC. 1923
Some things never change. One hundred years ago, ferries were in the news in the Seattle Daily Times. On December 16, 1923, the headline was “FERRY CONTRACTS LET, TWO FAST SOUND VESSELS TO BE REMODELED.
The article went on to explain that two high-class ferry boats, the Seattle and the Sioux were to be “Widened and Lengthened for Automobiles Carriage.” They were headed to the Todd Shipyard for two months of work. The steamship Seattle was to be used on the Seattle Bremerton run while the steamship Sioux would be operated on the Port Angeles to Victoria route. Total cost was more than $250,00. The contract for the Seattle was awarded to the Navy Yard Route and the contract for the Sioux was awarded to the Puget Sound Navigation Company. Both corporations were owned by the same interests.
“FERRY CONTRACTS LET, TWO FAST SOUND VESSELS TO BE REMODELED.”, Seattle Daily Times, 16 December 1923, P. 23, Col. 1.
* Thanks for celebrating this centennial year with us!
SAVE THE DATE
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 Jan. 8, 2024, “We Are Not Strangers,” presented by Josh Tuininga. For more information see http://www.jgsws.org/meetings.php
Eastside Genealogy Society Italian SIG Saturday January 20, 2024, 10:00 am-12:00 pm (special time, this month only)
This month’s topic: Hands-on Italian Genealogy and Dual Citizenship: Digging Roots on the Ground in Italy presented by Allesandro Bovino (Bella Italia Genealogy). More information available on the group’s page.
Olympia Genealogical Society Seminar: “Immigration & Naturalization” by Rich Venezia (Virtual) Saturday, February 3, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Emerald Isle Express: Researching Irish Ancestors
Discovering Your Immigrant’s Origins: Exhausting Every Resource
Ship Manifests: An In-Depth Look
Naturalization Know-How: The Laws and Records of U.S. Citizenship
SGS Second Saturdays: Women in Special Collections Saturday March 9, 2024, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm Zoom and in person at the SGS library
What can you find in special collections at libraries and archives? Learn more about the lives of your women ancestors by digging into special collections of diaries, letters, manuscripts, and photographic material generated by women.
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302 4649 Sunnyside Ave N Seattle, WA 98103 206 522-8658
Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ** 10:00 am – 3:00 pm **
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.
All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise notedSaturday, Jan. 6, 2024, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch SIG (Virtual), 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.comSaturday, Jan. 6, 2024, 1:00 am-3:00 pm, Holiday Open House (Special Events), Bring Cookies to share to the SGS Library as well as a Smith ancestor (if you have one) to note National Smith Day.
Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, 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, Jan. 8, 2024, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link.
Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, 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.comTuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, 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, Jan. 10, 2024, 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, Jan. 13, 2024, 1:00 am-2:30 pm, Second Saturday: DAR (Virtual or at the SGS library), Paula Furick will be speaking at the SGS Library about this linage organization: To view at the library, register here. To view from home online register here.Sunday, Jan. 14 2024, 1:00 am-3:00 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group (Virtual), “What does it mean to have Scandinavian DNA?” hosts Karen Knudson and Kathi M. Share information and discuss Scandinavian ancestral research.
Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, 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, Jan. 16, 2024, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, “Pass It On” 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.
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information.
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German SIG (Virtual), Bring your favorite German research resource to share with the group. Carolyn Schott is the facilitator. Get the new Zoom link. Register on the SGS website.
Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, 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, Jan. 23, 2024, 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, Jan. 29, 2024, 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, Jan. 30, 2024, 11:00 pm,Registration Closes for Beginning Genealogy Class, class with run every Thursday 1:00-2:30 pm beginning February 1.
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2024, 1:00-2:30 pm, Beginning Genealogy Class, class with run every Thursday 1:00-2:30 PST beginning February 1.
Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch SIG (Virtual), 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.comSunday, Jan. 3, 2024, 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.
January 1, 2024
SGS eNews! comes out the first of every month. contact eNews!
Free Admission and Performances at the Washington State History Museum on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day CommemorationJanuary 15, 2024 – Free admission 10:00 AM to 5:00 PMPerformances at 11:00 AM & 1:00 PMFREE Commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with free admission and programming at the Washington State History Museum. The event will feature two performances of the new play Where the Blooming Flowers Meet the Sky by local performer and playwright Darryin B. Cunningham. The play centers around the story of Zhuli, a young artist who is writing a new book of poetry. As she struggles to find her voice, three prominent ancestors from the 1960s civil rights era visit her and impart their wisdom from their experiences, helping Zhuli to find her voice. The event is presented with Tacoma Arts Live.
Ft Walla Walla Camp 3 of Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, January meeting in Yakima on Saturday the 27th At Mt Olive Lutheran Church 7809 Tieton Dr Ave. starts at 12 w/ lunch provided-RSVP to Gary Treece 509 833 9725 and Speaker Mike McCrary on “Gettysburg Guardians” speaks at 1:15 pm. Public invited. DETAILS on Dept of Columbia web site www.suvpnw.org under Fort Walla Walla Camp 3 events.
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