Support Kim Wyman with Silly Socks!

Clark County Genealogical Society’s Brian Runyan shows his support by wearing his wacky socks.

Washington’s Secretary of State Kim Wyman has been diagnosed with colon cancer and could use our support.

Since her diagnosis, many have asked her how they could bring her cheer and show support. In her April 2017 newsletter “Wyman’s Wire,” Kim encouraged us to take pictures of our silly, wacky socks and post them to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #wymanrocksthesocks. Or you can email your photo to kim.wyman@sos.wa.gov. In addition, WSGS will have a membership table at some of the larger workshops and conferences around the state where you can sign a paper sock with your best wishes. We’ll make sure she gets the messages.

Kim is a good friend to our genealogical community. As Secretary of State, she oversees elections, corporation and charity filings, the Washington State Library, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, State Archives and Digital Archives.

Show Kim that our genealogical family supports her! #wymanrocksthesocks

Cemetery Visit in Cuba

Apr15 by Roxanne Lowe

Do you visit random cemeteries in cities you visit? I do, and I’m sure it’s not that unusual. (Uh…it isn’t unusual, is it???)

I recently completed an amazing trip to Cuba and just had to stop at this small cemetery near the Bay of Pigs. Monuments and stones were weathered; some above ground, others not. A very reverent place.

Card Catalog File Cabinet

Mar21 by Charles Hansen

Anyone in need of a Card Catalog File Cabinet for your Society? Clallam County Gen. Society has one in surplus. It is in great condition. Has 30 drawers and 2 pull out shelves. Height 44”, Depth 21”, Width 34”. Contact Clallam Co. Gen. Society and Research Center, 402 E. Lauridsen Blvd, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Phone # (360)417-5000.

State Library to Change Public Access

Jan18 by Roxanne Lowe

According to a recent press release, the Washington State Library in Tumwater will change its public access policies beginning 01 Feb.

The changes include:

The library’s front lobby will become an “information hub” featuring two computer stations that allow 10 minutes of use, easy hold pickups and a State Library staff person who can help with quick questions and referrals. The hub’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
The library’s Reading Room on the second floor will be open by appointment only to people engaged in active collection usage and research. Public computer terminals will no longer be available for unlimited use. Appointments to use the library for a quiet place to work or to use the public Wi-Fi will be available depending on staff availability.
The Reading Room will be configured to include designated space for collaboration and research appointments.
Library subject specialists will be available by appointment to consult on research topics including federal, state and local government, Pacific Northwest history, and genealogy.

The State Library will continue to offer reference assistance weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the “Ask a Librarian” live chat, e-mail at https://www.sos.wa.gov/library/ask.aspx or by phone at 360-704-5200.

The State Library, part of the Office of Secretary of State, is located at 6880 Capitol Blvd. in Tumwater.

Was Your Ancestor Involved in Politics?

Nov10 by Roxanne Lowe

Dan Murphy lending support to his candidate.

Whether your candidate won or didn’t, the 2016 election is finally over. But imagine one of your descendants searching old newspaper stacks (or the web or whatever form of news distribution there will be in the future) for news of this election.

Do you have an ancestor that was involved in politics at the local, state or national level in America or another country? Did he/she run for office? Involved in a campaign? Here’s a picture of my grandfather Dan Murphy “campaigning” for Sheriff M.B. “Tiny” Taylor in Grays Harbor County in the 1930s.

We’d love to hear your story, including what resources you used. “Leave a comment” at the bottom of this post.

Research Study Call for Participation

Nov2 by Roxanne Lowe

A graduate student pursuing her Masters of Library and Information Science at Rutgers University, is seeking participants for a research project involving a survey of genealogists. Below is information about her study and a link to participate.

For more information about this study, contact Kerry Dubyk, Masters of Library and Information Science Candidate, Department of Library and Information Science, School of Communication & Information, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1071, Phone: 215-801-8235, Email: kerry.dubyk@rutgers.edu

Call for Participation

Objectives of the Study:
The research objective of this study is to gain new understanding into the perspective of genealogists as a user group of archives. Genealogists are major clientele of archives in order to do their own historical and family history research. This research seeks to explore the information needs of and experiences of genealogists in archives. These areas will be explored in an effort to examine the relationship between archives and genealogists and to bring new awareness to the archival community from a genealogical perspective.

Subject Characteristics:
I would like participation in this study from those who conduct genealogical and family history research, personally and professionally, and/or identify as a genealogist. Additionally, participants must have used or visited archives in their genealogical research. I seek participants who have a range of experience and skill sets in genealogical research.

The Survey Procedure:
Participates will participate in a survey questionnaire. The survey is 28 questions long and includes both multiple choice and open-ended questions. The survey will take approximately 20-40 minutes to complete.

No personally identifiable information will be obtained from participants and all data collected will be kept confidential. There are no expected risks nor benefits associated with your participation in this research.

Continue reading →

Ferry County Man Stumbles Upon A 100 Year Old Artifact

Oct17 by Charles Hansen

Taylor Viydo , KREM 9:12 PM. PDT October 14, 2016….THANK YOU, KREM IN SPOKANE FOR SHARING THIS WONDERFUL STORY!

Last week, the two brothers were using a metal detector behind a school, in the small town of Orient, Wash.

Previously, they found old pieces of scrap metal and a license plate.

This time, they stumbled upon a round metal item. At first, the brothers just thought it was junk. Upon further inspection of the item, they saw the name Willie Fryett engraved on the back of it.

NIck Porter looked at school records to try and find someone who matched that name. He was able to find a Willie Fryett who was part of the inaugural class at the Orient school in 1910.
Porter then went to Google and ancestry.com to find out more about Fryett.

Porter said he was able to figure out Fryett left Orient around 1920 and headed West to Bremerton, Washington.

Luckily, Porter was able to find an email address for someone who had the last name Fryett in Western Washington. He decided to try and email the person to see if they had heard of Willie Fryett.

Porter got an email back from a person saying he was the great-grandson of Willie Fryett.

This weekend, Porter will meet up with Willie Fryett’s descendants to give them the watch piece and a copy of Fryett’s school photo.

What very well could have ended up as trash, now will become a family treasure.

Rich Discovery in Cemetery of Paupers and Penniless

Sep20 by Roxanne Lowe

Funeral director Bill Habermann from Tacoma doesn’t believe in bury and forget. In particular, he wants those who died anonymously to be remembered in the afterlife — if not by friends and relatives, at least by the written record.

To have lived a life but died as an unknown is close to having never existed at all. Read why the 79-year-old Habermann, an easygoing, gray-haired former grade school teacher, found himself climbing over a fence one day into an old, closed graveyard and taking pictures of the headstones.

For the entire story, click here.

Abe Lincoln’s mom’s ancestry confirmed finally!

Aug28 by Charles Hansen

2016 American Ancestors vol. 55 no. 3 pages 55-57 by Christopher C Child

“The Hanks DNA Study: I was wrong!”

A copy will be in KCGS library by Thurs 1 Sep 2016

Nancy Hanks Lincoln’s ancestry found by maternal DNA

~~Tuck Forsythe for Kittitas County Genealogical Society

Generation 1

Nancy Abe-Lincoln-Line HANKS-3353: born 5 Feb 1783 in Campbell, Virginia, United States; died 5 Oct 1818 in Gentryville Area, Spencer, Indiana, United States.

Generation 2

illegitimate dad HALL/FAUNTLEROY/BEALE-18719: born abt 1755 in Maybe, Virginia, British America; married.

Lucy HANKS-3351: born abt 1766 in Richmond County, Virginia, British America; died abt 1826 in Mercer, Kentucky, United States.

Generation 3

Joseph Abe-Lincoln-Line HANKS-3348: born 20 Dec 1725 in Richmond County, Virginia, British America; married abt 1758 in Virginia, British America; died abt Apr 1793 in Nelson, Kentucky, United States.

Anne Nanny Nancy LEE-3349: born abt 1742 in Virginia, British America; died aft 1793 in Of, Nelson, Kentucky, United States.

Help Find Information on a Civil War Veteran

Aug5 by Charles Hansen

Calling all sleuths! I’ve done a cursory research for George B. Williams, the man who was cared for by D.J. Zent in his final days before death in Colville, Washington. Mr. Zent also paid for his funeral and burial plot at Evergreen Cemetery in 1899. I have not been able to verify Mr.William’s military service in the Civil War nor anything else about him.

The National Park Service has a website of Soldiers & Sailors who fought in the Civil War. It is an index that lists the Battle Unit Name, Company, which side he fought for, soldiers rank in & out and a detail biography of the regiment activities including soldiers wounded & died. Our George B. Williams supposedly served in the 12th Michigan Cavalry. Michigan had a 10th Michigan Cavalry but no 12th Michigan Cavalry. There is a George Williams in the 12th Michigan Infantry, Company K and one in Company B. Also a George B. Williams served in the 10th Michigan Cavalry, Company I. I ordered his Pension File #769131 from NARA only to find he died in Nebraska.