Blog Rockets Past 1,000 Subscribers

Since our first post in January 2015, the Blog team has posted an amazing 3,569 genealogy-related articles, special features, event announcements and a plethora of other postings and musings. We are proud to shout that as of today (15 Mar 2023), we have 1,050 genealogy enthusiasts from around the country subscribing to the blog. Charles Hansen, our Chief Blog Master, has been in charge since the beginning and manages the postings and analytics. We also should give a shout-out to Donna Potter Phillips for her trivia and musings columns. She’s consistently near the top of most popular posts.

You can help us continue our success:

Send information about your local society, workshop, genealogical tip, or a research query to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org. Charles will get it posted in a jiffy. We’re always looking to publicize local events and workshops, feature stories, updates from your society, and other genealogical information that might be of interest to our 1,050 subscribers!
We’d like to feature your local photos in the Blog banner. It’s easy to do. Just check out the simple guidelines here.
Encourage your friends and local society members to subscribe to the Blog for the most up-to-date information from around the state. It’s easy — just click here.

Thanks for making the Washington State Genealogical Society Blog a success!

WSGS Vice President and Treasurer Nominee Statements

Dec14 by Roxanne Lowe

Valorie Cowan Zimmerman of Kent has been nominated to serve a second term as WSGS Vice President. To learn more about Valorie, click here.

Additionally, Frank McLean of Yakima has been nominated for another term as Treasurer. To learn more about Frank, click here. The term of office is 01 Jan 2023 through 31 Dec 2024.

Online voting for the slate will begin 18 Dec 2022 and run through 24 Dec. All WSGS members will receive an email with a Google link to their anonymous ballot. Members are asked to vote for each position. Write-in nominations are allowed.

Valorie’s candidate statement:

I’m proud to have served as the Vice President of the WSGS for the past two years, which have seen enormous changes in the genealogy landscape of the state and country. WSGS has changed as well, now focusing solely to serve the genealogy societies and individual genealogists around the state. It has been exciting to see the enthusiasm and online participation grow around the state in many, if not all, societies, and more and more “lone” genealogists finding societies where they can both learn and contribute. Helping the Pioneer Pursuit roll out across the state has been inspiring. I see this program not only as a way to increase our knowledge of our Washington Territorial pioneers, but also to strengthen our partnership with other heritage and history groups around the state and beyond. Check out the Washington State Genealogy and Family History group at https://groups.io/g/Washington-State-Genealogy and see what researchers are working on. I’m happy to say that we have rekindled our membership in the National Genealogical Society as well, and see our role there growing over the coming years. I ask for your vote to continue this work.

Frank’s candidate statement:

I have been a member of WSGS since 1988 and have served in nearly every office, including President and Treasurer. I have a vested interest in seeing the society become a more useful organization to local societies and individual genealogists.

Over the years, I have seen a lot of changes in WSGS, but am hoping for more. I am particularly interested in making WSGS an organization that provides value to societies. WSGS is interested in what services and opportunities it can provide. I also hope we can generate interest in expanding individual participation, maybe serving on the board or helping some other way. I would appreciate your support in moving WSGS in a positive direction.

Nominations Sought for WSGS Vice President & Treasurer

Nov21 by Roxanne Lowe

The nomination period for the WSGS Vice President and Treasurer positions is open through December 5, 2022. Elections will be conducted online in mid-December. The successful candidates will serve from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024.

Both positions serve on the WSGS Board of Directors. The Vice President assists the President and steps in for the President in their absence. The Treasurer maintains and reports all financial dealings. More information is available in the WSGS Bylaws.

The successful candidates must be members of WSGS.

A strong organization is only as strong as its leaders. We encourage you to consider volunteering your time and talent to steer WSGS into a value-added organization. To nominate yourself or someone else or if you want more information, contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Nominations” in the subject line.

Washington, the Beautiful — Share Your Photos

Nov21 by Roxanne Lowe

We want to showcase your scenic photos on the Blog

Photo contributed by Donna Potter Phillips, Spokane, WA

Have you noticed the Blog banner changes every time you visit? The photos are submitted by readers like you — and Donna Potter Phillips of Spokane (& weekly contributor to the Blog). We’re always looking for scenic photos of our beautiful state for the rotating photo gallery on the blog banner.

Guidelines for the photos are few:
•Landscapes, landmarks, and scenery photos are preferred. If, however, you have a perfect photo that includes people, please obtain their permission to post the photo.
•Photo must have been taken in Washington State (this is the Washington State Genealogical Society blog, after all!).
•Photo will be cropped to 1100 x 250 pixels, so keep that in mind. If in doubt, send it to us & we’ll figure it out.
•You may submit as many photos as you want.
•Final decisions on suitable photos will be made by the awesome WSGS Blog Team.
•There’s no prize if your photo is chosen – just the satisfaction that your photo is being showcased on a blog viewed by hundreds of enthusiastic genealogists.
•There’s no firm deadline to submit photos, just keep ‘em coming. We want to rotate lots of photos to keep the blog fresh.

To submit your photo, please email the image (jpg only, please); what, where, when, and by whom the photo was taken to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org.

Got questions? Email the blog team at WSGSBlog@wasgs.org.Posted in WSGS Programs

Gift Idea: Washington Pioneer Certificate

Nov1 by Roxanne Lowe

If your ancestor was one of the 350,000 people who lived in the Washington Territory when it became the nation’s 42nd state on November 11, 1889, you may be eligible for a Washington Pioneer certificate. Or if your ancestors arrived a little later — before December 31, 1900 — you can get a First Citizen certificate. What a great gift for yourself and your family members!

We began the Washington State Centennial Pioneer Certificate Program in 1984 in anticipation of the state’s centennial admission to the union in 1889. The initial certificates were issued to applicants who could prove their ancestors were in Washington Territory on or before November 11, 1889. Those descendants’ names, almost 18,000, were printed in a two-volume set of books entitled “Washington Pioneers” in 1992. A third volume, published in 1993, included Pioneers and First Citizens (those in the state on or before December 31, 1900). The three original volumes are out of print, but an index is available here. WSGS members have access to family lineages in the Members’ Only section of the website.

Pioneer and First Citizen Certificates are still being issued, although they are published only on the WSGS website at this time. If you can prove your ancestor was in Washington prior to November 11, 1889, you may be eligible to purchase a Pioneer Certificate. If your ancestor was in Washington on or before December 31, 1900, you may be eligible for a First Citizen Certificate. More information, including resources to prove residency, is available in the Pioneer and First Citizen Program brochure. An application and instructions are available here.

WSGS Announces Pioneer Pursuit Contest

Oct31 by Roxanne Lowe

The Washington State Genealogical Society is excited to announce a year-long contest to document the family histories of every man, woman and child living in Washington Territory on or before it became a state on November 11, 1889.

Beginning today, genealogical societies and individual genealogists can start researching and documenting Pioneers and two subsequent generations for inclusion in the Pioneer Pursuit Collection. We intend to make the histories accessible online at the end of the contest, October 31, 2023.

It is estimated there were nearly 350,000 people living here in 1889. Together, we can uncover the family histories of those Pioneers — and win a cash prize. For more information about this important undertaking, including forms, examples and resources, please visit the Pioneer Pursuit web page.

Something’s Coming!

Oct26 by Roxanne Lowe

WSGS is just about ready to announce a new project — where you can win a cash prize! We’ve been working behind the scenes for more than a year on a project that will be fun, challenging and rewarding! Watch for the big announcement coming soon. Maybe even next week!!

New Banner Photos Wanted

Sep4 by Roxanne Lowe

Photo by Donna Potter Phillips, Spokane, WA

Blog Banner: Visit Grays Harbor County

May2 by Roxanne Lowe

Are you proud of the landmarks and landscapes in your area? We want to highlight different areas of our beautiful state on our Blog banner.

Elaine Anderson of Hoquiam and a member of the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society sure is proud of her area. An amateur, but talented, photographer, Elaine submitted six photos she snapped in Grays Harbor County. Her photos include:

Boat shop and Beacon Hill from a strategic point in Hoquiam
Washaway Beach (North Cove near Grayland) looking South
A barn in the Quinault Valley
The surf at Point Brown, Ocean Shores
A drive through the scenic Quinault Rain Forest
Overlooking the Wynoochee Valley

Let us highlight your scenic photos of your city or county on the WSGS Blog. It’s easy — just submit 4 – 6 photos of your city or county (horizontal photos are best).

Guidelines for the photos are few:
•Landscapes, landmarks, and scenery photos are preferred.
•Photo will be cropped to 1100 x 250 pixels, so keep that in mind. If in doubt, send it to us & we’ll figure it out.
•Final decisions on suitable photos will be made by the WSGS Blog Team.

To submit your photos, please email the images (jpg only, please); what, where, when, and by whom the photos were taken to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org.

Got questions? Email the blog team at WSGSBlog@wasgs.org.

Imminent Deadlines for Special Recognition Awards

Apr27 by Roxanne Lowe

Just a little reminder to local societies: your nominations are almost due for the Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Team and President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement awards. The deadline to send your nominations to Info@wasgs.org is Sunday, May 1, 2022. The forms are available here.

For more information about these awards, check out the Recognition page of the website or the Blog posts on March 29, 2022 (Outstanding Volunteer and Outstanding Team) and March 30, 2022 (President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement).

For more information, email Info@wasgs.org.