Category Archives: Z-2017 Past Meetings & Seminars

A Day with NEHGS: Researching Early New England Ancestors

by Charles Hansen

A Day with NEHGS: Researching Early New England Ancestors
Saturday, June 10, 2017, 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Bellevue Club,  11200 Southeast Sixth Street, Bellevue, WA 98004
Registration includes five lectures, lunch, and an evening reception.
Cost: $125

From before the end of the Revolutionary War through the 19th century, thousands of New England families moved westward into Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, and other areas. Despite the harsh journey across the Rockies, many of their descendants went further West seeking new land, industry, gold, and opportunity. Today, many families in the Pacific Northwest can claim New England heritage.

Spend the day with NEHGS and learn how to trace your early New England ancestors. Discover essential resources for 17th-c. New England research, understand early settlement and migration patterns, learn how to research your patriot ancestors, and more.

Beyond lectures you will have the opportunity to chat with our genealogists and visiting staff, enter to win door prizes, take advantage of NEHGS membership specials, browse select publications, and enjoy a meal and special reception with fellow family historians. Further your study of genealogy with the experts in family history!

Agenda
9:00     Registration check-in, Bellevue Club
9:30     Opening remarks
10:00     Lecture: Migrations out of New England, David Allen Lambert
11:00     Lecture: 17th-Century New England Research and Resources, Lindsay Fulton
12:00     Lunch (included with registration)
1:00     Lecture: Using Early New England Land Records, David Allen Lambert
2:00     Break
2:30     Lecture: Using Early New England Probate Records, Lindsay Fulton
3:30     Lecture: Researching Colonial and Revolutionary War Soldiers, David Allen Lambert
4:30     Break
5:00     Reception, Bellevue Club
Register Here:

https://shop.americanancestors.org/products/a-day-with-nehgs-researching-early-new-england-ancestors?pass-through=true

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Spring Seminar

by Charles Hansen

 

The Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Spring Seminar will take place Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Mount Olive Church, 7809 Tieton Drive in Yakima.

One of America’s foremost genealogists and reputed speaker will be speaking on a variety of interesting topics.  Jay Fonkert is considered to be one of the best and most educated genealogical speakers in the country.

Registration can be online at the YVGS website, or at the local genealogical library at 1901 S. 12th Avenue, Union Gap.  Walkins are welcome, however lunch cannot be guaranteed.   Check in and registration 8:00 – 8:50 and seminar will begin at 9:00 am.  $40. until  April 14, $45 after that.

The Washington State Genealogical Society annual meeting will be during the lunch hour honoring outstanding volunteers and interesting projects.

 

Grays Harbor Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Roxanne Lowe

The next meeting of the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society will feature Jerry Schaefer, a local character known as gunslinger “Doc Shores” in Western reenactment events. Jerry will be changing hats, however, to talk about the Spruce Production Division, a unit of the U.S. Army established in 1917 to produce high-quality Sitka Spruce timber and other products needed to make aircraft for the U.S.’s efforts in World War I. The division had a large impact on logging in the Pacific Northwest. Logging companies adopted working conditions similar to those the division had.

The meeting is Saturday, May 13, 10:00 a.m. at the Hoquiam Library, 420 7th Street, Hoquiam. Visitors are welcome. For more information, email GHGS.

South King County Genealogy Society April Meeting

by Charles Hansen

South King County Genealogy Society General Meeting is scheduled for this Saturday, April 15, 2017, beginning at 10:00 am at Wesley Home – Lea Hill Retirement Center, 32049 109th Pl SE, Auburn.

 
Our topic this month is “Google Tools Beyond Basic Search” Genealogists depend on Google for searching the web, and yet there are many, more frequently un-used Google tools available to assist in researching our ancestors. Learn how to locate photos; find missing relatives; translate foreign records; find obituaries and related news articles; locate county histories and biographies; download books for reading later; keep learning through videos and resolve research problems with discussion groups. Maximize your research experience using Google’s tools.
Our presenter this month is Janet O’Conor Camarata, an SKCGS society member since 2008. As a professional genealogy, seminar presenter/trainer, newsletter editor, program coordinator and past president of SKCG, she’s an experience researcher with many skills to share.

 

Janet O’Conor Camarata
SKCGS – Publicity
206-335-9577

FGS Conference August 30-September 2

by Charles Hansen


Register now for “Building Bridges to the Past” in Pittsburgh, PA

4/10/2017 – Austin, TX.

Online registration is now open for the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ 2017 National Conference.

The conference will be held August 30 – September 2, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. This year’s local host is the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society and the theme is “Building Bridges to the Past.” Register by July 1, 2017 for the early-bird discount at FGSConference.org.

Attendees can look forward to strengthening their research abilities no matter their skill level or area of interest. The program is available online at http://www.FGSConference.org. An 8-page pdf download is also available at http://fgs.org/upload/files/FGS2017-ProgramPreview.pdf.

Rorey Cathcart, FGS President, shares, “FGS Conferences offer genealogists of all skill levels an incredible learning opportunity as well as a chance to meet others who share their passion. Whether you are beginning your genealogy adventure or have been at it for decades, FGS welcomes all. With a day devoted to programming for society leaders and members, followed by three days of genealogy programming that features world-famous speakers, exciting workshops, a variety of special events and luncheons, FGS 2017 has something unique to interest all attendees. Don’t miss your chance to join the Federation for a fun-filled and informative experience in Pittsburgh!”

Conference Highlights

Keynote Speaker

Rick Sebak makes unusual television programs. His slightly wacky documentaries now celebrate various aspects of modern American life and the unexpected charms of Pittsburgh. In “Take the Unexpected Bridge,” he will explore the idea that when searching for information of any sort, from historic and genealogical to gastronomic and adventurous, often the best route is along unfamiliar roads and across unexpected bridges.

Conference Sessions

Learning opportunities abound in the FGS 2017 program. The program includes four full days of sessions, workshops, and interactive seminars. Learning tracks include Immigrant/Ethnic, Records, Regional, DNA, Methodology, Analysis, Skills, African American, Land & Taxes, Religion, Occupations, and more. Attendees of all skill levels will find new ways to uncover more about their family history.

Exhibit Hall

The large exhibit hall will feature the latest software, books, maps, databases, and gadgets on the market for family historians. Many genealogical organizations will be present to share information as well. Society Showcase will feature representatives of FGS Member Societies to share how their society can help attendees with their family history.

Special Events

Wednesday evening’s event is sponsored and hosted by Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society. Registrants are invited to a dinner cruise along Pittsburgh’s three rivers on board the Gateway Clipper Princess. Friday and Saturday evening offer a special treat for baseball fans. FGS is partnering with the Pittsburgh Pirates to offer discounted tickets for games against the Cincinnati Reds.

Focus on Societies

Wednesday, August 30 is Focus on Societies Day. Sessions are jam-packed with ideas and tools to help societies promote themselves, develop projects, increase membership, and leverage technology. D. Joshua Taylor will kick off the day with the plenary session. He will discuss ways to package genealogical societies for non-genealogical partners, including local media, donors, charitable organizations, and politicians.

Librarians’ Day

Tuesday, August 29, is the pre-conference event sponsored by ProQuest. Librarians, archivists, and other information professionals won’t want to miss this event. It will be a full day of sessions focused on serving family history researchers.

Sponsors

Platinum sponsors include leading family history companies Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage. Bronze sponsors include AncestryProGenealogists and Internet Genealogy/Your Genealogy Today. For the complete list of sponsors and partner organizations, visit https://www.fgsconference.org/exhibits/sponsors/.

Also visit the conference website at http://www.FGSConference.org for details including links to conference hotels, research opportunities, and more. Keep up with conference news and announcements by reading the FGS Voice blog at http://voice.fgs.org and by subscribing to the FGS Voice Newsletter at http://fgs.org/cpage.php?pt=71.

Learn More and Stay Connected

 

About the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and empowers the genealogical and family history community, especially its societies and organizations, by advocating for the preservation and access of records and providing resources that enable genealogical organizations to succeed in pursuing their missions. FGS helps genealogical societies and family history enthusiasts alike to strengthen and grow through online resources, FGS FORUM magazine, and through its annual national conference which provides four days of excellent learning opportunities for both societies and family history enthusiasts. To learn more about FGS visit fgs.org. To learn more about the next annual conference to be held in Springfield, Illinois, visit fgsconference.org. Also, find FGS on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FGSgenealogy, on Twitter @FGSgenealogy and on the FGS Voice blog at http://voice.fgs.org.

Family Search May Online Programs

by Charles Hansen

FamilySearch — 5 Day Western European Family History Conference (Virtual or in person) [15-19 May 2017]
6 UpFront with NGS by Diane L Richard  /  3h  //  keep unread  //  hide

FamilySearch — 5 Day Western European Family History Conference (Virtual or in person) [15-19 May 2017]

The NGS 2017 Family History Conference will have just ended and so you have some time to further your education even more!

From our friends at FamilySearch …

Salt Lake City, Utah (26 March 2017), FamilySearch’s world-renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, will be offering its free Western European Family History Conference, May 15 to May 19, 2017. Guests can attend classes in person or online. The conference will focus exclusively on select Western European research and is intended for beginning and intermediate researchers. Classes are free, but registration is required due to class size and webinar bandwidth limitations. For more information or to register, go to FamilySearch Wiki. Easily find and share this news release online in the FamilySearch Newsroom.

Classes will be taught by the Family History Library’s staff of experts and guest genealogists. Content will focus primarily on how to research records from Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Topics addressed will include census, church, immigration, and vital records.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Use the following links to register for desired conference classes online or in the library:  webinar guests.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/western-european-family-history-conference-2017-webinar-guests-tickets-32271902128

List of Classes

https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Western_European_Family_History_Conference

 

 

 

Clark County Genealogical Society April & May Meetings

by Charles Hansen

Clark County Genealogical Society (CCGS)
717 Grand Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98661-4821
360-750-5688

Clark County Genealogical Society

THIS WEEK AT CCGS
Wednesday, 5pm – webinar (see below)
Thursday, 10am – Scandinavian Focus Group
Friday, 11am – webinar (see below)

SCANDINAVIAN FOCUS GROUP
The Scandinavian Focus group meeting on Thursday, April 13th will have a guest presenter, Fred Hasle. The topic will be Danish genealogy research. He will explore the various resources available for exploring your Danish roots. This should be a very informative presentation. You do not have to be a member of the Focus Group to attend this meeting. Everyone is welcome.

SPRING CLASSES AT CCGS
Fee Classes – $12 for members, $15 for non-members

Timelines and Analysis, instructor Lethene Parks
Tuesday, April 25, 10am-12n
You’ve been hot on the trail of an illusive ancestor. You’ve gathered quite a bit of information about them. But, what does it all mean? Organizing all these disparate “facts” into a timeline and subjecting them to critical analysis will help you make sense of it.

Family Search Strategies, instructor Alice Allen
Tuesday, May 2, 10am-12n
Family Search is a major go-to site for genealogical research. In addition to continuously adding searchable records, Family Search is constantly improving how we access those records. Alice is a “power user” of Family Search and will share her insights as to how to make the site “dance” for you.

Getting Started Tracing Your Ancestors, instructor Brian Runyan   FREE
Thursday May 11, 7pm – 9pm, CCGS Annex
This class will get you started researching your family tree.  Topics include collecting information from the family, family group sheets, pedigree charts, genealogy database programs and best practices for research.

Getting Started with Your Norwegian Research, instructor Kathy Solheim
Tuesday, May 16, 10am-12n
This class will guide the researcher through the process of searching for key ancestral information in FamilySearch, then locating and interpreting the original Norwegian parish records in Digitalarkivet.

CCGS NEWSLETTER
The deadline for the May newsletter is Wednesday, April 19.  If you have something for the newsletter, send an email, with CCGS newsletter in the subject, to allen.alice@gmail.com

LIBRARY TRAINING
Monday, April 24, 10am

Normally we hold our periodic Librarians Training meetings during months with five Mondays. Because the next time this occurs will be Memorial Day, it was decided to move our next training meeting to Monday, April 24th, at 10 a.m. in the CCGS Annex. This meeting is for all current CCGS Librarians as well as anyone who is interested in becoming a Librarian. Presentations are being prepared which will help us all be better librarians, and to better serve those who visit us. Hope to see you there!

CCGS GENERAL MEETING
Tuesday, April 25, 7pm
Meagan Huff – The McLoughlin Women
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site’s Assistant Curator, Meagan Huff, will talk about the lives of Marguerite and Eloisa McLoughlin, the wife and daughter of Fort Vancouver’s Chief Factor, Dr. John McLoughlin.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CCGS MEMBERS

The proposed dues increase of $5 per year was approved by the CCGS members in attendance at the March General Meeting. Thank you for your yes votes and for your continued support of CCGS and its activities.

UPCOMING WEBINARS
Wednesday, April 12, 2017, 5:00pm, CCGS Annex.  Discussion to follow
Your Whiteboard in the Cloud: Trello for Genealogists by Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A.
Learn how Trello—a free project management tool—can help you streamline your genealogy projects, tackle your “to-do” lists, and improve your workflow.

Friday, April 14, 2017, 11:00am, CCGS Annex.  Discussion to follow
Complete Photo Restoration in 4 Easy Steps by Eric Basir
Learn how to scan, restore and print a photo like the pros from beginning to end in four basic steps. Audience members are encouraged to send photos from which Eric will choose one to use during this demonstration. Includes scanning and restoration.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017, 11:00am, CCGS Annex.  Discussion to follow
Neighborhood Reconstruction: Effective Use of Land Records by Mary E.V. Hill, MLS, AG
Use USGS topographic maps, tract maps, plat maps, surveys, deeds, census records, and tax lists to reconstruct the neighborhood where your ancestor lived. Plat your ancestor’s land records and discover what unexpected clues might be discovered in the process.

Puget Sound Genealogical Society April Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Puget Sound Genealogical Society
Saturday, April 22, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
at Kitsap Regional Library, 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton
Detours Around Irish Roadblocks & Stone Walls
Plus Irish Roots Jeopardy
with Steven Morrison. Discover Ireland’s top 10
roadblocks and stone walls preventing you from making
progress in finding your elusive Irish ancestors.
Registration is required: call Genealogical Center
(360)475-9172
Thanks Jackie Horton, Publicity Chairperson

TriCity Genealogical Society April Seminar

by Charles Hansen

Don’t forget our upcoming April 12th meeting which will feature the Sons of the American Revolution: history of the uniforms, flags, weapons and genealogy research tips.
Also, we will be having a Genealogy Book Sale at this meeting so you will want to take advantage of this book sale.
We request that you pay via a check or have the exact amount of cash as we will not be able to give you change.  So you may want to bring more one dollar bills unless you would like to be so kind as to give us more of a donation if you don’t have the correct amount.
We hope to see you at our April 12th meeting and as usual, invite a friend. Please see the attachment below and don’t forget about the Beginning Genealogy Class too. If you have any questions, please call 943-9322.

History of Revolutionary War Uniforms, Weapons & Flags

Speaker
—
Stan Wills, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)

Tri-City Genealogical Society  (TCGS)

Wednesday, 12 Apr 2017 at the Benton County PUD
7:00 PM
—
2721 W 10th Ave
—
Kennewick WA

[ Genealogy Class –What Tombstones Tell Us – 6:15 to 6:45 PM]
TCGS 12 Apr 2017 Flyer

Yakima Valley Gen Soc and WSGS Partner for Recognition Awards

by Roxanne Lowe

Featured speaker Jay Fonkert

The WSGS Annual Meeting, which includes the announcement of the Outstanding Volunteers and Teams, Outstanding Communication and Project awards, WSGS President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and Innovative Grant winners, will be Saturday, April 22, 2017 during the lunch period of Yakima Valley Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar. The seminar and awards event will be held at the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Yakima. The seminar’s featured speaker will be professional genealogist Jay Fonkert, a renowned authority on 19th Century Midwest research. His presentations will be:

  • Genealogy Detective Skills: Following Clues from the Census
  • Finding Your Pre-1850 American Ancestors
  • Why Were They There?
  • Who’s on First: Merging and Separating Identities in Family History Research

The YVGS Spring Seminar flyer, including a registration form, can be downloaded here: YVGS Spring Seminar flyer or visit the YVGS website.