Twin Rivers Genealogical Society Cancelled March Seminar

by Charles Hansen

Good evening, I just wanted to let you know that the “Preserve the
Past and Present Photos for the Future” has been cancelled until October
2020, due to coronavirus. We will be letting you know when it is
rescheduled as soon as we have a date. Please keep “Walking with
Ancestors” July 4 and we will be sending out information the closer we
get to that date! Thank you for your help in getting the word out. We
will see you in July! WE HOPE!!!!

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week

by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK –
FINDING AN ADDRESS IN THE CENSUS   Thanks to Jeremiah for his comment on the Seattle Genealogical Society Networking Group’s Facebook page. He pointed out another of Steve Morse’s great tools for genealogists. It’s a way to search a US census by address in case you can’t find what you need by searching the census with the index. 

Say you want to know who lived in your house in 1910. Or, in another scenario, you have ancestors you can find by name in the 1940 and 1920 censuses, but you can’t find them by name in the 1930 census. So you want to locate their 1920 and 1940 addresses in the 1930 census. How do you do that? 

To browse the census searching for an address is much easier if you can find something called an ED (Enumeration District) number. And here’s where Steve’s tool,  “Unified Census ED Finder” (Obtaining the Census Enumeration District for an 1880 to 1950 Location in One Step), will come in handy. Try it out for yourself here: 

https://stevemorse.org/census/unified.html  

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen
SOLDIERS, SPIES AND FARM WIVES:
CHANGING ROLES OF WOMEN IN THE CIVIL WAR    Join Jill Morelli, SGS president and CG®, for this online presentation and discussion of the changing roles of women during the Civil War. Here are a few of the brave women Jill will introduce you to. You probably never heard of them, yet they all played an active role in our Civil War, the bloodiest war in American history.    Susie King Taylor, free black; Led a regiment on raids into South Carolina, her home state. Frances Clayton under the alias Jack Williams: housewife & mother of three children enlisted, along with her husband, in a Missouri artillery unit of the Union army. She was wounded 3 times and continued to fight even after her husband died in battle. Rose O’Neil Greenbow: Washington DC socialite and Confederate spy. Battle losses by the Union army at Manassas and Bull Run are attributed to her information gathering in the DC area.  Learn more about these women, and others, as we examine the changing roles of women during the Civil War. This will be a 50-minute online presentation followed by Q & A.  **Zoom in and join us: 
  ONLINE
Thursday, March 19, 2020
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm 
Follow this link to join in: https://zoom.us/j/859384515     ** Zoom is a leader in video communications, conferencing, and webinars apps that work easily and seamlessly across all operating systems  – PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux – and devices    
WASGS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
  SGS recently received a plea from Virginia Majewski, President of the Washington State Genealogy Society. They are in desperate need of people to fill a couple of important volunteer positions. They need someone to manage the Awards Program and they also need a web manager. For the web manager position, they would love to find someone already versed in the use of the Easy Net Sites platform, but if need be, training is available.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact information is available at the Washington State Genealogy Society website; 

https://wasgs.org/contact.php    
SLC FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY  TEMPORARILY CLOSED 
We received the notice below from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, UT. It serves as a reminder that this virus is touching all of our lives. Be prudent and check on the status of any place or any event you plan to visit before you set out.   “Out of concern for the health and safety of our guests, volunteers, and staff, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City will temporarily close starting at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 until further notice. This closure is to support preventive efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. Regional FamilySearch centers and libraries have been asked to consider the direction of their local and government leaders, and then make informed decisions about temporary closures. If you plan to visit a FamilySearch center soon, please call ahead to ensure it is open at the regular times.”  Read their full message here: https://media.familysearch.org/family-history-library-closure/

  SAVE THE DATE  
Irish Festival of Seattle,
Seattle Center Armory
Seattle, WA 98109 
March 14 – 15, 2020 *** Canceled ***

Family Fun – Irish music, singing & Irish step dancers from the Pacific NW & Ireland. As well as genealogy, lectures, cultural displays, food & fun.  Spring 2020 SGS Seminar
with Fritz Juengling,
Fairview Christian School,
844 NE 78th St,
Seattle, WA
Saturday, May 16, 2020   Mr Juengling is the German, Dutch and Scandinavian Research Specialist at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. SGS is happy to have Fritz as the presenter for our spring seminar.   SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS   Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes,  and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. 
MARCH   *** All of our in person events for March have been canceled or postponed *** Stay tuned, or check the SGS Website, for status updates ***   *** Canceled *** Saturday, March 14, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, Family Tree Maker Users Group, with leaders Reiley Kidd and Jess Ramey, Learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker 2017
*** Canceled  *** Saturday, March 14, 12:30 pm -1:00pm, SGS Spring Membership Meeting, business meeting, meet the Board and Officer nominees. 

*** Postponed *** Saturday, March 14,  1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Second Saturday Series: “Do You Trello and Kanban?”, presenter will be Lori Lee Staub. learn how these can aid you in your genealogy research. 

*** Postponed *** Saturday, March 21,  1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Digging Deeper: Researching Women’s History, this presentation is at the University of Washington, Allen Library. Join in for a hands-on workshop to learn how archives are arranged and locate information which might be of interest to you when researching women’s history.    
APRIL
  *** The April events have not been canceled, but they may be.  Check back for updates. 

Saturday, April 4, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch  SIG, with leader Lou Daly, discover the many ways to use Family Tree & FamilySearch.org. Each meeting will feature an aspect of the FamilySearch website.  There will be time for Q&A.  

Sunday, April 5, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Scandinavian SIG, Share information and discuss your Scandinavian ancestral research. Chaired by Karen Knudson. 
  Saturday, April 11,  1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Second Saturday Series: “1890-1920 – the Progressive Era & Women’s Rights”, presenter will be Heidi Mair. Prominent suffragettes led progressive-era causes that impacted women. Discover the fascinating lives and accomplishments of Jane Addams, Nellie Bly and Ida B. Wells-Barnett as well as local leaders Emma Smith DeVoe, Abigail Scott Duniway, Alice Lord and others.    This lecture is part of the Seattle Genealogical Society’s lecture and workshop series: Women’s Suffrage in your Family History. We thank the Washington State Historical Society for their grant in support of our project. For more information, see https://www.suffrage100wa.com/.    Saturday, April 18, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, Irish SIG, with Jean Roth Saturday, April 18 , 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, German SIG , with Jean Roth  
 

Genealogical Forum Closes Until April 1

by Charles Hansen
GFO Closes Library Until April
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is immediately closing its library in Portland until April 1. We will re-evaluate that status later based on how the coronavirus progresses in our community. In addition, here is a full summary of all GFO Events canceled and rescheduled: ▪ Canceled Special Interest Group meetings and Volunteer Work Parties. ▪ Canceled GenTalk about PERSI on March 21. ▪ Rescheduled the free Genealogy Open House to Sept. 25-Oct. 4. ▪ Rescheduled the DNA Seminar with Karen Stanbary to August 8-9. Tonight the Multnomah County Library system announced it is closing all branches immediately. An epidemiologist I’ve personally consulted believes we should do the same. A majority of the GFO Executive Committee has agreed we should do the same. We need to control the contagion. If closing our library to the public helps to “flatten the curve,” as epidemiologists say, then we want to play our part.
Vince Patton
GFO President
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is an all-volunteer nonprofit founded in 1946 which exists to promote, preserve and publish genealogical history.
The GFO operates the largest genealogy library in the Pacific Northwest and offers more than 150 classes each year.

Seattle Genealogical Society Cancellations

by Charles Hansen
March 13, 2020  Notice – Seattle’s 2020 Irish Festival has been CANCELED. That includes all festival activities at Seattle Center Armory on Saturday,
March 14, and Sunday, March 15, as well as the Saturday, March 21 Irish Genealogy Workshop “Putting the Gene in Genealogy” that was to take place at Fairview Christian School in Seattle. Reminder – the SGS board decided to close the SGS Library physical facility at 6200 Sand Point and to cancel all meetings and gatherings of our membership held there until 30 March 2020. The facility is not being closed due to any known contamination, but rather as a pro-active move to avoid possible person-to-person transmission of the virus. Many organizations may be canceling their activities. It would be prudent to check with organizers on the status of an event before heading out. The Seattle Genealogical Society recommends you check our website or watch your email in-box for the eNews! for status updates on our events.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday 2020 E-News

by Charles Hansen
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition March 12, 2020
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
gfo.org | 503-963-1932 | info@gfo.org Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
Coronavirus Impacts: Open House, Seminar, SIGS, GenTalk
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is actively monitoring communications from local, state and federal authorities about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Today, Oregon Governor Kate Brown instructed all groups in the state to cancel events hosting 10 people or more in high risk populations. Older adults are considered high risk. A large percentage of our members and SIG participants are older. Therefore, we have taken these actions: Canceled Special Interest Group meetings.
Canceled GenTalk about PERSI on March 21.
Rescheduled the Open House to Sept. 25-Oct. 4.
Rescheduled the DNA Seminar with Karen Stanbary to August 8-9. Those who have registered for the seminar remain registered for the future dates. All registered attendees will receive a direct email about refunds if they need them.
Courtesy Tri-Met The library typically attracts a minimal number of people and we believe it can remain open for the time being. At the GFO library, we are using disinfecting wipes on keyboards, mice, desktops, chair backs, and door handles multiple times a day. You can help keep us all healthy too. The Centers for Disease Control has some basic, effective prevention steps: ▪ If you or anyone in your household has a cough or feels sick, stay home. ▪ Cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand. ▪ If you do cough or sneeze into a tissue, wash your hands immediately for 60 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Please observe the steps in the following videos, released by the WHO, that provide instructions on how to properly wash your hands and disinfect your hands with sanitizer. It’s easy to forget to cough into your elbow, but it’s really important not to cover your mouth with your hand (and then touch surfaces others will touch), or worse, to cough out into the air. Experts say washing hands really does prevent epidemics. Let’s work together to keep all of us healthy.
Membership Meeting Will Happen March 21 in Much Smaller Form
Our bylaws require an annual Membership Meeting in March to finalize the ballot for the election of the Board. Given the circumstances, we are not asking you to attend. We are arranging just enough people to come as the bylaws require a nomination for Director at Large be made from the floor. This is the meeting at which the ballot for the upcoming Board election is finalized. We have a willing candidate for each of the three positions open this year: President, Secretary, and Director at Large.
Hall of Fame Nominations Sought
It’s time for GFO Hall of Fame Nominations! Any GFO member may nominate another member by April 1. Nominees must have a well-documented history of service, leadership, and accomplishment in more than one facet of the GFO, over a long period of time. Please include: ▪ Name, list of services, activities, positions, and accomplishments; ▪ A narrative describing the nature of their work in terms of its importance to the success of the GFO; ▪ A short biography. Please send to secretary@gfo.org by April 1. The board will decide if any merit selection. Winners are awarded in June and receive a free Life Membership and their name on our Hall of Fame plaque.
Have a Fun Genealogy Story? Share it with our Insider
We’re looking for stories for the May 2020 Insider issue at this time, and we need your help. What we’re looking for: genealogy and history- centric articles, tips, resources, ideas, serendipity stories, techniques, events, etc. Please email insider@gfo.org by April 4th to get your news and items of interest into May’s issue. Again, submissions are due by April 4th, please.
News from the Library
New Digital Content ▪ Berks of Old ▪ Craig Links ▪ Edgar Newsletter ▪ Francisco Researcher [Francisco surname and variations] ▪ San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society, Inc. [bulletin]. New Books ▪ The Blows of yesteryear: an American saga ▪ Genealogies of Hadley families: embracing the early settlers of the towns of Hatfield, South Hadley, Amherst and Granby ▪ Painter families ▪ The Descendants of Peter and Margaret Rankin: from Kilsyth, Scotland ▪ Stratton notes ▪ Monumental inscriptions of the parish church of St. Mary, Oakley: (Part only) ▪ Who was Ann Gregg ▪ Colonial tavern keepers of Maryland and Delaware, 1634-1776 ▪ Chesapeake and Ohio Canal: a guide to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland, District of Columbia, and West Virginia ▪ The Civil War in Fairfax County: civilians and soldiers ▪ Communities of kinship: antebellum families and the settlement of the cotton frontier ▪ A guide to researching land in Oklahoma at the Oklahoma Historical Society. ▪ Genealogical research guide to Reno County, Kansas ▪ Hughes County history ▪ Ghost towns and historical haunts in Arizona: Stories and photos ▪ Baker County [Oregon] links to the past ▪ Camp Polk Cemetery, 1880-1999 ▪ Monmouth, Oregon: the saga of a small American town ▪ Collected memories: Umatilla Tales from the past: pioneer stories of the lower Willamette Valley
Surplus Book: New York Buildings Before 1800
This week’s surplus book has a truly self-explanatory title: Historic Buildings Now Standing In New York Which Were Erected Prior To Eighteen Hundred. However, the “now” in that title is a bit dated, because this book was printed in 1914. This is a fun piece of pictorial New York history with photos on almost every page, accompanied by descriptions of the truly old buildings of New York.
It’s a thin volume, 45 pages, and its cover is a bit tattered, its spine taped to keep it intact. Pages inside are crisp and as vibrant as when they were printed.
This booklet contains library marks and a label. Price for pickup at the GFO: $18
Price to ship to you: $24 If you’re interested, please contact booksales@gfo.org.
Survey Results:
Last week, we provided a list of research locations and asked what percentage of respondents had been there. Respondents were allowed to select more than one answer, and the percentages have been rounded. 75% Family History Library (Salt Lake City, Utah)
61% National Archives (Washington, DC)
32% NEHGS Library and Archives (Boston, MA)
32% National Archives (other locations)
25% DAR National Library
21% Allen County Public Library (Ft. Wayne, Indiana)
11% Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, Missouri) Many of the respondents wanted to go to the places in the survey again. But here are the places mentioned that were not listed above: ▪ Musselman Library in Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania ▪ National Records of Scotland to research my Scottish connections ▪ New York State Archives ▪ Fayetteville Arkansas Archives and the Fayetteville Library ▪ The Newberry Library was a good one. ▪ Richmond Virginia it was a treasure trove of Virginia history. They have a fantastic archive. ▪ I’ve also visited the Oregon State Archives and the Minnesota Historical Society Library ▪ Indian and Colonial Research Center, Connecticut. A hidden gem with an amazing resources for a researcher with extensive CT and RI ties as well as Indian ancestors. ▪ University of Washington Libraries. ▪ Anything in England, now that I know where we came from. ▪ Tennessee State Archives ▪ I want to go to New England, so pretty much any library or archive there. ▪ The Fiske Library in Seattle because it is relatively nearby and I have never been there.
New Survey: Newspapers
Newspapers can be a great resource. This week, we’re asking if they’ve helped you solve any genealogical puzzles.
Take the Survey Now
This week at GFO …
Sunday, March 15th
Library Work Party – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
We’ll be working to digitize more periodicals while we have fun chatting about genealogy. We will make sure everyone sits three feet apart, in accordance with state recommendations.
French Canada Group CANCELED Per Governor’s Instruction.
The group leader is Bob LaMarche. FrCan@gfo.org
Wednesday, March 18th
DNA Q&A – CANCELED Per Governor’s Instruction
Leader: Lisa McCullough dna_qa@gfo.org
GFO Library Open Late to 8:00 p.m.