South King County Genealogical Society July 2024 Happenings

by Charles Hansen

NOTE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT
My term as SKCGS President ends in May 2025. If you are interested in stepping up to lead this Society, now is the time to volunteer, and get involved with the Board. I would love to talk with you, and explore your ideas about the future, and answer your questions.
Thank you, Valorie
Write to: president@skcgs.org to get the dialog started.

Volunteer Opportunity:  Volunteers needed for Black Diamond Miners Day on Saturday, July 13. Setup starts at 8am, and we’ll be there until 4 pm. Come for an hour or two, or all day! Write to outreach@skcgs.org to let us know when you can help out.

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PROGRAM UPDATES

  • All meetings are online except Genealogy Help at the Auburn and Federal Way Libraries
  • The in-person Research Workshop will not meet in July or August
  • Live transcription (captioning) is available during our Zoom meetings by request
  • Online meeting participants need to register for SKCGS Zoom meetings. Register at our website skcgs.org. Upon registration, Zoom will send a confirmation email with instructions on joining the meeting.


JULY – EARLY AUGUST 2024 MEETINGS & EVENTS

Monday, July 8, 2024 ⋅ 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT
Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (online)
Topic: WATO Success (What Are the Odds?)
Plus: A New Upgrade to the Classic Tool
https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/wato-plus
https://www.reddit.com/r/Genealogy/comments/wrz1jy/wato_tool_hypotheses/
Volunteers show how they have used WATO successfully, or share data and tell us your research question.
Register at https://www.skcgs.org
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Subscribe to the free SKCGS Genetic-Genealogy email list for announcements and discussion:  https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy

Saturday, July 13, 2024 ⋅ 9:00am – 4:00pm PT
Black Diamond Miners Day Street Fair (in-person)
32627 Railroad Ave, Black Diamond, WA 98010, USA (map)

Setup from 8am-9am; Fair 9am-4pm; Cleanup 4pm-4:30pm.


Monday, July 15, 2024 ⋅ 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT
Technical User Group (online)
Topic: Publishing your book on Kindle Direct Publishing  presented by Winona Laird.
https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/
Register at https://www.skcgs.org
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Subscribe to the free SKCGS Technical User Group email list for announcements and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG

Monday, July 22, 2024 ⋅ 1:00pm – 3:00pm PT
Genealogy Chat (online)
Meet up and chat about genealogy subjects and topics. We have no agenda; we just like one another!
Register at https://www.skcgs.org
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Subscribe to the free SKCGS email list for announcements and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Society

Thursday, July 25, 2024 ⋅ 11:00am – 1:00pm PT
Genealogy Help with SKCGS at the Auburn Library (in-person)
Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer
1102 Auburn Way S
Auburn, WA 98002
Registration not required. In-person event. Safety guidelines and current protocols followed. More information at King County Library, email kcls-auburn@kcls.org

Thursday, July 25, 2024 ⋅ 2:00pm – 4:00pm PT
Genealogy Help with SKCGS at the Federal Way Library (in-person)
Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer
34200 1st Way S
Federal Way, WA 98003
Registration not required. In-person event. Safety guidelines and current protocols followed. More information at King County Library, https://kcls.org/locations/federal-way, or phone: (253) 838-3668

Saturday, August 3, 2024, 10:00am – 12:00pm PT
Family Tree Maker Users Group (online)
Question & Answer. Each month, we will learn about using the features of FTM.
Register at https://www.skcgs.org
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Subscribe to the free SKCGS FTM email list for announcements and discussion:  https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG


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MEMBERSHIP:  We welcome guests to our meetings and special interest groups, which are free. Naturally we hope that visitors will want to become members. Support like yours helps us to educate and engage with our community to foster interest in family and local history. Regarding our programs, even if and when we can meet again in person, we will continue with some virtual programs. You can find more information about membership at our website at https://www.skcgs.org/support-skcgs/membership.

You are receiving this email because you have attended a SKCGS meeting and indicated you would like to receive periodic notice of events. If you would like to be removed from our list and stop receiving emails from us, send an email to skcgsfriends+unsubscribe@skcgs.org.

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SOUTH KING COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
PO BOX 143
BLACK DIAMOND, WASHINGTON 98010 

Let’s Talk About: Favorite Hymn

by Donna Phillips

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

with the cross of Jesus going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe:

Forward into battle, see his banner go!

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.

With the cross of Jesus going on before. 

I’d bet that most every 19th century hymnal, Catholic or Protestant, carried this beloved hymn. I’d bet that many of my ancestors and yours loudly sang these lyrics.

The words were written by Sabine Baring-Gould (1832-1924)q`, a Roman Catholic priest, in 1865 to be a processional for children walking from the church were he was curate to a nearby church in Yorkshire. “It was written on great haste,” Baring-Gould related, “and I am afraid that come of the lines are faulty.” 

The song/hymn became popular after the lyrics were put to the music of Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) in 1870. 


The hymn has been associated with war: soldiers going to war, beginning with the Civil War (as shown in John Paul Strain’s painting). In 1912, presidential candidate, Theodore Roosevelt, included this song and said his party was “going to battle for the Lord.”

When Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt met in August 1941 on the battleship HMS Prince of Wales to agree to the Atlantic Charter, Churchill chose this hymn for their onboard church service. 

As I energetically sing that hymn today, I do imagine my forebears belting it out with gusto. Bet yours did too. 

Let’s Talk About: Early Virginia

by Donna Phillips

(Map of Virginia in 1600 from Alamy)

Once upon a time, all of North America between Florida and Nova Scotia was known as Virginia for a number of years ………. did you know that? The area was named by Queen Elizabeth (ruled 1558 to 1603) after herself as “the Virgin Queen.” She charmed by Sir Walter Raleigh’s, her favorite sea captain,  accounts of the coasts of the Carolinas in 1585 that she favored him by taking his suggestion for a name of this new land. 

True or false? I found this bit in a book, The History of Orange County Virginia, by William W. Scott, published in 1907.

I spent a bit of time digging into this recent reprint looking for information on my Orange County ancestors. Like with many checked-into sources, I found no real answers but several clues. (Isn’t that what real research is all about???)

I did find these rather amusing names:

Prettyman Merry, “a prominent citizen during the Revolution”

Mourning Pegg,  found on the 1782 census

Peachy Bledsoe, in 1792 a Regiment

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week Lost Newspapers

by Charles Hansen
TIP OF THE WEEK –
HELP! MY ANCESTORS’ NEWSPAPERS WERE LOST  If a community you are studying lost their newspapers, try searching the entire state for mentions of the name of that newspaper, you can often find snippets of local news that were reprinted by neighboring communities. For example, you may find details of a devastating storm or a local bank failure. All of these events impacted our ancestors even if the story doesn’t include their name. You can also find a mention of a family member this way as well. Another useful strategy is to search newspaper in their state querying the name of their town with their surname.
July 1, 2024

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Seattle Genealogical Society July Happenings

by Charles Hansen

Romain Dancre / Unsplash
 

CERTIFICATION COURSE TO BE OFFERED THIS FALL

The Certification Discussion Group (CDG) course will be offered this October as a virtual course. More than 700 students have graduated from this SGS course, now in its seventh year. Join in and learn about the Board for Certification of Genealogy’s certification process. Gain an understanding of how to develop a portfolio. Strengthen your knowledge of the standards for being a better genealogist. Find out if certification is right for you. Sign up for the waitlist to get the announcement of dates and times in August. Final decisions can be made at that time.

 

HELP SPREAD THE NEWS ABOUT SGS AT THE SKAGIT VALLEY HIGHLAND GAMES

SGS is sharing the Clans of Ireland booth at the 28th Annual Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival and volunteers are needed to staff the booth. This two-day festival of music, dance, competition and entertainment will be held at the Skagit County Fairgrounds (501 Taylor St in Mt Vernon, WA) on the weekend of July 13–14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. If you are interested in helping staff our table for several hours, please contact James Ryan at janglinjehu@yahoo.com.

APPGEN SIGNUPS TO BEGIN SOON 


Mark you calendars. Sign up for the fall Applied Genealogy Institute classes from August 22 to 28. Classes offered will include

  • DNA Analysis
  • Native American research
  • Records after Death
  • Researching Overseas
  • Connecticut Genealogy and Social Media Marketing (oriented toward professional genealogists and society social media partners.)

You can find out more on the website. These courses are oriented towards “Learn By Doing.” The instructors are content experts.

 SGS MEMBERS, REMEMBER TO RENEW

Take a few moments now to renew your membership as we begin our next century! When you renew online you can pay your dues with a credit/debit card right away or print out your invoice and send it with your dues payment to SGS. First log in at Members Home then click the green “Renew Membership” button. If you haven’t logged in before or have questions, send an email to membership@seagensoc.org.
 
NOT AN SGS MEMBER YET?

Join online today and enjoy a full year of discounted class and event fees, free research requests, special interest groups, and access to exclusive SGS publications and databases. Find out more about membership at Join SGS.

SAVE THE DATE

American Ancestors by NEHGS (FREE Webinars)
Thursdays, July 11 and 18, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

An Introduction to California Research – July 11
California has a rich history that reflects the state’s diverse cultural heritage and dynamic social changes. In this online lecture, Genealogist Meaghan E. H. Siekman will provide an introduction to doing family history research in the state starting with the period of pre-contact to statehood and beyond.

Understanding and Utilizing Indexes – July 18
Indexes are an unparalleled resource for genealogists, yet not all are arranged the same way. Join Senior Genealogist Melanie McComb to understand the different types of indexes that you will come across and how to leverage them in your family history research.

For more information visit the American Ancestors website.

East European Family History Conference
Tuesday, August 6 through Friday, August 9
Salt Lake City (in person)

The Foundation for East European Family History Studies (FEEFHS) will hold its annual conference on August 6-9, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. More than 60 sessions will be presented in 8 tracks: German, Polish, Russian, Germans from Eastern Europe, Austro-Hungarian, Jewish, DNA, and Resources. For more information visit the FEEFHS website.


2024 GFO Virtual Fall Seminar
Genealogical Forum of Oregon
Eastside Genealogical Society
Friday, Nov. 1 through Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024

GFO has announced there 2024 Fall Seminar. It will feature a feast of DNA topics. Genetic Genealogist Paul Woodbury will discuss using DNA to solve genealogical questions. Friday evening will be a beginner session, with Saturday devoted to intermediate and advanced techniques. For more information visit the GFO’s website.

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTSGood Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658Hours :  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday   
** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. **  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 noted

Wednesday, July 3, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.,  Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), This month’s focus in on Idaho and Montana resources. Register on the SGS website.

Monday, July 8, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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. Remember the new Zoom link started this month

Monday, July 8, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., 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, July

8, 2024, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group  to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact SGS Director of Education (education@seagensoc.org).

Tuesday, July

9, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., 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, July 10, 2024, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG,  Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. 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. 

Monday, July 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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. Remember the new Zoom link started this month

Monday, July 22, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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. Remember the new Zoom link started this month

Tuesday, July

 23, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., 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, July 29, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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. Remember the new Zoom link started this month

Monday, August 5, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., 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. Remember the new Zoom link started this month Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., 

Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website.

Heritage Quest Research Library Timelines

by Charles Hansen
Debbie Wilson Smyth has been researching her family since 1993 and holds a certificate in the Genealogical Research program from Boston University.  As the owner of Oak Trails Genealogy Services, LLC, she provides professional genealogical services in research, education, consultation, and speaking. Her research focuses on mid-western and southern states, methodology, lineage society applications and DNA. She is a member of APG and the Genealogy Speakers Guild, as well as a number of national, state and local societies.  Timelines: A Genealogical Tool for Organization and Analysis.  Timelines help organize the information that we collect on our ancestors and are beneficial in the analysis process. This presentation describes the use and elements of timelines for genealogical research, including examples created in various formats and for different types of research problems.  When: Thursday, July 11, 2024

Time:   11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Where: ZOOM and limited In-person (8)

Cost:     $20 members / $25 non-members Sign-up and Payment:
ZOOM
Go to hqrl.com and go to HQRL Store (Sign in as a member to get the discount)
IN-PERSON (8 ONLY)
Call 253-863-1806 or come into the library located at 2102 E Main Ave, Suite 105, Puyallup, WA 98372
Copyright © 2024 Heritage Quest Research Library, All rights reserved.
You have told us that you want to receive our news and updates from our library.

Our mailing address is:
Heritage Quest Research Library
2102 East Main Suite 105
Puyallup, WA 98372-3205

Grays Harbor Gen Soc Open Discussion

by Roxanne Lowe

The program at the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society meeting will be an open discussion about resources, brick walls and general questions. No issue is too small to discuss — and there’ll be lots of opinions! Saturday, July 13, 2024, 10:00 a.m., Hoquiam Library downstairs meeting room and via Zoom.  All are welcome. For more information, email Info@graysharborgenealogy.com.

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society Using Genetic Genealogy in Crime Fiction

by Charles Hansen


This talk gives an overview of the investigative genetic genealogy process, IGG: what it is, where it is used and the basics of how it is undertaken.
Nathan will briefly discuss some real-life key cases that have used IGG and then move on to his own fictional writing, focusing on the Venator Cold Case series, which uses this methodology to catch serial killers. He will explain his meticulous research method, the experts that he consults and his writing process.
Friday, July 19 @ 10AM on Zoom only Nathan Dylan Goodwin will present The Science Behind the Stories: Using Genetic Genealogy in Crime Fiction


Nathan Dylan Goodwin is a British historical, genealogical mystery crime writer. A member of the Society of Authors, he has completed several local history books about his birthplace of Hastings, England, as well as several works of fiction, including the acclaimed Forensic Genealogist series, the Mrs. McDougall Investigates series and the Venator Cold Case series. He is a qualified teacher, member of the Guild of One Name Studies and the Society of Genealogists, as well as being a member of several history societies in Southeast England. Nathan is also the co-creator with Diahan Southard of the in-person and virtual masterclass in investigative genetics, Genealogy Solves It (GSI).

So, please join us on July 19 at 10AM on Zoom

No membership necessary but registration is required.

Register now on our website: bigenealogy.org

Let’s Talk About: AI to help save whales

by Donna Phillips

Oceanus is the publication of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. I quite enjoy the issues of Oceanus and learn from the WHOI website and frequent free educational webinars. 

Living in Washington, with the whale-waters of Puget Sound, Straits of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean, we’re very aware of ferries and their potential negative impact on whales. (This article’s information applies to all ocean-going big vessels.)

“Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has come into worldwide use and in many ways we’d never have imagined.” The Spring 2021 issue of Oceanus explained……

“Vessel strikes are one of the biggest threats to the survival of the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale (and I would add, ALL whales). Restrictions on shipping speeds and routes have reduced the number of vessel strikes, but at least sixteen North Atlantic Right Whales were killed by ship strikes between 2003 and 2018. Only about 360 of these endangered animals remain.

“Various methods or remedial action have been utilized but up to now, nothing has really “done the trick.” A WHOI team is developing a new detection system, Thermal Imagine Scanners (cameras!) to be used to scan the water’s surface for whale blows. The cameras are linked to AI that the team has trained to ignore waves, birds and boats and to only sound alerts of a thermal signature…. ie, whale detection.

“Mounted on ships, the system can alert captains to the presence of a whale several kilometers away within seconds…..enough time for the vessel to slow down or change course.”

Don’t we all mourn when we read a news story of a dead whale on a beach with clear propeller slashes on its body?? Let’s hope our Washington ferries also get this technology to better protect our Orcas. I want my great-grandchildren to see leaping Orcas in our Washington waters!!

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting

Tuesday, July 2, 2024, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm virtual via Zoom

Note due to technical problems we were unable to watch the video Legacy for Beginners last month, so we are going to try again this month.

This month we will be returning to reviewing the free Legacy Family Tree software videos hosted by Geoff Rasmussen. Our first video in this series will be “1 of 5 – Legacy for Beginners” . It is a short video so we should be able to watch the video and discuss it this month. If you are thinking about trying Legacy, or are currently using it, this video can teach or remind you how to properly use the software and be successful with your research. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them in.

This is our monthly meeting to share tips & tricks, problems & solutions. Sometimes we will watch videos or share our screens to aid in learning more about using Legacy Family Tree software.

Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the learning. If you are just thinking about trying Legacy for the first time, you’ve been using it for a year or two or you are an old pro with many years of experience using Legacy this is the group for you.

We look forward to meeting with you, every month on the First Tuesday at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly Calendar Reminder: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYpfuyuqDovHNwtBgxtQjWKOjDQ8k5Q9bPD/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqjIvHNKUtR-PRpwQBor4Z-7wpn5Ygo1KiD3iGzRiaDTdGehmA-p0RemJ

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82495661568?pwd=dy85YmluVzF5aEU4SzFTcTUrVDlTUT09

Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568

Passcode: 715731

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Dial by your location:

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Meeting ID: 824 9566 1568

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