Eastern Washington Genealogical Society February Meeting

Saturday, February 3

African Americans in Spokane (EWGS Meetings)

12:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Spokane Public Library Auditorium, Downtown Spokane

Presenter – Jerrelene Williamson.

Jerrelene has collected photographs and artifacts of Spokane’s early black population as part of “A Centennial Tribute to Northwest Black Pioneers.” She has awards from Rogers High School – Distinguished Alumni, from the Editorial Dept. of the Spokesman Review – Gold Pen Award, African American students of SCC – Service of Excellentce Award and she is the recipient of the 2003 Jefferson Award.

Please join us to hear about African Americans in Spokane. We will learn how the Northern Pacific Coal Company recurited blacks from the South to break the coal strike in Roslyn, Washington in 1888. It was the greatest migration of blacks to the Northwest. It was years later when the mines closed in Roslyn that the black workers and their familes went to Spokane, Seattle, Portland and other parts of the Northwest.

Cookies & Social Time: 12:30 PM

Meeting starts at 1:00 PM

Oweta Floyd Awarded 2017 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

Jan24 by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 500 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Oweta Floyd

Today we’re introducing Oweta Homer Floyd of Spokane, Washington, who was nominated by the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society (EWGS). She was recognized for her attention to detail and dedication to the financial well-being of the society.

Although both Ms. Floyd and her husband Doug have not been members of EWGS very long, both are committed volunteers. Ms. Floyd has been the treasurer for three years and kept the financial books and records necessary for the society. A stickler for accuracy, she made it easy to audit her books, and each month presented the treasurer’s report to the board and general meetings. As head of the budget committee, she opened her home for the committee to meet. She posted the budget on the EWGS website and printed several copies for those without computers. She has also kept members abiding with the bylaws, making sure they vote on the budget and any changes to the budget.

Ms. Floyd’s dedication and commitment in maintaining the financial health of EWGS demonstrate she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Interim Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society January Meeting

Dec27 by Charles Hansen

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Historical Preservation of Spokane (Special Events)

12:00 pm

The Pearl China Buffett 21 East Lincoln Spokane WA

Megan Duvall is the Historic Preservation Officer for the City/County of Spokane. Prior to taking on her current role in Spokane in 2014, she spent nearly fifteen years as the Certified Local Government (CLG) Coordinator and the Survey Program Manager for the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) in Olympia. A native of Spokane, she graduated with a Fine Arts undergraduate degree from Washington State University with an emphasis in painting and studied preservation at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia where she earned a MFA in Historic Preservation. She spent a couple of years as the Executive Director of the Enumclaw Downtown Partnership before taking the position with DAHP.

Learn more about the historic preservation program in the City of Spokane as well as Spokane County. Megan will discuss some of the initiatives recently undertaken by her office. She will also show us how to use the website to find out lots of information on the history of Spokane and specific properties and give tips on how to research historic properties and more!

Lunch with a discount and including tax is $8.70; with coffee $9.25, with soda $10.65.

Please pay as you come in to save time and confusion.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Christmas Party

Nov22 by Charles Hansen

Saturday, December 2

Christmas Party – celebrating The Famous and Infamous (EWGS Meetings)

12:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Spokane Public Library Auditorium, Downtown Spokane

Do you have a famous or infamous ancestor, or know of an interesting local person?

For example: Great Uncle Harry was a Bigamist? Horse Thief? Inventor? Spy? Soldier? Hero? Scholar? Author? Movie Star? Tell us a story ..

Did you know Klondike Kate lived in Spokane for a time?

Did Butch Cassidy really retire and live in Spokane under an alias?

Who was Willy Wiley?

Share a story and a picture or two from a newspaper article or other source. Visual aids are great!

Please bring your plate of Christmas cookies and a story to share at our December Holiday event.

Casual holiday attire is recommended but not required.

December is a time to tell a tale, eat some delicious cookies and have a great time.

Hope to see you there!!

If you have questions or suggestions please contact Mary Holcomb: mkholcomb@live.com

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society November Meeting

Oct25 by Charles Hansen

Georgetown Memory Project
Saturday, November 4
Georgetown Memory Project (EWGS Meetings)
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Spokane Public Library Auditorium, Downtown Spokane

Due to the snowstorm in February 2017 the Georgetown Memory Project presentation was cancelled. It has been rescheduled for the November program.

The Butler Slave Research Team will make a presentation of the research we did to locate Pat Bayonne-Johnson’s ancestors who were enslaved by the Jesuits of Georgetown and sold in 1838 to two plantation owners in Louisiana. The presentation will include traditional research methods as well as those that are unique to African American research.

Butler Team Members: Carol Anderson, Pat Ayers, Pat Bayonne-Johnson, Janette Birch, Barbara Brazington, Mary Holcomb, Juanita McBride and Dolly Webb.

Cookies & Social Time: 12:30 PM
Meeting starts at 1:00 PM

Join These Super Star Scribers

Sep26 by Roxanne Lowe

The Washington State Genealogical Society is asking its members and blog readers to support the state’s Digital Archives in October. We are unbelievably lucky in this state to have a resource like the Digital Archives. What a wealth of information, including historic photographs, BDM records, cemetery directories, maps and land records — many from pre-statehood. All access, all free. Transcribed and indexed by volunteers like you! Click here to join the army of volunteers.

Today, we’re highlighting two Digital Archive transcriber super stars:

Steven Baylor started indexing before there was a Scribe (the super easy online transcription application used to transcribe records). Since official counting began, he has transcribed almost 150,000 records — and growing every day as it’s something he works into his daily schedule. Whenever he has a half hour here or a couple hours there, he sits down and indexes a dozen or so documents. According to Steve who is a former President of WSGS and member of the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society:

“It’s all part of paying it forward. My research has been made easier by others who have spent hours indexing and I’m pleased I can do my part to increase accessibility of public records. Now that my wife has Alzheimer’s, I need to be at home most every day. Indexing is something I can do and still feel like I am contributing to the genealogical community without having to travel anywhere.

Steve started indexing many years ago when he and other WSGS members worked with the Secretary of State’s office to index the 1910 Federal Census of Washington. After that labor-intensive undertaking, the Archives Office began using a “hybrid” system where they would mail paper copies of documents to transcribers who would index them online or on a disk and mail the paper copies back to Olympia. Steve’s wife assisted him by reading names to him while he typed, then she would double-check the finished product before they clicked the send button. Great teamwork!

Charles being recognized for his accomplishments by former Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Charles Hansen started in 2003 when the Digital Archives was being built near the Eastern Washington University campus in Cheney (Charles lives in Spokane). State officials began asking local genealogical societies to donate records to put in the infant digital archives. Charles had some DOS databases (remember DOS????) for early Spokane County births, deaths and marriages. He also had indexed the 1887 Spokane County Census. He generously gave those electronic records to start the digital archives. Shortly thereafter, Archives officials asked for volunteers to help index and volunteer at the archives, so he started indexing — being sent paper copies of the records and a floppy disk with the format to index.

The next transcription and index improvement was Scribe — the online digital application that allows users to become “honorary archivists” of the state’s historically important records. By using Scribe, volunteers are able to add information to the images, making them searchable online. It’s easy to use — just fill in the blanks and save the data. Each record can be viewed by many transcribers, but two transcriptions must match exactly before the record can become searchable.

Charles, a member of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society and WSGS’s Blog Master, has indexed 151,240 records since record counts have begun.

But you don’t have to be a super star like Steve or Charles to make a difference! Any record transcribed or indexed is a record available to the public. To date, I’ve transcribed nine records (yes, 9!), but I’m committed to making these records available for public access. Help me!

To sign up for Scribe, click here.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society October Workshop

Sep25 by Charles Hansen

Saturday, October 7

Fall Workshop – German Research (Seminars & Workshops)

8:30 am to 3:15 pm

Country Homes Christian Church 8415 North Wall Street Spokane WA

Regisration Deadline: September 25, 2017 – 5 PM

Presenters: Kent Aggers, Dolly Webb & Renata Wilde

08:30 AM – 09:00 Am – Registration

09:00 AM – 09:15 AM – Welcome

09:15 AM – 10:15 AM German History & Maps – Dolly Webb

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM Break

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Germans from Russia – Kent Agger

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch (Pot Luck – see below)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Place of Origin: Germany – Renate Wilde

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM Break

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM Questions & Answers – presenters

To download a copy of the handout from each presenter click on their name as shown below:

Ken Aggers Dolly Webb Renata Wilde

Potluck: Bring a dish and enjoy a full day of learning. Potluck dishes are based on the first letter of your last name:

A-E Salads F-I Deserts J-M Cookies N-R Appetizers S-Z Main Dish

To register via Pay Pal

To access the flyer which contains a registration form please download the file October Flyer Download: October Flyer

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Meeting

Aug21 by Charles Hansen

A Boy in the American Revolution and the Birth of the US Army
Saturday, September 9
A Boy in the American Revolution and the Birth of the US Army (EWGS Meetings)
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Spokane Public Library Auditorium, Downtown Spokane
Presenter: Bob Asbury

Robert Washington Asbury, 65 years old, born January 28, 1951, Spokane WA
Work for: CUTBOARD STUDIO, Spokane WA
I have been a television producer for the past 20 years, producer of the syndicated television (sport fishing) series, COLUMBIA COUNTRY (2000 -2010), but more recently, TROUT TV (2011 – 2013).
Currently I am working on a series for Northwest PBS affiliates called: WAY OF THE COLUMBIA, a series about the fisheries and related habitat work underway throughout the greater Columbia Basin watershed.
The name of my presentation is: A BOY IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AND BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. It’s the story of my 3rd great grandfather, Daniel Bedinger. Danial was 15 years old when he ran away from home to join the Continental Army, part of a special unite that represented the first national recruitment by the Continental Congress.
I discovered this story while doing research on a film I am producing about Samuel Washington, General Washington’s younger brother. The name of this film is: THE GENERAL’S BROTHER.
My interest in Samuel Washington is driven by my family tie to the Washington’s, Sam Washington, is my 4th Great Grandfather. Our family (Asbury’s) are among the closest living descendants of General Washington’s immediate family. Since discovering this, I have spent the past twenty years researching, and studying everything I can find on George Washington and the American Revolutionary War period.

Go to “Download: Meeting Handout.” to obtain the presenter’s handout.

Cookies & Social Time: 12:30 PM. Meeting starts at 1:00 PM
Download: Meeting Handout

Meet the Board: Donna Potter Phillips

Jul11 by Roxanne Lowe

Do you know who’s running the show at the Washington State Genealogical Society? Did you know we have an Executive Committee, six standing committee chairs and three appointed non-elected officers? Who are all these people? In the coming months, we’ll introduce them to you, so you can say “hi” the next time you see them.

Donna Potter Phillips

In today’s “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Donna Potter Phillips. Donna lives in Spokane and is WSGS’s Vice President, Communication Chair, on the Blog Team, and Region 7 Representative for Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens Counties. She also served as WSGS Vice President a number of years ago. She is a proud member of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society where she has been president (twice!), program chair, newsletter editor and held “jack of all” jobs. She is currently EWGS’s Federation of Genealogical Societies’ representative and Education chair.

Besides being a member of WSGS (since 1984) and EWGS, Donna is a member of the Mayflower Society, DAR, St. Clair County (Illinois) Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, Whitman County Genealogical Society and the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society. In addition, Donna was named a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer in 2008 and 2014. That’s a lot of genealogy, but that’s what Donna does!

Donna, age 5

Donna Ruth Potter was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Francis Harold and June Magdalen (Gurney) Potter. She was named for the heroine Lady Dona in Daphne Du Maurier’s 1941 novel “Frenchman’s Creek.”

Donna and her husband John are the proud parents of three, grandparents of eight and great-grandparents of 2-3/4 great-granddaughters.

Donna’s been interested in genealogy for more than 40 years – since she first learned she was a direct descendant of Englishman William Bradford of the Mayflower. She got “hooked” in 1971, joined EWGS in 1976 and has been researching, sharing, educating and promoting genealogy ever since. One of her favorite experiences was going with her son Benjamin and his son Austin to Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane to see a B-52 bomber jet on display. According to the serial number on the plane, it was one Donna’s father flew as an Aircraft Commander in the U.S. Air Force. Such serendipity! And speaking of “serendipity,” Donna publishes a weekly feature on the WSGS Blog called “Friday Serendipity” – assorted musings to entertain one and all. She also publishes “Monday Mystery,” “Tuesday Trivia,” and “Wednesday Nostalgia.”

On Donna’s ever-growing genealogy To Do List:
• Get all her genealogy research and information in order in case…well, you know.
• Upload her photos to www.Forever.com.
• Put her family tree on Ancestry, FamilySearch and MyHeritage.
• Make sure her list of contacts and passwords are updated.

When Donna’s not doing genealogy, she enjoys gardening (both inside and out), reading, rock collecting, taking educational classes and travel, including her ancestral homelands: Germany, England and Wales. She’s also a devoted dachshund lover!

A few more interesting tidbits about Donna:
• Favorite genealogy sites: Ancestry, FamilySearch and the Washington Digital Archives
• Favorite color: red
• Favorite dessert: Anything chocolate
• Word or phrase that describes her: Outspokenly energetic!

Now you know a little more about another of the WSGS Board members. The next time you see Donna, say hello and thank her for her service to WSGS.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society June Meeting

May24 by Charles Hansen

Army Medicine during the American Civil War 1861-1865
Saturday, June 3
Army Medicine during the American Civil War 1861-1865 (EWGS Meetings)
12:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Spokane Public Library Auditorium, Downtown Spokane
Presenter: Mike Inmann

Mike Inman is a retired Firefighter living in Spokane with his wife MJ and has been reenacting for 26 years. He does reenacting and living history including the frontier army of the 1880’s focusing on Forts Sherman and Spokane as well as portraying a surgeon 1861-1865 with the Washington Civil War Association. Mike has an extensive library for research to questions and some details of ancestors who fought in the Civil War. Mike also has a vast array of equipment including original medical instruments that he displays and allows people to handle so they can get a hands on experience, for example, of what an actual Civil War period amputation saw feels like. He not only reenacts throughout the Pacific Northwest but has attended many Civil War reenactments back east as well as participated in filming for Civil War oriented movies. Mike strives to educate or as he likes to say, “de-Hollywood the American Civil War” as well as entertain through both a presentation and a question and answer period.

The program is designed to give both military and civilian medical history involving the armies of the Union and Confederacy. But the presentation can go in any direction the audience wants such as drug use, medical procedures, nursing activity, field hospital organization, statistics, etc.