PS-APG Bylaws Revision Team Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Teams

Dec14 by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the Bylaws Revision Team who was nominated by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (PS-APG). The team was comprised of Nancy Cordell and Karin Coppernoll.

Nancy is a family historian specializing in DNA analysis and African American research. In 1991 she attained a Ph.D. in anthropology. She received a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and attended the Advanced Genealogy Course at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. She is a past President of the Olympia Genealogical Society. Ms. Cordell serves the needs of her clients with her firm “Diggin’ Our Past.”

Karin has over 30 years of experience researching family history. She attained a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies in American Records from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. Karin takes on the genealogical brick walls and dead ends for her clients as “Brick by Brick Genealogy.”

Nancy and Karin both joined Puget Sound Chapter of the PS-APG in 2015. Nancy became an active member and volunteered as an expert in three “Ask the Expert” events. She currently serves as the PS-APG Chapter president. Karin has served as the chapter treasurer since 2017. She was the chapter coordinator for an “Ask the Expert” event and volunteered in several others as an expert. She became a National APG Director in 2022.

Nancy and Karin greatly aided the PS-APG chapter by updating its bylaws. These revisions were important and timely since they allowed members to attend meetings online.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

New APG Officers Have Washington Ties

Dec19 by Roxanne Lowe

The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) recently announced the results of its election for new board and nominating committee members.

Washington is well-represented at APG:

Janice Lovelace was elected to a two-year Board of Directors position. She is a member of the Seattle Genealogical Society and frequent speaker at international, national, and regional genealogy conferences, including the Northwest Genealogy Conference (NWGC) in Arlington.
Blaine Bettinger was also elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors. You may remember Blaine as a keynote speaker on DNA at the Northwest Genealogy Conference (NWGC) in 2016. He will be the speaker at the Olympia Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar on Saturday, March 30, 2019.
Mary Kircher Roddy, another member of the Seattle Genealogical Society, will continue to be APG’s Treasurer. She has also been a lecturer at the NWGC.
And speaking of the NWGC…Kenyatta Berry, APG’s Past President, was a keynote speaker at the NWGC in 2017.

Click here for a complete list of the APG’s at-large board and nominating committee members.

The Association of Professional Genealogists, established in 1979, represents more than 2,700 genealogists in various genealogy-related businesses. APG encourages genealogical excellence, ethical practice, mentoring, and education. The organization also supports the preservation and accessibility of records useful to the fields of genealogy and history. Its members come from all fifty U.S. states, Canada, and forty other countries.

Meet the Board: Nancy Cordell

Nov8 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.

Nancy Cordell, Region 3 Representative

In today’s “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Nancy Cordell. Nancy lives in Tumwater and is WSGS’s Region 3 Representative (Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, and Thurston Counties). She is also a member of the Olympia Genealogical Society where she has been president since July 2016.

Nancy, 1961 in Madrid, Spain

Nancy was born in southern California to Harry and Bertie (Grange) Neville. She earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology, specializing in biological anthropology, in 1991 at the University of Washington in Seattle. “Dr. Nancy” then taught biological anthropology to undergraduates for 30 years. What is biological anthropology, you ask? It’s a branch of anthropology that explores the biology of humans in the present and in the past, with a strong emphasis on understanding and exploring human diversity. Sounds like a perfect segue to her becoming a professional genealogist, earning a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. Now retired from her educational career, Nancy owns her own genealogical business, “Diggin’ Our Past.”

Nancy’s interest in genealogy came early. Her mother’s family migrated to Utah in the mid-1800s from England and Denmark as converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). Nancy is proud of her early Utah pioneer roots.

Nancy’s great grandparents Annie and Walter Boyed, 1914

Featured in the photo on the right are Nancy’s great grandparents, Annie Louisa Mullens and Walter Eugene Boyed. The photo was taken in 1914 in Las Vegas, Nevada, just after they had moved from the mining town of Rhyolite, Nevada where they’d lived for nearly 10 years. Walter, born in 1861 in Texas, was a prospector and miner. He married Annie in 1899 in Tooele, Utah at the age of 38. Nancy’s still “diggin’ her past” to find out more about Walter before his marriage to Annie.

Nancy and her husband have two grown daughters. Besides being a proud member of WSGS and OGS, Nancy is a member of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Association of Professional Genealogists, International Society of Genetic Genealogy, and the National Genealogical Society.

A few more interesting tidbits about Nancy:
• Favorite genealogy websites: Ancestry
• When asked one word that describes her, Nancy replied, “Curious.” A very good characteristic for a biological anthropologist – and a genealogist!

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

NW Genealogy Conference — Day 1

Aug18 by Roxanne Lowe

The theme of the first full day of the Northwest Genealogy Conference in Arlington was “Gathering Your Family’s Story.” Keynoter Claudia Breland, noted author of four books and at least six more in the works, shared her knowledge, experience and advice about:

Claudia Breland sharing her expertise on self-publishing.

Writing Up Your Research (without using genealogy software). Yes, you really can use your word processing software to write your family’s story!
Self-Publishing for the Family Historian. You don’t have to be J.K. Rowling to publish a book.
Finding and Using Historic Newspapers (check out her book “Searching for Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers“).

Daniel Earl entertained his audience, leaving us dying to hear more!

In between Claudia’s sessions, the 250+ attendees chose two hour-long sessions from a tantalizing list of topics from Secret Societies (fraternal organizations) and Huguenot Records to Census Strategies and Funeral Homes (where they’re dying to meet you!). I couldn’t resist Daniel Earl’s “Funeral Homes and Family History” class and wasn’t disappointed. He filled the room (literally — it was standing room only) with humor and new awareness of the wealth of information to be gleaned from bills of sale, service programs and funeral cards. The other class I chose was “Using Homestead Records to Tell Your Ancestor’s Story” with Michelle Goodrum, a professional genealogist from Mesa, Arizona. I was amazed at the amount of rich information I can get from a land entry case file from the National Archives for my homesteading ancestors. Definitely on my To Do List!

Blogger Roxanne Lowe with professional genealogist Janice Lovelace

Downtown Arlington rolled out the welcome mat for us

A new feature offered at the conference was “Ask the Experts,” a limited number of one-on-one consultations with a member of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. I was lucky enough to meet with Janice Lovelace, an expert in early Ohio records. She was able to focus my efforts to find my 2x great grandfather (Thomas Ferbrache, where are you?), give me promising suggestions for new avenues and specific resources to check.

The end of our day included dinner, shopping and a stroll through historic downtown Arlington. Businesses agreed to stay open later to roll out the welcome mat to NWGC attendees. A great day from dawn to dusk.

Steve Morrison Honored as Outstanding Volunteer in 2014

Apr8 by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 400 outstanding volunteers, 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 2014 award recipients and learn why they received the 2014 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Today we’re introducing Steven W. Morrison of Olympia, Washington, who was nominated by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (PS-APG). He was recognized for his exceptional and consistent support of the goals and operation of the PS-APG.

Steven W. Morrison

Mr. Morrison is a valued participant of the speakers forum which is an interest group of the PS-APG. He was the chapter representative of the PS-APG in 2014. He is also a member of the National Genealogical Society. He regularly attends local and national advanced genealogical training courses such as the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Mr. Morrison was President of the Olympia Genealogical Society from 2003 to 2005 where he was the chair of their spring seminar for three years. He presented two workshops at the Washington State Genealogy Conference in Arlington in August 2014.

Mr. Morrison’s contributions to the PS-APG and the field of genealogy illustrate that he richly deserved being a recipient of a 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Winona Laird Named Outstanding Volunteer

Feb25 by Roxanne Lowe

Today we’re introducing Winona Laird of Kent, Washington, who was nominated by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (PS-APG). She was recognized for her dedication to furthering the quality of genealogical education in Washington State and furthering the goals and operation of the PS-APG.

Winona Laird

Ms. Laird’s commitment to genealogical education has always been evident in her willingness to teach others. She has regularly presented classes on beginning genealogy to historical societies and libraries in the South King County area. She was also the co-founder of the Genealogy Training Center LLC which provides quality genealogy classes from basic to advanced using a hands-on method of teaching as well as keeping up with changing genealogy research and technology.

Ms. Laird is a current member and Past President of the South King County Genealogical Society and coordinator of their Family Tree Makers users’ group. She is also a member of the National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies.

Since last year, Ms. Laird has been the program coordinator for PS-APG and a valued participant of the speakers forum, an interest group of the PS-APG. Her contributions to the PS-APG and the field of genealogy illustrate that she richly deserved being a recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.