Tag Archives: Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

Russell Kruse Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

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 2023 award recipients and learn why they received the 2023 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Russell Kruse of Yakima, Washington, who was nominated by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS).

Russell became interested in genealogy and became a member of YVGS in 2011.  He actively volunteers when a maintenance issue arises.

Russell has been very active in multiple activities working on the semi-annual yard sale with other members transporting discarded items from church yard sales to the YVGS storage garage and setting up, selling and cleaning up at the end of the sale.  Russell oversees the recycling project for the YVGS library loading up the recyclable items each week and hauling them to the recycler — an invaluable task. 

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.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society “Townships”

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting

Saturday, February 3, 2024

10:00 a.m. 

Y.V.G.S. Library

Speaker: Richard Kyle

Subject: Townships

Richard will be giving a presentation on “Townships”. Come and find out about the different types of townships and where to find them.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

WSGS President and Secretary Nominee Statements

by Roxanne Lowe

Kathleen “Kathy” Weddle Sizer of Granger has been nominated to serve a second two-year term as WSGS President. Additionally, Jill Scott of Yakima has been nominated as Secretary. The term of offices is 01 Jan 2024 through 31 Dec 2025.

Online voting for the slate will begin 22 Jan 2024 and run through 29 Jan 2024. All WSGS members will receive an email with a Google link to their anonymous ballot. Members are asked to vote for each position. Write-in nominations are allowed.

Kathy’s candidate statement

Through the years it has been hard to fill board positions. Many enjoy the benefits of organizations and clubs but few run for office. I am running for president for a second term to fill a need; I enjoy being the “play crew” and not the “actor,” but see the need. I joined Yakima Valley Genealogical Society in 1975 and have served as president, vice-president, secretary and currently treasurer. At the state level, I was appointed membership chair in 2017 and am still in that position and have served as secretary and one term as your president of WSGS.

WSGS has become a clearinghouse for local societies and, as such, is very important to our state. The Pioneer Pursuit contest added 3,696 more names of individuals who lived here before statehood, including those who were indigenous to the area. Check out Chief Sealth’s family history in our Pioneer Pursuit index. I have enjoyed working with our board, but encourage all of you to step outside your box and run for a WSGS office in the future. We meet virtually once a month on the third Tuesday of the month at 2:00 PM and I, as president, like to keep the meeting to an hour.

Jill’s candidate statement

I am thrilled to be nominated to the Washington Society Genealogy Society Board as Secretary. I eagerly anticipate contributing to the betterment of our membership. Here’s a little about me:

I was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho. After graduating from high school, I moved to Spokane and attended Kinman Business University. I found not only a job, but a husband in Portland while I worked for Pacific Power & Light as an executive secretary. We moved to Klamath Falls where my only child, Alison, was born. Then we moved to Sunnyside for Charlie’s job and retired to Tucson in 1994. In 2000, I moved to Escondido, California to take care of my aging dad.  After his death in 2003, I decided to stay in Southern California and then moved to Yakima in 2017.

I am a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution – Narcissa Whitman Chapter in Yakima, where I am the immediate Past Honorary Chapter Regent; P.E.O. Chapter FR; Daughters of Utah Pioneers; Huguenot Society; Daughters of the Republic of Texas; U.S. Daughters of 1812; Flagon & Trenchers and a Utah Genealogy Society supporter of their Utah Founding Pioneer program.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Immigration Records

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

General Meeting

Saturday, January 6, 2024

10:00 p.m. 

Y.V.G.S. Library

Speaker: Head Librarian Linda Lantis

Subject: Immigration Records

Linda will be giving a presentation on “Immigration Records.” 

Come and learn about what information you will find in the 

hundreds of books in the library. How immigration records 

will help with your research.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 S. 12th Avenue

Union Gap, WA 98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Women’s History

by Charles Hansen

Saturday, October 28th will be held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church.All day Seminar (9:00am – 3:45pm).

Registration is $45.00 Lunch included.

No Refund of Registration fee after October 22.

The day of the Seminar, the Y.V.G.S. Library will be closed.

The Registration form is on line at www.yvgs.net Click on Society News. Fall Seminar announced. “Forms are available in the library”.

Nationally known and respected author, researcher and instructor Gena Philibert-Ortega is focusing her presentation on “Women’s History.”

– Unsung Heroes: Women’s Contributions During WW1.

– Rediscovering Female Ancestors through Historical Newspapers.

– Learning more about American Female Ancestors Prior to 1850.

– Tracing Her Legacy: 20 Records that Document Female Ancestors in the Colonial Period to the 20th Century.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 So. 12th Ave.

Union Gap, WA  98903

Phone: (509) 248-1328

Website: https://yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Works Project Administration (WPA)

by Charles Hansen

Saturday, October 7h – General Meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. Following the Business Meeting, Barbee Buchanan will give a presentation on “Works Progress Administration (WPA)”. During the Depression, WPA employed most of the unemployed people on relief until the economy recovered. WPA employees-built bridges, roads, public buildings, public parks and airports. Barbee will be giving a talk on the projects that were of a genealogical nature. These ranged from collecting oral histories to inventories of county records to compiling large collections of cemetery records.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 So 12th Ave

Union Gap, WA  98903

Telephone: 509-248-1328

Email: yvgs@yvgs.net

Yakima Valley Genealogy Society October 2023 Seminar

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 So. 12th Ave.

Union Gap, WA  98903

Telephone: 509-248-1328

Website: https://yvgs.net

Y.V.G.S. Fall Seminar

Saturday, October 28th will be held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church.All day Seminar (9:00am – 3:45pm).Advanced Registration before October 21 is $40.00Lunch included.Registration after October 22 is $45.00. On-site Registration between 8:30am & 9:00am $45.00.

No Refund of Registration fee after October 22.

The day of the Seminar, the Y.V.G.S. Library will be closed.

The Registration form is on line at www.yvgs.net Click on Society News. Fall Seminar announced. “Forms are available in the library”.

Nationally known and respected author, researcher and instructor Gena Philibert-Ortega is focusing her presentation on “Women’s History.”

– Unsung Heroes: Women’s Contributions During WW1.

– Rediscovering Female Ancestors through Historical Newspapers.

– Learning more about American Female Ancestors Prior to 1850.

– Tracing Her Legacy: 20 Records that Document Female Ancestors in the Colonial Period to the 20th Century.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Mexican Research

by Charles Hansen

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1901 So. 12th Ave.

Union Gap, WA 98903

(509) 248-1328

Website: https://yvgs.net

General Meeting in the Library

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Speaker: Jerry Shepard

Subject: Mexican Research

Jerry, is an expert in Mexican Research. He has been able to trace his wife’s family back to the original Spanish conquerors. Jerry will tell us about his personal experiences in doing in-person research in Mexico and his trip to his wife’s ancestral village in Spain. I am looking forward in hearing how to research Spanish records. After the Civil War, some Confederates moved south and settled in Mexico. Researchers have found excellent church and census records in Family Search.