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.
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.
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.
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society General Meeting
When: July 1, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Where: 1901 S 12th Ave, Union Gap, WA 98903 – Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Library
General meeting followed by presentation from Susan Maza – Revolutionary War Stories: Susan is a member of D.A.R. Narcissa Whitman Chapter. She had an interest in educating herself about the time period and is now sharing what she has learned. Step back in time as she, in costumed character, shares Colonial America with us through her stories she has discovered.
Do you know who’s running the show at the Washington State Genealogical Society? Who are these people? In the coming months, we’ll introduce them to you, so you can say “hi” the next time you see them. (Note: a variation of Frank’s story was published in July 2017.)
Frank McLean
In today’s “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Frank McLean. Frank lives in Yakima and is the WSGS Treasurer and chair of the Pioneer and First Citizen Program. He is also one of the main reviewers of the Pioneer Pursuit submissions. He has been a member of the WSGS since 1986, previously serving as President and Vice President. He was named as a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer in 2003, 2005 and 2006. He’s been a proud member (and past President) of the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society since 1986.
Frank’s high school picture
Frank Leroy McLean was born in Chewelah (Stevens County), Washington in 1937 to Jonathan Cornelius and Margaret Ella (Starz) McLean, the third of six children. After high school, Frank served proudly in the Army for 20-plus years, then worked for 19 years at the U.S. Department of Defense, with a short break in between working in Spokane. In 1958, Frank married Delma Dee Roloff. They have three surviving children and seven grandchildren.
John Robertson McLean (1847 – 1919). Frank’s grandfather was born in Nova Scotia and moved to St. James, Minnesota in 1870 where he started a church in a boxcar.
Speaking of Germans from Russia…that’s how Frank got his interest in genealogy. No, he doesn’t have German ancestors from Russia, but Delma does. She joined the Central Washington chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Society in 1985 and Frank tagged along as “driver, cemetery walker and microfilm cranker.” From there, his interest grew. His ancestors hail from Germany, Nova Scotia, Maine and Minnesota. Frank’s grandfather, John Robertson McLean (pictured at left) was born in Nova Scotia, but moved to St. James, Minnesota in 1870. While there, he started a church in a boxcar. Frank and his family attended the 125th anniversary of the church, where they were given a copy of the picture that hangs in the church. There is also a miniature replica of the boxcar on the lawn in front of the church.
Frank likes the research part of the genealogical search, but he’s not as thrilled with the documentation part. He also prefers his hard-copy paper charts and lists over paperless research.
A few more interesting tidbits about Frank: • Favorite genealogy website: Family Search • Favorite color: Blue • Favorite dessert: Lemon Cream Pie
Now you know a little more about another of the WSGS Board members. The next time you see Frank, say hello and thank him for his service to WSGS.
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 YVGS Zoom Team that was nominated by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS). The team was comprised of Judy Jones Schuster and Richard Kyle.
Richard Kyle
Richard was a librarian, a program presenter and sets up seminars and workshops. He also registered YVGS as an affiliate library with the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. He served as a librarian at the LDS library in Yakima many years and, when they shut down, was instrumental in acquiring their microfilms and fiche for YVGS’s library. He serves as YVGS’s vice president and webmaster.
Judy Jones Schuster
Judy currently serves as president (for the second time) and was vice president. She has also been the society’s program chair and presents programs for their meetings. She worked many hours at Indian John Hill rest stop serving coffee to raise funds. Judy was YVGS’s bulletin editor from 2006 to 2021 and teaches bi-annual genealogy classes and currently works on obituaries for scanning.
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.”
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 Florance Irene McDonald Nelson of Buena, Washington, who was nominated by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS).
Florance Nelson
Florance joined YVGS around 2005 when she retired and moved to the Yakima Valley. Always willing to help, she was appointed historian of the society in 2012 and served as such ever since. This is a job requiring her to maintain the society’s scrapbooks of events, photos, etc.
She has been involved in many aspects of YVGS and is a staff volunteer librarian devoting every Friday and one Saturday a month at the library. She helps with the hospitality committee and assists in publicity for the society. She shows up for every fundraiser and can work circles around many of the members.
Florance took over as temporary corresponding secretary in 2019 for an ill member and was elected to that position this year. Members like Florance keep YVGS strong.
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.
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