EWGS Presidents Bette Butcher Topp

This is the thirty sixth in the series on the Presidents of EWGS leading up to the 75th anniversary in 2010. See the previous posts on Samuel Pool Weaver, Leora Cookingham Thiel, Susan Marie West Jack, Ruth Churchill Austin, Alfred Denman, Florence Ballou Brown, Harriet Jefferson Pinkham, Mary Elizabeth Dow Maltbie, Achsah Maltbie Rawlings, Lee DeGolyer Patchen, Susie Elliott Faubion, Edith Webb Nelson, Carrie Teats Lartigue, Guy Alfred Clumpner, Grace Ellis Woodward, Mabel Rue Frederick, Nell Hartman Peel, Edwin Allan Poole, Mabel Enid Rice Conrad, Helen Elizabeth Osborne Rowe, Dr. Herbert Hoover Osborne, Jane Merritt Logie Webster, Beatrice Cutler Mitcham, Marie E. Stone Larson, Lorena May Saylor Wildman, Raymond J. Fisher, Grace E. Kelso Garner , Catherine P. Cornehl Hyslop, Barbara J. Wirt Clarkson, Ruby L. Simonson McNeill, Jeanne J. Jones Holder , Jeanne M. Polumsky Coe , Maxine E. LeGrant Pence, Mary Kay McGlothlin Gant and Elizabeth Dale Hastin Smith



Bette Butcher Topp was EWGS President for four years 1994 and 1995, and again 2004 and 2005. So far she is the only person to be EWGS President for four years. Bette was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Hobart Sampson Butcher (9 Jul 1898-14 Apr 1989) b. Spencer, Roane County, West Virginia. He married 23 August 1931 in San Diego, California, Gladys Vernen Moree b. 10 July 1907 at Plevna, Reno County, Kansas d. 24 July 1981 in Spokane, Washington. In 1952 in Yuma, Arizona Bette married John Andrew Topp, and if you read on Bette's website you will learn that he is a descendant of John Johan Topp from Estonia.
Bette also was researching during the time of surname quarterlies, and she was the author of Butcher Block, Carpenter Chronicles, Bush Branches and VA/WVA Queries.
Bette was also EWGS President in 1994 when the new Spokane Public Library Downtown branch opened, and we were so thankful that the genealogy section was on the third floor of the new library building. During the construction the library was in the old J.C. Penny's building and the genealogy section was just inside the east door, and a lot of "homeless" people would come in and promptly go to sleep in the gene section. While the library was under construction we met at the MAC, and the first meeting of 1994 was still at the MAC.
The 1994 fall workshop was at Mukogowa Fort Wright with Marvelene Carney as chair. Spring seminar 1995 was April 22, 1995 and featured Arlene Eakle. June 3, 1995 EWGS had the 60th Anniversary celebration. September 20-23, 1995 FGS/SGS Conference at Seattle, From Sea to Shining Sea. The October workshop was October 7, 1995 and featured George Ott and Wade Hone on Military Records. It was at Mukogowa Fort Wright and cost $22.00.
In the December 1995 Bulletin was a Cousins Corner featuring the common ancestor George Schwab b.c1610 Wurttenburg, Germany. The Four Cousins were Bette Butcher Topp, Charles Michael Hansen, Linda Wilke, and Leslie Wood. Up to then I did not know I had any German ancestors and then I find I am a cousin to Bette.
Bette became EWGS President again in 2004 and June 5, 2004 EWGS hosted Sabine Schleichert on German Research. The October workshop was October 7, 2004 and we had Leslie Smith Collier at Country Homes Christian Church, cost $18.00. Everyone liked her so much EWGS had her back for the spring seminar April 23, 2005. She talked on researching in Campbell County Tennessee and I had several families there, so I was really interested in her talks. The October workshop was at the Corbin Community Center October 1, 2005 and cost $10.00 but bring your own lunch.
Bette Topp is one of the hardest working members of EWGS and really deserved her becoming a Distinguished Service Member in 1996. She has been EWGS President more than any other person, and held chairmanships for many committees, and conferences, including WSGS conferences. She was even the Bulletin Editor once, and today holds two positions Library Liaison, and EWGS Emeritus. She also chaired the 75th Anniversary Celebration for EWGS, see the story here.

Research Success Story From Maryland

Just have to share: June, 2010, Cecily Kelly and I are in Annapolis, MD, for to drive her daughter's two doxie dogs home (Spokane to Annapolis) and to then do some reseach in Tennessee. It was here in Annapolis that a Really Exciting Research Story happened.

Browsing in an antique shop in Annapolis (remember: home of the U.S. Naval Academy) we found a wrist purse from the class of 1920. (A gift was given to a man's intended at the annual traditional Ring Dance.) Inside this little 3x4 inch silver compact were pictures of a Naval officer. On the back was one word: Hamlin. Thank goodness!

We went straight to the Naval Academy Museum and learned that yes, there was an
Arthur Leroy Hamlin in the class of 1922 (why the difference? don't know). Finding a few more facts about Arthur (his Naval career and his death/burial in California) we were off and running.

Within hours that evening, Cecily (using Ancestry mostly)learned some details of Capt. Hamlin's career in the Pacific. He was stationed Seattle; he married Emma who'd been born there and was of Norwegian descent. Off they went to Guam where son David Richard was born. This son went on to attend the Academy, class of 1948.

Using the Internet, Cecily was able to contact the secretary of the Class of 1948's alumni association and we learned that David Richard was still alive and had descendats!

So on our last day in Annapolis, Arthur Leroy Hamlin's grandson, Keith, who lives fairly nearby in Maryland, will rendezvous with us. Cecily has entered all the information we've found into Legacy and printed out a report for Keith. Stay tuned for the rest of the story, but our first contact with Keith indicates that he's 100% delighted at this turn of events.................. Imagine. A gift given in likely 1922 turns up in an antique shop and within 24 hours it is returned to a descendant....thanks to Cecily's well-honed research skills! I can't wait...........

As I said, stay tuned. Donna

FamilySearch Indexing Update: Freedmen Letters from North Carolina Will Help Expand Popular African American Collection Online

25 June 2010

A project to index Freedmen Letters from North Carolina is now available. This is the second Freedmen’s Bureau collection FamilySearch has worked on with the National Archives. These records provide the earliest major compilation of information on many emancipated slaves, freed Blacks, and Black Union soldiers, including names, marriages, education and employment information, and receipt of rations, health care, and legal support.

New Projects in the Past Month

                                                                                                

·         Jamaica—Civil Births, 1878–1899 [Part C]

·         U.S., Arkansas—WWII Draft Registration, 1942

·         U.S., District of Columbia—Deaths, 1874–1959

·         U.S., North Carolina—Freedmen Letters, 1862–1870

 (See the chart below for a complete list and current status of all indexing projects.)

Recently Completed Projects

(Note: Recently completed projects have been removed from the available online indexing batches and will now go through a final completion check process. They will be published at pilot.familysearch.org in the near future.)

·         Belgium, Antwerp—Foreigners Index, 1840–1930

·         New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915

·         Nicaragua, Managua—Registros Civiles, 1879–1984 [Part 3A]

·         U.K., Isle of Man—Parish Registers, 1800–1950

·         U.S., Oklahoma—WWII Draft Registration, 1942

·         U.S., Pennsylvania—1910 Federal Census

·         U.S., Tennessee—1910 Federal Census

·         U.S., Tennessee, Carroll County—Marriages, 1881–1939

·         U.S., Vermont—1910 Federal Census

·         U.S., Virginia—1910 Federal Census

·         U.S., Washington—1910 Federal Census

Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Argentina, Balvanera—Registros Parroquiales, 1833–1934 [Parte B]	Spanish	31%
Argentina, Cordoba—Registros Parroquiales, 1722–1924 [Parte B]	Spanish	24%
Argentina, Santa Fe—Registros Parroquiales, 1634–1926 [Parte A]	Spanish	22%
Argentina, Santa Fe—Registros Parroquiales, 1634–1926 [Parte B]	Spanish	27%
Brasil, Pernambuco, Recife—Registro Civil, 1900–1920	Portuguese	1%
Brasil, Rio de Janeiro—Matrimonios, 1900–1910 [Piloto]	Portuguese	36%
Canada, Ontario—Births, 1869–1912	English	10%
Canada, Ontario—Deaths, 1933–1937	English	56%
Canada, Ontario—Marriages, 1869–1927 [Part A]	English	16%
Canada, Québec, Montreal—Régistres Paroissiaux, 1800–1900	French	29%
Česká republika, Litoměřice—Matriky, 1552-1905 [část 1] (Tschechien, Litomerice—Kirchenbücher [Teil 1])	German	54%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 2A]	Spanish	84%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 2B]	Spanish	15%
Colombia, Bucaramanga—Registros Parroquiales, 1649–1959	Spanish	7%
Colombia, Marinilla—Registros Parroquiales, 1815–1959	Spanish	37%
Deutschland, Baden, Achern—Kirchenbücher, 1810–1869 [Part C]	German	23%
Deutschland, Mecklenburg—Volkszählung, 1890 [Div 70–92]	German	25%
España, Avila, Navalmoral—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935	Spanish	84%
España, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1930 [Parte 1]	Spanish	38%
España, Malaga—Registros Civiles, 1846–1870	Spanish	81%
France, Cherbourg—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907	French	21%
France, Coutances—Registres Paroissiaux 1802–1907	French	19%
France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche, 1792–1906	French	90%
France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Partie D]	French	39%
France, Saint-Lo—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907	French	56%
Guatemala, Guatemala—Registros Civiles, 1877–1900	Spanish	1%
Guatemala, Huehuetenango y San Marcos—Registros Civiles, 1877–1900	Spanish	78%
Italia, Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia—Atti di Morte, 1809–1936 [Parte B]	Italian	43%
Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 2A]	Italian	15%
Jamaica—Civil Births, 1900–1930 [Part A]	English	95%
Jamaica—Civil Births, 1878–1899 [Part C]	English	(New)
Mexico, DF—Registros Parroquiales, 1855–1934 [Parte 4]	Spanish	45%
Mexico, Zacatecas—1930 Federal Censo	Spanish	36%
Norge —Tinglysningskort, 1640–1903	Norwegian	1%
Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1887–1921 [Parte A]	Spanish	23%
Portugal, Setúbal—Registros da Igreja, 1581–1910	Portuguese	13%
Russland, Sankt Petersburg—Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885	German	3%
South Africa, Cape Province—Church Records, 1660–1970	Afrikaans, Dutch, English	44%
Sverige, Södermanland—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]	Swedish	30%
Sverige, Uppsala—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]	Swedish	42%
Sverige, Örebro—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1]	Swedish	21%
U.K., Bristol—Non-Conformist Registers, Pre-1900 [Part A]	English	14%
U.K., Bristol—Parish Registers, 1837–1900 [Part C]	English	87%
U.K., Essex—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part A]	English	6%
U.K., Isle of Man—Parish Registers, 1598–1850	English/ Old English	52%
U.K., Manchester—Parish Registers, 1813–1925 [Part A]	English	4%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1538–1900 [Part 2 Adv]	English/ Old English	3%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1754–1900 [Part 1C]	English	58%
U.S., Alabama—County Marriages, 1809–1950 [Part A]	English	4%
U.S., Arkansas—County Marriages, 1837–1957 [VIII]	English	21%
U.S., Arkansas—WWII Draft Registration, 1942	English	(New)
U.S., California—County Marriages, 1850–1952 [Part A]	English	5%
U.S., District of Columbia—County Marriages, 1811–1950 [Part A]	English	1%
U.S., District of Columbia—Deaths, 1874–1959	English	(New)
U.S., Hawaii—1920 Federal Census	English	93%
U.S., Idaho—County Marriages, 1864–1950	English	59%
U.S., Illinois—County Marriages, 1810–1934 [Part A]	English	3%
U.S., Indiana, De Kalb County—Marriages, 1811–1959	English	20%
U.S., Indiana, Dearborn County—Marriages, 1811–1959	English	13%
U.S., Indiana, Delaware County—Marriages, 1811–1959	English	48%
U.S., Iowa—1885 State Census	English	9%
U.S., Iowa—County Marriages, 1838–1992 [Part A]	English	2%
U.S., Military—1920 Federal Census	English	95%
U.S., Minnesota—1905 State Census	English	70%
U.S., Minnesota—County Marriages, 1860–1949 [Part A]	English	1%
U.S., New Jersey—County Marriages, 1682–1956 [Part 1]	English	3%
U.S., New York—1905 State Census [Part 2]	English	17%
U.S., New York—1910 Federal Census	English	27%
U.S., New York—Marriage Licenses, 1908–1938 [Part A]	English	3%
U.S., New York—Marriages, 1908–1935 [Part A]	English	2%
U.S., North Carolina—County Marriages, 1762–1959 [Part A]	English	22%
U.S., North Carolina—Freedmen Letters, 1862–1870	English	(New)
U.S., Oklahoma—County Marriages, 1891–1959 [Part A]	English	7%
U.S., Puerto Rico—1920 Censo Federal	Spanish	5%
U.S., Puerto Rico—Nacimientos Civiles, 1836–1930 [Parte A]	Spanish	30%
U.S., Rhode Island—1885 State Census	English	40%
U.S., Rhode Island—1935 State Census	English	77%
U.S., Tennessee—County Marriages, 1790–1950 [Part B]	English	12%
U.S., Texas—County Marriages, 1837–1977 [Part A]	English	9%
U.S., Utah—County Marriages, 1887–1966 [Part A]	English	54%
Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 2]	Spanish	11%
Österreich, Wiener Meldezettel, 1890–1925	German	24%
Украина, Киев—Метрические книги русской православной церкви, 1843–1845 [Часть А]	Russian	13%

Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Australia, Victoria—Probate Records, 1853–1989	English	90%
België—Burgerlijke Stand, 1851–1900 [Deel D]	Dutch	4%
Belgique—Registres Civile, 1851–1900 [Partie A]	French	32%
Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935	English	17%
Deutschland, Westfalen, Minden—Volkszählung, 1880–1900	German	6%
España, Avila, Madrigal y Garganta—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935	Spanish	57%
France, Quimper et Leon, St. Louis—Registres Paroissiaux, 1722–1909	French	34%
Norway—1875 Census [Part B]	Norwegian	21%
Philippines, Lingayen, Dagupan—Registros Parroquiales, 1615–1982	Spanish	24%
U.K., Norfolk—Parish Registers, 1538–1900	English	1%
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 3]	English	31%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Birth Registers, 1890–1908	English	51%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Death Registers, 1848–1940	English	32%

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