Thursday, July 9, 2009

Spokane Area RootsMagic Users Group to Meet Thursday

If you are a RootsMagic user, or are simply curious about this genealogy software program, you may be interested in the RootsMagic Users Group, which meets at 7 PM on the third Thursday of each month at the LDS Church at 808 E. Sitka (this month's meeting is on July 16th). Lew and Trudy Lundy lead this group. For more information, e-mail them here.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Classes, Classes, Everywhere Classes

The upcoming Washington State Genealogical Society's state conference (11-13 September 2009 at the Davenport Hotel) will offer you more classes and more learning opportunities than you'll have time to take!

Susan Gallyon Dechant (member of the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society in Colville) is presenting the free-to-the-public Beginners' Classes at the downtown Spokane Public Library on Friday morning. The first session is 10:15 AM to 11:15 AM and then repeats from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Then Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM at the Davenport, three off-site tours will leave. One will go by bus out to Cheney and the Eastern Washington Branch of the Washington State Archives and the Washington State Digital Archives. One will go the shorter distance to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, the Campbell House (for a private tour; public tours no longer available) and the Eastern Washington Historical Society library for tours. Your third choice is to visit historical structures in downtown Spokane by strolling down to the old-and-wonderfully-updated-and-renamed Bing Crosby Theater (formerly known as the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center) and then returning to the Davenport Hotel for a guided tour there.

Saturday is the main day of the conference and you will have to choose from among four classes each hour...for four sessions...which means there will be 16 classes to choose from! (Thank goodness each presenter will be submitting material for the conference syllabus!!) Look for more information on the classes and presenters in coming days on this blog.

Classes, classes, everywhere classes...while you cannot do them all, you cannot do any of them if you don't register for this wonderful conference. Click the link below so you can come and stuff your head full of genealogical learning.

Online Registration
(need help with the online registration? read our tutorial here)

Brochure and Saturday Schedule
(to help you choose your classes and activities)

Mail-in Registration Form
(for those who prefer registering offline)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak


What a story! Megan Smolenyak found her husband in the form of a not-related-person of the same most unusual surname: Smolenyak. Hard to believe, but true!

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak will be the main speaker at the upcoming 11-13 September 2009 WSGS (hosted by EWGS) conference to be held at the historic Davenport Hotel.

If you are one of those (and I was) who didn't realize how really wonderful she is, I looked at her website (www.honoringourancestors.com) and copied this information for you...here are some of the genealogical things she's accomplished:
  • Correcting history by revealing the true story of Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island, a story featured on the front page of The New York Times
  • Finding serial centenarians — a pair of relatives who knew each other and lived in the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries between the two of them (that's all the U.S. presidents except Washington and Obama!)
  • Tracking down relatives of the sailors who lost their lives in the USS Monitor in 1862 to try to identify skeletons found in the turret

If that doesn't whet your eagerness to come hear Megan at the conference..........well, it just should! Click on the link below to register:

Online Registration
(need help with the online registration? read our tutorial here)

Brochure and Saturday Schedule
(to help you choose your classes and activities)

Mail-in Registration Form
(for those who prefer registering offline)

Saturday, July 4, 2009

2009 Conference at the Historic Davenport Hotel

It was 105 years ago in September that the Davenport Hotel opened its doors. The Washington State Genealogical Society and Eastern Washington Genealogical Society are proud to be hosting the WSGS annual conference this September at the Davenport. How fitting!

The Davenport was the first hotel with air conditioning, a central vacuum system, housekeeping carts (designed by Louis Davenport himself), accordion ballroom doors and the famous Crab Louis (named for Louis Davenport and first served at the hotel dining room). The hotel cost nearly $3 million to build (think of this in 1914 dollars!!) and Walt and Karen Worthy spent many millions in the last decade restoring the hotel to its 1914 glory. See photos and a virtual tour here.

Lewellyn "Louis" Davenport came to Spokane Falls, Washington Territory, in the spring of 1889 at the age of 20. He came up to work in his uncle's restaurant. That year in August the Big Spokane Fire consumed 32 blocks of downtown Spokane. Young Davenport, ever the visionary, bought a tent and opened "Davenport's Waffle Foundry" and thus the hotel and a legend were born.

Why the Davenport for the 2009 State Conference? The Davenport Hotel was the birthplace of Eastern Washington Genealogical Society. On January 31, 1935, after three years of planning, 31 individuals met on the mezzanine of the Davenport and elected the first officers of EWGS!

We conference goers look forward to four wonderful meals at the Davenport: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch, and Sunday breakfast. They will be wonderful; the ghost of Louis Davenport guarantees it.

Are YOU registered for this wonderful conference at the historic Davenport Hotel? Click the link below and take care of that bit of business right now!

Online Registration
(need help with the online registration? read our tutorial here)

Brochure and Saturday Schedule
(to help you choose your classes and activities)

Mail-in Registration Form
(for those who prefer registering offline)

Thursday, July 2, 2009

WSGS Conference Restaurants Close By

I said in a previous post there are many restaurants close to the Davenport Hotel and even though some of the meals are included in the cost, Yahoo says there are 88 restaurants within walking distance to the Davenport. Only the first 45 were rated three or more stars.

1. Davenport Hotel & Tower - (509) 455-8888
10 S Post St. Spokane, WA 99201

2. Olive Garden - (509) 624-1853
221 N Wall St. Spokane, WA 99201

3. Niko's Greek Restaurant & Wine - (509) 624-7444
725 W Riverside Ave Spokane, WA 99201

4. Molly's Family Restaurant (no website) - (509) 624-4413
224 S. Lincoln St. Spokane, WA 99201

5. Europa Restaurant & Bakery - (509) 455-4051
125 S. Wall Spokane, WA 99201

6. Raw Sushi & Island Grill - (509) 747-0556
523 W. 1st Ave Spokane, WA 99201

7. O'Doherty's Irish Grille - (509) 747-0322
525 W Spokane Falls Blvd Spokane, WA 99201

8. Sushi.com - (509) 838-0630
430 W Main Ave Spokane, WA 99201

9. Safari Room Restaurant & Bar - (509) 789-6800
111 S Post St. Spokane, WA 99201

10. Rock City Grill - (509) 456-4400
808 W Main Ave Ste 106 Spokane, WA 99201

See more fine dining, other activities and facilities at the Experience Spokane website or visit the Davenport District Restaurants.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

FamilySearch Indexing Update: Czech Republic, South Africa, Mexico, and Deutschland Projects Added

Overview
Indexers waiting for projects from the Czech Republic, Baden, Germany, or South Africa can now get busy. New indexing projects added this week are:

Czech Republic, Litomerice Kirchenbücher, 1552–1905 [Part 1]

Deutschland, Baden—Kirchenbücher, 1810-1869

Mexico DF Registros Parroquiales, 1886–1933 [Part 1]

South Africa, Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church, 1660–1970

U.S., Illinois, Cook County Birth Certificates, 1916–1922 [Part 2]

U.S., Massachusetts Marriages, 1896–1897

U.S., Minnesota 1885 State Census

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 in preparation for future publication.)

Mexico, Censo de 1930—Tamaulipas

South Carolina—1920 U.S. Federal Census

Utah—1920 U.S. Federal Census


Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Argentina, Buenos Aires 1855 Census; Spanish; 44%

Argentina Censo 1869—Jujuy Salta Tucuman; Spanish; 46%

Argentina Censo 1869—Santiago y Santa Fe; Spanish; 12%

Australia, Greenwich—Genealogical Records, 1776–1980; English; 65%

Austria, Wiener Meldezettel, 1890–1925; German; 1%

Belgium, Antwerp Foreigners Index, 1840–1930; Dutch, Flemish; 41%

Czech Republic, Litomerice Kirchenbücher, 1552–1905 [Part 1]; German; (New)

France Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Part 1]; French; 81%

France Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Part 2]; French; 2%

France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche, 1792–1906; French; 89%

France, Paroisses de Cherbourg, 1802–1907; French; 1%

France, Paroisses de Coutances, 1802–1907; French; 1%

France, Paroisses de Saint-Lo, 1802–1907; French; 2%

Germany, Baden—Kirchenbücher, 1810-1869; German; (New)

Germany, Brandenburg Kirchenbücher, 1789–1875; German; 65%*

Germany, Mecklenburg 1890 Volkszählung, Div 24–38; German; 45%

Italy, Trento Baptism Records, 1784–1924; Italian; 87%

Jamaica, Trelawny Births, 1878–1930; English; 25%

Mexico, Censo de 1930—Mexico; Spanish; 10%

Mexico, Censo de 1930—Yucatan; Spanish; 35%

Mexico DF Registros Parroquiales, 1886–1933 [Part 1]; Spanish; (New)

Nicaragua, Managua Civil Records, 1879–Present; Spanish; 55%*

Peru, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1910–1930; Spanish; 34%

Russia, St Petersburg Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885; German; 1%

South Africa, Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church, 1660–1970; English; (New)

Spain, Avila, Moraleja de Matacabras, 1540–1904; Spanish; 46%

Spain, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales [Part 1], 1530–1930; Spanish; 19%

U.K., Cheshire Parish Records [Part 2], 1538-1850; English; 15%

U.K., Warwickshire Parish Registers, 1538–Present; English; 2%

U.S., Arkansas County Marriages VI, 1837–1957; English; 51%

U.S., Illinois, Cook County Birth Certificates, 1916–1922 [Part 2]; English; (New)

U.S., Indiana, Adams County Marriages, 1811–1959; English; 50%

U.S., Indiana, Allen County Marriages, 1811–1959; English; 16%

U.S., Indiana, Blackford County Marriages 1811–1959; English; 90%

U.S., Massachusetts Marriages, 1896–1897; English; (New)

U.S., Minnesota 1885 State Census; English; (New)

U.S., New York 1905 State Census; English; 48%

U.S., Pennsylvania—1920 U.S. Federal Census; English; 35%

U.S., Washington—County Marriages, 1858–1950; English; (New)

Ukraine, Kyiv, 1840–1842; Russian; 21%

Venezuela, Mérida Registros Parroquiales. 1654–1992; Spanish; 25%

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)


Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Belgique—Registres Des Décès—Charleroi, 1851–1900; French; 39%

Belgique—Registres Des Décès—En Français, 1796–1910; French; 22%*

België—Overlijdens Registers—In het Nederlands, 1796–1910; Dutch, Flemish; 91%*

België—Overlijdens Registers—Kalmthout, 1851–1900; Dutch, Flemish; 92%

België—Overlijdens Registers—Mechelen, 1851–1900; Dutch, Flemish; 9%

Deutschland, Bremer Schifflisten, 1904–1914; German; 59%

Flanders Death Registration, 1796–1900; French, Dutch, Flemish; 79%*

Norway 1875 Census [Part 1]; Norwegian; 40%

Canada, Nova Scotia—Antigonish Church Records, 1823–1905; English; 87%

U.S., Arkansas Marriages IV, 1837–1957; English; 38%

U.S., Indiana Marriages, 1882 to April 1905; English; 93%

U.S., Ohio Tax Records—2 of 4, Post 1825; English; 78%

U.S., Ohio Tax Records—3 of 4, Post 1825; English; 1%

U.S., Vermont Militia Records, 1861–1867; English; 45%

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)


Current FamilySearch Regional Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion
(These projects are being indexed by volunteers in specific areas of the world.)

Australia, NSW—Bounty Immigrants, 1824–1842; English; 8%

Australia, Sydney Cemetery Inscriptions, 1800–1960; English; 9%

Australia, Victoria Probate Records, 1853–1989; English; 66%

Canada, British Columbia Marriages, 1859–1932; English; 9%

Canada, Quebec—Trois-Rivières IC, 1800–1900; French; 54%

FamilySearch Record Search Update: 12 New Collections Added--7 International

Twelve new collections were added to the FamilySearch Record Search pilot this week. International collections were added for Argentina, Australia, Mexico, Netherlands, and Spain. New United States collections were added for Delaware, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Utah. Happy searching!

These collections can be searched for free at the FamilySearch.org Record Search pilot (click Search Records, and then click Record Search pilot).

Special thanks to the growing number of online volunteers who help make these collections freely available by donating their time and talents to the FamilySearch Indexing program.

Collection Name: Argentina, Resistencia Diocese, Catholic Parish Records, 1882–1921
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 9,814
Comments: New

Collection Name: Australia, New South Wales, alphabetical index to newspaper cuttings 1841–1987
Indexed Records: 50,488
Digital Images: 47,519
Comments: New

Collection Name: Mexico, Coahuila, Catholic Church Records, 1627–1978
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 301,339
Comments: New

Collection Name: Mexico, Colima, Catholic Church Records, 1707–1969
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 172,930
Comments: New

Collection Name: Mexico, Campeche, Catholic Church Records, 1638–1944
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 167,931
Comments: New

Collection Name: Netherlands, Limburg Parish Register Transcripts, 1600–1822
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 50,449
Comments: New. Additional images will be added later this year.

Collection Name: Spain, Gerona Diocese, Catholic Church Records, 1339–1930
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 861,185
Comments: New. Additional images will be added later this year.

Collection Name: U.S., Delaware State Birth Records, 1861–1908
Indexed Records: 45,983
Digital Images: 23,624
Comments: New. Additional records will be added later this year.

Collection Name: U.S., Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841–1915
Indexed Records: 597,610
Digital Images: 601,355
Comments: New. Additional records will be added later this year

Collection Name: U.S., New Mexico Deaths, 1889–1945
Indexed Records: 167,925
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New

Collection Name: U.S., Rhode Island State Census, 1915
Indexed Records: 540,589
Digital Images: ---
Comments: New. Images will be added later.

Collection Name: U.S., Veterans with Federal Service Buried in Utah
Indexed Records: 18,924
Digital Images: 19,808
Comments: New

About FamilySearch
FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.