Friday, July 24, 2009

Register Now for Your Convenience

If you are attending the Washington State Genealogical Society's 2009 State Conference and have not yet registered, please do so ASAP!

The earlier you register, the better your chances of getting sessions of your choosing. Plus it makes it easier on the event organizers so they have time for the planning they need. People typically tend to register last minute, and that puts a lot of work and stress on the committee's shoulders. We want this to be a smooth, enjoyable event for all!

For your convenience, we offer several registration and payment options. You can register by mail or online; you can pay by check (mail) or online (debit or credit cards through Paypal). Click on the links below.

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 23, 2009

FamilySearch Indexing: New projects for Italy, New Zealand, Peru, and the U.S.

22 July 2009

New projects for Italy, New Zealand, Perú, and the U.S. were added this month. FamilySearch has 42 international indexing projects underway currently (see charts below). It has a growing need for more volunteers who can help with the increasing number of foreign language projects. Please feel free to encourage and recruit friends, family, colleagues, and society or special interest group members to help with any projects of interest. Sign up is easy at FamilySearch Indexing. The average assignment only takes about 30 minutes to complete. Many volunteers make quick work—which equates to quicker access to the completed indexes!

New indexing projects added in July:

· Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784-1924 [Part 2]

· New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915

· Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1910–1930 [Part 2]

· U.S.—Freedmen Marriages, 1861–1869

· U.S., Delaware—Birth Records, 1861–1922

· U.S., Georgia—Deaths, 1930

· U.S., Indiana, Carroll County—Marriages, 1811–1959

· U.S., Oklahoma—1920 U.S. Federal Census

· U.S., Tennessee—1920 Federal Census

· U.S., Virginia—1920 U.S. Federal Census

(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 in preparation for future publication. Patrons can search other published collections for free at the FamilySearch Records Search pilot.)

· Australia, Greenwich—Genealogical Records, 1776–1980

· België—Overlijdens Registers—In het Nederlands, 1796–1910

· België—Overlijdens Registers—Kalmthout, 1851–1900

· Canada, Nova Scotia, Antigonish—Catholic Diocese, 1823–1905

· France Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Part 1]

· U.S., Indiana, Blackford County—Marriages, 1811–1959

· U.S., Indiana—Marriages, 1882–April 1905

· U.S., Massachusetts Marriages, 1896–1897


Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Argentina, Buenos Aires—1855 Censo
Spanish
63%

Argentina, Jujuy, Salta, Tucuman—1869 Censo
Spanish
81%

Argentina, Santiago, Santa Fe—1869 Censo
Spanish
22%

Australia, NSW—Bounty Immigrants, 1828–1842
English
57%

Australia, Sydney—Cemetery Inscriptions, 1800–1960
English
20%

Belgium, Antwerp—Foreigners Index, 1840–1930
Dutch, Flemish
47%

Canada, British Columbia—Marriages, 1859–1932
English
19%

Canada, Quebec, Trois-Rivières—Registres Paroissiaux, 1800–1900
French
65%

Deutschland, Baden—Kirchenbücher, 1810–1869
German
16%

Deutschland, Brandenburg—Kirchenbücher, 1789–1875
German
68%*

Deutschland, Mecklenburg—Volkszählung, 1890 Div 24–38
German
55%

España, Avila, Moraleja de Matacabras—Registros Parroquiales, 1540–1904
Spanish
60%

España, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1930 [Part 1]
Spanish
20%

France, Cherbourg—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907
French
1%

France, Coutances—Registres Paroissiaux 1802–1907
French
1%

France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche, 1792–1906
French
90%

France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Part 2]
French
14%

France, Saint-Lo—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907
French
2%

Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 1]
Italian
93%

Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 2]
Italian
2%

Jamaica, Trelawny—Births, 1878–1930
English
38%

Mexico, DF—Registros Parroquiales, 1886–1933 [Parte 1]
Spanish
74%

Mexico, Mexico—1930 Federal Censo
Spanish
30%

Mexico, Yucatan—1930 Federal Censo
Spanish
59%

New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915
English
(New)

Nicaragua, Managua—Registros Civiles, 1879–Present
Spanish
77%*

Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1910–1930 [Parte 1]
Spanish
74%

Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1910–1930 [Parte 2]
Spanish
(New)

Russland, Sankt Peterburg—Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885
German
1%

South Africa, Cape Province—Church Records, 1660–1970
English
2%

Tschechien, Litomerice–Kirchenbücher, 1552–1905 [Teil 1]
German
1%

U.K., Cheshire—Parish Records, 1538–1850 [Part 2]
English/Old English
25%

U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1538–Present
English/Old English
3%

U.S.—Freedmen Marriages, 1861–1869
English
(New)

U.S., Arkansas—County Marriages, 1837–1957 [VI]
English
83%

U.S., Delaware—Birth Records, 1861–1922
English
(New)

U.S., Georgia—Deaths, 1930
English
(New)

U.S., Illinois, Cook—Birth Certificates, 1916–1922 [Part 2]
English
18%

U.S., Indiana, Adams County—Marriages, 1811–1959
English
87%

U.S., Indiana, Allen County—Marriages, 1811–1959
English
22%

U.S., Indiana, Carroll County—Marriages, 1811–1959
English
(New)

U.S., Minnesota—1885 State Census
English
61%

U.S., New York—1905 State Census
English
65%

U.S., Oklahoma—1920 U.S. Federal Census
English
(New)

U.S., Pennsylvania—1920 U.S. Federal Census
English
83%

U.S., Tennessee—1920 Federal Census
English
(New)

U.S., Virginia—1920 Federal Census
English
(New)

U.S., Washington—County Marriages, 1858–1950
English
74%

Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 1]
Spanish
34%

Österreich, Wiener—Meldezettel, 1890–1925
German
1%

Украина, Киев—Метрические Книги, 1840–1842
Russian
23%

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


Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Australia, Victoria—Probate Records, 1853–1989
English
69%

België, Mechelen—Overlijdens Registers, 1851-1900
Dutch, Flemish
16%

Belgique—Registres Des Décès—En Français, 1796–1910
French
31%*

Belgique, Charleroi—Registres des Décès, 1851-1900
French
56%

Belgium, Flanders—Deaths, 1796–1900
French, Dutch, Flemish
81%*

Deutschland, Bremen—Schifflisten, 1904–1914
German
63%

Norway—1875 Census [Part 1]
Norwegian
48%

U.S., Arkansas—County Marriages, 1837–1957 [IV]
English
72%

U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 2]
English
80%

U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 3]
English
1%

U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Death Certificates, 1940
English
(New)

U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Death Registers, 1848–1940
English
(New)

U.S., Vermont—Militia Records, 1861–1867
English
49%

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


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.

FamilySearch Records Search Update: New Collections for Cheshire, England, Minnesota, and New York

23 July 2009

New record collections were added to the FamilySearch Record Search pilot this week for Cheshire, England, Minnesota, and New York.

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 online volunteers who help make these collections freely available by donating a few minutes of their time or talents to the FamilySearch Indexing program.

Collection Name: England, Cheshire Non-conformist records, 1671-1900
Indexed Records: 74,925
Digital Images: ---
Comments: NEW. Index only.

Collection Name: Minnesota State Census, 1895
Indexed Records: 1,542,818
Digital Images: ---
Comments: NEW. Complete census. Index only.

Collection Name: New York State Census, 1905
Indexed Records: ---
Digital Images: 44,005
Comments: NEW. Images only. Index is currently in progress through FamilySearch Indexing.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

WSGS and EWGS... What Are They??

Since the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society is hosting the Washington State Genealogical Society's 2009 State Conference in Spokane this upcoming 11-13 September at the historic Davenport Hotel, I thought you might like to know a smidgen more about these two organizations.

The Eastern Washington State Genealogical Society was founded in 1935 with six interested people and a handful of books. In 2005, EWGS celebrated its 70th anniversary, now counting 270 folks and partnered with the Spokane Public Library to house a collection numbering over a thousand items, which includes printed, microfilmed, and digital material. EWGS plans ten monthly meetings per year and two (spring/fall) workshops or seminars. EWGS provides free to its members free computer classes and several spin-off classes like the Legacy and RootsMagic Users' Groups.

The Washington State Genealogical Society was founded in 1983 with the goals of mentoring and providing educational opportunities to genealogical societies and their members in Washington State. Click on the link in to read the WSGS mission statement and list of “purposes” at the WSGS website.

There have been many good reasons to join WSGS and in the near future you'll see a new list of great reasons for you to join WSGS. Both of these groups exist for YOU, to help YOU, to teach YOU. The annual conference is a prime example of the opportunities WSGS affords us. If you're not registered for the conference, it's not too late. Click on the links below.

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)

Monday, July 20, 2009

Freebies, Goodies...All In the Bag!

Do you like free? (Hasn't Donna always taught you that if it's free, take two?) Well, do we have some freebies lined up for conference goers in September! There will be the usual fliers and coupons, pencils and tablets, but there will also be a free issue of Discovering Family History magazine and a free little gift from FamilySearch. Oh, and the bags are special...donated by Albertsons grocery. Our committee has been busy soliciting, begging, and buying and our WSGS conference goodie bags will be the best ever!! Only one to a conference registrant, so get registered 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)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Megan Smolenyak's Presentations - Update

As our principal and fantastic main speaker, Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak has exercised her right to rearrange her topics for our upcoming Washington State Genealogical Society's 2009 state conference. Here are the topics she will present and the times/days for each:

Friday night: "Cases That Made My Brain Hurt"

Saturday morning: "Reverse Genealogy" (techniques for finding lost loved ones)

Saturday afternoon: "Trace Your Roots With DNA" (topics from Saturday morning and Sunday morning's original schedules, combined)

Sunday morning: "Newspaper Research Online"

Megan explained that by doing this re-shuffling, we are really getting five presentations instead of just four, for she's combined her two DNA talks into one and so has given us a bonus for Friday night. Lucky us! Lucky those who come to hear her!!

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 18, 2009

Fantastic Presenters for the WSGS 2009 Conference: Session D

It's been tricky figuring out what sessions to attend at Saturday's classes for the Washington State Genealogical Society's 2009 state conference to be held at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington on September 11 - 13! There are so many terrific offers that it's hard to decide! Here are the presentations available for Session D, which will take place at 4:15 to 5:15 PM:

Washington's Paper Archives by Lee Pierce

Finding Graves, Cemeteries, and Burials by Karen Kramer Struve

Drawing and Keeping Society Members in an Internet Environment by Steve Baylor

Finding Pasco: A Research Project by Susan Faulkner

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Here's some details about the presenters and their presentations to help you make your Session D choice:

Lee Pierce, MA, is the Assistant Archivist of the Washington State Archives, Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney, Washington. While the Eastern Regional Archives is well known for housing the Washington State Digital Archives, there's plenty more to discover in the printed records! The Eastern Regional Branch stores the archives of 11 Eastern Washington counties: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman. Come learn what's available and how to access them! (A tour of the archives is one of the Friday afternoon choices, available for $20. You can sign up when you register for the conference--links at the bottom of this article).

Karen Kramer Struve is a member of the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society and the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society, and makes regular presentations in the area to various genealogical groups. Karen will demonstrate how to find graves, cemeteries, and burials online, as well as explain how to find these records offline as well. A good choice no matter in what state (or country) your ancestors are buried!

Steve Baylor is the Past President of the Washington State Genealogical Society. Many societies are growing concerned with the lack of membership and wonder how they can compete with the genealogical resources available on the Internet. Steve brings his unique perspective on this topic. If you want to learn how to keep your society current in a digital age, this session is for you!

Susan Davis Faulkner is a member of the Tri-City Genealogical Society and the author of Early Pasco (to be released by Arcadia Publishing in August 2009). She is also the webmaster of the Washington GenWeb sites for Benton and Franklin Counties. Susan takes us through the process from researching a town to writing a book, advice and skills useful in any genealogical project!

Don't these presentations sound interesting? No matter which choice you make for Session D, I'm sure your mind will be reeling with all the information and knowledge you soak in by the end of this busy, educational day!

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)