Siuslaw Genealogical Society blog

In keeping with this month’s meeting presentation featuring a video on breaking down brick walls, the following links provide helpful methods to utilize in your family research.

Naming Traditions

SGS member Merilee Mulvey shares a recent FamilyTree Magazine article on Naming Traditions Across Multiple Cultures. Author David Fryxell acknowledges that at one time family names were passed down from one generation to the next. He suggests “you often can use these patterns to make educated guesses about the brick walls in your past.”

Verify, Verify, Verify with GPS

It can sometimes seem as if we’re consumed with verifying that the information in our family research is indeed factual. Janet Maydem has written an article posted on the Family History Daily site warning that if diligence in doing so is neglected, it can result in “a family tree packed with inaccuracies and ancestors that aren’t even our own”. Her article provides a concise guide in the use of the Genealogical Proof Standard to ‘ensure your tree is as solid as possible’.  Well worth the read. View it HERE.

Siuslaw Genealogical Society Meeting

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Siuslaw Public Library, Bromley Room at 3 p.m.
(Public Invited)

Breaking Down Brick Walls

This month’s meeting will feature a video on breaking down brick walls. Join us to discover possible tips and finally resolve a problem or two in your family research.

From Numbers to Names

Discover the incredible research website From Numbers to Names which provides free searchable links to collections of Holocaust photos. More than a photo gallery, this site uses artificial intelligence with the help of engineers, data scientists, researchers and others involved in a project to provide anyone with the opportunity to identify Holocaust faces in photos from the late 1800s to the post-war era. The photos are comprised from museum collections such as the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and other online sources. According to Daniel Patt, who established the site in April 2021, “anyone can upload a photo of a holocaust victim or survivor and it will compare the photo to its archives.” Visitors to the site will be surprised to discover this free, quick scan of 34,000 photos in the archives can be done in approximately five seconds.

Also, the Center for Jewish History is offering free DNA kits to survivors of the Holocaust through its DNA Reunion project. Learn more HERE.

The November 17th SGS meeting features The History of Photography, a video on estimating the age of a photograph through clothing styles. Join us!

Siuslaw Genealogical Society Meeting
Thursday, November 17, 2022
3:00 P.M.
Siuslaw Public Library
Bromley Room

Family Tree recently published an article titled “How to Determine Relationships with Shared DNA Matches“. While testing companies provide an estimate of your relationship to a match based on the amount of DNA shared, the article displays a chart showing a numeric range of the shared centimorgans which may clarify and help you better understand the relationship. While a perplexing topic, seeing the range numbers next to the associated relationship may offer the explanation you’ve been trying to work through.

Patricia Hartley of the Family History Daily reminds us to scrutinize a name before including it in our family tree. In her article, Why You Need to Stop Adding Names to Your Family Tree, she recommends being certain to “really understand and grow at least a decent proportion of these relatives so that you gain a clearer view of your family’s past and avoid making unfortunate mistakes that can get you off track”. Certainly we’ve all experienced spending more research time than we care to admit, on names that in the end, were non-family members. Her short article is well worth the read.

This month, SGS member and professional genealogist Cindy Webb will be the featured speaker on the topic: When Records Come Alive. She will be discussing types of death records, the information they contain, and sources to obtain them. Join us at 3 p.m. in the Bromley Room for the opportunity to gather new information on such valuable resources to your research.

At long last, the summer SGS picnic images are now available in a video! View it HERE.
Be sure your audio is turned up! The video runs about 2 minutes.

The September SGS meeting will include a tour by Kevin Mittge of the library’s Siuslaw room to review resources of the genealogy material available there. Join us for this personal update!

Thanks to all for attending and participating in our summer picnic. The food was great, the grill cooks did a superb job and a special thanks to the Pioneer Museum Heritage Players for providing the enjoyable entertainment of Florence history.

An announcement was made during the picnic for the 90th year anniversary of the Sea Lion Caves. Join the celebration this Friday, August 26th, 5-7 p.m. at the Pioneer Museum. View the special exhibit of the Caves and other historic displays. Festivities with a presentation and assortment of party snacks begin at 5 pm. All are invited to this free public event!

Free Upcoming 2022 Webinars From Legacy Family Tree

Sept 9 – What’s Next When You are Told Those Records Were ‘Burnt Up’
Sept 20 – Abstracting Documents: An Essential Skill for all Genealogists
Oct 7 – When Wrong is Actually Right: Constructing Proof Arguments
Nov 15 – Their Mark Here: Signatures and Marks as Identifying Tools
Dec 20 – French Emigrants: They were Not All Hugenots, or Nobles, or From Alsace-Lorraine

View details and many more free webinars HERE.

Karen Childs has come across a list (and brief description of Obscure Old English Occupations. View the list HERE.

“Unknown in Life But Recognized in Death”

A 60-year old case has been solved through DNA of a runaway15-year old boy. Danny’s identification represents the oldest case of a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children subject ever solved by genetic genealogy. Read the remarkable story HERE.