“Open Windows to the Past:” The 2019 Northwest Genealogy Conference

The Northwest Genealogy Conference is the largest annual genealogy and family history event in Washington, and Arlington is not a long drive for us south King people. Some SKCGS members have been attending for years, but this was the first year for me, Valorie Zimmerman. I was excited to see that Janet Camarata had volunteered to teach the free beginner class, open to all. I really loved how she organized the material, drawing in beginners and showing them how to do quality research and documentation *from the beginning* -- which all of us wished we had done.

Following the Genealogical Proof Standard from day one will save time in the end, since you can always consult your notes. There were three other attendees from our SKCGS membership and I asked each for their thoughts, takeaways and memories -- in a few sentences. My own takeaway is that I need to up my game! I have the evidence, often, but I need to write it up more often. That last step in the GPS seems difficult, but very often in the act of writing out the problem and how the issues are proven to be solved clarifies and illuminates still other issues, which can then become a new problem for "thorough and reasonably exhaustive search for all relevant information regarding an individual or family." [1] One step at a time!

Janet Camarata:

The conference was great and extremely informative with a spice of pirates, Civil war soldiers, and chaplains in costume. Daniel Earl grew up in a funeral home and shared his experiences and details about death and dying.  I never knew death could be humorous and educational at the same time. The session with Thomas MacEntee was thought-provoking about what to do with all the treasures we've collected and discovered and the "perils of inaction"  about the plans for saving all our work. I learned so much as takeaways. I will be busy for months.

Marilyn Schunke:

The “Researching Your World War II Ancestors” keynote presentation by Michael Strauss caused me to come home and dig into my grandmother’s 1907 hand carved keepsake box to find the mysterious  “red OPA coin.” Michael unlocked the mystery.  OPA coins were given for change when War Ration stamps were used. Michael’s presentation also made me take a closer look at the various Ration Books One through Four I have in my possession. I now know my grandfather, Jasper O. Crawford, at age 72 years was 5 feet 7 inches tall with blue eyes and grey hair. His address was R.F.D. #1, Deer Island, Columbia, Oregon.

I now know that information for Mom and my two youngest uncles as well. The Mileage Ration Identification Folder even identifies Mom’s 1931 Plymouth with License Number. Stamps remained in several of the books. So I researched until I understood why War Ration Book One still had stamps 19 and 20 intact in my mom’s and grandfather’s books. The Office of Price Administration never validated the usage of stamps 19 and 20. The blue and red OPA coins were not introduced until the Office of Price Administration issued War Ration Book 4. Until Book 4, change could not be given, so stamp users had to do the math carefully to not waste their stamps. With Michael’s presentation, a little more research, and the eight War Ration Books I have in my possession, I can now write more of the story about my grandparents, mother, two uncles and Mom’s Colorado friend who came to live with Mom in Deer Island, Oregon. All but the two young uncles worked in the shipyards to support the war effort in which my dad and the four eldest uncles fought.

Kathleen MacLeod Hanzeli:

My goal in attending this conference was just the conference topic, to open windows to the past. There were so many classes with good speakers to help me do it and it was very difficult to choose between them. So I focused on the classes that might help me find my elusive marriage record: two on Canadian research, one on planning and a couple of others that just sounded interesting.

NWGC prize winners

However the biggest thing that helped in my quest was that on Saturday morning, I won a door prize!  I received a year’s subscription to GenealogyBank.  The first thing I did when I got home was to plug in my errant groom’s name and up pops an obituary, something I had spent hours looking for in the Boston Public Library.  In it was a hint about the church in which he may have been married.  Looking through my research notes, I was reminded that I had all ready contacted that church without success.

Oh, well.  There were many other wonderful things I learned at this conference which will help guide me as I continue the search and in the search for information about my other ancestors.

Two other members of our Society won prizes:  Janet Camarata and Marilyn Schunke.  With their wins they will be able to continue their education and I know they will then share it with all of us, so it was a win for our whole Society, too!

I would encourage all to consider attending next year’s conference, “A World of Discoveries,” being held on August 12 - 15, 2020 at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington, Washington.  One never knows what windows will be opened!

- Kathleen MacLeod Hanzeli © 2019

1. What is the Genealogical Proof Standard and Why Should You Use It? https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogical-proof-standard/

Kathleen MacLeod Hanzeli

Valorie Zimmerman

Janet O'Conor Camarata

Marilyn Mullins Schunke