Genealogy Lessons

How would you like to have free genealogy lessons?

On random topics?

Once or twice a month?

At your convenience--weekday, weekend or evening?

With free access to Ancestry Library Edition and other online sites?

All this can be yours if you take advantage of this opportunity:

Become a Genealogy Research Volunteer at the library!

SKCGS Genealogy Reference Collection at Auburn Branch of King County Library System

The SKCGS collection of historic and genealogical books and periodicals has been located at the Auburn Branch of the King County Library System for many years.  During that time, society volunteers have provided free research assistance with the collection in particular and with genealogy in general.

In March, 2020 the Covid lockdown interrupted our volunteer service. Many of our members have helped out over the years; and we have loved it, wishing we were able to use the libraries during lockdown. Our recent, most faithful volunteer, Jan Emerson has chosen a much deserved retirement.  However, she had some comments to share:

 Volunteering was a good feeling when I was able to help someone else who was interested in a hobby I enjoyed doing.  Auburn Library has a friendly atmosphere; staff were helpful.

On several occasions I would have several new people arrive at the same time, all needing help.  I would answer a question for one, then go to next and rotate with them. On one particular afternoon I had 10 or 11 people arrive within a few minutes of each other. Staff opened up the meeting room for them while I gathered up 5 or 6 easy to use reference books with plans to give overall suggestions on sections and examples of how to find important information that all could use. One of the gentlemen in the group had experience and offered to help me out. He worked with some of the new people, I with several others. I was very pleased that he stepped up to give me the help I needed at that moment. I explained that any of them could come back in on another day for additional help and several did come back.

Recently we received a message from the Auburn Library that they would like us to resume our research assistance.  Yea!

In the past we have also provided Help desks on specific Saturdays at the Burien and Covington Branches of KCLS.  We haven't approached those branches yet but, if we were to get the volunteers, we may do so in the near future.

We very much want to volunteer in a big way, AND the library will let us make our own schedules, so please pick a friend and write to Outreach@skcgs.org to volunteer. The team will connect you to the library staff, get you set up with the cards we fill out for each person we help, and the free handouts we have available.

Some Thoughts and Experiences

Our volunteers have always expressed how much fun they have had meeting people and encountering new avenues of research they might never have used before.  Especially, they enjoy the lessons they learn along the way.

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One day I had a request to find information about some one who had immigrated from Mexico around 1920. I found the great grandfather's El Paso border crossing document, with his picture and other family information. He was going to Basin, Wyoming, to work for a prominent sugar beet grower. It touched me because in 1950, when I was a little girl, we lived near Basin when my father worked as a mechanic on the farm equipment for a large sugar beet grower.  

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A woman stopped at our library table looking for help to find more about her father’s side of the family. She really didn’t know how to find any information.  We went into Ancestry Library Edition and FamilySearch.  She had some names and, using those, we found numerous documents expanding the relative list as we went. Our discoveries included Naturalization documents which never crossed my mind as my ancestors immigrated in the 1600’s and 1700’s. So she learned how to search and I learned of new sources of information.

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Another woman wanted to know more about her mixed family--Mexican, African American and White.  We found census records, obituaries, and a memorial in a Sumner Cemetery in Pierce Country. This expanded information on her family and introduced her to the basics of online searching. It gives one a warm feeling seeing these people find more about their family.

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A fellow came in looking for a particular book that had info about his family. I looked into every library site that I was aware of, such as WorldCat, UW Libraries, Seattle and King County public libraries, Google books, etc. We did find the publisher of the book and a contact address, so he was going to write to them to see if they would provide the info desired. Not quite genealogy, but an interesting search session.

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While working with another volunteer I learned to always look at the last page of a ship's manifest.  The person I am seeking may be on that page for some reason!

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One man stopped to tell us about his great grandmother Diana Apcar. He was so proud because a city park in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, had been named for her. Her story was so intriguing, I was compelled to research and write the blog, Diana Apcar, The Stateless Diplomat which we published March 23, 2020.  I learned so much about geography, world history, and more research avenues through that experience.

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I miss the people! I love you all, and yet miss talking genealogy with brand-new people, one-on-one! I love their love for their own family history, and enthusiasm for learning how to find more about their ancestors.

I miss how much they teach me! They are seeking different folks than I am, in different places and times. In helping them to find the sources and other information they need, I learn so much. 

I miss their excitement when finding not just new information, but a different way of researching. I think we all know that feeling when we've finally found all the sources we need not just to prove that an ancestor is who we think they are, but in meeting them for the first time; really getting an insight into their time, place and life.

I miss working the tightrope without a net, with another person, on behalf of anyone who walks up to our table. Sometimes we work as a team, both looking for different things for the same person, sometimes each helping someone. In our chats afterwards, we have found that we end up learning more than those we helped.

Does this opportunity appeal to you?  Let us assure you that you do not need to be an expert; in fact you may be more adventurous if you aren't.

Encourage a friend to go with you.  Sometimes you may have more than one person to help; other times you may have no one and you and your partner can do your own research.

Finally, consider that while volunteering for us, and for yourself, you are giving back to your community too! Not just community service such as picking up trash, but something you are skilled at doing, and in doing so can share your joy with others.

Today's message is brought to you by the satisfied research assistants at the King County Libraries.  We hope that many more of you will join us in the near future.  

And, if you do not live in the South King County area of Washington state, locate a library or research facility in your area and find some way to help.  You'll be doing yourself a favor!