Learning About Ancestors Is Academic

Sun., Jan. 15, 1995

Donna Potter Phillips Special To In Life

Come take a genealogy class with me! Several different classes begin later this month, and surely one would pique your interest and fit into your schedule.

Beginner’s and advanced classes will be offered at two different times and places. The beginner’s class is a prerequisite to the advanced class.

Corbin Community Center will sponsor an eight-session beginner’s class starting Monday, Jan. 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. Another beginner’s class will be at North Central High School starting Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7 to 9 p.m.

An eight-session advanced class begins at Corbin Center on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m., and will be offered again that evening at North Pines Junior High School from 7 to 9 p.m.

Call 533-3770 for more information and to register for any of the classes.

Please note: by waiting until the last minute to decide and register, there’s a risk that classes will be canceled due to an apparent lack of students.

A different, but very informative and educational genealogy class, will be offered at Shadle Park High School on two Thursdays, March 2 and 9, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., with a field trip to Fairmount Memorial Cemetery on Saturday, March 11 (come snow or shine!).

Have you ever wondered what secrets can learned from a study of tombstones, and would you like to locate the tombstone of your ancestor? Come take this class and learn how. Call 533-3770 for more information and to register.

Nova Scotia search

On other subjects, Helen Schaefer, an Eastern Washington Genealogical Society member, shares a flier from the South Shore Genealogical Society in Nova Scotia. Helen traces her ancestry through this province, and has found this small society very helpful in her research.

If you write and enclose your pedigree chart, South Shore members will search their collection of family histories, census records, cemetery inscriptions, church records and community records for your family. Don’t forget to include two IRCs International Reply Coupons - for their return postage to you, available at most post office branches. Address of the South Shore Genealogical Society is P.O. Box 901, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, BOJ 2CO, Canada.

Lunenburg was founded in 1753 by “The Foreign Protestants” - people mainly from southwestern Germany and Switzerland. The British had little difficulty enticing folks to leave their over-crowded countries for the empty spaces of Nova Scotia. Hundreds came. Maybe your ancestor was in this tide.

The Genealogy Section of the downtown Spokane Library recently acquired Volume II of “Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1967,” by Leonard and Norma Smith. This book is the second in the series designed to help trace the ancestry of those entering British-controlled Nova Scotia prior to the Confederation of Canada in 1867. Information sources include non-Nova Scotia periodicals and published diaries and journals of the settlers. This series is essential for researching in Nova Scotia. You may order a copy of this series by calling Genealogical Publishing at 800-296-6687.

Idaho facilities expanded

The Idaho State Historical Society, Library, Archives and Genealogical Library in Boise has expanded its facilities and welcomes all genealogists - particularly those researching Idaho ancestors. The library is three blocks east of the Capitol Building at 450 N. Fourth St. and is open 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Their phone number is (208) 334-3356 (for the historical society desk) and (208) 334-2305 (for the genealogical library desk).

They offer a two-page handout outlining their combined resources. For a copy, send a self-addressed envelope to me in care of this paper.

Today’s trivia

Here’s a great idea - pedigree charts for babies. How about a “baby packet” of family group sheets, pedigree charts and several pages of how-tos given to new mothers before they leave the hospital? Several genealogical societies across the nation offer this service. To bring it closer to home, wouldn’t this make a really nice baby shower gift?

More trivia

The U.S. Mint will soon issue a commemorative coin dedicated to the 250th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth in 1743. Only 600,000 of the silver dollars will be minted in the special collector’s edition. You can reserve a coin by writing to the U.S. Mint, 10001 Aerospace Rd., Lanham, MD, 20706.

Thomas Jefferson was of Welsh heritage and spoke Welsh fluently.

Today’s laugh

The Law of Heredity is that all undesirable traits come from the other parent.

xxxx

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.