Fiske Library Holds Great Collection
Do your summer travel plans include a trip to Seattle or Tacoma with time for genealogy foraging?
Two crackerjack private genealogical libraries on Washington’s West Side are well worth a visit.
The late Arthur Fiske endowed the Fiske Genealogical Foundation with funds to keep his fantastic collection available to all genealogists for years to come.
The Fiske Library, as it’s commonly called, is housed in the lower level of Washington Pioneer Hall, a historic landmark building, which is also home to the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington, 644 43rd Ave. East.
What makes this library’s collection unique are Arthur’s card files and surname notebooks. In a very large wooden-drawered file cabinet is an enormous number of 3x5 cards divided into general information, Southern states, immigrant ancestors, English ancestors, Pennsylvania and the Northwest.
There’s also a drawer on family publications.
Information on the cards, with sources included, is usually pre-1850. They were Arthur Fiske’s personal guide to using his large collection.
Surname notebooks line one entire wall. They’re filled with family group charts compiled by Arthur and submitted by patrons over the years. These binders are a great serendipitous source - you just might find something wonderful, and then again you might not.
It would take several columns just to list the collection’s holdings. Suffice to say, I know you’d keep happily busy for an all-day session in this library, no matter what your research problems are.
To get there: From downtown Seattle, take Madison street east nearly all the way to Lake Washington; turn right on 42nd, go to end of the street and look left. You’re there.
The library is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Volunteers will give you a tour of the large room that’s the home to the collection. There’s a $5 charge per researcher per day to use the library. Call (206) 328-2716 for more information.
The Heritage Quest Research Library just moved. It’s new address is 909 Main Street, Suite 5, in Sumner, Wash., east of Tacoma.
This private library was founded a decade ago by Leland and Patty Meitzler and is supported by memberships ($30 per year) and daily use fees of $4.
If the name seems familiar, it’s the name Meitzler gave to his magazine, Heritage Quest. The research library has been partners with American Genealogical Lending Library and has a collection of microfilmed records rivaling a much larger facility.
There are books and periodicals galore and floor-toceiling racks of microfilm - and readers. A huge catalog helps locate the materials you want.
Under the able management of a great team, this library would easily afford you two days of productive research.
The library’s phone number is (253) 863-1806. Their Web page is http://www.members.aol.com/hqrl/ index.htm; E-mail is hqrl@aol.com.
So, happy summertime traveling and give a try to both of these fantastic libraries.
Write and tell me what you find.
Next meeting will be Saturday, June 6, a noon lunch meeting at Cavanaughs River Inn. No beginner’s class will be held that day. Call Shirley Penna-Oakes, 276-9841, for information.