Author/Speaker To Share Expertise
Phillip Colletta, a nationally known author and speaker, will be in Spokane next month to help explain “How Did We Get Here From There?” during the Washington State Genealogical Society’s 2000 Conference, hosted by the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society.
Colletta, who lives in Washington, D.C., works at the National Archives, home of highly valued information that’s so dear to the hearts of genealogists everywhere. His specialty is speaking on the topics of emigration, immigration, passenger lists and nationalization.
In 1989 he wrote the popular genealogy book, “They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Arrival Record.”
At the April 15 seminar, Colletta will discuss “Passenger Arrival Records, 1820-1957,” “Advanced Problem Solving,” “Lesser-Used Federal Records: Homestead Files, Passports, Civil War, Income Tax, Etc.” and “Naturalization Records, 1790-1920s.”
The all-day event will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Days Inn, 4212 W. Sunset Blvd., atop Sunset Hill, on the north side of the highway. Cost, including lunch, is $35 for members and $38 for nonmembers.
It will cost nearly $1,500 to bring Colletta to Spokane to share his expertise and knowledge with us. Because EWGS wants all interested genealogists to attend, an endowment fund has been established to help those who may be financially strapped. If you need financial assistance, or if you can donate to this fund (in any amount), contact Bette Butcher Toppe at 467-2299. All transactions will be kept in strictest confidence.
At the seminar will be handouts, raffles, prizes and vendors. Come to learn and to have fun.
Reservations are required by Saturday. Send your check to EWGS/WSGS Conference, P.O. Box 1826, Spokane, WA 99210-1826.
If you want to use the 1910 census for Spokane County, or any county in Washington State, remember it has no Soundex or Miracode index.
However, Celia Tomlin, a genealogist from the west side of the Cascade Mountains, is heading a task force to correct this deficiency.
Tomlin is coordinator for the project to index the 1910 Washington State census. The effort is sponsored by the Washington State Genealogical Society. Working with volunteers on a county-by-county basis, Tomlin reports that as of last fall, Klickitat, Island and Wahkiakum counties were completed, and several more are nearing completion, including Douglas, Skagit, Snohomish, Asotin, Stevens, Clark, Lewis and Pacific counties. Apparently no one is working on Whitman, Lincoln or Spokane counties!
To help index these counties, write to: Celia Tomlin, 18505 Alderwood Mall Parkway, Suite 1, Lynnwood, WA 98037-8013; or e-mail her at celiatoml@kcls.org. This work is not difficult, and by helping complete this project, you will experience many rewards. Family researchers will appreciate your efforts for generations to come.
Cindy Curry, a Pullman genealogist, will discuss “Civil War: Beyond Pension Papers” for the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society’s monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Salvation Army, 222 E. Indiana. There will be no beginners’ class. Because the Spokane Public Library’s downtown branch is now closed on Saturdays, EWGS will meet the first Saturday of each month at the Salvation Army until further notice. The meetings are open to all interested family researchers.
Today’s Trivia: John Tuft, historian for the Spokane Amateur Softball Association, wrote to request help to develop a historical display (memorabilia, Hall of Fame plaques, photos) of the State/Regional/National Spokane Metro Championship teams. They’re especially looking for items from the 1930s to the 1970s. If you have something to donate, contact Tuft at 6920 N. Country Homes Blvd., Spokane, WA 99208.