genealogy

  • Washington, Genealogy, and America250

    Washington, Genealogy, and America250

    This year marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. You might hear it called a semiquincentennial, bisesquicentennial, or simply America250. Many states are celebrating this anniversary in different ways. For many of those interested in genealogy and family history, we’re looking back at what our ancestors were doing in 1776.  How many generations do you need to go back to find your… Continue reading

  • Explore Your Family’s History with Expanded Library Genealogy Programs

    Explore Your Family’s History with Expanded Library Genealogy Programs

    Before Sonia’s grandmother passed away, she passed along a host of family stories that Sonia has spent years researching. She has found marriage records, newspaper articles, and other documents that provide conflicting information — and has run into repeated brick walls, especially regarding her ancestors who were enslaved. Sonia knew she needed some assistance with… Continue reading

  • A Bit of Library Magic: Ancestry Library Edition

    I believe in library magic. I’ve seen it many times in my sixteen years with the Seattle Public Library. Now some may wonder “What is library magic?” Well, its finding that newspaper article from 1937 that talked about your grandmother, discovering that movie you grew up watching over and over as a child and enjoying… Continue reading

  • Sharing Our Stories: Family History Storytelling at Northeast Library

    by Tom M. Every family has interesting stories. In my own family, both my wife and my sister have started to think about how to present all that they have discovered about their own families. The library can help everyone learn how to tell these family history stories, starting with an innovative workshop on the subject presented… Continue reading

  • Who’s you mama? Who’s your daddy?

    by Jen Baker and John LaMont Most of us at one time or another wonder about our ancestors: where they came from, how they got here and why they came. My family came from Germany, Wales and England and I’ve traveled to all three. Curiously, I made an emotional discovery in Wales – I felt… Continue reading

  • The 2010 Census information released…has it really been 10 years?

    Just recently the Census Bureau released the first of its 2010 Census statistics for Washington State.  And more information will be forthcoming over the next year. And that is so important for all of us in Seattle, King County and Washington State.  Why get excited?  Here are a few reasons why we should all care… Continue reading

  • May Question of the Month – an irregular series

    How can I get a copy of the Seattle newspaper birth announcements for babies born Sept 1st 1967? With your Seattle Public Library card you have unlimited free remote access to our subscription database the Seattle Times Historical Archives. (the link will take you to a page where you will need to input your library… Continue reading

  • March Question of the Month: an irregular series

    I’m doing geneological research and had trouble browsing the 1910 Census records due to insufficient information. The city of Lanark, Montana in 1910–what county was it in? what Township & Enumeration District was 1910 Lanark, Montana considered to be in? Hello, and thank you for using our Ask a Librarian service.   Your request for information… Continue reading

  • New Seattle History Guide

     Shove over, Sherlock. Seattle history detectives have a powerful new tool to help them deduce the details of Seattle’s past. You should have been so lucky! Due to the efforts of nearby historians, Lorraine McConahy and Helen Divjak, the legendary voice of Paul Dorpat and friends and Greg Lange at the Puget Sound Regional Archives  among others, we’ve had powerful allies for delving into Seattle history.… Continue reading

  • Genealogy 101: Why are genealogists fascinated with our immigrant records and why are they so hard to find?

    With the exception of Native Americans, we are all descendants of immigrants from some other country.  Arlene Eakle projected that between 1607 and 1980 “Over 40 million persons came from other places in the world to settle in the U.S”   (Eakle, Arlene H.  “Tracking Immigrant Origins” in Eakel, Arlene. The Source:  A Guidebook of American… Continue reading

  • Genealogy 101: What is the census and how can it help me with my family history?

    Census records are amongst the most widely used government records for family history research.  The U.S. Congress authorized the first nationwide census in 1790.  A census has continued to be taken every ten years.  The 2010 Census is coming soon. Information from the 1790-1930 U.S. censuses is available to the public.  More recent censuses are restricted… Continue reading

  • Learn about your ancestors at the Library

    Wondering about the roots of your family tree? The library has a wealth of resources, classes and expert staff to help you find out more. You can get started today with the Ancestry database, Library Edition. This video will show you how.                             ~David C. Central Library Continue reading

  • Genealogy 101: How do I get started researching my family’s history?

    You may have heard your friends or co-workers talking about genealogy, or tried to do some searching on the Internet under your family name. Now you would like to do more research to see what you can learn about your family’s history. Seattle is a great place in which to begin working on your family… Continue reading

  • Researching names for babies, characters and all kinds of cats

    Earlier this year a group of librarians offered to help one of our pregnant coworkers name her babies (yes, babies—as in two!). Although she graciously declined our assistance, the conversation continued and headed, as it so often does when librarians confab, to research—in this case researching names for babies, pets and characters in novels.    … Continue reading

  • Our Newly Enlarged French-Canadian Genealogy Collection

    The Seattle Public Library’s French-Canadian Genealogy Collection has expanded over three fold, thanks to the generosity of Carmen Westwater Anderson, who is a local French-Canadian researcher.  Many of the titles in her gift are not available anywhere else on the West Coast. This addition consists of over 180 Repertoires (indexes) to marriages, baptisms and burials from the Catholic… Continue reading

  • Immigration in your Family’s History

    It’s not Ellis Island, or Angel Island, or even Castle Garden, but this graceful brick and stone building on Airport Way in south Seattle was the beginning of an American life for thousands of immigrants for more than 70 years. The former Immigration and Naturalization Services building was built in 1932, replacing a dockside processing office.  The… Continue reading

  • America’s Genealogy Bank – an enticing new resource

    Genealogy is the Internet’s second most popular past-time.  At Seattle Public Library we love to work with Genealogists and we’re excited to present a great new electronic resource for our patrons. America’s Genealogy Bank is the perfect complement to our other fabulous genealogy services. From one very easy to use search screen you can review millions… Continue reading