Welcome to Our New and Improved Website

With a fresh look and feel, our new website is designed with you in mind. This new website means that visitors can benefit from our online content that is easier to navigate and share with others.

For our members, the site provides easy access to the login page, support functions, and research databases.

The new site is hosted by Easy Net Sites (ENS) which provides a suite of web-based tools designed for genealogical, familial and historical societies. Over 125 societies nationwide have used ENS to build their websites.

Once again we would like to welcome you to our new website and invite you to explore what SGS has to offer!

Keep up to date with our twice a month newsletter sent to your email. Learn more ...

Family History Writing Contest Deadline Extended

Attention! To all writers of family history stories. The deadline for the SGS Family History Writing Contest has been extended to August 21.
Guidelines for submission:

500 to 5000 words,
Stories, poems etc. are all acceptable, but should be your original work. If the piece has been published before, the approval of that organization to re-publish by SGS is your responsibility. Items submitted in the previous SGS FHWC and not selected for publication can be reworked and resubmitted. The author retains the copyright in all cases. Stories do not have to have a WA connection, but it helps.
You do not need to be a member to submit. Current SGS Board members are not allowed to submit.
Cite the facts, but since these are usually personal stories, there are few needed.
Submit as a Word document. Pictures are appreciated but do not have to be embedded in the article.
Decision of the judges is final.
Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions. Others may be selected for publication.

Submit to publications@seagensoc.org by end of the day 21 August!

Have You Renewed Your Membership Yet?

SGS Members - have you renewed yet? The membership year runs from June 1, 2019, to May 31, 2020. We look forward to your continued support during our 96th year. If you have not already renewed your membership, now you can do it right here at the new website.

Go to Members Home and log in to your account. If you have not logged in before, follow the instructions under "Login Problems?". You will need to get your login name and then set your password. After you have logged in, if you have not yet renewed, you will see an expiration notice. Go to your Member Profile and click the green "Renew Membership" button. A dues invoice will be created that you may pay with your credit/debit card, or print out and mail with a check to SGS.

Not a member yet? Now is a great time to join SGS and obtain a full year of discounted class and event registration fees, free research requests, and access to exclusive SGS publications and databases. Join SGS Now.

Bernice Keller, Volunteer of the Winter Quarter

Bernice Keller, Volunteer of the Quarter, at SGS Library

Bernice has been both a member and volunteer of SGS for over 20 years. Bernice caught the genealogy bug early in life - her mother researched their family history, interviewed the previous generation and passed along her findings and love of genealogy to Bernice. Bernice began her own research in the 1970's, including New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Germany, Kentucky and Indiana. That is a lot of ground to cover! Bernice still finds new information about her ancestors as more and more resources and tools become available.

One of her first and still, memorable experiences at SGS was a beginning genealogy class taught by our Past President, Marilyn Rose. Bernice has volunteered with our seminars, at the front desk (monthly), as a library trustee and with the archives committee (weekly). Bernice enjoys greeting new people and introducing them to our library and online research tools. As a member of the our archives committee, Bernice enjoys working with other SGS members and finding treasures in the archives donated to SGS.

Besides her passion for genealogy and dedication to the Seattle Genealogical Society, Bernice enjoys hiking, gardening, church activities and spending time with her family, including four great-grandchildren.

This is our second time recognizing Bernice as Volunteer of the Quarter - she was Volunteer of the Quarter for Spring, 2012.

Family Search Affiliate Library

The Seattle Genealogical Society is now an Affiliate Library for the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and FamilySearch.org. This means that when you are inside our Library either using your own computer or our Patron Computers you will be able to access the "locked" records on FamilySearch.org. You will be prompted to sign up for a FREE account through FamilySearch.org, or to sign in to your own account and then you can access the records. The service is available during normal hours at the SGS research library.