Sno-Isle Genealogy Society History

Edmonds Community College offered a class on “Beginning Genealogy” in the fall of 1985 at the college’s Mill Creek facility. The instructor was Charlotte Carlstrom. Several would-be genealogists enrolled in the class and seven decided to start a genealogy society as there was none in the south Snohomish County area. They were Margaret Anderson, Charlotte Carlstrom, Janet Robeson, Muriel Wolff, Connie Berry, Helen Gates, and Carole Thul. The first order of business was to name the new society Sno-Isle Genealogy Society as it included people from Whidbey Island and Snohomish County. Each person took on a committee responsibility. The mission statement adopted is still in use today. Membership grew to 44 by Sept 1986. The logo was designed by Connie Berry and is still in use. The Beacon newsletter and logo were created as was the Sounder quarterly. Roberts Rules of Order guided the meetings which were kept in order by parliamentarian Marjorie Brewer.

In Sept. 1986 the newsletter The Beacon started its monthly publication having various editors over the years and is still offered via email monthly Sept. thru June. Also, the quarterly Sounder started 1st quarter of 1987 with a name and logo and budget for mailing to members. Margaret Summitt became editor in 1999. Back issues are bound and on the library shelf. The Sounder is currently on hiatus.

Bonnie Sears’ committee was extractions and it started out transcribing the local cemeteries which are now searchable and located on the SIGS library shelf in the WA county section. Other extractions include marriages in 1867 thru 1899 Snohomish County. And Island County marriages 1855-1891, plus local Grange Records. The biggest project was collecting obits from the local papers starting in 1986 up to 2016. Carole Thul answered queries that often took her to the Everett courthouse for copies of deeds, wills, etc.

Books were bought and donated and were moved from member’s garages and spare rooms until a small space was rented as the first library located at 7907 212th SW, Edmonds. That lasted about one year until rent funds ran out and then books were put in a rental storage thanks to a generous donation by member Keven Stadler.

Marie Little, City of Lynnwood historian, made a presentation at one of our meetings informing us of a possible location for a permanent library to occupy a house on land purchased by the City for a park. President Phylis Jorgenson followed up on this and the City accepted SIGS as partners to occupy the building now known as Humble House, located at 19827 Poplar Way, Lynnwood, which opened in Nov. 2005. The short driveway at Heritage Park is named Marie Little in her honor. Daniel Irving built and installed all the shelving in the library and was the general maintenance and handy man for SIGS for a few years.

Past presidents include: Charlotte Carlstrom 1986-1987, Carole Thul 1987-1989, John Klein 1990-1991, Marjorie Brewer 1993-1995, Barbara Hansen 1995-1997, Cindy Stevens 1999-2001, Betty Anderson 2001-2003, Marge Reid 2003-2005, Donna Smith 2005-2006, Phylis Jorgenson 2006-2009, Carol Ripley 2009-2010, Margaret Summit 2010-2011, Phylis Jorgenson 2011-2013, Ruth Henderson 2013-2014, Tim Foss 2014-2015, Gary Ottman 2015-2017, Brenda Sanchez 2017-2020, Janice Callahan 2020-2021n Covid, Ron Sailer 2021-2022, Corey Smith 2023-2025, Gabrielle Hillgrove 2025- current (published March 2026).

Books were finally placed on shelves in Humble House in 2005 and a few more were added over the years as librarian Marge Reid accessioned almost all donations until the shelves were full. Decisions had to be made. We were lucky when experienced librarian Jimi Vernie moved to Lynnwood, joined SIGS, and has taken over the job of really organizing the library. Books that no longer fit our collection are sold to a local book dealer.

Several fund raisers were held over the years to cover storage fees including seminars, yard sales, book sales, raffles, Rest stop, and many more. The most fun one was manning Ivar’s food booth at Safeco Field at Mariner’s games.

A membership tea, Take A Teddy to Tea, was held at the Lynnwood Empress Hotel hosted by Letha McKinnon, wife of the Lynnwood mayor Mike McKinnon, and members came “dressed to the nines” including hats and bringing teddy bears which were donated to the local police for trauma kids.

Monthly meetings were held in various places until the current library opened and included the Lynnwood Public library, Lynnwood Fire Station #15, Public Works Maintenance Facility, and the LDS library in Mountlake Terrace and the Public Library in Mountlake Terrace and always included a guest speaker that not only educated but sometimes entertained. And membership continued to grow partially due to the excellent gourmet cookies that baker Helen Gates presented on the hospitality table with an appropriate centerpiece and table linen at each meeting. Publicity notices were mailed to the local papers. They are sent by email now. There was a telephone committee that would phone members to remind them of the meeting. Notice is now by email. Interest groups were formed and changed over the years as the membership changed. Field trips were made to the various local libraries. Books continued to be donated by people downsizing their personal collections and currently the largest topic is Pennsylvania with 285 books. Marge Reid was the librarian for several years until retiring in 2018.

Eleven SIGS members joined the science students at Professor Murphy’s lab at Edmonds Community College in 2004 and participated in the first DNA test he offered after presenting information about DNA in Genealogy Research. This included the results a week later and was our first introduction to DNA. Little did we know an overheard conversation by Dr. Murphy in a local restaurant would lead to a DNA test for SIGS members.

When Covid hit the country the library closed for several months and membership dropped with only a few holding on. Ron Sailer was president during that time and kept the small group together with a few emails. Before long we were meeting at the Wickers Building at the Park and were part of the Park Partners. But in Nov. 2022 tragedy struck when Pres. Ron was in a tragic automobile accident and died. Member Corey Smith was able to step up and keep us open and organized and was president 2023-2025.

Various classes have been offered over the years including a Pioneer Certificate, Boy Scout Genealogy badge, beginning genealogy, DNA, and a writing class. One of the most popular research items is the newspaper Edmonds Tribune Review which is currently being digitized. Issues include 1907 - 1981. Also patrons enjoy looking at the yearbooks which include most of the local high schools. A popular item is the free “brick wall” sessions offered once a month by experienced researcher Margaret Summitt and usually fill up and some become members. Volunteer staff have expertise in the areas they have researched so can help patrons.

Member Betty Gaeng was a prolific writer who grew up in Edmonds. She not only wrote about local history items but also had an interest in the Pacific Northwest Native American culture at Tulalip. Betty, Carole Thul, and Phylis Jorgenson spent several months researching Pacific Northwest Native Americans and copying multiple records at NARA which were placed in several white 3 ring binders that filled many shelves in our library. When this collection didn’t attract those researching the native history, the entire collection was donated to the Tulalip library in Marysville as it gets more use there. Sadly, Betty died in 2023.

When this society started in 1986 there was no computer, all research was done long distance via “snail mail”. Now it is almost entirely via computer. The younger generation has moved us into the digital age, but there are still a few of us older ones that remember “when”, but all original members are gone. More research aids are being discovered so Sno-Isle Genealogy Society will continue to grow and offer help to new researchers looking for ancestors.