Search the Calendar

Join Corey Smith of the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society and learn how best to communicate your family history to the future! In this one hour presentation Corey will discuss how to record your experiences and how to organize family history materials for future generations of genealogists. This presentation is hosted by our partners at the Sno-Isle Library system as part of their 2025 Reads Together program.  To register and get more details, please visit the Sno-Isle Library page at https://sno-isle.bibliocommons.com/events/67b4e19c5ca5ec68c1c70a99.

FamilySearch.org is one of the premier resources for family historians, offering free access to an ever-growing collection of physical and digital records from around the world. But with millions of new records added each day, traditional cataloging can't keep up. To bridge the gap, FamilySearch has introduced Full Text Search, a powerful new tool that leverages artificial intelligence to make records more accessible. In this presentation, Janice and Keith Allred will demonstrate how to use Full Text Search effectively, share expert tips and tricks, and explore what this technology means for the future of genealogy research. About the Presenters Janice and Keith Allred are experienced genealogists who have lectured extensively throughout the region. Keith, a native of Othello, Washington, studied history and economics at Brigham Young University, where he worked on cataloging clan family history records from Korea and China for FamilySearch's predecessor. Keith is a retired lawyer trained at the University of Chicago who practiced law in a major Seattle law firm for 37 years. He has authored two books on his own family history. Janice discovered her passion for genealogy as a teenager in Southern California and has since deepened her expertise through research, coursework, and leadership. She holds a Certificate in Genealogy Research from Boston University and served as director of the Kirkland FamilySearch Center from 2013 to 2017. The in-person social gathering begins at 6:30 pm and the presentation begins at 7:00 pm.  The presentation will be lived streamed on Zoom. 

When using DNA to validate your family tree or to push your tree back further, your shared DNA matches on a particular line play a critical role in confirming the familial connection. But what if it is a line you know little or nothing about, much less who your DNA matches are beyond your most distant known ancestor on that line? How can you find validating matches when you don't know who or what you are looking for? In this presentation, we'll look at a strategy of filtering your DNA matches not by who they match, but rather by who they don't match, to arrive at a pool of matches more likely to be relevant on your unknown line. This can be a particularly useful strategy when only have one known DNA tested descendant with not known or close cousins on the line who have also tested. This meeting is free and open to the public. The in-person meeting will take place from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the Wickers Building, 19921 Poplar Way, Lynnwood in Heritage Park. For those who prefer, the presentation will be live-streamed on Zoom beginning at 7:00 pm

Struggling to digitize books and large documents? While flatbed scanners are common household tools, they often fall short when it comes to bound books, oversized documents, or collections of articles. Join us at the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society’s general meeting on January 8th to explore the practical tools and techniques we use for our digitization projects. This presentation by Lisa Battern will highlight the CZUR book scanner, an innovative device that produces flat, clear images of bound materials. Discover how we capture, manage, and organize digital images, and learn about the features that make our process more efficient. The in-person gathering begins at 6:30 pm   The in-person/online presentation begins at 7:00 pm.  
6:30 pm - Social gathering (in-person only)
7:00 pm - Welcome/Digitizing Family History with a Book Scanner (in-person and Zoom)
8:30 pm - Open Q&A (in-person and Zoom)
8:45 pm - Closing comments (in-person only)

The holidays are great time to get together with family and friends. Why not use that time to learn a little family history? During our December meeting we'll discuss a few fun ways to learn more about your family using games for all ages. They'll be having so much fun your family won't even realize you're doing research. The in-person gathering begins at 6:30 pm   The in-person/online presentation begins at 7:00 pm.  
6:30 pm - Social gathering (in-person only)
7:00 pm - Welcome/Fun and Games at Holiday Gatherings (in-person and Zoom)
8:00 pm - Open Q&A (in-person and Zoom)
8:15 pm - Social gathering (in-person only)

Genealogy gives us the facts, but personal and family histories bring them to life. Carla Swedish of Heritage Writers specializes in helping people tell their story in a written narrative that will captivate future generations. In this presentation, she will talk about weaving your genealogical data; personal photos, letters, memorabilia and family heirlooms; historical context; and first-person storytelling into rich, engaging narratives. Born in Connecticut and a Snohomish County resident since 1992, Carla began her career as a singer-actress, dedicated to capturing unique characters in specific circumstances. Her passion for storytelling led her to write family profiles for local media, and in 2020, she founded Heritage Writers. Now, she helps individuals and families tell their own unique stories through personal and family histories. The in-person gathering begins at 6:30 pm   The in-person/online presentation begins at 7:00 pm. 
6:30 pm - Social gathering (in-person only)
7:00 pm - Transforming Your Genealogy Research into a Personal or Family History (in-person and Zoom)
8:30 pm - Open Q&A (in-person and Zoom)
8:45 pm - Conclusion (in-person only)

Family photos are precious, fixing particular moments in time so one can remember not just the people but the place, what we wore, what we experienced and what we shared. Over the years pictures get damaged, colors fade or change as the dyes decay. New digital technology, accessible to all, can remove tears, fingerprint smudges and restore colors to what they were when we first saw them. Mr. Summitt has used Microsoft Photos and Adobe Photoshop to do image restoration and will show you the basics of how easy it is to do simple picture restoration so one doesn’t need to be distracted by damage on favorite images. Christopher Summitt has been into history and graphics restoration since working as a ranger historian at Custer Batttlefield National Monument, the local Mukilteo Historical Society and his current work on the Boeing Everett Factory tour which at times involves the Boeing Archives.  He’ll show us simple ways to scan/acquire images and restore them once captured. The in-person gathering begins at 6:30 pm   The in-person/online presentation begins at 7:00 pm. 
6:30 pm - Social gathering (in-person only)
7:00 pm - Digital Restoration of Your Family Photos (in-person and Zoom)
8:30 pm - Open Q&A (in-person and Zoom)
8:45 pm - Conclusion (in-person only)

Are you curious about your family’s history but unsure where to begin? During the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society's September 4th general meeting, society President Corey Smith will help you take that all-important first step. Whether you’re just starting your journey or looking to refine your research skills, this session is designed to guide you through the basics of family history and genealogy. The presentation will introduce attendees to key concepts, recommend practical tips, provide tools to start their journey, and suggest different ways to capture their family's history. There will be plenty of time for questions, so participants are encouraged to bring their curiosity. This meeting is free and open to the public. The in-person meeting will take place from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the Wickers Building, 19921 Poplar Way, Lynnwood in Heritage Park. For those who prefer, the presentation will be live-streamed on Zoom beginning at 7:00 pm

What if despite all your diligence, all your research, and being a conscientious genealogist, you suddenly wonder if it's all wrong? That's the thought that our presenter, Gabrielle Hillgrove, had when researching one of her family lines. Join Gabrielle as she talks about what went through her mind (panic), how she's tackling this problem when you know all the online trees are going to show the information in question, and how to determine what's credible when everything has been thrown into question. We can't promise you answers, but you'll learn some of the thought processes and techniques of addressing an issue like this without losing heart. Gabrielle is Vice-President of the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society. She doesn't have as much time to research her family as she'd like (who does) and she definitely doesn't have all the research answers, but she loves the process of Genealogy, putting together clues, and learning more than just the dates and places associated with her ancestors.
6:30 pm - Social gathering and Officer elections (in-person only)
7:00 pm - Introductions and Society updates (in-person and Zoom)
7:10 pm - Presentation and Q&A (in-person and Zoom)
8:30 pm - Closing, social gathering (in-person only)

Your family's stories, treasures, and celebrations are the building blocks of future traditions. When your descendants wonder where they came from, will they have the answers they seek? Join Corey Smith as he urges you to take simple steps to preserve vital information for future generations. Drawing from his own family history, Corey will guide you through the types of information worth capturing and methods for collecting it. Don't let your family's legacy fade into obscurity – empower yourself to become the ancestor future genealogists will rely on.

We are changing the agenda for the meeting. 

6:30 pm (in-person only) - Socializing and treats at the Wicker's building
7:00 pm (in-person and Zoom) - SIGS announcements
7:15 pm (in-person and Zoom) - "Be the Great Ancestor Future Genealogists Need" presentation/Q&A
8:30 pm (in-person and Zoom) - Geneal Q&A
8:45 pm (in-person only) - Post function conversation, society activities, collect officer nominations, clean-up

Corey Smith serves as the President of the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society.  While he has benefited greatly from the remembrances, scrapbooks, and keepsakes left by his ancestors, he has also experienced the gaps left by unrecorded stories and individuals.

You may know FamilySearch as a free online tool to research your family history, but there's so much more under the FamilySearch umbrella. Join Judd Williams from the Shoreline FamilySearch Center on March 6th as he explores the world of FamilySearch. He'll provide an overview of the FamilySearch Family Tree (FSFT), demonstrate how to use the FamilySearch Research Wiki, highlight valuable resources available at the Center in Mountlake Terrace, like historical records, microfilm readers, and expert volunteers, and answer your FamilySearch questions. Judd was Director of the Shoreline FamilySearch Center from 2014 to 2020 and continues to help others on Thursdays mornings. He's passionate about using genealogy and DNA to connect people with their past, a pursuit that led him to discover his own "lost" family. Judd's presentation is open to Society members and to the general public at no cost.  The presentation will be live at the Wickers Building in Heritage Park (Lynnwood, WA) and will also be live streamed via Zoom

Is the public library part of your genealogical research toolkit?  If not you may be missing many great services and resources.  Nate Cushman from the Snohomish Library will give us a tour of what's available in-library and online, from local records to newspaper to inter-library borrowing and much more.   Nate Cushman has worked as a Librarian with Sno-isle Libraries for 30 years. His love for libraries began at an early age due to being a military brat and moving every 2 years. Being a shy kid, (at least until basketball season rolled around), libraries became his refuge whenever he arrived in a new town. Over his career, genealogical research has evolved from a professional requirement to a personal passion. This presentation is open to members and the general public.  The presentation will be live at the Wickers Building in Heritage Park (Lynnwood, WA), but will also be live streamed via Zoom