Ancestral memories: UW staffer finds surprises when she digs through her family's history

Dena Petersen, Class of 1997, was the subject of a very interesting article written by Nancy Wick of UWeek.org, the UW Faculty and Staff Newspaper.

How far would you go to learn about your ancestors?

* Would you take a nine-month genealogy class?
* Would you learn a new language?
* Would you take trips to a far off country?
* Would you take classes in the history of that country?

Read the lengths to which Dena went to uncover her family history. Ten years after Dena completed the Genealogy and Family History Program she is still hooked and an inspiration to us all.

Links In This Article:

The Article
uwnews.org, University of Washington News and Information - UW Office of News and Information
Certificate Program in Genealogy and Family History

With personal histories, everyone can star in their memoir

Recently the Seattle Times published an article on the "explosion of interest in tracing one's roots." If you've ever wondered what all your work is worth in dollar signs, read this article. But we know the truth, no price can be attached to the time and love we have put into each of our unique family histories. They are our legacy.

The article quotes our own Lorraine McConaghy:

"It's absolutely wonderful for people to see themselves as actors in history," said Lorraine McConaghy, historian at Seattle's Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), which is building a collection of oral-history interviews with metropolitan Seattle residents.

And Lori Handschin Class of 2004:

Legal secretary Lori Handschin enrolled in a nine-month course at the University of Washington to write a scholarly work about her father's World War II service as a combat medic. She can't imagine hiring out this work — "It would be like hiring someone else to write a love letter for me."

Check out the professional companies for some very interesting examples and inspiration.

Links In The Article:
Read The Story!
Seattle Times
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
Association of Personal Historians
12th Annual Conference, Association of Personal Historians Inc.
Inventive Productions
LifeChapters
University of Washington Certificate Program in Genealogy and Family History

Congratulations Heather McLeland-Wieser!

In May we had a terrific lecture by Heather McLeland-Wieser on "The Process of Becoming a Certified Genealogist." Well, Heather certainly knew her subject. She has just received notification from The Board for Certification of Genealogists that she is Washington State's newest CG^SM.

Since its beginning in 1964, the BCG has promoted standards in genealogical research. Its mission is to foster public confidence in genealogy as a respected branch of history by promoting an attainable, uniform standard of competence and ethics among genealogical practitioners; and by publicly recognizing persons who meet that standard.

Heather's category, the Certified Genealogist, extends to broadly based genealogical projects whose goal is finding the evidence, assembling the proof, and compiling a coherent historical account of the identities and relationships of all the descendants of a particular ancestor or ancestral couple.

Congratulations Heather we are very proud of you!

Links In This Article:

The Board for Certification of Genealogists
Washington State's Certified Genealogists