Genealogists in the news
Front Row, left to right: Pat Ayers, Pat Bayonne-Johnson, Dolly Webb
We are honored to share that the President of Eastern Washington Genealogical Society (EWGS), Pat Bayonne-Johnson, appeared in a story on the front page of the New York Times on Sunday, April 17. We hope you’ll find the story as interesting as we do. You can read the entire story here.
Bayonne-Johnson first learned her ancestors were reported to have been enslaved by the Jesuits of St. Mary’s Count, Maryland in 2004 while making plans for a family reunion. She sent documents to a genealogist in Baton Rouge for examination who discovered that Pat’s great-grandmother was born in Maryland. The rest might in fact be history but it’s a history worth uncovering.
In November 2015, Bayonne-Johnson formed the Butler Team at the library (pictured above) to continue to do research on her ancestors. Janette Birch (not pictured) is also a member of the team.
This is just one of many projects the genealogists are working on in any given week.
We invite you to stop by the downtown library on Tuesdays between 10 am and noon and 1 pm and 3 pm when volunteers are at the library to provide assistance to our customers on their own genealogical research. In addition to EWGS on Tuesdays (and some Thursdays—ask the downtown staff for more specifics on those dates), our reference librarian, Becky Menzel is our resident genealogist. She can assist you in getting started or answer any questions you might have while sending you in the right direction toward doing your own research.
The library also has a number of local history items as well as access to Family Search and American Ancestors, the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s database, which Becky can show you how to use.
More about the Eastern Washington Genealogy Society →
Basic Beginnings in Genealogy
Who, in American history, are YOU related to? In which points of American history did your forebears play a part? Why did your ancestors come to America?
Join Donna Potter Phillips, President of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society, who will show you how to find those answers!
Dates, times, and more information →
More genealogy resources at the library →
Thanks to our Friends
Following their annual Spring Book sale, The Friends of the Library donated $8,000 toward Spokane Public Library’s eBook collection. Thanks to everyone who came out to make this event a success!
More about the Friends of the Library →
Coming up in May
Screen-Free Week
On May 2-8, children, families, and communities around the world will rediscover the joys of life beyond the screen. Unplug from digital entertainment and spend your free time playing, reading, daydreaming, creating, exploring, and connecting with family and friends.
We’ve got some unique games, crafts, and other activities lined up for the first week in May. Drop in and check us out!
Dates, times, and more information →
How Many World War II Aircraft are Left and Where can I See Them?
Over 800,000 World War II aircraft were produced. How many are left and where are they today? For the past 31 years, aviation author and airshow photojournalist Dennis Bergstrom has kept track of the remaining military aircraft from that war, a photographic quest that has taken him to 60 air museums and 110 air shows around the world.
Dates, times, and more information →
Many more classes and programs
Poetry Reading: Tim Greenup & Ellen Welcker | Education Savings Strategies | Gardening Through the Seasons: Spring | Organic Vegetable Gardening | Make a Mother’s Day Card | May the Fourth Be With You | Community Conversations | May Day Origami | A Tour of the New Solar System | Lunchtime Book Group | eBook Self-Publishing | Minecraft Papercraft | Knights and Princesses
Join us at your local branch
Downtown | East Side | Hillyard | Indian Trail | Shadle | South Hill
Amy Popham at the downtown art gallery
In May, the downtown library’s art gallery is featuring the work of Amy Popham. Her exhibit, MindHeart 2016, will be up until May 31.
Amy relocated to Spokane about seven years ago from Seattle and now paints full-time. Her acrylic paintings of animals invoke human qualities which makes the connection between the viewer and painting very natural. Amy says, “I paint animals because I see aspects of myself in them; they are my teachers.”
Amy will be hosting a First Friday reception on May 6 from 5-8 pm. Please stop by to see Amy’s beautiful paintings.
Memorial Day Reminder
All Spokane Public Library locations will be closed Monday, May 30.