Whittier Area Genealogical Society
Whittier Area Genealogical Society
Category:
Timeframe:
Search: For: Search Clear Search
Entries Per Page: 
Page:   of  2Next Page


Blog Entries: 1 to 10 of 12
May 6, 2025 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for May 2025
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will meet on ZOOM on WEDNESDAY, MAY 14th  from 1-3 pm (PT) and on WEDNESDAY, MAY 28th at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center from 1-3 pm.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in May.
 
The May theme is:  TRAVEL MEMORIES
 
Write about one the following:
  • Genealogical Tour
Have you traveled to visit one of your ancestral homelands?How did you organize your trip?Did you self-plan or use a genealogy tour pro?
 
Describe your trip.Did it meet your expectations, or did you return home with more questions than answers?Did you meet relatives?Include photos.
  • International Travel
Describe a time you traveled abroad.Were you on a budget?Did you keep a travel journal?Did you travel solo, with family, or friends?
 
Were there language difficulties?What were your favorite locations?How did you travel?Train?Hitchhike?Car?Airplane?Boat?Describe your most humorous travel memory.What is the most memorable moment of your trip?Include photos.
 
As always, if these prompts are not of interest to you, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
March 31, 2025 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for April 2025
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will meet on ZOOM on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9th  from 1-3 pm (PT) and on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23rd at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center from 1-3 pm.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in April.
 
The April theme is:  FAMILY TIES
 
Write about any of the following:
 
What do you know about your grandparents’ lives?
  • When and where were they born?  What were you told about their childhood?  Who told you? 
  • What are your earliest memories of them?  Did you live near or with your grandparents? 
  • Include any special memories you have of your grandparents.
What do you know about the historical events that took place during your grandparents’ lives?
  • How did these events affect them? 
  • Did any of your grandparents participate in these events?  How?
What were the most significant milestones in your grandparents’ lives?
  • How did these milestones influence their lives?
As always, if these prompts are not of interest to you, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
March 1, 2025 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for March 2025
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will meet on ZOOM on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12th from 1-3 pm (PT) and on WEDNESDAY, MARCH  26th at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in March.
 
The March theme is: TELL A STORY
 
Write about any of the following:
 
Voyage to America
  • Write about your ancestor’s voyage/migration to America.  Include a description of their shipboard experience or wagon/horseback travels to their new homeland.
  • Describe their lives in their early settlement and any hardships or successes they faced.
  • Include biographical information, the reasons they immigrated, and a timeline of your immigrant ancestor’s life before and after arriving in America.
Military Experience
  • Using military records/histories, write a story about one of your ancestors who was in the military. 
  • Identify the unit they were attached to, the battles in which they fought, and if they survived to receive a pension or if their widow or children received one.
Most Interesting Ancestor
  • Choose one ancestor (male or female) from your family tree and describe why they are the best candidate for this topic.
As always, if these prompts are not of interest to you, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
February 11, 2025 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for February 2025
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will meet on ZOOM on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12th from 1-3 pm (PT) and on WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 26th at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in February.
 
The February theme is: OUR IMPERFECT ANCESTORS
 
Write a paragraph or two about any of the following:
  • Have you discovered an ancestor who owned slaves?
Did he emancipate any slaves before the Civil War?
What happened to your ancestor’s family after the war?
Did you research what happened to the enslaved individuals after the war?
 
Have you discovered an ancestor who committed bigamy or polygamy?
 
How did you discover the multiple marriages?
Did the wives know about each other or did your ancestor have a “secret” family?
Were there any legal consequences to your ancestor for his multiple marriages?
  • Have you discovered an ancestor who deserted from military service?
Was he court-martialed, or was he subject to other disciplinary action?
How did the desertion affect his post-military life?
  • Have you discovered an ancestor who was a felon?
What crime were they convicted of?
Did they spend time in jail?How did the incarceration affect your ancestor and their family?
  • Have you discovered an ancestor who deserted his family?
Did you discover what happened to him after he left?
Did he start another family or is his fate unknown?
What happened to the first wife and her children?
  • Have you discovered an ancestor who was a horse thief?
As always, if these prompts are not of interest to you, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
January 2, 2025 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for January 2025
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will meet on ZOOM on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8th from 1-3 pm (PT) and on WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 22nd at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in January.
 
The January theme is:  WRITING ABOUT THE PITFALLS & MYTHS IN YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
 
Write a paragraph or two about the following:
  • Family Legends or Myths
  1. During your family research have you found evidence to prove or disprove a family legend or myth?
  2. Describe how you solved the mystery.
  3. In the process of correcting the family history, did you stumble upon something that was new that expanded your current knowledge about your ancestry?  Explain.
  • Brick Wall Pitfalls to Success
  1. Have you overlooked different avenues to bust through those brick walls? 
  1. Different spellings – remember spelling wasn’t uniform until the 19th century.
  2. New avenues of research – expand your research parameters to include previously overlooked data.
  1. Describe your brick wall and how you propose to conquer it.  What turned out to be the solution to your dilemma?  If your brick wall still exists, explain how you can change your approach to help in the future.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      As always, if these prompts are not of interest to you, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
 
Kristina Newcomer
562-693-1223
November 27, 2024 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for December 2024
Because of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa holidays, the WAGS Life Story Writing Group will meet on ZOOM on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11th from 1-3 pm (PT) only.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in December.
 
The December theme is:  A PICTURE IS WORTH 1,000 WORDS – OR AT LEAST A PARAGRAPH OR TWO!
 
Write a paragraph or two about the following:
  • Choose a photograph of the earliest male and earliest female ancestor from your collection and fill in the following blanks.
  1. Name (including maiden)
  2. Birth, Marriage and Death dates and locations
  3. How related to you
  4. Significant events within their lifetime
  5. Occupation, children, when the photo was taken, and other special things about this person we should know
  • Your life in decades.
  1. Choose the earliest photo of yourself and continue with one photo for each decade of your life up to the present.
  2. Write something about each photo to tell the story of your life.  Be sure to include vital statistics (as above), funny anecdotes, or special memories attached to each photo.  Try to limit each story to two paragraphs.
As always, if these prompts are not of interest to you, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
November 1, 2024 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for November 2024
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13th from 1-3 pm (PT) only.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in November.
 
The November theme is:  MOMENTS IN YOUR ADULT LIFE
 
Write a paragraph or two about the following topics:
  • Has retirement been a positive or negative experience?  Do you enjoy a slower pace now? Do you find yourself as busy as ever?
  •  
  • Have you taken up any new hobbies over the last few years?  Do you share these hobbies with your spouse or friends?  Why is this hobby special to you?
  • Are you active in various social, political or literary groups?  How did you get involved?  Have you held any positions in these groups?  Why did you join?  How have these activities benefited you?
  • Do you enjoy the theatre, attend concerts, or visit museums?  Do you belong to any cultural organizations?  What got you involved in the ones you’ve chosen? 
As always, if these prompts are not of interest to you, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
October 2, 2024 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for October 2024
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9th from 1-3 pm (PT) and IN PERSON on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23rd from 1-3 pm at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in October.
 
The October theme is:  ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS Part II
 
Write a paragraph or two about your marriage history.
  • Who proposed?  Was it just a mutual understanding between you and your future spouse or was it a special occasion?  Did you tell your parents or future in-laws your plans?
  • Describe your wedding.  Was there anything unusual in your vows?  Who officiated?  Who was in your wedding party?  Did you choose special music for the ceremony? 
  • Describe the reception.  Was there food, music, dancing?  Where did you hold the reception?
  • How did you get along with your in-laws?  What did your parents have to say about your intended? 
  • Where did you go on your honeymoon? 
As always, if these prompts are not of interest to you, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
August 30, 2024 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for September 2024
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th from 1-3 pm (PT) and IN PERSON on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th from 1-3 pm at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
 
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in September.
 
The September theme is:  ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS Part 1
 
Write a paragraph or two about your romantic history.
  • Who was your first love?  How old were you?  Did it last, or did your interest fade quickly?
  • Do you remember your first kiss?  Memorable, or not so memorable?  Spill!
  • Did you date during high school?  What was a typical type of date?  Describe your best and least favorite date.  Was there a particular personality type that you gravitated toward?
  • How and when did you meet your life partner?  Did you hit it off immediately or did you grow on each other over time?  Did you have to contend with family or societal objections?  How long did you date before finalizing the relationship?
  • Did you have any “crushes” in your life?  Was it a celebrity?  A sports hero? Your best friend’s sibling?  Did you write “love letters” to them?  Who else knew about your crushes?
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
August 2, 2024 By: Kristina Newcomer
Writing Suggestions for August 2024
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14th from 1-3 pm (PT) and IN PERSON on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28th from 1-3 pm at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center.  Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
 
Writers Group members will receive a reminder with the ZOOM link prior to the online meeting in August.
 
The August theme is:  ANCESTORS WHO DESERVE AWARDS
 
Write a paragraph or two about your ancestors or relatives who deserve recognition and congratulations for their accomplishments in life, be they serious, humorous, or scandalous.  Below are some possible topics.
 
  • Founding Father/Mother Award
  • Political Action Commendation
  • True Grit Award
  • Wounded Warrior Medal
  • Most Dramatic Demise Award
  • Marital Bliss or Misery Prize
  • Most Notorious Kinfolk Award or Black Sheep of the Family Trophy
  • Unique Name Female/Male Prize
  • Brick Wall Prize for Most Mysterious Ancestor
  • Independent Woman Honorable Mention
 
Feel free to add additional topics, and be sure to include their relationship to you. 
 
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you.  Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!