Puget Sound Navy Museum, Bremerton, Washington

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Lorelle VanFossen
Puget Sound Navy Museum, Bremerton, Washington

Bremerton Naval Base in Washington State - unconfirmed - photograph by Howard W. West Sr circa 1926.

This is an unconfirmed picture of what I think is the Naval Base at Bremerton, Washington, circa 1926. It was taken by my grandfather, Howard W. West Sr.. He was on the USS Arizona during its stay there for refitting and maintenance. I have photographs I’m trying to identify from his scrapbook of the base, ships, and area. My father may have been there for a short time as well.

The Puget Sound Navy Museum is in Bremerton, Washington, and is another place on my research list for the next time I head up towards Seattle.

The location of the museum is 251 First Street, Bremerton, Washington, and it is open Monday through Saturday from 10-4 and Sunday from 1-4, though closed Tuesdays during the Winter (Oct – April) so scheduling during the week needs to take that into consideration.

Hopefully they can help me identify some of the images from that time period and they may have more information on my grandfather’s time there.


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Seattle Coast Guard Museum – The History of the Coast Guard and Pacific Northwest Maritime

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Lorelle VanFossen
Seattle Coast Guard Museum - The History of the Coast Guard and Pacific Northwest Maritime

There is a Coast Guard Museum in Seattle, Washington. This will be invaluable as I dig more into the lives of my father and his father, both serving in the Coast Guard in the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Ocean.

The address and information is found on the official web page for the museum, a simple static web page on one of the volunteer or organizer’s websites:

Coast Guard Museum Northwest
c/o USCG BSU
1519 Alaskan Way South
Seattle, WA 98134
(206) 217-6993

Hours: MWF 9-3

According to the description the museum features thousands of Coast Guard historical items including a Lighthouse Service clock from about 1860, uniforms, ship parts and pieces, a piece of the HMS Bounty and USS Constitution, models of the various Revenue Cutter Service and Coast Guard Cutters, and more paraphernalia of the Coast Guard’s history.

What is even more important are the over 2,000 books and periodicals covering Coast Guard and Northwest maritime history which will serve me in researching two branches of the family, the West and Knapp families.

It also includes 2500 historical documents, clippings, and vessel plans, and over 15,000 photographs dating back to the 19th century.

These maybe the folks who can help me identify all the ships in the scrapbook of Howard W. West Sr!


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Check Out Genealogy Insider Blog for News and Tips

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Lorelle VanFossen

Genealogy Insider is the blog for Diane Haddad, Family Tree Magazine blogger and staff member, stuffed with tons of information and resources for family history researchers.

She publishes a link roundup called Genealogy News Corral of the latest news, books, and tips on genealogy, as well as news, tips, and information for genealogists.

Recent articles include:

I recommend you add it to your feed reader and resources as there are often discounts and special events from Family Tree and other resources featured.


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Can You Spot the USS Arizona?

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Lorelle VanFossen

My grandfather, Howard William West Sr. served on the USS Arizona in the early 1920s. In researching his life on the ship, culling what information I can from his USS Arizona Log Book 1924-1925 and the History of the USS Arizona, I’m trying to identify some of the US Navy ships he photographed as he traveled throughout the Pacific Ocean.

My first task is to identify which of the ships are the USS Arizona since it is a famous naval vessel much photographed. That will cull those from the collection of scrapbook photographs, leaving me with less to identify. That’s the hope.

Unknown US Navy Ship photographed by Howard West Sr. circa 1926.

Unknown US Navy Vessel photographed by Howard West Sr. circa 1926.

I thought the article, “How to Identify U.S. Naval Ships,” by eHow.com should be useful. It recommended looking for the hull number and looking it up on the US Navy site, without a clear link to where to look. I found a starting point at US Navy Ships. Many of the photographs I’m identifying do not show the hull number, so that’s not helpful, but it’s a start.

The page features the different types of ships in the US Navy including Aircraft Carriers, Amphibious Assault Ships, Cruisers, Littoral Combat Ships, Destroyers, Frigates, and Subs. According to Wikipedia, the USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship. Battleship isn’t on the US Navy list. Wikipedia defined the Pennsylvania class as a “Standard-type battleship” defined as a super-dreadnought. Another not on the Navy list. Continue reading →


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Genealogy, Archives, Libraries, and Museums Resources for States in the US

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Lorelle VanFossen

Top 75 State Genealogy Websites of 2012 by Rich Crume of Family Tree Magazine is an extensive listing of US State Archives, libraries, museums, and other online resources to help you with your family history research.

For my own research, the following state sites will be of the most value.

That covers the key states in the United States I need to research. Excellent.


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Searching for Coast Guard Insignias and Ranks

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Lorelle VanFossen

Howard William West Sr posing with unknown fellow in the Coast Guard circa 1940, photograph by Faye Vaughn West.

In this photograph of my grandfather, Howard William West Sr. (tallest) and friend, based upon the US Coast Guard Military History PDF file of ratings, ranks, warrant, marks and insignia (PDF File), my grandfather was a Petty Officer, Quartermaster, 2nd Class or a second or third Oiler 2nd Class Petty Officer at the time of this photograph. I’m still hunting for his military records and I have no clear date on when this photograph was taken, though I may assume as it was while he was stationed in Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands of Washington State circa 1935-1949. He was stationed at the San Diego Marine Base when he was a Marine, but this resembles the picket fence of other family portraits at the lighthouse on Friday Harbor where he was stationed for many years.

The two graphics are similar when viewed at this distance.

Coast Guard 2nd and Third Oilers - 2nd Class insignia.Coast Guard Quartermaster 2nd class insignia.

It is most likely, from the stories passed down, that he was a oiler, though he moved into security later in his military career as he shifted from Lighthouse Brigade, which eventually became Coast Guard, to Marines, and Navy, not in that order. The United States military, especially when it came to war on the water and along the coasts, was still evolving at the time.

Two Howards, Howard West senior and junior in Coast Guard uniforms circa 1957Compare that photograph and uniform to this one featuring my father, Howard West Jr, and his father, the senior Howard West still in the Coast Guard, a decade or more after the one above was taken. This image is from circa 1958 when my father entered the Coast Guard. He made it through boot camp and served less than 18 months, discharged for medical reasons.

In that photograph, both are wearing the modern insignias for the Coast Guard, the bright red stripes and the distinguishing mark of the Coast Guard on the left forearm sleeve. Continue reading →


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Antique Photographs Improve with Age – Ha!

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Lorelle VanFossen

In “Photographs Look Even Better With 200 Years of Decay,” Ashley Feinberg writes on Gizmodo about the decay of photographs, negatives, and photographic plates in the Library of Congress.

While slightly satirical, the artistic quality of the images created by their degradation is actually beautiful compared to the basic portraits they once were. Still, it is a sad commentary on the Library of Congress’s ability to preserve what is nearly unpreservable.

The early photography methods, from Mathew Brady’s 19th century daguerreotypes and glass plates to Kodachrome of the 1950s-1970s, all deteriorate with exposure to light, humidity, and temperature fluctuation.

Look at your own collection of historical images. Consider preserving them better for your future descendents.

I’ve used the archival materials from Light Impressions for many years and highly recommend them as a resource.


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The Spittoon: A DNA and Family History Research Blog

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Lorelle VanFossen
The Spittoon: A DNA and Family History Research Blog

The Spittoon is the company blog of 23andMe, a DNA testing company. The blog includes articles by their scientists, researchers, and other employees.

The goal of the site is to help customers understand their DNA, health, traits, and ancestry, and it offers some fascinating information into DNA research science, trends, and discoveries, as well as helpful information for family history researchers exploring their roots through their genetic code.

Recent articles include:

Many of the articles take a lighthearted approach to a complex field. Others help us understand the complex science found in DNA research.

This is also a good example of how a scientific research company can not only put a human face on their mission, but find a way of helping customers and non-customers expand their knowledge and understanding of the science without the sales pitch or corporate tone.

I recommend you add this one to your family history feed or bookmarks to keep up on the latest news and help you better understand your own DNA research.


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A Family History Letter to Mitt Romney

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Lorelle VanFossen

While I don’t take sides in politics in any country I’ve lived in, I found some information in the Mitt Romney family history fascinating – and the author of the following highlighted article giving me a fit of the family history giggles.

I was surprised to find Los Angeles Review of Books review on “The Mormon Chronicles: A Meditation In Four Parts” by Judith Freeman with an interesting perspective that some family historians should consider.

It told the story of her ancestor William Flake, a Mormon church patriarch who served time in prison with Grandfather Romney for “illegal cohabitation.” The article began with “Mitt Romney owes me money.”

As stated in Wikipedia’s entry for the Romney family, they are considered “LDS royalty.” The family is linked by marriage to the John Smith family, the original founder of the Mormon church.

The Romney family immigrated from England to the United States in the 1840s, long after most of my family had been in the country, paving the way for the Romneys and the rest of the immigrants following us.
Continue reading →


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WordPress Customization Highlights Letters From the War Front

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Lorelle VanFossen
WordPress Customization Highlights Letters From the War Front

Letters from the Front | My Grandfather’s Letters 1914-1919 is a tribute to John Adams of the 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, from his letters from 1914-1919, preserved for all time on the web by his grandson of the same name. This John Adams calls himself, “John the Geologist.”

The site is on and it categorizes the content in some ways worth sharing to help us all learn better about how to blog our family’s history.

A WordPress site is made up of posts which are timely bits of content, the day-to-day articles and news, and Pages, with a capital P, which are the pseudo static “timeless” content such as your About, Contact, Policies, and other web pages. The posts are grouped by categories, using WordPress Custom Post Types.

John’s created “Letters from the Front” with the main navigation set by the categories, representing the years in which the letters were written.

This is highly unusual but appropriate as the category years chronologically showcase the story of John’s grandfather’s years in the army during World War I.

Letters from the Front - John Adams Blog featuring letters from World War I

The front page of the site is static, featuring images of documents, letters, postcards, and photographs that point towards subcategories covering key events in each year. The Training subcategory is under the category 1915 and covers the time of his military training with pictures and stories of his fellow soldiers and training adventures. Continue reading →


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