April 2006

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 26, April 30, 2006

In this issue:

Planning is the Key

Indoctrinating the Frontier’s Men with Religious Principles

Arizona National Ranch Histories of Living Pioneer Stockman

Historic Inscriptions on Western Emigrant Trails

Preservation Tip of the Month

Hotel of the month

Area Calendar of Events

ACPL Librarians on Tour

Driving directions to the Library

Parking at the Library

Queries for the Department

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Planning is the Key Curt B. Witcher

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April is the harbinger of busier summer times--always an exciting month of research, seminars, and conference activities. And we do all that while still trying to maintain a handle on all the regular daily activities! Add to that the topic-of-the-day for this month- -the ever rising gasoline prices with no end in sight, and the crimp those prices are placing on individual and business budgets--and it’s no wonder there are days when we feel exhausted before noon! For genealogists, rising gas prices cause so much consternation because many of the activities we enjoy the most depend on us traveling a bit: attending family reunions, experiencing conferences and seminars in areas where we are researching, making trips to local courthouses and cemeteries, and of course traveling to our favorite genealogical library or research center. If you’re like me, the option of not traveling simply is not an option. I believe the key to surviving these times of high energy costs rests in good planning. If you can’t afford to do as many spur-of-the-moment trips, commit to better plan the trips you can take. Plot a course of travel when you do take a genealogical trip (or even business trip!) that may take you to several significant research spots. Organize past research notes, documents, and copies so you have a clearer idea of what your next research steps are--knowing your next research steps should govern your next actual steps. We know that planning is the key to most successes in one’s research. This is just taking planning one step further. If you’re going west to attend the National Genealogical Society Conference in Chicago on June 7-10, it’s a perfect time to make sure your road to the Windy City goes through Fort Wayne. Plan a day or two before or after the conference to research here at the library. That will save your needing to take a separate research trip. As gasoline prices consume larger parts of your personal budget, perhaps looking for shorter, more compact genealogical events is an option worth exploring. Cutting four hotel nights down to two will provide the increased resources needed for fuel. There is such a compact, action-filled conference being planned for later this year: “The Keystone to Your Heritage” in Pittsburgh on September 29 and 30. This conference should be an excellent venue for those interested in Pennsylvania research as well as those simply looking to improve their research skills. More information can be found at the following website:   As you do your advance trip planning, share that information with members of your local genealogical society and talk about it with family members. Who knows--you may have someone interested in researching with you, and sharing the expenses. We’ll get through these challenging times of high energy prices--just plan your work and work your plan!

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Indoctrinating the Frontier’s Men with Religious Principles: Missionary Society of Connecticut Papers, 1759-1948 Roberta F. Ridley

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During the late 1700s, the Congregational Church sought to gain control over religious and political infidelity through religious revivals. A militant and optimistic plan triggered the formation of the Missionary Society of Connecticut in 1798. The Society’s origins were in the General Association, which was organized in 1759 and had sent two missionaries into the “back Settlements” of New York and Vermont in 1774. Ministers feared that without missionaries frontier settlements would be “destitute of public teachers, or fall under the influence of ignorant and evil minded leaders.” The missionaries received $4.50 per week and “were instructed to gather Churches, catechize children, ordain ministers, administer Sacraments and discharge all ministerial duties as occasion might require.” They also gathered community statistics to assist in future missionary efforts. Since the Missionary Society of Connecticut was most interested in areas with large numbers of settlers from New England, and especially from Connecticut, their activities focused on Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and the Western Reserve in Ohio. Society work in other states throughout the upper Midwest is also represented in their papers. This collection is arranged into two groups, incoming correspondence, 1793-1899, and administrative records, 1759-1948. The incoming correspondence includes letters and reports of missionaries employed by the Society, and of superintendents hired by the American Home Missionary Society with Missionary Society of Connecticut funds. The letters and diary format reports give a rounded glance into the activities and religious, political and social views of the missionaries. Depending on the locality being served, the reports share insights on working with Native Americans, German or Irish immigrants, health issues, and poverty due to mining tragedies or bad weather. Besides this useful background information, researchers will find mentions of specific frontier births, marriages and deaths recorded no place else. Files for missionaries and superintendents are arranged alphabetically by last name and chronologically by year, month and day. Administrative records, including manuscript and printed materials, are the second part of this collection. The manuscript materials include various reports from the trustees, annual reports of the Society, and reports of the book committee.

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Arizona National Ranch Histories of Living Pioneer Stockman Delia Cothrun Bourne

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In 1977, the Arizona National Livestock Show and the Arizona State Cowbelles formed the Arizona Pioneer Stockmen Association to honor all Arizona residents, age 75 and older, who had been involved in the Arizona livestock industry. In an effort to record and preserve these Pioneers’ memories, the ANLS and Cowbelles undertook the task of gathering and publishing the Arizona National Ranch Histories of Living Pioneer Stockman (979.1 AR36ACC). So far, the set consists of twenty-three volumes. Some of the narratives are short, others close to 50 pages. Some are in third person; others offer a first person perspective; some are single day anecdotes while others cover a lifetime. The few illustrations are on the covers of the original paperbound volumes and are usually photos of the pioneer or his family. Unfortunately, none of these collections are indexed; the tables of contents, which list only the pioneer, leave a great deal to be desired as a finding aid, and locations of the ranches are not always readily discernable. But to the diligent researcher, these volumes provide a wealth of information on the lives and experiences of those in the cattle industry, and to a lesser extent, in Arizona in general. These accounts are not limited to ranching life, but include, for example, activities during World War II, both on the ranch and soldiers’ experiences overseas. Even for those not researching a specific family or aspect of life in Arizona in the 19th and 20th Centuries, the volumes hold many entertaining tales. This set is a wonderful example of a non-historical, non-genealogical society that wishes to preserve the history of its members, and then follows through on those wishes. The Allen County Public Library Historical Genealogy Department is interested in acquiring this type of material, as well as directories and records. Since sponsoring societies like the publishers of the Arizona National Ranch Histories are often unaware of our interest, we may not learn of the publication until it is too late to obtain a copy. If a society to which you belong publishes any type of historical material, or if you know of any in your area, please help us to establish contact so that these extremely useful sources can be added to our collection.

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Historic Inscriptions on Western Emigrant Trails Steven W. Myers

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The title of this brief notice is also the title of a fascinating book by Randy Brown that recently arrived in our department. The author spent 25 years collecting thousands of inscriptions carved into rocks and cliffs by pioneers traversing the plains and mountains west of the Mississippi River. Wouldn’t it be fun to find a dated inscription left by an ancestor on the trek to California or Oregon? Doing so can be a snap. The book’s index includes all of the complete or partially complete names. Not indexed are the many carved initials which might still be profitably explored by checking the geographically oriented chapters that relate to an ancestor’s migration trail. The book features interesting descriptions of each site as well as numerous photographs of the many surviving inscriptions. Fortunately, the author has also collected and included previously published inscriptions that are no longer legible. A substantial bibliography of additional sources relating to the western trails rounds out the volume. Dip into this book on your next visit for an absorbing break from your research, whether you find an ancestor or not! Other books on the journey from the east to California and Oregon can be found by searching in the catalog using the subject heading “Overland Journeys to the Pacific.”

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Preservation Tip of the Month Becky Schipper

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ACPL’s Preservation Technician Becky Schipper offers advice on conserving your documents: Stable paper can be dry cleaned. This method works for pencil marks and surface dirt. Use a dry cleaning pad or a non-abrasive eraser. Both of these are sold commercially.

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HOTEL OF THE MONTH

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Each issue we will feature a local hotel, for visitors from out-of-town. Signature Inn of Fort Wayne 1734 West Washington Center Road Fort Wayne IN 46818 260-489-5554; fax 260-489-5554 email fortwayne@signature-inns.com Located at the north end of the city near I-69, Glenbrook Mall and every kind of restaurant imaginable, the Signature Inn has 102 rooms. Amenities include continental breakfast, evening coffee and cookies, free newspapers. Rooms include work desks, dataports, microwave and refrigerator. A swimming pool and whirlpool are available. The library is ten miles away, an easy few minutes’ drive to downtown. Ask about discounts in local restaurants for hotel guests. For toll-free reservations call 800-822-5252. Rooms start at $75.

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AREA CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) Refreshments at 6:30, meeting at 7:00. Questions: contact Marge Graham, 260 672-2585 or gramar57@aol.com Wednesday, May 10: 6:30 p.m. at the Aboite Branch. ACGSI members will present Climbing the Proverbial Brick Wall, telling how they dismantled their brick wall piece by piece and resolved a research dilemma. Computer Users Group The computer group does not meeting during the summer. Join them again in September! Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) First Wednesday of each month in the Genealogy Department 9am – 7pm. Expert help from members of the DAR in becoming a member of that organization

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ACPL LIBRARIANS ON TOUR

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Ryan Taylor May 18: Columbia City, Indiana. Genealogical Society of Whitley County. “Common errors in genealogical research.” May 26-28: Oshawa, Ontario. Ontario Genealogical Society annual Seminar.

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DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE LIBRARY

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Wondering how to get to the library? Our exciting transition location is 200 E. Berry, Fort Wayne, Indiana. We will be at this location until late 2006. We would enjoy having you visit the Genealogy Department. To get directions from your exact location to 200 E. Berry, Fort Wayne, Indiana, visit this link at MapQuest: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=250&addtohistory=&sear chtab=address&searchtype=address&address=200+E+Berry+St&city=Fort+Wayne&state=I N&zipcode=46802-2706&search=++Search++&finditform=1 From the South Exit Interstate 69 at exit 102. Drive east on Jefferson Blvd. into downtown. Turn left on Barr Street to Berry Street. The library is located on the corner of Berry and Barr Streets. From the North Exit Interstate 69 at exit 112. Drive south on Coldwater Road, which merges into Clinton Street. Continue south on Clinton, the library will be on your left when you cross Berry Street. From the West Using US 30: Drive into town on US 30. US 30 turns into Goshen Road. Coming up to an angled street (State Street.) make an angled left turn. Turn right on Wells Street. Go south on Wells to Wayne Street. Left on Wayne Street. When you cross Clinton, the library will be on your left on Wayne Street. Using US 24: After crossing under Interstate 69, follow the same directions as from the South. From the East Follow US 30/then 930 into and through New Haven, under an overpass into downtown Fort Wayne. You will be on Washington Blvd. when you get into downtown. Turn right on Barr Street. Turn left on Berry Street. The library is on your left on Berry Street.

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PARKING AT THE LIBRARY

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Lot in front of the library, east side of the lot. Available for short-term library parking. Limited to one hour. There are handicapped parking spots near the door. Tippman Parking Garage Clinton and Wayne Streets. Across from the library, however the skybridge is NOT accessible. Hourly parking, $1.25 per hour up to a maximum of $5.00 per day. Park Place Lot Covered parking on Barr Street at Main Street. This lot is one block away from the library. Hourly parking Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm. Street (metered) parking on Wayne Street and Berry Street. On the street you plug the meters 8am – 5pm, weekdays only. It is free to park on the street after 5pm and on the weekends. Visitor center/Grand Wayne center Covered parking at Washington and Clinton Streets. This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. For hourly parking, 7am – 11 pm, charges are .50 for the first 45 minutes, then $1.00 per hour. There is a flat $2.00 fee between 5pm and 11pm.

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GENEALOGY DEPARTMENT QUERIES

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The Historical Genealogy Department hopes you find this newsletter interesting. Thank you for subscribing. We cannot, however, answer personal research emails written to the e-zine address. The department houses a Research Center that makes photocopies and conducts research for a fee. If you have a general question about our collection, or are interested in the Research Center, please telephone the library and speak to a librarian who will be glad to answer your general questions or send you a research center form. Our telephone number is 260- 421-1225. If you’d like to email a general information question about the department, please email: Genealogy@ACPL.Info.

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Publishing Note:

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This electronic newsletter is published by the Allen County Public Library's Historical Genealogy Department, and is intended to enlighten readers about genealogical research methods as well as inform them about the vast resources of the Allen County Public Library. We welcome the wide distribution of this newsletter and encourage readers to forward it to their friends and societies. All precautions have been made to avoid errors. However, the publisher does not assume any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, no matter the cause. To subscribe to Genealogy Gems, simply use your browser to go to the website: www.FriendsOfAllenCounty.org. Scroll down toward the bottom of the first screen where it says, "Enter Your Email Address to Subscribe to "Genealogy Gems." Enter your email address in the yellow box and click on "Subscribe." You will be notified with a confirmation email. If you do not want to receive this e-zine, please follow the link at the very bottom of the issue of GenealogyGems you just received or send an email to kspears@acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line. Ryan Taylor, editor