August 2017

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 162, August 31, 2017

In this issue:

Notes from the Field in Late Summer 2017

Virginia Tax Records

German Census Records 1816-1916

Technology Tip of the Month--Scanning with a Document Feeder

Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Revisiting Audio Tape Preservation PERSI Gems History Tidbits: “Take me out to the ballgame…”

Summer Camp Ending

Sniff DNA Interest Group

October IS Family History Month!

Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming

Area Calendar of Events

Driving Directions to the Library

Parking at the Library

Genealogy Center Queries

Publishing Note

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Notes from the Field in Late Summer 2017 by Curt B. Witcher

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Surveys play a more essential role in our lives than one might first think, both contemporarily and historically. If we stretch the definition of survey a bit, the various enumerations we value (census, tax lists, directories, etc.) as well as records surveys have positively impacted our research for decades. The best known historical survey in the United States is likely the Historical Records Survey, a project of the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal initiative to employ unemployed writers and other professionals. Originally part of the Federal Writers' Project, it was devoted to surveying and indexing historically significant records in state, county and local archives. The official mission statement was the "discovery, and listing of basic materials for research in the history of the United States." And have those compilations ever been used! If you haven’t looked at one in a long while, or ever, check one out at your favorite research facility or online. The Allen County Public Library is embarking on a strategic planning process that will help guide us in the best directions for our customers over the next three to five years. At the beginning of this important planning process, the institution is conducting an important survey. We’d really like to hear from you, our genealogy customers. How do you feel about family history as a lifelong learning activity at the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center? You can find the survey a number of ways. Go to GenealogyCenter.org and click on the “Online Survey” tab or the “Online Survey” slide. You can also copy and paste the following link into your browser. www.surveymonkey.com/r/AllenCPL. Your input is critical for us to serve you best. If some of the questions don’t provide you with choices that match the response you’d like to make, make use of the comment portions. This ezine is coming to you from Pittsburgh, PA where the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is holding its 2017 conference. I continue to genuinely enjoy FGS conferences because of the excellent classes presented, the tremendous opportunities for networking, and, more than at any other national conference, the wonderful collegiality one feels. Numerous questions are answered, research challenges met, and brick-walls solved in chance exhibit hall encounters and informal meet-ups at the end of a session or a conference day. The presenters in Pittsburgh are top notch. Not only is the content extremely fine, the method of delivery is engaging. You want to immediately put the search strategies and research tips into practice. Yes, there are many online courses and webinars in which one can engage in the family history space. Those certainly have their place in our lifelong learning activities. There is precious little, though, that equals in-person experiences with others who share our passion for finding, preserving and presenting our family stories. In the business world, individuals who work remotely still have inperson meetings on a regular basis (e.g. quarterly, semi-annually, etc.) and hacker spaces where people of varying interests, skills, and occupations can meet to do work and bounce new ideas off each other are increasingly popular. Collaborative spaces and in-person collaborative activities can be inspiring and result in new discoveries and great work product. The 2018 FGS conference is going to be in Fort Wayne, Indiana less than a year from now--August 22 – 25, 2018. The Allen County Public Library is the local host for the event and its Genealogy Center is heavily involved in planning for the best family history event of the year. This week, the hotel room block opened up at the Hilton at the Convention Center. Book your room at the Hilton now. Booking Link: https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/hi/reservation/book.htm?inputModule=HOTEL&ctyhocn=FWAF HHF&spec_plan=FGS&arrival=20180819&departure=20170826&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,Dire ctLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT If you prefer the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Fort Wayne, that block will be open next week. Make active plans to attend this amazing conference in Fort Wayne next August 22-25. It will be an engagement activity you will benefit from for some time! *************************************** Virginia Tax Records by John D. Beatty, CG (sm)* *************************************** There are many challenges to researching ancestors in Virginia in the period from 1780 to 1810. The federal censuses of 1790 and 1800 are destroyed, and many counties have suffered catastrophic courthouse fires and other record losses. Tax records offer an important substitute for these missing record groups. While Virginia collected taxes and quitrents during the colonial period, only a handful of such lists have survived, and many of these have been published in such sources as Virginia Tax Records from the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler’s Quarterly (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983), 975.5 V825. The state of Virginia began keeping more comprehensive tax records in 1782 in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War. They consist of two types: personal property tax lists and land tax lists. Personal property tax lists, maintained and arranged by county and tax district, include the name of the taxpayer and the number of white males in the household above 16 (or in some years, above 21), called “tithes.” The state exempted some persons from paying taxes, including the elderly and infirm, as well as teachers, constables, and clergy. Occasionally, all males above 16 will be individually listed under the head of household. The state levied taxes on slaves, horses, cattle, carriages, and sometimes on clocks and other furniture. In the early years of record-keeping between 1782 and 1786, the names of individual slaves were often listed under their owners’ names. Women appeared on personal tax lists when they owned property in their own name or had a male tithe living in their household. Land records, kept separately from personal lists and also arranged by county and tax district, contain the name of the landowner (including women if they owned land in their own name), the number of acres owned, the value per acre, the total value, and the total tax owed. Personal tax lists contain more names than land tax lists, since many farm laborers owned horses but not land. The two sets of lists should be used together, however, for they can provide keys to identifying extended family members by grouping persons of the same name by tax district. Sometimes a researcher can glean other important clues. Because the tax books were kept in Richmond and not at the local level, many tax records of “burned” counties survive when other local records are lost. One can often approximate the death year of a landowner when his name was recorded as an estate in the land records, and one can sometimes find his widow’s name in the personal tax lists of the same period. Access to Virginia tax records is limited. Nettie Schreiner-Yantis has compiled “The 1787 Virginia Census: An Accounting of the Name of Every White Tithable above 21 Years” (Springfield, Virginia: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987), 975.5 Y17e, 3 vols. These volumes both abstract and index all white male names above 21 appearing in the Virginia personal tax lists for every county, and thus it is an important substitute for the lost 1790 census. Other lists for various years have appeared in print for various counties. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City has microfilmed copies of the surviving tax lists, and some have been digitized, though access to the images is usually restricted to users in an LDS-affiliated branch library. A privately-run genealogical website called “Binns Genealogy” www.binnsgenealogy.com, owned by Steven and Yvonne Binns, contains free access to digitized personal and land tax records from the 1790 and 1800 periods. Names on these lists are fully indexed and searchable by county, with digitized images from the tax lists linked to each name. For a small one-time fee, the Binns website will also provide users with access to the “Virginia Tax Club,” where many other digitized tax lists, mostly from the 1782-1810 period, are available for searching, though these lists are not indexed and are not available for every county. Early Virginia research poses many challenges, but tax records provide a way to overcome the devastating loss of other records. For some persons, their appearances on tax lists may be the only surviving record of their existence.

“CG” and “Certified Genealogist” are service marks from the Board for Certification of Genealogists® and are used by authorized associates following periodic, peer-reviewed competency evaluations. Certificate no. 1050, awarded 8 August 2014, expires 8 August 2019.

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German Census Records 1816—1916 by Sara Allen

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While most researchers have used American census records to trace family here in the United States, many have not utilized foreign census records due to a variety of reasons, including lack of information and accessibility. This large gap in our knowledge of German census records has been filled by the recently-published book, “German Census Records 1816-1916: The When, Where, and How of a Valuable Genealogical Resource” by noted German genealogy expert Roger Minert (G 943 M66g). Minert argues that German census records can be just as valuable a resource as American census records and offers a comprehensive overview of the records and their availability. The book begins with background information on the history of Germany, the history of censustaking in Germany during different time periods, and an overview of the methodology used to compile this volume. Chapters then follow on the 1867 census, taken just prior to unification, and the German Empire censuses of 1871 to 1918. The main portion of the book is comprised of chapters for each of the historical German states (including those located in modern-day France and Poland), from Anhalt to Wurttertemberg, which detail census history for that state and availability of those records. There are appendices that detail processes for writing letters overseas to access the records and visiting European archives in person. It should be noted that most of these German census records have not been digitized or made available online at this time. The chapter on the state of Oldenburg begins with the location of the state, followed by a history of census enumerations in Oldenburg, specific instructions to enumerators, content of each census (data collected), where to access the records, and examples of images of some of the census records found. There were censuses of select counties in Oldenburg taken in 1821, 1828, 1835, 1840, 1843, 1852 and 1855, which have survived and are thought to be available at the archives of the local town or county jurisdiction or at the Niedersachsisches Landesarchiv in Oldenburg. Minert notes that the Family History Library has not microfilmed any of the Oldenburg census records. Images of the 1828, 1843, and 1852 censuses are included as examples. According to the detailed chart of census content, the 1852 and 1855 censuses were the only ones to name each member of the household, while the 1821, 1828, 1840 and 1843 censuses named the head of household only, and the 1835 census contained only statistical data. The chapter also notes that censuses for 1867, 1871, every five years from 1875 to 1910, and 1916 for the German Empire, also include the residents of Oldenburg. Each of the chapters on German states follows the same format, but demonstrates clearly that each state had different census-taking history prior to unification in 1871. This is a very useful book about a hitherto underutilized record type and should help researchers who seek information on German ancestors. The book would be improved by a map showing the exact locations of the former Germanic states and more information about the archives system in Germany.

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Technology Tip of the Month--Scanning with a Document Feeder by Kay Spears

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While most of our archival materials are scanned using a flatbed scanner, occasionally we have the need to use a scanner with a document feeder attachment. When would that need arise? Let’s say we have a 600 page double sided document, all the pages are the same size, and there isn’t a fragile one in the bunch. There are also no photographs or paperclips – there is nothing which will get jammed or damaged by using the feeder. Using a feeder will make the process of scanning 600 pages go a lot faster. We will still save all the pages as 300dpi TIFFs, it will just be digitized through a document feeder. I will repeat myself here because it is very important – all the pages should be the same size. You should never use a document feeder if the paper is fragile. Photographs should never be scanned using a document feeder. Go through the entire document and make sure there aren’t any paper clips, staples, or those little folded, dog-eared corners – anything that may cause a jam should be removed. We have several scanners with document feeders in The Genealogy Center, but the one I am most familiar with is the Epson DS-60000 series. Because a scanner is a pretty simple piece of equipment, I am assuming that most document feeder scanners have similar tools. The scanners we use have three modes available: Home, Office, Professional; we always use the Professional Mode. In the Epson the setting for the document feeding tool is located in the dialog box under the Document Source drop-down option. This model has two choices: ADF-Single-sided and ADF-Double-sided. ADF stands for Automatic Document Feeder. After working with different computers, scanners, cameras, etc., I have arrived at the conclusion that they all have their own little idiosyncrasies. On this particular Epsom we have found it is better to place the short edge of the document against the feeder. When the longer edge is fed, there is a tendency for the image to be skewed or crooked. For instance, if you have an 8 ½ by 11, the 8 ½ inch edge, it is the edge that gets fed. And, while I’m speaking of skewed documents, this scanner does not have an automatic skew correction option. Some scanners have the skewing tool available, but a little word of warning: In most cases, the skew tool crops the page, and as we all know, we do not want to crop any of our information. Another idiosyncrasy with this particular model is with the Preview: the first page of the document goes through the feeder. You will then set the parameters, but remember to put that first page back in the stack of papers waiting to be scanned – the Preview does not remember the first page, only the settings. We very rarely save any of our document scans as a PDF. The one deviation from this rule would be if the document needed to be word-searchable. If we want the document to be searchable, we would have both a PDF and a TIFF copy of the document. Warning: if any of you have ever worked with a searchable document, you will know that sometimes some text is not recognized. Troubleshooting. Here is a little hint if you have a problem with your scanner. Most manufacturers have help centers, and sometimes you will find discussions online for a particular problem. But the first thing you should do is unplug, then plug the scanner back in again. Most of my problems have been solved in this manner, so far. Next article: Scanning continued – Hand-held Scanners.

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Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Revisiting Audio Tape Preservation

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There is a rather dated tip sheet still available on the Internet from the Iowa Conservation and Preservation Consortium. Published in 2005, Amy Kohlstedt and Sara Doyle’s “Tips on Preserving Audio Cassette Tapes” still has much to offer if one evaluates what is being offered in a contemporary context. www.iowaconserveandpreserve.org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/05/AudioTipSheet.pdf Since recording is typically no longer done on cassette tapes, one easily can ignore Tip 1 & 6 which provides such advice. Tips 2 & 3 talk about appropriate storage and condition—valuable tips for many different media that contain family records, research, and conclusions. Tips 4, 5, & 7 address handling, cleaning and repair—all important topics if one still has data on that storage media. The last two tips, 8 & 9, address the care of the tape records/players and reformatting cassette. One can update the reformatting section to include updated digital preservation media. Many of the overall care strategies are still valid.

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PERSI Gems by Adam Barrone and Michael Hudson

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An ancestor’s choice of occupation reveals something about his talents, skills, and life circumstances. Much history has come to pass in the course of work, whether it be in a pencil factory, a makeshift dentist’s office, a huckster’s wagon, or an inventor’s garage. The Periodical Source Index (PERSI) reveals many happenings in the course of one’s work. Try a search for a place where your ancestor labored here: http://search.findmypast.com/search/periodical-source-index In recognition of Labor Day, we present these PERSI citations: David Hinley aka Hurley census listing, noted as loafer, 1850, Cherokee Co., AL Family Tree Magazine, v.12, n.6, Nov. 2011 Dodson's Liver Tone ad, liven up your liver, clean liver and bowels my way, 1916 GSOC Newsletter (Gen. Soc. of Okaloosa Co., FL), Aug. 2011 Gold coins found inside log during processing at pencil factory, 1910 Baxter County (AR) History, v.36, n.3-4, Jul. 2010 Haywood L. Winter obituary correction, studied families' genealogy, not gynecology, d. 2008, TX Family Tree Magazine, v.12, n.4, Jul. 2011 John B. Hamilton, occupation turkey hunting ventriloquist on census, 1860, Prince Edward Co., VA Tracks and Traces (Union Co. Gen. Soc., AR), v.32, n.1, Spr. 2010 Mary and Clare Duggan business struggles, invent Life Stinks deodorant, 1996-2010, Netherlands; IL Hubbardston Area (MI) Hist. Soc., Newsletter, n.35, Nov. 2010 Robert Huddleston tax record entry, occupation was sitting by the fire, 1862 Gleanings (Beaver Co. Gen. Soc., PA), v.35, n.2, Spr. 2011 Rufus and Margaret Houchins census enumeration, baby's occupation listed as crier, 1860, VA North Central North Dakota Genealogical Record, n.126, Jun. 2011 Travelling gang of tooth pullers visit town, 670 teeth pulled, 1886 Cambria County (PA) Heritage, v.31, n.1, Win. 2011

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History Tidbits: “Take me out to the ballgame…” by Allison DePrey Singleton

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When did baseball become America’s Favorite Pastime? Did your ancestors play the sport? Let’s take a trip down memory “3rd Base Line” and look at the origins of baseball. There are plenty of myths about baseball. The most recurrent is the tale that Abner Doubleday invented the game in New York in 1839. He would have been surprised to learn of this claim, since he was not in New York in 1839, and there is no record of him ever having played the game. This myth was actually perpetuated by A. J. Spaulding, the sporting goods entrepreneur. The true history of baseball is significantly more complex and began earlier than Spaulding imagined. It is said that baseball is an Americanized version of the games of cricket and rounders. While they may have been the inspiration for the game, Americans tend to debate this point and assert that baseball is unique as the first truly American sport. The first written mention of baseball can be found in a 1791 ordinance prohibiting it from being played near the new meeting house in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. (1) This document, discovered in 2004 and later authenticated, means that the game was being played soon after the birth of our nation. It may have been played even earlier, but there is not enough documentation to prove or disprove this theory. Either way, the country and the sport grew up together. After the Doubleday myth was disproven but prior to the discovery of the 1791 ordinance, scholars agreed that 1845 was a founding year of baseball. This was not due to the date actually marking the beginning of the sport, but was based instead on the establishment of standard rules. In 1845, Alexander Joy Cartwright formulated new rules for the sport, the so-called Knickerbocker Rules. These not only helped streamline the playing of the game, but also made it safer. Players were no longer allowed to throw the baseball at opposing players to get them out, like in dodgeball. The Knickerbocker Rules were named for the baseball club to which Cartwright belonged, the New York Knickerbocker Baseball Club. Baseball has come a long way from the ringing of a bell to politely tell the scorekeeper that a player has scored, to the multi-million-dollar professional leagues of today. It is a beloved sport, both in the United States and abroad, and many of us form our team allegiance based on that of the previous generation, despite where the family may have moved over the years. Could your American ancestors have played the game after 1791? Yes. Did they? That is the research you get to discover. From the home of the Green Monster to the Billy Goat Curse (finally broken!), to the Rally Monkey, traditions play a huge part of the baseball experience. Look into the history of your favorite baseball teams to learn more about when they got their start and how those traditions came into being. Endnotes: (1) “Pittsfield's 1791 Baseball Bylaw.” Pittsfield's 1791 Baseball Bylaw, www.pittsfieldlibrary.org/baseball.html. Accessed 19 Aug. 2017. #XVIII. A #10 of the Town of Pittsfield, Original Papers Dated September 5, 1791. Bylaw to prevent damage to new meeting house windows: no ball games within eighty yards of the building. Sources: Alexander, Charles C. Breaking the Slump: Baseball in the Depression Era. New York, Columbia University Press, 2004. “Baseball: A Film by Ken Burns.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/timeline/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2017. James, Bill. The Historical Baseball Abstract. New York, Villard Books, 1986. “Major League Baseball History and Milestones.” Major League Baseball, mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2017. Neft, David S., et al. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball. New York, St. Martins Griffin, 2005. Seymour, Harold. Baseball: The Early Years. Norwalk, CT, Easton Press, 1998. Thorn, John. “The 'Secret History' Of Baseball's Earliest Days.” NPR, NPR, 16 Mar. 2011, www.npr.org/2011/03/16/134570236/the-secret-history-of-baseballs-earliest-days. Accessed 19 Aug. 2017. Tygiel, Jules. Past time: Baseball as History. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2001.

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Summer Camp Ending

Sniff

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All good things must come to an end, and September is the final session of the Genealogy Summer Camp for 2017. We’ve had some great events and invite you to one last one, until next year. Our last Genealogy Summer Camp session is Allison DePrey Singleton presenting “What I Learned at the 2017 FGS Conference,” on Saturday, September 30, 2017, 10:00 AM, in the Discovery Center. Many genealogists want to attend the FGS Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, but cannot, due to a multitude of reasons. This is an opportunity to learn more about the FGS Conference, what is offered, and about a few sessions and events of interest. Come and hear about the 2017 FGS Conference and maybe a little about the 2018 Conference! To register for this free events, call 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@ACPL.Info. Part of Genealogy Summer Camp 2017. http://genealogycenter.org/docs/GenealogySummerCamp2017

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DNA and Genealogy Interest Group

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Have you done a DNA test for genealogical purposes? Do you completely understand the results you received? Do you need advice in interpreting your results? Are you interested and wonder what the best test is for you? Come to the DNA & Genealogy Interest Group Meeting on the 1st Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. to share and learn from each other! The next meeting is Thursday, September 7, 2017. Come in and share!

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October IS Family History Month!

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The Genealogy Center has made Family History Month one of the highlights of the year for more than a decade, and 2017 continues this tradition with a slate of exciting events that will expand your knowledge base and pique your interest. So mark your calendars now for some – or ALL – of these great programs! Sunday, October 1, 2017, 2:00 PM, Discovery Center An Afternoon of Storytelling – Curt Witcher & Aaron Smith Spend an afternoon enjoying a variety of stories. Hear firsthand the power of story and how we can help each other tell the stories of our lives. It may just inspire you to tell your stories! Monday, October 2, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Beginning Genealogy in the 21st Century – Delia Cothrun Bourne Learn the importance of organizing information you already know and learn how the data in records helps make a more complete picture of your family. Also explored in this session will be the most important online sources – free and subscription – available in The Genealogy Center. Tuesday, October 3, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Pennsylvania Genealogy: Doing Research in the Keystone State – John Beatty Pennsylvania is an important state for genealogical research. Many families entered through Philadelphia and lived in the outlying counties before migrating to other colonies and states. This introductory-level presentation explores the basic digital and published sources for Pennsylvania, including vital records, religious congregational records, land, military, tax, and probate records, and secondary sources. Wednesday, October 4, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Top 10 Historical Records Collections on Ancestry.com – Melissa Tennant This presentation will highlight the Historical Records collections available on Ancestry.com. Advice on how to effectively use the largest genealogical website will benefit your efforts to find the most information about your ancestors. Thursday, October 5, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center DNA Interest Group Meeting – Sara Allen Have you done a DNA test for genealogical purposes? Do you completely understand the results you received? Do you need advice in interpreting your results? Are you interested and wonder what the best test is for you? Come to the DNA & Genealogy Interest Group Meeting to share and learn from each other! Friday, October 6, 2017, 2:00 PM, Discovery Center Repeating Recipes: Food and Family History – Allison DePrey Singleton Food can be directly related to remembrance. An old family recipe can illicit memories of family gatherings, holidays, and/or a particular family member. This presentation will explore why family recipes are important to family history and how to preserve them for future generations. Saturday, October 7, 2017, 9:15 AM – 4:00 PM, Meeting Rooms A, B, C A Day with CeCe Moore See https://www.acgsi.org/event.php for more information and to register. Sunday, October 8, 2017, 1:00 PM, Discovery Center Immigration Process before Entering the United States – Cynthia Theusch Participants will learn what their ancestors experienced at Castle Garden, and later Ellis Island, before being allowed into the United States. This part of the immigration experience can shed new light on our ancestors’ lives. Monday, October 9, 2017, 6:30 PM, Computer Classroom GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program, part 1 – Kay Spears Explore a FREE option to Adobe Photoshop. We will look at GIMP and the tools that may be used to change, restore, and touch up your old photographs. The second session will be on Monday, October 16, 2017. There will be hands-on time, so bring a USB drive containing your photos and be prepared to have some fun. Tuesday, October 10, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center A Rare and Valuable Gem: PERSI – Melissa Tennant This presentation will highlight where one can find the “Periodical Source Index” (PERSI), the most comprehensive subject index to genealogical periodicals. Discover the terrific indexing and images available at the site, how to get copies of articles cited in the periodical index, and the exciting things that are happening with PERSI at FindMyPast. Wednesday, October 11, 2017, 7:00 PM, Meeting Room A Resources for Researchers: Today and Tomorrow – Curt Witcher Hear about new materials—print and virtual—in The Genealogy Center as well as shifting strategies for enhancing access to family and local history resources wherever they may be. The focus will be knowing about the resources available and how to access them. Thursday, October 12, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Finding Pre-1850 Era Ancestors – Sara Allen We know how challenging it can be to trace pre-1850 ancestors, due to the lack of data in the census and the scarcity of sources identifying women and children during this time frame. This session will explain cluster research and the use of sources such as tax records, different census records, and probate records to find these elusive ancestors. Friday, October 13, 2017, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, HT2, 10212 Chestnut Plaza Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46814. Speakeasies, Juice Joints, and Blind Pigs: Prohibition History and YOU! – Allison DePrey Singleton How did Prohibition affect producers of alcohol, drinking establishments, and the Average Joe who wanted a cocktail? Learn about the history of Prohibition, how it affected Hoosier producers and establishments, and sample a few period appropriate cocktails made from better stuff than Bathtub Gin! Grab your fedora and feather boa, and dress the part to learn, have some giggle water, and be over the moon. Saturday, October 14, 2017, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM, Discovery Center Beginner’s Day – Delia Cothrun Bourne 9:30 AM – Beginning Your Family History Exploration Join us as we discuss beginning steps and sources, such as census, vital records, and more! 11:00 AM – Beyond Starting Your Family History Exploration Explore more useful sources from the court house, as well as military records and passenger lists. Learn the importance of documenting what you find and how to verify information. 1:30 PM – Introduction to Ancestry & Family Search The largest subscription database and the largest free database! Discover the basics of using these two great sources for family history research! 3:00 PM – Other Online Sources Now that you have been introduced to the big online sites, meet some of the other subscription sites The Genealogy Center offers, as well as our own free databases! Sunday, October 15, 2017, 1:00 PM, Discovery Center Genealogical Research in Colonial New England – John Beatty The New England states hold some of the earliest and most complete records of any American region. Many Americans can trace their ancestors to the Mayflower or to other early immigrant ships. This presentation will feature the numerous records available, both in print and online, that will help you explore the history of this area. Monday, October 16, 2016, 6:30 PM, Computer Classroom GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program, part 2 – Kay Spears Explore a FREE option to Adobe Photoshop. We will look at GIMP and the tools that may be used to change, restore, and touch up your old photographs. First session was on Monday, October 9, 2017. There will be hands-on time, so bring a USB drive containing your photos and be prepared to have some fun. Tuesday, October 17, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Migration Routes & Trails across America – Delia Cothrun Bourne Learn the routes of your roots—where your ancestors traveled and how they got there! This presentation will discuss major migration trails and sources to learn more about them. Wednesday, October 18, 2017, 7:00 PM, Meeting Room B Computer Interest Group Meeting – Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana Attend this meeting to discuss your technological discoveries and issues. Thursday, October 19, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Explore the Life of a Parent or Grandparent – Sara Allen This session will include a case study on how to research the life of a person who was alive in the early twentieth century, such as a parent or grandparent. We will use timelines and checklists, as well as delve into how to use online databases, print materials, and records in archives and court houses to complete the project. Friday, October 20, 2017, 2:30 PM, Discovery Center Digitization in The Genealogy Center – Cynthia Theusch Take a virtual tour of the equipment in The Genealogy Center that one may use to scan documents. Five different types of machines will be featured. Saturday, October 21, 2017, Anytime from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, The Genealogy Center Genealogy Scavenger Hunt: Family Fun in The Genealogy Center – Allison DePrey Singleton Have you heard of The Genealogy Center but haven’t had the chance to check it out? This is your chance to introduce you and your family to what The Genealogy Center has to offer in a fun and unique way. The scavenger hunt will show you different aspects of the Center while teaching how to get started in family history research. You are welcome to complete the scavenger hunt anytime from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. There are prizes for completing the hunt. Saturday, October 21, 2017, 10:00 AM, Discovery Center Finding Johnny Reb: Researching Your Confederate Soldier – Delia Cothrun Bourne Locating information on a Confederate soldier can be difficult, but not impossible. Explore some of the standard and not so standard sources that are available to assist in your search. Sunday, October 22, 2017, 2:00 PM, Meeting Room A The Search for Nancy Hanks: A Historical Wild Goose Chase, Mitochondrial DNA, and the Maternal Ancestry of Nancy Hanks Lincoln - Richard Hileman Abraham Lincoln was conspicuously silent about the family of his mother, Nancy Hanks. Her ancestry has been the subject of intense interest and has been hotly contested. In 1909, false names for her parents were carved into the granite of the Lincoln Birthplace Memorial. The most recent biographies of Lincoln still give mistaken accounts of her ancestry. The Nancy Hanks Lincoln mtDNA Study and new historical evidence reveal the surprising truth Lincoln concealed about his mother's family and ancestry. Richard Hileman, a retired trial lawyer and avocational genealogist, will give this presentation sponsored by the Friends of the Allen County Public Library. Monday, October 23, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Using Vital Records & Their Substitutes – Delia Cothrun Bourne Vital records are the Holy Grail of genealogical sources. However, birth and death records were not commonly recorded until the 20th Century, and even the availability of marriage records depends on the locale and culture. This presentation will explain what can be found in a vital record and what other sources may be used when the official record is missing. Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Evaluating Published Genealogies and Family Histories – John Beatty When reading a family history, how do you know whether the information it contains is valid? This presentation will offer some critical tools for evaluating published genealogies and family histories, providing a framework for testing the information they contain against other sources. Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Using FamilySearch for Your Family History – Melissa Tennant Learn the search techniques that can maximize your FamilySearch.org experience and discover the millions of records available on this free website. Thursday, October 26, 2017, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon, Discovery Center and The Genealogy Center Family History Morning for Homeschoolers – Allison DePrey Singleton Many parents want their children to be interested in their families’ histories, but fostering that interest may be a challenge. The Genealogy Center can engage parents and children alike with a Family History Morning. It is a program with one classroom-style lesson and guided research time to explore the collection. Each child will receive a worksheet to complete, tailored to his or her age, experience, and grade level. 9:00 AM – 9:10 AM – Arrival, Getting to the Discovery Center – 2nd Floor Main Library, The Genealogy Center 9:10 AM – 10:30 AM – Beginning Genealogy Program: Online and Printed Sources – Discovery Center 10:30 AM – 10:40 AM – Break 10:40 AM – 11:50 AM – Individual research with assistance from librarians 11:50 AM – 12:00 PM – Sharing coolest discoveries and prizes Friday, October 27, 2017, 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM, The Genealogy Center and Discovery Center Midnight Madness Extended Research Hours Ever wished to be locked in the library at night with all of the goodies at your fingertips? Well, stay up late with The Genealogy Center Staff for extra research time and 30 minute learning sessions! 6:30 PM – Be Prepared! – Delia Cothrun Bourne After years spent on your family history, have you considered what will become of your research after you can no longer continue? Get some simple ideas for organizing your material for a future donation. 7:30 PM – What’s in the Collection? Tour and Introduction to The Genealogy Center Collection – Allison DePrey Singleton Join us on a brief tour of The Genealogy Center where you will be introduced to our massive physical collection. This tour will give you a better idea of where to look for that fantastic book you located in our catalog.

Please be prepared to stand and walk for half an hour. 8:30 PM – Who Went Where and Did What: A Look at Directories – Curt Witcher This presentation will highlight various directories in The Genealogy Center collection and the types of data one may find. Saturday, October 28, 2017, 10:00 AM, Discovery Center Why Should I Look at Revolutionary War Pension Records? – Melissa Tennant Pension records are a valuable source for learning more about your Revolutionary War ancestor. Understand Revolutionary War pension records better by discovering how to access these files and what information is available in the documents. Sunday, October 29, 2017, 1:00 PM, Discovery Center DNA Results: What Does Your Ethnic Pie Chart Mean? – Sara Allen Television commercials advertise that a DNA test can help determine your ethnicity, but what does your ethnic pie chart result really tell you? This session will explain how each of the major DNA testing companies calculates your ethnic estimate and how to interpret the results. Monday, October 30, 2017, 6:30 PM, Discovery Center Who, What, Where? How to Look at your Photographs, Analyze & Organize – Kay Spears Discover how to examine photographs with an eye to identifying time period and location; annotate images with family stories and facts; and organize your digital treasures. Tuesday, October 31, 2017, 2:30 PM, Discovery Center Death Business: Searching Funeral Home Collections – Melissa Tennant Utilizing the funeral home collections available at The Genealogy Center, this session will explore funeral home records as genealogical sources for discovering ancestors. To register for these free events, call 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@ACPL.Info . For more information, see the brochure at www.GenealogyCenter.org/docs/FHM2017

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Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming

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Do you want to know what we’ve got planned? Are you interested in one of our events, but forget? We are now offering email updates for The Genealogy Center’s programming schedule. Don’t miss out! Sign up at http://goo.gl/forms/THcV0wAabB. ***************************************

Area Calendar of Events

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Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, Inc. (ACGSI) Monthly Program September. 13, 2017- Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, refreshments & networking begins at 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m. Sara Allen will present "Introduction to DNA." Mary Penrose Wayne DAR Chapter Library Help Day for Prospective Members September 6, 2017 – The Genealogy Center, Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 10 - 4 p.m. Members of the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will provide help to those interested in joining the D.A.R. who would like advice and assistance in their research. No appointment is necessary. Miami Indian Heritage Days September 2, 2017 – Chief Richardville House, 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, 1 p.m. 4 p.m. Miami Harvest: Edible and Usable Plants and Materials with Dani Tippmann. Admission for each Saturday event is $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. History Center members and children age two and under are free.

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Driving Directions to the Library

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Wondering how to get to the library? Our location is 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the block bordered on the south by Washington Boulevard, the west by Ewing Street, the north by Wayne Street, and the east by the Library Plaza, formerly Webster Street. We would enjoy having you visit the Genealogy Center. To get directions from your exact location to 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, visit this link at MapQuest: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=900%20Web ster%20St&city=Fort%20Wayne&state=IN&zipcode=46802%2d3602&country=US&geodiff=1 >From the South Exit Interstate 69 at exit 302. Drive east on Jefferson Boulevard into downtown. Turn left on Ewing Street. The Library is one block north, at Ewing Street and Washington Boulevard. Using US 27: US 27 turns into Lafayette Street. Drive north into downtown. Turn left at Washington Boulevard and go five blocks. The Library will be on the right. >From the North Exit Interstate 69 at exit 312. Drive south on Coldwater Road, which merges into Clinton Street. Continue south on Clinton to Washington Boulevard. Turn right on Washington and go three blocks. The Library will be on the right. >From the West Using US 30: Drive into town on US 30. US 30 turns into Goshen Ave. which dead-ends at West State Blvd. Make an angled left turn onto West State Blvd. Turn right on Wells Street. Go south on Wells to Wayne Street. Turn left on Wayne Street. The Library will be in the second block on the right. 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. Library Plaza will be on the right.

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Parking at the Library

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At the Library, underground parking can be accessed from Wayne Street. Other library parking lots are at Washington and Webster, and Wayne and Webster. Hourly parking is $1 per hour with a $7 maximum. ACPL library card holders may use their cards to validate the parking ticket at the west end of the Great Hall of the Library. Out of county residents may purchase a subscription card with proof of identification and residence. The current fee for an Individual Subscription Card is $70. Public lots are located at the corner of Ewing and Wayne Streets ($1 each for the first two half-hours, $1 per hour after, with a $4 per day maximum) and the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Harrison Street ($3 per day). Street (metered) parking on Ewing and Wayne Streets. 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 garage 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 Center Queries

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The Genealogy Center 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 Genealogy Center, 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.GenealogyCenter.org. Scroll to the bottom, click on E-zine, and fill out the form. 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 Genealogy Gems you just received or send an email to kspears@acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line. Curt B. Witcher and John D. Beatty, CG, co-editors