December 2020

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne No. 202, December 31, 2020

In this issue:

Writing in the New Year

Basic Mexican Genealogy Research

Searching Through the Old Records of New France, for All of Those Precious Genealogical Details

Technology Tip of the Month: Continuing with Adobe Elements 2018 and the Refine Edge Tool

PERSI Gems: Wonders

History Tidbits: Oregon’s Black Exclusion Laws

Library Catalog Insider:

Genealogy Center’s January Programs

Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming

Genealogy Center Social Media

Driving Directions to the Library

Parking at the Library

Genealogy Center Queries

Publishing Note

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Writing in the New Year by Curt B. Witcher

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For most individuals 2020 could not end soon enough. It certainly was a disruptive year. So many of the things we took for granted were no longer automatic, and in some cases not possible at all. As challenging as 2020 has been, I trust many of us learned to deploy our time and available technology in new and better ways in our efforts to pursue, preserve and present our family stories. With all the time that we could not spend doing the things that we originally had planned to do (e.g. take vacations, go on research trips, attend seminars in person, celebrate a graduation on a school campus, or even attend a funeral), I hope we used some of that time to focus of those very important things that were still abundantly available to us. Top among those things should be writing our family’s stories. In numerous previous columns, I have commented about the need for all of us to write more of our family stories, and often I even lamented how much living memory is being lost because individuals don’t write. I believe 2020 afforded us many opportunities to “up our writing game,” and at least the early months of 2021 will provide us with equally rich writing opportunities. Why focus so much on writing? There are a number of very good reasons. First, many tend to lament that no family members are interested in their research. They muse about no one preserving the family stories after they are gone. I believe a good part of the reason why is that we don’t put our research findings in an easily digestible and understandable form. How can we expect to get younger family members interested in what we are doing when there is no obvious order and no real narrative to follow? Most people don’t embrace clutter and chaos—just sayin’. Second, we could improve our research by writing or summarizing our findings. This is one very good way of finding where there are holes in our documentation as well as discerning other paths to follow to find more information. Third, writing a narrative brings a certain order to collected research. Finally, as Amy Johnson Crow (host of the Generations Cafe podcast) shared out to her followers just before Christmas, “You can't preserve a family story you haven't recorded.” And yes, recording can be done electronically on numerous types of devices; however, recording can also be done with a pen on paper or by keying into a file or electronic document. There are a number of formats one can use to create a narrative. All have heard of journaling. I believe journaling is not as widely embraced as it could be because facing that blank page or the empty computer screen is intimidating. Many think, oh my goodness, how am I going to fill all that space when I don’t even know what I should write?! I encourage individuals not to think about filling anything (page or computer screen); rather, think about simply putting something down. Your thoughts, your discoveries, in your own words. Another format is the occasional, or more frequent, newsletter. In fact, it isn’t too late to craft a 2020-21 holiday newsletter. Start by crafting just a sentence or two about both happenings in 2020 and current plans for 2021. In our family gatherings we have a healthy mix of news and memories. Consider the following statements. My oldest son’s fiancée hand-crafted dozens of beautiful save-the-date cards for their May 2021 wedding; in recent years at every end-of-theyear celebration we have learned a silly new card game that leaves everyone laughing and talking about the games for months; gleaming eyes are frequently the best signs of enjoyment and good times; all my sons enjoy cooking as evidenced by the new twists on legacy recipes that are shared in meal preparation each year; and my mother struggles mightily with the COVID isolation at her care facility. All I need to do is add another sentence or two to each of the above statements along with an image or two, and there is a newsletter. A good friend, Paul Milner and his wife, Carol, are masterful at crafting these end-of-the-year holiday letters. Receiving one each year is a blessing on so many levels. Concisely yet carefully written, a couple of pages provide rich, welcoming details about the previous year. A number of years ago, they crafted their holiday greetings around a single word--ritual. That is another writing tactic or type of prompt anyone can deploy. What an amazing story is found in the cumulation of Paul and Carol’s letters. This year, in a separate email, Paul shared with me information about an article in the December 19, 2020 Christmas issue of "The Economist" entitled, “Christmas Newsletters Are a Form of Slow Social Media.” The piece articulates how these holiday newsletters can truly be a timeline over the years, and collections of these newsletters are becoming increasingly valuable. This is more evidence that our newsletter writings could be significant contributions to our families’ timelines and stories. So, pick up the challenge, and write in the new year. Before long, writing will not only cease being a chore, it will become something you look forward to doing. Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year filled to overflowing with opportunities for us to write our family stories.

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Basic Mexican Genealogy Research by Allison DePrey Singleton

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Beginning Mexican genealogy research can be daunting for some Americans. It requires knowing where to find resources in another country and sometimes knowing how to read Spanish. Many descendants learn Spanish as children but are educated in English in the United States. They do not always learn how to read and write the language. Let us look at several resources for researching family history in Mexico that anyone can use if they have access to them. The first resource is FamilySearch.org and, more specifically, the Mexico Research Wiki: https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Mexico_Genealogy. Once there, beginners are able to read about what records might be available in Mexico for family history research. There are guides for different topics like Civil Registration and Church Records. Each gives details on the type of information available in the record and where the records might be located either digitally or physically. Half the battle in genealogy is finding out where the records are located. The FamilySearch Mexico Research Wiki supplies different links to online records. These include links to freely accessible records in FamilySearch and records on other websites. FamilySearch will typically note when a record is on a paid database by putting a dollar sign next to the entry. Many of these external databases are through Ancestry World Explorer or Ancestry Mexico. These are great collections but can cost additional money unless you are at a library that provides free access. The Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center is one such location. Another place to look on FamilySearch is in the Catalog: https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=315&query=%2Bplace%3A Mexico. It is recommended that you narrow down to the states or municipalities to get even more results. This is an excellent way to find information that has not been indexed but has been digitized by FamilySearch. A basic grasp of Spanish or having a translation tool open will greatly assist in researching using these records. As with most countries, there is a national archive that should be explored. The Archivo General de la Nacion has an active website on the government page: https://www.gob.mx/agn. Once there, explore the options available. One option is to look at the Memorica, the digital repository of the archive. This is an effort to collect the images, materials, and stories of people across Mexico. From their website: “The files are spaces that protect part of our identity. From family members to nationals or internationals, each one offers us the record of what we have been. They have a voice that speaks to us since yesterday and that can be heard from dozens, hundreds or millions of testimonies. Archives, documents and other cultural expressions form the heritage of Mexicans. Without these, the projection of the future would be incomplete because we would lose our past.” It is highly recommended to use Google Chrome to look at these websites, since it will automatically translate text to English. If the words you are seeking to translate are part of an original document or image, it will need to be manually translated. Google Chrome is a researcher’s best friend when researching in languages beyond their native tongue. These are a few basic places to get started with your online Mexican genealogy research. As the research progresses, make sure to reach out to others who can assist. There are genealogy groups on Facebook dedicated to Mexican genealogy research and some more specifically to the states their family were from. Libraries and archives can provide assistance or guidance on where to turn for help next. Take a deep breath and jump in. Before long, it becomes addictive.

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Searching Through the Old Records of New France, for All of Those Precious Genealogical Details By Cynthia Theusch

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When researching our early French-Canadian ancestors/families, most of us look at key resources known for vital records, such as the Drouin Collection (church records), Tanguay’s “Dictionnaire Genealogique des Familles Canadiennes,” and Rene Jette’s “Dictionnaire Genealogique des Familles du Quebec.” Another source is A Travers Les Registres (971 T15t) compiled by Father Cyprien Tanguay. His introduction states that he went searching for other key resources that recorded detailed information about individuals who were among the early settlers of New France. His goal was to rescue as much knowledge before these records disappeared. During his travels, he reviewed several registers that covered events from the 1600s and 1700s. A few of the early registers and records include Histoire du Canada – Sagard, Quebec Register, Journal des Jesuites, and TroisRivieres Register. A useful work for the English reader is “Searching Through the Old Records of New France, for all of Those Precious Genealogical Details” (971 T15ta) by Armand H. Demers, Jr. In this translation of A Travers Les Registres, Demer stresses that a lot of precious genealogical information exists that we may miss during our research. Tanguay wrote a lengthy introduction about how he gathered information about these early settlers. He mentioned that the Annals of New France provide key parts of Quebec’s history, including the discoverers of Canada, details of New France’s settlement, and accounts of the struggles experienced by our early ancestors. His introduction included eight events. For example, from the Registers of Lachine, he states: “In 1687, a massacre took place on the shores of Lake Saint-Louis, and the victims of Iroquois cruelty were buried in the same place. All the details, concerning the age, the names, etc., of these misfortunes, are consigned in the registers of Lachine, year 1687. We would vainly seek any trace of them.” On page 234 of Demer’s book is a brief description of what happened to Pierre Chapoulon dit Beausoleil. A native of St-Maurice parish in Limoges [France] and a soldat de la marine [marine], he had arrived in Canada in 1760 in Mr. DesLigneries Company on the ship l’Outarde, commanded by Captain Pinguet. Sources of this information were taken from the Register of the Proces-verbaux, which are official statements of the Archdiocese of Quebec. Another brief summary of an incident from La Traverse, page 98 is as follows: “Septembre 1705. Le 25. A lieu la sepulture de Charles Calue dit Laforge, habitant de Beausoleil, haut de la riviére. (Reg. de Port Royal.).” Translated: “September. The 25th takes place the burial of Charles Calue dit Laforge, inhabitant of Beausoleil, at the top of the river. Register of Port Royal.” The river being referenced is the St. Lawrence. These two books are indexed, and they highlight key events of early French-Canadian soldiers, sailors, and other settlers who helped settle new territory in the name of France. It provides a wonderful history of what our ancestors went through in unfamiliar territories.

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Technology Tip of the Month: Continuing with Adobe Elements 2018 and the Refine Edge Tool by Kay Spears

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There is a reason that I saved the Refine Edge Selection Tool as the last Selection tool. Here’s why: this tool is not easy to manipulate!! Notice I added two explanation points. Here is what I had to do to practice with this tool. First, I had to find a photograph that had high contrast values between the edges I wanted to refine. I also had two laptops and three monitors open. You don’t have to do that, I was listening and practicing at the same time. Even for those of us who use Adobe Photoshop a lot, there are still some things that are hard. For this reason, I’m including a link to a YouTube tutorial explaining how to use Refine Edge. I viewed this video a number of times before I understood the premise of this tool. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yacNMXfFHRg The Refine Selection Tool is nestled with the other four select tools. As with the other tools there are options. Also, remember that the Refine Selection tool options will vary depending on which Adobe version you have. The Brushes are: Add, Subtract, Push, and Smooth. There are also some slide bars: Size, Snap Selection, Selection Edge. To the right of those are: View and Opacity. Your View options are: Overlay, On Black, and On White. I had my view option set at Overlay for no other reason than that how I'm comfortable. Remember, it is the edge between the Overlay and nonoverlay that the Refine Tool is adjusting. When the program is operational, your cursor tool should appear to be a circle within a circle with a cross or minus inside, depending on what option you have selected. Now start working your cursor along the edge. Depending on what you have selected, you should begin seeing the Overlay getting smaller or larger. My advice on the Refine Edge Tool is practice, practice, practice. It is not the easiest tool to use, and you really don’t want to be distracted by someone across the room talking about football while you are trying to do this. I also suggest that you watch the YouTube Tutorial a couple of times, just to figure out what this tool does. Next article: Adobe Elements 2018, the Enhance Tools

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PERSI Gems: Wonders by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson

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Emily Davies reflected on the 1920s as an ‘era of wonderful nonsense’ in Dalton, Georgia, as she summarized the news of the decade. The Empty Stocking Fund Committee was unable to find the customary number of needy families. The police found too little to do on Christmas Day. Crisis was averted as two children were rescued from drowning at Tybee Beach. Women voted for the first time. The bedspread industry thrived, with “multi-colored bedspreads whipping in the mountain breeze, hanging from clotheslines, flanking every road or highland trail leading to Dalton.” “Dalton abounded in concerts, plays, and entertainment of all kinds…” Whether your bedspreads are whipping in the wind or warming your cold toes, we at the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) send you wishes for wonders in the new year. http://search.findmypast.com/search/periodical-source-index Axel Kehlet ad for the Wonderful Christy Bread Knife, 1893, WI Imprints on the Sands of Marquette County (WI), v.29n.1, Spr. 2005 Dalton era of wonderful nonsense Whitfield-Murray (GA) Historical Society Quarterly, v.5n.2, Oct. 1980 Fire tower offers wonderful views, 1924 Laurel Messenger (Somerset Co. Hist. & Gen. Soc., PA), v.47n.3, Aug. Ice mine natural wonder near Coudersport Potter County (PA) Hist. Soc. Bulletin, n.4, Apr. 1964 Jimmy Martin's wonderful ejection seat, 1940s-1950s Foundation (Naval Aviation Museum Foundation), v.23n.1, Spr. 2002 Serpent Mound, prehistoric wonder Ohio Cues (Lucas County/Maumee Valley Hist. Soc.), v.7n.6, Apr. 1958 Small wonders, architectural structures worthy of preservation Indiana Preservationist (Indiana Landmarks), Dec. 2007 Wonderful Aldis aka Aldous, other people named Wonderful, 1837+ Suffolk Roots (Suffolk Fam. His. Soc., England), v.36n.4, Mar. 2011 Wonder women, late great grande dames of Palm Beach, 1900s Historical Society of Palm Beach (FL), n.2, Win. 2005

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History Tidbits: Oregon’s Black Exclusion Laws by Allison DePrey Singleton

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When many people think of Oregon, they first think of the Oregon Trail. The beautiful forests, mountains, and scenery draw people to Oregon. Many outsiders look at Oregon and see a lovely place and know nothing of any issues past or present. Socially, most people paint the state with a broad brush of liberalism and progressivism. Unfortunately, Oregon was one of the numerous states that had laws excluding black people from settling within it. The interesting part is that Oregon entered into the United States as a Free State. How did Oregon get to this point in history? First one must look at who was settling the state. Many of the people who initially settled in Oregon in the 1840s and 1850s were from states like Missouri. Many of these people were against slavery but did not want to have African Americans living near them. The white population voted to outlaw slavery on 5 July 1843, but this law was amended slightly on 26 June 1844 by the new provisional government’s legislative council. The slave owners were given three years to keep their slaves and then had to free them or the slaves would be freed automatically. The freed black men would have two years to leave the state, and freed black women would have three years to leave. If any freed black person refused to leave the state, they would be lashed. This amendment was headed by Peter Burnett, and it became known as Peter Burnett’s Lash Law. Peter Burnett later became the first U.S. Governor of California. Shortly after this law was put on the books, it was decided that lashing was too harsh, and a different penalty should be used. Fortunately for the freed black people who stayed, the law was rescinded in 1845 before anyone could be punished by the government. On 21 September 1849, the Territorial Legislature created another exclusion law. This law made it illegal for any African American to live in Oregon except for those who were already in residence. This law was also rescinded in 1854. A third and last exclusion law was created on 7 November 1857 as part of the state Bill of Rights. It did make slavery illegal in Oregon, yet it also prohibited African Americans from being in the state, owning property, and making contracts. Oregon became the only state to be admitted with an exclusion clause in its constitution. Oddly, it was never formally acted upon. Eventually, the 14th Amendment made the law irrelevant in 1868. The exclusion law was not formally repealed until 1926 and the remainder of the exclusion language was removed in 2002. It is important to note that Oregon was not alone with these types of laws. Many states had laws similar to these. For example, Indiana’s second state constitution in 1851 also prohibited blacks from settling in or making contracts in Indiana. This was repealed in 1866. It is important to learn about the history of the laws in the states you are researching even if the law doesn’t seem to directly impact your ancestors. The laws can show the historical context in which your ancestors lived and how different communities were settled in certain ways. Sources and Further Reading: Article 13 - Negroes and Mulattoes. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28, 2020, from https://www.in.gov/history/2858.htm Mcclintock, T. (1995). James Saules, Peter Burnett, and the Oregon Black Exclusion Law of June 1844. The Pacific Northwest Quarterly, 86(3), 121-130. Retrieved December 28, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40491550 Oregon Secretary of State. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28, 2020, from https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/exhibits/black-history/Pages/context/chronology.aspx Oregon Secretary of State. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28, 2020, from https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/exhibits/black-history/Pages/context/slavery.aspx Oregon Secretary of State. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28, 2020, from https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/state-constitution.aspx Taylor, Quintard (1982). "Slaves and Free Men: Blacks in the Oregon Country, 1840–1860". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 83: 153–169.

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Library Catalog Insider: WorldCat and the “My lists” Feature by Kasia Young

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Hello and Happy New Year! This month, we are going to jump right back into WorldCat and the “My lists” feature. We hope that you have created your free WorldCat account already. If not, just go to https://www.worldcat.org, click “Create a free account,” and follow the prompts. If you do have an existing WorldCat account, log in and let’s start building your lists! The first step is to perform a search using the WorldCat search window. In the basic search, you have an option to search EVERYTHING, BOOKS, DVDs, CDS, and ARTICLES. We started by typing keywords under the EVERYTHING tab and clicked SEARCH EVERYTHING. For example: A search for “Polish genealogy” yields 16,720 results, including 6,548 books, 1,001 articles, 306 archival materials, 44 audiobooks, etc. WOW! To narrow down this search, we used FORMAT facet, located on the left side of the screen, and selected BOOK, as well as YEAR facet to only include materials published in the most recent year, which narrowed down our search to only 34 items. To quickly add the book to a list, simply check the box next to the tile and use the SAVE TO [New List] option, located right above your search results. After you click SAVE, you will get an option to create a new list by typing in the list name and selecting the privacy level. You can either make your list PUBLIC, which is viewable by anyone, or PRIVATE, which can only be viewed by you. Any of these settings can be edited later. To view your list, simply go to the My lists section visible on the homepage, right under your profile photo, or by navigating to MyWorldCat window, located in the top left corner of the screen, and selecting My lists from a drop-down menu. Here, you can add more lists, edit, and/or delete your existing lists. To make changes to your list, click on the list name. If you want to change the list name, privacy, or add a brief description, go to SETTINGS section. Other features included in the list profile section are: item notes, tags, list sharing, printing, and exporting to CSV. When you click on the item title, you can see which library closest to you has it available. Since we have Allen County Public Library set as our “favorite” library, it shows up on top of our libraries listing. When you click on the library name, you will be taken to the local catalog. If none of your favorite libraries carry the item, the listing will show you the closest one to your zip code. WorldCat even makes suggestions for you in case you are thinking about purchasing the item! Bonus tip for January 2021: If you would like to review the item before adding it to a list, click on the title, and when you are ready, simply select ADD TO LIST, which is located right above the title. If you have an existing list, select it from the options and click ADD TO SELECTED LIST. Your action will be confirmed by a green banner displayed on top, with an option to view your list.

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Genealogy Center’s January Programs

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Join us for another month of free, virtual programs! January 5, 2021, 2:30P, “Piecing the Census Puzzle Together" with Melissa Tennant - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4777138 January 7, 2021, 6:30P, “How to Organize Your Autosomal DNA Matches at Ancestry.com” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4780860 January 12, 2021, 2:30P, "The Times of Our Lives: Writing Our Stories" with Curt Witcher - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4780967 January 14, 2021, 6:30P, “Finding Descendants of the Enslaved Laborers who built the University of Virginia, 1817-1865” with Dr. Shelley Murphy - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4780902 January 19, 2021, 2:30P, “Strategic Searching on Findmypast” with Jen Baldwin - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4780913 January 21, 2021, 6:30P, “Critical Connections: Putting the Pieces & Strategies Together” with Curt Witcher - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4780968 January 26, 2021, 2:30P, “Start With What You Know: Beginning Genealogy” with Allison DePrey Singleton - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4782676 January 28, 2021, 6:30P, “Tracking Your Illinois Ancestors” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/4782745 Please register in advance for each program. And a sneak peek at a couple of February’s programs is below. February 13, 10A to 12N, “Freedmen's Bureau eXperience” with Shamele Jordan in partnership with the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne and the African/African American Historical Society and Museum, Fort Wayne. You are invited to a specially designed virtual workshop. Experience the Freedmen's Bureau records during this interactive hands-on two hour program. Learn about history, strategies, and tools. Interact in state breakout rooms. Deepen your research to find enslaved ancestors. Contact the Genealogy Center at Genealogy@ACPL.info for registration information. February 14, an afternoon of programs with Mark Halpern, 2:00P: “The Basics of Jewish Research in Poland,” and at 3:30P, “A Deeper Dive into Galician Records.” The registration link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpceytqT0iGtaiZa72Xug6PWRL4yNMAJzz This afternoon of free programs is being offered by the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society.

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Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming

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

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Genealogy Center Social Media

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenealogyCenter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genealogycenter/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACPLGenealogy

Blog: http://www.genealogycenter.org/Community/Blog.aspx

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/askacpl

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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 $85. 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. The meters take credit cards and charge at a rate of $1/hour. Street parking is free after 5 p.m. 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 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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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