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February 2019

  • jdobler8
  • Feb 28, 2019
  • 24 min read

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne No. 180, February 28, 2019

In this issue:

Five Things All Family Historians Should Do Before They Die

Puritan Pedigrees

Implementation of Real ID

Technology Tip of the Month: Elements 2018 continued, Guided Tab

PERSI Gems—March

History Tidbits: La Fheile Padraig - Saint Patrick’s Day, A Brief History

Library Catalog Insider--Searching Specific Indians of North America Tribes

DNA Interest Group

March Madness Genealogy Style: Act on Your Family History!

Indiana Genealogical Society Conference Comes to Fort Wayne!

Participate in ALA’s National Preservation Week – April 22 – 26, 2019

Europe to America: The Anabaptist Mennonite Story - April 26 & 27, 2019

Plan for the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society’s May Seminar

Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming

Area Calendar of Events

Genealogy Center Social Media

Driving Directions to the Library

Parking at the Library

Genealogy Center Queries

Publishing Note

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Five Things All Family Historians Should Do Before They Die by Curt B. Witcher

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I just delivered the following as a presentation at RootsTech 2019 in Salt Lake City, and I would like to share it with you. For many, interest in family history has spanned at least a generation. Yet, often what we have to pass along to our descendants is rather inadequate and very incomplete. It doesn’t have to be that way. There are five things you can do to make your history an amazing gift to your descendants. 1. Tell your own story! So many individuals have amazing amounts of family history data that reside only in their own minds. Too often, there is the belief that such data will eventually get recorded and shared. The majority of the times, however, it doesn’t. Your experiences, your thoughts, in your own words—it’s the best gift you can give to your family and descendants. Your story is our history. The process of telling your story will often highlight areas for further exploration, and likely identify individuals you should engage to tell their stories as a part of your family history. Digital audio and digital video recording devices enable more preserving and sharing of family stories than ever before. And the power of story continues to be explored, with an increasing number of benefits being brought to light. (“NGS Magazine,” July-Sept 2017, v. 43, n. 3, pg. 23-26) 2. Interview as many relatives, friends, and colleagues as possible. An unbelievable number of consequential stories live exclusively in the minds of family and friends. This living history is of great consequence in knowing and telling our family stories. This information can also fill in gaps in our knowledge about an individual or family line as well as lead to new sources of exploration. The activities surrounding preparing for an interview and then executing that interview can be enlightening by themselves. We simply cannot have enough stories. 3. Organize your research! Years of research is nice; having that research organized and compiled so that others may enjoy it, benefit from it, and build upon it is infinitely better. A good question to ask: Am I a family historian or a “stuff gatherer?” Many gather numerous documents and key select pieces of data into online trees or other genealogical data management programs. While some save such “gatherings” in multiple places and on multiple media, few actually organize the research and write the story. We must do better. Select a genealogical data management program that matches your skill and comfort levels. Then key, link, and contextualize all the information you have about each ancestor. Make your files make sense. Claiming that you can find the information, person, image, etc. is of little consequence to future researchers. Will a descendant be able understand what you have gathered? Technology enables each of us to leave our stories for descendants we will never meet—actually leave our voices and moving images of ourselves. Work already being accomplished with applications in the artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) fields means I potentially can have a conversation with the great grandchildren of my great grandchildren! And the possibilities are growing nearly exponentially. However, it’s only possible if our research is robust, sourced, and organized. 4. Deal with your images! Collectively we are taking more than one trillion pictures each year. At the same time our images are at greater risk than ever. Some of that risk takes the form of extremely poor saving and sharing practices. Images saved on smart devices that are not consistently downloaded and tagged with appropriate metadata run a high risk of being lost. Many and varied storage devices are available, with higher and higher capacities at increasingly affordable rates. First and foremost, dealing with our images means they won’t be lost. Dealing with our images— organizing, preserving, and describing—also affords us and those interested in our families the opportunity to take fuller advantage of facial recognition software and well as QBIC programs— programs that can search images by content, i.e. query by image content. A picture is worth a thousand words, right?! 5. Explore new technologies. Collectively we too often treat technology in the family history space as a spectator sport. Our abilities to pursue, preserve, and present our stories is greatly enhanced when we continue to deploy contemporary technologies. Some technology begging to be deployed in the genealogy space is referenced under “Organize Your Research!” Two other suggestions are below. “Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter” provides the opportunity to sample products, sites, and services as well as some of the latest technology news in the family history space. First, sign-up. Second, at least a couple of times a year, challenge yourself to activity explore a technology mentioned in this electronic newsletter. At RootsTech, one finds an amazing amount of deployable innovation on display and available for use. While attending the conference provides maximum benefit, much can be found at the RootsTech website as well. Select a few items each year to use in enhancing and enriching your family history pursuits, and then use them.

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Puritan Pedigrees by John D. Beatty, CG

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Most genealogists with colonial New England roots are familiar with Robert Charles Anderson’s multi-volume Great Migration series, the first volumes of which were published twenty years ago. That work and another, “The Winthrop Fleet,” have become the go-to sources for accessing well-documented information about the region’s earliest immigrants before 1635, and the former set is available online through the American Ancestors website www.americanancestors.org. Now, Anderson has added another work to augment the scholarship of his earlier volumes: “Puritan Pedigrees: The Deep Roots of the Great Migration to New England” (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018) Gc 974 An23p. For anyone with connections to New England’s earliest Puritan ministers, this new book is an essential read. Unlike the Great Migration volumes, “Puritan Pedigrees” is not organized as a strictly genealogical work, even though it includes numerous ancestral tables. Rather, Anderson offers a narrative history in which he explores the kinship networks and intellectual connections among various ministers in England in the seventeenth century prior to their coming to America. He uses his study to support his view that a strong religious (rather than economic) factor served as the primary motivator for these clerics and their followers to emigrate, and that, in some cases, their kinship ties extended back to the beginning of the English Reformation. By the seventeenth century, these complex connections resulted in the formation of both clerical companies and extended family companies, both of which arrived in New England during the Great Migration period. Understanding these coalitions of settlers in an English context gives readers a richer and more nuanced appreciation of their actions and associations in America. Anderson’s work focuses on the following clerical families: Thomas Mildmay and John Winthrop; Walter Norton and the family of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer; Alexander and Increase Nowell with Francis Higginson; Richard Mather with Henry Hastings, third Earl of Huntington; Edmund Grindal and John Wilson; Richard and John Rogers; Robert Browne and Thomas Oliver; Thomas Stoughton and James Cudworth; Arthur Hildersham and Walter Desborough; Robert Parker and Stephen Bachiler; John White and John Warham; and finally, Herbert Pelham and Isaac Johnson. Anderson mentions many other New England settlers in passing, and sometimes he explores extended kinships on charts, even when he neglects to address them fully in the text. Of particular interest for many readers will be the chart of the Wylley family of Hertforshire and its extensive connections to such settlers as the Rev. John Eliot, William Denison, George Jacobs, Matthew and John Whipple, George Abbot, Walter Desborough, Joseph Miller, and others. These relationships are all carefully displayed, even if the descendant families are only peripherally discussed. As illuminating as these charts are for genealogists, this work is emphatically a historical study. Family historians should use it for developing contextual information about their ancestors, coupling the text with other explorations into genealogical records. For example, in his chapter on the Rogers family, we learn that my ancestor, John Rogers the Younger of Moulsham and Chelmsford, Essex, had nine children born between 1538 and 1558, three of whom survived to adulthood. Using that clue, I went to Familysearch and Find My Past and there identified all of those children from the baptismal records. Even though Anderson does not list them, he provides the necessary information to easily find them. More importantly, I gained a much better understanding of another ancestor, the Rev. John Rogers (c. 1573-1636) of Dedham, his education at Cambridge, his association with Thomas Hooker, and his intellectual drift toward nonconformity that coincided with William Laud’s elevation as Bishop of London. I would suggest other genealogists follow the same approach to the book that I did. Check the index to see if an ancestor is mentioned and use the book to explore their kinship networks and historical contexts. “Puritan Pedigrees” is one of those rare books that straddles the line between genealogical study and academic historical writing. That boundary is an artificial construct that needn’t exist. If more historians viewed well-documented genealogical writing as microhistory, and more genealogists carefully documented and contextualized their research, the opportunity for future collaboration would be boundless.

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Implementation of Real ID by Sara Allen

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The federal government has mandated that by October 1, 2020, persons who wish to board commercial airplanes or enter certain federal facilities, such as federal courthouses, military bases, and nuclear plants, will need a Real-ID compliant driver’s license, permit or identification card OR a valid US passport to do so. Some exceptions are detailed at the Homeland Security website (https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs.). Those with a valid current passport do not need to apply for a Real-ID driver’s license; the passport will suffice. Not everyone will want or need to get a Real ID, especially if one does not intend to travel or does not anticipate visiting a federal facility. But the rest of us should go ahead and start the process as soon as possible, since it may take time to gather the documents needed. Each state has its own procedures to acquire a Real ID. The process in Indiana is run through the local Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) branch. US-born citizens must furnish certain required documents to get a Real ID, including proof of identity, lawful status, social security number, and Indiana residency. Non-citizens and naturalized citizens require different documentation than USborn citizens, and will not be discussed in this article (see the BMV website for details). The biggest issue faced by persons seeking a Real ID is that of establishing identity. Those with current valid passports have already established their identity and so won’t need to do so again. But those without a passport will need to use their birth certificates to establish identity. If your birth name on the birth certificate matches your current ID, then you have no problem. If, however, your name has changed from your birth name and does not match your current ID, you must present original or certified documentation supporting this name change. Many people do not have these documents in their possession and struggle to get the required documentation to acquire the Real ID. Birth certificates: If you do not have your original birth certificate, you must present a certified copy. To obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate or your delayed birth certificate, you must contact the state or county vital records office in the locality where you were born. Those born abroad must have their “Consular Report of Birth Abroad” form, issued by the U.S. Department of State. Persons who were adopted should have access to their adoptive birth certificate from the state where they were born, showing their current legal name. Name Changes: Persons who have changed their name officially will need the documents proving the name change. Official name changes take place through the courts (see below). If you have unofficially been using a name that is not your birth name, you may run into problems, especially if your current ID differs from your birth certificate. Questions should be directed to the BMV. Women who are using a different name due to marriage will need certified copies of their marriage records (see below). Court Records: If you do not have your original court documents pertaining to your name change, you must present a certified copy. To obtain certified copies of your court issued name-change documents, you must contact the original issuing court. If you do not remember the name of the court, call the court house in the county where it took place and ask to speak to the Clerk of Courts. Marriage & Divorce Records: A woman whose driver’s license lists her married name rather than their maiden name must produce documentation of the marriage to show the progression from maiden name to married name. Those with multiple marriages have even more paperwork to produce. Example: A woman who was born Jane Smith, married first to John Doe and divorced, and is now married to Fred Jones (making her current name Jane Jones) will need her original birth certificate, her first marriage license to Doe and her divorce decree, and second marriage license to Jones in order to obtain her Real ID. Marriage Records: If you do not have your original marriage license record, you must obtain certified copies. To do this, you must know at least the state, and ideally the county where you got married, and the time period. Contact the County Clerk, County Court House, or the state vital records office to order a certified copy of your marriage license. If you do not remember exactly where you got married or where you got divorced, there are some other options. Many, but not all, states have statewide marriage indexes. These indexes may not cover the date you need and may not be online. Few states have statewide divorce indexes. Call the state vital records office, state library, and state archives and inquire about the existence of a statewide marriage or divorce index and to get other suggestions for how to resolve this problem. Check on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org for online marriage and divorce indexes for that particular state, and also the free website, “Online Birth & Marriage Records Indexes for the USA” (https://www.germanroots.com/vitalrecords.html). The website, “Where to Write for Vital Records” can provide you with addresses and phone numbers for state vital records offices. See: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm. Further suggestions include looking for family sources, such as wedding albums, photo albums, family Bibles, etc. where a marriage may have been recorded; looking for newspaper articles about the marriage or the divorce; and looking in your church or religious body’s membership records to see if it was notated there. If these suggestions do not bear fruit, The Genealogy Center may be able to help trouble-shoot your situation, so don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. Divorce Records: A woman whose current ID does not match her birth certificate must present divorce decrees, if she has been married multiple times. If you do not have your original divorce decree, you must obtain certified copies. To obtain documentation of your divorce, you must know the county and state where you obtained the divorce. Contact the County Clerk of Court or the court house to order certified copies of the divorce decree. If you do not remember the location of your divorce, follow the suggestions under the marriage record section of this article for possible solutions. Now that you have proved your identity, you can work on proving your lawful status, social security number and residency; and after all that, you will obtain your Real ID.

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Technology Tip of the Month: Elements 2018 continued, Guided Tab by Kay Spears

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Have you ever had a panic attack when you updated your software, computer, or electronic device? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. As I said in the last article, this year I updated my laptop and software. When I decided to upgrade to the most recent version of Adobe Elements (at the time it was 2018), there were a number of functions I required, one of them being Photomerge. For those of you who are not familiar with this function, I use it to stitch photographs together. You know those long photographs which are so big you have to scan them in sections? Well, Photomerge is the perfect tool to put those sections back together. Anyway, I loaded the new version of Elements on my computer and started to explore it. And, this is when my panic attack happened. Where was Photomerge? In the past versions of Adobe Photoshop and Elements which I am familiar with, Photomerge could be found in the top menu. When Elements started using the Tab guides: Quick, Guided, Expert, the Photomerge could still be located in the top menu as long as you were in the Expert mode. In Elements 2018, even when one is in the Expert mode, the Photomerge function was not there! After spending hours looking all over for it, I finally opened up an Elements manual. Who would have thought that a manual could actually have the answer? Photomerge is still in Elements! It’s just located in a difference place. I’m sure there was a reason for moving Photomerge to a different location, but no one checked with me before they did it. So, we persevere, we move on. Adobe has now moved Photomerge to the Guided Tabs section. Click on the Guided Tabs and you will see these functions: Basics, Color, Black & White, Fun Edits, Special Edits, and Photomerge. Yes, Photomerge has now been moved to the Guided section of Elements. Now I can relax and all is well with the world. In the next article we will explore the Guided section of Elements, what’s new, what you can do with it, and how you can use it has a learning experience. We will even talk about how to use Photomerge. Next: Elements 2018, Guided Tab: Basics

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PERSI Gems--March by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson

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For the month of March, we bring you a sampling of march-related citations in the Periodical Source Index (PERSI). Try a search here: http://search.findmypast.com/search/periodical-source-index Catholicism in S. Wales marches, 17th-18th C. Catholic Record Society Publications, v.2, 1906 Chicago Greatstorm, March 28, 1920 Illinois State Historical Society Journal, v.13n.1, Apr. 1920 Coronado's march across the High Plains Americana (American Historical Soc., NJ), v.6n.3, Mar. 1911 Fort libraries; march of intellect Annals of Wyoming, v.51n.2, Fal. 1979 Hugh March, reluctant innkeeper, 1618-93, MA Ancestry (Palm Beach Co. Gen. Soc., FL), v.18n.4, Oct. 1983 March as a time for farmers to move, Gussia Schindler recollections, 1872 Kanhistique (Ellsworth, KS), v.11n.11, Mar. 1986 Missionary March, Episcopal Church, 1789 Anglican and Episcopal History, v.15n.3, Sep. 1946 Music store march Saint Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly, v.19n.2, Apr. 1974 Narragansett campaign, Hungry march, 1676 New England Historical And Genealogical Register, v.40n.2, Apr. 1886 Old Quorks Day, March 16 North Carolina Historical And Genealogical Record, v.1n.4, Oct. 1932 Red Star & march to the powder, 1876, MT, ND State Historical Society Of North Dakota Collections, v.6, 1924 Tim March recalls the Rodney King riots and his first impressions of Newfoundland, 1992 NQ (Newfoundland Quarterly Foundation), v.101n.4, Spr. 2009

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History Tidbits: La Fheile Padraig - Saint Patrick’s Day, A Brief History by Allison DePrey Singleton

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Eirinn go Brach! Kiss me, I’m Irish! Slainte! On March 17th, we will hear a variety of these phrases. People will wear green to avoid being pinched, and there will be celebrations across the world. While it is widely known that Saint Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Irish heritage, how did it come about? Let’s explore the origins of the current Saint Patrick’s Day holiday. Saint Patrick’s Day originated as the Roman Catholic feast day of Saint Patrick. Born in Roman Britain, Patrick was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young teenager. He escaped at age twenty and returned to his family, afterwards beginning his study to become a priest. After being ordained and becoming a bishop, he returned to Ireland where he converted thousands of the Irish to Christianity in a span of forty years. He became known for using the local clover, the shamrock, to explain the meaning of the Holy Trinity. Saints receive feast days – celebrations of their feats in the name of God - on important days in their lives or death. He is believed to have died on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 461. Ireland has long observed Saint Patrick’s Day, but as a religious holiday with the pubs being closed and people attending church services. It was not originally the jovial celebration that it has since become. In fact, the first Saint Patrick’s Day parade was held in the United States, not Ireland. When the Irish first came to the United States, they were not encouraged to stay. Many people reviled the Irish and would not allow them to be patrons of their business. There were signs stating, “No Irish!” To deal with the anti-Irish sentiments, many Irish began organizing clubs that gave them a sense of community. These clubs began holding Saint Patrick’s Day parades in New York City to celebrate both the Irish national saint and Irish heritage. With each passing year, the parades grew and expanded across the United States and other countries. What began as a way for the Irish to celebrate their heritage in the face of adversity became an international event, when even the non-Irish claimed to be Irish. Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland has evolved from the feast day of religious celebration to a party or festival used to bring tourists to celebrate their heritage. Despite their country’s long history of turmoil, the celebration is a way for the Irish to share their pride in their nation and heritage. Next time you tip a green pint back on March 17th, remember the origins of the holiday and appreciate the battles the Irish have had for respect in the United States and their own country. They have dealt with wars, rebellions, anti-Irish sentiments, and poverty. The Irish deserve a holiday of their own. Go n-eiri an t-adh leat (That luck may rise with you)!

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Library Catalog Insider--Searching Specific Indians of North America Tribes by Kasia Young

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As promised, this month we will share with you the Library of Congress authorized subject headings for specific Indians of North America tribes. Since the list is relatively long, we will present the information in four separate segments. This month, we will focus on Five Civilized Tribes subject headings, which include the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek (Muscogee), and Seminole. We will also share the Iroquois League subject headings, which encompass the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca. Let’s get started! The “Five Civilized Tribes” subject heading is used for materials that refer to Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole collectively. If you search for “Five Civilized Tribes” in The Genealogy Center’s catalog (http://www.genealogycenter.org/) you will get 44 matches. You can further narrow down your search by looking up the individual nations: “Cherokee Indians” yields 378 results, “Chickasaw Indians” yields 89 results, “Choctaw Indians” yields 97 results, “Creek Indians” yields 469 results, and “Seminole Indians” yields 91 results. “Iroquois League” is no longer an authorized subject heading. For materials that refer to Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca collectively, use “Five Nations” and “Six Nations” subject headings. The search for “Five Nations” yields 15 results, and the term “Six Nations” yields 54 results. You can further narrow down your search by looking up the individual nations: “Mohawk Indians” yields 22 results, “Onondaga Indians” yields 10 results, “Oneida Indians” yields 19 results, “Cayuga Indians” yields 4 results, and “Seneca Indians” yields 41 results. Bonus tip for March 2019: You can use the subject heading “Iroquois Indians” (105 results) for materials referring to Cayuga Indians, Mingo Indians, Mohawk Indians, Oneida Indians, Onondaga Indians, Seneca Indians, Tuscarora Indians collectively. Happy searching!

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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 Meetings on the 1st Thursday of the month to share and learn from each other! Basic information meeting is from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., followed by a more advanced discussion from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The next meetings are Thursday, March 7, 2019 in the Discovery Center. Come and share!

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March Madness Genealogy Style: Act on Your Family History!

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For The Genealogy Center, March Madness means family history! Spring into your research with these events during the first full week of March! Sunday March 3, 2019, 2:30 p.m., Discovery Center Sharing: Non-Traditional Family History Books - Betsy Thal Gephart Publishing a family history needn’t be a heavy lift. There are easier ways to share your research than a huge, formal genealogy. The most important thing is to share your stories! Using the thirteen books she’s written for her daughters as examples, Betsy hopes to inspire you to get started on a project that’s just the right size. Monday March 4, 2019, 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center Writing: Simple Steps to Begin Writing Your Family Stories - Curt Witcher For many, writing is just another chore. Where does one start? How long does the piece have to be? The blank screen, the empty piece of paper—both can be very intimidating. Explore some techniques for making writing easier, and maybe even enjoyable with this evening of simple steps. Tuesday March 5, 2019, 6:30 P.M., Discovery Center Publishing: Various Options for the Family Historian - John Beatty This class will examine the different publishing options for the genealogist. We will look at going out on your own with a printer, such as the HF Group of North Manchester. We evaluate online publishers such as Lulu, Createspace, and other publishing options. We will also examine some of the vanity presses available for publishing a genealogy. The author will come away with several options for getting their family history in print. Wednesday March 6, 2019, 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center Preserving: Sharing New Ideas from RootsTech - Allison DePrey Singleton & Melissa Tennant Melissa & Allison are just back from RootsTech 2019! Learn about all of the fabulous products they viewed there! Thursday March 7, 2019, 6:30 p.m., Meeting Room A Talking: Triggering Memories to Begin Conversations about Family History - Allison DePrey Singleton Some of the best ways to remember something is through your senses. In fact, the sense of smell is closely linked with memory. Can you trigger memories with the other senses? Let’s explore this in an interactive presentation on triggering memories to begin conversations. Friday March 8, 2019, 2:30 p.m., Discovery Center Compiling: Adventures with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, & Adobe Acrobat - Kay Spears & Emily Rapoza Finally, after years and years of hard work you are ready to put everything together. Now what? Join Kay Spears and Emily Rapoza as they explore some tips, tricks, and hints when using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat when compiling your family history book. Saturday, March 9, 2019, 2:30 p.m., Discovery Center Interviewing: Life Stories Hands On - Cynthia Theusch Have you been curious about what goes on in the Life Stories Center? Wondering if, and how, you can use it? Come for a live demonstration of the equipment and witness one or more interviews, interlaced with questions and techniques for getting your subject to open up!

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Indiana Genealogical Society Conference Comes to Fort Wayne!

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Registration is open for the Indiana Genealogical Society's 2019 annual conference, which will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at the Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Meeting Rooms ABC. The featured speaker will be DNA expert Blaine Bettinger. Indiana Genealogical Society members will receive a $10 discount if they pre-register. The schedule for the day is below. 9:00 a.m.--Registration, Networking & Vendor Browsing 9:30 a.m.--Welcome & Introductions 9:45 a.m.--Session 1-A: The Danger of Distant Matches - Blaine Bettinger --Session 1-B: Evaluating Published Genealogies - John Beatty 10:45 a.m.--Break & Vendor Browsing 11:15 a.m.--Session 2-A: Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries - Blaine Bettinger --Session 2-B: German Resources in the Genealogy Center - John Beatty 12:15 p.m.--Lunch — on your own 1:15 p.m.--Indiana Genealogical Society Annual Meeting, Awards and Lineage Societies Inductions 2:30 p.m.--Session 3-A: Are You Doing Everything to Identify Your DNA Matches? - Blaine Bettinger --Session 3-B: Getting to Know the Genealogy Center's Free Databases - Allison DePrey Singleton 3:30 p.m.--Break & Vendor Browsing 4:00 p.m.--Session 4-A: Phasing and Mapping Your DNA - Blaine Bettinger --Session 4-B: The 1940 Census and Preparing for the 1950 Census - Allison DePrey Singleton Register online for the conference using the form at http://www.indgensoc.org/conference.php. The deadline to pre-register for the conference is Tuesday, April 9, 2019; after that, registration will be $50 per person, including at the door. Indiana Librarians: LEU credits have been applied for; the session information will be updated when the LEU credits have been approved by the Indiana State Library.

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Participate in ALA’s National Preservation Week – April 22 – 26, 2019 ***************************************

There is a lot going on in April! Begin to save some dates! Monday April 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center Your Home Museum: Websites to Aid in the Preservation of Personal Memorabilia Presenter: Delia Cothrun Bourne Tuesday April 23, 2019, 6:30 p.m., Meeting Room C Rescuing Photos from Dying Digital Platforms: How to Save Presenters: Emily Rapoza and Allison DePrey Singleton Wednesday April 24, 2019, 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center Caring for Your Textiles Webinar Presenter: Donia Conn - Moderated by Genealogy Center Staff Thursday April 25, 2019, 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center & Maker Lab, ACPL Using the Maker Lab to Preserve Family History - Sara Allen Friday April 26, 2019, 2:30 p.m., Meeting Room C Preserving Your Digital Life Webinar Presenters: Krista White and Isaiah Beard - Moderated by Genealogy Center Staff To register for any of these free events, call 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@ACPL.Info . For more information, see the brochure at http://genealogycenter.org/docs/preservation2019.

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Europe to America: The Anabaptist Mennonite Story - April 26 & 27, 2019

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The Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, Inc. and The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library join in proudly presenting these special two days for genealogists seeking information on their Anabaptist Mennonite ancestors. This special event is sponsored by the Doug and Joni Lehman Charitable Foundation. All events will be at the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. On Friday, April 26, 2019: 9:45 a.m.--Menno Simons Essentials: Who are these Mennonites? - Peggy Goertzen 11:00 a.m.--Anabaptist and Mennonite Materials in Print and Online in The Genealogy Center - John D. Beatty 1:30 p.m.--Swiss Roots and Beaver Branches: Ohio Anabaptist-Mennonite Stories from a Bluffton Perspective - Carrie Phillips 3:00 p.m. --What They Brought and What They Left Behind - Adam Barrone On Saturday, April 27, 2019: 9:45 a.m.--Pattern, Persecution and Faith: Why are we moving? - Peggy Goertzen 11:00 a.m.--Berne Mennonites – A Man – A Mission - Max Haines 1:30 p.m.--Where can I find….? Resources for Anabaptist-Mennonite Research - Joe Springer 3:00 p.m.--Brothers Helping Brothers: The Swiss, Prussian and Dutch Low-German Mennonites in the 1870’s - Peggy Goertzen For details on each lecture and presenter, go to www.acgsi.org. Registration is $25 for each day or $40 for both. To register, go to https://www.acgsi.org/event.php. Indiana Librarians: These seminar sessions are eligible for LEUs.

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Plan for the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society’s May Seminar

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The Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society is hosting Dr. Elizabeth Anthony, who will discuss the International Tracing Service and how it can be successfully used. The date is Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Allen County Public Library Discovery Center. For more information on this program, see https://neindianajgs.wordpress.com/upcoming-events/. The society’s events are very popular and very popular!

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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.

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Area Calendar of Events

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Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, Inc. (ACGSI) Monthly Program March 13, 2019 - Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, refreshments & networking begins at 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m. Delia Bourne will present “Finding Family: Researching Adopted Children in the Past—and Today.” The George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series March 3, 2019 - History Center, 302 E. Berry Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2 p.m. Lecture presented by Terri Gorney, who will speak on "Stockbridge Audubon Society - Celebrating 120th Anniversary." Mary Penrose Wayne DAR Chapter Library Help Day for Prospective DAR Members March 6, 2019 - Allen County Public Library, Genealogy Center, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mary Penrose Wayne DAR Chapter Meeting March 9, 2019 - Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Samantha Vance will present on “Buddy Benches” beginning at 1 p.m.

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Genealogy Center Social Media

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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. 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. *************************************** Publishing Note *************************************** 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

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