January 2020

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne No. 191, January 31, 2020

In this issue:

Using Celebrations to Jump Start Your Family History Pursuits

Historical Atlases and Maps of the U.S. and States

Georgia Historic Newspapers

Technology Tip of the Month: We continue with Adobe Elements: Guided Tab, Special Edits

PERSI Gems--Cats

History Tidbits: Tattooing of the Children

Library Catalog Insider--The Community Album

DNA Interest Group

Last Gasp for WinterTech – for This Winter!

February Technology in Genealogy User Group Meeting--DNA Q&A

Hidden Gems of Jewish Genealogy and Discovering the Shtetl

African American Genealogy & Black Church Records Programs

Count on March Madness

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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Using Celebrations to Jump Start Your Family History Pursuits by Curt B. Witcher

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Sometimes, particularly during the doldrums of winter and its gray skies, we lack enthusiasm or motivation for being more active with our family history research, sometimes even losing interest in those things that we know make us happy and more engaged. One way to combat this lethargy and lack of interest that may wash over us is to find new and different reasons to focus again on those things that bring us joy--like finding our families’ stories. I suggest using celebrations as a way to jump start your family history research. Have some fun with the idea of using celebrations to springboard into exciting forays of finding more records and stories. This weekend being Super Bowl weekend, there will be a lot of eating, cheering, and good times. Use that near-national-holiday to chat about Super Bowls and sporting events of yesteryear. Are there going to be any relatives at your Super Bowl party that saw or heard the game the last time the Chiefs were in the “big game”? What was that game like? Who was the person with? Food is such a great memory trigger--talk about some of the food you and your relatives have eaten at sporting events over the decades. And you don’t have to limit those food conversations to the Super Bowl. What about those high school basketball games with the junkfood concession stands--and all the food and candy your parents didn’t want you to eat but somehow you managed to consume some anyway? What were the favorite slushies at the little league baseball games of your childhood? Sporting events of all types can bring back amazing memories. Use those sports celebrations to fill-in more of your families’ stories. School days are filled with memories that can give light and life to our family stories. Some of our best and worst memories are a part of our school days. Many families across the country have members who recently started the 2020 academic year spring semester, and that means graduation isn’t far behind. No matter the graduation (kindergarten, grade school, high school, college and beyond), it is always a time for a celebration that typically is populated with extended family members. The time is fertile for memories and stories, all of which should be recorded as a part of our family history. And these graduation stories often may lead to new stories, many questions, and perhaps even a good-natured bit of ribbing. I have attended too many funerals in recent weeks. At all of those events, though, I was moved by how they were true celebrations of life--not just in words but in deeds. So many stories sprang forth from among the hugs and tears. The picture boards that appear to have grown up among the bouquets of flowers bring smiles even amidst the sadness, and one can readily hear statements that all seem to start with a version of, “Remember that day . . .?” and “I was there when . . .” The conversations and recollections that follow are certainly a part of that family’s story. And these celebrations can potentially fill-in many chapters in one’s family history. Nearly every ethnic group that has touched toe in North America has a day, week or month celebrating its contributions to our communities and country. February is Black History Month; March is Irish American Heritage Month; National Hispanic Heritage Month typically is from mid-September to mid-October; German American Heritage Month corresponds with Family History Month, being held in October; and in some communities, November is First Nations/Native American month. Any time there is a heritage celebration, it simply has to be a time to gather more family stories. So celebrate with all you’ve got!

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Historical Atlases and Maps of the U.S. and States by Delia Cothrun Bourne

*************************************** As one does family history research in the United States, knowing the county in which an ancestor lived is vital to conducting accurate research. Some sources such as Wikipedia will note when a county was formed and from what other counties or territories, but the changes that occur in maps can also be extremely informative. A great source for interactive county maps is “Historical Atlases and Maps of U.S. and States” at MapOfUS.org https://www.mapofus.org/ . This website features historical maps and atlases for the United States, Europe, and parts of the world for various years from 1776 to 1880. Each state has its own splash page that contains information on when it became a territory, the date of statehood, the number of counties, the location of its capitol, the population in the most recent census year, and the size of the state in square miles. It also has links to atlases and to other map websites for the state. In the middle of each page is an animated map that shows all of the county boundary changes and the county boundaries for each census year. These maps usually begin with the formation or settlement of the territory. The first map for Indiana dates from 1790 and shows Knox, Hamilton, and Scott counties. The Play button initiates a progression of maps through the years. The Previous and Next buttons move through the progression one change at a time. At each change, the year is noted and a list of counties formed or changed appears. One can click on a specific year to show the county layout at that time, or click on a specific county to learn when the county was created and from what previous counties while also displaying the county seat, towns and townships, and adjacent counties. The site also includes links to county government sites, information on obtaining various types of records, and other useful links for historical and genealogical societies, libraries and more. These maps are also useful for understanding how boundaries changed in unexpected ways. For example, Miller County, Arkansas, was formed in 1820 from Hempstead County, Arkansas. In 1828, Sevier County, Arkansas, (what is now Sevier, Little River and Polk counties, Arkansas), was formed from Miller County, which remained until 1836. But the Miller County that existed from 1828 to 1836 consisted of what is now Bowie and Cass counties, Texas, and the southeastern counties of Oklahoma. Seeing the progression on the maps makes it much easier to understand these changes and alerts the user that the Miller County, Arkansas, of 2020 contains no land that comprised Miller County, Arkansas, in 1820! So be sure to check the maps for the areas in which your families lived to better understand their lives and how to locate other sources in earlier geographic areas.

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Georgia Historic Newspapers by Melissa C. Tennant

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The “Georgia Historic Newspapers” site , hosted by the Digital Library of Georgia, recently added more than 180 Georgia newspapers covering 1861 to 1877, documenting the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. There is no charge to access these newspapers, which provide varying viewpoints of a turbulent and transitional time period for the state of Georgia. From the main page, one can search all the papers, select a region of the state, or browse through the papers. To access the newest additions, select the “Search” tab to use the Advanced Search options that include limiting the search by city, county, regions of the state, newspaper title, or by newspaper type, such as African American, Native American, Religion, etc. The site hosts digital newspapers from 1786 to 1986, but the dates can be limited in the Advanced Search to the 1861- 1877 era in order to access the more than 159,000 available images. One can view the full newspaper page, clip sections of the paper, and read the page text if needed. The collection comprises fifty-nine cities, including Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, and Savannah. Papers of note include religious papers such as the “Christian Index,” a Baptist newspaper; the “Pacificator,” a Catholic newspaper; and the “Daily / Weekly Loyal Georgian,” the first African American newspaper in Augusta that began in 1867. These newspapers chronicle the Civil War-era military skirmishes, battles, and activities of Georgia and other states. Local details of the war’s impact can be found, such as articles about Sherman’s March and listings of the dead from local regiments that pre-date the keeping of civil death records. Listings of deserters give the unit, age, physical description, occupation, and place of enlistment of the soldier. Other historical items document how the newly-emancipated slaves and the Freedmen’s Bureau were treated and viewed throughout Georgia. Newspaper articles from other states were reprinted in these publications. For example, on the front page of “The Rome Weekly Courier” dated 6 June 1862, the following items can be found: The continuing conflict between General Johnson and General McClellan; occupation of Huntsville; creation of the Maryland Line; activity in Charleston; notice about the 49th Tennessee Regiment prisoners at Camp Douglas; attack at Corinth; gunboat activity in Vicksburg; blockades in Wilmington; fighting outside of Richmond; cotton and currency issues in New Orleans; and details about a battle in Texas. For anyone researching family history, newspapers are a wonderful resource, full of such rich and diverse details. For those researching in Georgia during this restless and evolving era, these historical newspapers can reveal the viewpoints and actions that influenced your ancestors.

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Technology Tip of the Month: We continue with Adobe Elements: Guided Tab, Special Edits by Kay Spears

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Well, finally we have packed our bags and moved away from the Fun Effects Tab. Now we are ready to face the adventures waiting for us in the Special Edits Tab. I’m rubbing my hands together with glee in anticipation! The options available to us are Replace Background, Depth of Field, Frame Creation, Orton Effect, Perfect Portrait, Recompose, Restore Old Photo, Scratches and Blemishes, Tilt-shift, and Watercolor Effect. Let’s start with Replace Background. Replace Background: Here is my definition of what this effect does. Say you have taken a lovely photograph of your precious dog, but right behind the dog is a fire hydrant. I believe the intent of this option is to eliminate the hydrant and put something else in its place…easily. Let’s see how easy it really is. Step 1. Selection Tools. Yipes! Right away, I see problems ahead. Remember the selection tools from our past experiences. Well, they have not improved them since then. A steady hand is required to use them. Plus, this time we have four selection tools to choose from, and Adobe seems to be under the impression that they are intuitive tools. Just so you know, they are not intuitive. Let us take a look at these four select tools individually. The Auto Select tool. You know when I see the word “Auto” used, I think that means that things are done automatically, and I do not have to do any work. In this case, I would be wrong. When you select the Auto Select tool, your cursor changes to a cross, and you should also see the options available to use with this tool. You can do a “New” selection, “Add to” selection, or “Subtract from” selection. You may also choose a Rectangle, Ellipse, Lasso, or Polygon Lasso as the manner used to select. I would imagine the method depends on how detailed your selection is going to be. In my case, I found the Rectangle easiest to use. There is also a Refine Edge option, but we will talk about that later. I have picked New Selection, and Rectangle, and now I drag my cursor over the part of the image I want in the foreground. Notice I said foreground. When I release my left cursor from dragging, the Rectangle selection changes and automatically selects a portion of the image. In this case, it is the part of the photograph with my mother, my brother, and me. I will admit that this tool did a good job of knowing what I wanted. It only cut off a portion of my mother’s coat and one of her arms. I could try to correct that now, but there is a Refine Tool option later on, and that is when I will fix it. Step 2. Import an Image. We are still working on the Auto Select Option, but we are going to go on to the next step: Replace Background. This way we can see the results of each Auto Select option. So, we have a number of options available in Import an Image. Either we can import another photograph from our computer, or we can select Presets, None, or Color. I chose to import another photograph. Now, my mother, brother and I are standing in a beautiful landscape instead of in front of a car. But my mother’s coat and arm are still missing. Step 3. Move Tool. When you click on the move tool, your cursor changes to an arrow. I can click on my family and drag them all over the photograph. I decided to move us down just a little. Step 4. Refine Edge Brush. Now it is time to put the missing coat and arm back on my mother. When I click on Refine Edge Brush, a number of options are available: Add, Subtract, Size, and Opacity. When I selected Add, the tool worked like a mask tool, and by moving it over where the arm and coat were located, I was able to erase the background. Now, everyone is complete. Using the Subtract option would have the reverse effect. You can also adjust the size of the brush and the opacity. Step 5. Optional. Adjust Match Color Tone. This option supposedly blends the two images together so that the image looks natural. I was happy with my results, but I suspect the color tone of both photographs were already close. Next month: We continue with Guided Tab, Special Edits, Replace Background, and look at the other Select Tools.

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PERSI Gems--Cats by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson

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In last month's column on wills, we cited a bequest to Tib the Cat. Further investigation reveals that this bequest, made in the year 1828, was in the form of an annual pension of 5 shillings to be used solely on Tib's keep. Tib's owner was evidently dutiful and responsible in the care of his pets as are so many others who cohabitate with creatures bearing fur, feathers, scales, or spines. Cats have a tendency to conjure emotions in humans ranging from intense fear to bewilderment to love and devotion. As such, cats have made their place in the histories of our families. We encourage you to write the stories of your family and submit them to the editor of your local genealogical society newsletter for publication. Don’t forget to mention the antics of the family pet. Our own stories include the dog, Rusty, who was jealous of a young woman’s suitor, a beautiful but reclusive cat who successfully abducted a canary from its cage suspended from the ceiling, or Hodge, the cat who absconded with his owner’s wallet. Search the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) for stories of your people and the cats in their lives: http://search.findmypast.com/search/periodical-source-index Consider these cat-related citations: Cat-killer on the loose, makes seal-skin caps out of pet cats, Havana Journal item, Jan. 1893 Schuyler County (NY) Historical Society Journal, v.50n.4, Dec. 2014 Don't throw brickbats at the neighbor's cats, too expensive, Edgefield Advertiser excerpt, 1919 Quill (Old Edgefield Dist. Chap., SC Gen. Soc.), v.31n.5, Sep. 2015 First cat in Toronto, John Graves Simcoe family, 1793, England Toronto (Ont.) Tree, v.43n.3, May 2012 James S. Dewese, semi Temperance Movement, mistook skunk for a cat, n.d., n.p. Lamar County (TX) Genealogy and History, v. 30, 2012 John Cleckner wild cat of monstrous size in Saratoga School House, 1891 Columbiana County (OH) Connection, v.37n.3, Apr. 2014 Moses the cat death from poisoning at H. S. Fargo home, C. L. Casterline family mourning, 1907 Blackford County (IN) Historical Society News, Feb. 2016 Mr. Huddy journey in an oyster-tub drawn by a pig, a badger, 2 cats, a goose, and a hedgehog, 1821 Bristol and Avon (Eng.) Family History Society Journal, n.22, Win. 1980 Oldish cat at Nantglyn, William Lloyd owner, about 130 years old, b. 1598, 1728 Hel Achau (Clwyd Fam. Hist. Soc., Wales), n.33, Apr. 1991 Percy the Penguin kidnapped by Fritz the Cat and the 3 Musketeers, Mayor Harry Barrett ransom, 1974 Oakville (Ont.) Historical Society Newsletter, v.46n.4, Dec. 2012 Real strays in the census, voter lists, Jim the cat, Dick the canary, news items, 1891+ Sussex (Eng.) Family Historian, v.6n.7, Sep. 1985

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History Tidbits: Tattooing of the Children by Allison DePrey Singleton

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Many reading this newsletter remember the “Duck and Cover” drills. Bert the Turtle taught children how to stay safe during an atomic attack, etching him into many minds for a lifetime. Less well known are the tattoos that some children received during the Cold War. In the early 1950s, some children received tattoos with their blood type under their left arms. It is easy to see how these tattoos have escaped modern attention. As a test program, the practice was not implemented nationally, and those who devised and put it into effect are likely deceased. The children receiving tattoos are now in their 70s, and the tattoos have likely faded. Perhaps for some it was probably such a horrific event that they did not wish to discuss it even in adulthood. As to why parents allowed their children to be tattooed, one explanation is that they wanted the best for them. If an atomic attack occurred and their children needed a blood transfusion, their blood type would be easily known. The tattooed subjects also helped provide doctors a bank of blood donors whose blood types were already known. The program offered the appearance of protection during a time of fear, when children were taught to duck and cover, bomb shelters were built, and much of society prepared for a potential attack. There were three main testing locations for the tattoos: Lake County, Indiana; and Cache and Rich counties, Utah, with the tattooing taking place within the schools. Children in grades from elementary school to high school had to have their parents fill out a permission form and bring in 50 cents for the blood typing, dog tags, and tattoo. These community-wide programs brought the potential of tension if some did not participate. Some adults also allowed themselves to be tattooed for the same reasons as they did their children. What preventative measures will be taken in the future to protect the population? On January 23, 2020, the Doomsday Clock, controlled by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, moved to just 100 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been. While it is unlikely that “duck and cover” and blood type tattooing with ever make a come-back, it is always wise to know what one’s own blood type. Sources and further reading: Wolf, Elizabeth & Laumann, Anne. (2008). The use of blood-type tattoos during the Cold War. “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.” 58. 472-6. 10.1016/j.jaad.2007.11.019. Carsten, Janet. (2013) Blood Will out: Essays on Liquid Transfers and Flows. John Wiley & Sons Inc. https://books.google.com/books?id=VaI2AAAAQBAJ&pg=RA2-PT107&lpg=RA2- PT107&dq=%22civil+defense+tat-typing&source=bl&ots=N0ttyrrb2q&sig=ACfU3U2NBquNo64vOQlONgKLNmEyXoEtLQ&hl=en&sa=X &ved=2ahUKEwj8pZXK15znAhWLG80KHbWpCgUQ6AEwBnoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22civil%20 defense%20tat-typing&f=false Newspaper Articles: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Osw-kih7VpBMRdDvz_O5OxiHpqatjNV0?usp=sharing

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Library Catalog Insider--The Community Album by Kasia Young

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Welcome to February! This month we will steer away from the traditional library catalog and focus on the digital collections that are contained within the Allen County Public Library’s Community Album. To access this wonderful resource, simply go to https://acpl-cms.wise.oclc.org/, select RESEARCH tab and click on COMMUNITY ALBUM. The Community Album consists of 110 individual collections, which focus on telling the story of the places and people of Allen County, Indiana. There are many ways to explore this resource, which as of now contains more than 64,000 photographs and documents. To peruse the entire collection, select BROWSE from the drop down menu, which is located in the upper right corner of the screen. From here, you can utilize the SEARCH box to look for people, places, events, and more. If you are looking for an individual, you can use the SEARCH box. If you have the full name of an individual, type it as “first name + last name” and click on the magnifying glass icon. For example, a search for Don Alvather, an employee of the International Harvester Company, yields 8 images that are all a part of our International Harvester Company-Navistar Collection. It is also possible to just type the last name, if it is unique enough. For example: Handlin, yields only 8 results, but Wayne yields 34,210! If you are looking for an institution, let’s say Northside High School, type the name of the school and select the magnifying glass. This search yields 41 results, both photographs and documents. If you are looking for an event at a particular institution, type the name of the institution and keyword for the event. For example: “International Harvester + reunion” yields 38 results, both photographs and documents. If you want to exclude a particular collection from your search, simply uncheck the box next to the collection’s name in the COLLECTIONS sidebar and click UPDATE. This feature is available after a search is performed. You can also choose to browse a specific collection such as one of our favorites, the Kallen-Wiseley Family Postcards collection. To do so, just select the name of the collection that you are interested in viewing, and you will be taken to the collection’s landing page. From here, you can click on the BROWSE button, which will allow you to view the entire collection. You can limit the search by DATE CREATED, or you can use the SEARCH box to narrow down your search even further. Let's say you are only interested in “New Year” postcards. Go ahead and type “new year” into the search box and click on the magnifying glass icon. This particular search yields 7 matches with postcards that contain “new year” in the metadata. This concludes a brief overview of our Community Album. We hope that you will take time to explore this resource and make new and unique discoveries. Stay tuned for more Community Album tips in the coming months. Bonus tip: You will be happy to know that the Community Album is mobile friendly, so you can enjoy it regardless of what device you are using.

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DNA and Genealogy Interest Group

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Our next DNA and Family History Interest Group meetings will be on Thursday, February 6, 2020. 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 Interest Group Meeting to share and learn from one other! The basic information meeting is from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., followed by a more advanced discussion from 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

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Last Gasp for WinterTech – for This Winter!

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February marks the last offering for this season’s WinterTech. During the winter, we plan one event per month, at 2:30 p.m., on the second Wednesday of each month, to coincide with the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana’s monthly meetings, which begin at 7:00 p.m. This way, you can come to the library for two events on the same day! On Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at 2:30 p.m. come to the Discovery Center to learn about “African American Digital Collections at The Genealogy Center.” Melissa Tennant will guide your discovery through the incredible African American digital collections available at The Genealogy Center. See what can be found through the African American Gateway, African American Newspapers, African American Heritage, Archives Unbound, and the Slavery and Anti-Slavery database. Stay for the ACGSI meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Discovery Center as John Beatty discusses “Pennsylvania Genealogy: Doing Research in the Keystone State.” Registration is recommended. Register online at https://acpl.libnet.info/events! Just search Genealogy to find all of our programs. You can also register for any of these free programs by calling 260-421-1225 or emailing Genealogy@ACPL.Info.

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February Technology in Genealogy User Group Meeting

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The Genealogy Center and the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana hold a Technology in Genealogy User Group Meeting on the third Saturday of each month. Spend an enjoyable and informative hour in the Discovery Center on Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. Sara Allen will be leading a DNA Q&A.

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Hidden Gems of Jewish Genealogy and Discovering the Shtetl

*************************************** Join genealogist Marlis Humphrey, well-known researcher and speaker, and immediate past president of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (ISJGS) as she discusses “Hidden Gems of Jewish Genealogy” and “Discovering the Shtetl” on Sunday, February 16, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in The Discovery Center. This program is sponsored by and offered in cooperation with the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society.

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African American Genealogy & Black Church Records Programs

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The African American Genealogical Society Fort Wayne is celebrating ten years in a very big way! They are sponsoring family history expert Timothy Pinnick to present an engaging and informative group of program at the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center on February 22 & 23, 2020. The program suite is entitled, “African American Genealogy & Black Church Records.” Tim Pinnick is a book author, article writer, and national speaker with more than thirty-five years overall research experience including work in all the major U.S. repositories. In 2019, Tim was the coordinator and facilitator of a landmark workshop course entitled “Building an African American Research Toolbox.” He has presented papers at large history conferences, the most recent at the 2019 Association for the Study of African American Life and History conference, in Charleston, SC. Tim truly is a nationally recognized author, researcher, and lecturer. His passion for history and research in evident in all his works. All of three of the programs are free. We strongly encourage you to reserve your place. You can do so through Eventbrite at the following URL: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tim-pinnick-african-american-genealogy-black-church-recordstickets-92289070093?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utmcontent=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing The schedule for the weekend is below. Saturday, February 22 – 10 a.m.: "The Ancestor Hunt and Chronicling America - Newspaper Research Imperative.” Learn to quickly determine which newspapers exist in your geographic areas of interest and the repositories holding them. Receive links, tips, and strategies to guide you through newspaper research. Saturday, February 22 – 2 p.m.: "Using Newspapers as Part of the African American Research Process." Newspapers--both black and mainstream--are an extremely valuable part of the African American research strategy. Learn 25 key tips, strategies, and resources designed to empower you to uncover more about your ancestors. Sunday, February 23 – 2 p.m.: "’And the Church Said AMEN!’ - African American Religious Research.” Locating information on African American congregations can be frustrating. Learn how to overcome the lack of record preservation at the local level with a variety of records and effective research strategies. Church representatives are encouraged to attend to share local church history and learn more about history preservation.

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Count on March Madness

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Every March, The Genealogy Center likes to honor our Indiana roots by observing March Madness. This year, in anticipation of the coming 2020 census, we are focusing on the various censuses that are available for family historians. Our offerings include: Sunday, March 1, 2020, 2:30 p.m., Discovery Center Searching Online Census Collections – John Beatty Monday, March 2, 2020, 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center Finding & Using State Census Records - Delia Cothrun Bourne Tuesday, March 3, 2020, 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center Native American Enumerations: First Nations in Context – Curt Witcher Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center Seldom Used Census … Non-Population and Slave Schedules – Cynthia Theusch Thursday, March 5, 2020, 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Discovery Center DNA & Family History Interest Groups – Sara Allen Friday, March 6, 2020, 2:30 p.m., Discovery Center The 1940 Census and Preparing for the 1950 Census – Allison DePrey Singleton Saturday, March 7, 2020, 2:30 p.m., Discovery Center Piecing the Census Puzzle Together - Melissa Tennant Of course, you don’t have to choose among these offerings. You can attend all! Register online at https://acpl.libnet.info/events! Just search Genealogy to find all of our programs. You can also register for any of these free programs by calling 260-421-1225 or emailing Genealogy@ACPL.Info.

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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 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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Area Calendar of Events

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Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana February 12, 2020 - Allen County Public Library, Genealogy Center, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, Discovery Center, 7 p.m. John Beatty will present “Our Ancestors' Immigration Records.” Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana Technology in Genealogy Users Group Meeting February 15, 2020 - Allen County Public Library, Genealogy Center, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, Discovery Center, 10:30 a.m. This month Sara Allen will be leading a DNA Q&A. Mary Penrose Wayne DAR Chapter Library Help Day for Prospective DAR Members February 5, 2020 - Allen County Public Library, Genealogy Center, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) are joining the DAR in being available in the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center on the first Wednesday of every month starting this February. On February 5, 2020, a representative of the local chapter of the SAR will be in the Genealogy Center to answer questions regarding membership in the organization. Assistance will be provided to help one with the application process. The George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series February 2, 2020 - History Center, 302 E. Berry Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2 p.m. Lecture presented by Anthony L. Conley and is entitled “War as a Tool for Group Uplift: African Americans and War, Part II, 1941-1975.”

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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

*************************************** 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 halfhours, $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