July 2009

Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 65, July 31, 2009 In this issue: To Publish is to Preserve New England Missionary Families in Hawaii Confederate Military Manuscripts Technology Tip of the Month--Restoring Photographs using Adobe Photoshop Version 9.02 Preservation Tip of the Month--Reframing Prints Tree Talks for August: Preserve Your Family Treasures Family History: Beyond the Basics, A Two Day Mini-Course Second Annual Military Symposium Coming Soon . . . Family History Month Librarians on Parade Area Calendar of Events Driving Directions to the Library Parking at the Library Queries for the Department

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To Publish is to Preserve by Curt B. Witcher

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I believe many frequently forget that one of the best ways of preserving information is to disseminate that data. In so many ways, to publish is to preserve. If you publish data about your family and the research you have done, and further, if you include references to your sources--and maybe even digital copies of the evidence upon which you based your research conclusions--you are preserving that data for future users. Over the years, I have encountered numerous researchers who are frustrated that a vital record is missing the given name of an ancestor or that an official document (or its transcription) contains a variant or misspelling of a surname. "How can I get that changed?" and "Who can I write to in order to update that document?" are frequent questions. Since we can't change original records and published materials (and it probably would be imprudent for us to do so anyway), the best answer is to publish the correct data--publish the complete information. So publishing not only preserves data but publishing also preserves our thoughts and opinions about, and evaluation of, that data. We hear people wonder out loud, often with a tone of regret, if anyone a few years from now will remember Grandpa‛s stories, or recall Aunt Tillie‛s favorite way of describing a summer rainstorm. We can assure that our family stories are preserved by recording them and publishing them. Today‛s technology gives us so many free and near-free options--we truly have little excuse not to publish. Self publishing the traditional way with paper can be done for pennies. Web publishing can be done even more economically. When you publish on paper, make sure a copy gets to a library that will catalog, preserve, and make your work accessible to interested researchers. Libraries such as the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and the Allen County Public Library‛s Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne are excellent repositories for such works. Sending a copy to both libraries is a super way to preserve your work. When you publish on the web, make sure you have an electronic copy that is on a website maintained and accessed by many. Just keeping the electronic work to yourself orphans it if/when something happens to you. A family or community website more completely ensures the file(s) will be available longer than we will. An even better place to deposit your electronic family files is on WeRelate.org. Give it a look--it could be the answer to your electronic preservation needs. Other news . . . With this month‛s ezine, a new feature of “Genealogy Gems” is debuting: “Technology Tips.” For the next several months, a very talented colleague here in the Genealogy Center will be writing about how to improve your digital images. I am looking forward to great, practical information about making captured images of people and documents clearer and more usable. Finally, if you have electronic files, whether about a family, a record group, or a geographic area, and you want to ensure they are available in the future--preserved--think about sending the Genealogy Center a copy on disk.

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New England Missionary Families in Hawaii by Delia Cothrun Bourne

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Taking a long cruise to Hawaii may be a pleasant vacation to Americans now, but in the nineteenth century such a trip may have been motivated by a religious vocation to minister to, and convert, native Hawaiians. The Genealogy Center has two volumes which provide a wealth of information on the people and activities of the Hawaiian Mission Children‛s Society. The first is “Missionary Album: Portraits and Biographical Sketches of the American Protestant Missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands” (996.9 H31), published by the Society in 1969. Along with detailed biographies and portraits of the missionaries are a map and descriptions of the various stations throughout the Islands. The arrivals of the twelve “Companies” of missionaries (1820-1848) are also listed, including departure and arrival ports and dates, ship‛s name with description, captain‛s name, and notes concerning the voyage. For example, the Third Company sailed on Captain Richard D. Blinn‛s “Parthian” from Boston in 1827, arriving in Honolulu in 1828. The entry details the cost of passage for sixteen missionaries and four Polynesians, and notes that the ship carried material for two frame houses, a printing press and its accoutrements, and 40,000 Bible tracts printed in the Hawaiian language. The 1837-38 Eighth Company voyage was pleasant, with a cooperative captain who allowed Hawaiian seamen to tutor the missionaries in the language, culminating in public confessions of faith by six of the ship‛s crew. In contrast, food washed overboard on the Ninth Company‛s trip, 1840-41, resulting in a poor diet for the remainder of the voyage because the captain refused to replace it. “Descendants of New England Protestant Missionaries to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaiian Islands), 1820-1900: An Alphabetically Arranged Copy of Births, Marriages, and Deaths from the Records of the Hawaiian Mission Children‛s Society Library” (996.9 R44D) includes the same listings of the missionary Companies, along with arrivals of individuals, 1823-1894. Family groups are listed by surname, and include parents and children with vital record dates and places. One can then trace the descendants of each child for several generations, following families back to the mainland, or to foreign countries. Married daughters will be listed under their husband‛s surname. An every name index also makes it possible to begin with a descendant and trace back to the missionary ancestors. Both of these volumes could assist in breaking down a wall in the research of missionary ancestors.

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Confederate Military Manuscripts by Melissa Shimkus

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When searching for a Confederate soldier of the Civil War, one might use service records, pension applications, and unit histories, but another excellent source of information is the microfilmed “Confederate Military Manuscripts.” These primary source documents illustrate the effects of the war on the southern population. Within the series, a researcher may locate military enlistment rolls, battle reports, prisoner of war records, and order books, as well as discover family information in personal letters and diaries. The set consists of 106 reels of film divided into four sections or series. Series A contains materials from the Virginia Historical Society, including the papers of Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and J.E.B. Stuart. Series B, from Louisiana State University, focuses on the western theater of the war. Series C features events west of the Mississippi River, with documents from the University of Texas at Austin. Series D concentrates on the eastern theater of the conflict, with sources from the University of Virginia Library. “The Guide to the Microfilm Edition of Confederate Military Manuscripts” (973.7 Sch34g), edited by Joseph T. Glatthaar, describes the contents of each reel in the set, but is not an index. Among these content rich documents, for example, one can find the papers of Robert Taylor Scott. Prior to becoming the Attorney General of Virginia, he corresponded with various family members discussing matters such as weddings, visits, ailments, and the courtship of his future wife. Military papers within the manuscripts include a muster roll for the Texas Cavalry‛s, 1st Mounted Riflemen, Company C, which provides genealogical data on Sgt. Solomon H. Owens, who enlisted on May 7, 1861 and died June 15, 1861. Personal letters found in the collection can also help military researchers document battlefield decisions. For example, Isaac “Ike” Jordan, of the 11th Mississippi Regiment, wrote his family concerning his time at Harpers Ferry and Manassas Junction. His account of the regiment‛s movements within Virginia and of his service to the Confederacy provides a personal report of the war, and helps the researcher understand military decisions as well as the fears and concerns of those fighting. The “Confederate Military Manuscripts” is a valuable resource for southern historians and genealogical researchers. The first-hand accounts of daily life during that turbulent time give us a glimpse of the trials and conditions our ancestors experienced. The military records hidden within this source can also help us follow their service to the Confederacy.

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Technology Tip of the Month--Restoring Photographs using Adobe Photoshop Version 9.02 by Kay Spears

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We all have them. They‛re probably in a big old box under a bed or in a ratty old scrapbook that‛s seen better days. You know, those old photographs that are fading, cracking, and have water spots or crayon marks on them. Wouldn‛t it be nice to restore them? Easy to say, but harder to do, because if you have more than one that you want to restore, it‛s going to be a tedious, time consuming project. However, in the end, when you have a pristine photograph of your grandmother at age 18 gazing back at you, it will all be worthwhile. Here are some beginning rules of thumb: 1. Raster and Vector: All photographic images are rasters when viewed on the computer monitor. Raster images are composed of individual elements, called pixels, arranged in a grid. Each pixel has a specific location and color. Vector graphics use geometric characteristics – lines and curves. Most company logos are Vectors. Mickey Mouse is a vector. Because computer displays are made of a grid of pixels, both vector and raster images are displayed as pixels on a computer monitor. 2. When working with an image, whether adding color, painting, cloning, erasing, etc., remember that you will in all likelihood be working with a mouse tool, and a mouse tool is not the easiest tool to manipulate. 3. Remember that no matter how hard you try, there are some images that cannot be fixed. 4. Always have a backup and save your original screen image as is. Never save the corrections to the original photographic image file; always save the corrected image under a different file name. I usually make a duplicate copy of the image and work on that. 5. All computers are different! The computer at my desk is different from the computer at the next desk. Windows applications are different from Macintosh applications. A laser jet printer is different from an ink jet. The same photographic image will appear darker on a Windows computer than on a Macintosh. 6. There will be a variation in color from what you see on the screen and what is printed. Do a couple of test runs to become acquainted with your color printer. 7. Scan a photo for archival purposes at a minimum of 300 dpi (dots per inch) and save it as a TIFF (never a JPEG). If a photo is going to be used for a website or emailed, it may be reduced to 72 dpi and saved as a JPEG. 8. Don‛t be afraid to experiment! Next month: The tools you need for photo restoration.

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Preservation Tip of the Month--Reframing Prints by Becky Schipper

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Most prints from the late 1800s to the late 1900s were on acidic paper. In addition, many of those prints were backed with cardboard and matted with an acidic mat. Many times the acid in these materials will burn into the print, causing it to turn brown and brittle. Another common problem is referred to as foxing. This is when the print has mold that appears as brown spots on the face of the print. Mold is more common when no mat or spacers were used in the framing. It can be very expensive to have a conservator kill the mold and restore the paper. However, if you re-mat and replace the glass on a moldy print, further mold growth will be prevented. Your print should be reframed to archival standards. This includes using pH neutral mats and backing boards, and attaching the print to the backing board with either pH neutral plastic mounts, or pH neutral hinges and adhesives. A mat or spacers should be used between the print and the glass.

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Tree Talks for August: Preserve Your Family Treasures

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What do you do with the original documents, antique quilts, and photographs that you acquire as the family's historian? Where do you put these materials and how do you make sure they are preserved for future generations? Rebecca Schipper, the Allen County Public Library's Preservationist, will answer some of these questions in her presentation "Preserving Family History: Basics of Care & Storage" on August 22, 2009, at 10 AM in Meeting Room A. Becky will discuss the correct storage and care of textiles, books, documents, and photos. Mark your calendars for this free program! Register by calling 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@acpl.info .

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Family History: Beyond the Basics, A Two Day Mini-Course

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September brings the advanced course on research techniques on Friday and Saturday, September 18 and 19. Margery Graham, ICG and Steve Myers, MLS will share their expertise with a limited number of attendees. Sessions include Problem Solving, Probate Records, Land Records and Tax Lists, Military Records, Church Records, and Tracing Your Ancestors Across the Atlantic, as well as tours of the Genealogy Center, assisted research, and personal consultations. Cost is $50 for the two days. Expanded course descriptions and registration form will soon be at http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/programs.html . Register early because space is limited.

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Second Annual Military Symposium

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Make plans now to attend the Genealogy Center‛s second annual Military Symposium, emphasizing Patriotic Lineage Societies, on Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10. Speakers Ron Darrah, Curt Witcher, and Delia Cothrun Bourne will present “American Hereditary Military Societies: An Overview,” “Keep Your Powder Dry: The Revolutionary War and Genealogy,” “After Johnny & Billy Came Marching Home: Post-Service and Hereditary Societies of the American Civil War,” “A Splendid Little War: Family History and the Spanish-American War,” “The War To End All Wars: World War I Genealogy,” and “Marching On: The ‘Our Military Heritage‛ Website.” See http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/programs.html in the next week for schedule and registration information.

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Coming Soon . . . Family History Month

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With October comes Family History Month, and true to form the Genealogy Center staff is planning 31 days of events to celebrate our shared passion for researching our heritage! Events will include sessions on research techniques and online sources, a spotlight on local church and architecture sources, and feature a segment on the Lincoln Collection (newly housed here at the Allen County Public Library), as well as our second annual Military Symposium. The month will finish with "Reconnecting Lost Links," the first International Black Genealogy Summit. For the calendar and more information about Family History Month programs, go to http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/programs.html in the next week and register for a least several of the program offerings. For the International Black Genealogy Summit, go directly to the following link http://www.blackgenealogysummit.com/speakerlistregistration.html . Click on the top link at the bottom of the page to see a complete list of offerings. You can also print off a form to register today at this site.

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Librarians on Parade

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Curt Witcher August 19, 2009--Auburn, IN, Willennar Genealogy Center of the Eckhart Public Library, 700 South Jackson Street, 7 p.m. "Finding the World with WorldCat" September 3, 2009--Little Rock, AR, Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference, Little Rock Statehouse Convention Center, 5 p.m. "More Toys and a Bigger Sandbox: Future Possibilities with Digital Libraries" September 5, 2009--Little Rock, AR, Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference, Little Rock Statehouse Convention Center, 2 p.m. "Finding the World with WorldCat" September 9, 2009--Fort Wayne, IN, Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Meeting Room "A", 7 p.m. "What's New at the Genealogy Center" September 16, 2009--Auburn, IN, Willennar Genealogy Center of the Eckhart Public Library, 700 South Jackson Street, 7 p.m. "Peopling the Midwest--Patterns & Records" September 25, 2009--Plainfield, IN, Plainfield-Guildford Township Public Library, 1120 Stafford Road, 11:15 a.m. "Preserving Local Records" Part of the Indiana Genealogical Society's "Society Management Seminar"--focus on preserving and accessing public records.

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Area Calendar of Events

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Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) The society does not meet during the summer months. Mark your calendars for their first fall meeting, September 9, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Allen County Public Library‛s Main Library, 900 Library Plaza. Fort Wayne, IN. Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, 302 East Berry, Ft. Wayne, IN Saturday, July 11, 2009, 12:00-6:00 p.m. at Historic Fort Wayne, 1101 Spy Run Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN. Event:

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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 102. 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 112. 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 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. It is free to park on the street after 5pm and on the weekends. Visitor center/Grand Wayne Center garage at Washington and Clinton Streets. This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. For hourly parking, 7am – 11 pm, charges are .50 for the first 45 minutes, then $1.00 per hour. There is a flat $2.00 fee between 5pm and 11pm.

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Genealogy Center Queries

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

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Publishing Note:

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