June 2012

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 100, June 30, 2012

In this issue:

Celebrations of Summer

Diaries, Personal Journals and Daybooks

Beverly Yount Scrapbooks

Technology Tip of the Month--Exploring Adobe Photoshop and Elements: The Filter Gallery

Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Saving Photographs

Tree Talks: Help for Beginners

Controlling Genealogy Clutter Week--July 9 through 14, 2012

Coming in September! Family History: Beyond the Basics, A Two-Day Mini-course!

October IS Family History Month

War of 1812 Pension Digitization Project Update

Out and About

Area Calendar of Events

Driving Directions to the Library

Parking at the Library

Queries for The Genealogy Center

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Celebrations of Summer by Curt B. Witcher

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A quick celebratory note--this is our 100th issue of “Genealogy Gems!” We hope you have enjoyed reading these publications; and if you have, please tell a friend. While the official start of summer was just a little more than one week ago, many parts of the country enduring drought and high temperatures have known for a while that summer is upon us. Though concerns about natural disasters have consumed time and energy for many, I hope we all make some time this summer to engage in the age-old tradition of family gatherings and reunions. Big or small, well planned or impromptu, family gatherings provide us with rich opportunities to gather stories, practice old customs, share photographs and family lore, and learn about family members and shared ancestors in new and exciting ways. With digital recorders and digital photography, the opportunities to capture living memory, as well as save and share, are nearly endless. Take advantage of those opportunities, and further, let those gatherings breathe new life and enthusiasm into the work of actually compiling your family history. Many gather the “stuff,” few write the history. With nearly every advent of summer months, the Neil Diamond concert soundtrack, “Hot August Night” comes to mind. Assuredly it‛s a sign of my advancing years! And while we definitely will have some hot August nights temperature-wise, we will also have some “hot August days” of genealogical offerings here at the Allen County Public Library. That is certainly a “summer celebration!” There is so much going on this August that I wanted to give you a heads-up in case you can flex your end-ofsummer schedules to attend these events. Saturday, August 4th, Roberta Estes is returning to the Allen County Public Library with a number of her colleagues for a day-long seminar on DNA and Melungeons. The DNA work that has been done with Melungeon populations is truly remarkable, and answers age-old questions about their origins. Now, before you say that you don‛t have any Melungeon ancestors, let me hasten to tell you a bit more about the day. The seminar will begin with a general introduction to DNA and genealogy. Ms. Estes does an excellent job with this presentation. So, if you have been wondering about how DNA findings work with genealogical research, this is a must-attend session, Melungeon or not. In addition, the question and answer period at the end of the day will likely cover DNA findings as they relate to African Americans and Native Americans. Even more good news is that the seminar is free. Attend the whole day or just sessions of particular interest--it's totally up to you. The following Saturday, August 11th, expert genealogist, author, lecturer, archivist, and research consultant, Frazine Taylor, will be the featured presenter at a workshop entitled, “Researching African American Family History in Alabama: Et Cetera.” This program is being sponsored by the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne, and will cover topics such as school and church records, as well as prison and court records. These presentations are geared to assist one in discovering African American ancestors in the Black Belt states, with an emphasis on Alabama. Many who do African American research are aware of the migration trail from Alabama to Fort Wayne. Come explore this trail with an expert, Ms. Taylor, and learn not only about the migration but also about key records to use in documenting one‛s African American ancestry. The program is from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a reception the Friday evening beforehand at the LaSalle Bed & Breakfast, just one block west of the library. For tickets and information, please contact the African American Genealogical Society Fort Wayne at 260-247-0789 or email the society at AAGSFW@gmail.com. The last Saturday of the month, August 25th at 10 a.m., The Genealogy Center will be offering the fourth program in our 2012 “Tree Talks for Beginners” entitled “Beginner‛s Guide to Vital Records.” Vital records are among the most highly prized of historical records. Do you know the best strategies for finding vital records and for getting the most out of the data they offer? Attending this program may just be a way to sharpen your research skills. I hope you partake in the many celebrations of summer. ***************************************

Diaries, Personal Journals and Daybooks by Dawne Slater-Putt, CG(sm)*

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Few resources provide detailed day-to-day information about the lives of our ancestors as do a diary, personal journal or daybook. Unfortunately, few of us have ancestors who kept this kind of record, and even fewer know where such a volume is today if it was kept. However, the good news is that a diary doesn‛t have to have been written personally by one of our ancestors to be useful to us. People who lived in the same place as our ancestors, were engaged in similar occupations, attended the same denomination of church during the same period, or were of a similar economic and social status may have left behind a diary that can give us rich background information for understanding what our ancestors‛ lives were like. Other diarists may have emigrated from the same country as our ancestors, or served in the same military unit during the Civil War or another conflict. To find diaries and personal journals in The Genealogy Center catalog, try the search terms “American diaries” or “personal narratives” or simply “diaries” with the state, or county and state, of interest. If the military unit is known, it can be used as part of the search. A sample search of The Genealogy Center‛s catalog using the terms “diaries Franklin County Indiana” results in five “hits,” one of which is “Jerome Wiley‛s Journal, Franklin Co., Ind., 1841- 1891” (977.201 F85wj). In it, Wiley noted births, marriages and deaths in Franklin County during a period beginning long before births and deaths were recorded by the state‛s governmental authorities. Many entries include cause of death, and some have editorial comments, such as “John Vannatty died this evening with drunken consumption. He was a worthless dog.” Other entries commented on the weather: “It snowed last night and is very cold this morning;” business: “Salt creek washed my sawmill away Broke it all to pieces;” and other events affecting the neighborhood: “Marion Mole and his family started to move to Decatur Alabama. His father and mother went with him.” Diaries, while a relatively rare source, can provide information found in no other record and may be a rich trove of details about what daily life was like for our ancestors. “CG” & “Certified Genealogist” are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and are used by authorized associates following periodic, peer-reviewed competency evaluations.

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Beverly Yount Scrapbooks by Cynthia Theusch

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Beverly Yount (1921-1977) was a noted genealogist of families in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana and surrounding counties. Among her legacies is a large collection of newspaper clippings pasted onto 10,276 consecutively numbered pages and bound into 41 scrapbooks. This entire collection, as well as a typed card index, is available in The Genealogy Center on five reels of microfilm (reels 31- 35, cabinet 70-O-3). The collection prominently features items highlighting biographical events such as births, marriages, anniversaries, retirements, and deaths. Other newspaper clippings include information on historical and social events, local societies, weather conditions, and the history of businesses, homes and buildings. Access is aided by an A-Z index that includes the names of people, businesses and organizations, and supplies the page number of the referenced article. The concluding section of the index focuses on an April, 1968 explosion in Richmond and references victims, witnesses and volunteers. The result is a wonderful resource for those studying family and local history in Wayne and surrounding counties. An article dated September 10, 1963, for example, features Rose Deiser, one of the first candy stripers at Reid Hospital, who is beginning her nursing career there. It names her parents and the schools she attended. It also mentions when the candy stripers were organized, describes their uniforms and activities, and names other girls recognized for their service as candy stripers. A clipping of December 15, 1963, reprints an original letter dated October 9, 1845. Written by Mrs. Elizabeth Leland and her son of Huntsburg, Ohio, and addressed to Jerman Warren of Noble County, Indiana, the letter discusses a long drought that lasted from March to September, 1845. It also passes on news of other named family and friends. In addition, the article identifies the family relationships between several of the individuals mentioned. An August, 1963 article announced “Local Man Starts On Second 50 Years In Ice Business In City” and features Jim Ladd, president of Anderson Ice and Coal Company in Richmond. The article highlights interesting historical details about his experiences in the ice business. Another clipping shows a photo of the Kramer home being razed to make room for the expansion of an auto dealership. The accompanying article describes the history of the house and provides biographical information about its owners, Horace Kramer and Daniel K. Zeller. This is just a sample of how these scrapbooks can be a wonderful resource for adding both genealogical and historical details to your family history.

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Technology Tip of the Month--Exploring Adobe Photoshop and Elements: The Filter Gallery by Kay Spears

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I want to begin exploring some other fun, photographic restoration tools in Adobe Photoshop and Elements by talking about the Filter Gallery. This is also a great tool for adding some flourishes to brochures, websites, flyers and posters. A few words of advice -- before you begin a project involving any Photoshop program, make sure you know what you want to accomplish. The end result desired will affect your choices. For instance, when I create something I know will be printed, I use higher resolution images. If what I'm working on involves text, I probably will use Adobe Illustrator because the print quality of vector text is better than that of raster text. If I am using a professional printer, I always contact them to get detailed information about their services. Some important questions include: In what format do they want the finished project? Do they want color separations? Any packet sent to a printer should include the images used in the finished product. Always make sure you and the printer understand each other. You really don't want any surprises after the job is done. Another tip -- if I am concerned that an image might have a pixelated, fuzzy quality when printed, I always zoom in to 300% while working on it. If I can see pixilation on the screen, chances are I will have an image that is fuzzy when printed. I then look for ways to correct the problem. If I am working on a project that will be posted online, I can relax a little and not use the high resolution images I use for print. I can even use the raster text in the Photoshop software. What if the project is for both print and Web? This is my suggestion: Always design the higher quality product first, save it, and then reduce it down to a JPEG or GIF for Web use. Let's look at the Filter Gallery. This is a collection of tools that will add pizzazz to any project. It might even spice up an old photograph. Have you ever had a copy of an old family photograph that appears to be pixelated? If so, it's probably one that is or was a JPEG image. There are several tools in the Filter Gallery that may disguise some of the problems with this kind of image, but they won't work in every case. Open an image. Go to Filter>Filter Gallery. A large dialogue box opens, with the image displayed. On the right are numerous choices. Those I have found useful in disguising JPEG artifacts are Cut Out, Film Grain and Watercolor (under Artistic); Ink Outline (under Brush Strokes); and Diffuse Glow (under Distort). When you click on each tool, you will be able to adjust the settings. Just remember, a damaged photograph with JPEG artifacts cannot be restored to its original pristine condition; however, the above tools may help to disguise the problem. Next: More About the Amazing Filter Gallery

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Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Saving Photographs

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The terrible wild-fires in the west and the horrible flooding in the southeast are sober reminders of the importance of preservation, particularly of important family heirloom and photographs. A few miracles have been reported in the last days of June that detail photographs in fire-proof cases and slides in similar containers have miraculously survived the ravages of fire or have been found washed-up along a riverbank. Overall, though, many have lost generations of photographs and, sadly, sometimes many of the memories that go with them. The lesson for everyone is that every day is a good day to take steps to preserve and share our photographs. We have visited the topic of saving and preserving photographs a number of times in this ezine. Hence, this may be a review for many.

The American Museum of Photography‛s “Preserving & Protecting Photographs” page provides some good practice advice.  

The Library of Congress‛ “Caring for Your Photographic Collections” site offers sound advice for every-day applications.  

The Northeast Document Conservation Center publishes an online bibliography on the “Preservation of Photographs.”  

FEMA has a quick-read website with tips for drying photographs.  

WikiHow provides a five-step process for saving a wet photograph album.  

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Tree Talks: Help for Beginners

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The Genealogy Center's summer series, Tree Talks, continues on Saturday, July 28, 2012 with "Ancestry: The Beginner's Way to Search." Are you new to genealogy? Have you tried Ancestry.com and felt confused? If so, attend this session and Melissa Shimkus will teach basic steps that help you begin your genealogy search and navigate this site successfully. The last lecture of this series, "Beginner's Guide to Vital Records," will be offered on Saturday, August 25. All Tree Talks classes are 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Meeting Room A. For more information, see the brochure at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/2012_Brochures/summer.sflb.ashx. Please register for any or all of these free classes by calling 260-421-1225 or send an email to Genealogy@ACPL.Info.

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Controlling Genealogy Clutter Week--July 9 through 14, 2012

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Is your genealogical material in file boxes? Are there stacks of papers, three-ring binders, and scrapbooks populating your home? How do other researchers organize all the information and materials they collect? Join The Genealogy Center for "Controlling Genealogy Clutter Week" and learn numerous strategies for cleaning up your family history research. Each day features a different topic.

Monday, July 9, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Meeting Room A: "Organizing Your Genealogical Files," presented by Cynthia Theusch.

Tuesday, July 10, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Meeting Room A: "Organization of Genealogical Materials," presented by Dawne Slater-Putt.

Wednesday, July 11, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., Meeting Room A, "Being Creative With Your Family History," presented by Cynthia Theusch.

Thursday, July 12, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Theater: "Digital Organization: The No Paper Approach to Genealogy," presented by Melissa Shimkus.

Friday, July 13, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Meeting Room A: "How to Look at Your Photographs, Analyze and Organize," presented by Kay Spears.

Saturday, July 14, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Meeting Room A: "Writing Your Family History," presented by Dawne Slater-Putt.

For more information and descriptions of each class, see the brochure at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/2012_Brochures/Clutter.sflb.ashx. To register for any of these free classes, call 260-421-1225, or email to Genealogy@ACPL.Info. Join us and get your clutter under control!

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Coming in September! Family History: Beyond the Basics, A Two-Day Mini-course!

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Margery Graham and Steve Myers are presenting a “Family History: Beyond the Basics” mini-course on Friday and Saturday, September 7 & 8, 2012. This workshop is an excellent way for beginners and intermediate researchers to build on what they know or to review important concepts and sources. Of course, attendees are free to bypass any individual session to take advantage of additional research and consultation time. Marge and Steve say you'll learn lots and have fun, too! Classes include Problem Solving: Breaking through Brick Walls in Your Research; Probate Records; Land Records and Tax Lists; Military Records; Church Records; Tracing Your Ancestors Across the Atlantic; and a tour of The Genealogy Center. Program and registration details are included in the brochure at http://www.genealogycenter.org. Attendance is limited, so please register early to avoid disappointment.

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October IS Family History Month

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We are planning another great Family History Month for 2012 with something every day to satisfy your genealogical cravings. The themed events will include Genealogy Potpourri, culminating with an Allen County Genealogical Society “Beginning Genealogy Workshop” on Saturday, October 6; state/regional research, highlighting Indiana and surrounding states, as well as Virginia and New England; technology, highlighting the Origins Network, Ancestry and our very own PERSI; census lectures; Adobe Elements and other classes; and brick-wall solutions, to provide ideas for surmounting those pesky barriers to continued research. Keep an eye on our Events pages, , for announcements and brochures!

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War of 1812 Pension Digitization Project Update

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This past month saw a couple of very exciting developments in the Federation of Genealogical Societies‛ national project to digitize and make available for free access the War of 1812 pension records. On Monday, June 18th (the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812), the Illinois Genealogical Society issued the ISGS $10,000 War of 1812 Pension Match Challenge. ISGS will MATCH any donation up to the first $10,000 that is made before December 31, 2012. This means that if you donate $10, ISGS will match your donation with another $10; if you give $100, ISGS will give $100. In addition, Ancestry.com will also match the overall amount donated by ISGS, which means that the $10,000 raised plus the $10,000 in matching donations will become $40,000! Your $10 donation to help digitize these files actually becomes $40! Find out all the details at the Illinois State Genealogical Society‛s webpage.  If you‛re interested in donating to the project, giving through the Illinois State Genealogical Society will ensure that your gift is quadrupled in value! One certainly cannot beat that kind of an investment. One week later, on June 25th, the Federation of Genealogical Societies announced its first lead gift for the project. The following is taken from the FGS press release of that date. “The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the donation of a generous gift in the amount of $135,000 from the estate of the late Jon Stedman in memory of his mother, Ardath Stedman. The donation to the Preserve the Pensions – War of 1812 Pension Digitization Fund will be used to help preserve and digitize War of 1812 Pension records. Hollace Hervey, executrix of the estate, indicated that Jon Stedman was "always interested in preservation and bringing information to the front" so genealogists could more easily use it. Besides caring passionately for facilitating genealogists doing good research, Stedman had a deep love and affection for his mother who was a genealogist in her own right. The Preserve the Pensions project is just such a preservation and access endeavor, and FGS is honored in receiving this generous donation. The $135,000 donation is a significant lead gift to the Preserve the Pensions project as FGS ramps up its fundraising efforts (to raise $3.7M) during the bicentennial of the War of 1812 which started on June 18, 2012. Members of the genealogy and family history communities as well as the general public are invited to learn more about this important record preservation project by visiting the Preserve the Pensions website at www.fgs.org/1812 and assist with honoring our nation‛s heritage by preserving the records of our past.”

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Out and About

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Curt Witcher July 20, 2012, Indianapolis, IN, Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 E. 21st St.--Indiana Historical Society Midwestern Roots, 4 p.m.: “‛And the Rockets‛ Red Glare‛: Online Resources for War of 1812 Research.” July 21, 2012, Indianapolis, IN, Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 E. 21st St.--Indiana Historical Society Midwestern Roots, 2:30 p.m.: “Digital Indiana: Online Treasures for Those Searching In and About Indiana.” Melissa Shimkus July 10, 2012, Fort Wayne, IN, Allen County Public Library, Meeting Room A, African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne monthly program, 7:00 pm: "Becoming Expert at Using Ancestry." Cynthia Theusch July 14, 2012, Lansing, MI, 2012 Abrams Genealogy Seminar, Michigan Historical Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, Michigan, 1 p.m.: “French Canadian Research.”

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Area Calendar of Events

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Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) No meeting until September 2012. September 12, 2012--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana. 6:30 p.m. refreshments followed at 7 p.m. by Curt Witcher‛s presentation: “All that Other Stuff: Other Census Records Beyond the Population Schedules the Population Schedules.” Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, 302 East Berry, Ft. Wayne, IN George R. Mather Sunday Lecture Series resumes in October.

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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 half-hours, $1 per hour after, with a $4 per day maximum) and the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Harrison Street ($3 per day). Street (metered) parking on Ewing and Wayne Streets. On the street you plug the meters 8am – 5pm, weekdays only. It is free to park on the street after 5pm and on the weekends. Visitor center/Grand Wayne Center garage at Washington and Clinton Streets. This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. For hourly parking, 7am – 11 pm, charges are .50 for the first 45 minutes, then $1.00 per hour. There is a flat $2.00 fee between 5pm and 11pm.

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Genealogy Center Queries

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

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Publishing Note:

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