June 2017

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 160, June 30, 2017

In this issue:

Whacha Doin’? Why?: The Quest for Context

Encountering Ellis Island

Irish Genealogy Websites

Technology Tip of the Month--Scanning Continued – Stuff You Can Scan

Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Jewish Women’s Archive Preservation Tips

PERSI Gems

History Tidbits: Importance of July

In the Good, Old Summertime

DNA Interest Group

Fine Book Room Tours

Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming

Area Calendar of Events

Driving Directions to the Library

Parking at the Library

Genealogy Center Queries

Publishing Note

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Whacha Doin’? Why?: The Quest for Context by Curt B. Witcher

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I had to smile widely when I read Amy Johnson Crow’s June 25, 2017 email to her subscribers. In it she recalled recent times spent with her 5-year-old great-nephew--times that seemed to be filled to overflowing with “why” questions. Nearly everything that made a sensory impression on her great-nephew prompted a “why” question. It reminded me of a summer job I had as a high school junior caring for lawns and doing outside house painting in my neighborhood. A particular neighbor had a young son who was fascinated with whatever I did. He would follow me around for hours articulating the same refrain, “Whacha doin’?” followed immediately upon a response with, “Why?” “Whacha doin'?” “Painting the patio screen.” “Why?” “It looks better because it matches the wooden base and border.” “Why do you want it to match the border?” “Some people think it looks better that way; and besides, the mesh screen won't rust.” “Why won't it rust when it's painted?” “Because humidity and moisture can't reach the metal.” And on and on. Yes, it quickly could become tedious, but the little guy really wanted to know how the world around him worked. Getting answers to all those “why” questions filled in gaps and provided him with a fuller understanding of his surroundings. The analogy to what one should do when engaging in family history research is stunning. We should be asking, and answering, so many more “why” questions than most typically are. Many have written, as Amy did in her email this week, about the importance of family historians using the questions reporters are encouraged to use: who, what, when, where, and why. Indeed, it is critical to find answers to those questions as they relate to our ancestors. In our quest to find more names and connect to previous generations as quickly as possible, though, sometimes the “why” questions are left behind for more “who” or “what” questions. That can be a consequential mistake. Every time someone is found in a particular record or document, it is worthwhile inquiring why they are where they are and why they are engaged in the activities that are recorded about them. The answers to the “why” questions create what I believe is that ever important context necessary to know the true stories of our ancestors and their lives as well as enabling us to find all the information we can about those who came before us. Why is an ancestor living in a particular place at a specific time? If a family is found on a census record, we should seek to know why they are there, rather than simply be satisfied to have found the individuals. Did they just arrive? Or are they the next generation of a family that has lived in the particular town or county for a century? When we find an individual on a tax record, we should seek to know why they are being taxed. Is it for property, products produced, schools, or services the community wants to provide? “Why” questions may seem like they divert us off the trail of identifying the next generation of ancestors. In truth, seeking answers to “why” questions typically builds context that lead to a richer and deeper knowledge of those whose forebearers we are seeking. Finding answers to “why” questions lead us to more completely appreciating the contexts in which our ancestors lived their lives. The answers to “why” questions lead us to explore ethnic histories, entice us to read the digitized local newspapers for harvest celebrations and visiting relatives, and actually assist us in really knowing our ancestors--their lives, their families, and their times.

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Encountering Ellis Island by Cynthia Theusch

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Have you ever wondered what experiences your immigrated ancestors faced when trying to reach the United States? What were their feelings? We all love to believe that they were very excited with the idea of coming to a new country and starting over. But did they also encounter fear, misconceptions, and disillusionment of what the United States was really like? From 1892 to 1924, millions of immigrants were processed at Ellis Island. Ronald H. Bayor’s book, Encountering Ellis Island, How European Immigrants Entered America (call #974.7 B34E), takes the reader through the processing system from the moment they departed Europe to when their ship docked at Ellis Island and they first set foot in New York. The immigration inspection at Ellis Island was not the first such inspection for immigrants. Some may have been examined up to three times beforehand. According to Bayor, they were inspected first when entering the train terminal in Europe, next at the departure port, and again on the ship. Their final inspection took place at Ellis Island. Going through the inspection process in New York could take up to five hours. Passengers had to endure physical and mental examinations. In addition, they were asked several questions, and at the end of the process, if approved, they would be able to collect their belongings and enter New York City. Some passengers were delayed, detained, or rejected. Bayor writes about the staff who worked on Ellis Island. A woman from Kansas who had never worked with immigrants and knew little about the processing center gave her first impression. “As I stood and watched the immigrants coming in, it looked as though they would never cease …” She also spoke about cruel treatments she received from one of her supervisors. From August 1, 1855 through April 19, 1890, European immigrants were processed at Castle Garden on New York’s Battery. Due to the high volume of people, the federal government made plans to move the immigration processing off shore to Ellis Island. From April 19, 1890, to December 31, 1891, immigration staff used the Barger Office for processing, and they opened it again from June 15, 1897, to December 16, 1900, while rebuilding after a fire that had destroyed the Immigration Building. In the book, A Day in Castle Garden (call #974.702 N421bag) author Louis Bagger offers a brief look at what our ancestors may have encountered after arriving in the United States. On the West Coast, the federal government used Angel Island in San Francisco Bay as an immigration processing station for passengers, many of them Asian, arriving in the United States from January 21, 1910, to November 5, 1940. After going through processing, these immigrants continued on to San Francisco. For more information, see Erika Lee’s book, Angel Island; Immigrant Gateway to America, (call #979.401 M33LE) Even though we may never know exactly what our immigrant ancestors experienced when going through Ellis Island or Angel Island, these authors give us a glimpse of what that experience might have been like. Both books are recommended for a gaining deeper understanding of immigrant history.

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Irish Genealogy Websites by Allison DePrey Singleton

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When speaking of Ireland, the first few things that come to mind for most people are St. Patrick’s Day and sometimes the potato famine. While everyone wants to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, not everyone has that drop of Irish blood flowing in their veins. It was a small island and logically should not supply a large immigrant population. Despite this, between 1820 and 1930, it is estimated that 4.5 million Irish immigrated to America. For this reason, looking at the plentiful number of online Irish resources is helpful to many researchers. As with any research that goes overseas, it is imperative to obtain as much information as possible on the ancestors who first arrived in America. The passenger lists, naturalization records, U. S. vital records, church records, military records, etc. will give you clues to where in Ireland your ancestor might be from. The more detailed you can be, the easier it will be to do the research on your family. If you are just beginning your Irish research, you may want to begin with the FamilySearch Wiki page on Ireland Genealogy (https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Ireland_Genealogy). The “How to” Guides are helpful in giving ideas for certain topics. The general guide is still under construction. When using the FamilySearch Wiki page, it is sometimes more helpful to do a narrow search and then broaden it if you do not find the results you are seeking. For example, your research can begin with Church Records by clicking on the link on the right side of the page. This will take you to a specific page full of links and ideas for searching Irish Church Records. If you do not find what you are looking for, you can go back to the main page and click on the box entitled Ireland Online Records. This will take you to a list of all the online records that have been linked to the Ireland Genealogy page. These will contain records that live on the FamilySearch page and that live on other websites, paid and free alike. The first international website to get started on would be the Ireland National Archives Genealogy website (http://www.genealogy.nationalarchives.ie/). The records that are available online through this website are free to search. There is everything from Census records, to wills, to marriage indexes, to valuation records. It is an excellent starting place for your research. Valuation records are a great resource on their own. They contain a survey of those occupied lands from 1847 to 1864. You can access a set of Griffith’s Valuation for free that includes images and maps through the Ask About Ireland website (http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/). The Ask About Ireland website is great for finding information with such resources as their E-books. Another survey of those who occupied land from 1823 – 1837 is the Tithe Applotment Books, which can be found on the Ireland National Archives website (http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp). Finding where your ancestor lived is a great place to start in searching for other records. Another set of records to search would be the Civil Registrations. FamilySearch has a great index for 1845 - 1958 that is free to search (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408347). Check out the FamilySearch Wiki page for the description of this record set and how to use it (https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Ireland_Civil_Registration_Indexes_(FamilySearch_Historical_ Records). The Irish Genealogy website has a nice index and some images (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp). It is free to use but you will need to type in your name agreeing to their terms. Lastly, do not discount Church records. The largest record set would be for the Roman Catholics, but where there is a record, there is a way to find it. Begin by finding out which religion your immigrant ancestor was when they arrived. Check local church records in the first place the immigrant settled when they arrived in America. Many times immigrants would have to prove they were in good standing with the religion and the church they attended at home with perhaps a letter from their minister/priest/preacher from their homeland. Once you find the religion, you can begin your search. It is easier to find Roman Catholic records online due to the number of Irish Roman Catholics. You can search parish records on the Catholic Parish Registers on the National Library of Ireland (NLI) website (http://registers.nli.ie/) for free. If you are not able to find the records for your ancestor, check the FamilySearch Wiki page for Ireland Church Records for more ideas (https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Ireland_Church_Records). If that does not assist you in finding your ancestors’ Church Records, begin contacting the local churches in the town where your family originated in Ireland. Persistence is key. There are many Irish records available online. A simple Google search will bring many fabulous results in seconds. The Linkpendium website for Irish records has wonderful links for your Irish research as well (http://genealogy-uki.linkpendium.com/irl/). This article focused mainly on free resources; please do not forget that Ancestry.com and FindMyPast.com have wonderful Irish resources. You can access both of those websites for free while at The Genealogy Center. If you are not able to visit our physical location and do not want to pay for them, keep an eye out for free days on either website. Periodically, they will run specials where certain records sets are free for the weekend. Irish record sets are typically free around St. Patrick’s Day. If you are still having trouble finding records for your ancestor, contact your local, friendly genealogy librarian for help in coming up with a game plan for your research.

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Technology Tip of the Month--Scanning Continued – Stuff You Can Scan by Kay Spears

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Ok, we know you can scan a flat piece of paper or an old photograph on a flatbed scanner, but what else can you scan? Well, the wishy-washy answer is, it depends on the scanner and what you are attempting to scan. Let’s talk about glass. Remember that one of the main parts of a scanner is the glass. What does glass do? It breaks, scratches, and smudges, so be careful when putting “stuff” on top of the glass when you start to scan. Be careful with heavy books. Some of those old family bibles are pretty heavy; they may be too much for a flatbed scanner to hold, and you definitely don’t want to drop one on a scanner. But it’s not just the scanner that you need to consider. For instance, some family bibles are pretty delicate, so opening a book and laying it face down on the scanner may damage the spine of the book. So, do some careful consideration before scanning fragile things. Unless you have access to a planetary scanner, I would suggest a hand-held scanner or a camera for the more fragile things. By the way, a planetary scanner is a huge scanner which allows the image to be shot from the top. These scanners are usually used for large items, maps, rare books. They are usually not a household item. Some of the objects I have scanned on a flatbed scanner include: ambrotypes, daguerreotypes and panorama photographs, all still in their frames. I have also scanned cloth, pressed flowers, eye-glasses, military metals and insignias. There are also the assorted diaries and journals. Some of these things were scanned at a higher resolution; for instance, the ambrotypes were scanned at 800dpi. I scanned the ambrotypes as reflective photos and negatives. Negatives and slides sometimes make a better image than the original photograph. Some scanners come with negative and slide attachments/tools. Depending on how much you want to invest in a scanner, I would suggest you purchase one with a negative/slide option. There are a couple of websites that have reviews on different scanners: http://www.pcmag.com/ and https://www.cnet.com. Both of these sites have excellent information on scanners, what to look for, and which ones are good or not so good. Actually, these two websites have great information on most everything electronic. Then there are the photographs that are too large to be scanned. These can be scanned in sections with an inch overlap, then stitched together using a Photoshop program. Some hand-held scanners come equipped with a built-in stitching tool, although I’m not sure how high the resolution will be for a hand-held scanner. The photograph I had the most challenge with was an old convex oval photograph. These photos were popular from around the 1880s to 1938. My convex oval photograph was taken in 1919 and was of three of my uncles. I never knew these three men, they died shortly after the photograph was taken. This seemed to be the only photograph of the three together that my family knew of. My cousin asked for a copy. I looked at the photograph, then the scanner, and scratched my head. How does one scan a big round photograph on a flatbed? First of all, I could not close the scanner lid, so the lighting was off. Because it was so large, I scanned it in sections with an inch overlap, then stitched it together using Adobe Photoshop. I now had a copy of my image, sort of. Because the original was convex and my scan was flat, my image appeared warped. Did you know there is a Warp tool in Adobe Photoshop? After figuring out the warp tool, I removed much of the warp, then cropped some of the edge. The resulting image was satisfactory, and I had something to ship off to my cousin. I suspect a camera would have given me better results, or if I had an extra $2,000, I could have invested in a 3-D camera (but I didn’t). Bottom-line, I think it is possible to scan almost anything. One just needs to take a few things into consideration first. How delicate is the object you want to scan? Would it be better to use a high resolution camera? If you choose to use a scanner, will you need to increase the resolution? And, remember scanners have glass in them, sharp objects and scanner glass do not mix. One other little thing about scanners. Here are some tips on cleaning your scanner glass: Unplug the power cord from the scanner. Using a soft, lint-free cloth, like a microfiber cloth, wipe off the dust from the scanner glass. If the glass has smudges or other contaminants, use a little bit of glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe the glass. Using a dry microfiber cloth, dry off any remaining moisture or residue. Do not use any glass cleaners that contain the following cleaning agents: acetone, ammonia, benzene, carbon tetrachloride. Next article: Scanning continued – why save as TIFF?

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Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Jewish Women’s Archive Preservation Tips

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The Jewish Women’s Archive  provides a very nice preservation page with very good practical information and links to other resources. It’s a quick read and a good site to bookmark.

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PERSI Gems by Adam Barrone and Michael Hudson

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The study of our ancestry often reveals personal and societal struggles just as prevalent today as in the past. In any local newspaper from the 19th Century, you will find reports of disease, adverse weather, crime, ideological disagreements, unfortunate accidents, war, and other unpleasantness. The Periodical Source Index (PERSI) likewise reveals the difficulties and annoyances of everyday life throughout history. Try a search for an ancestral obstacle here: http://search.findmypast.com/search/periodical-source-index This month, we feature citations about our common struggle with pesky, buzzing, biting, and disease-spreading flies: Aurora Board of Health order for weekly baths to fight flies, 1910 McHenry County Illinois Connection Quarterly, v.21n.4, Oct. 2003 Doctor Prather and D.D. Shirley invent automatic fan and shoo-fly, patent applied for, 1912, IA Wayne County (IA) Genie News, v.29n.4, Oct. 2007 Fly swatting contest of Women's Club, 1914 KYOWA Genealogical Society Newsletter (Huntington, WV), v.25n.3, Fal. 2002 Frank Rose, fly swatter inventor Kanhistique (Ellsworth, KS), v.20n.9, Jan. 1995 Hartford Pryor recalls how Mrs. Frost scared flies away with cotton, 1920s, 1930s, Thomaston, GA Upson (GA) Historical Society Newsletter, v.42n.4, Sep. 2008 Heat, dust, and flies advice, Everylady's Journal Item, Dec. 1935 Bremer Echoes (Ipswich Gen. Soc., Queensland, Australia), v.24n.3, Nov. 2006 Milk sales and fly killing techniques, Ted Hobble recollections, 20th C. Kanhistique (Ellsworth, KS), v.7n.2, Jun. 1981 Red fly-net caused excitement Finders Keepers (Johnson Co. Gen. Soc., TX), v.9n.4, Nov. 1992 Reservation Club bounty for dead flies, Mrs. A. I. Jedlicka pays between 1 and 3 cents a dozen, 1917 Mahnomen County (MN) Historical Society Newsletter, Jun. 2010 Ringrose Fly Net and Collar Co. Cumberland County (PA) History, v.4n.2, Win. 1987 Tips on stain cleaning and making a fly trap, 1917 Shiawassee (MI) Gazette, v.45n.2, Jul. 2004

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History Tidbits: Importance of July by Allison DePrey Singleton

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July was a very important month for the birth of our nation and beyond. For this issue, we shall have a brief overview of some of these July events. It will soon make sense why July 4th is the perfect day for a celebration of our young nation: a month full of births, deaths, and events important to the history of the birth of our country. Please note, unless it was the death or cause of a death, everything listed occurred before the turn of the nineteenth century. July 1 1776 Francis Salvador was the first Jew to die in American Revolutionary War. July 2 1776 The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the following resolution by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia: “Resolved, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances. That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.” 1788 - Congress announced that the United States Constitution has been ratified by the required nine states and that a committee had been appointed to make preparations for the new American government. July 3 1775 George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts. July 4 1776 The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. 1826 Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died hours apart on the 50th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. 1831 James Monroe died on the 55th Anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. July 5 1775 The Olive Branch Petition was adopted by the Continental Congress, written by John Dickinson, conveying hope for a reconciliation with Britain. However, King George III refused the petition and instead issued a proclamation, “A Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition,” declaring the colonists to be in a state of open rebellion. July 6 1747 John Paul Jones, Naval Commander, was born. He is quoted to say “I have not yet begun to fight,” when asked to surrender to the British. 1777 British forces recaptured Fort Ticonderoga after losing it to Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold in May of 1775. 1785 Congress unanimously chose the dollar as U.S. currency and adopted a decimal coinage system. 1802 Daniel Morgan died at his daughter’s home on his 66th birthday. He was an American Revolutionary general and politician. July 8 1777 Vermont, as a sovereign entity separate from the United States, introduced its new constitution, the first written constitution in North America to ban adult slavery. July 9 1776 General George Washington ordered his troops to assemble at six in the evening prior to defending New York City from the British to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud. July 10 1778 Louis XVI of France showed support for the new nation and declared war on the Kingdom of Great Britain. July 11 1767 President John Quincy Adams was born to John and Abigail Adams in Quincy, Massachusetts. 1804 Vice President Aaron Burr shot Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a pistol duel and mortally wounded him. 1806 James Smith, an Irishman, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Continental Congressman, New York Assembly member, and Pennsylvania lawyer, died at age 87. 1775 Simon Boerum, Continental Congressman, County Clerk for Kings County, New York, miller, and farmer, died at age 51. 1798 While the US Marine Corps celebrates its birthday on November 10th, it was disbanded after the American Revolution. It was re-established by an act of Congress in 1798. 1781 Thomas Hutchins was appointed the Geographer of the United States, the first and last. July 12 1804 Alexander Hamilton succumbed to his wounds and died after being shot in a pistol duel by Vice President Aaron Burr. July 13 1785 Stephen Hopkins, governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, a Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, dies at 78. 1787 The Northwest Ordinance, an act of the Congress of the Confederation, created the Northwest Territory. July 14 1798 United States Sedition Act of 1798 was approved, which prohibited conspiring against or writing against the government. July 15 1779 American troops under General “Mad” Anthony Wayne conquered Fort Stony Point in New York. It became a turning point in the war for the morale of the American troops. July 16 1790 Congress passed the Residence Act, which declared the city of Washington in the District of Columbia to be the permanent capital of the United States. This was part of a compromise between James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton, to also pass the Assumption Bill. 1798 An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen was the beginning of the United States Public Health Service and what created United States Marine Hospitals to care for sick seamen. July 18 1768 America’s first patriotic song was published in the Boston Gazette and titled “Liberty Song.” 1792 John Paul Jones, the well-known American naval commander, died at age 45. July 19 1770 The founders of Dickinson College, John Dickinson and Mary Norris, wed. John was a militia officer during the American Revolution, President of Delaware, President of Pennsylvania, author of the “Liberty Song,” member of the first Continental Congress, author of the two attempts to negotiate with King George III, and politician. Mary was a landed estate owner, amassed a massive library, and was involved with politics. July 22 1775 Congress formally assigned George Washington the title of Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. July 23 1793 Roger Sherman, an American lawyer, first mayor of New Haven, CT, served on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and was the only person who signed all four great state documents of the birth of the nation: The Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, died at 72. 1764 James Otis published “The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved,” stating his views on taxation without representation. 1750 Henry Knox, military officer of the Continental Army, general in the United States Army, and the first United States Secretary of War from 1789 to 1794, was born. 1775 Maryland issued currency depicting George III trampling Magna Carta. July 26 1775 United States Continental Congress created the United States Post Office in Philadelphia with Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general. 1788 New York entered the Union as the 11th state. 1790 The Assumption bill is passed, making the federal government responsible for state debts. This was part of a compromise to also pass the Residence Act between James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. July 27 1789 The Department of Foreign Affairs was signed into law by George Washington after being passed by the House and Senate on July 21, 1789. The Department of Foreign Affairs became the first federal agency created under the new U.S. Constitution. It is now referred to as the State Department. 1752 Samuel Smith, a United States Senator, a Representative from Maryland, a mayor of Baltimore, MD, and a general in the Maryland militia, was born. July 28 1746 Thomas Heyward, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, a signer of the Articles of Confederation, and a representative of South Carolina, was born. July 31 1777 Marquis de Lafayette, at age 19, was commissioned by the United States Congress as a major general of the Continental Army. 1792 Cornerstone was laid for the United States Mint in Philadelphia, the first United States government building erected under the Constitution.

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In the Good, Old Summertime

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July’s Genealogy Summer Camp session is “Pity the Poor Orphan: Children’s Homes in America,” on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 10:00AM in the Discovery Center. Orphanages appeared in large numbers in the early 1800s as part of an increase in American benevolent societies and aid organizations. By 1900, there were hundreds of institutions operated by local governments, religious denominations, and private charities. In this presentation, Delia Bourne will provide an overview of such institutions, what records may be available and how to locate them along with the children’s likely experiences. Upcoming Genealogy Summer Camp sessions are: Saturday, August 26, 2017, 10:00AM, Discovery Center A Grave Matter in Indiana - Jeannie Regan-Dinius Saturday, September 30, 2017, 10:00AM, Discovery Center What I Learned at the 2017 FGS Conference - Allison DePrey Singleton To register for any of these free events, call 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@ACPL.Info. Part of Genealogy Summer Camp 2017. http://genealogycenter.org/docs/GenealogySummerCamp2017

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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 Meeting on the 1st Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. to share and learn from each other! The next meeting is Thursday, July 6, 2017. Come in and share!

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Fine Book Room Tours

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See some of the highlights of the Allen County Public Library’s Fine Book Room by joining us at the Main Library Genealogy Center for a tour of Fine Book Room on Saturday, July 8, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Registration required. Call 260-421-1225 or email 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 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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PLANNING AHEAD!

Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, Inc. (ACGSI) Monthly Program September. 13, 2017- Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, refreshments & networking begins at 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m. Sara Allen will present "Introduction to DNA." Mary Penrose Wayne DAR Chapter Library Help Day for Prospective Members July 5, 2017 – The Genealogy Center, Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 10 - 4 p.m. Miami Indian Heritage Days July 1, 2017 – Chief Richardville House, 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, 1 p.m. 4 p.m. Eric Vosteen will be presenting, “Cookware from Local Clays: Making and Using Replica Native Style Pottery.” Admission for each Saturday event is $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. History Center members and children age two and under are free.

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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 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.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