June 2018

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne No. 172, June 30, 2018

In this issue:

The FGS 2018 Conference Is for You!

Who is Holding Our History?

French Genealogy From Afar

Indiana Cemetery Registry on SHAARD

Technology Tip of the Month: The 1870s-1890s, and the “What-Were-They-Thinking” Fashions

Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Removing Scotch Tape

PERSI Gems

History Tidbits: National Blueberry Month

Library Catalog Insider--Subject Headings for Military Records

DNA Interest Group

Summer Days at The Genealogy Center

Author Visit with Anna-Lisa Cox

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

**************************************

If You Want to Learn About Genealogy, FGS 2018 Is for You!

***************************************

Since you’re reading this e-zine, you’re probably someone who wants to do a good job with your genealogy research. There is a great learning opportunity coming up in just a few weeks: the Federation of Genealogical Societies’ annual conference which will be in Fort Wayne, August 22-25, 2018. www.fgsconference.org The FGS conference is one of the best genealogy events in the country. Did you know: -- You don’t need to belong to any genealogy society to attend. It’s open to all genealogists! -- There is much more than society management topics. This year’s tracks include DNA, Midwest research, Methodology, Records, and tracks for ethnic research (African American, Eastern European, German, Scandinavian, and the United Kingdom). There are more than 100 sessions and workshops to choose from! -- There are sessions for all skill and experience levels. FGS 2018 will be held right across the street from the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center. Plus, The Genealogy Center is having extended hours for conference attendees! It’s the perfect opportunity to learn and research. Go to https://www.fgsconference.org/ to see the full schedule and to register. The early bird discount rate ends after July 1, 2018. We’ll see you in Fort Wayne in August!

***************************************

Who is Holding Our History? by Curt B. Witcher

***************************************

It is truly amazing to contemplate the vast number of historical items — both documents and artifacts —that are curated by thousands upon thousands of libraries, archives, and heritage organizations all over the country. Without these organizations, many of the documents we use to discover our family histories would not be available. Yet, as important as these organizations are to the pursuit of our families’ stories, we tend not to give them much thought unless we need something from them. That very small amount of attention puts the records that document our history in grave danger. There are numerous organizations all over the country that are aware of the challenges associated with preserving and making available records at the local, state, and national level. A few of these organizations not only engage in preservation and access projects themselves, they also fund projects undertaken by other organizations. The Indiana Genealogical Society is one such organization. This society has given tens of thousands of dollars to organizations in Indiana through a number of grant programs to make historical data more available. They also have published databases of indices and transcriptions to records. As of this writing, the Indiana Genealogical Society has 2,168 databases available to members on its website. In addition, that genealogical society has granted scanning kits to local organizations throughout the state to digitize and make available local historical records that we all know can be so consequential to our genealogical research. The Indiana Historical Society is another organization that works to make historical data more available. The society continues to receive support from the Lilly Endowment to make hundreds of thousands of dollars available through its Heritage Support Grants program. Recently, sixteen Indiana local historical organizations received grants to support their work—work that ranged from properly storing historical items and collection care improvements to entering items into an accessible online database and publishing historical works. Just the two abovementioned organizations’ accomplishments have done much to preserve and present our Indiana history. I encourage you to find out what is being done in your local area as well as your state. Further, I encourage you to be as supportive of those programs as possible. Part of that support should come in the form of your personal membership in those active organizations. There is a reason why genealogists have been encouraged for ages to belong to at least three societies: the local society where they live, the society in the area where their research is focused, and a national ethnic or family history organization. One of the primary reasons for doing this is so that our membership dollars will support preservation and access initiatives. In addition to our support of organizations that are proactively engaged in preservation and access initiatives, we should be increasingly concerned about the local, state, and national organizations responsible for preserving and providing access to official governmental records. While these governmental organizations typically have the best of intentions, their lack of funding, the corresponding lack of training, and the lack of support and understanding from the political entities who control them in many jurisdictions puts our records at great risk. The general distrust the public has for government and governmental entities also puts our records at great risk. Who is holding our history? And will we have access to it today and tomorrow? It would be prudent to take increasing interest in the answers to those questions. It’s our history—its fate is in our hands.

***************************************

French Genealogy From Afar by Cynthia Theusch

***************************************

When it comes time to cross the ocean to Europe with one’s family history research, genealogists often wonder “Where do I begin?” For those researching in France, Anne Mordell’s book, “French Genealogy From Afar,” (Gc 929 M81f) is one of the books about that will help you take that leap over the ocean. This book contains several of her blogs that emphasize first steps for researching French ancestry using the Internet. Her blog page is titled the “French Genealogy Blog.” One of the first hurdles for an American is to understand the French words that are most commonly used in genealogical records. To help us with these terms, the book recommends three Internet sites: www.famlytreemagazine.com/article/frenchterms/ www.searchforancestors.com/archives/frenchglossary.html www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/French_Wordlist Mordell also recommends Giles E. Dawson’s and Laetia Kennedy-Skipton’s book, “Elizabethan Handwriting 1500-1650,” (Gc 421.7 D32e) for understanding Old French in old documents. As you find ancestors who may have lived in France, you should create a research list with three columns: one for ancestor’s name, one for the event and date, and one for the location (if known). To help locate where your ancestor may have lived in France, the author suggests using the website www.Géopatronyme.com. When you search the surname at this site, a map will appear, highlighting provinces where it appears most frequently. Similar to the county boundary changes in the United States, France’s provinces/counties have also experienced boundaries changes throughout history. Today, France has 100 Departments with local archives. My ancestor, Charles Porcheron, was born about 1731 in Angouléme, Angoumois. On pages 14 through 17, I will find a list all 100 Departmentale Archives and their capitals. Thus, I would need to find Department 16, which is Charente with its capital, Angouléme. What sources can be found in these Departmental Archives? The pre-1790 series are broken down into 26 categories. A few of these include the following: courts jurisdictions; provincial administration; archives relating to towns and their administration; notarial records; parish and civil registers; donated family archives; archives of the clergy; and military and wartime archives. Besides the local archives, France’s governmental archives, the Archives Nationales, can be found at http://www.archives-nationales.culture.gouv.fr/web/guest/faire-une-recherche Mordell includes two Internet sites to assist in locating French military records. The Military Archives, Château de Vincennes, is primarily the domain of military historians rather than genealogists. The other is the Service Historique de la Defense. The Genealogy Center has more books about French genealogy research and resources. When visiting the library, be sure to browse the 944 section in our West Reading Room. Another general guide for researching French Records is Patrick Pontet’s “Ancestral Research in France: The Simple Guide to Tracing your Family History through French Records” (Gc 944 P777an). Also useful is a bibliography of books housed in the Library of Congress titled “Researching French Local History and Genealogy” (Gc 944 R3116). Finding titles from this book and searching for them in WorldCat.org will show which U.S. libraries will have them in their holdings. All of these books will help you succeed in researching your family in France.

***************************************

Indiana Cemetery Registry on SHAARD by Allison DePrey Singleton

***************************************

Cemeteries and gravestone inscriptions are fantastic resources for genealogists, although our fascination with them might be considered a bit morbid to those outside the genealogy world. In spite of their usefulness, they can be incredibly difficult at times to find. We might have the historic, not current, name for a cemetery. It might be located in a sparsely-populated area, or its location may have been lost from public knowledge, having been overgrown or its existing headstones buried. No matter the reason, researchers are often in need of tools to assist them in finding cemeteries. A valuable online tool for Hoosier cemeteries is the Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD) of the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA). SHAARD can be used for many different purposes. It incorporates the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory and includes references to historic bridges, properties within the National Register of Historic Places, properties listed in the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures, and historic theaters in Indiana. However, genealogists will want to focus on the Indiana Cemetery and Burial Ground Registry. Although useful for locating the cemeteries themselves, this registry will not give us the names of everyone buried there. It may not even have a photograph of the cemetery, but it will let us know if a cemetery exists. In this field, sometimes the first success involves finding a clue that leads to another clue. SHAARD can lead us to that other clue. The SHAARD cemetery registry is unique. Few, if any, other online cemetery registries are as comprehensive, which was created and maintained by Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) DHPA. To access SHAARD, either search for it in an Internet search engine or click on this link: https://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/4505.htm. Next, click the fifth link down on the page, “SHAARD Access.” You will then need to click on the link at the top right of the page, “Enter SHAARD as a guest.” Make sure to read and click the box to accept the terms and conditions before clicking “Continue” at the bottom of the page. On the next page in the drop-down menu next to “Survey Type,” choose “Cemetery Registry.” The page will then open to give you multiple choices on how to find the cemetery you are seeking. Happy hunting! Remember, this registry is for all known cemeteries in the state of Indiana. If the cemetery you are seeking was on a private family farm that was only mentioned in family documents, it is possible that the cemetery will not be listed. However, this registry does contain some family cemeteries, cemeteries on private property, and historic cemeteries that have otherwise been forgotten.

***************************************

Technology Tip of the Month--The 1870s-1890s, and the “What-Were-They-Thinking” Fashions by Kay Spears

***************************************

When we look at old photographs, the era between 1870 and 1890 happens to be one of my favorite “what-were-they-thinking” eras. Not only was the clothing fascinating, but there were some interesting hair styles going on also. But let’s start with some outstanding fashion moments from the 1870s. In order to do that, we must go back just a little to the late 1860s. Remember “Gone with the Wind”? Remember those giant hoop skirts? I talked about them in the last article, those giant wind catchers that I don’t know how women handled. Well, toward the late 1860s those giant hoops skirts started to shift toward the back and in the 1870s they morphed into what is called the bustle. Now, I don’t know about you, but if there is one thing on my body I don’t want to enhance, it’s my rear end. Of course, I could be a rock or reality star making big bucks off of my big backside, but I’m not. But somewhere in a fashion designers room, someone decided this was a good look. I suspect it may have been a man by the name of Charles Worth, but I may be wrong. Anyway, the bustle was around for 20 years. Let me repeat that – t-w-e-n-t-y years. That’s a long time to be dragging something behind you. However, that twenty year period is a good thing for people who are trying to figure out a date for a photograph. Here’s why. During those twenty years the bustle changed; in fact, it changed almost every decade. Here are some of the things about the bustle that may help you pinpoint a date. There were three distinct bustle periods: the early period; the so-called “natural form” period; and the late bustle period. During the early bustle period the waist of the dress actually formed at the waist and the bustle ballooned out behind it. As time progressed, the waist line started to get lower and the contraption that held the bustle up started to disappear. However, even when the thing on the inside that held the bustle up disappeared, the cloth didn’t. This started to happen around 1876. What to do with all of that material? Well, they invented a contraption to be worn in the back that pulled all of that material to the back and had a really long train. This was the beginning of the natural form bustle. When all of that material was pulled to the back, it made the dress hard to walk in. It was also during this period that the waist/bodice of the dress became quite long. A lot of the jackets were mid-thigh. Then one day someone must have tripped over a left over bustle cage and decided to put it back into use. But this time they decided to make it even bigger and add more ruffles, ribbons and other stuff to it. So, around 1880 the big bustle made its return with a vengeance. Unlike the early bustle, the waist of these later bustles was lower. Also in the late 1880s, little bumps on the sleeves made their appearance – but we will talk about them another time. Anyway, a bustle in a photograph can go a long way in telling you just what date the photograph was taken. By the way, always have a handy-dandy fashion plate on hand when reviewing photographs. Hair. Well, you cannot just have a big behind without something to balance it out – so along came big hair. Women dumped the curls, hair-around-the-ear-hoops and simple pull back bun for more elaborate dos. Hair became piled on top and behind, trailing behind their heads similar to their bustles. Men started shaving their beards (but not all did). However, mustaches were still around. Big mustaches, even handle-bar mustaches, made their appearance. However side-whiskers were less prevalent. A lot of what people would wear also depended a great deal on the place they lived. A wild-west cowboy in the height of fashion would probably look a great deal different than a man living in New York at the same time period. So always keep that in mind when looking at photographs. Location, location, location. Men’s clothing. Men usually wore their suit jackets unbuttoned in the 1870s, and buttoned them in the 1880s. I have noticed an odd little thing about men’s jacket in the 1880s: In a number of old photographs I have seen only the top button fastened. This odd fashion statement started in the late 1880s and lasted into the early 1890s - another one of those fads that doesn’t have a reason for being. Some guys just sitting around decided to leave their top buttons fastened because they looked cool. Next, we look at more “what-were-they-thinking” moments from the 1890s.

***************************************

Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Removing Scotch Tape

***************************************

Recently an article appeared in “The Atlantic” regarding the removal of scotch tape from a work of art. The article provides insights on the removal of tape from any item, particularly paper. Certainly an important take-away from the article is to not use tape on anything of last or historical value. The article can be seen at the following URL: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/05/how-to-get-scotch-tape-off-of-a-work-of-art/560738/

***************************************

PERSI Gems by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson

***************************************

You are most welcome to join us in Fort Wayne for the Federation of Genealogical Societies conference, August 22-25. As you prepare for the myriad of educational and networking opportunities a large conference offers, ponder this list of conference-related citations in the Periodical Source Index (PERSI). Try a search here: http://search.findmypast.com/search/periodical-source-index A. V. Kendrick proposal to give abandoned cemetery to Methodist Conference, 1889 Grave News (State Assn. for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries), v.15n.3, Jul. 2010 Altoona Conference of state governors and emancipation, 1862 Civil War History (Kent State Univ. Press, OH), v.58n.4, Dec. 2012 Athens Black Hornets defeat Ennis Carver Wildcats for Negro Conference championship, 1949 Texas A.G.O. (Athens Genealogical Organization), Jun. 2012 Attending a Federation of Genealogical Societies conference, tips WCGS Updates (Wake Co. Gen. Soc., NC), Win. 2006 Baby conference and boys' and girls' club events at county fair, 1922 Historical Speaking (Howard Co. Hist. Soc., NE), Sum. 2009 Being a successful conference attendee AZGAB Newsletter (Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board), Jul. 2000 Benefits of attending genealogical conferences Genealogical Tips (Tip o' Texas Gen. Soc.), v.47n.2, Apr. 2009 Canadian Dalmatia and the 1919 Paris Peace Conference BC Studies (Univ. of British Columbia Vancouver), n.14, Sum. 1972 City Manager Tom Bay attended conference of cities with populations under 50000, brief, 1966 Westerville Historical Society (OH), v.44n.4, Sep. 2006 Conference with the scatacooks, 1728 Massachusetts Historical Soc. Proceedings, v.6n.2, Mar. 1891 Prisoner exchange conferences, 1778-80 New Jersey History (NJ Hist. Soc.), v.97n.3, Aut. 1979 Prophetic conference and millenialism thinking, 1878, n.p. Discipliana (Disciples of Christ Hist. Soc., TN), v.62n.4, Win. 2002 Pugwash Peace Conference, 1957 Beaver: Canada's History Magazine (Canada's Hist. Soc.), v.87n.5, Oct. 2007

***************************************

History Tidbits: National Blueberry Month by Allison DePrey Singleton

***************************************

Did you know that July is National Blueberry Month?! It seems like there is a month or day for anything and everything. Unlike some modern trends, having a National Blueberry Month actually makes sense if you look at the history of the blueberry in the United States. Blueberries are native to North America. Europeans were unaware of the berry until the Native Americans introduced blueberries to them. In the Native American culture, blueberries were used for a variety of purposes. The most common usage was in a bread or pudding made with cornmeal. The berries were also mixed with meat to create pemmican, a pounded mixture of meat and fat, combined with other ingredients, to serve as a source of concentrated nutrition. The berries would also be dried and eaten during the winter months as an additional food source. They were also put into cakes, puddings, and soups. Indigenous people also used blueberries for medicinal purposes. Blueberry juice was cooked down into a syrup used for sore throats and coughs. Even the leaves of the blueberry plant were used to create a tea as a muscle relaxant for women during childbirth, for purification of the blood, treating colic in infants, inducing labor, and as a diuretic. Native Americans also used the juice to dye cloth and baskets. It is still used this way as a natural dye. The indigenous people also used the blueberry as a sacred plant. Oral tradition holds that during a time of hunger, the Great Spirit gave his children star berries to feed them. The star berries were given to another group of people when they were hungry, the Europeans by the Native Americans. The Europeans were not prepared for the new land they were living on and had little experience with the indigenous food sources. Most people have heard about the Native Americans introducing the Europeans to corn, but they also gave them blueberries. As time has progressed, the North American origin of blueberries has mostly been forgotten. People still gathered blueberries for pies, jams, and other purposes, but the plants were grown in the wild. Frederick Coville, a USDA botanist, began investigating the possibility of domesticating the plant as early as 1908. In 1910, he discovered that blueberry plants will only grow in acidic soil. The following year Elizabeth White, the daughter of a cranberry farmer, read of Coville’s research in blueberry cultivation and invited him to use her family’s New Jersey farm for experiments. She became his research partner, having a great interest in adding the crop to her family’s berry business. After several years of successful experiments and crops, they harvested and sold the first crop of domesticated blueberries in 1916. The popularity and interest in blueberries exploded as the market grew. In more recent years the blueberry has become a staple in supermarkets. The USDA proclaimed July to be National Blueberry Month in 1974. Then in the 1990s, exerts examined and affirmed the antioxidant properties of the blueberry. In 2003, New Jersey named the blueberry the state berry, and eight years later, blueberries were planted in the White House kitchen garden. Farmers celebrated the 100th anniversary of domesticated blueberries in 2016. There are festivals all over the United States to celebrate this little berry. Check this list to find one near you: http://www.pickyourown.org/BlueberryFestivals.php. Sources and Further Reading: Foods Indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.aihd.ku.edu/foods/blueberry.html Grubinger, V. (1998, June). University of Vermont. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/blueberrie.html Hummer, K. E. (2013). Manna in Winter: Indigenous Americans, Huckleberries, and Blueberries. HORTSCIENCE, 48(4), 413-417. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/pdfs/hummer-hortsci-48-2013.pdf. Moerman, D. E. (2009). Native American medicinal plants: An ethnobotanical dictionary. Portland, OR: Timber Press. Valentine, E., & Mowery, M. (2018, January 16). History of Blueberries. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from https://www.blueberrycouncil.org/about-blueberries/history-of-blueberries/

***************************************

Library Catalog Insider--Subject Headings for Military Records by Kasia Young ***************************************

We hope that our subject heading lists are coming in handy in your family history research! This month we will take a closer look at subject headings for military records. We will show you how to best search The Genealogy Center’s catalog in order to locate materials on specific types of military records, as well as materials on specific military conflicts. There are two classes of subject headings that relate to military conflict: headings for individual wars, which are entered directly by their names (for example: World War, 1939-1945), and headings entered as subdivisions under place names. In this month’s newsletter we will focus on the latter (these headings generally encompass a civil war or internal armed conflict): United States--History--King William's War, 1689-1697 United States--History--Queen Anne's War, 1702-1713 United States--History--King George's War, 1744-1748 United States--History--French and Indian War, 1754-1763 United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783 (this military subject can be used with individual state names, for example: Massachusetts-- History--Revolution, 1775-1783; names of counties, for example: Berks County (Pa.)--History-- Revolution, 1775-1783; or names of cities, for example: New York (N.Y.)--History--Revolution, 1775- 1783) United States--History--Tripolitan War, 1801-1805 United States--History--War of 1812 (this military subject heading can be used with individual state names, for example: Connecticut-- History--War of 1812; names of counties, for example: Lancaster County (Pa.)--History--War of 1812; or names of cities, for example: Baltimore (Md.)--History--War of 1812) United States--History--War with Algeria, 1815 United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865 (this military subject heading can be used with individual state names, for example: Indiana-- History--Civil War, 1861-1865; names of counties, for example: Berks County (Pa.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; or names of cities, for example: Indianapolis (Ind.)--History--Civil War, 1861- 1865) All of the above military subject headings can have one of the following subdivisions attached to them: Campaigns Casualties Missing in action Personal narratives, American Prisoners and prisons Regimental histories Registers Registers of dead Veterans For example: Indiana--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Regimental histories (this search yields 181 results relating to specific Indiana regiments during the Civil War) Bonus tip for July: Use the following subject headings for more exhaustive research. Soldiers + GLH + Registers Sailors + GLH + Registers GLH + Military records For example: Soldiers--Indiana--Registers (this heading yields 325 results relating to rosters of soldiers in the state of Indiana) GLH stands for geographic location heading (See Genealogy Gems No. 168, February 28, 2018) Next month, we will cover the first class of military subject headings. Happy summer!

**************************************

DNA and Genealogy Interest Group

***************************************

Have you done a DNA test for genealogical purposes? Do you completely understand the results you received? Do you need advice in interpreting your results? Are you interested and wonder what the best test is for you? Come to the DNA & Genealogy Interest Group Meetings on the 1st Thursday of the month to share and learn from each other! Basic information meeting is from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., followed by a more advanced discussion from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The next meetings are Thursday, July 5, 2018 in the Discovery Center. Come in and share!

***************************************

Summer Days at The Genealogy Center

***************************************

Our Summer Days continue on July 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., in the Discovery Center, with Delia Cothrun Bourne on “Researching Your World War Soldier.” We will close the summer with John Beatty on “Public Member Trees on Ancestry: Exploring, Evaluating, and Adding Value,” on September 22, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., in Meeting Rooms A&B. And don’t forget August, when we will host the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference “On the Three Rivers: Past, Present & Future,” August 22 through 25, 2018 at the Grand Wayne Center, just a block from The Genealogy Center! Fun, food and fabulous research! See www.fgs.org for more information!

***************************************

Author Visit with Anna-Lisa Cox

***************************************

The Genealogy Center welcomes award-winning historian Anna-Lisa Cox for a discussion of her latest book, “The Bone and Sinew of the Land: America's Forgotten Black Pioneers and the Struggle for Equality.” The program takes place Sunday, July 8, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. in The Genealogy Center’s Discovery Center. “The Bone and Sinew of the Land: America's Forgotten Black Pioneers and the Struggle for Equality” is a story of America's forgotten black pioneers, who escaped slavery, settled the frontier, and proved that racial equality was possible even as the country headed toward civil war. The American frontier is one of our most cherished and enduring national images. We think of the early settlers who tamed the wilderness and built the bones of our great country as courageous, independent--and white. Blending meticulous detail with lively storytelling, Cox brings historical recognition to the brave people who managed not just to secure their freedom but begin a battle that is still going on today--a battle for equality. “The Bone and Sinew of the Land: America's Forgotten Black Pioneers and the Struggle for Equality” is a story with its roots in the ideals of the American Revolution, a story of courageous pioneers transformed by the belief that all men are created equal, seeking a brighter future on the American frontier. Please join us Sunday, July 8, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at The Genealogy Center of the Main Library.

***************************************

Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming

***************************************

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.

***************************************

Area Calendar of Events

***************************************

Mary Penrose Wayne DAR Chapter Library Help Day for Prospective Members July 11, 2018 – The Genealogy Center, Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 10 - 4 p.m. Members of the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will provide help to those interested in joining the D.A.R. who would like advice and assistance in their research. No appointment is necessary. Miami Indian Heritage Days July 7, 2018 – Chief Richardville House, 5705 Bluffton Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Miami Ribbonwork with Diane Hunter. Admission: Adults - $7.00, Seniors (65+) and Youth (3-17) - $5.00, Members and children under 3 are free.

***************************************

Genealogy Center Social Media

***************************************

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

***************************************

Driving Directions to the Library

***************************************

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.

***************************************

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 $70. Public lots are located at the corner of Ewing and Wayne Streets ($1 each for the first two half-hours, $1 per hour after, with a $4 per day maximum) and the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Harrison Street ($3 per day). Street (metered) parking on Ewing and Wayne Streets. On the street you plug the meters 8am – 5pm, weekdays only. The meters take credit cards and charge at a rate of $1/hour. Street parking is free after 5 p.m. and on the weekends. Visitor center/Grand Wayne Center garage at Washington and Clinton Streets. This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. For hourly parking, 7am – 11 pm, charges are .50 for the first 45 minutes, then $1.00 per hour. There is a flat $2.00 fee between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.

***************************************

Genealogy Center Queries

***************************************

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

***************************************

Publishing Note

***************************************

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