March 2004

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 1, March 31, 2004

Welcome!

Only a very few short years have passed since the celebrated dawning of both this new century and this new millennium, and we have already experienced some amazing events. Indeed, these are exciting times of discovery and opportunity for those researching family and local history. Technology continues to provide opportunities to access more records, and explore new tools for evaluating and conveying data found in those records. Never have opportunities for collaboration and networking been greater--and never has so much information been so readily available. Since its inception, the Historical Genealogy Department of the Allen County Public Library has been committed to serving a nation of researchers through a great collection and outstanding reference service. In the early days of this new millennium, we continue to look for innovative ways of assisting twenty-first century genealogists. The premier issue of this electronic newsletter marks the beginning of such an initiative. Through this publication, we will inform you about both our new collections and our many lesser-known treasures; we will share information about the use of important resources and provide best research practices and methodologies; and we will provide you with news about genealogical happenings in our area. And we commit to doing it all in a short, easily-read format of an e-zine. We trust you will find it useful and share it with your family and friends. Curt Witcher, Manager

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Southern Claims Commission Disallowed Claims, 1871-1880 (National Archives Microfiche Publication M1407, RG 233) Timothy Dougherty Southern Claims Commission Disallowed Claims is an engaging and useful tool for American Civil War era research. This collection may help flesh out a family history. It may enable a researcher to establish connections with neighbors, relatives, ex-slaves, and ex-slave owners. The contents may note an ancestor’s occupation and standing in the community, or may help discover a missing link. And often, they provide an ancestor’s first-hand account of the times. This collection is available in our Microtext area. In 1871, Congress established a commission to receive and examine monetary claims for Civil War losses. These claims were based on the facts that the claimant had been both loyal to the Union and had supplies or stores seized by or furnished to the US Army during the war. States affected in the commission were AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, VA and parts of WV. This collection includes just the claims that were wholly “disallowed ,” or ultimately never paid out, and claims that were “barred,” that is, failed to make the March 10, 1880 deadline. The claims contain varying degrees of information. Some have merely a card with a few hastily scrawled notes. Many others, however, include pages of documents—lists detailing the claim and depositions by both claimants and witnesses. The nature of the claims is also varied; they include property, stores and supplies—damaged houses, flatboats, potatoes, pork, crockery, and fodder, for example. The claim treats the specifics and itemizes the losses. The depositions may detail claimant’s age, birthplace, specific location, and circumstances regarding the claim. They may reveal, in his or her own words, what the claimant felt and witnessed during the war. These provide a fascinating glimpse into the claimant’s life and surroundings. This collection includes a comprehensive, easy-to-use index. These claims can be utilized with a separate National Archives publication, Records of the House of Representatives: Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880 ( P-2257). This includes the Summary Reports of the Commissioners of Claims. It is strongly recommended that the reports be checked in addition to the Disallowed Claims, as it includes material not found in the claim itself. It contains the commissioners’ reasons for disallowing the claim, and may include additional personal data. Each wholly disallowed claim should have such an entry. Also included in the Summary Reports are statistical analysis, overall observations, and the “rules” concerning the claims.

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British Parliamentary Papers on the Irish Famine Steven W. Myers Many genealogists with Irish forebears trace descent from families that lived through the Great Famine of the 1840s. Those interested in adding some historical background to their family narrative often consult a general famine history for that purpose, in spite of the fact that local conditions varied dramatically within Ireland. Few realize that a wealth of detailed information about famine era conditions is available for the precise locale in which their ancestors resided. A rich source of this detailed data is the eight volume Famine series of British Parliamentary Papers published by the Irish University Press. This series contains selected correspondence and reports of relief commissioners and local boards of health and public works attempting to respond to the crisis. Government relief measures, the state of workhouses, and famine conditions in each district of Ireland all emerge from the statistical and narrative material in these volumes. Using them will enable the family historian to reconstruct a more accurate picture of the world their ancestors left. These contemporary famine reports are generally arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the Poor Law Union. Each union was centered on a market town, in which the union workhouse was located. The key to accessing information relevant to an ancestor's place of origin is to know the name of the poor law union in which they resided. To find the name of the union, consult the General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland [call no. 941.5003 G28A], based on the 1851 census of Ireland, and reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Co. Once the name of the union is known, the table of contents in each volume of parliamentary papers can be consulted for relevant items. Correspondence from local officials can be graphic in its description of conditions, sometimes mentioning specific individuals and poignant episodes. In addition to statistical data, some tables provide the names, ages, relationships, and residences of individuals affected by the famine. The following brief list of examples will illustrate the possibilities: "Return of Persons receiving Out-Door Relief, as Paupers (Castlebar Union)," "Occupiers of Land within the Union of Kilrush…who are willing…to emigrate with their families to Canada," and "Female Orphans in the Donegal Union Workhouse between the Ages of 14 and 18 Years…willing to emigrate to Australia." Genealogists can readily access this valuable set on open shelves in the Genealogy Department at 941.5 P1997.

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DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE LIBRARY

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Wondering how to get to the library? Our exciting temporary location is 200 E. Berry, Fort Wayne, Indiana. We will be at this location until 2006. We would enjoy having you visit the Genealogy Department. To get directions from your exact location to 200 E. Berry, Fort Wayne, Indiana, visit this link at MapQuest: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Fort+Wayne&state=IN&200+E+Berry+St reet&zip=46802&country=us&zoom=8 From the North or South Exit Interstate 69 at exit 102. Come east on Jefferson St. into downtown. Turn left on Barr St. to Berry St. The library is located on the corner of Berry and Barr streets. From the West Using US 30: Drive into town on US 30. US 30 turns into Goshen Rd. Coming up to an angled street (State St.) make an angled left turn. Turn right on Wells St. Go south on Wells until Wayne St. Left on Wayne. When you cross Clinton, the library will be on your left on Wayne St. Using US 24: After crossing under Interstate 69, follow the same directions as from the North or South. From the East Follow US 30 into New Haven. Following that through New Haven, under an overpass into downtown Fort Wayne. You will be on Washington St. when you get into downtown. Turn right on Barr St. Turn left on Berry St. The library is on your left on Berry St.

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PARKING AT THE LIBRARY

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Lot in front of the library, east side Available for short-term library parking. Limited to an hour. Tippman Parking Garage Clinton and Wayne streets. Across from the library, however the skybridge in NOT accessible. Hourly parking, $1.25 per hour up to $5.00, than $5.00 a day. Park Place Lot Covered parking on Barr St. at Main St., this lot is one block away from the library. Hourly parking Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm. Street (metered) parking on Wayne St. and Berry St. 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 This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. Covered parking at Washington and Clinton streets. Hourly parking, 7am - 11 pm. Charges are .50 for the first 45 minutes, that $1.00 per hour. There is a flat $2.00 fee between 5pm and 11pm.

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HOTEL OF THE MONTH

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Each issue we will feature a local hotel, for visitors from out-of-town. The Downtown Fort Wayne Holiday Inn is very near ACPL (2 short blocks!). It has 208 rooms, a pool and fitness center, and longterm guests will be pleased to know they can do their laundry there. For those arriving by air, you can arrange to be picked up by their airport shuttle. There is a coffee shop and bar; other restaurants are nearby, and the Historical Genealogy dept. can supply a list and map to help you find a place to eat. The Holiday Inn has special rate of $62.00 plus tax for Genealogists, Group rates are available. Downtown Fort Wayne Holiday Inn, 300 East Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne IN 46802. Phone 260 422 5511. E-mail gmfwa@lodgian.com. For toll-free reservations, dial 1 800 465 4329 and ask for the Genealogical Rate

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Allen County Public Library 3rd floor atrium display area Eastern European Immigration: Highlights of Allen County Public Library Genealogy Department Resources Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) April 7, 2004 / Wednesday / 9am - 3pm / Genealogy Department ACPL 200 E. Berry, Fort Wayne, IN (260-421-1225) First Wednesday of each month Expert help from members of the DAR in becoming a member of that organization Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) http://www.ipfw.edu/ipfwhist/historgs/acgsi.htm

April 14, 2004 / Wednesday 6:30pm refreshments, 7:00pm meeting Aboite Branch Library, 5630 Coventry Lane, Fort Wayne, IN (260-421-1310) Amy Johnson Crow "Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker: Using Occupations Records"

May 12, 2004 / Wednesday 6:30pm refreshments, 7:00pm meeting New Haven Branch Library, 648 Green St., New Haven, IN (260-421-1345) Steve Hofer Philo T. Farnsworth Museum Computer Users Group April 21, 2004 / Wednesday 6:30pm refreshments, 7:00pm meeting Aboite Branch Library, 5630 Coventry Lane, Fort Wayne, IN (260-421-1310) Roundtable Discussion Indiana Genealogical Society

April 3, 2004 / Saturday / Annual meeting and conference Bloomington Convention Center, Bloomington, Indiana Speakers include: Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, Julian Livingston, James Madison, and Randi Richardson. http://www.indgensoc.org/conference.html Ohio Genealogical Society

April 22 - 24, 2004 / Willmington, Ohio "Settlers and Builders of Ohio: Discovering Family History Resources and Strategies" Featuring Thomas W. Jones and 28 other speakers http://www.ogs.org/PDF/2004%20Conference%20Brouchure.pdf National Genealogical Society www.ngsgenealogy.org

May 19 - 22, 2004 / Sacramento, California / Sacramento Convention Center NGS Conference in the States http://www.eshow2000.com/ngs/ Federation of Genealogical Societies www.fgs.org

September 8 - 11, 2004 / Austin, Texas / Austin Convention Center "Legends Live Forever: Researching the Past for Future Generations" http://www.fgs.org/2004conf/FGS-2004.htm ACPL Librarians on Tour Curt Witcher

April 7 Huntington Public Library "Effective Use of the Historical Genealogy Department", 7p.m.

April 14 Indiana Library Federation (Indianapolis Convention Center) "More Than Surname Surfing: Assisting Genealogists With the Web", 3:30p.m.

April 23 Ohio Genealogical Society Annual Conference, Wilmington, Ohio "Using Church Records in Your Genealogical Research", 4p.m.

April 24 Ohio Genealogical Society Annual Conference, Wilmington, Ohio "Doing Effective Genealogical Research in Libraries", 10:30a.m.

May 5 Utah Library Association Pre-Conference Workshop, Ogden, Utah "Books, Bytes, and Bridges: Serving Genealogists in the 21st Century", 1:30p.m.

May 6 Utah Library Association, Ogden, Utah "Pain in the Access: Getting More from the Internet for Your Genealogy", 1:15p.m.

May 6 Utah Library Association Pre-Conference Workshop, Ogden, Utah "Mining the Motherlode: Using Periodical Literature in Genealogical Research", 2:30p.m. Sue Kaufman

April 18 - 19 Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis "Jewish Genealogical Research" www.indianahistory.org Elaine Kuhn

25 April Washtenaw County Genealogical Society of Michigan "PERSI" St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center, Ann Arbor, 1:30 Ryan Taylor 12 April DeKalb County Indiana Genealogical Society, Auburn Indiana "Calendars and the Genealogist" Publishing Note: This electronic newsletter is published by the Allen County Public Library's Historical Genealogy Department, 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. If you do not want to receive this e-zine, please send an email to kspears@acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line. Sue Kaufman, editor