October 2012

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 104, October 31, 2012

In this issue:

The Call to be Thankful . . .

Civil War Prisons

Blacks Nominated for Appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, 1870-1887

Technology Tip of the Month--Working with Color Photographs Using Adobe Photoshop

Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Use the Upcoming Holidays to Preserve Your Family Stories

Military Seminar 2012 Slated for November 12th

WinterTech 2012-2013

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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The Call to be Thankful . . . by Curt B. Witcher

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We frequently allow the pace of our lives to push out or overshadow opportunities for us to be thankful. As we welcome November 2012, and with it another Thanksgiving holiday, let’s start early in giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, both as genealogists and as citizens of our great country. November 12th is the official observance of Veterans Day, a day to honor all who served. One special way to give thanks and pay tribute to our military ancestors is to locate their records, tell their stories, and ensure that those stories are preserved for future generations. Contributing digital copies of military records and photographs to The Genealogy Center’s “Our Military Heritage” website is one way of preserving and sharing those stories--one way of showing gratitude. If it’s been a while since you’ve explored military records, or you would like to learn more about one of the best military sites on the Internet, then you really must attend our Military Seminar 2012. Scheduled for the afternoon and evening of November 12th, this seminar features renowned genealogist, Laura Prescott. After an opening review session at 2 p.m. covering military records held by The Genealogy Center and the “Our Military Heritage” website, Ms. Prescott will present a program at 3:30 p.m. on how to use Fold3, an outstanding military website. Her evening program, beginning at 6:30 p.m., will cover online resources for the War of 1812. A remarkable way to give thanks to family members who carry stories of our ancestors in their hearts and in their heads is to participate in what has become the “national day of listening”--the day after Thanksgiving. This year, the national day of listening falls on November 23rd. StoryCorp’s listening website at  encourages us to participate, listen, and share. It is an amazing way to give thanks for the lives lived that made our lives possible. And it is a great way to advance our family history research, providing context to go with the names, dates and places we have gathered. Every year since 2004, the Surgeon General of the United States has asked that we also observe the day after Thanksgiving as Family Health History Day. From his website: “Over the holiday or at other times when families gather, the Surgeon General encourages Americans to talk about, and to write down, the health problems that seem to run in their families. Learning about their families’ health histories may help ensure a longer, healthier future together.” One can begin compiling that family health history with assistance from the following website: . Researching our families’ health histories may just provide us with even more reasons to be grateful, since the health data we collect may help us extend our lives. Wishing you a family-filled, story-packed, heart-warming Thanksgiving and 2012 holiday season!

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Civil War Prisons by Delia Bourne

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Civil War prisoners were held far from home in unsanitary conditions for months or even years. They were subjected to cold and heat with little food, unsafe drinking water and poor medical attention. Such suffering often left scars, physical and mental, that lasted a lifetime. Some prisoners kept diaries or composed memoirs after their release, and these may be used to learn of daily experiences and events of importance in a specific camp. In addition, The Genealogy Center has two volumes that provide detailed information on each prison camp. The introduction of Frances H. Casstevens’ book, “Out of the Mouth of Hell: Civil War Prisons and Escapes” (973.74 AA1CARX ), discusses the numbers and types of prisoners, the facilities in general, the soldiers’ duty to escape, and which prisoners were most likely to try. The main text is divided into separate sections for Federal and Confederate prisons. A chapter on each facility begins with the prison’s location and a brief history, and may include a description of the institution, details on prison personnel, numbers and types of prisoners, conditions, escapes and attempts, and factors affecting the facility during the war, such as epidemics, mortality, security, unrest, and executions. The disposition of each prison after the war and its current state is also described. An appendix provides statistics on escapes from Federal prisons. The bibliography lists contemporary sources (newspapers, archives, public and official records, unpublished manuscripts, published diaries, letters and memoirs), and derivative sources (articles, pamphlets and online articles). An index provides access by name, location and subject. Robert E. Denney’s “Civil War Prisons & Escapes: A Day-by-Day Chronicle” (973.74 AA1DE) provides a detailed, chronological history of prisons and prisoners, beginning with a brief account of the historical and military events that led to the war. The many factors affecting prisons and prisoners are covered, including: inspections, fevers, food, clothing, exchanges, transfers, battles that impacted the capture and disposition of prisoners, camp administrators, and treatment of captured slaves. Appendices feature information on the Prisoner Exchange Cartel; U.S. Army and Confederate policies on the capture and treatment of prisoners; the parole to be used for captured officers; and on deaths in the northern prisons. The index includes names, places, ships and camps. Although the volume does not include comprehensive lists of prisoners, it does spotlight the experiences of a number of detainees within each system, adding depth to the information. Whether your ancestor was held at Elmira, Andersonville, or elsewhere, these volumes will provide background information and a deeper understanding of his life as a prisoner of war.

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Blacks Nominated for Appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, 1870-1887 by Melissa Shimkus

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Individuals researching African American history or Reconstruction era military history will be interested in “Selected Documents Relating to Blacks Nominated for Appointment to the U.S. Military Academy during the 19th Century, 1870-1887,” available on 21 reels of microfilm in The Genealogy Center. Contemporary documents concerning early African American nominees to West Point were gathered from files in four separate National Archives Record Groups. Items on the films are organized by nominee (listed chronologically by the date of appointment), then by record type, including nomination correspondence, examinations, weekly reports, orders, and in some cases court martial proceedings. The material covers each cadet’s entire Academy career, from initial appointment to departure. These records not only detail the nominee’s experiences, but also chronicle community reactions to the politically charged appointments. Of the twenty-seven African Americans recommended to the Academy, twelve passed the admission exams, and only John Hanks Alexander, Henry Ossian Flipper, and Charles Young graduated and were appointed second lieutenants in the Army. Each of the nominees encountered some form of prejudice and retaliation. Documentation of specific incidents can be found in Charles Howard’s file. Included are investigative reports concerning altercations, as well as an 1870 newspaper clipping detailing his nomination, arrival, and the treatment he received from officers and other cadets at the Academy. Several candidates had an initial nomination denied, but were re-appointed a few months later. For example, William Trent Andrews of South Carolina was nominated in August 1884, but was rejected when the Secretary of War questioned whether he was qualified. Andrews was nominated again in October 1884 and reported to the Academy in June 1885. The examination papers and weekly reports present in the files are for the entire cadet class and not one particular individual, so anyone who attended West Point from 1870 through 1887 might appear in these records. James Elias Rector’s files, for example, include the 1871 grades for more than one hundred cadets. The microfilmed set of “Selected Documents Relating to Blacks Nominated for Appointment to the U.S. Military Academy during the 19th Century, 1870-1887” is a valuable resource for African American researchers, military historians, and anyone whose ancestors were West Point cadets during Reconstruction.

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Technology Tip of the Month--Working with Color Photographs Using Adobe Photoshop by Kay Spears

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Before you start restoring color photographs, keep in mind the following considerations. First, make sure that you are very comfortable working in Photoshop. You will have all the problems encountered with black and white photos, plus the additional issues presented by color. Also, remember that each photograph is unique and the solution that works well with one problem may not produce the same results on a different photograph. Adobe Photoshop does not have a “magic button” that will correct a problem photograph. Instead, it is loaded with numerous tools that can be used separately or in combination to get the desired effect. You will also need to know about color. A computer uses RGB colors, or Red, Green and Blue. When you look at photographs on a computer monitor, these three colors combine to make all the colors you see on the screen. What is added to these colors, that does not show up on your print copy is light. In contrast, most printers use CYMK colors, or Cyan, Yellow, Magenta and Black, to reproduce a color photograph. Wait a minute, you say; if I have RGB on my computer and CYMK on my printer, how are they ever going to look the same? Well, that's a good question! I only wish I had a good answer. Some people who work with Adobe Photoshop recommend calibrating your monitor for best image results. I suggest you talk to someone knowledgeable about computers before taking that step. I am unable to calibrate my current computer here, and so far I haven't experienced any problems. If you are using a professional print shop, call and ask what color settings they require, so that you get the results you want. Now, let's look at some restoration problems starting with color cast. I have an old photograph of Aunt Nell in which everything is tinted red, including her. This is color cast. Color casts can be any color depending on how the photo was developed and what conditions it has experienced in the intervening years. For example, I have a number of yellow and blue cast photographs in my collection. Usually, you can identify a pronounced color cast just by looking at the image. For a more subtle color problem, click on the Eyedropper Tool located in the Tool Box, then open up the Info Palette by clicking on “Info” located under “Window” on the Menu bar at the top of the screen. Once the Info Palette is open, run your Eyedropper over gray, neutral or white areas in the photograph. You will see the number values next to R, G and B changing. Neutral, gray and white have equal values of RGB. When there is a color cast on a photograph, the RGB values will be noticeably different. So, if the R value is high when you perform this Eyedropper test, your photograph has a red cast. Next month: Correcting Color Cast Using Variations.

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Quick-Tip of the Month for Preservation--Use the Upcoming Holidays to Preserve Your Family Stories by Dawne Slater-Putt, CG(sm)*

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[Editor’s Note: As most will begin their holiday decorating around Thanksgiving, and not receive another edition of “Genealogy Gems” before then, this tip seemed particularly timely.]

This year, as you decorate the family Christmas tree, or put up decorations for Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, slow down and think about each piece. Are there items that have been passed down through your family, hand-crafted by your children, or especially chosen by you for a specific reason? Are there decorations that have specific memories associated with them? Consider ensuring that this information isn’t lost to the ages by noting where these special ornaments came from or by detailing the stories that are associated with them. There are several methods of doing this.

***Create a notebook featuring your holiday ornaments. Take a photograph of each one, attach it to a sheet of paper and write information about the ornament on the paper around the photo. Slide the pages into acid-free sheet protectors and store them in a three-ring binder.

***Affix a photograph of each ornament to a 4- by 6-inch index card and write the ornament’s story on the back of the card. Keep these in an index card file box and store it with your ornaments.

***Create a spreadsheet for your ornaments on the computer in a program like Excel. You might include fields for the approximate date of the ornament, a brief description, name of the person associated with it (child who made it; person from whom you inherited it; person who gave it to you), and significance. In this last column, you can note if you bought it for your first Christmas as a married couple, for example.

***Create a word processing file about your ornaments. You can insert digital images of them into the file and wrap your text around the photos. The bonus with this method is that you can print out multiple copies to share with family members! In my family’s boxes of Christmas decorations, I have some that were on my parents’ tree when I was a small child, a few that were purchased by our foreign exchange student from Spain back in the mid-1990s that she left with us when she went back home, and some that my mother made. My two sons have an ornament for each of their Christmases that I have given to them and that they will take when they establish their own homes. Most of these are associated with some interest or milestone in their lives for each particular year. So before you take those boxes back up to the attic or down to the basement and make your resolutions for 2013, consider resolving to document the memories that fill your mind each year when you bring out those cherished family holiday ornaments. [*”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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Military Seminar 2012 Slated for November 12th

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It is often said, “Every generation, the possibility” when referring to our nation’s history and the opportunities for ancestors to provide military service. From the earliest days of settlement on this continent to the present day, brave men and women have taken up arms to defend property and our liberties. The Genealogy Center is celebrating Veterans' Day with our 5th Annual Military Seminar on Monday, November 12, 2012. Leading off the program at 2 p.m. in the Main Library Theater will be The Genealogy Center Manager, Curt Witcher, presenting "Military Records & ‘Our Military Heritage’ at ACPL." Then Laura Prescott, researcher, writer and Fold3 consultant, will present a talk on "Using an Outstanding Military Site: Fold3," at 3:30 p.m. She will discuss "Online Resources for the War of 1812" at 6:30 p.m. For more information, see the brochure at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/2012_Brochures/MilitarySeminar2012.sflb.ashx To register for this free seminar, call 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@ACPL.Info. Honor your military ancestors for Veteran's Day by learning how to research their service.

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WinterTech 2012-2013

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No need to be sad that Family History Month is over. The Genealogy Center has more classes to offer over the next few months! Our annual WinterTech classes start in just a couple of weeks. Held the second Wednesday of each month, from November through February, these WinterTech classes begin at 2:30 p.m. and cover a technology topic in the genealogy space. After these afternoon presentations, one can do some research in the Center, network over a dinner snack with fellow genealogists, and then attend the Allen County Genealogical Society's monthly meetings at 7 p.m. This year's classes start with "Twitter for #Genealogy." Tina Lyons, Indiana Genealogical Society vice president and avid blogger, will explain how genealogists everywhere use Twitter to share their research, collaborate with others, participate in conferences, and cultivate friendships. Join us on November 14, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A to learn the basics of using Twitter. Future WinterTech classes will feature "Using OneNote in Your Genealogical Research," on December 12th; "e-Readers & Family History," on January 9th; and "Plug-In Your Armchair Genealogy: Researching from Home," on February 13th. For more information about these classes, see the brochure at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/2012_Brochures/winterTech2012.sflb.ashx. To register for any of these classes, please call 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@ACPL.Info. Stay inspired through the winter months with technology for your genealogy!

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Out and About

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Curt Witcher November 1-3, 2012--Texas State Genealogical Society’s Conference, “Saddlebags to Social Networking: Following Ancestors through History,” The Riley Center, 4726 Stanley Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas. Topics: “The Best of Times--for Genealogists & Their Librarians,” “Becoming the Outstanding Leader Your Society Needs,” “An Ancestor’s Death--A Time for Reaping,” “Using Government Documents for Genealogical Research,” “Finding the World with WorldCat,” and “Doing the History Eliminates the Mystery!” November 8-10, 2012--Florida State Genealogical Society Annual Conference, “The Best of Times, Genealogy + Technology,” Hilton Deerfield Beach/Boca Raton, 100 Fairway Drive, Deerfield Beach, Florida. Topics: “The High Tech and High Touch of 21st Century Genealogy,” "Pain in the Access: Getting More from the Internet for Your Genealogy,” “Finding the World with WorldCat,” and “Roll Call: New Sites and Sources for Military Records and Research” Dawne Slater-Putt October 15, 2012--Family History Library, 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84150. A BCG panel participant on the topics of (1) most valuable/critical genealogical lessons learned and (2) one’s biggest genealogical surprise; cases that shocked or amazed or went against all reason.

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Area Calendar of Events

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Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) November 14, 2012--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana. 6:30 p.m. refreshments, followed at 7 p.m. by Steve Myers’ presentation: “International Research.” Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society/The History Center, 302 East Berry, Ft. Wayne, IN November 4, 2012 at 2 p.m. Michael Galbraith will present, “’…and with one of the most shrewd men in North America at their head’-Jean-Baptiste de Richardville and Myaamia Treaty Making.” Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Office of Diversity, WALB Student Union Ballroom, November 1, 2012 at 12 noon. In honor of Native American Heritage Month 2012, there will be a panel discussion, “The Pan-Native Vision of Tecumseh.”

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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 N.B.--This is Steve Myers’ last issue as co-editor of “Genealogy Gems.” After an amazing career here in The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library, highlighted by numerous stellar accomplishments, he is retiring on November 30, 2012. He will be missed by many!