September 2008

Genealogy Gems:

News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 55, September 30, 2008

In this issue:

Family History Month, Photographs & Holidays

Adventurous Ancestors: Buccaneers, Privateers and Pirates

Family Histories, County Histories & County Atlases on Microfilm

Preservation Tip of the Month-- Storing Artwork & Prints

Celebrate 31 Days of Family History Month

WinterTech 2008-2009 Librarians

On Parade Area Calendar of Events

Driving Directions to the Library

Parking at the Library

Queries for the Department

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Family History Month, Photographs & Holidays by Curt B. Witcher

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It’s hard to believe we’re starting the fourth quarter of ’08! It has been a year of many great activities here in the Genealogy Center--I hope you’ve had a chance to engage in some of your own family history activities, research in the many rich resources of our collection, and attend some of our programs. I am sure you remember that October is Family History Month--a month when we offer a robust suite of genealogical activities for your enjoyment. There is at least one activity going on each day of the month, including three excellent full day or longer workshops. If you decide to participate, and we certainly hope you will (!), it will be nearly impossible not to learn something and have a good time doing it. A link to the calendar of programs is further on in this newsletter. Staying active in your genealogical research gives you much to discuss and share with your relatives during the holidays--and yes, those holidays are just around the corner. (Tell me you haven’t seen holiday decorations in your favorite store already!) As you prepare for the ’08 holiday season, I have a book to recommend to you. It is called “Capturing Memories: Your Family Story in Photographs” by Maureen Taylor. It is so new, our copy is still making its way to our shelves for interested genealogists to use. Maureen Taylor is an accomplished genealogist and author, and has written rather extensively on using photographs in family history. This most recent work, “Capturing Memories,” is perhaps her best work on the topic as she covers the subject so completely yet succinctly in a style that is comfortable and easily read. It is challenging to pick a favorite part of the book, but if pressed, I would certainly vote for the chapters on “Taking Better Pictures” and “Get the Whole Family Involved.” The “Taking Better Pictures” chapter makes me feel more at ease by the simple fact that Maureen doesn’t tell us that taking pictures is easy. When someone tells me something is really easy and I don’t master it right away, I feel even less inclined to engage in the activity. She gives practical advice for helping you discover your style--what you like and dislike about photographs--and then how to get more of what you like. She talks about practicing, composition, balance, and setting up good shots. Importantly, she reminds us that making mistakes while learning is not a bad thing. She also identifies common mistakes individuals make in taking pictures. Her tips and rules are practical, easily understood, and doable. In her chapter “Get the Whole Family Involved,” Maureen has more practical advice about involving everyone--from youngsters and teenagers to grandparents. She spends considerable time talking about online sharing of family photographs. You can truly share your family photo album with any family member in the world who has access to the Internet. Now that’s very cool! Further, it is a fantastic way to get all of the family involved in your family history endeavors. Nothing makes people talk more than when they’re looking at old photographs. Individuals who claim to have “nothing to tell” when asked questions about their younger years find all kinds of things to remark on when looking at photographs. “Capturing Memories: Your Family Story in Photographs” is available both through Ancestry Publishing of Provo, Utah and on Amazon.com. Make this the year you take, organize, preserve, and share your family photographs. In so many wonderful ways, they really do tell the story of our families’ lives throughout recent generations.

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Adventurous Ancestors: Buccaneers, Privateers and Pirates by Cynthia Theusch

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Have you ever wondered if one of your seafaring ancestors or collateral family members was a buccaneer, privateer, or even a pirate? Or were they victims of these adventurous groups? Researchers can consult “Who’s Who in Davy Jones’ Locker?” [910.4 D758wh] for biographical details on more than 1150 pirates, buccaneers and privateers to see if their ancestors were among them, but that is just a start. Details of wild, 17th century buccaneer life are recounted in “The Buccaneers of America” [929.11 Ex7b] by Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin (also known as John Esquemeling) who was able to draw on his personal knowledge and experience as a pirate under Captain Henry Morgan. His travels and participation in various seagoing adventures, including battles and assaults on various fleets and islands, are all featured, as are highlights of the buccaneer lifestyles of Francis L’Ollonais and Captains Henry Morgan, Coxon, Sawkins, Sharp, and Cook. While some historians feel that Esquemeling’s account is more fictional than factual, and Henry Morgan denied any participation in the activities and events ascribed to him, this work is still quoted by scholars of the period. In “Pirates and Privateers of the Americas” by David F. Marley [910.4 M343pi], more than 350 entries describe the buccaneers, privateers, and pirates, as well as the places, events, weapons, ships, fleets, and ports, that played a part in this period of America’s history. Henry Morgan, Thomas Paine (a co-founder of Trinity Church in Newport), and Jeane Rose are just some of the pirates and privateers mentioned. Edgar S. Maclay’s “A History of American Privateers” [973.001 Aa1Ly] describes the close connection between U.S. naval history and privateers in the time period from the War of Independence through the end of the War of 1812. Another source, “Privateers & Volunteers: The Men and Women of Our Reserve Naval Forces, 1766 to 1866” [973.001 St59p] by Reuben E. Stivers, contains information about the naval services and fleets during this time period, along with useful appendices, bibliography and index. The sources mentioned above are just a few of the many books and articles in the Genealogy Center that highlight the records, trials and adventures of the various buccaneers, pirates, and privateers. To locate other material on these adventurous ancestors, use the “keyword” search in our online catalog at www.ACPL.Info and in the “Periodical Source Index” (PERSI).

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Family Histories, County Histories & County Atlases on Microfilm by Steven W. Myers

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The Genealogy Center currently has more than 362,000 printed volumes and more than 588,000 microfilms or microfiche, so it is easy to understand why many visitors narrow their search on any given day by the format in which the source materials are found. Otherwise the task could seem overwhelming. Genealogists often focus on the collections of 57,000 family histories or hundreds of thousands of local histories in print, the online databases, the county courthouse or National Archives records on microfilm, or come prepared with dozens of citations from our “Periodical Source Index” in order to locate articles of interest. That approach is fine, as long as it is recognized that each kind of record may be found in any format – in print, on film and online. Most of us are aware, of course, that more of everything is available online these days, so more researchers are accustomed to searching for digitized census or courthouse records and digitized printed histories and newsletters via computer. But some, I fear, check our large collection of printed family histories or our printed local histories and stop there. Thousands of family histories, county histories and county atlases are also available on microfilm and microfiche in the Genealogy Center. A substantial portion of these are contained in the “Genealogy & Local History Series” on microfiche. The Genealogy Center currently holds the following portions of this set: Genealogy G1-G4754, Genealogy Serials GS1-GS72, Local History LH1-LH6766 & LH7024, and Primary Sources PS1-PS317. The multi-volume “UMI Guide to Family and Local Histories” [call number 016.929 Um3] provides a detailed list of each title in the series, as well as a geographic index and name index. Additional complements to the outstanding print sources include sets of microfilmed county histories and atlases for California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as well as hundreds more family histories on film and fiche. For county histories and atlases check our online microtext catalog under the “States” tab, and then look at the general listings for “County Histories.” For genealogies check under the “Family Histories & Records” tab. While many of these filmed sources are also available here in print, some are not. So be sure to check our film collection for the many useful family histories, county histories and county atlases available only on microfilm and microfiche.

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Preservation Tip of the Month-- Storing Artwork & Prints by Becky Schipper

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Layer prints and pictures between sheets of acid-free tissue or in sleeves designated for the type of work you want to store. Place these in acid-free folders, boxes, or envelopes. Mat valuable pieces before storing them. It is best to store art work flat, though if you prefer to keep prints, posters, etc. in a tube, be sure to put acid-free tissue on the front side of the item before rolling it. Do not roll items tighter than three (3) inches. Paper items should be stored in a cool, dry place. Optimal temperature is 65 – 70*. Optimal humidity is 50%. Extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity are detrimental to all types of paper based objects. Framed artwork can be stored vertically, edges protected with padding and protected from each other with archival dividers.

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Celebrate 31 Days of Family History Month By Melissa Shimkus and Delia Bourne

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The Genealogy Center’s Annual Family History Month has arrived. We have a calendar packed with activities to instruct you in research techniques, educate you about history, and inspire you with new ideas in the quest for your family history! The daily events include lectures on subscription databases and sessions on Adobe PhotoShop, Microsoft Word, WeRelate, German and Irish research. Weekends are especially rich with the Ulster Historical Foundation’s workshop on Saturday October 4th, as well as the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana’s Beginning Genealogy workshop on October 11th, and the Beyond Basics workshop on Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th. Of course, the month will end with our much-anticipated Midnight Madness extended research hours, this time on Halloween, Friday October 31st. This popular annual event offers an opportunity for genealogical networking and camaraderie, as well as the treat to be in the Genealogy Center after the rest of the Main Library closes for the evening. Whoooo wants to attend? You do, of course! A calendar and list of events are available at the Genealogy Center’s Special Programs page at http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/programs.html . Some sessions have limited space, so register soon by calling 260-421-1225, or by email at Genealogy@ACPL.info .

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WinterTech 2008-2009 By Melissa Shimkus and Delia Bourne

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Beat the winter blues over the next several months by expanding your knowledge of online genealogical sources and techniques by attending one (or more) of our WinterTech programs. These hour-long classes are on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:30 pm, scheduled so that you can double your pleasure by attending the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana monthly meetings, held at 7 p.m. on the same dates. On November 12, find out about Newspaper Searching with Ancestry’s Historical Newspapers and Newspaper Archive, presented by Delia Bourne. Learn about Searching Ancestry.com from Melissa Shimkus on December 10. On January 14, 2009, Cynthia Theusch will offer a WeRelate.org Overview. And we will conclude this series with Don Litzer explaining that online genealogical searching is Not Just Ancestry on February 11. Keep track of the dates by checking http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/WinterTech.pdf . Call 260-421-1225 to register, or email your registration to Genealogy@ACPL.info . Let your computer monitor keep the dark winter days bright!

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Librarians on Parade

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Curt Witcher October 30, 2008----Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Room A. “Finding the World with WorldCat” November 1, 2008--Elkhart County Genealogical Society Fall Workshop, Rush Memorial Center, Bristol, IN, 9A-4P. Topics will include: “Passenger & Immigration Records;” “Using Church Records in Your Genealogical Research;” “Mining the Motherlode, Using Periodical Literature for Genealogical Research;” and “Effective Use of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.’ November 8, 2008--Hamilton County Genealogy Society Veteran’s Day Program, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH. “Roll Call: New Sites and Sources for Military Records and Research” with an overview of military records and evaluative strategies. John Beatty October 14, 2008----Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Room A. “Maps of Fort Wayne and Allen County” October 26, 2008-----Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 1P-2P, Meeting Room A. “Histories of Fort Wayne and Allen County” Delia Bourne October 9, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 10A-11A, Meeting Room A. “Using PERSI (Periodical Source Index)” October 16, 2008----Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 10A-11A, Meeting Room A. “Introduction to Footnote.com” October 19, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 1P-2P, Meeting Room A. “Using PERSI (Periodical Source Index)” October 23, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 10A-11A, Meeting Room A. “Overlooked Civil War Sources at ACPL’s Genealogy Center” October 28, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Room A. “Introduction to Footnote.com” Don Litzer October 5, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 1P-2P, Meeting Room A. “Using the Catalogs of the Genealogy Center” October 7, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Theater. “First and Next Steps in German Research” October 13, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Room A. “Gems at the Crossroads of America: The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library” Steve Myers October 3, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 11A-12N, Meeting Room A. “Resources for Irish Research in the Genealogy Center” October 24 & 25, 2008 (with Marge Graham) --Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Rooms A & B. “Family History: Beyond the Basics--A Mini-Course” (six separate lectures with research consultations) Melissa Shimkus October 2, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Room A. “Searching Ancestry.com” October 10, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Room A. “Land Records” October 18, 2008-- Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 10A-11A, Meeting Room A. “Using HeritageQuestOnline” October 21, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 10A-11A, Meeting Room A. “Searching Ancestry.com” October 27, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Theater. “Female Ancestors” Cynthia Theusch October 6, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Computer Classroom. “Creating/Editing Wiki Pages in WeRelate” October 12, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Room A. “Organizing Your Genealogical Files” October 17, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 10A-11A, Meeting Room A. “Research Sources Outside the Genealogy Center” October 20, 2008--Allen County Public Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN, 2P-3P, Meeting Room A. “Searching the Wiki Pages of WeRelate”

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Area Calendar of Events

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Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) October 8, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library, 900 Library Plaza., Meeting Room C. Jeanne Stump will present “Doing Research in Scotland and Lithuania.” Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, 302 East Berry, Ft. Wayne, IN October 5, 2008 2 p.m., G. Stanley Hood will present “The Political History of Allen County: How Did a Solid Democratic County Become a Solid Republican County?”

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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 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.Info. Scroll down toward the bottom of the first screen where it says, "Enter Your Email Address to Subscribe to "Genealogy Gems." Enter your email address in the yellow box and click on "Subscribe." 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 GenealogyGems you just received or send an email to kspears@acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe ezine" in the subject line. Steve Myers & Curt Witcher, co-editors