| Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne, No. 239, January 31, 2024 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygems genealogycenter.info)
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| Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 21:45:46 -0500 | |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne
No. 239, January 31, 2024
In this issue:
*Celebrate Black History Month with Some Amazing Resources
*The Queen City: Researching German Ancestors in Cincinnati
*British Newspaper Archive - How to Access it For Free in the Genealogy Center
*PERSI Gems: Honey or Vinegar
*History Tidbits: Marshall for Justice--The Life and Legend of Bass Reeves
*Genealogy Center’s February 2024 Programs
*February Program Call-outs
*Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming
*Genealogy Center Social Media
*Driving Directions to the Library
*Parking at the Library
*Genealogy Center Queries
*Publishing Note
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Celebrate Black History Month with Some Amazing Resources
by Curt B. Witcher
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As many may know Black History Month was established in 1976 out of a previous commemoration of “Negro History Week,” a week-long celebration of Black history created by distinguished historian, writer, and publisher Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Today, the month-long celebration honors the rich history of African Americans in the United States and beyond. Black History Month is an excellent time to be inspired to start the quest into one’s African American family history as well as the family histories of those whose ancestors who lived with, interacted with, and profited off the labors of African Americans. The Genealogy Center has an abundance of riches for this research.
When engaging in African American genealogical research, it is important to know that significant information can be found by browsing the shelves or querying the online catalog for the geographic places (cities, counties and parishes) and surnames of one’s search interests. Not everything will be separated into our rather massive African American section nor will everything be discoverable by searching for African Americans as a topic in a geographic area. If you are able to visit the Genealogy Center in person, browsing the shelves of our substantial general African American section may give one numerous research ideas and leads to explore. Our general African American print materials, numbering in the thousands of items, can be found under the call number 973.068.
There are two other excellent places to continue, or even begin, one’s search for records and resources that evidence African American family stories and documents. The first is the “African American Gateway,” a very large listing of African American resources in the Genealogy Center. www.genealogycenter.info/africanamerican These resources are organized in several general categories including U.S. States, U.S. Regions, Foreign Countries, and Subjects. One can easily find descriptions and call numbers for nearly countless numbers of items. With some much good local and family history data published in journals, newsletters, quarterlies and other periodicals, the “Periodical Source Index (PERSI)” is the second excellent resource to begin or continue one’s research. There are more than 3.1 million article titles categorized in seven broad categories. Of the seven categories, the four location search options along with the surname search options typically net the most meaningful search results. Both of these resources are available for free from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection as is our online catalog.
The Genealogy Center also has a very consequential number of African American historical newspapers searchable by researchers onsite. While some African American newspapers appear in more than one database, the databases themselves search differently and the date coverage may be different as well. A list of these online newspaper databases can be found in the following.
**Accessible Archives African American Newspapers
This is a rather unique collection of 19th century African-American newspapers, including The Christian Recorder (1861-1891, 1893-1902), The Colored American/Weekly Advocate (1837-1841), Douglass' Monthly (1859-1863), Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851-1855), The Freedmen's Record (1865-1874), Freedom's Journal (1827-1829), The National Era (1847-1860), The Negro Business League Herald (1909), The North Star (1847-1851), and Provincial Freeman (1854-1857).
**African American Historical Newspapers
The "Genealogy" link leads one to a collection of nine distinct African-American newspapers, featuring the Atlanta Daily World (1931-2003), The Baltimore Afro-American (1893-1988), Chicago Defender (1910-1975), Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1991), Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005), New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993), The Norfolk Journal and Guide (1921-2003), The Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001), and Pittsburgh Courier (1911-2002).
**African American Historical Newspapers
Links lead one to a collection of nine distinct African-American newspapers, featuring the Atlanta Daily World (1931-2003), The Baltimore Afro-American (1893-1988), Chicago Defender (1910-1975), Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1991), Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005), New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993), The Norfolk Journal and Guide (1921-2003), The Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001), and Pittsburgh Courier (1911-2002).
**African American Historical Serials Collection
The "African American Historical Serials Collection" is an archive of periodicals that document the history of African American religious life and culture between 1829 and 1922. It includes newspapers and magazines, plus reports and annuals from African American religious organizations, including churches and social service agencies.
**Ebony Magazine Archive
In 1945, Chicago's John H. Johnson established Ebony magazine, akin to Life magazine but tailored specifically for the African American community. A monthly periodical, Ebony initially highlighted African American entertainers and athletes, later expanding its coverage to encompass achievements across various domains within the African American community. For our patrons, the Genealogy Center provides on-site access to the complete collection of Ebony magazine spanning from 1945 to 2014 through the Ebony Magazine Archive. This access enables patrons to easily search and navigate through the magazine content. Should a patron prefer a more casual browsing experience, that option is also available. This database proves immensely beneficial for those delving into research on African American culture and social history.
**Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive
The Slavery and Anti-Slavery database is a rare historical archive of court records, maps, books, newspapers, and periodicals from the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe specific to the topics of slavery, abolition, and emancipation. This resource is consequential for establishing contexts for more extensive exploration.
While many who use newspapers in their family history research focus almost exclusively on searching for names associated with life events such as birth, marriage, and death, I strongly urge that we use newspapers to discover the context in which our ancestors lived, e.g. what was life like in the area where they lived, who and what was mentioned in the social columns, what drove the local economy and what were the local businesses. The context in which we find our ancestors is perennially undervalued by genealogists. Successfully doing reasonably exhaustive research and finding all of your ancestors’ FANs (friends, associates, and neighbors) necessarily means we spend some time developing robust geographical and chronological contexts in which to place our ancestors.
And speaking of contexts, the Genealogy Center contains many hundreds of masters and PhD dissertations in print form pertaining to African American life. These works are quite beneficial in setting a rich context for our ancestors as well as providing us with new (and often unknown) sources of data through their bibliographies, footnotes, and endnotes.
A final resource worthy of note here is the African American Heritage collection of databases and resources. It includes original records and an online version of “Black Genesis,” a state-by-state methodological resource guide. While no substantial new materials have been added to the site in years, searchable access to “Black Genesis” is definitely worth a look. The online access greatly enhances one’s opportunity to find useful data over simply perusing the print version.
However you celebrate Black History month, I invite you to ensure that it involves a deeper look into your family history and family stories.
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The Queen City: Researching German Ancestors in Cincinnati
by Kate McKenzie
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Known as 'The Birthplace of Professional Baseball,' 'The Queen City,' and affectionately referred to as 'Cincy,' Cincinnati has earned a myriad of nicknames throughout its history. Established in 1788 and formally incorporated in 1820, this city, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River, boasts a history intricately woven into the fabric of America.
Cincinnati, Ohio, has long been a melting pot of different communities. Among the prominent immigrant groups that have left an indelible mark on the city are the Germans, who began arriving in the 19th century. If you're on a quest to trace your German ancestors in Cincinnati, here are a few tips to help you along your journey.
Cincinnati's German heritage is deeply ingrained - even in the city's architecture and culinary traditions. As you begin your ancestral research, consult resources like Don Heinrich Tolzmann’s “German Heritage Guide to the Greater Cincinnati Area” (GC 977.102 c49toe) and “Cincinnati’s Germans Before World War I” (GC 977.102 C49tof).
Explore the rich archives of Cincinnati, including the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. They hold an extensive collection of newspapers, city directories, trade catalogs, business records and more, many of which are available online, https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/, providing a valuable starting point. The Cincinnati Historical Society Library and the University of Cincinnati Archives and Rare Books Library are additional resources for genealogical research. The UC Archives and Rare Books Library holds electronic copies of Cincinnati vital records from 1865 to 1908, accessible here (https://libraries.uc.edu/libraries/arb.html) as well as additional local government records and a distinguished German Americana collection.
Tap into the unique resource of German-language newspapers published in Cincinnati, such as "Tagliches Cincinnatier Volksblatt" and "Cincinnati Freie Presse." These newspapers, available through platforms like Newspapers.com and Newspaper Archive, which are accessible for free at the Genealogy Center, offer insights into the daily lives and events within the German community.
Religious institutions played a crucial role in the lives of German immigrants. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati collaborated with FindMyPast to digitize historical records, accessible at the Genealogy Center. This database includes sacramental records from the earliest dates to 1921 for baptism and marriage registers, and up to 1953 for burial registers. FamilySearch.org is another valuable resource, hosting over a hundred collections of church records, spanning various denominations and congregations. Be sure to search in the catalog by place, “Ohio, Hamilton, Cincinnati” to view and explore these records.
In the digital age, online platforms like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage are indispensable for genealogical research. Additionally, explore websites such as the Hamilton County Probate Court's website, https://www.probatect.org/, for archive searches related to wills, trusts, marriages, birth and death records, and more, dating back to 1791. Check out the Catholic News Archive website, https://thecatholicnewsarchive.org/?a=p&p=home&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------, to freely explore The Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph spanning from 1831-1949.
By navigating local archives, delving into German-language newspapers, and leveraging online resources, you can piece together the mosaic of your ancestors' lives and celebrate the enduring legacy of Cincinnati's German community.
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British Newspaper Archive - How to Access it For Free in the Genealogy Center
by Elizabeth Hodges
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If you’re tracing your family’s story in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the British Newspaper Archive, which can be accessed for free when you visit the Genealogy Center, is an excellent database to start a search. This archive, created through a partnership between the British Library and Findmypast, provides an extensive collection of regional and national newspapers dating back to the 18th century. As of January of 2024, The British Newspaper Archive has digitized over 73 million pages of newspapers.
Newspapers can add color and historical context to our ancestors’ lives beyond birth, marriage, and death announcements. They offer insights into the social, cultural, and political context of the times, allowing individuals to understand the world in which their ancestors lived. For example, my great-great grandparents in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, would have experienced many economic and social issues in the early years of their marriage. As children during the Great Famine of 1845-1852, they saw another famine occur two years after their marriage in 1879, the Land War of 1879-1882, and an economic depression that would last for roughly 15 years. While I cannot ask them how they managed this time period, I can use newspapers to put their lives into this historical context and see what kind of relief or resources were available to them.
In addition to providing historical context, newspapers often contain stories, advertisements, and reports that can reveal fascinating details about ancestors' lives, occupations, and communities. For example, I’ve found articles detailing my 4x great grandfather’s work as a professional gardener in the 1830s in Ireland. When researching the various ways that 18th century Irish immigrants found passage to America, I used newspapers to find advertisements from shipping agents and land promotion schemers that were used to recruit settlers.
While the British Newspaper Archive is a subscription-based database, you can still access this database for free while visiting the Genealogy Center. To do this, go directly to the British Newspaper Archive Homepage (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/), create a free account, and start searching! If you are using your own device, make sure you are connected to the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) WiFi. When in doubt, ask a librarian for help!
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PERSI Gems: Honey or Vinegar
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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Valentine's Day evokes emotions on a grand scale: affection and jealousy, acceptance and rejection, excitement and disappointment, hope and apathy, fulfillment and hunger, friendship and loneliness, sweet and sour.
The editor of Footprints in Marion County, Maxine Wormer, once recalled the love of her mother as she reflected on "Honey or Vinegar for Valentine's Day." She wrote:
"[This] reminded me of something that happened way back in my first-grade class. One little boy received only one valentine from the teacher. My mother and another room-mother brought cupcakes and candy in the afternoon for the party. For a long time afterward my mother spoke of the little fella clutching his one valentine while two big tears rolled down his cheeks. Mom managed to slip him an extra cupcake, but told me when we got home that henceforth, as long as there were valentine boxes, I was to drop one in for each pupil in my class. Like most moms the world over, she couldn't bear to see a child hurt. It must have made a deep impression on me as I remember the incident all these many years later."
Below, we at the Periodical Source Index cite Valentine stories of an editor, authors, a duke, hospitalized troops, eligible bachelors, a lost art, a Precious Fuzzy Wuzzy, and an onion. Try a PERSI search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Bronte sisters' Valentine's Day card story, brief
Camrose (Alberta) Roots and Shoots, Feb 2013
Carolyn Byron valentine, Love Precious Fuzzy Wuzzy, 1940s, n.p.
Reminisce (RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC), Vol. 28, Issue 2 (Feb 2018)
Earliest extant Valentine's Day card, Charles, Duke of Orleans to wife, circa 1415
Family Branches (Wabash County Genealogy Society, IN), Vol. 16, Issue 5 (Jan 2011)
Eligible bachelors in New Lisbon, Valentine's Day list, 1868
Lisbon (OH) Historical Society Newsletter, Feb 2004
Honey or vinegar for Valentine, Feb. 1990
Footprints in Marion County (IL), Vol. 25, Issue 3 (Win 2001)
Lost art of handwriting and the sending of paper cards for Valentines Day, 1800s
Schuylerite (Schuyler County Jail Museum, IL), Vol. 39, Issue 2 (Sum 2010)
Over 7,600 valentines sent to soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital, 2009
Clinton County (IL) Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 32, Issue 3 (Jul 2009)
Valentine Gilliland vs. Martha S. Gilliland divorce, she hit him with an onion, 1902, OH
Track and Trace (Hardin County Genealogical Society, OH), Vol. 27, Issue 4 (Win 2009)
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History Tidbits: Marshall for Justice--The Life and Legend of Bass Reeves
by Logan Knight
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Few times and locations in our world give greater scope for the painting of tall tales and legends like the American West. It takes quite a person to make their mark amid so many icons. Undoubtedly, one of those is the legendary lawman, Bass Reeves.
Bass was born enslaved to the Reeves family in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. Like many enslaved people, his early life is a mixture of confusion and supposition. He moved with his enslaver’s family to Texas and eventually accompanied Colonel George Reeves when the latter joined the Confederate Army. Legend says that the two were playing a card game when George accused Bass of cheating. Bass did not take kindly to such an accusation and proceeded to beat George like a government mule. Recognizing the consequences of his actions, Bass made a run for freedom and ended up in Indian Territory (today’s Oklahoma).
It is impossible to say how true any of that is, but it remains a fact that Reeves ended up in Oklahoma and seems to have met and mingled with many of the tribes that had been forced into the territory about two decades previously. Bass seems to have picked up numerous languages and practices. He next turned up as a farmer in Van Buren, Arkansas, where he made money on the side as a guide and tracker into Indian Territory.
In 1875, Bass took the job that would win him immortal fame. The post-war American West needed some law and order. The federal government had appointed the famed Judge Isaac Parker to sort out an area of close to eighty thousand square miles. Parker would enter American legend as “Hanging Judge Parker,” which should give some ideas about his character. Parker commissioned Bass as his only deputy and the first African American one west of the Mississippi. Reeves would serve in this role for the next thirty-two years.
Over the years, Bass’s exploits grew. He tracked down thousands of fugitives and brought them to justice. One newspaper claimed at his death that he had brought in three thousand over the course of his career. Bass’s reputation was such that many people simply surrendered when he asked them to do so. A few had to learn the hard way, and Bass may have killed up to fourteen outlaws in self-defense.
Bass’s commitment to justice was tested most strenuously when his own son, Benjamin, was accused of murder. Bass felt he had no choice but to bring him in. Of course, other accounts simply say he surrendered. Benjamin Reeves served eleven years at Fort Leavenworth before being released.
After a long career, Bass retired in 1907. He would continue to moonlight as a policeman in his new home of Muskogee, Oklahoma. He passed away just a few years later in 1910 at the age of 72. While historical fog shrouds much of his deeds, it is impossible not to stand in awe of this legendary lawman. As one great Western movie put it: “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”.
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Genealogy Center’s February 2024 Programs
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Join us for another month of free, virtual programs!
February 1, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “DNA Matching Made Easy with MyHeritage” with Shannon Combs-Bennett - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938388
February 6, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST “Genealogy in the Netherlands: An Introduction” with John Boeren - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938393
February 8, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “Museums Have Records Too! Locating Your Ancestors Behind Closed Doors” with Melissa Barker - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9941239
February 13, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST “Tracing the Path of African Americans from Enslavement to Freedom” with Hillary Delaney - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938395
February 14, 2024, 7 p.m. “How to Overcome Brick Walls in German-American Research” with Michael Lacopo. An Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana program. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HONa4ENBRla7HVuKNpbOCQ#/registration
February 15, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “Indigenous Peoples - First Nations Genealogical Research” with Curt Witcher - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938399
February 17, 2024, 2 p.m. EST “AAGSFW Research Tools and Tips: All Things DNA: Genetic Genealogy & DNA Testing” with Adrian Wells – Hybrid program. Come to the Genealogy Center or register with the following link. An African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne program. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nqS3mrofThKB4t0mXhTYMA
February 18, 2024, 2 p.m. EST “Crypto-Jews and Conversos” – a two-part program of the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society. At 2 p.m. “The New World: Migration, DNA, and Genetics” with Schelly Dardashti; at 3:30 p.m. “And it Only Took 500 Years” with Maria Apodaca. Registration link for both programs - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ld-qpqT4jEtxrhG-UGr3AKF4MAZbeKWxy#/registration
February 20, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST “Using Permanent.org: Preserving the Digital Legacy of Your Family” with Kaitlyn Jarnagin - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938403
February 22, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “A Beginner’s Guide to Romanian Genealogy” with Logan Knight - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9941413
February 27, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST “Family History in the Oklahoma State Archives” with Alyssa Vaughn - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938411
February 29, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “Identification of the Romanov Russian Royal Family: DNA and Family Ties” with Suni M. Edson - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938469
Please register in advance for these engaging programs.
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February 2024 Program Call-Outs
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+++Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana+++
February 14, 2024, 7 p.m. “How to Overcome Brick Walls in German-American Research” with Michael Lacopo. Michael is a life-long resident of northern Indiana. He began his genealogical research in 1980. His first published work appeared in 1985 with several books, journal articles and published contributions following. He has lectured locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Michael has a varied and interesting ancestry and is a self-described “all-American mutt.” He specializes in German genealogical research. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HONa4ENBRla7HVuKNpbOCQ#/registration
+++African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne+++
February 17, 2024, 2 p.m. EST “AAGSFW Research Tools and Tips: All Things DNA: Genetic Genealogy & DNA Testing” with Adrian Wells, Historian of the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne - Hybrid program. Come to the Genealogy Center or register with the following link. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nqS3mrofThKB4t0mXhTYMA
+++Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society+++
Schelly Dardashti and Maria Apodaca are presenting two virtual programs on Sunday, February 18, 2024. Beginning at 2:00 p.m. EST with “The New World: Migration, DNA, and Genetics” Schelly looks at events in Spain and Portugal which contributed to the New World migration of conversos/bnai anusim, supported by DNA and genetic evidence. At 3:30, Maria will share her family’s story in “And it Only Took 500 Years.” Her family history stems from 1598 in New Mexico when Captain Juan de Onate brought the first colonists to what was then, New Spain. Her family had previously been forced to convert to Catholicism and, as her family’s historian, Maria became interested in DNA. Schelly Talalay Dardashti, a journalist and a genealogist, is a New Mexican by choice. She is the US Genealogy Advisor for MyHeritage, and has traced her Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Mizrahi families across Iran, Spain, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine for decades. As the first returnee in her family, Maria Apodaca is a founding member of Centro Sefarad New Mexico, a Road Scholar speaker on New Mexico's conversos and crypto-Jews, and has presented at numerous conferences. Register at the following link for both programs. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ld-qpqT4jEtxrhG-UGr3AKF4MAZbeKWxy#/registration
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Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming
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Do you want to know what we have planned? Are you interested in one of our events, but forget? We offer email updates for The Genealogy Center’s programming schedule. Don’t miss out! Sign up at http://goo.gl/forms/THcV0wAabB.
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Genealogy Center Social Media
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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
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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%20Webster%20St&city=Fort%20Wayne&state=IN&zipcode=46802%2d3602&country=US&geodiff=1
>From the South
Exit Interstate 69 at exit 302. Drive east on Jefferson Boulevard into downtown. Turn left on Ewing Street. The Library is one block north, at Ewing Street and Washington Boulevard.
Using US 27:
US 27 turns into Lafayette Street. Drive north into downtown. Turn left at Washington Boulevard and go five blocks. The Library will be on the right.
>From the North
Exit Interstate 69 at exit 312. Drive south on Coldwater Road, which merges into Clinton Street. Continue south on Clinton to Washington Boulevard. Turn right on Washington and go three blocks. The Library will be on the right.
>From the West
Using US 30:
Drive into town on US 30. US 30 turns into Goshen Ave. which dead-ends at West State Blvd. Make an angled left turn onto West State Blvd. Turn right on Wells Street. Go south on Wells to Wayne Street. Turn left on Wayne Street. The Library will be in the second block on the right.
Using US 24:
After crossing under Interstate 69, follow the same directions as from the South.
>From the East
Follow US 30/then 930 into and through New Haven, under an overpass into downtown Fort Wayne. You will be on Washington Blvd. when you get into downtown. Library Plaza will be on the right.
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Parking at the Library
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At the Library, underground parking can be accessed from Wayne Street. Other library parking lots are at Washington and Webster, and Wayne and Webster. Hourly parking is $1 per hour with a $7 maximum. ACPL library card holders may use their cards to validate the parking ticket at the west end of the Great Hall of the Library. Out of county residents may purchase a subscription card with proof of identification and residence. The current fee for an Individual Subscription Card is $85.
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.
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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 [at] 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 sspearswells [at] acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line.
Curt B. Witcher and John D. Beatty, CG, co-editors
No. 239, January 31, 2024
In this issue:
*Celebrate Black History Month with Some Amazing Resources
*The Queen City: Researching German Ancestors in Cincinnati
*British Newspaper Archive - How to Access it For Free in the Genealogy Center
*PERSI Gems: Honey or Vinegar
*History Tidbits: Marshall for Justice--The Life and Legend of Bass Reeves
*Genealogy Center’s February 2024 Programs
*February Program Call-outs
*Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming
*Genealogy Center Social Media
*Driving Directions to the Library
*Parking at the Library
*Genealogy Center Queries
*Publishing Note
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Celebrate Black History Month with Some Amazing Resources
by Curt B. Witcher
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As many may know Black History Month was established in 1976 out of a previous commemoration of “Negro History Week,” a week-long celebration of Black history created by distinguished historian, writer, and publisher Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Today, the month-long celebration honors the rich history of African Americans in the United States and beyond. Black History Month is an excellent time to be inspired to start the quest into one’s African American family history as well as the family histories of those whose ancestors who lived with, interacted with, and profited off the labors of African Americans. The Genealogy Center has an abundance of riches for this research.
When engaging in African American genealogical research, it is important to know that significant information can be found by browsing the shelves or querying the online catalog for the geographic places (cities, counties and parishes) and surnames of one’s search interests. Not everything will be separated into our rather massive African American section nor will everything be discoverable by searching for African Americans as a topic in a geographic area. If you are able to visit the Genealogy Center in person, browsing the shelves of our substantial general African American section may give one numerous research ideas and leads to explore. Our general African American print materials, numbering in the thousands of items, can be found under the call number 973.068.
There are two other excellent places to continue, or even begin, one’s search for records and resources that evidence African American family stories and documents. The first is the “African American Gateway,” a very large listing of African American resources in the Genealogy Center. www.genealogycenter.info/africanamerican These resources are organized in several general categories including U.S. States, U.S. Regions, Foreign Countries, and Subjects. One can easily find descriptions and call numbers for nearly countless numbers of items. With some much good local and family history data published in journals, newsletters, quarterlies and other periodicals, the “Periodical Source Index (PERSI)” is the second excellent resource to begin or continue one’s research. There are more than 3.1 million article titles categorized in seven broad categories. Of the seven categories, the four location search options along with the surname search options typically net the most meaningful search results. Both of these resources are available for free from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection as is our online catalog.
The Genealogy Center also has a very consequential number of African American historical newspapers searchable by researchers onsite. While some African American newspapers appear in more than one database, the databases themselves search differently and the date coverage may be different as well. A list of these online newspaper databases can be found in the following.
**Accessible Archives African American Newspapers
This is a rather unique collection of 19th century African-American newspapers, including The Christian Recorder (1861-1891, 1893-1902), The Colored American/Weekly Advocate (1837-1841), Douglass' Monthly (1859-1863), Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851-1855), The Freedmen's Record (1865-1874), Freedom's Journal (1827-1829), The National Era (1847-1860), The Negro Business League Herald (1909), The North Star (1847-1851), and Provincial Freeman (1854-1857).
**African American Historical Newspapers
The "Genealogy" link leads one to a collection of nine distinct African-American newspapers, featuring the Atlanta Daily World (1931-2003), The Baltimore Afro-American (1893-1988), Chicago Defender (1910-1975), Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1991), Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005), New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993), The Norfolk Journal and Guide (1921-2003), The Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001), and Pittsburgh Courier (1911-2002).
**African American Historical Newspapers
Links lead one to a collection of nine distinct African-American newspapers, featuring the Atlanta Daily World (1931-2003), The Baltimore Afro-American (1893-1988), Chicago Defender (1910-1975), Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1991), Los Angeles Sentinel (1934-2005), New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993), The Norfolk Journal and Guide (1921-2003), The Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001), and Pittsburgh Courier (1911-2002).
**African American Historical Serials Collection
The "African American Historical Serials Collection" is an archive of periodicals that document the history of African American religious life and culture between 1829 and 1922. It includes newspapers and magazines, plus reports and annuals from African American religious organizations, including churches and social service agencies.
**Ebony Magazine Archive
In 1945, Chicago's John H. Johnson established Ebony magazine, akin to Life magazine but tailored specifically for the African American community. A monthly periodical, Ebony initially highlighted African American entertainers and athletes, later expanding its coverage to encompass achievements across various domains within the African American community. For our patrons, the Genealogy Center provides on-site access to the complete collection of Ebony magazine spanning from 1945 to 2014 through the Ebony Magazine Archive. This access enables patrons to easily search and navigate through the magazine content. Should a patron prefer a more casual browsing experience, that option is also available. This database proves immensely beneficial for those delving into research on African American culture and social history.
**Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive
The Slavery and Anti-Slavery database is a rare historical archive of court records, maps, books, newspapers, and periodicals from the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe specific to the topics of slavery, abolition, and emancipation. This resource is consequential for establishing contexts for more extensive exploration.
While many who use newspapers in their family history research focus almost exclusively on searching for names associated with life events such as birth, marriage, and death, I strongly urge that we use newspapers to discover the context in which our ancestors lived, e.g. what was life like in the area where they lived, who and what was mentioned in the social columns, what drove the local economy and what were the local businesses. The context in which we find our ancestors is perennially undervalued by genealogists. Successfully doing reasonably exhaustive research and finding all of your ancestors’ FANs (friends, associates, and neighbors) necessarily means we spend some time developing robust geographical and chronological contexts in which to place our ancestors.
And speaking of contexts, the Genealogy Center contains many hundreds of masters and PhD dissertations in print form pertaining to African American life. These works are quite beneficial in setting a rich context for our ancestors as well as providing us with new (and often unknown) sources of data through their bibliographies, footnotes, and endnotes.
A final resource worthy of note here is the African American Heritage collection of databases and resources. It includes original records and an online version of “Black Genesis,” a state-by-state methodological resource guide. While no substantial new materials have been added to the site in years, searchable access to “Black Genesis” is definitely worth a look. The online access greatly enhances one’s opportunity to find useful data over simply perusing the print version.
However you celebrate Black History month, I invite you to ensure that it involves a deeper look into your family history and family stories.
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The Queen City: Researching German Ancestors in Cincinnati
by Kate McKenzie
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Known as 'The Birthplace of Professional Baseball,' 'The Queen City,' and affectionately referred to as 'Cincy,' Cincinnati has earned a myriad of nicknames throughout its history. Established in 1788 and formally incorporated in 1820, this city, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River, boasts a history intricately woven into the fabric of America.
Cincinnati, Ohio, has long been a melting pot of different communities. Among the prominent immigrant groups that have left an indelible mark on the city are the Germans, who began arriving in the 19th century. If you're on a quest to trace your German ancestors in Cincinnati, here are a few tips to help you along your journey.
Cincinnati's German heritage is deeply ingrained - even in the city's architecture and culinary traditions. As you begin your ancestral research, consult resources like Don Heinrich Tolzmann’s “German Heritage Guide to the Greater Cincinnati Area” (GC 977.102 c49toe) and “Cincinnati’s Germans Before World War I” (GC 977.102 C49tof).
Explore the rich archives of Cincinnati, including the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. They hold an extensive collection of newspapers, city directories, trade catalogs, business records and more, many of which are available online, https://digital.cincinnatilibrary.org/, providing a valuable starting point. The Cincinnati Historical Society Library and the University of Cincinnati Archives and Rare Books Library are additional resources for genealogical research. The UC Archives and Rare Books Library holds electronic copies of Cincinnati vital records from 1865 to 1908, accessible here (https://libraries.uc.edu/libraries/arb.html) as well as additional local government records and a distinguished German Americana collection.
Tap into the unique resource of German-language newspapers published in Cincinnati, such as "Tagliches Cincinnatier Volksblatt" and "Cincinnati Freie Presse." These newspapers, available through platforms like Newspapers.com and Newspaper Archive, which are accessible for free at the Genealogy Center, offer insights into the daily lives and events within the German community.
Religious institutions played a crucial role in the lives of German immigrants. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati collaborated with FindMyPast to digitize historical records, accessible at the Genealogy Center. This database includes sacramental records from the earliest dates to 1921 for baptism and marriage registers, and up to 1953 for burial registers. FamilySearch.org is another valuable resource, hosting over a hundred collections of church records, spanning various denominations and congregations. Be sure to search in the catalog by place, “Ohio, Hamilton, Cincinnati” to view and explore these records.
In the digital age, online platforms like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage are indispensable for genealogical research. Additionally, explore websites such as the Hamilton County Probate Court's website, https://www.probatect.org/, for archive searches related to wills, trusts, marriages, birth and death records, and more, dating back to 1791. Check out the Catholic News Archive website, https://thecatholicnewsarchive.org/?a=p&p=home&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------, to freely explore The Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph spanning from 1831-1949.
By navigating local archives, delving into German-language newspapers, and leveraging online resources, you can piece together the mosaic of your ancestors' lives and celebrate the enduring legacy of Cincinnati's German community.
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British Newspaper Archive - How to Access it For Free in the Genealogy Center
by Elizabeth Hodges
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If you’re tracing your family’s story in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the British Newspaper Archive, which can be accessed for free when you visit the Genealogy Center, is an excellent database to start a search. This archive, created through a partnership between the British Library and Findmypast, provides an extensive collection of regional and national newspapers dating back to the 18th century. As of January of 2024, The British Newspaper Archive has digitized over 73 million pages of newspapers.
Newspapers can add color and historical context to our ancestors’ lives beyond birth, marriage, and death announcements. They offer insights into the social, cultural, and political context of the times, allowing individuals to understand the world in which their ancestors lived. For example, my great-great grandparents in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, would have experienced many economic and social issues in the early years of their marriage. As children during the Great Famine of 1845-1852, they saw another famine occur two years after their marriage in 1879, the Land War of 1879-1882, and an economic depression that would last for roughly 15 years. While I cannot ask them how they managed this time period, I can use newspapers to put their lives into this historical context and see what kind of relief or resources were available to them.
In addition to providing historical context, newspapers often contain stories, advertisements, and reports that can reveal fascinating details about ancestors' lives, occupations, and communities. For example, I’ve found articles detailing my 4x great grandfather’s work as a professional gardener in the 1830s in Ireland. When researching the various ways that 18th century Irish immigrants found passage to America, I used newspapers to find advertisements from shipping agents and land promotion schemers that were used to recruit settlers.
While the British Newspaper Archive is a subscription-based database, you can still access this database for free while visiting the Genealogy Center. To do this, go directly to the British Newspaper Archive Homepage (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/), create a free account, and start searching! If you are using your own device, make sure you are connected to the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) WiFi. When in doubt, ask a librarian for help!
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PERSI Gems: Honey or Vinegar
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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Valentine's Day evokes emotions on a grand scale: affection and jealousy, acceptance and rejection, excitement and disappointment, hope and apathy, fulfillment and hunger, friendship and loneliness, sweet and sour.
The editor of Footprints in Marion County, Maxine Wormer, once recalled the love of her mother as she reflected on "Honey or Vinegar for Valentine's Day." She wrote:
"[This] reminded me of something that happened way back in my first-grade class. One little boy received only one valentine from the teacher. My mother and another room-mother brought cupcakes and candy in the afternoon for the party. For a long time afterward my mother spoke of the little fella clutching his one valentine while two big tears rolled down his cheeks. Mom managed to slip him an extra cupcake, but told me when we got home that henceforth, as long as there were valentine boxes, I was to drop one in for each pupil in my class. Like most moms the world over, she couldn't bear to see a child hurt. It must have made a deep impression on me as I remember the incident all these many years later."
Below, we at the Periodical Source Index cite Valentine stories of an editor, authors, a duke, hospitalized troops, eligible bachelors, a lost art, a Precious Fuzzy Wuzzy, and an onion. Try a PERSI search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Bronte sisters' Valentine's Day card story, brief
Camrose (Alberta) Roots and Shoots, Feb 2013
Carolyn Byron valentine, Love Precious Fuzzy Wuzzy, 1940s, n.p.
Reminisce (RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC), Vol. 28, Issue 2 (Feb 2018)
Earliest extant Valentine's Day card, Charles, Duke of Orleans to wife, circa 1415
Family Branches (Wabash County Genealogy Society, IN), Vol. 16, Issue 5 (Jan 2011)
Eligible bachelors in New Lisbon, Valentine's Day list, 1868
Lisbon (OH) Historical Society Newsletter, Feb 2004
Honey or vinegar for Valentine, Feb. 1990
Footprints in Marion County (IL), Vol. 25, Issue 3 (Win 2001)
Lost art of handwriting and the sending of paper cards for Valentines Day, 1800s
Schuylerite (Schuyler County Jail Museum, IL), Vol. 39, Issue 2 (Sum 2010)
Over 7,600 valentines sent to soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital, 2009
Clinton County (IL) Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 32, Issue 3 (Jul 2009)
Valentine Gilliland vs. Martha S. Gilliland divorce, she hit him with an onion, 1902, OH
Track and Trace (Hardin County Genealogical Society, OH), Vol. 27, Issue 4 (Win 2009)
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History Tidbits: Marshall for Justice--The Life and Legend of Bass Reeves
by Logan Knight
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Few times and locations in our world give greater scope for the painting of tall tales and legends like the American West. It takes quite a person to make their mark amid so many icons. Undoubtedly, one of those is the legendary lawman, Bass Reeves.
Bass was born enslaved to the Reeves family in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838. Like many enslaved people, his early life is a mixture of confusion and supposition. He moved with his enslaver’s family to Texas and eventually accompanied Colonel George Reeves when the latter joined the Confederate Army. Legend says that the two were playing a card game when George accused Bass of cheating. Bass did not take kindly to such an accusation and proceeded to beat George like a government mule. Recognizing the consequences of his actions, Bass made a run for freedom and ended up in Indian Territory (today’s Oklahoma).
It is impossible to say how true any of that is, but it remains a fact that Reeves ended up in Oklahoma and seems to have met and mingled with many of the tribes that had been forced into the territory about two decades previously. Bass seems to have picked up numerous languages and practices. He next turned up as a farmer in Van Buren, Arkansas, where he made money on the side as a guide and tracker into Indian Territory.
In 1875, Bass took the job that would win him immortal fame. The post-war American West needed some law and order. The federal government had appointed the famed Judge Isaac Parker to sort out an area of close to eighty thousand square miles. Parker would enter American legend as “Hanging Judge Parker,” which should give some ideas about his character. Parker commissioned Bass as his only deputy and the first African American one west of the Mississippi. Reeves would serve in this role for the next thirty-two years.
Over the years, Bass’s exploits grew. He tracked down thousands of fugitives and brought them to justice. One newspaper claimed at his death that he had brought in three thousand over the course of his career. Bass’s reputation was such that many people simply surrendered when he asked them to do so. A few had to learn the hard way, and Bass may have killed up to fourteen outlaws in self-defense.
Bass’s commitment to justice was tested most strenuously when his own son, Benjamin, was accused of murder. Bass felt he had no choice but to bring him in. Of course, other accounts simply say he surrendered. Benjamin Reeves served eleven years at Fort Leavenworth before being released.
After a long career, Bass retired in 1907. He would continue to moonlight as a policeman in his new home of Muskogee, Oklahoma. He passed away just a few years later in 1910 at the age of 72. While historical fog shrouds much of his deeds, it is impossible not to stand in awe of this legendary lawman. As one great Western movie put it: “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”.
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Genealogy Center’s February 2024 Programs
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Join us for another month of free, virtual programs!
February 1, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “DNA Matching Made Easy with MyHeritage” with Shannon Combs-Bennett - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938388
February 6, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST “Genealogy in the Netherlands: An Introduction” with John Boeren - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938393
February 8, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “Museums Have Records Too! Locating Your Ancestors Behind Closed Doors” with Melissa Barker - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9941239
February 13, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST “Tracing the Path of African Americans from Enslavement to Freedom” with Hillary Delaney - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938395
February 14, 2024, 7 p.m. “How to Overcome Brick Walls in German-American Research” with Michael Lacopo. An Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana program. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HONa4ENBRla7HVuKNpbOCQ#/registration
February 15, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “Indigenous Peoples - First Nations Genealogical Research” with Curt Witcher - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938399
February 17, 2024, 2 p.m. EST “AAGSFW Research Tools and Tips: All Things DNA: Genetic Genealogy & DNA Testing” with Adrian Wells – Hybrid program. Come to the Genealogy Center or register with the following link. An African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne program. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nqS3mrofThKB4t0mXhTYMA
February 18, 2024, 2 p.m. EST “Crypto-Jews and Conversos” – a two-part program of the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society. At 2 p.m. “The New World: Migration, DNA, and Genetics” with Schelly Dardashti; at 3:30 p.m. “And it Only Took 500 Years” with Maria Apodaca. Registration link for both programs - https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ld-qpqT4jEtxrhG-UGr3AKF4MAZbeKWxy#/registration
February 20, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST “Using Permanent.org: Preserving the Digital Legacy of Your Family” with Kaitlyn Jarnagin - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938403
February 22, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “A Beginner’s Guide to Romanian Genealogy” with Logan Knight - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9941413
February 27, 2024, 2:30 p.m. EST “Family History in the Oklahoma State Archives” with Alyssa Vaughn - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938411
February 29, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST “Identification of the Romanov Russian Royal Family: DNA and Family Ties” with Suni M. Edson - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/9938469
Please register in advance for these engaging programs.
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February 2024 Program Call-Outs
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+++Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana+++
February 14, 2024, 7 p.m. “How to Overcome Brick Walls in German-American Research” with Michael Lacopo. Michael is a life-long resident of northern Indiana. He began his genealogical research in 1980. His first published work appeared in 1985 with several books, journal articles and published contributions following. He has lectured locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Michael has a varied and interesting ancestry and is a self-described “all-American mutt.” He specializes in German genealogical research. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HONa4ENBRla7HVuKNpbOCQ#/registration
+++African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne+++
February 17, 2024, 2 p.m. EST “AAGSFW Research Tools and Tips: All Things DNA: Genetic Genealogy & DNA Testing” with Adrian Wells, Historian of the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne - Hybrid program. Come to the Genealogy Center or register with the following link. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nqS3mrofThKB4t0mXhTYMA
+++Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society+++
Schelly Dardashti and Maria Apodaca are presenting two virtual programs on Sunday, February 18, 2024. Beginning at 2:00 p.m. EST with “The New World: Migration, DNA, and Genetics” Schelly looks at events in Spain and Portugal which contributed to the New World migration of conversos/bnai anusim, supported by DNA and genetic evidence. At 3:30, Maria will share her family’s story in “And it Only Took 500 Years.” Her family history stems from 1598 in New Mexico when Captain Juan de Onate brought the first colonists to what was then, New Spain. Her family had previously been forced to convert to Catholicism and, as her family’s historian, Maria became interested in DNA. Schelly Talalay Dardashti, a journalist and a genealogist, is a New Mexican by choice. She is the US Genealogy Advisor for MyHeritage, and has traced her Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Mizrahi families across Iran, Spain, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine for decades. As the first returnee in her family, Maria Apodaca is a founding member of Centro Sefarad New Mexico, a Road Scholar speaker on New Mexico's conversos and crypto-Jews, and has presented at numerous conferences. Register at the following link for both programs. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ld-qpqT4jEtxrhG-UGr3AKF4MAZbeKWxy#/registration
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Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming
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Do you want to know what we have planned? Are you interested in one of our events, but forget? We offer email updates for The Genealogy Center’s programming schedule. Don’t miss out! Sign up at http://goo.gl/forms/THcV0wAabB.
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Genealogy Center Social Media
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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
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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%20Webster%20St&city=Fort%20Wayne&state=IN&zipcode=46802%2d3602&country=US&geodiff=1
>From the South
Exit Interstate 69 at exit 302. Drive east on Jefferson Boulevard into downtown. Turn left on Ewing Street. The Library is one block north, at Ewing Street and Washington Boulevard.
Using US 27:
US 27 turns into Lafayette Street. Drive north into downtown. Turn left at Washington Boulevard and go five blocks. The Library will be on the right.
>From the North
Exit Interstate 69 at exit 312. Drive south on Coldwater Road, which merges into Clinton Street. Continue south on Clinton to Washington Boulevard. Turn right on Washington and go three blocks. The Library will be on the right.
>From the West
Using US 30:
Drive into town on US 30. US 30 turns into Goshen Ave. which dead-ends at West State Blvd. Make an angled left turn onto West State Blvd. Turn right on Wells Street. Go south on Wells to Wayne Street. Turn left on Wayne Street. The Library will be in the second block on the right.
Using US 24:
After crossing under Interstate 69, follow the same directions as from the South.
>From the East
Follow US 30/then 930 into and through New Haven, under an overpass into downtown Fort Wayne. You will be on Washington Blvd. when you get into downtown. Library Plaza will be on the right.
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Parking at the Library
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At the Library, underground parking can be accessed from Wayne Street. Other library parking lots are at Washington and Webster, and Wayne and Webster. Hourly parking is $1 per hour with a $7 maximum. ACPL library card holders may use their cards to validate the parking ticket at the west end of the Great Hall of the Library. Out of county residents may purchase a subscription card with proof of identification and residence. The current fee for an Individual Subscription Card is $85.
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.
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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 [at] 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 sspearswells [at] acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line.
Curt B. Witcher and John D. Beatty, CG, co-editors
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