| Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne, No. 248, October 31, 2024 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygems genealogycenter.info)
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| Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:03:27 -0400 | |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne
No. 248, October 31, 2024
In this issue:
*Honoring Our Veterans
*The Road Less Traveled: Finding Your Ancestors in Nonconformist Records
*Leveraging Claude AI for Genealogy Research--Claude.ai: https://claude.ai/
*PERSI Gems: Vegetable Tales
*Preservation Tips: Preserving Oral Family Histories
*History Tidbits: The Last War Chief--The story of Joe Medicine Crow
*Genealogy Center’s November 2024 Programs
*Program Call-Outs
*Genealogy Center Bits-o’-News
*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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Honoring Our Veterans
by Curt B. Witcher
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November remains an amazing time to remember and honor our military veterans, recognize their contributions to our communities and country, and shine a brighter light on those who are found among our own families’ stories.
We are so fortunate this year to have an amazing program offering on Veterans Day itself. Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan will present "’Held in War's Grasp’: The Ordeals of Veteranhood after the Civil War” on November 11, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET in the Main Library theater. You can join us in person or virtually.
Beginning where many histories end, Dr. Jordan reveals the desperate fate that awaited Civil War veterans after demobilization. While Confederate troops returned to homes that shared in a sense of defeat, Union veterans returned to a civilian population eager to put the war behind them. Based on extraordinary research in a trove of veteran correspondence, medical records, and pension files, this lecture surveys the myriad ways in which the Civil War continued to annex the bodies and minds of its survivors. Further, it reveals how the protracted battles over the conflict’s memory and legacy further complicated the onerous task of reintegration for ordinary veterans.
Dr. Jordan is Associate Professor of U.S. Civil War History and Chair of the Department of History at Sam Houston State University. Professor Jordan earned his undergraduate degree in Civil War Era Studies at Gettysburg College and M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in History at Yale. His first book, “Marching Home: Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War,” was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in History. He has authored or edited five other books on Civil War soldiers, veterans, and memory, including “The War Went On: Reconsidering the Lives of Civil War Veterans”; “A Thousand May Fall: An Immigrant Regiment’s Civil War;” and “Final Resting Places: Reflections on the Meaning of Civil War Graves” with Jonathan W. White. Presently, he is at work on “Crucible of the Republic: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Civil War,” a one-volume history. Brian is the founding co-editor of the series “Veterans” at the University of Massachusetts Press. He appears regularly on C-SPAN and was featured in the History Channel’s three-part documentary on the life of U.S. Grant.
To attend in person, come to the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN on Monday, November 11, 2024 at 7 p.m. Register to attend virtually at: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/11873955 Plan to attend in-person if you can, and come early to access and enjoy the more than twenty-three thousand items in the Genealogy Center’s collection on the Civil War, its veterans on both sides, and the engagements of the many regiments. You also will be able to access the periodical articles for the thousands of Civil War entries one can find in the “Periodical Source Index.” And from anywhere with an online connection, one can access nearly forty-thousand free Civil War images and records on the Genealogy Center’s website, GenealogyCenter.org.
The Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Battlefield Trust are bringing the exhibit “The American Revolutionary Experience” to the Genealogy Center November 8-15, 2024. This innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, and unique artifacts and accounts to connect individuals with the people and places that shaped the birth of our country. This is a can’t miss opportunity to experience history. One will be able to experience the exhibit during regular library hours.
These two special events should entice you to spend some time this November continuing to honor your military ancestors by discovering more of their stories. Your Genealogy Center has much to offer to assist you in this endeavor.
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The Road Less Traveled: Finding Your Ancestors in Nonconformist Records
by Kate McKenzie
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When tracing family history in England, genealogists often turn first to Church of England records for information on baptisms, marriages, and burials. However, if your ancestors were Nonconformists—belonging to religious denominations outside the Church of England—vital events may not be recorded in those parish registers. Instead, Nonconformist ancestors, including Methodists, Quakers, Baptists, Presbyterians, and other groups, maintained their own records. Understanding how to access these sources is important for overcoming genealogical brick walls.
Nonconformists rejected the doctrines or practices of the Church of England. Religious groups such as the Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, and Independents established their own places of worship, so their members often did not rely on the Church of England for baptisms, marriages, or burials. However, this was not always a hard and fast rule—many families attended multiple churches over time or for different reasons, as seen in cases where some children in a family were baptized in the Church of England while others were baptized in Nonconformist chapels.
In my own genealogical research, I found that one generation of a family had some children baptized in the Church of England while younger children were baptized in a Nonconformist church - the Methodist New Connexion. This reflects how fluid religious practices could be, especially in areas where Nonconformist groups grew during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In families where some children were baptized in the Church of England and others in a Nonconformist church, it becomes especially important to check both sets of records. You may uncover additional family members, variations in names, or insight into the family’s evolving religious beliefs.
Several key resources can help you locate and access Nonconformist records in England:
1. The National Archives
The National Archives in Kew holds a vast collection of Nonconformist records, many of which are now digitized. These include the RG4, RG5, and RG6 series, which contain registers of births, baptisms, marriages, and burials for various Nonconformist groups between 1567 and 1858. You can search these records online via The National Archives’ website or databases like Ancestry and Findmypast, both of which are available at the Genealogy Center.
2. BMD Registers
The BMD Registers website contains detailed Nonconformist birth, marriage, and death records from the 16th to 19th centuries. You can search for records by surname, denomination, and location, and it includes records from Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists, among others.
3. Local Archives and County Record Offices
Local archives and county record offices across England house Nonconformist records, including registers from individual chapels or meeting houses. Contacting these archives directly can yield unique, locally-held records that haven’t been digitized.
Exploring Nonconformist records may be helpful for anyone struggling to trace ancestors who do not appear in Church of England registers. With Nonconformist records offering vital information about religious dissenters and their families, these records can fill in important gaps in your family history.
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Leveraging Claude AI for Genealogy Research--Claude.ai: https://claude.ai/
by Elizabeth Hodges
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Artificial intelligence has the power to revolutionize genealogical research, and Claude AI has emerged as a valuable tool for family historians. Whether you're just starting your family tree or are a seasoned genealogist, Claude can help streamline your research process and break through brick walls.
Research Organization and Analysis:
Claude's analytical skills make it a valuable tool for genealogical research. You can paste in census records, birth certificates, or other historical documents for analysis, and Claude will help extract key information and identify patterns you might miss. When faced with research challenges, it can suggest alternative record sources, analyze indirect evidence, and help create research plans based on existing information. For example, if you share details about an ancestor, Claude can recommend specific records and repositories to explore based on the time period and location.
Document Transcription & Translation:
Historical documents present multiple challenges, from poor handwriting and damaged materials to foreign languages and archaic terminology. Claude can help decipher difficult-to-read text, suggest interpretations of unclear words, and translate historical documents while maintaining context-appropriate terminology. More recently I’ve used it for translating 18th church records from New Orleans that are written in either French or Spanish. I ask it to create a verbatim transcription of the document and then translate it to English. While it is important to check for errors, this has saved me a tremendous amount of time.
DNA Match Analysis:
While DNA research requires specialized tools, Claude can assist with organizing and analyzing DNA match data. For example, it can help implement the Leeds Method, a technique for clustering DNA matches into genetic networks representing different family lines. You can share your match list with Claude and receive guidance on grouping matches based on shared centimorgans and identifying potential common ancestors. Dana Leeds has a video on how to do this: https://youtu.be/tp5DzuLeaN4?si=CdXtWYhEKsS54iw9
Writing Family Narratives:
One of Claude's most valuable applications is helping turn genealogical data (names, dates, places, etc.) into family narratives. Share your research findings, and Claude can help develop biographical sketches, place family events in historical context (which is one of my personal favorites), identify research gaps, and suggest ways to tell family stories that will engage younger generations.
Research Strategies and Problem-Solving:
When faced with challenging research questions, Claude can help develop methodical approaches to break down brick walls. It can suggest alternative record sources and propose new research angles you might not have considered. When doing this, I often bring up the historical context of the area my ancestors lived in and ask it for suggestions based on that knowledge.
Best Practices for Working with Claude--to get the most out of Claude for genealogy research:
***Be specific about what information you're seeking.
***Provide context about the time period and location.
***Share your sources and reasoning.
***Ask for an explanation of Claude’s suggested research strategies.
***Use Claude as a complement to, not replacement for, traditional genealogical research methods.
Using Claude.ai’s Free Version
The free version of Claude.ai offers valuable features including document analysis, writing assistance, and file uploads. While there are geographic restrictions (US/UK only) and conversation limits, you can maximize usage by asking Claude to summarize discussions before starting new chats. While there are various subscription components to Claude, there is still a free version I strongly suggest using to try it out.
While ChatGPT has been a go-to for me for a while, Claude.ai is proving to be better for complex questions (especially in regards to DNA). It is important to remember that any AI tool you use is simply that, a tool. None of this is magic and can’t spontaneously solve all of your research brick walls for you. You will need to verify some of the information the AI bots give you, but you will also need to use it alongside traditional genealogical resources and DNA. So long as you remember that important distinction (this is a tool that can have errors– not magic), you will find that Claude.ai could be a powerful resource for your research.
Additional Links:
How to Download Your DNA Matches (Your DNA Guide): https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/how-to-download-dna-match-list
ChatGPT:
https://chatgpt.com/
If you would like to learn more about using ChatGPT, there will be a virtual program on November 5th at 2:30 PM EST by Mary Jamba on the subject: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12016535
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PERSI Gems: Vegetable Tales
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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My maternal grandmother taught me the value of a dollar with one sentence: "When I was a girl, I pulled onions for a dollar a day." Her perspective was colored by the hardship of the Great Depression and her gratitude for the opportunity to have earned that dollar.
I'm quite sure her workday was long, but I think, perhaps, her labors were made bearable by good company. My grandfather, her future husband, was likely working in the field with her.
Being a city boy, I hadn't the experience to understand the difficulty of the work my young grandmother performed. Edward Herrold set his point of view on this subject to paper and sent it to the Whitley Co. (IN) Historical Society in 1977: "For me, weeding onions meant only one thing – a desperate need for money. Fun did not enter into it – only hard, miserable, back-breaking work under a hot merciless sun which beat down relentlessly as I inched my way down the endless rows while breathing the hot black muck dust."
Tales such as these demonstrate the challenges of agricultural work, an occupation once shared by more than ninety percent of American households. None of my grandparents were city kids. Three grew up on northeastern Indiana farms and the fourth was raised in the Northwoods of Minnesota and Wisconsin. I am grateful for the impact they had on my life by sharing tales of their youth and the occasional vegetable.
Search the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) to find recollections of your ancestors' neighbors and those with similar upbringings. Their perspective will surely add color to your family stories. Try a search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Basic vegetable products company supplied Army onions
Solano (CA) Historian, Vol. 11, Issue 1 (May 1995)
Ben Salyer, from Depression-era hunger in KY to Indiana onion weeder
Kentucky Explorer, Vol. 26, Issue 2 (Jun 2011)
Community vegetable gardens at Fort Wayne Children’s Home win overwhelming response, 1974
Fort Wayne Messenger, Vol. 71, Issue 23 (Apr 1974)
Dennis Feeback re ramps, onion-like wild plants eaten by mountain folk
Kentucky Explorer, Vol. 20, Issue 2 (Jun 2005)
George and Bertha Berg divorce over string beans argument, 1921, Columbiana Co., OH
Columbiana County (OH) Archives and Research Center Newsletter, Sep 2011
How squash, beans and corn became Southern food, other foods, 8000 B.C.+
Alabama Heritage, Issue 125 (Sum 2017)
Governor Rose Mofford squash blossom necklace artifact photo, notes, 1988-1999
Journal of Arizona History, Vol. 55, Issue 3 (Aut 2014)
James Miracle arrested for cabbage theft, 1906, Albia, IA
Monroe County (IA) Genealogical Society News, Vol. 25, Issue 2 (Apr 2006)
Lad reports father's death from turnips and carrots to Cooper and Godfrey's surgery, news note, 1858
Nottinghamshire (Eng.) Family History Society Journal, Vol. 4, Issue 10 (Jan 1985)
Noland Johnson grows native foods again, tepary beans revived, AZ
Somos Primos (Society of Hispanic Historical & Ancestral Research, CA), Jan 2006
Oliver Tilmon sends big onion to newspaper office, 1931
Pemiscot County Missouri Quarterly, Vol. 36, Issue 2 (Fal 2010)
Onion skinned eggs Pennsylvania German Easter tradition, Estella Smith Fink family, 1912-2009
Goschenhoppen (PA) Newsletter, Vol. 46, Issue 4 (Apr 2012)
Roy B. Mermoud remembers musical group Hoosier String Beans, 1930s, IN
Benton County (IN) Reflections, Issue 17 (Dec 2007)
Squeezing blood from turnips, history of taxation, 17th C.+
Monitor (Mercer Co. Chapter, OH Gen. Soc.), Vol. 36, Issue 1 (Jan 2015
Steamer Sioc grounded by cabbage, 1852
Steamboat Bill Steamship Hist. Soc. of America), Vol. 54, Issue 224 (Win 1997)
Teacher Nelson H. Wyatt locked out of school, bribes students with turnips, 1862
Clay County (IN) Researcher, Vol. 32, Issue 3 (Jul 2011)
UA Kirksey edamame vegetable soybean variety named for Joe Kirksey, soybean leader, 2012
Panning for Nuggets of Old (Crawford Co. Gen. Soc., AR), Vol. 35 (Fal 2014)
Work in onion field was misery, not fun
Whitley County (IN) Historical Society Bulletin, Apr 1977
Vegetable pie and hasty pudding recipes, Daily Republican, Feb. 16, 1885
Keyhole (Gen. Soc. of Southwestern PA), Issue 2 (Sum 2017)
Voting with beans and corn, 1815+
Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings, Vol. 57 (Jan 1924)
Zenas D. Knuckles re greasy beans, n.d., Sneedville, TN
Kentucky Explorer, Vol. 20, Issue 10 (Apr 2006)
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Preservation Tips: Preserving Oral Family Histories
by Christina Clary
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Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which, for many, marks the start of a season of family gatherings. This is an ideal time to start recording and preserving the family stories that get repeated every year for posterity. Recorded oral histories have long been an important component of genealogy. While not every detail may be entirely accurate, they often contain a kernel of truth, providing a foundation for further research.
Conducting an oral history interview with family members doesn’t need to be a formal process. The technology in most cell phones and laptops today is more than sufficient for recording both video and audio. A dedicated camera or recorder is unnecessary unless you wish to use one. The recommended formats for recording are .mp4 for video or audio, and .wav for audio-only. Either format works, but make sure to check them periodically to ensure they are still compatible with your software.
Recording in Zoom or uploading files to a private YouTube channel will generate an automatic transcription. A transcript is required for formal oral histories or those conducted in an official capacity. While not mandatory for informal family use, it is highly recommended. A transcription can also be helpful if you plan on writing a book on your family history. Taking notes during the interview can assist with later transcription. You can save the transcription as a Word document or PDF or print out a copy.
The preservation standard is to keep three versions of the oral history in three locations. You’ll want to retain a copy of the original, unedited version, along with a preservation copy and an access copy. The preservation copy is a higher-quality version of the original, while the access copy is a lower-quality, edited version. The access copy is a smaller file, which makes it easier to share with others. These copies should be stored in three places: a thumb drive or hard drive in your possession, cloud storage, and off-site, such as at a family member’s home. Distributing multiple copies to different family members can provide additional safeguards against the loss of the oral history. Do not save to a CD or DVD, as these technologies are already becoming obsolete.
What you choose to ask about in your oral history interview is entirely up to you. You can ask about your relative’s life story or recount family stories—both the old ones passed down for generations and new ones from your own generation that you’d like to add to the family anthology. You might share holiday traditions or record family recipes as someone prepares them. Having a list of questions or topics to discuss can help guide both the interviewer and interviewee, especially if someone feels nervous. One thing to remember is to ask open-ended questions that can lead to further discussion instead of yes-or-no questions. Our Life Stories page on our website offers suggestions for questions and advice on conducting an oral family history.
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History Tidbits: The Last War Chief--The story of Joe Medicine Crow
by Logan Knight
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It’s no easy feat to become a Crow War chief. To do so, one must lead a victorious war party, count coup, disarm an enemy, and capture a horse. While many have accomplished this feat over the years, it seems absurd to imagine someone being able to do so in the modern 20th century. Yet, this is exactly what happened with the last man who claimed the title by accomplishing all of these feats: Joe Medicine Crow.
Joe was born October 27th, 1913 on the Crow Reservation at Lodge Grass, Montana. He was of a distinguished lineage. His step-grandfather was White-Man-Run’s-Him (named in reference to when he stole some candy and was chased by an irate shop owner), a scout and survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn (the Crow fought with the Americans). White-Man-Run’s-Him is one of our few primary sources from the American side of the battle, since much of the 7th Calvary was wiped out.
Interested in education, Joe achieved a master’s degree in Anthropology at the University of Southern California. Life was interrupted however by America’s entry into the Second World War. Joe enlisted in the army, joining the 103rd Infantry Division (the Cactus Division) as a scout. He wore an eagle feather under his helmet and would apply war paint before going into battle. He attributed his survival to these traditional methods.
The 103rd was employed in heavy fighting in Eastern France and Bavaria. As a scout, Joe was often involved in small actions far behind enemy lines. This gave him the opportunity to earn his bona fides as a war leader by accomplishing the four feats listed above.
He led a small party through German fire to retrieve explosives to destroy a machine gun nest thus leading a war party. Then, while on patrol, Joe encountered a German soldier and managed to disarm him and count coup with his bare hands. He would spare the enemy after hearing him yelling for his mother as Joe was strangling him with his own helmet strap.
Most impressively, Joe managed to rustle a herd of horses from a Waffen-SS stud farm. The SS men were planning to ride the horses back to Germany to escape the collapse of Hitler’s mad dream, but Joe Medicine Crow had other plans. He snuck into the barn while his unit took up positions outside. Joe yelled as loud as he could, spooking the horses into the nearby forest, while his comrades attacked the SS. Joe even kept a horse for his own use, until he reluctantly dismounted as it made him too easy of a target in modern warfare. Hearing of his accomplishments, Crow tribal elders proclaimed him a war chief and gave him a new name, High Bird, to go with it.
After his wartime achievements, Joe returned to more scholarly pursuits. He became the Crow’s official historian and anthropologist, publishing a number of well received books. Joe would also lead tours of the Little Bighorn Battlefield and regularly gave talks at the museum there. He was the recipient of numerous awards over the course of his life including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and France’s Legion of Honor. Joe passed away at the advanced age of 102 in 2016.
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Genealogy Center’s November 2024 Programs
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Join us for another month of free, virtual and in-person programs!
November 5, 2024, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET “Exploring ChatGPT’s Potential: Harnessing its Genealogical Applications?” with Mary Milne Jamba - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12016535
November 7, 2024, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET “IN-PERSON DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12016690
November 11, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET “'Held in War's Grasp': The Ordeals of Veteranhood after the Civil War” with Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan. To attend in person, come to the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library Theater at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN. This Veterans Day program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Collection of Indiana. Register to attend virtually at: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/11873955
November 12, 2024, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET “Digging for Gold in U.S Census Records” with Marcia Stewart - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12018257
November 14, 2024, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET “Murderer in the Family Tree -- The Madness of John Terrell: Revenge and Insanity on Trial in the Heartland” with Stephen Terrell - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12018905
November 16, 2024, 2 p.m. ET “Basics of Y-DNA Testing” with Sara Allen. An African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne program. All are welcome. In-person in the Discovery Center of the Genealogy Center or virtually via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TqMBH3EASye0nvYE4sy2Bw
November 19, 2024, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET “Tackling the Inherited Photo Collection” with Tabitha O’Connor - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K1VvBknIRBqJJ2IMmUIDRA
November 20, 2024, 1:30 p.m. ET “Vintage Aerial, Library Edition Kickoff.” An in-person event in the Discovery Center of the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center where a new online resource will be unveiled.
November 21, 2024, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET “Practical Use of DNA in Genealogy - Using DNA to answer the question of, what happened to William Palmer Gore?” with Julie Tonseth - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12019193
November 26, 2024, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. “Tracing Trades: Unearthing our Ancestors Occupations” with Kate McKenzie - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12019394
Please register in advance for these engaging programs.
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Program Call-Outs
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On Veterans Day, November 11, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET there will be a special program generously sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Collection of Indiana. Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan will present “'Held in War's Grasp': The Ordeals of Veteranhood after the Civil War.” Anyone with even a mild interest in the Civil War will find this program both informative and enjoyable. Dr. Jordan has done much research on the plight of Union veterans and their struggle after the war. To attend in person, come to the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library Theater at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN. This Veteran’s Day program is Register to attend virtually at: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/11873955
An exciting in-person program for those living around Fort Wayne & Allen County, IN. November 13, 2024, 6 p.m. “Thanksgiving Proclamation” with Kevin Wood as Abraham Lincoln at the Monroeville Branch of the Allen County Public Library, 115 Main Street, Monroeville, IN.
The Genealogy Center, in cooperation with the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, will unveil Vintage Aerial, Library Edition on November 20, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. ET in the Discovery Center of the Genealogy Center. This exclusive on-site resource offers over 19 million historical aerial images, covering rural American farms and homesteads from the 1960s through the early 2000s, including over 1.1 million in Indiana. Vintage Aerial brings unique insights into the evolution of rural landscapes, enabling patrons to uncover personal and community histories through a captivating visual archive.
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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 Bits-o’-News
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Have you visited the Allen County Public Library’s online merchandise store? You really need to check it out--we think you will enjoy the offerings! There is a special Genealogy Center section of the store with some pretty cool items. The end-of-the-year holidays will soon be upon us! Family, friends, and acquaintances would all enjoy some Genealogy Center merch! http://acpl.dkmlogo.online/shop/category/4726261?c=4726261 An added benefit is that your purchases support the Friends of the Allen County Public Library, and they in turn support the Genealogy Center.
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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 $90.
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. 248, October 31, 2024
In this issue:
*Honoring Our Veterans
*The Road Less Traveled: Finding Your Ancestors in Nonconformist Records
*Leveraging Claude AI for Genealogy Research--Claude.ai: https://claude.ai/
*PERSI Gems: Vegetable Tales
*Preservation Tips: Preserving Oral Family Histories
*History Tidbits: The Last War Chief--The story of Joe Medicine Crow
*Genealogy Center’s November 2024 Programs
*Program Call-Outs
*Genealogy Center Bits-o’-News
*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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Honoring Our Veterans
by Curt B. Witcher
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November remains an amazing time to remember and honor our military veterans, recognize their contributions to our communities and country, and shine a brighter light on those who are found among our own families’ stories.
We are so fortunate this year to have an amazing program offering on Veterans Day itself. Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan will present "’Held in War's Grasp’: The Ordeals of Veteranhood after the Civil War” on November 11, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET in the Main Library theater. You can join us in person or virtually.
Beginning where many histories end, Dr. Jordan reveals the desperate fate that awaited Civil War veterans after demobilization. While Confederate troops returned to homes that shared in a sense of defeat, Union veterans returned to a civilian population eager to put the war behind them. Based on extraordinary research in a trove of veteran correspondence, medical records, and pension files, this lecture surveys the myriad ways in which the Civil War continued to annex the bodies and minds of its survivors. Further, it reveals how the protracted battles over the conflict’s memory and legacy further complicated the onerous task of reintegration for ordinary veterans.
Dr. Jordan is Associate Professor of U.S. Civil War History and Chair of the Department of History at Sam Houston State University. Professor Jordan earned his undergraduate degree in Civil War Era Studies at Gettysburg College and M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in History at Yale. His first book, “Marching Home: Union Veterans and Their Unending Civil War,” was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in History. He has authored or edited five other books on Civil War soldiers, veterans, and memory, including “The War Went On: Reconsidering the Lives of Civil War Veterans”; “A Thousand May Fall: An Immigrant Regiment’s Civil War;” and “Final Resting Places: Reflections on the Meaning of Civil War Graves” with Jonathan W. White. Presently, he is at work on “Crucible of the Republic: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Civil War,” a one-volume history. Brian is the founding co-editor of the series “Veterans” at the University of Massachusetts Press. He appears regularly on C-SPAN and was featured in the History Channel’s three-part documentary on the life of U.S. Grant.
To attend in person, come to the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN on Monday, November 11, 2024 at 7 p.m. Register to attend virtually at: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/11873955 Plan to attend in-person if you can, and come early to access and enjoy the more than twenty-three thousand items in the Genealogy Center’s collection on the Civil War, its veterans on both sides, and the engagements of the many regiments. You also will be able to access the periodical articles for the thousands of Civil War entries one can find in the “Periodical Source Index.” And from anywhere with an online connection, one can access nearly forty-thousand free Civil War images and records on the Genealogy Center’s website, GenealogyCenter.org.
The Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Battlefield Trust are bringing the exhibit “The American Revolutionary Experience” to the Genealogy Center November 8-15, 2024. This innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, and unique artifacts and accounts to connect individuals with the people and places that shaped the birth of our country. This is a can’t miss opportunity to experience history. One will be able to experience the exhibit during regular library hours.
These two special events should entice you to spend some time this November continuing to honor your military ancestors by discovering more of their stories. Your Genealogy Center has much to offer to assist you in this endeavor.
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The Road Less Traveled: Finding Your Ancestors in Nonconformist Records
by Kate McKenzie
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When tracing family history in England, genealogists often turn first to Church of England records for information on baptisms, marriages, and burials. However, if your ancestors were Nonconformists—belonging to religious denominations outside the Church of England—vital events may not be recorded in those parish registers. Instead, Nonconformist ancestors, including Methodists, Quakers, Baptists, Presbyterians, and other groups, maintained their own records. Understanding how to access these sources is important for overcoming genealogical brick walls.
Nonconformists rejected the doctrines or practices of the Church of England. Religious groups such as the Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, and Independents established their own places of worship, so their members often did not rely on the Church of England for baptisms, marriages, or burials. However, this was not always a hard and fast rule—many families attended multiple churches over time or for different reasons, as seen in cases where some children in a family were baptized in the Church of England while others were baptized in Nonconformist chapels.
In my own genealogical research, I found that one generation of a family had some children baptized in the Church of England while younger children were baptized in a Nonconformist church - the Methodist New Connexion. This reflects how fluid religious practices could be, especially in areas where Nonconformist groups grew during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In families where some children were baptized in the Church of England and others in a Nonconformist church, it becomes especially important to check both sets of records. You may uncover additional family members, variations in names, or insight into the family’s evolving religious beliefs.
Several key resources can help you locate and access Nonconformist records in England:
1. The National Archives
The National Archives in Kew holds a vast collection of Nonconformist records, many of which are now digitized. These include the RG4, RG5, and RG6 series, which contain registers of births, baptisms, marriages, and burials for various Nonconformist groups between 1567 and 1858. You can search these records online via The National Archives’ website or databases like Ancestry and Findmypast, both of which are available at the Genealogy Center.
2. BMD Registers
The BMD Registers website contains detailed Nonconformist birth, marriage, and death records from the 16th to 19th centuries. You can search for records by surname, denomination, and location, and it includes records from Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists, among others.
3. Local Archives and County Record Offices
Local archives and county record offices across England house Nonconformist records, including registers from individual chapels or meeting houses. Contacting these archives directly can yield unique, locally-held records that haven’t been digitized.
Exploring Nonconformist records may be helpful for anyone struggling to trace ancestors who do not appear in Church of England registers. With Nonconformist records offering vital information about religious dissenters and their families, these records can fill in important gaps in your family history.
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Leveraging Claude AI for Genealogy Research--Claude.ai: https://claude.ai/
by Elizabeth Hodges
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Artificial intelligence has the power to revolutionize genealogical research, and Claude AI has emerged as a valuable tool for family historians. Whether you're just starting your family tree or are a seasoned genealogist, Claude can help streamline your research process and break through brick walls.
Research Organization and Analysis:
Claude's analytical skills make it a valuable tool for genealogical research. You can paste in census records, birth certificates, or other historical documents for analysis, and Claude will help extract key information and identify patterns you might miss. When faced with research challenges, it can suggest alternative record sources, analyze indirect evidence, and help create research plans based on existing information. For example, if you share details about an ancestor, Claude can recommend specific records and repositories to explore based on the time period and location.
Document Transcription & Translation:
Historical documents present multiple challenges, from poor handwriting and damaged materials to foreign languages and archaic terminology. Claude can help decipher difficult-to-read text, suggest interpretations of unclear words, and translate historical documents while maintaining context-appropriate terminology. More recently I’ve used it for translating 18th church records from New Orleans that are written in either French or Spanish. I ask it to create a verbatim transcription of the document and then translate it to English. While it is important to check for errors, this has saved me a tremendous amount of time.
DNA Match Analysis:
While DNA research requires specialized tools, Claude can assist with organizing and analyzing DNA match data. For example, it can help implement the Leeds Method, a technique for clustering DNA matches into genetic networks representing different family lines. You can share your match list with Claude and receive guidance on grouping matches based on shared centimorgans and identifying potential common ancestors. Dana Leeds has a video on how to do this: https://youtu.be/tp5DzuLeaN4?si=CdXtWYhEKsS54iw9
Writing Family Narratives:
One of Claude's most valuable applications is helping turn genealogical data (names, dates, places, etc.) into family narratives. Share your research findings, and Claude can help develop biographical sketches, place family events in historical context (which is one of my personal favorites), identify research gaps, and suggest ways to tell family stories that will engage younger generations.
Research Strategies and Problem-Solving:
When faced with challenging research questions, Claude can help develop methodical approaches to break down brick walls. It can suggest alternative record sources and propose new research angles you might not have considered. When doing this, I often bring up the historical context of the area my ancestors lived in and ask it for suggestions based on that knowledge.
Best Practices for Working with Claude--to get the most out of Claude for genealogy research:
***Be specific about what information you're seeking.
***Provide context about the time period and location.
***Share your sources and reasoning.
***Ask for an explanation of Claude’s suggested research strategies.
***Use Claude as a complement to, not replacement for, traditional genealogical research methods.
Using Claude.ai’s Free Version
The free version of Claude.ai offers valuable features including document analysis, writing assistance, and file uploads. While there are geographic restrictions (US/UK only) and conversation limits, you can maximize usage by asking Claude to summarize discussions before starting new chats. While there are various subscription components to Claude, there is still a free version I strongly suggest using to try it out.
While ChatGPT has been a go-to for me for a while, Claude.ai is proving to be better for complex questions (especially in regards to DNA). It is important to remember that any AI tool you use is simply that, a tool. None of this is magic and can’t spontaneously solve all of your research brick walls for you. You will need to verify some of the information the AI bots give you, but you will also need to use it alongside traditional genealogical resources and DNA. So long as you remember that important distinction (this is a tool that can have errors– not magic), you will find that Claude.ai could be a powerful resource for your research.
Additional Links:
How to Download Your DNA Matches (Your DNA Guide): https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/how-to-download-dna-match-list
ChatGPT:
https://chatgpt.com/
If you would like to learn more about using ChatGPT, there will be a virtual program on November 5th at 2:30 PM EST by Mary Jamba on the subject: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12016535
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PERSI Gems: Vegetable Tales
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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My maternal grandmother taught me the value of a dollar with one sentence: "When I was a girl, I pulled onions for a dollar a day." Her perspective was colored by the hardship of the Great Depression and her gratitude for the opportunity to have earned that dollar.
I'm quite sure her workday was long, but I think, perhaps, her labors were made bearable by good company. My grandfather, her future husband, was likely working in the field with her.
Being a city boy, I hadn't the experience to understand the difficulty of the work my young grandmother performed. Edward Herrold set his point of view on this subject to paper and sent it to the Whitley Co. (IN) Historical Society in 1977: "For me, weeding onions meant only one thing – a desperate need for money. Fun did not enter into it – only hard, miserable, back-breaking work under a hot merciless sun which beat down relentlessly as I inched my way down the endless rows while breathing the hot black muck dust."
Tales such as these demonstrate the challenges of agricultural work, an occupation once shared by more than ninety percent of American households. None of my grandparents were city kids. Three grew up on northeastern Indiana farms and the fourth was raised in the Northwoods of Minnesota and Wisconsin. I am grateful for the impact they had on my life by sharing tales of their youth and the occasional vegetable.
Search the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) to find recollections of your ancestors' neighbors and those with similar upbringings. Their perspective will surely add color to your family stories. Try a search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Basic vegetable products company supplied Army onions
Solano (CA) Historian, Vol. 11, Issue 1 (May 1995)
Ben Salyer, from Depression-era hunger in KY to Indiana onion weeder
Kentucky Explorer, Vol. 26, Issue 2 (Jun 2011)
Community vegetable gardens at Fort Wayne Children’s Home win overwhelming response, 1974
Fort Wayne Messenger, Vol. 71, Issue 23 (Apr 1974)
Dennis Feeback re ramps, onion-like wild plants eaten by mountain folk
Kentucky Explorer, Vol. 20, Issue 2 (Jun 2005)
George and Bertha Berg divorce over string beans argument, 1921, Columbiana Co., OH
Columbiana County (OH) Archives and Research Center Newsletter, Sep 2011
How squash, beans and corn became Southern food, other foods, 8000 B.C.+
Alabama Heritage, Issue 125 (Sum 2017)
Governor Rose Mofford squash blossom necklace artifact photo, notes, 1988-1999
Journal of Arizona History, Vol. 55, Issue 3 (Aut 2014)
James Miracle arrested for cabbage theft, 1906, Albia, IA
Monroe County (IA) Genealogical Society News, Vol. 25, Issue 2 (Apr 2006)
Lad reports father's death from turnips and carrots to Cooper and Godfrey's surgery, news note, 1858
Nottinghamshire (Eng.) Family History Society Journal, Vol. 4, Issue 10 (Jan 1985)
Noland Johnson grows native foods again, tepary beans revived, AZ
Somos Primos (Society of Hispanic Historical & Ancestral Research, CA), Jan 2006
Oliver Tilmon sends big onion to newspaper office, 1931
Pemiscot County Missouri Quarterly, Vol. 36, Issue 2 (Fal 2010)
Onion skinned eggs Pennsylvania German Easter tradition, Estella Smith Fink family, 1912-2009
Goschenhoppen (PA) Newsletter, Vol. 46, Issue 4 (Apr 2012)
Roy B. Mermoud remembers musical group Hoosier String Beans, 1930s, IN
Benton County (IN) Reflections, Issue 17 (Dec 2007)
Squeezing blood from turnips, history of taxation, 17th C.+
Monitor (Mercer Co. Chapter, OH Gen. Soc.), Vol. 36, Issue 1 (Jan 2015
Steamer Sioc grounded by cabbage, 1852
Steamboat Bill Steamship Hist. Soc. of America), Vol. 54, Issue 224 (Win 1997)
Teacher Nelson H. Wyatt locked out of school, bribes students with turnips, 1862
Clay County (IN) Researcher, Vol. 32, Issue 3 (Jul 2011)
UA Kirksey edamame vegetable soybean variety named for Joe Kirksey, soybean leader, 2012
Panning for Nuggets of Old (Crawford Co. Gen. Soc., AR), Vol. 35 (Fal 2014)
Work in onion field was misery, not fun
Whitley County (IN) Historical Society Bulletin, Apr 1977
Vegetable pie and hasty pudding recipes, Daily Republican, Feb. 16, 1885
Keyhole (Gen. Soc. of Southwestern PA), Issue 2 (Sum 2017)
Voting with beans and corn, 1815+
Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings, Vol. 57 (Jan 1924)
Zenas D. Knuckles re greasy beans, n.d., Sneedville, TN
Kentucky Explorer, Vol. 20, Issue 10 (Apr 2006)
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Preservation Tips: Preserving Oral Family Histories
by Christina Clary
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Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which, for many, marks the start of a season of family gatherings. This is an ideal time to start recording and preserving the family stories that get repeated every year for posterity. Recorded oral histories have long been an important component of genealogy. While not every detail may be entirely accurate, they often contain a kernel of truth, providing a foundation for further research.
Conducting an oral history interview with family members doesn’t need to be a formal process. The technology in most cell phones and laptops today is more than sufficient for recording both video and audio. A dedicated camera or recorder is unnecessary unless you wish to use one. The recommended formats for recording are .mp4 for video or audio, and .wav for audio-only. Either format works, but make sure to check them periodically to ensure they are still compatible with your software.
Recording in Zoom or uploading files to a private YouTube channel will generate an automatic transcription. A transcript is required for formal oral histories or those conducted in an official capacity. While not mandatory for informal family use, it is highly recommended. A transcription can also be helpful if you plan on writing a book on your family history. Taking notes during the interview can assist with later transcription. You can save the transcription as a Word document or PDF or print out a copy.
The preservation standard is to keep three versions of the oral history in three locations. You’ll want to retain a copy of the original, unedited version, along with a preservation copy and an access copy. The preservation copy is a higher-quality version of the original, while the access copy is a lower-quality, edited version. The access copy is a smaller file, which makes it easier to share with others. These copies should be stored in three places: a thumb drive or hard drive in your possession, cloud storage, and off-site, such as at a family member’s home. Distributing multiple copies to different family members can provide additional safeguards against the loss of the oral history. Do not save to a CD or DVD, as these technologies are already becoming obsolete.
What you choose to ask about in your oral history interview is entirely up to you. You can ask about your relative’s life story or recount family stories—both the old ones passed down for generations and new ones from your own generation that you’d like to add to the family anthology. You might share holiday traditions or record family recipes as someone prepares them. Having a list of questions or topics to discuss can help guide both the interviewer and interviewee, especially if someone feels nervous. One thing to remember is to ask open-ended questions that can lead to further discussion instead of yes-or-no questions. Our Life Stories page on our website offers suggestions for questions and advice on conducting an oral family history.
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History Tidbits: The Last War Chief--The story of Joe Medicine Crow
by Logan Knight
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It’s no easy feat to become a Crow War chief. To do so, one must lead a victorious war party, count coup, disarm an enemy, and capture a horse. While many have accomplished this feat over the years, it seems absurd to imagine someone being able to do so in the modern 20th century. Yet, this is exactly what happened with the last man who claimed the title by accomplishing all of these feats: Joe Medicine Crow.
Joe was born October 27th, 1913 on the Crow Reservation at Lodge Grass, Montana. He was of a distinguished lineage. His step-grandfather was White-Man-Run’s-Him (named in reference to when he stole some candy and was chased by an irate shop owner), a scout and survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn (the Crow fought with the Americans). White-Man-Run’s-Him is one of our few primary sources from the American side of the battle, since much of the 7th Calvary was wiped out.
Interested in education, Joe achieved a master’s degree in Anthropology at the University of Southern California. Life was interrupted however by America’s entry into the Second World War. Joe enlisted in the army, joining the 103rd Infantry Division (the Cactus Division) as a scout. He wore an eagle feather under his helmet and would apply war paint before going into battle. He attributed his survival to these traditional methods.
The 103rd was employed in heavy fighting in Eastern France and Bavaria. As a scout, Joe was often involved in small actions far behind enemy lines. This gave him the opportunity to earn his bona fides as a war leader by accomplishing the four feats listed above.
He led a small party through German fire to retrieve explosives to destroy a machine gun nest thus leading a war party. Then, while on patrol, Joe encountered a German soldier and managed to disarm him and count coup with his bare hands. He would spare the enemy after hearing him yelling for his mother as Joe was strangling him with his own helmet strap.
Most impressively, Joe managed to rustle a herd of horses from a Waffen-SS stud farm. The SS men were planning to ride the horses back to Germany to escape the collapse of Hitler’s mad dream, but Joe Medicine Crow had other plans. He snuck into the barn while his unit took up positions outside. Joe yelled as loud as he could, spooking the horses into the nearby forest, while his comrades attacked the SS. Joe even kept a horse for his own use, until he reluctantly dismounted as it made him too easy of a target in modern warfare. Hearing of his accomplishments, Crow tribal elders proclaimed him a war chief and gave him a new name, High Bird, to go with it.
After his wartime achievements, Joe returned to more scholarly pursuits. He became the Crow’s official historian and anthropologist, publishing a number of well received books. Joe would also lead tours of the Little Bighorn Battlefield and regularly gave talks at the museum there. He was the recipient of numerous awards over the course of his life including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and France’s Legion of Honor. Joe passed away at the advanced age of 102 in 2016.
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Genealogy Center’s November 2024 Programs
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Join us for another month of free, virtual and in-person programs!
November 5, 2024, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET “Exploring ChatGPT’s Potential: Harnessing its Genealogical Applications?” with Mary Milne Jamba - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12016535
November 7, 2024, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET “IN-PERSON DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12016690
November 11, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET “'Held in War's Grasp': The Ordeals of Veteranhood after the Civil War” with Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan. To attend in person, come to the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library Theater at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN. This Veterans Day program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Collection of Indiana. Register to attend virtually at: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/11873955
November 12, 2024, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET “Digging for Gold in U.S Census Records” with Marcia Stewart - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12018257
November 14, 2024, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET “Murderer in the Family Tree -- The Madness of John Terrell: Revenge and Insanity on Trial in the Heartland” with Stephen Terrell - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12018905
November 16, 2024, 2 p.m. ET “Basics of Y-DNA Testing” with Sara Allen. An African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne program. All are welcome. In-person in the Discovery Center of the Genealogy Center or virtually via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TqMBH3EASye0nvYE4sy2Bw
November 19, 2024, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET “Tackling the Inherited Photo Collection” with Tabitha O’Connor - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K1VvBknIRBqJJ2IMmUIDRA
November 20, 2024, 1:30 p.m. ET “Vintage Aerial, Library Edition Kickoff.” An in-person event in the Discovery Center of the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center where a new online resource will be unveiled.
November 21, 2024, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET “Practical Use of DNA in Genealogy - Using DNA to answer the question of, what happened to William Palmer Gore?” with Julie Tonseth - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12019193
November 26, 2024, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. “Tracing Trades: Unearthing our Ancestors Occupations” with Kate McKenzie - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12019394
Please register in advance for these engaging programs.
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Program Call-Outs
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On Veterans Day, November 11, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET there will be a special program generously sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Collection of Indiana. Dr. Brian Matthew Jordan will present “'Held in War's Grasp': The Ordeals of Veteranhood after the Civil War.” Anyone with even a mild interest in the Civil War will find this program both informative and enjoyable. Dr. Jordan has done much research on the plight of Union veterans and their struggle after the war. To attend in person, come to the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library Theater at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN. This Veteran’s Day program is Register to attend virtually at: https://acpl.libnet.info/event/11873955
An exciting in-person program for those living around Fort Wayne & Allen County, IN. November 13, 2024, 6 p.m. “Thanksgiving Proclamation” with Kevin Wood as Abraham Lincoln at the Monroeville Branch of the Allen County Public Library, 115 Main Street, Monroeville, IN.
The Genealogy Center, in cooperation with the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, will unveil Vintage Aerial, Library Edition on November 20, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. ET in the Discovery Center of the Genealogy Center. This exclusive on-site resource offers over 19 million historical aerial images, covering rural American farms and homesteads from the 1960s through the early 2000s, including over 1.1 million in Indiana. Vintage Aerial brings unique insights into the evolution of rural landscapes, enabling patrons to uncover personal and community histories through a captivating visual archive.
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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 Bits-o’-News
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Have you visited the Allen County Public Library’s online merchandise store? You really need to check it out--we think you will enjoy the offerings! There is a special Genealogy Center section of the store with some pretty cool items. The end-of-the-year holidays will soon be upon us! Family, friends, and acquaintances would all enjoy some Genealogy Center merch! http://acpl.dkmlogo.online/shop/category/4726261?c=4726261 An added benefit is that your purchases support the Friends of the Allen County Public Library, and they in turn support the Genealogy Center.
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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 $90.
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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