| Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne, No. 250, December 31, 2024 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygems genealogycenter.info)
|
|
| Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2024 22:22:12 -0500 | |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne
No. 250, December 31, 2024
In this issue:
*A Bountiful 2025!
*Discover Finnish History Online: Accessing Digitized Newspapers
*The Last Ships from Hamburg
*PERSI Gems: Cranes
*Preservation Tips: Restoring Notre-Dame--A Case Study of AI Utilization in Preservation
*History Tidbits: Legends of Nero
*Genealogy Center’s January 2025 Programs
*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
***************************************
A Bountiful 2025!
by Curt B. Witcher
***************************************
There is much excitement in the air as we are just moments away from 2025. There are so many engaging reasons why you really need to put an in-person visit to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center on your list of 2025 must-dos! A treat for yourself that will greatly assist you in finding more of your families’ stories--what a combo!
While the Genealogy Center has a burgeoning collection of free databases accessible at GenealogyCenter.org and on-site, licensed databases available for use in the Center, we also added 8,560 new print materials to our shelves in 2024. Thousands of new family histories and many more thousands of new local history materials like church and county histories, military records, ethnic histories, German town histories, yearbooks and association directories, and much more can be found on our shelves.
With a robust collection of more than 1.2 million physical items to complement an amazing collection of databases, the Genealogy Center can truly be a history classroom in addition to a family history discovery zone. If you are in the northeast Indiana area and have a child or grandchild who has a history project, you’ll be amazed at what can be found in our vast holdings. From classroom history assignments and undergraduate history papers to National History Day submission, we have you covered. The Indiana Home Educators will discover this when their conference is here in Fort Wayne March 21 & 22, 2025. https://iahe.net/events-page/homeschool-conference/ If you could benefit from the conference, you certainly will benefit from spending some time in the Genealogy Center, too.
As we did this year, the Allen County Public Library and its Genealogy Center will again host the two-day Indiana Genealogical Society Conference on Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, 2025. Friday will focus on improving our research methodology to find all the answers about our ancestors’ lives while Saturday will offer the expertise of a nationally recognized family history presenter. Bookmark the new Indiana Genealogical Society website to discover conference details coming early in January. https://indgensoc.org/ You really need to mark these two days on your 2025 calendar. Having really engaging presentations just a few feet away from an amazing genealogy research collection--how awesome is that?!
While totally different from the Shakespeare version, the Genealogy Center, the library, and the Grand Wayne Convention Center will be offering our own version of a midsummer night’s dream! For the first time, the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) will be holding their 2025 conference in Fort Wayne, IN on August 10-14, 2025. There will be more than four days of presentations packed with advice from experts on Jewish genealogy as well as eastern and western European research; an exhibit hall of the latest family history products, services, and organizations; and boundless networking opportunities. An amazing conference website continues to grow in the amount of extremely robust information provided to assist you in affirming your decision to come to Fort Wayne for the IAJGS conference in August of 2025. www.iajgs.org/conference/iajgs2025
If you haven’t taken the opportunity to use some of the Genealogy Center’s new licensed databases and products, make 2025 the year you treat yourself. You likely will be pleasantly surprised by discovering much more than your ancestors’ names but also their stories and the historical contexts surrounding their lives. Vintage Aerial is such a database. Debuting just a few short weeks ago, this resource offers access to tens of millions of historical aerial photographs covering 41 of the 50 states. This unique collection provides an in-depth visual record of rural landscapes from the 1960s through the early 2000s. enabling patrons to uncover personal and community histories through this extensive and captivating archive. The only downfall of this resource is how addictive it can become! You will want to compile a picture of the rural landscapes for all your parents, aunts and uncles, and grandparents.
Rick Voight and his colleagues at Vivid-Pix have done a terrific job developing their Memory Station. From their website: Vivid-Pix Memory Station Software lets you scan images with our amazing Ricoh scanner, with your existing scanner (Brother, Canon, Epson, HP, Lexmark, ScanSnap – even from All-In-One printer/scanner devices), and select images from your computer, restore these images, record a voice memory describing images, and combine the photo/voice memories into an MP4 video story. Images/Recordings/Movies are saved onto your computer wherever you wish. Scanning and professionally correcting faded images is critical for the preservation of our family pictures and documents. And then using technology to add memories to those images is game-changing. The work Rick and his team are doing with the National Institute for Dementia Education is affirming for us all over again the power of story to positively affect and change lives--stores that are attached to our digital photograph. The Genealogy Center has two of these Vivid-Pix Memory Stations you can use for free.
The Genealogy Center’s regular fare of twice weekly virtual programs will continue through 2025. Always look at each month’s program lineup in this ezine. Register right away for all that peak your interest. Also continuing are our free one-on-one consultations. Start your New Year well, and keep finding and sharing your families’ stories throughout all of 2025 with the Genealogy Center!
***************************************
Discover Finnish History Online: Accessing Digitized Newspapers
by Allison DePrey Singleton
***************************************
The National Library of Finland has made it easier than ever to explore Finland’s rich history by digitizing a large collection of historical newspapers. Through the Newspapers National Collection, people from around the world can access these resources online. Recently, newspapers from the 1940s were added, providing valuable insights into a key period in Finnish history.
The digitized collection covers Finnish newspapers from the late 1700s onward, including millions of pages of articles, advertisements, and local stories. The addition of newspapers from the 1940s highlights Finland’s experiences during and after World War II, capturing stories about wartime struggles, political changes, and rebuilding efforts.
Since most Finnish newspapers are in Finnish or Swedish, navigating these resources may seem daunting to non-Finnish speakers. Fortunately, several tools and resources are available to help. Free online translation tools, such as Google Translate, can assist in translating text from Finnish into your preferred language, making them particularly useful for short phrases or passages. Additionally, the FamilySearch Finnish Genealogical Word List provides a comprehensive guide to understanding key terms related to family history, including words for names, dates, and relationships.
The National Library of Finland’s platform makes exploring its newspaper collection straightforward and user-friendly. Newspapers published over 100 years ago are free to view online through the library’s website at https://www.kansalliskirjasto.fi/en/collections/newspapers-national-collection. For newer publications, including those from the 1940s, users can access them on-site at the National Library or its partner libraries. If visiting in person isn’t feasible, you can contact the National Library for assistance by emailing nationallibrary [at] helsinki.fi. The platform also offers powerful search tools, allowing users to locate specific articles or topics by date, newspaper name, or keywords. Additionally, the newspapers are digitized in high resolution, ensuring the pages are clear and easy to read.
***************************************
The Last Ships from Hamburg
by Logan Knight
***************************************
So often, when doing genealogical research, we cannot see the forest because of all the trees. We tend to focus on our single line to the exclusion of all else. However, by taking a broader look, we can often discover much more about our family. Historical knowledge and context can make our ancestors come alive as real people. By taking a deep dive into their world and circumstances, we make our family trees fully bloom. In other words, history matters.
One of the finest books for genealogists that has come out recently is author Steven Ujifusa’s book, “The Last Ships from Hamburg: Business, Rivalry, and the Race to Save Russia’s Jews on the Eve of World War I” (New York: HarperCollins, 2023), GC 929.102 Uj5LA. The book is presented as a multi-part biography of a trio of remarkable men: Albert Ballin, Jacob Schiff, and J.P. Morgan. The real story, though, is the epic migration of over two million Jews from the Tsarist Russian Empire to their new home in the United States, many through the German port of Hamburg.
These three men contributed in various direct and indirect ways to this mass population movement: Ballin, through his reorganization of the transportation industry; Schiff, through his philanthropy; and Morgan, through his attempts at creating a monopoly on the high seas, just like his railroads. Ujifusa effortlessly weaves different threads of international politics, technology, and individuals to demonstrate how these massive forces converged to create one of the largest mass migrations in human history.
One of the highlights of the book is when it takes a look at a single immigrant family’s journey from Russia, through Europe, to the United States. It brings the details alive by showing how these large forces of transportation, hygiene, and industry affected people on a personal level. It is easy to talk about millions of people, subject to large impersonal forces, but seeing it through the lens of one family reveals just how incredible this migration was. I won’t reveal which particular family is the focus here, but it was certainly a surprise to me.
The author does an excellent job of building tension as forces converge on both sides of the Atlantic to put a stop to the immigration. All the while, in the background, the reader realizes that many of those who do not leave will be victims of the Holocaust. The curtain falls with the outbreak of the First World War and the new draconian laws of the United States in the 1920s. The book ends on a bittersweet note, admiring those who made the voyage and mourning those who could not. In short, this book is a fascinating resource for any of those who are intrigued by the technology, politics, and personalities of early 20th century immigration
***************************************
PERSI Gems: Cranes
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
***************************************
While this column is devoted to the gems we encounter in our serial collection, we think, this month, of the gem of a building which houses our Genealogy Center. Our Main Library is receiving HVAC updates requiring heavy lifts of up to 13 tons onto our roof. To accomplish this task, a "big" crane will be assembled on the street outside our office. During this work, substantial portions of our building will be closed to the public and staff; safety is foremost on our mind.
The Main Library serving Fort Wayne and Allen County was built in 1968, was expanded in 1980, and was renovated and expanded further in 2007. This structure, which now fills a city block, replaced a Carnegie library dedicated in 1904. Systems installed in 2007 are aging and in need of replacement. The taxpayers of Allen County have a long history of generous support for their library, its work, and the maintenance of its facilities. For this support which enables important maintenance and construction projects, we are grateful.
As we consider the construction of the crane outside our library, we look to the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) for evidence of cranes which have gone before. As usual, we find multiple mishaps, remarkable recollections, and fabulous photos. Try a search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Alexander Sangernebo Old City Hall eagle destroyed by crane, replacement, photo and note, 1910-2013
Indiana Preservationist, Jul 2013
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad PM 250-ton wrecking crane, photo, notes, 1948-1975
Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Magazine (The), Vol. 46, Issue 9-10 (Fal 2013)
Das Deutsche Haus aka Athenaeum history note, crane accident during restoration, 1894-2010
Indiana Palatines, Vol. 57, Issue 103 (Sep 2010)
Earl Milligan remains brought home for burial, crushed by railroad crane, Metz Times, Jan. 1910
Cedar & Vernon County, MO, Genealogical Society Newsletter, Sep 2015
Francesco Mancusi re being a crane operator on Cline Avenue Bridge project, brief, c. 1981
Steel Shavings (Indiana University, Northwest), Vol. 38 (2007)
George Crawford fell from crane and died, 1909, MI
Chippewa (MI) Gentalk, Vol. 9, Issue 1 (Jan 2009)
Henry Robinson and George Crane fight over election, Crane killed, San Francisco Call, 1892
Cedar & Vernon County, MO, Genealogical Society Newsletter, Jul 2014
Industrial crane hoisting screens into No. 153 tipple photo, early-20th C.
Bankmule (Van Lear Historical Society, KY), Vol. 29, Issue 4 (Dec 2012)
Jessop & Appleby steam crane at Hobart docks, photos and history note, 1899+
Leicestershire and Rutland (Eng.) FHS Journal, Issue 150 (Dec 2012)
Local Union No. 1228 W. M. W. A. list of miners, engineers, and crane operators, 1925-1930
Clay County (IN) Researcher, Vol. 30, Issue 2 (May 2009)
Overhead travelling crane invented in Alliance in 1873 by Morgan Engineering Co., brief
Alliance (OH) Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 21, Issue 11 (Dec 2004)
Radio-equipped bantam crane of the Green Bay & Western Railroad photo, c. 1966
Railroad & Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin, Issue 115 (Oct 1966)
Young Men's Christian Assoc. building damaged when crane fell on it during Athenaeum project, 2010
Indiana German Heritage Society Newsletter, Vol. 26, Issue 4 (Fal 2010)
World's tallest crane at Cow Calling Contest photos, notes, 2003
Focus Magazine, Vol. 21, Issue 4 (Aut 2003)
***************************************
Preservation Tips: Restoring Notre-Dame--A Case Study of AI Utilization in Preservation
by Christina Clary
***************************************
If you have been following the news over the last year, you are probably aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the hot topic of the moment. The recent restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris and the transcription of its canon registers are two high-profile examples of how AI has been utilized in architectural preservation and archives.
The cathedral, which caught fire in April 2019, reopened earlier this month after five years of restoration. A team of engineers and scientists used data from a laser scanning project conducted in 2015 by Belgian art historian Andrew Tallon to create a virtual blueprint. They used AI software to incorporate structural data, historical texts, and scientific research to the blueprint to create a 3-D “digital twin” to use as a test subject. Using this model and AI software, they were able to assess the extent of the damage, test restoration methods to determine the least invasive ones, and restore the cathedral closer to its 12th century appearance. AI was used in myriad ways by the architects, engineers, scientists, historians, and artists to bring Notre-Dame back to its former glory.
As a part of the cathedral restoration project, a team of researchers at the Sorbonne University began working in 2021 on a project called e-NDP. Their goal was to create an AI program capable of transcribing, interpreting, and indexing canon registers from Notre-Dame dating back to the 1300s. These registers recorded administrative actions regarding both the cathedral and the chapter of canons who oversaw it. First, researchers repaired and cleaned the registers to increase their legibility before digitizing them. They then trained the program using handwritten text recognition (HTR) techniques heavily modified through AI to the unique characteristics and historical contexts of the medieval registers.
Using AI-enhanced HTR to transcribe these records written in many different styles and medieval Latin, made the rich information they contain accessible to historians and the public more quickly and accurately. This also means the originals will be handled less, prolonging the longevity of the fragile documents. The project scanned and accurately transcribed over 14,600 pages in only three years. You can now view the registers and their transcriptions on the e-NDP website.
These are just two notable examples of what can be achieved through preservation and AI. AI can also be used in smaller family history preservation projects. Similar to the e-NDP project, you can upload scans of handwritten documents to an AI software to help translate phrases in different languages or decipher an ancestor’s messy handwriting. It can transcribe audio recordings or oral histories that you want to preserve. AI can help identify different types of photographs and help narrow down a time period for when a photograph was taken. When using AI, remember to make your request as detailed and specific as possible. You may have to experiment with the phrasing to get it to do what you want it to.
There are, however, questions about the security and accuracy of open access AI software programs. As with anything online, AI or not, practice good online safety habits. Verify information and don’t upload anything with sensitive or personal information. By using AI safely, you can find new ways to better preserve your family history.
Resources:
L'intelligence artificielle fouille la mémoire de notre-dame. (2023, November 27). Le Monde. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/lintelligence-artificielle-fouille-la-mémoire-de/docview/2893412082/se-2
How robots and AI contributed to the restoration of Notre Dame's beauty (2024, December 9). Tomorrow's Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.tomorrowsaffairs.com
How a digital twin became the blueprint for restoring Notre-Dame de Paris. Church Heritage. Retrieved from https://churchheritage.eu/science/how-a-digital-twin-became-the-blueprint-for-restoring-notre-dame-de-paris/
e-NDP Website: https://endp.chartes.psl.eu/
***************************************
History Tidbits: Legends of Nero
by Logan Knight
***************************************
Few figures from ancient history gleam so bright in our collective imagination as Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or, as he has entered history, Emperor Nero. The “Bad-Boy” of the ancient world, Nero’s deeds are known by everyone: how he assassinated his own mother, persecuted Christians, and fiddled while Rome burned. He is one of history’s greatest monsters. However, it is undeniable that Nero’s dark glamor has ensured that his fame has spread ever since his suicide in 68 AD. Many different kinds of stories have sprung up over the years, some of which are explored here.
Among people other than Rome’s senatorial class, more positive stories have circulated. For example, the Greeks loved Nero. After all, he had liberated them from all taxes. The would-be artist had even performed at the Olympic Games to the crowd’s delight. Nero had the games suspended for one year to enable him to compete (the first time that had ever happened in the event's long history). The emperor even won first place in the chariot race, despite crashing out. The justification was he would have won if he had not wrecked. Is it any wonder that, after his death, no less than three imposters would arise from the Greek-speaking east? All of them claimed to be Nero and enjoyed widespread support, although all three were caught and executed. The prospect of Nero returning became a popular undercurrent of belief in the Roman Empire and became known as the Nero Redivivus legend. We have references to Nero’s imminent return as late as the fifth century. Some of this may have been a consequence of the Emperor Vespasian making the Greeks pay taxes again, plus what they would have owed if Nero had not exempted them.
Another people that held fond memories of the late emperor were the Jews. One legend that circulated for a long time was that Nero had not committed suicide but rather had fled to Judaea. While there, he converted to Judaism and ended his days as a well-respected rabbi. Supposedly, one of his descendants was even a leader in the ill-fated Bar Kokhba revolt against Rome. Nero certainly looked with favor on the Jews. His wife, Poppaea Sabina, was noted as a woman who honored the God of Israel and was even believed in some quarters to be a convert. While we have no idea if there is any truth to this, we do know that Poppaea was a patron of the great Jewish historian, Josephus, who spoke highly of her long afterwards.
Christian traditions, unsurprisingly, are less fond of their great persecutor. St. Augustine noted that many Christians believed that Nero was the Antichrist and was destined to return at the end of days. Some scholars believe that the number of the beast “666” in the Book of Revelations is a coded reference to Nero.
One of the more popular legends concerns the great church of Santa Maria del Popolo (Saint Mary of the People) in Rome, which was supposedly the site of Nero’s tomb. A mighty walnut tree had grown up over the years. The tree was infested by demons in the shape of crows who viciously assaulted anyone who came near. Concerned for his flock, Pope Paschal II fasted for three days and was given a vision by the Virgin Mary. Having been given instructions, the Pope led a large procession to the tree where he performed an exorcism and drove the demons howling out of it. The tree was then cut down, Nero’s remains were tossed in the Tiber River, and Pope Paschal II founded the church in honor of Mary. The church is there to this day and features amazing artwork by Raphael, Bernini, and Caravaggio among others.
These are only some of the many stories about Nero. A figure this menacing and glamorous will continue to haunt our collective imaginations for centuries to come.
***************************************
Genealogy Center’s December 2025 Programs
***************************************
Join us for another month of free, virtual and in-person programs!
Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12434554
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Ancestry.com - Beyond the Basics” with Susan Kim - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12433364
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET “Railroad Pension Records: Their Value for Genealogical Answers” with Kim Harrison. One can attend this Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana program in-person in the Discovery Center of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center or online by registering at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yFheEYAPTRu2WN9TVO4qRg#/registration
Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “This Goes Here, That Goes There…Let’s Organize!" with Anni Parsons - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12457102
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Back to Basics: Understanding Autosomal, Mitochondrial, X-DNA, and Y-DNA Inheritance Patterns with Laura A. Weber - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12454712
Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Heritage Travel: Top 10 Tips for Walking in Ancestral Footsteps” with Lisa Vogele - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12433727
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET “Researching Family History through Family Homes and Their History” with Dr. Al Brothers. This in-person program is an offering of the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne and will be held in the Discovery Center of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Piecing Together the Past: Tools and Techniques for African American Genealogy” with Sara Day - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12433567
Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Getting Started with Italian Genealogy” with Lisa Vogele - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12434219
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Forgotten Women: Researching the Marginalized Women on Your Family Tree” with Janet Few - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12451846
Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Bringing Green Book Locations to Life, The Chitterling Circuit, BBQ, and More” with Shamele Jordon - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12451854
Please register in advance for these engaging programs.
***************************************
Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming
***************************************
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.
***************************************
Genealogy Center Bits-o’-News
***************************************
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. Start the New Year right with 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.
***************************************
Genealogy Center Social Media
***************************************
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
***************************************
Driving Directions to the Library
***************************************
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.
***************************************
Parking at the Library
***************************************
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.
***************************************
Genealogy Center Queries
***************************************
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.
***************************************
Publishing Note
***************************************
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. 250, December 31, 2024
In this issue:
*A Bountiful 2025!
*Discover Finnish History Online: Accessing Digitized Newspapers
*The Last Ships from Hamburg
*PERSI Gems: Cranes
*Preservation Tips: Restoring Notre-Dame--A Case Study of AI Utilization in Preservation
*History Tidbits: Legends of Nero
*Genealogy Center’s January 2025 Programs
*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
***************************************
A Bountiful 2025!
by Curt B. Witcher
***************************************
There is much excitement in the air as we are just moments away from 2025. There are so many engaging reasons why you really need to put an in-person visit to the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center on your list of 2025 must-dos! A treat for yourself that will greatly assist you in finding more of your families’ stories--what a combo!
While the Genealogy Center has a burgeoning collection of free databases accessible at GenealogyCenter.org and on-site, licensed databases available for use in the Center, we also added 8,560 new print materials to our shelves in 2024. Thousands of new family histories and many more thousands of new local history materials like church and county histories, military records, ethnic histories, German town histories, yearbooks and association directories, and much more can be found on our shelves.
With a robust collection of more than 1.2 million physical items to complement an amazing collection of databases, the Genealogy Center can truly be a history classroom in addition to a family history discovery zone. If you are in the northeast Indiana area and have a child or grandchild who has a history project, you’ll be amazed at what can be found in our vast holdings. From classroom history assignments and undergraduate history papers to National History Day submission, we have you covered. The Indiana Home Educators will discover this when their conference is here in Fort Wayne March 21 & 22, 2025. https://iahe.net/events-page/homeschool-conference/ If you could benefit from the conference, you certainly will benefit from spending some time in the Genealogy Center, too.
As we did this year, the Allen County Public Library and its Genealogy Center will again host the two-day Indiana Genealogical Society Conference on Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, 2025. Friday will focus on improving our research methodology to find all the answers about our ancestors’ lives while Saturday will offer the expertise of a nationally recognized family history presenter. Bookmark the new Indiana Genealogical Society website to discover conference details coming early in January. https://indgensoc.org/ You really need to mark these two days on your 2025 calendar. Having really engaging presentations just a few feet away from an amazing genealogy research collection--how awesome is that?!
While totally different from the Shakespeare version, the Genealogy Center, the library, and the Grand Wayne Convention Center will be offering our own version of a midsummer night’s dream! For the first time, the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) will be holding their 2025 conference in Fort Wayne, IN on August 10-14, 2025. There will be more than four days of presentations packed with advice from experts on Jewish genealogy as well as eastern and western European research; an exhibit hall of the latest family history products, services, and organizations; and boundless networking opportunities. An amazing conference website continues to grow in the amount of extremely robust information provided to assist you in affirming your decision to come to Fort Wayne for the IAJGS conference in August of 2025. www.iajgs.org/conference/iajgs2025
If you haven’t taken the opportunity to use some of the Genealogy Center’s new licensed databases and products, make 2025 the year you treat yourself. You likely will be pleasantly surprised by discovering much more than your ancestors’ names but also their stories and the historical contexts surrounding their lives. Vintage Aerial is such a database. Debuting just a few short weeks ago, this resource offers access to tens of millions of historical aerial photographs covering 41 of the 50 states. This unique collection provides an in-depth visual record of rural landscapes from the 1960s through the early 2000s. enabling patrons to uncover personal and community histories through this extensive and captivating archive. The only downfall of this resource is how addictive it can become! You will want to compile a picture of the rural landscapes for all your parents, aunts and uncles, and grandparents.
Rick Voight and his colleagues at Vivid-Pix have done a terrific job developing their Memory Station. From their website: Vivid-Pix Memory Station Software lets you scan images with our amazing Ricoh scanner, with your existing scanner (Brother, Canon, Epson, HP, Lexmark, ScanSnap – even from All-In-One printer/scanner devices), and select images from your computer, restore these images, record a voice memory describing images, and combine the photo/voice memories into an MP4 video story. Images/Recordings/Movies are saved onto your computer wherever you wish. Scanning and professionally correcting faded images is critical for the preservation of our family pictures and documents. And then using technology to add memories to those images is game-changing. The work Rick and his team are doing with the National Institute for Dementia Education is affirming for us all over again the power of story to positively affect and change lives--stores that are attached to our digital photograph. The Genealogy Center has two of these Vivid-Pix Memory Stations you can use for free.
The Genealogy Center’s regular fare of twice weekly virtual programs will continue through 2025. Always look at each month’s program lineup in this ezine. Register right away for all that peak your interest. Also continuing are our free one-on-one consultations. Start your New Year well, and keep finding and sharing your families’ stories throughout all of 2025 with the Genealogy Center!
***************************************
Discover Finnish History Online: Accessing Digitized Newspapers
by Allison DePrey Singleton
***************************************
The National Library of Finland has made it easier than ever to explore Finland’s rich history by digitizing a large collection of historical newspapers. Through the Newspapers National Collection, people from around the world can access these resources online. Recently, newspapers from the 1940s were added, providing valuable insights into a key period in Finnish history.
The digitized collection covers Finnish newspapers from the late 1700s onward, including millions of pages of articles, advertisements, and local stories. The addition of newspapers from the 1940s highlights Finland’s experiences during and after World War II, capturing stories about wartime struggles, political changes, and rebuilding efforts.
Since most Finnish newspapers are in Finnish or Swedish, navigating these resources may seem daunting to non-Finnish speakers. Fortunately, several tools and resources are available to help. Free online translation tools, such as Google Translate, can assist in translating text from Finnish into your preferred language, making them particularly useful for short phrases or passages. Additionally, the FamilySearch Finnish Genealogical Word List provides a comprehensive guide to understanding key terms related to family history, including words for names, dates, and relationships.
The National Library of Finland’s platform makes exploring its newspaper collection straightforward and user-friendly. Newspapers published over 100 years ago are free to view online through the library’s website at https://www.kansalliskirjasto.fi/en/collections/newspapers-national-collection. For newer publications, including those from the 1940s, users can access them on-site at the National Library or its partner libraries. If visiting in person isn’t feasible, you can contact the National Library for assistance by emailing nationallibrary [at] helsinki.fi. The platform also offers powerful search tools, allowing users to locate specific articles or topics by date, newspaper name, or keywords. Additionally, the newspapers are digitized in high resolution, ensuring the pages are clear and easy to read.
***************************************
The Last Ships from Hamburg
by Logan Knight
***************************************
So often, when doing genealogical research, we cannot see the forest because of all the trees. We tend to focus on our single line to the exclusion of all else. However, by taking a broader look, we can often discover much more about our family. Historical knowledge and context can make our ancestors come alive as real people. By taking a deep dive into their world and circumstances, we make our family trees fully bloom. In other words, history matters.
One of the finest books for genealogists that has come out recently is author Steven Ujifusa’s book, “The Last Ships from Hamburg: Business, Rivalry, and the Race to Save Russia’s Jews on the Eve of World War I” (New York: HarperCollins, 2023), GC 929.102 Uj5LA. The book is presented as a multi-part biography of a trio of remarkable men: Albert Ballin, Jacob Schiff, and J.P. Morgan. The real story, though, is the epic migration of over two million Jews from the Tsarist Russian Empire to their new home in the United States, many through the German port of Hamburg.
These three men contributed in various direct and indirect ways to this mass population movement: Ballin, through his reorganization of the transportation industry; Schiff, through his philanthropy; and Morgan, through his attempts at creating a monopoly on the high seas, just like his railroads. Ujifusa effortlessly weaves different threads of international politics, technology, and individuals to demonstrate how these massive forces converged to create one of the largest mass migrations in human history.
One of the highlights of the book is when it takes a look at a single immigrant family’s journey from Russia, through Europe, to the United States. It brings the details alive by showing how these large forces of transportation, hygiene, and industry affected people on a personal level. It is easy to talk about millions of people, subject to large impersonal forces, but seeing it through the lens of one family reveals just how incredible this migration was. I won’t reveal which particular family is the focus here, but it was certainly a surprise to me.
The author does an excellent job of building tension as forces converge on both sides of the Atlantic to put a stop to the immigration. All the while, in the background, the reader realizes that many of those who do not leave will be victims of the Holocaust. The curtain falls with the outbreak of the First World War and the new draconian laws of the United States in the 1920s. The book ends on a bittersweet note, admiring those who made the voyage and mourning those who could not. In short, this book is a fascinating resource for any of those who are intrigued by the technology, politics, and personalities of early 20th century immigration
***************************************
PERSI Gems: Cranes
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
***************************************
While this column is devoted to the gems we encounter in our serial collection, we think, this month, of the gem of a building which houses our Genealogy Center. Our Main Library is receiving HVAC updates requiring heavy lifts of up to 13 tons onto our roof. To accomplish this task, a "big" crane will be assembled on the street outside our office. During this work, substantial portions of our building will be closed to the public and staff; safety is foremost on our mind.
The Main Library serving Fort Wayne and Allen County was built in 1968, was expanded in 1980, and was renovated and expanded further in 2007. This structure, which now fills a city block, replaced a Carnegie library dedicated in 1904. Systems installed in 2007 are aging and in need of replacement. The taxpayers of Allen County have a long history of generous support for their library, its work, and the maintenance of its facilities. For this support which enables important maintenance and construction projects, we are grateful.
As we consider the construction of the crane outside our library, we look to the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) for evidence of cranes which have gone before. As usual, we find multiple mishaps, remarkable recollections, and fabulous photos. Try a search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Alexander Sangernebo Old City Hall eagle destroyed by crane, replacement, photo and note, 1910-2013
Indiana Preservationist, Jul 2013
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad PM 250-ton wrecking crane, photo, notes, 1948-1975
Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Magazine (The), Vol. 46, Issue 9-10 (Fal 2013)
Das Deutsche Haus aka Athenaeum history note, crane accident during restoration, 1894-2010
Indiana Palatines, Vol. 57, Issue 103 (Sep 2010)
Earl Milligan remains brought home for burial, crushed by railroad crane, Metz Times, Jan. 1910
Cedar & Vernon County, MO, Genealogical Society Newsletter, Sep 2015
Francesco Mancusi re being a crane operator on Cline Avenue Bridge project, brief, c. 1981
Steel Shavings (Indiana University, Northwest), Vol. 38 (2007)
George Crawford fell from crane and died, 1909, MI
Chippewa (MI) Gentalk, Vol. 9, Issue 1 (Jan 2009)
Henry Robinson and George Crane fight over election, Crane killed, San Francisco Call, 1892
Cedar & Vernon County, MO, Genealogical Society Newsletter, Jul 2014
Industrial crane hoisting screens into No. 153 tipple photo, early-20th C.
Bankmule (Van Lear Historical Society, KY), Vol. 29, Issue 4 (Dec 2012)
Jessop & Appleby steam crane at Hobart docks, photos and history note, 1899+
Leicestershire and Rutland (Eng.) FHS Journal, Issue 150 (Dec 2012)
Local Union No. 1228 W. M. W. A. list of miners, engineers, and crane operators, 1925-1930
Clay County (IN) Researcher, Vol. 30, Issue 2 (May 2009)
Overhead travelling crane invented in Alliance in 1873 by Morgan Engineering Co., brief
Alliance (OH) Genealogical Society Newsletter, Vol. 21, Issue 11 (Dec 2004)
Radio-equipped bantam crane of the Green Bay & Western Railroad photo, c. 1966
Railroad & Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin, Issue 115 (Oct 1966)
Young Men's Christian Assoc. building damaged when crane fell on it during Athenaeum project, 2010
Indiana German Heritage Society Newsletter, Vol. 26, Issue 4 (Fal 2010)
World's tallest crane at Cow Calling Contest photos, notes, 2003
Focus Magazine, Vol. 21, Issue 4 (Aut 2003)
***************************************
Preservation Tips: Restoring Notre-Dame--A Case Study of AI Utilization in Preservation
by Christina Clary
***************************************
If you have been following the news over the last year, you are probably aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the hot topic of the moment. The recent restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris and the transcription of its canon registers are two high-profile examples of how AI has been utilized in architectural preservation and archives.
The cathedral, which caught fire in April 2019, reopened earlier this month after five years of restoration. A team of engineers and scientists used data from a laser scanning project conducted in 2015 by Belgian art historian Andrew Tallon to create a virtual blueprint. They used AI software to incorporate structural data, historical texts, and scientific research to the blueprint to create a 3-D “digital twin” to use as a test subject. Using this model and AI software, they were able to assess the extent of the damage, test restoration methods to determine the least invasive ones, and restore the cathedral closer to its 12th century appearance. AI was used in myriad ways by the architects, engineers, scientists, historians, and artists to bring Notre-Dame back to its former glory.
As a part of the cathedral restoration project, a team of researchers at the Sorbonne University began working in 2021 on a project called e-NDP. Their goal was to create an AI program capable of transcribing, interpreting, and indexing canon registers from Notre-Dame dating back to the 1300s. These registers recorded administrative actions regarding both the cathedral and the chapter of canons who oversaw it. First, researchers repaired and cleaned the registers to increase their legibility before digitizing them. They then trained the program using handwritten text recognition (HTR) techniques heavily modified through AI to the unique characteristics and historical contexts of the medieval registers.
Using AI-enhanced HTR to transcribe these records written in many different styles and medieval Latin, made the rich information they contain accessible to historians and the public more quickly and accurately. This also means the originals will be handled less, prolonging the longevity of the fragile documents. The project scanned and accurately transcribed over 14,600 pages in only three years. You can now view the registers and their transcriptions on the e-NDP website.
These are just two notable examples of what can be achieved through preservation and AI. AI can also be used in smaller family history preservation projects. Similar to the e-NDP project, you can upload scans of handwritten documents to an AI software to help translate phrases in different languages or decipher an ancestor’s messy handwriting. It can transcribe audio recordings or oral histories that you want to preserve. AI can help identify different types of photographs and help narrow down a time period for when a photograph was taken. When using AI, remember to make your request as detailed and specific as possible. You may have to experiment with the phrasing to get it to do what you want it to.
There are, however, questions about the security and accuracy of open access AI software programs. As with anything online, AI or not, practice good online safety habits. Verify information and don’t upload anything with sensitive or personal information. By using AI safely, you can find new ways to better preserve your family history.
Resources:
L'intelligence artificielle fouille la mémoire de notre-dame. (2023, November 27). Le Monde. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/lintelligence-artificielle-fouille-la-mémoire-de/docview/2893412082/se-2
How robots and AI contributed to the restoration of Notre Dame's beauty (2024, December 9). Tomorrow's Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.tomorrowsaffairs.com
How a digital twin became the blueprint for restoring Notre-Dame de Paris. Church Heritage. Retrieved from https://churchheritage.eu/science/how-a-digital-twin-became-the-blueprint-for-restoring-notre-dame-de-paris/
e-NDP Website: https://endp.chartes.psl.eu/
***************************************
History Tidbits: Legends of Nero
by Logan Knight
***************************************
Few figures from ancient history gleam so bright in our collective imagination as Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or, as he has entered history, Emperor Nero. The “Bad-Boy” of the ancient world, Nero’s deeds are known by everyone: how he assassinated his own mother, persecuted Christians, and fiddled while Rome burned. He is one of history’s greatest monsters. However, it is undeniable that Nero’s dark glamor has ensured that his fame has spread ever since his suicide in 68 AD. Many different kinds of stories have sprung up over the years, some of which are explored here.
Among people other than Rome’s senatorial class, more positive stories have circulated. For example, the Greeks loved Nero. After all, he had liberated them from all taxes. The would-be artist had even performed at the Olympic Games to the crowd’s delight. Nero had the games suspended for one year to enable him to compete (the first time that had ever happened in the event's long history). The emperor even won first place in the chariot race, despite crashing out. The justification was he would have won if he had not wrecked. Is it any wonder that, after his death, no less than three imposters would arise from the Greek-speaking east? All of them claimed to be Nero and enjoyed widespread support, although all three were caught and executed. The prospect of Nero returning became a popular undercurrent of belief in the Roman Empire and became known as the Nero Redivivus legend. We have references to Nero’s imminent return as late as the fifth century. Some of this may have been a consequence of the Emperor Vespasian making the Greeks pay taxes again, plus what they would have owed if Nero had not exempted them.
Another people that held fond memories of the late emperor were the Jews. One legend that circulated for a long time was that Nero had not committed suicide but rather had fled to Judaea. While there, he converted to Judaism and ended his days as a well-respected rabbi. Supposedly, one of his descendants was even a leader in the ill-fated Bar Kokhba revolt against Rome. Nero certainly looked with favor on the Jews. His wife, Poppaea Sabina, was noted as a woman who honored the God of Israel and was even believed in some quarters to be a convert. While we have no idea if there is any truth to this, we do know that Poppaea was a patron of the great Jewish historian, Josephus, who spoke highly of her long afterwards.
Christian traditions, unsurprisingly, are less fond of their great persecutor. St. Augustine noted that many Christians believed that Nero was the Antichrist and was destined to return at the end of days. Some scholars believe that the number of the beast “666” in the Book of Revelations is a coded reference to Nero.
One of the more popular legends concerns the great church of Santa Maria del Popolo (Saint Mary of the People) in Rome, which was supposedly the site of Nero’s tomb. A mighty walnut tree had grown up over the years. The tree was infested by demons in the shape of crows who viciously assaulted anyone who came near. Concerned for his flock, Pope Paschal II fasted for three days and was given a vision by the Virgin Mary. Having been given instructions, the Pope led a large procession to the tree where he performed an exorcism and drove the demons howling out of it. The tree was then cut down, Nero’s remains were tossed in the Tiber River, and Pope Paschal II founded the church in honor of Mary. The church is there to this day and features amazing artwork by Raphael, Bernini, and Caravaggio among others.
These are only some of the many stories about Nero. A figure this menacing and glamorous will continue to haunt our collective imaginations for centuries to come.
***************************************
Genealogy Center’s December 2025 Programs
***************************************
Join us for another month of free, virtual and in-person programs!
Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12434554
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Ancestry.com - Beyond the Basics” with Susan Kim - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12433364
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET “Railroad Pension Records: Their Value for Genealogical Answers” with Kim Harrison. One can attend this Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana program in-person in the Discovery Center of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center or online by registering at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yFheEYAPTRu2WN9TVO4qRg#/registration
Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “This Goes Here, That Goes There…Let’s Organize!" with Anni Parsons - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12457102
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Back to Basics: Understanding Autosomal, Mitochondrial, X-DNA, and Y-DNA Inheritance Patterns with Laura A. Weber - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12454712
Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Heritage Travel: Top 10 Tips for Walking in Ancestral Footsteps” with Lisa Vogele - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12433727
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET “Researching Family History through Family Homes and Their History” with Dr. Al Brothers. This in-person program is an offering of the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne and will be held in the Discovery Center of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Piecing Together the Past: Tools and Techniques for African American Genealogy” with Sara Day - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12433567
Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Getting Started with Italian Genealogy” with Lisa Vogele - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12434219
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Forgotten Women: Researching the Marginalized Women on Your Family Tree” with Janet Few - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12451846
Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Bringing Green Book Locations to Life, The Chitterling Circuit, BBQ, and More” with Shamele Jordon - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12451854
Please register in advance for these engaging programs.
***************************************
Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming
***************************************
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.
***************************************
Genealogy Center Bits-o’-News
***************************************
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. Start the New Year right with 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.
***************************************
Genealogy Center Social Media
***************************************
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
***************************************
Driving Directions to the Library
***************************************
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.
***************************************
Parking at the Library
***************************************
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.
***************************************
Genealogy Center Queries
***************************************
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.
***************************************
Publishing Note
***************************************
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 other messages in thread)
Results generated by Tiger Technologies Web hosting using MHonArc.