| Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne, No. 252, February 28, 2025 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygems genealogycenter.info)
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| Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2025 22:02:16 -0500 | |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne
No. 252, February 28, 2025
In this issue:
*Spring into Action This Spring
*Review of “The Loyal and Doubtful: Index to the Acts of British Loyalism in the Greater New York and Long Island Area, 1775-1783”
*Chinese Exclusion Era Records Online
*PERSI Gems: Wicked!
*Preservation Tips: Preserving Scrapbooks
*History Tidbits: “Terror in the Heart of the Rebellion”—The Story of The Raid on Combahee Ferry
*Genealogy Center’s March 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
***************************************
Spring into Action This Spring
by Curt B. Witcher
***************************************
In less than a month, spring will officially arrive in the northern hemisphere. In some areas of the United States, the recent unusually warm weather may tempt us to believe spring is already here. For many, and in all kinds of ways, spring is a time to reset, reorganize, refresh and renew our homes and our gardens. It’s a time for starting over and cleaning up things we have put off for months. Many still call it spring cleaning.
I believe this concept of resetting, reorganizing, refreshing and renewing should apply to our family history endeavors as well. And 2025 is a great year to do that! I offer a number of activities to renew and update our genealogical skills, enhance our heritage activities, and boost our research successes. Those activities include (1) registering for the Indiana Genealogical Society Conference being held at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN; (2) bookmarking the official conference web page of the International Association of Genealogical Societies 2025 conference being held in Fort Wayne, IN so you can review the soon-to-be-announced program and register; and (3) visiting the Genealogy Center in person to scan and organize your boxes of photographs and files with the terrific Vivid-Pix Memory Stations. Talk about renewing and refreshing--these three things are your ticket!
The Indiana Genealogical Society (IGS) two-day Conference, April 11-12, 2025, will be an informative and enjoyable event in downtown Fort Wayne. Benefit from great presenters including a tremendous featured speaker, Sunny Jane Morton, and access to the remarkable resources of the Genealogy Center.
***April 11th--A day of methodology presentations by ACPL Genealogy Center staff***
“Tips for Doing Reasonably Exhaustive Research” by Curt Witcher
This presentation will focus on a number of free sites that will assist one in finding all possible records and resources for a particular geographic area, time period, and ethnic group.
“Genealogy without Documentation is Mythology!” by Logan Knight
This program highlights the importance of source citations in establishing the validity and accuracy of your genealogical research.
“Clearing Up ‘Alternative Facts’ in Family History” by Sara Allen
Learn from case studies how to resolve conflicting evidence in your genealogical research using the GPS.
“Writing Your Research” by Elizabeth Hodges
Discover how to transform your family history research into a polished narrative using the Genealogical Proof Standard as your framework for documenting sources, analyzing evidence, and resolving conflicts to create a compelling and credible family story.
***April 12th--presentations by featured presenter, Sunny Jane Morton***
“A Wild Ride: Ohio River Travel in Stories, Songs, and Scenes”
This presentation explores what it was like to travel the Ohio River during the flatboat era.
“What’s So Special about Special Censuses?”
Learn to find and use fantastic “extras” from US censuses (1840-1910), many of which are now online: the Veterans, Mortality, Slave, Agriculture, Manufacturer and Social Statistics Schedules.
“Fable or Fact? Verifying Old Family Stories”
Don’t you wish you knew just HOW true certain family stories are? Though you may never be able to fully prove (or disprove) some stories, this lecture demonstrates how to “de-mythify” handed-down tales into truer ones that may be even more compelling.
Wrap-up Q & A Session
A link to register for the IGS conference is here: https://indgensoc.org/event-details/ Register today and begin to prepare for an amazing experience. IGS has reserved a block of rooms at the Ft. Wayne Grand Wayne Hilton, just across the street from Allen County Public Library with a room rate of $139 per night. A link to the Hilton’s reservation page is here: www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/fwafhhf-igs-7c031f5d-57db-4a0b-9bec-aa01e244e869/
Before the IGS conference actually takes place, registration for the 45th IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy will open. The theme, "And We Settled Here... The Jewish Journey," will be reflected in the program themes. As the conference web invites, “Join the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society August 10-14, 2025 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for an exceptional and unique Conference experience.” Individuals with eastern and western European ancestors will also benefit from the conference sessions. Bookmark this website and visit it often. www.iajgs.org/conference/iajgs2025/
If you haven’t had the opportunity to use a Vivid-Pix Memory Station, you really owe it to yourself to give it a try. Two such stations await you in the Genealogy Center here at the Allen County Public Library, nestled in one of the very best family history research centers in the world. Come make us a part of your 2025 family history experience. You’ll be glad you did!
***************************************
Review of “The Loyal and Doubtful: Index to the Acts of British Loyalism in the Greater New York and Long Island Area, 1775-1783”
by John D. Beatty, CG
***************************************
The definition of what constituted “loyalty” to Britain in the American Revolutionary War era has always taken on a variant shade of grey. Some Americans felt so strongly loyal to the king that they worked actively against the patriot cause, joined Loyalist regiments, offered to spy, and in the aftermath fled either to Canada or overseas with their property confiscated. Others, coerced by government officials and seeking to be left alone, signed loyalty oaths but had no strong allegiance to Britain. They remained in America after the war. Still others changed sides during this period and can be shown as having performed acts of both loyalty and patriotism.
Brendon S. Burns addresses some of these actions in a monumental five-volume work titled “The Loyal and Doubtful: Index to the Acts of British Loyalism in the Greater New York and Long Island Area, 1775-1783” (Arlington, Virginia: Amazon Direct Publishing, 2023), GC 974.7 B93Lo. His focus is New York City and Long Island, a major battleground in 1776. George Washington’s decision to withdraw the Continental Army from the city led to its occupation by British troops and the control of New York Harbor. It also sparked a panic among residents of both areas, who fled the city and moved inland, especially to Westchester County and Connecticut. Many others chose not to leave, however, and make the best of the wartime situation.
Trolling through a variety of published sources, Burns sets out to document thousands of residents whose actions demonstrated some act of loyalty. These include: military service in a Loyal militia or British regiment; signing a loyalty oath to King George III; subscribing to addresses expressing favor to British officers or royal figures; making claims for services rendered to royal units; writing letters supporting the transport of British orders and the movement of supplies; receiving payments from the Royal Treasury or anybody designated by Parliament for compensation; holding civic offices that raised money or provisions for the British Army; and housing American prisoners and receiving reimbursement for that service. Burns admits that these actions, considered alone, fail to account for the larger story of an individual’s life. Indeed, we don’t know their motives, and many actions could have been made under duress.
The book is arranged alphabetically by surname over five volumes. Surname variants, especially common among those of Dutch or German descent, are combined under a single preferred spelling, but the variant spelling that appeared in the original source is also included in parentheses. Thus, Harmanus Barcklow appears under that spelling of his name, but there are parenthetical references to Barkuloo and Barkelow that appeared in the original source.
The set is rich with information about the actions of thousands of people. Most entries are only a few sentences in length, describing succinctly the act and referencing the published source and page where the record was found. Many entries refer to persons who took only the oath of loyalty. For example, Samuel Benjamin, a resident of Suffolk County, took the oath of allegiance and peaceable behavior in 1778. Others may have signed on to the British Army to find a job and earn an income. Andrew Brown worked as a carpenter in 1781, and his name appears on a muster roll of artificers and sawyers that was signed by Capt. Alexander Mercer, Commanding Engineer. Others took more overtly loyal actions. Joseph Cadles appears on a list of delinquent inhabitants of Queens County who voted in 1775 against sending deputies or representatives to the New York Provisional Congress. Gerrard Byrn acted more adroitly in subscribing to an address to Gen. William Howe, requesting him to restore peace under the protection of the king. Burns lays out the sources used for his study in the frontmatter.
This set is a goldmine of information. If you have an ancestor living in the vicinity of New York City or Long Island during the Revolutionary War era, it is well worth examining.
***************************************
Chinese Exclusion Era Records Online
by Sara Allen
***************************************
The United States is a great melting pot of various ethnic backgrounds living together under one metaphorical roof. Even so, at different points of our history, the U.S. government has attempted to keep out certain ethnic groups for various reasons. The borders remained open to immigrants from all parts of the globe until the 1880s, when xenophobia against Asians and the poor economic conditions of the time prompted enactment of the first major exclusionary immigration law called The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The Act limited the number of immigrants from China and required those Chinese already in the country to register with the government. Backers of the bill argued that it prevented cheap Chinese labor from flooding the market and taking jobs from American citizens. Canada also passed similar laws. Both countries repealed these laws at later dates.
The Chinese Exclusion Acts, in force from 1882 to 1930 and repealed in 1943, and a similar act in Canada, passed in 1923 and repealed in 1947, resulted in the creation of many official records and documents identifying Chinese residents and immigrants. Ancestry.com ($) and Ancestry Library Edition have begun adding these records to their databases under a collection titled “Chinese Exclusion Era.” You can search Ancestry’s Card Catalog for this term or the keyword “Chinese” to find links to the fourteen subgroups of records in this collection. Types of records include passenger lists, indexes to case files (complete files can be ordered from the National Archives), certificates of identification, landing records, applications for admission, and registers of citizens.
Although these records were created during a difficult time for the Chinese in North America, the records are rich in detail about the named individuals. They can provide useful information about your ancestors of that era, such as birth, marriage or death information, family details, citizenship, passenger arrival information, occupation, physical descriptions, photographs, and more. For example, the collection titled “Canada, Chinese Exclusion Act Records, 1923-1947” contains information about an immigrant, Yow Wong, who entered Canada at Victoria, B.C., on June 7, 1912. He was born in Hong San, China, and was aged 42 at the time of the registration in Vancouver in 1924. His photograph was attached to the file with a physical description that he was 5 ft 6 inches, had a growth on his right ear, two light pits on the center forehead, and a pit in the outer corner of the left eyebrow. This sort of identifying information can be useful for his descendants in developing a picture of him.
For those who want to learn more about this era of American history, a few book titles are useful: “Guarding the Golden Door: American Immigration Policy and Immigrants Since 1882” by Roger Daniels (call number, GC 973 D228G); “Entry Denied: Exclusion and the Chinese Community in America, 1882-1943” edited by Sucheng Chan (GC 973 EN87); and “Laws Harsh as Tigers: Chinese Immigrants and the Shaping of Modern Immigration Law” by Lucy Salyer (GC 970 SA394LA).
No. 252, February 28, 2025
In this issue:
*Spring into Action This Spring
*Review of “The Loyal and Doubtful: Index to the Acts of British Loyalism in the Greater New York and Long Island Area, 1775-1783”
*Chinese Exclusion Era Records Online
*PERSI Gems: Wicked!
*Preservation Tips: Preserving Scrapbooks
*History Tidbits: “Terror in the Heart of the Rebellion”—The Story of The Raid on Combahee Ferry
*Genealogy Center’s March 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
***************************************
Spring into Action This Spring
by Curt B. Witcher
***************************************
In less than a month, spring will officially arrive in the northern hemisphere. In some areas of the United States, the recent unusually warm weather may tempt us to believe spring is already here. For many, and in all kinds of ways, spring is a time to reset, reorganize, refresh and renew our homes and our gardens. It’s a time for starting over and cleaning up things we have put off for months. Many still call it spring cleaning.
I believe this concept of resetting, reorganizing, refreshing and renewing should apply to our family history endeavors as well. And 2025 is a great year to do that! I offer a number of activities to renew and update our genealogical skills, enhance our heritage activities, and boost our research successes. Those activities include (1) registering for the Indiana Genealogical Society Conference being held at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN; (2) bookmarking the official conference web page of the International Association of Genealogical Societies 2025 conference being held in Fort Wayne, IN so you can review the soon-to-be-announced program and register; and (3) visiting the Genealogy Center in person to scan and organize your boxes of photographs and files with the terrific Vivid-Pix Memory Stations. Talk about renewing and refreshing--these three things are your ticket!
The Indiana Genealogical Society (IGS) two-day Conference, April 11-12, 2025, will be an informative and enjoyable event in downtown Fort Wayne. Benefit from great presenters including a tremendous featured speaker, Sunny Jane Morton, and access to the remarkable resources of the Genealogy Center.
***April 11th--A day of methodology presentations by ACPL Genealogy Center staff***
“Tips for Doing Reasonably Exhaustive Research” by Curt Witcher
This presentation will focus on a number of free sites that will assist one in finding all possible records and resources for a particular geographic area, time period, and ethnic group.
“Genealogy without Documentation is Mythology!” by Logan Knight
This program highlights the importance of source citations in establishing the validity and accuracy of your genealogical research.
“Clearing Up ‘Alternative Facts’ in Family History” by Sara Allen
Learn from case studies how to resolve conflicting evidence in your genealogical research using the GPS.
“Writing Your Research” by Elizabeth Hodges
Discover how to transform your family history research into a polished narrative using the Genealogical Proof Standard as your framework for documenting sources, analyzing evidence, and resolving conflicts to create a compelling and credible family story.
***April 12th--presentations by featured presenter, Sunny Jane Morton***
“A Wild Ride: Ohio River Travel in Stories, Songs, and Scenes”
This presentation explores what it was like to travel the Ohio River during the flatboat era.
“What’s So Special about Special Censuses?”
Learn to find and use fantastic “extras” from US censuses (1840-1910), many of which are now online: the Veterans, Mortality, Slave, Agriculture, Manufacturer and Social Statistics Schedules.
“Fable or Fact? Verifying Old Family Stories”
Don’t you wish you knew just HOW true certain family stories are? Though you may never be able to fully prove (or disprove) some stories, this lecture demonstrates how to “de-mythify” handed-down tales into truer ones that may be even more compelling.
Wrap-up Q & A Session
A link to register for the IGS conference is here: https://indgensoc.org/event-details/ Register today and begin to prepare for an amazing experience. IGS has reserved a block of rooms at the Ft. Wayne Grand Wayne Hilton, just across the street from Allen County Public Library with a room rate of $139 per night. A link to the Hilton’s reservation page is here: www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/fwafhhf-igs-7c031f5d-57db-4a0b-9bec-aa01e244e869/
Before the IGS conference actually takes place, registration for the 45th IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy will open. The theme, "And We Settled Here... The Jewish Journey," will be reflected in the program themes. As the conference web invites, “Join the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society August 10-14, 2025 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for an exceptional and unique Conference experience.” Individuals with eastern and western European ancestors will also benefit from the conference sessions. Bookmark this website and visit it often. www.iajgs.org/conference/iajgs2025/
If you haven’t had the opportunity to use a Vivid-Pix Memory Station, you really owe it to yourself to give it a try. Two such stations await you in the Genealogy Center here at the Allen County Public Library, nestled in one of the very best family history research centers in the world. Come make us a part of your 2025 family history experience. You’ll be glad you did!
***************************************
Review of “The Loyal and Doubtful: Index to the Acts of British Loyalism in the Greater New York and Long Island Area, 1775-1783”
by John D. Beatty, CG
***************************************
The definition of what constituted “loyalty” to Britain in the American Revolutionary War era has always taken on a variant shade of grey. Some Americans felt so strongly loyal to the king that they worked actively against the patriot cause, joined Loyalist regiments, offered to spy, and in the aftermath fled either to Canada or overseas with their property confiscated. Others, coerced by government officials and seeking to be left alone, signed loyalty oaths but had no strong allegiance to Britain. They remained in America after the war. Still others changed sides during this period and can be shown as having performed acts of both loyalty and patriotism.
Brendon S. Burns addresses some of these actions in a monumental five-volume work titled “The Loyal and Doubtful: Index to the Acts of British Loyalism in the Greater New York and Long Island Area, 1775-1783” (Arlington, Virginia: Amazon Direct Publishing, 2023), GC 974.7 B93Lo. His focus is New York City and Long Island, a major battleground in 1776. George Washington’s decision to withdraw the Continental Army from the city led to its occupation by British troops and the control of New York Harbor. It also sparked a panic among residents of both areas, who fled the city and moved inland, especially to Westchester County and Connecticut. Many others chose not to leave, however, and make the best of the wartime situation.
Trolling through a variety of published sources, Burns sets out to document thousands of residents whose actions demonstrated some act of loyalty. These include: military service in a Loyal militia or British regiment; signing a loyalty oath to King George III; subscribing to addresses expressing favor to British officers or royal figures; making claims for services rendered to royal units; writing letters supporting the transport of British orders and the movement of supplies; receiving payments from the Royal Treasury or anybody designated by Parliament for compensation; holding civic offices that raised money or provisions for the British Army; and housing American prisoners and receiving reimbursement for that service. Burns admits that these actions, considered alone, fail to account for the larger story of an individual’s life. Indeed, we don’t know their motives, and many actions could have been made under duress.
The book is arranged alphabetically by surname over five volumes. Surname variants, especially common among those of Dutch or German descent, are combined under a single preferred spelling, but the variant spelling that appeared in the original source is also included in parentheses. Thus, Harmanus Barcklow appears under that spelling of his name, but there are parenthetical references to Barkuloo and Barkelow that appeared in the original source.
The set is rich with information about the actions of thousands of people. Most entries are only a few sentences in length, describing succinctly the act and referencing the published source and page where the record was found. Many entries refer to persons who took only the oath of loyalty. For example, Samuel Benjamin, a resident of Suffolk County, took the oath of allegiance and peaceable behavior in 1778. Others may have signed on to the British Army to find a job and earn an income. Andrew Brown worked as a carpenter in 1781, and his name appears on a muster roll of artificers and sawyers that was signed by Capt. Alexander Mercer, Commanding Engineer. Others took more overtly loyal actions. Joseph Cadles appears on a list of delinquent inhabitants of Queens County who voted in 1775 against sending deputies or representatives to the New York Provisional Congress. Gerrard Byrn acted more adroitly in subscribing to an address to Gen. William Howe, requesting him to restore peace under the protection of the king. Burns lays out the sources used for his study in the frontmatter.
This set is a goldmine of information. If you have an ancestor living in the vicinity of New York City or Long Island during the Revolutionary War era, it is well worth examining.
***************************************
Chinese Exclusion Era Records Online
by Sara Allen
***************************************
The United States is a great melting pot of various ethnic backgrounds living together under one metaphorical roof. Even so, at different points of our history, the U.S. government has attempted to keep out certain ethnic groups for various reasons. The borders remained open to immigrants from all parts of the globe until the 1880s, when xenophobia against Asians and the poor economic conditions of the time prompted enactment of the first major exclusionary immigration law called The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The Act limited the number of immigrants from China and required those Chinese already in the country to register with the government. Backers of the bill argued that it prevented cheap Chinese labor from flooding the market and taking jobs from American citizens. Canada also passed similar laws. Both countries repealed these laws at later dates.
The Chinese Exclusion Acts, in force from 1882 to 1930 and repealed in 1943, and a similar act in Canada, passed in 1923 and repealed in 1947, resulted in the creation of many official records and documents identifying Chinese residents and immigrants. Ancestry.com ($) and Ancestry Library Edition have begun adding these records to their databases under a collection titled “Chinese Exclusion Era.” You can search Ancestry’s Card Catalog for this term or the keyword “Chinese” to find links to the fourteen subgroups of records in this collection. Types of records include passenger lists, indexes to case files (complete files can be ordered from the National Archives), certificates of identification, landing records, applications for admission, and registers of citizens.
Although these records were created during a difficult time for the Chinese in North America, the records are rich in detail about the named individuals. They can provide useful information about your ancestors of that era, such as birth, marriage or death information, family details, citizenship, passenger arrival information, occupation, physical descriptions, photographs, and more. For example, the collection titled “Canada, Chinese Exclusion Act Records, 1923-1947” contains information about an immigrant, Yow Wong, who entered Canada at Victoria, B.C., on June 7, 1912. He was born in Hong San, China, and was aged 42 at the time of the registration in Vancouver in 1924. His photograph was attached to the file with a physical description that he was 5 ft 6 inches, had a growth on his right ear, two light pits on the center forehead, and a pit in the outer corner of the left eyebrow. This sort of identifying information can be useful for his descendants in developing a picture of him.
For those who want to learn more about this era of American history, a few book titles are useful: “Guarding the Golden Door: American Immigration Policy and Immigrants Since 1882” by Roger Daniels (call number, GC 973 D228G); “Entry Denied: Exclusion and the Chinese Community in America, 1882-1943” edited by Sucheng Chan (GC 973 EN87); and “Laws Harsh as Tigers: Chinese Immigrants and the Shaping of Modern Immigration Law” by Lucy Salyer (GC 970 SA394LA).
Editor's Note: The "My China Roots" database is available for use in the Genealogy Center.
***************************************
PERSI Gems: Wicked!
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
***************************************
Wickedness rears its head throughout our family histories, from wicked parents, stepmothers, and uncles, to family outings seeking wicked-good cupcakes. During my growing-up years, our family assembled around the television for an annual dose of wickedness courtesy of Margaret Hamilton, her garrison of castle guards, and her frightful flying monkeys. Such wickedness fueled the nightmares of at least one Barrone child.
Our ancestors worried about wickedness in their communities perpetrated by unreliable, violent, and otherwise questionable characters. In 1883, one Elder Estes raised the alarm in Clinton, Michigan, about those who dared ride a bicycle on Sunday.
Be wary when searching the Periodical Source Index (PERSI), for tales of wickedness lurk within. Try a search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Amber Quinn-Elliott, Sandi Bubb local franchisee of Wicked Good Cupcakes food truck, 2019, IN
Fort Wayne (IN) Magazine, Vol. 17, Issue 2 (Feb 2019)
Arthur S. Fillmore, wiley and wicked blacksmith skips out on bills, 1884
Lee County (IL) Genealogical Society Newsletter, Nov 2011
Decoding L. Frank Baum's and W. W. Denslow's Wicked Witch of the West, 1891+
Great Plains Quarterly, Vol. 38, Issue 3 (Sum 2018)
Elder Estes thinks it wicked to ride bicycle on Sunday, 1883
Clinton County (MI) Trails, Vol. 27, Issue 1 (Mar 2012)
John Watkins Holden listed as Wizard of Ye Wicked World on census, 1881-1911, England
AFFHO Newsflash (Australian Federation of Family History Organisations), Issue 41 (Sep 2011)
Life upon the wicked stage, the theater in Colonial America, 17th-18th C.
American History Illustrated, Vol. 11, Issue 10 (Feb 1977)
Margaret Hamilton career note, role in Wizard of Oz as Wicked Witch of the West, 1923-1939
Bend of the River, Vol. 40, Issue 2 (Feb 2012)
Maureen Linnell recalls her wicked uncle, 20th C., England
Dorset (Eng.) Family History Society Journal, Vol. 20, Issue 1 (Dec 2006)
Rogue sprayers, bootlegged chemicals, wicked weeds, and Kansas chemical laws, 1945-1980
Kansas History, Vol. 35, Issue 2 (Sum 2012)
Sarah, Mary, Ann, and Rachel French baptism, wicked and worthless parents, 1773, Dronfield, Eng.
Derbyshire (Eng.) Family History Society Journal, Issue 129 (Jun 2009)
Tampa: a wicked city in 1897
Tampa Bay (FL) History, Vol. 2, Issue 2 (Fal 1980)
Wicked stepmothers in Roman society & imagination
Journal of Family History (Sage Publications, CA), Vol. 16, Issue 4 (1991)
***************************************
Preservation Tips: Preserving Scrapbooks
by Christina Clary
***************************************
Scrapbooks can be an amazing genealogical resource. Much like diaries and journals, they can provide insight into the personality of a family member. Any sort of ephemera can be found in scrapbooks, such as newspaper clippings, cards, programs, photographs, and souvenirs. In the past, I have seen items such as napkins from an anniversary event, a paper crown, and the occasional plant life. This wide range of items, however, can make scrapbooks tricky to preserve. The standard reaction of an archivist to finding a scrapbook is usually a combination of excitement at a great find, and concern of how to preserve it.
There is no set standard for preserving a scrapbook. They are handled on a case-by-case basis. There are some guidelines that can help with the process. As with most items, the first steps are to evaluate its condition and develop a digitization plan. It is especially important to prioritize digitizing scrapbooks as a first step as many times items are falling out or will need to be stored separately. Digitizing can be as simple as taking photographs of each page so that the original layout can be preserved.
What happens next depends on the condition and types of materials found in it. Is everything still attached or is most of it loose or completely detached? Is it primarily newspaper clippings, or are there other materials mixed in? Resist the urge to reattach items that have fallen out. Instead, store them in an archival envelope or sleeve and make a note on the page of what was there. This is also why digitizing the scrapbook first is important. Items that are loose, as in at least halfway detached, should be removed using a microspatula or something similar. You should also remove items that contain metal, anything that might have food particles, or any flora you find.
Scrapbooks were mass produced, meaning they were made using inexpensive, highly acidic paper. Most of them that you would find in your family’s collection will have the extremely acidic black paper that is the bane of an archivist’s existence. That, combined with the also acidic newspaper clippings that you find in most scrapbooks, means they will disintegrate quicker than most items. Interleaving each page with buffered archival tissue paper will help slow down that process. My recommendation is to interleave pages regardless of what type of paper is used or the types of materials in it, not just when there is newspaper or black paper.
Doing this will make the scrapbook thicker. Loosen the bindings on the cover if they are not already. People who scrapbooked usually overstuffed them, so the bindings will most likely not be in great shape anyway. Depending on the condition and materials of the covers, you might want to wrap them up separately from the pages. If they are still in pretty good condition, you can keep them with the rest of the scrapbook and wrap up everything as one unit. Store everything in an archival quality box for long term preservation.
***************************************
History Tidbits: “Terror in the Heart of the Rebellion”—The Story of The Raid on Combahee Ferry
by Logan Knight
***************************************
Few figures in American history are more recognizable than Harriet Tubman. The woman known as “Moses” escaped from enslavement and then returned to the South to lead others to freedom. Before the Civil War, she may have led up to 70 people to freedom in the North (scholars are divided about the exact number). There isn’t much we can add that people don’t already know about Harriet Tubman. However, we can shed some light on perhaps the most impressive episode of her entire career: The Raid on Combahee Ferry.
The Union established naval supremacy quickly along the South Carolina coastline. The island of Port Royal had been seized early in the conflict and served as a magnet for escaped slaves. Tubman arrived early in 1862, assisting the numerous newly freed people, who had sought shelter beneath the U.S. Navy’s guns. In addition to more prosaic work, Harriet began using her hard-earned experience to scout and establish a network of spies to gather useful intelligence.
The Low Country of South Carolina is crowded with rivers that stretch hundreds of miles inland. In 1863, these rivers were lined with rice plantations full of valuable material. In addition, several thousand enslaved people were clustered there as well. Tubman gathered information firsthand, disguising herself as a farm worker. As more information from Harriet’s network trickled in, a plan began to form at Union headquarters.
Harriet coordinated closely with Col. James Montgomery, commanding officer of the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Montgomery was a hardcore abolitionist who had been heavily involved with the fighting in “Bleeding Kansas.” Their collaboration resulted in a daring plan to use steamboats to strike deep into enemy held territory.
In the dead of night, June 1st 1863, Tubman guided three military steamboats (the Sentinel, the Harriet A. Weed, and the John Adams) up the Combahee River. Along with her came the men of the 2nd South Carolina, almost entirely made up of formerly enslaved men. Many of them had been slaves in the plantations along the Carolina and Georgia coasts and had escaped, one way or another, to safety behind Union lines. Now they returned, free men under arms.
Enslaved people were already at work in the rice fields, long before the sun was up. Hearing the whistles of the steamboats seems to have had an electric effect among all those who heard it. Hundreds ran to the river for their freedom. Tubman quoted in her autobiography years later that “I never saw such a sight. Sometimes the women would come with twins hanging around their necks; it appears I never saw so many twins in my life; bags on their shoulders, baskets on their heads, and young ones tagging along behind, all loaded; pigs squealing, chickens screaming, young ones squealing.”
Plantation overseers tried to stop the exodus but were simply bowled over by the mass of people. Confederate soldiers were forced to flee due to gunfire from the steamboats.
Confusion reigned with all of the noise and action. Tubman tore her clothes as she tried to corral an escaped pig. Many began to panic, as they feared the boats would leave them behind. Harriet did not speak the local Gullah-Geechee dialect, so she began singing a well-known abolitionist song, which quieted their fears. Loaded with their precious cargo, the steamboats turned back to Port Royal.
The raid was a success. A reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal reported that a ““gallant band of 300 soldiers under the guidance of a Black woman, dashed into the enemies’ country, struck a bold and effective blow, destroying millions of dollars worth of commissary store, cotton and lordly dwellings, and striking terror to the heart of the rebeldom brought off bear 800 slaves and thousands of dollars worth of property, without losing a man or receiving a scratch.” At least seven hundred and fifty people had been rescued from a life of slavery. With their successful return to Port Royal, the raid was over.
After their return, Tubman gave the rescued a speech about the importance of fighting for freedom. In response, at least 100 of the newly freed men signed up with the Union forces. Tubman noted that the whole affair had only one flaw and that was her dress had been torn up in the excitement. Harriet Tubman achieved many incredible feats in her life, but none was as dramatic or as moving as her leadership in the Raid on Combahee Ferry.
***************************************
Genealogy Center’s March 2025 Programs
***************************************
Join us for another month of free, virtual and in-person programs!
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “My Great-Grandfather’s Secrets: Using DNA, Oral History and Historical Context to Discover Untold Stories” with Elizabeth Hodges - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12834957
Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “In-Person DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12920295
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Beyond the Pines: Exploring Your Black Forest History in Baden-Wurttemberg” with Kate McKenzie - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12884189
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET “Researching Catholic Sacramental Records to Find Your Family History” with Janice Cantrell, an in-person program at The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library and a virtual program. This is an Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana program - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DvE9LovbRuSkLFpBixi8YQ#/registration
Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Tracing Your Irish Roots: An Introduction to Irish Genealogy” with Elizabeth Hodges - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12920325
Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET “Research Tools & Tips: FamilySearch Full Text Search” with Adrian Wells, an in-person program at The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library and a virtual program. This is an African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne program - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bSWaccrGQhKlv255yyE3DA
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Finding Your Ancestors in the Argyll Estates Archives” with Alison Diamond - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12884227
Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “IGG: A Tool Solving the Unsolvable” with Britta Brewer - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12884279
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Building Your Family’s Story Using AI on FamilySearch: A Case Study” with Christina Clary - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12884429
Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Tracing Her Footsteps: Discovering Female Ancestors” with Allison DePrey Singleton - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12920287
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. Prepare for the spring conference season by ordering some Genealogy Center merch today! 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
***************************************
PERSI Gems: Wicked!
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
***************************************
Wickedness rears its head throughout our family histories, from wicked parents, stepmothers, and uncles, to family outings seeking wicked-good cupcakes. During my growing-up years, our family assembled around the television for an annual dose of wickedness courtesy of Margaret Hamilton, her garrison of castle guards, and her frightful flying monkeys. Such wickedness fueled the nightmares of at least one Barrone child.
Our ancestors worried about wickedness in their communities perpetrated by unreliable, violent, and otherwise questionable characters. In 1883, one Elder Estes raised the alarm in Clinton, Michigan, about those who dared ride a bicycle on Sunday.
Be wary when searching the Periodical Source Index (PERSI), for tales of wickedness lurk within. Try a search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Amber Quinn-Elliott, Sandi Bubb local franchisee of Wicked Good Cupcakes food truck, 2019, IN
Fort Wayne (IN) Magazine, Vol. 17, Issue 2 (Feb 2019)
Arthur S. Fillmore, wiley and wicked blacksmith skips out on bills, 1884
Lee County (IL) Genealogical Society Newsletter, Nov 2011
Decoding L. Frank Baum's and W. W. Denslow's Wicked Witch of the West, 1891+
Great Plains Quarterly, Vol. 38, Issue 3 (Sum 2018)
Elder Estes thinks it wicked to ride bicycle on Sunday, 1883
Clinton County (MI) Trails, Vol. 27, Issue 1 (Mar 2012)
John Watkins Holden listed as Wizard of Ye Wicked World on census, 1881-1911, England
AFFHO Newsflash (Australian Federation of Family History Organisations), Issue 41 (Sep 2011)
Life upon the wicked stage, the theater in Colonial America, 17th-18th C.
American History Illustrated, Vol. 11, Issue 10 (Feb 1977)
Margaret Hamilton career note, role in Wizard of Oz as Wicked Witch of the West, 1923-1939
Bend of the River, Vol. 40, Issue 2 (Feb 2012)
Maureen Linnell recalls her wicked uncle, 20th C., England
Dorset (Eng.) Family History Society Journal, Vol. 20, Issue 1 (Dec 2006)
Rogue sprayers, bootlegged chemicals, wicked weeds, and Kansas chemical laws, 1945-1980
Kansas History, Vol. 35, Issue 2 (Sum 2012)
Sarah, Mary, Ann, and Rachel French baptism, wicked and worthless parents, 1773, Dronfield, Eng.
Derbyshire (Eng.) Family History Society Journal, Issue 129 (Jun 2009)
Tampa: a wicked city in 1897
Tampa Bay (FL) History, Vol. 2, Issue 2 (Fal 1980)
Wicked stepmothers in Roman society & imagination
Journal of Family History (Sage Publications, CA), Vol. 16, Issue 4 (1991)
***************************************
Preservation Tips: Preserving Scrapbooks
by Christina Clary
***************************************
Scrapbooks can be an amazing genealogical resource. Much like diaries and journals, they can provide insight into the personality of a family member. Any sort of ephemera can be found in scrapbooks, such as newspaper clippings, cards, programs, photographs, and souvenirs. In the past, I have seen items such as napkins from an anniversary event, a paper crown, and the occasional plant life. This wide range of items, however, can make scrapbooks tricky to preserve. The standard reaction of an archivist to finding a scrapbook is usually a combination of excitement at a great find, and concern of how to preserve it.
There is no set standard for preserving a scrapbook. They are handled on a case-by-case basis. There are some guidelines that can help with the process. As with most items, the first steps are to evaluate its condition and develop a digitization plan. It is especially important to prioritize digitizing scrapbooks as a first step as many times items are falling out or will need to be stored separately. Digitizing can be as simple as taking photographs of each page so that the original layout can be preserved.
What happens next depends on the condition and types of materials found in it. Is everything still attached or is most of it loose or completely detached? Is it primarily newspaper clippings, or are there other materials mixed in? Resist the urge to reattach items that have fallen out. Instead, store them in an archival envelope or sleeve and make a note on the page of what was there. This is also why digitizing the scrapbook first is important. Items that are loose, as in at least halfway detached, should be removed using a microspatula or something similar. You should also remove items that contain metal, anything that might have food particles, or any flora you find.
Scrapbooks were mass produced, meaning they were made using inexpensive, highly acidic paper. Most of them that you would find in your family’s collection will have the extremely acidic black paper that is the bane of an archivist’s existence. That, combined with the also acidic newspaper clippings that you find in most scrapbooks, means they will disintegrate quicker than most items. Interleaving each page with buffered archival tissue paper will help slow down that process. My recommendation is to interleave pages regardless of what type of paper is used or the types of materials in it, not just when there is newspaper or black paper.
Doing this will make the scrapbook thicker. Loosen the bindings on the cover if they are not already. People who scrapbooked usually overstuffed them, so the bindings will most likely not be in great shape anyway. Depending on the condition and materials of the covers, you might want to wrap them up separately from the pages. If they are still in pretty good condition, you can keep them with the rest of the scrapbook and wrap up everything as one unit. Store everything in an archival quality box for long term preservation.
***************************************
History Tidbits: “Terror in the Heart of the Rebellion”—The Story of The Raid on Combahee Ferry
by Logan Knight
***************************************
Few figures in American history are more recognizable than Harriet Tubman. The woman known as “Moses” escaped from enslavement and then returned to the South to lead others to freedom. Before the Civil War, she may have led up to 70 people to freedom in the North (scholars are divided about the exact number). There isn’t much we can add that people don’t already know about Harriet Tubman. However, we can shed some light on perhaps the most impressive episode of her entire career: The Raid on Combahee Ferry.
The Union established naval supremacy quickly along the South Carolina coastline. The island of Port Royal had been seized early in the conflict and served as a magnet for escaped slaves. Tubman arrived early in 1862, assisting the numerous newly freed people, who had sought shelter beneath the U.S. Navy’s guns. In addition to more prosaic work, Harriet began using her hard-earned experience to scout and establish a network of spies to gather useful intelligence.
The Low Country of South Carolina is crowded with rivers that stretch hundreds of miles inland. In 1863, these rivers were lined with rice plantations full of valuable material. In addition, several thousand enslaved people were clustered there as well. Tubman gathered information firsthand, disguising herself as a farm worker. As more information from Harriet’s network trickled in, a plan began to form at Union headquarters.
Harriet coordinated closely with Col. James Montgomery, commanding officer of the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Montgomery was a hardcore abolitionist who had been heavily involved with the fighting in “Bleeding Kansas.” Their collaboration resulted in a daring plan to use steamboats to strike deep into enemy held territory.
In the dead of night, June 1st 1863, Tubman guided three military steamboats (the Sentinel, the Harriet A. Weed, and the John Adams) up the Combahee River. Along with her came the men of the 2nd South Carolina, almost entirely made up of formerly enslaved men. Many of them had been slaves in the plantations along the Carolina and Georgia coasts and had escaped, one way or another, to safety behind Union lines. Now they returned, free men under arms.
Enslaved people were already at work in the rice fields, long before the sun was up. Hearing the whistles of the steamboats seems to have had an electric effect among all those who heard it. Hundreds ran to the river for their freedom. Tubman quoted in her autobiography years later that “I never saw such a sight. Sometimes the women would come with twins hanging around their necks; it appears I never saw so many twins in my life; bags on their shoulders, baskets on their heads, and young ones tagging along behind, all loaded; pigs squealing, chickens screaming, young ones squealing.”
Plantation overseers tried to stop the exodus but were simply bowled over by the mass of people. Confederate soldiers were forced to flee due to gunfire from the steamboats.
Confusion reigned with all of the noise and action. Tubman tore her clothes as she tried to corral an escaped pig. Many began to panic, as they feared the boats would leave them behind. Harriet did not speak the local Gullah-Geechee dialect, so she began singing a well-known abolitionist song, which quieted their fears. Loaded with their precious cargo, the steamboats turned back to Port Royal.
The raid was a success. A reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal reported that a ““gallant band of 300 soldiers under the guidance of a Black woman, dashed into the enemies’ country, struck a bold and effective blow, destroying millions of dollars worth of commissary store, cotton and lordly dwellings, and striking terror to the heart of the rebeldom brought off bear 800 slaves and thousands of dollars worth of property, without losing a man or receiving a scratch.” At least seven hundred and fifty people had been rescued from a life of slavery. With their successful return to Port Royal, the raid was over.
After their return, Tubman gave the rescued a speech about the importance of fighting for freedom. In response, at least 100 of the newly freed men signed up with the Union forces. Tubman noted that the whole affair had only one flaw and that was her dress had been torn up in the excitement. Harriet Tubman achieved many incredible feats in her life, but none was as dramatic or as moving as her leadership in the Raid on Combahee Ferry.
***************************************
Genealogy Center’s March 2025 Programs
***************************************
Join us for another month of free, virtual and in-person programs!
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “My Great-Grandfather’s Secrets: Using DNA, Oral History and Historical Context to Discover Untold Stories” with Elizabeth Hodges - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12834957
Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “In-Person DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12920295
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Beyond the Pines: Exploring Your Black Forest History in Baden-Wurttemberg” with Kate McKenzie - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12884189
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET “Researching Catholic Sacramental Records to Find Your Family History” with Janice Cantrell, an in-person program at The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library and a virtual program. This is an Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana program - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DvE9LovbRuSkLFpBixi8YQ#/registration
Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Tracing Your Irish Roots: An Introduction to Irish Genealogy” with Elizabeth Hodges - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12920325
Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 2 p.m. ET “Research Tools & Tips: FamilySearch Full Text Search” with Adrian Wells, an in-person program at The Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library and a virtual program. This is an African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne program - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bSWaccrGQhKlv255yyE3DA
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Finding Your Ancestors in the Argyll Estates Archives” with Alison Diamond - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12884227
Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “IGG: A Tool Solving the Unsolvable” with Britta Brewer - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12884279
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Building Your Family’s Story Using AI on FamilySearch: A Case Study” with Christina Clary - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12884429
Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Tracing Her Footsteps: Discovering Female Ancestors” with Allison DePrey Singleton - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/12920287
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. Prepare for the spring conference season by ordering some Genealogy Center merch today! 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)
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