| Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne, No. 253, March 31, 2025 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygems genealogycenter.info)
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| Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2025 22:08:05 -0400 | |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne
No. 253, March 31, 2025
In this issue:
*Beyond Hatched, Matched, and Dispatched: Methods for Finding Our Families’ Stories
*23andme News
*Exploring Genealogical Treasures at the U.S. National Archives
*The Germans to America Series
*PERSI Gems: Funerary Curiosities
*Preservation Tips: The Risks of DVD and CD Degradation
*History Tidbits: Hetty Green: The Witch of Wall Street
*Genealogy Center’s April 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
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Beyond Hatched, Matched, and Dispatched: Methods for Finding Our Families’ Stories
by Curt B. Witcher
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This past Saturday I had the pleasure of being one of the presenters for 5th Annual Arizona Genealogy Day. The organizers did a terrific job arranging the day and marketing the event. Nearly four hundred individuals enjoyed five virtual presentations. As I was asked to speak on a topic that I really enjoy, and additionally one that I believe is quite important, I wanted to share it in this column.
Increasing numbers of benefits can be realized by paying more attention to our methods of doing historical and genealogical research, to our processes of finding our families’ stories. If doing the same activities continually leads us to brick walls, we need to change our activities and our strategies. We need to explore for records we don’t typically use, we need to search repositories (actual and virtual) that we don’t typically search, and we need to deploy technology we typically haven’t deployed. If we are committed to finding all of our families’ stories, then we must be committed to the very best of our ability to find all the records. And, to quote the CEO of FamilySearch, Steve Rockwood, at his RootsTech 2024 keynote, “All means all.”
Let’s quickly explore the five points of the Genealogical Proof Standard.
1. Reasonably exhaustive research has been conducted.
If we truly embrace that key concept, it means we have a lot of work to do as there are exponentially increasing data silos and online repositories of books and records. If we do embrace this concept, though, it means we *will* find more data, build robust contexts for our research, and run into far fewer dead ends.
Conducting reasonably exhaustive research means that we have thoroughly explored some significant sites with millions upon millions of records and images. A few are listed in the following.
***Internet Archive--www.archive.org 4,023,495 items from American libraries
***FamilySearch Digital Library--www.familysearch.org/library/books Over 630,000 items
***Digital Public Library of America--dp.la 52,987,011 items from across the United States
***Chronicling America--https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ 21,442,705 free newspaper pages available at the Library of Congress
***Newspaper databases of all kinds and coverage
***Library of Congress--www.loc.gov
***State Memory Projects
***National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections—www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc
***ArchiveGrid--https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/
***National Archives & Records Administration--www.archives.gov
***Federal Government Documents/GovInfo--www.govinfo.gov
And it’s really amazing to use AI to assist one in plumbing the depths of these mega sites. Recently I asked ChatGPT to find references to Englert (one of my collateral lines) in the Digital Public Library of America. I had previously discovered many of the resources it listed for me but not all of them.
Thoroughly researching the specific geographic location of an ancestor or potential ancestor is so very critical. Truly all history is local, so exploring local public libraries and state libraries, local and state archives, and university special collections can net many sources.
2. Each statement of fact has a complete and accurate source citation.
Not only is this best practice to clarify and resolve conflicting pieces of data, deploying the tactic of citation analysis (exploring for, and thoroughly using, the footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies) can bring to light records, resources, and repositories you may not have yet used in your research. Citation analysis can assist you in building a library of resources to continue finding threads of your families’ stories.
3. The evidence is reliable and has been skillfully correlated and interpreted.
This necessarily means that one’s research has been appropriately reviewed and understood. And that means we are more than “hunters and gatherers,” we are actually researchers who read and comprehend what is being stated in a record or on a document and what is not being stated. Assumptions are not considered.
4. Any contradictory evidence has been resolved.
This necessarily means that conclusions are based on clearly constructed statements of fact. And how do we get to those statements of fact? Read, think, write! Further, these statements of fact are arranged logically and are easily understood by even casual readers. And how do we do that? Again, read, think, write.
5. The conclusion has been soundly reasoned and coherently written.
If we aren’t writing-up our research, we aren’t serious about finding our families’ stories. And so many are simply gathering materials with no reading, analysis, and writing being done. Oftentimes the very process of gathering and compiling what one has found as well the process of writing or keying collected data into a narrative can show one where a proof is weak, where data is “thin” or missing, and even enlighten one about the true stories of our families.
Let’s use these spring days to find more of our families’ stories.
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23andme News
by Sara Allen
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In the headlines last week was the news that direct-to-consumer DNA testing company, 23andme, has filed for Chapter 11 protection. This will probably result in a reorganization or a sale, which will allow the company to continue to operate; but there does exist a possibility that the company will close. The 23andme website states that they are still in business, still processing new orders, and delivering DNA data to consumers, as well as protecting the privacy and data of their customers. One key statement from 23andme states: “Any buyer of 23andMe will be required to agree to comply with our privacy policy and with all applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data.” (https://blog.23andme.com/articles/open-letter). Many news reports from media companies have reported on the story in an alarmist fashion, so let’s talk about how the genealogy world views this news.
Many genetic genealogy experts are advocating a-wait-and-see attitude and have indicated that while they are not giving legal advice, they believe that their own 23andme data is safe and that yours is also. They also express cautious optimism that the company will reorganize and continue in business as before. Further, they believe that if the company were to close in the future, customers would have the opportunity to remove their data at that time. (For example: Blaine Bettinger and Diahan Southard posted about this topic on Facebook, and DNAngels search group posted on Youtube).
One of several counterpoints to this view comes from genetic expert and DNAeXplained blogger Roberta Estes, who has taken a more cautionary approach. She provides both pros and cons for removing your data now and offers instructions for the process on her blog (https://dna-explained.com/2025/03/25/23andme-files-for-bankruptcy-what-you-need-to-know/).
Just be aware that once you delete your data, you cannot get it back. Another piece of advice is that since other users may be deleting their data, you will want to take screenshots of their match page and save information about important matches. One can also download match information into a spreadsheet (a process which Roberta Estes also details on her blog).
My advice is that you read up on the issue carefully from a variety of reputable sources, give the sensational headlines a pass, and try not to let fear-mongering influence your decision. Be sure you have the full picture before making your decision.
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Exploring Genealogical Treasures at the U.S. National Archives
by Allison DePrey Singleton
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For genealogists seeking to uncover the past, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an indispensable resource. While many researchers are familiar with the main National Archives building in Washington, D.C., NARA actually operates multiple locations across the country, each housing unique and valuable records. Understanding what each location offers can help genealogists make the most of their research.
The National Archives in Washington, D.C. and College Park, Maryland
The flagship National Archives building in Washington, D.C., houses some of the most sought-after genealogical records in the country. Here, researchers can access:
**Federal census records (1790–1950)
**Military service and pension records from the Revolutionary War through the early 20th century
**Passenger arrival records documenting immigration to the U.S.
**Land records related to homesteads, bounty land grants, and more
**Meanwhile, the National Archives at College Park (also known as Archives II) holds more modern federal records, including military personnel files, photographs, and maps.
National Archives Regional Facilities
Beyond Washington, D.C., NARA operates regional archives across the country. These locations house original records related to federal activities within their respective geographic regions. Many of these collections hold unique resources for genealogists, including court cases, land patents, naturalization records, and military enlistments.
National Archives at Atlanta (Morrow, GA)
Covers records from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Notable collections include federal court records and regional naturalization documents.
National Archives at Boston (Waltham, MA)
Preserves records from New England states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It is a treasure trove for those with ancestors from colonial New England.
National Archives at Chicago (Illinois)
Serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, offering federal land records and bankruptcy court records as well as Railroad Retirement Pension Board records.
National Archives at Denver (Colorado)
Holds records from Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Key resources include mining claims and Bureau of Indian Affairs records.
National Archives at Fort Worth (Texas)
Contains federal records for Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, including military enlistment and homestead records. The National Archives at Fort Worth also holds extensive records related to Native Americans, especially those concerning the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole) and other tribes in the Southwest, including records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) field offices and Indian schools.
National Archives at Kansas City (Missouri)
Covers Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, holding valuable naturalization and tax records.
National Archives at New York City
Serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Immigration and maritime records are key resources at this location.
National Archives at Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
Stores federal records for Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, including court cases and Revolutionary War records.
National Archives at Riverside (California)
Holds materials from Arizona, Southern California, and Nevada, including immigration, land, and water rights records.
National Archives at San Francisco (San Bruno, CA)
Serves Northern California, Hawaii, and Pacific territories, with an extensive collection of Chinese Exclusion Act case files.
National Archives at Seattle (Washington)
Holds federal records from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, including tribal records and maritime documents.
National Archives at St. Louis (Missouri)
One of the most significant NARA facilities for genealogists, the National Archives at St. Louis houses over 56 million military personnel records and federal civilian employee records. This location specializes in:
**Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) – Essential for researching military ancestors from World War I to present-day service members
**Civilian Personnel Records – Files for federal employees, including those who worked for agencies such as the Post Office, railroads, and more
**Military Awards and Discharge Papers – Documents related to medals, honors, and veteran discharges
This facility is an invaluable resource for anyone tracing an ancestor’s military or federal government service. However, due to the 1973 fire that destroyed a large portion of Army and Air Force personnel records, researchers may encounter gaps in the files. Despite this, the facility has ongoing reconstruction efforts to piece together lost records using alternative sources.
Each of these locations contains invaluable records that may not be available online. By visiting or requesting documents from these archives, genealogists can uncover details about their ancestors’ military service, immigration journey, land ownership, and legal proceedings. While digitization efforts continue, many records remain only in paper form at these facilities.
If you are on the trail of an elusive ancestor, exploring what NARA’s regional branches offer might be the key to unlocking your family’s history. Explore more online: https://www.archives.gov/.
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The Germans to America Series
by Logan Knight
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Between 1850 and 1893, roughly four million Germans or German-speakers came to the United States. Today, German ethnicity remains one of the very largest ancestral groups here in the United States. It is only natural that people seeking out their family roots should turn to how their ancestors arrived on these shores.
That means passenger lists. One of the most useful collections of these lists are the Germans to America series edited by Ira A. Glazier and P. William Filby (GC 929.13 G315). In total, there are sixty-seven volumes documenting Germans coming to the United States from January of 1850 to June of 1897, and a second supplementary set for the 1840s (GC 929.13 G315a). These works were painstakingly assembled over the course of decades.
Teams of researchers went through the Customs Passenger Lists of the stated time period (see our YouTube program on Customs Passenger Lists for further information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFetiyG5MWY&t=1345s). The books are arranged in chronological order. The 1850-1855 volumes only described ships whose passengers were eighty percent Germans (based on surnames). Afterwards, the volumes document anyone the researchers considered German or German-speaking. As such, a genealogist can expect to see immigrants from France, Belgium, Luxembourg etc., in addition to more traditional German areas.
Utilizing the volumes is a straightforward matter. Each book lists the names alphabetically in the back. Simply look for your immigrant ancestor’s surname (remember to look at different spellings) in the volume that corresponds to the dates you believe they may have come over. It is important to remember that many immigrants would record the year they arrived decades after the fact. So, if you are not finding what you are looking for, be sure to look a few years in either direction. Once you have found the proper entry, you will be directed to the page number for your immigrant’s passenger list transcription. The passenger’s name, age, and sex will be listed. There are then a series of codes given for occupation, province, village and destination (though some of this information could be missing). The entry will also record the ship, the departure and arrival ports and the day of arrival. This all corresponds with the information categories required by the passenger list law of the day.
You can access these books at the Allen County Public Library or, indeed, most genealogy libraries. In addition, FamilySearch has created a free online searchable database for the volumes which can be found here: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2110801
The question must be asked, why would anyone still use these books when these lists have been digitized and made available online? The answer is that nothing is perfect. Many of the lists were poorly scanned. Many of the names are misspelled (though this happens in Germans to America as well). There are simply dozens of things that could go wrong. The successful genealogist must use many tools to make progress. While one should start with the databases, the Germans to America series are still quite useful for ferreting out those hard to find immigrant ancestors.
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PERSI Gems: Funerary Curiosities
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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Funeral records of all kinds are familiar source material for family historians. My funeral research, though, has been a bit more thorough than usual: I've quizzed funeral attendees with genealogical questions. I collected and digitized thousands of funeral cards for our local genealogy society. I tracked down my great-granduncle's funeral report in a town newspaper and was delighted to find that it listed every out-of-town attendee. I perused an auction of funeral home contents which included papers, record books, and a variety of embalming equipment. I once made an unannounced visit to a small-town funeral home seeking records of the local cemetery. The funeral director cheerfully pulled out the records and apologized that I found him in his painting clothes, brush in hand. When considering the array of tools which might be found in a funeral director's hand, the paint brush was not a problem for me.
For your own adventure through funerary curiosities, try a search in the Periodical Source Index (PERSI):
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Ademir Jorge Goncalves attended his own funeral, frightened guests, 2009
Genealogical Tips (Tip O' Texas Gen. Soc.), Vol. 47, Issue 4 (Oct 2009)
Albert Guilfoil arrested for bigamy during son William's funeral, wife Mary Brann Guilford, 1899, MI
Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine, Vol. 75, Issue 2 (Win 2012)
Bassel Foster costly funeral, would not speak to a woman for 40 years, n.d.
Fountain County (IN) Genealogy, Vol. 23, Issue 4 (Jul 2017)
Catherine Crone funeral party train experiences flooding, 1909
Dekalb (IN) Diggings, Vol. 13, Issue 1 (Spr 2007)
Cave Funeral home license revoked for cutting off legs of James Hines to fit in casket, 2009
Solitude in Stone, Jan 2010
Clarence Gordon funeral held at midnight prior to shipping his corpse to Ohio, n.d., Garrett, IN
Dekalb (IN) Diggings, Vol. 12, Issue 3 (Fal 2006)
David McLaughlin funeral procession upset, hearse damaged, Huron Expositor, Aug. 1913
Rooting Around Huron (Ont.), Vol. 36, Issue 2 (May 2015)
Felix Bush Breazeale held his own funeral before he died, 8000 people attended, 1938
Now & Then (Center for Appalachian Studies and Services, TN), Vol. 26, Issue 2 (Win 2011)
First Evangelical Lutheran Church funeral service for suicide caused floor to break, 1899
Trolley Tattler (Medway Area Historical Society, OH), Vol. 12, Issue 5 (May 2010)
Flora Gleason obituary, during funeral preparations her home destroyed in fire, 1927
Lapeer Legacy (Lapeer County Genealogical Society, MI), Vol. 31, Issue 1 (2013)
Frisby Chase funeral expenses paid by B. Harris with $8 and six hogs, d. 1900, Calvert Co., MD
Letters From Linden (Calvert County Historical Society, MD), May 2011
Funeral custom of sin-eating
Westward Into Nebraska, Vol. 33, Issue 5 (Jan 2009)
Funeral processions moved clockwise, to move withershins was unlucky, note, n.d.
Cleveland (Eng.) FHS Journal, Vol. 5, Issue 3 (Jul 1992)
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Preservation Tips: The Risks of DVD and CD Degradation
by Christina Clary
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In a news story that you might have missed this month, the Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Company recently announced that multiple titles released on DVD between 2006 and 2008 were affected by disc rot. Disc rot occurs when the inside of the disc is exposed to moisture or oxygen, causing it to oxidize and degrade. The company is offering to replace titles that have been affected or provide monetary compensation for those that cannot be replaced. While this is not a new phenomenon, this is one of the largest notices regarding DVD degradation and highlights the transient nature of technology when it comes to data storage.
DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs) are slightly more susceptible to this type of deterioration due to their structure. Optical discs, such as CDs (Compact Discs), generally consist of only three to four layers of materials consisting of a lacquer layer, a metal data layer, and a polycarbonate plastic layer. A DVD, however, is essentially two CDs glued together. The adhesive layer that binds it is more prone to corrosion due to the added layer of chemicals. The metal data layer, usually made of aluminum, is what oxidizes and degrades during disc rot.
These types of optical discs were believed to be a more sustainable medium of storing information than the floppy disks and cassette tapes they replaced. However, their inherent vice - the physical qualities of an item that can lead to deterioration regardless of environmental factors - cause them to degrade at a degree much quickly than originally thought. Under ideal storage conditions, with controlled temperature and humidity, they can last for a time, but they are no longer considered a reliable way of storing information indefinitely.
For a time, CDs and DVDs were widely used to store digital content, including music, movies, documents, books, and pictures. They were made obsolete by the arrival of thumb drives and cloud-based storage. Even if the disc is still in good condition, it can be difficult to find a computer or laptop with a disc drive and compatible software. Cosmetic issues such as scratches or fingerprints can make the discs unreadable, and over time the layers can separate and crack.
If you have materials stored on CDs or DVDs, such as family histories, photographs, oral histories, or records, now is the time to transfer them to a different medium. For now, the best options for storage are thumb drives, external hard drives, or cloud-based storage. As a reminder, the rule for preserving digital items is to store them in three locations: a thumb drive or hard drive in your possession, a cloud-based storage system, and a third copy stored off site. While you don’t need to keep up with the latest technologies, it is good to periodically check your digital items and make sure they have not become obsolete. Verify that they are in formats that can be still opened, and that the software you use is updated. When it comes to technology, what is cutting edge today can become obsolete tomorrow.
“Warner Bros. will replace rotten DVDs”
https://www.avclub.com/warner-bros-replacing-disc-rot-dvd
Inherent Vice: Optical Media
https://www.nedcc.org/preservation101/session-6/6inherent-vice-optical-media
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History Tidbits: Hetty Green: The Witch of Wall Street
by Logan Knight
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The world of late nineteenth century Wall Street was a man’s world. Cigar smoke-filled rooms as captains of industry win and lose fortunes. There was one exception, Hetty Green, the woman some called the “Queen of Wall Street" and others called the “Witch of Wall Street”. This simple Quaker became the wealthiest woman in the world during the Gilded Age, becoming worth over two billion dollars today. How she did it and the legend that sprung up around her makes for a fascinating story.
Henrietta "Hetty" Howland Robinson was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1834. Her family was already quite wealthy, having made their money in whaling. She was quite close to her father as a child and learned to read ledgers, stocks, bonds, and figures at his side. Hetty also inherited her family’s frugality. Neighbors said of her father that he “squeezed a penny till the eagle squawked.”
Even as a teenager, people noted her disdain for matters of appearance. In 1854, her family sent her to New York City in hopes of her finding a husband. Introduced as the “Princess of Whales” (her family made their money in whaling), Hetty had no real interest in debutante balls. She spent her time eavesdropping on gossiping Wall Street traders and used the gossip to her advantage. She returned to New Bedford sans husband, much to her mother’s disappointment. Her father was delighted when she revealed that she had spent only $200 of her $1,200 budget, investing the rest in bonds.
Even with her disdain for matters of the heart, she eventually did marry an Edward Green, a millionaire himself. Unusually for the time, she arranged from him to sign a prenuptial agreement, forfeiting any rights he had to her money. This was quite substantial as her father had left her somewhere in the neighborhood of five to seven million dollars. Unfortunately, the marriage was not happy. Edward attempted to use part of her fortune to cover his market losses. She never divorced but lived apart from him, protecting her wealth from his bad investments.
Hetty, on the other hand, made good investments. Always sticking to her belief of “Buy Low and Sell High” she did just that. She even anticipated the Panic of 1907, maintaining a lot of cash on hand that enabled her to snap up property and businesses at rock bottom rates. Mrs. Green even floated money to keep the city of New York afloat in that desperate time. In ultimate tribute to her unique status, she was the only woman at a meeting held by J.P. Morgan to financially stabilize the nation.
Mrs. Green attracted a lot of press, not just for her wealth but also for her strange peculiarities. Some were true but most were probably fictional. However, the fact that people believed them shows just how people viewed the world’s richest woman. It was said she never used hot water or turned the heat on. She refused to pay New York’s high property tax and so moved from apartment to apartment. Hetty wore only a simple black dress until it wore out. She would go to a free clinic for health care. When she developed a hernia, she refused to pay for surgery, using a cane to push the lump down. People said she lived off of eggs, oatmeal, and raw onions. All of this while being worth millions!
Was this the real Hetty Green? She did not think so, commenting once that “It has turned out...that my life is written for me down in Wall Street by people who, I assume, do not care to know one iota of the real Hetty Green. I am in earnest; therefore they picture [me] as heartless. I go my own way, take no partners, risk nobody else's fortune, therefore I am Madame Ishmael, set against every man.” Despite her reputation as cold and grasping, it is clear that Hetty gave generously (anonymously) to charity. One of the cruelest rumors is that her son had his leg amputated when she refused to pay for medical care. This was not true at all and was very hurtful. It is difficult to separate fact from fiction but it seems that Hetty’ status as a frugal, wealthy woman seems to have generated much of the harsher rumors. Her black-clad Quaker simplicity stood out at the height of decadence during the Gilded Age.
Mrs. Green passed away on July 13, 1916, supposedly in the middle of an argument with a maid on the benefits of skim milk. She passed from this life into popular legend as perhaps the most famous wealthy miser in American history.
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Genealogy Center’s April 2025 Programs
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Join us for another month of free, virtual and in-person programs!
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Ancestors Calling! Luck, Research and Science” with Judy Nimer Muhn - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13054168
Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “In-Person DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13234138
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “From Research to Novel: Using Genealogical Research to Write Creative Nonfiction and Historical Fiction” with Aryn Youngless - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13207027
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET “Strands to the Past in Our Heritage Tapestry” with Todd Pelfrey, a program of the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-_AaLRFeTOmkQX3rbLf8Wg#/registration
Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Getting Started with Italian Genealogy” with Lisa Vogele - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13189764
Friday, April 11 – Saturday, April 12, each day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET – 2025 Indiana Genealogical Society Annual Conference – a hybrid program, virtual and an in-person program at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN. FRIDAY: “Tips for Doing Reasonably Exhaustive Research” with Curt Witcher, “Genealogy without Documentation is Mythology!” with Logan Knight, “Clearing Up ‘Alternative Facts’ in Family History” with Sara Allen, and “Writing Your Research” with Elizabeth Hodges. SATURDAY: All programs presented by keynoter, Sunny Jane Morton: “A Wild Ride: Ohio River Travel in Stories, Songs, and Scenes,” “What’s So Special about Special Censuses?” “Fable or Fact? Verifying Old Family Stories,” and closing with a general Q & A Session. Must register at: https://indgensoc.org/event-details/
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Researching the Big Sky: Montana Genealogy” with Desiree Funston - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13207776
Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “The Family History That Wasn't: How a Hidden Discovery - Redefined Our Identity” with Allison Lawrentz Barnhart - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13226018
Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 2P ET “Beyond the Keyboard: Navigating Library Resources for African American Family Research PLUS Hands on Research Workshop” a hybrid program online and at the Genealogy Center - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PKM-b7y4Ssy3cRig02bEIQ
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Verifying Your Genealogical Tree with DNA Results” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13243026
Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Are you Eligible for Italian Citizenship?” with Ariana Franco - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13189258
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “It’s All Greek to Me!: A Beginner’s Guide to Greek Genealogy” with Logan Knight - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13207139
Please register in advance for these engaging programs.
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Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming
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Do you want to know what we have planned? Are you interested in one of our events, but forget? We offer email updates for The Genealogy Center’s programming schedule. Don’t miss out! Sign up at http://goo.gl/forms/THcV0wAabB.
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Genealogy Center Bits-o’-News
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Have you visited the Allen County Public Library’s online merchandise store? You really need to check it out--we think you will enjoy the offerings! There is a special Genealogy Center section of the store with some pretty cool items. 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.
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Genealogy Center Social Media
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenealogyCenter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genealogycenter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACPLGenealogy
Blog: http://www.genealogycenter.org/Community/Blog.aspx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/askacpl
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Driving Directions to the Library
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Wondering how to get to the library? Our location is 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the block bordered on the south by Washington Boulevard, the west by Ewing Street, the north by Wayne Street, and the east by the Library Plaza, formerly Webster Street. We would enjoy having you visit the Genealogy Center.
To get directions from your exact location to 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, visit this link at MapQuest:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=900%20Webster%20St&city=Fort%20Wayne&state=IN&zipcode=46802%2d3602&country=US&geodiff=1
>From the South
Exit Interstate 69 at exit 302. Drive east on Jefferson Boulevard into downtown. Turn left on Ewing Street. The Library is one block north, at Ewing Street and Washington Boulevard.
Using US 27:
US 27 turns into Lafayette Street. Drive north into downtown. Turn left at Washington Boulevard and go five blocks. The Library will be on the right.
>From the North
Exit Interstate 69 at exit 312. Drive south on Coldwater Road, which merges into Clinton Street. Continue south on Clinton to Washington Boulevard. Turn right on Washington and go three blocks. The Library will be on the right.
>From the West
Using US 30:
Drive into town on US 30. US 30 turns into Goshen Ave. which dead-ends at West State Blvd. Make an angled left turn onto West State Blvd. Turn right on Wells Street. Go south on Wells to Wayne Street. Turn left on Wayne Street. The Library will be in the second block on the right.
Using US 24:
After crossing under Interstate 69, follow the same directions as from the South.
>From the East
Follow US 30/then 930 into and through New Haven, under an overpass into downtown Fort Wayne. You will be on Washington Blvd. when you get into downtown. Library Plaza will be on the right.
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Parking at the Library
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At the Library, underground parking can be accessed from Wayne Street. Other library parking lots are at Washington and Webster, and Wayne and Webster. Hourly parking is $1 per hour with a $7 maximum. ACPL library card holders may use their cards to validate the parking ticket at the west end of the Great Hall of the Library. Out of county residents may purchase a subscription card with proof of identification and residence. The current fee for an Individual Subscription Card is $90.
Public lots are located at the corner of Ewing and Wayne Streets ($1 each for the first two half-hours, $1 per hour after, with a $4 per day maximum) and the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Harrison Street ($3 per day).
Street (metered) parking on Ewing and Wayne Streets. On the street you plug the meters 8am – 5pm, weekdays only. The meters take credit cards and charge at a rate of $1/hour. Street parking is free after 5 p.m. and on the weekends.
Visitor center/Grand Wayne Center garage at Washington and Clinton Streets. This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. For hourly parking, 7am – 11 pm, charges are .50 for the first 45 minutes, then $1.00 per hour. There is a flat $2.00 fee between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.
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Genealogy Center Queries
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The Genealogy Center hopes you find this newsletter interesting. Thank you for subscribing. We cannot, however, answer personal research emails written to the e-zine address. The department houses a Research Center that makes photocopies and conducts research for a fee.
If you have a general question about our collection, or are interested in the Research Center, please telephone the library and speak to a librarian who will be glad to answer your general questions or send you a research center form. Our telephone number is 260-421-1225. If you’d like to email a general information question about the department, please email: Genealogy [at] ACPL.Info.
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Publishing Note
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This electronic newsletter is published by the Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center, and is intended to enlighten readers about genealogical research methods as well as inform them about the vast resources of the Allen County Public Library. We welcome the wide distribution of this newsletter and encourage readers to forward it to their friends and societies. All precautions have been made to avoid errors. However, the publisher does not assume any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, no matter the cause.
To subscribe to “Genealogy Gems,” simply use your browser to go to the website: www.GenealogyCenter.org. Scroll to the bottom, click on E-zine, and fill out the form. You will be notified with a confirmation email.
If you do not want to receive this e-zine, please follow the link at the very bottom of the issue of Genealogy Gems you just received or send an email to sspearswells [at] acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line.
Curt B. Witcher and John D. Beatty, CG, co-editors
No. 253, March 31, 2025
In this issue:
*Beyond Hatched, Matched, and Dispatched: Methods for Finding Our Families’ Stories
*23andme News
*Exploring Genealogical Treasures at the U.S. National Archives
*The Germans to America Series
*PERSI Gems: Funerary Curiosities
*Preservation Tips: The Risks of DVD and CD Degradation
*History Tidbits: Hetty Green: The Witch of Wall Street
*Genealogy Center’s April 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
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Beyond Hatched, Matched, and Dispatched: Methods for Finding Our Families’ Stories
by Curt B. Witcher
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This past Saturday I had the pleasure of being one of the presenters for 5th Annual Arizona Genealogy Day. The organizers did a terrific job arranging the day and marketing the event. Nearly four hundred individuals enjoyed five virtual presentations. As I was asked to speak on a topic that I really enjoy, and additionally one that I believe is quite important, I wanted to share it in this column.
Increasing numbers of benefits can be realized by paying more attention to our methods of doing historical and genealogical research, to our processes of finding our families’ stories. If doing the same activities continually leads us to brick walls, we need to change our activities and our strategies. We need to explore for records we don’t typically use, we need to search repositories (actual and virtual) that we don’t typically search, and we need to deploy technology we typically haven’t deployed. If we are committed to finding all of our families’ stories, then we must be committed to the very best of our ability to find all the records. And, to quote the CEO of FamilySearch, Steve Rockwood, at his RootsTech 2024 keynote, “All means all.”
Let’s quickly explore the five points of the Genealogical Proof Standard.
1. Reasonably exhaustive research has been conducted.
If we truly embrace that key concept, it means we have a lot of work to do as there are exponentially increasing data silos and online repositories of books and records. If we do embrace this concept, though, it means we *will* find more data, build robust contexts for our research, and run into far fewer dead ends.
Conducting reasonably exhaustive research means that we have thoroughly explored some significant sites with millions upon millions of records and images. A few are listed in the following.
***Internet Archive--www.archive.org 4,023,495 items from American libraries
***FamilySearch Digital Library--www.familysearch.org/library/books Over 630,000 items
***Digital Public Library of America--dp.la 52,987,011 items from across the United States
***Chronicling America--https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ 21,442,705 free newspaper pages available at the Library of Congress
***Newspaper databases of all kinds and coverage
***Library of Congress--www.loc.gov
***State Memory Projects
***National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections—www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc
***ArchiveGrid--https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/
***National Archives & Records Administration--www.archives.gov
***Federal Government Documents/GovInfo--www.govinfo.gov
And it’s really amazing to use AI to assist one in plumbing the depths of these mega sites. Recently I asked ChatGPT to find references to Englert (one of my collateral lines) in the Digital Public Library of America. I had previously discovered many of the resources it listed for me but not all of them.
Thoroughly researching the specific geographic location of an ancestor or potential ancestor is so very critical. Truly all history is local, so exploring local public libraries and state libraries, local and state archives, and university special collections can net many sources.
2. Each statement of fact has a complete and accurate source citation.
Not only is this best practice to clarify and resolve conflicting pieces of data, deploying the tactic of citation analysis (exploring for, and thoroughly using, the footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies) can bring to light records, resources, and repositories you may not have yet used in your research. Citation analysis can assist you in building a library of resources to continue finding threads of your families’ stories.
3. The evidence is reliable and has been skillfully correlated and interpreted.
This necessarily means that one’s research has been appropriately reviewed and understood. And that means we are more than “hunters and gatherers,” we are actually researchers who read and comprehend what is being stated in a record or on a document and what is not being stated. Assumptions are not considered.
4. Any contradictory evidence has been resolved.
This necessarily means that conclusions are based on clearly constructed statements of fact. And how do we get to those statements of fact? Read, think, write! Further, these statements of fact are arranged logically and are easily understood by even casual readers. And how do we do that? Again, read, think, write.
5. The conclusion has been soundly reasoned and coherently written.
If we aren’t writing-up our research, we aren’t serious about finding our families’ stories. And so many are simply gathering materials with no reading, analysis, and writing being done. Oftentimes the very process of gathering and compiling what one has found as well the process of writing or keying collected data into a narrative can show one where a proof is weak, where data is “thin” or missing, and even enlighten one about the true stories of our families.
Let’s use these spring days to find more of our families’ stories.
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23andme News
by Sara Allen
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In the headlines last week was the news that direct-to-consumer DNA testing company, 23andme, has filed for Chapter 11 protection. This will probably result in a reorganization or a sale, which will allow the company to continue to operate; but there does exist a possibility that the company will close. The 23andme website states that they are still in business, still processing new orders, and delivering DNA data to consumers, as well as protecting the privacy and data of their customers. One key statement from 23andme states: “Any buyer of 23andMe will be required to agree to comply with our privacy policy and with all applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data.” (https://blog.23andme.com/articles/open-letter). Many news reports from media companies have reported on the story in an alarmist fashion, so let’s talk about how the genealogy world views this news.
Many genetic genealogy experts are advocating a-wait-and-see attitude and have indicated that while they are not giving legal advice, they believe that their own 23andme data is safe and that yours is also. They also express cautious optimism that the company will reorganize and continue in business as before. Further, they believe that if the company were to close in the future, customers would have the opportunity to remove their data at that time. (For example: Blaine Bettinger and Diahan Southard posted about this topic on Facebook, and DNAngels search group posted on Youtube).
One of several counterpoints to this view comes from genetic expert and DNAeXplained blogger Roberta Estes, who has taken a more cautionary approach. She provides both pros and cons for removing your data now and offers instructions for the process on her blog (https://dna-explained.com/2025/03/25/23andme-files-for-bankruptcy-what-you-need-to-know/).
Just be aware that once you delete your data, you cannot get it back. Another piece of advice is that since other users may be deleting their data, you will want to take screenshots of their match page and save information about important matches. One can also download match information into a spreadsheet (a process which Roberta Estes also details on her blog).
My advice is that you read up on the issue carefully from a variety of reputable sources, give the sensational headlines a pass, and try not to let fear-mongering influence your decision. Be sure you have the full picture before making your decision.
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Exploring Genealogical Treasures at the U.S. National Archives
by Allison DePrey Singleton
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For genealogists seeking to uncover the past, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an indispensable resource. While many researchers are familiar with the main National Archives building in Washington, D.C., NARA actually operates multiple locations across the country, each housing unique and valuable records. Understanding what each location offers can help genealogists make the most of their research.
The National Archives in Washington, D.C. and College Park, Maryland
The flagship National Archives building in Washington, D.C., houses some of the most sought-after genealogical records in the country. Here, researchers can access:
**Federal census records (1790–1950)
**Military service and pension records from the Revolutionary War through the early 20th century
**Passenger arrival records documenting immigration to the U.S.
**Land records related to homesteads, bounty land grants, and more
**Meanwhile, the National Archives at College Park (also known as Archives II) holds more modern federal records, including military personnel files, photographs, and maps.
National Archives Regional Facilities
Beyond Washington, D.C., NARA operates regional archives across the country. These locations house original records related to federal activities within their respective geographic regions. Many of these collections hold unique resources for genealogists, including court cases, land patents, naturalization records, and military enlistments.
National Archives at Atlanta (Morrow, GA)
Covers records from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Notable collections include federal court records and regional naturalization documents.
National Archives at Boston (Waltham, MA)
Preserves records from New England states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It is a treasure trove for those with ancestors from colonial New England.
National Archives at Chicago (Illinois)
Serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, offering federal land records and bankruptcy court records as well as Railroad Retirement Pension Board records.
National Archives at Denver (Colorado)
Holds records from Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Key resources include mining claims and Bureau of Indian Affairs records.
National Archives at Fort Worth (Texas)
Contains federal records for Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, including military enlistment and homestead records. The National Archives at Fort Worth also holds extensive records related to Native Americans, especially those concerning the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole) and other tribes in the Southwest, including records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) field offices and Indian schools.
National Archives at Kansas City (Missouri)
Covers Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, holding valuable naturalization and tax records.
National Archives at New York City
Serves New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Immigration and maritime records are key resources at this location.
National Archives at Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
Stores federal records for Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, including court cases and Revolutionary War records.
National Archives at Riverside (California)
Holds materials from Arizona, Southern California, and Nevada, including immigration, land, and water rights records.
National Archives at San Francisco (San Bruno, CA)
Serves Northern California, Hawaii, and Pacific territories, with an extensive collection of Chinese Exclusion Act case files.
National Archives at Seattle (Washington)
Holds federal records from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska, including tribal records and maritime documents.
National Archives at St. Louis (Missouri)
One of the most significant NARA facilities for genealogists, the National Archives at St. Louis houses over 56 million military personnel records and federal civilian employee records. This location specializes in:
**Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs) – Essential for researching military ancestors from World War I to present-day service members
**Civilian Personnel Records – Files for federal employees, including those who worked for agencies such as the Post Office, railroads, and more
**Military Awards and Discharge Papers – Documents related to medals, honors, and veteran discharges
This facility is an invaluable resource for anyone tracing an ancestor’s military or federal government service. However, due to the 1973 fire that destroyed a large portion of Army and Air Force personnel records, researchers may encounter gaps in the files. Despite this, the facility has ongoing reconstruction efforts to piece together lost records using alternative sources.
Each of these locations contains invaluable records that may not be available online. By visiting or requesting documents from these archives, genealogists can uncover details about their ancestors’ military service, immigration journey, land ownership, and legal proceedings. While digitization efforts continue, many records remain only in paper form at these facilities.
If you are on the trail of an elusive ancestor, exploring what NARA’s regional branches offer might be the key to unlocking your family’s history. Explore more online: https://www.archives.gov/.
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The Germans to America Series
by Logan Knight
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Between 1850 and 1893, roughly four million Germans or German-speakers came to the United States. Today, German ethnicity remains one of the very largest ancestral groups here in the United States. It is only natural that people seeking out their family roots should turn to how their ancestors arrived on these shores.
That means passenger lists. One of the most useful collections of these lists are the Germans to America series edited by Ira A. Glazier and P. William Filby (GC 929.13 G315). In total, there are sixty-seven volumes documenting Germans coming to the United States from January of 1850 to June of 1897, and a second supplementary set for the 1840s (GC 929.13 G315a). These works were painstakingly assembled over the course of decades.
Teams of researchers went through the Customs Passenger Lists of the stated time period (see our YouTube program on Customs Passenger Lists for further information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFetiyG5MWY&t=1345s). The books are arranged in chronological order. The 1850-1855 volumes only described ships whose passengers were eighty percent Germans (based on surnames). Afterwards, the volumes document anyone the researchers considered German or German-speaking. As such, a genealogist can expect to see immigrants from France, Belgium, Luxembourg etc., in addition to more traditional German areas.
Utilizing the volumes is a straightforward matter. Each book lists the names alphabetically in the back. Simply look for your immigrant ancestor’s surname (remember to look at different spellings) in the volume that corresponds to the dates you believe they may have come over. It is important to remember that many immigrants would record the year they arrived decades after the fact. So, if you are not finding what you are looking for, be sure to look a few years in either direction. Once you have found the proper entry, you will be directed to the page number for your immigrant’s passenger list transcription. The passenger’s name, age, and sex will be listed. There are then a series of codes given for occupation, province, village and destination (though some of this information could be missing). The entry will also record the ship, the departure and arrival ports and the day of arrival. This all corresponds with the information categories required by the passenger list law of the day.
You can access these books at the Allen County Public Library or, indeed, most genealogy libraries. In addition, FamilySearch has created a free online searchable database for the volumes which can be found here: https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2110801
The question must be asked, why would anyone still use these books when these lists have been digitized and made available online? The answer is that nothing is perfect. Many of the lists were poorly scanned. Many of the names are misspelled (though this happens in Germans to America as well). There are simply dozens of things that could go wrong. The successful genealogist must use many tools to make progress. While one should start with the databases, the Germans to America series are still quite useful for ferreting out those hard to find immigrant ancestors.
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PERSI Gems: Funerary Curiosities
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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Funeral records of all kinds are familiar source material for family historians. My funeral research, though, has been a bit more thorough than usual: I've quizzed funeral attendees with genealogical questions. I collected and digitized thousands of funeral cards for our local genealogy society. I tracked down my great-granduncle's funeral report in a town newspaper and was delighted to find that it listed every out-of-town attendee. I perused an auction of funeral home contents which included papers, record books, and a variety of embalming equipment. I once made an unannounced visit to a small-town funeral home seeking records of the local cemetery. The funeral director cheerfully pulled out the records and apologized that I found him in his painting clothes, brush in hand. When considering the array of tools which might be found in a funeral director's hand, the paint brush was not a problem for me.
For your own adventure through funerary curiosities, try a search in the Periodical Source Index (PERSI):
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Ademir Jorge Goncalves attended his own funeral, frightened guests, 2009
Genealogical Tips (Tip O' Texas Gen. Soc.), Vol. 47, Issue 4 (Oct 2009)
Albert Guilfoil arrested for bigamy during son William's funeral, wife Mary Brann Guilford, 1899, MI
Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine, Vol. 75, Issue 2 (Win 2012)
Bassel Foster costly funeral, would not speak to a woman for 40 years, n.d.
Fountain County (IN) Genealogy, Vol. 23, Issue 4 (Jul 2017)
Catherine Crone funeral party train experiences flooding, 1909
Dekalb (IN) Diggings, Vol. 13, Issue 1 (Spr 2007)
Cave Funeral home license revoked for cutting off legs of James Hines to fit in casket, 2009
Solitude in Stone, Jan 2010
Clarence Gordon funeral held at midnight prior to shipping his corpse to Ohio, n.d., Garrett, IN
Dekalb (IN) Diggings, Vol. 12, Issue 3 (Fal 2006)
David McLaughlin funeral procession upset, hearse damaged, Huron Expositor, Aug. 1913
Rooting Around Huron (Ont.), Vol. 36, Issue 2 (May 2015)
Felix Bush Breazeale held his own funeral before he died, 8000 people attended, 1938
Now & Then (Center for Appalachian Studies and Services, TN), Vol. 26, Issue 2 (Win 2011)
First Evangelical Lutheran Church funeral service for suicide caused floor to break, 1899
Trolley Tattler (Medway Area Historical Society, OH), Vol. 12, Issue 5 (May 2010)
Flora Gleason obituary, during funeral preparations her home destroyed in fire, 1927
Lapeer Legacy (Lapeer County Genealogical Society, MI), Vol. 31, Issue 1 (2013)
Frisby Chase funeral expenses paid by B. Harris with $8 and six hogs, d. 1900, Calvert Co., MD
Letters From Linden (Calvert County Historical Society, MD), May 2011
Funeral custom of sin-eating
Westward Into Nebraska, Vol. 33, Issue 5 (Jan 2009)
Funeral processions moved clockwise, to move withershins was unlucky, note, n.d.
Cleveland (Eng.) FHS Journal, Vol. 5, Issue 3 (Jul 1992)
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Preservation Tips: The Risks of DVD and CD Degradation
by Christina Clary
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In a news story that you might have missed this month, the Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Company recently announced that multiple titles released on DVD between 2006 and 2008 were affected by disc rot. Disc rot occurs when the inside of the disc is exposed to moisture or oxygen, causing it to oxidize and degrade. The company is offering to replace titles that have been affected or provide monetary compensation for those that cannot be replaced. While this is not a new phenomenon, this is one of the largest notices regarding DVD degradation and highlights the transient nature of technology when it comes to data storage.
DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs) are slightly more susceptible to this type of deterioration due to their structure. Optical discs, such as CDs (Compact Discs), generally consist of only three to four layers of materials consisting of a lacquer layer, a metal data layer, and a polycarbonate plastic layer. A DVD, however, is essentially two CDs glued together. The adhesive layer that binds it is more prone to corrosion due to the added layer of chemicals. The metal data layer, usually made of aluminum, is what oxidizes and degrades during disc rot.
These types of optical discs were believed to be a more sustainable medium of storing information than the floppy disks and cassette tapes they replaced. However, their inherent vice - the physical qualities of an item that can lead to deterioration regardless of environmental factors - cause them to degrade at a degree much quickly than originally thought. Under ideal storage conditions, with controlled temperature and humidity, they can last for a time, but they are no longer considered a reliable way of storing information indefinitely.
For a time, CDs and DVDs were widely used to store digital content, including music, movies, documents, books, and pictures. They were made obsolete by the arrival of thumb drives and cloud-based storage. Even if the disc is still in good condition, it can be difficult to find a computer or laptop with a disc drive and compatible software. Cosmetic issues such as scratches or fingerprints can make the discs unreadable, and over time the layers can separate and crack.
If you have materials stored on CDs or DVDs, such as family histories, photographs, oral histories, or records, now is the time to transfer them to a different medium. For now, the best options for storage are thumb drives, external hard drives, or cloud-based storage. As a reminder, the rule for preserving digital items is to store them in three locations: a thumb drive or hard drive in your possession, a cloud-based storage system, and a third copy stored off site. While you don’t need to keep up with the latest technologies, it is good to periodically check your digital items and make sure they have not become obsolete. Verify that they are in formats that can be still opened, and that the software you use is updated. When it comes to technology, what is cutting edge today can become obsolete tomorrow.
“Warner Bros. will replace rotten DVDs”
https://www.avclub.com/warner-bros-replacing-disc-rot-dvd
Inherent Vice: Optical Media
https://www.nedcc.org/preservation101/session-6/6inherent-vice-optical-media
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History Tidbits: Hetty Green: The Witch of Wall Street
by Logan Knight
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The world of late nineteenth century Wall Street was a man’s world. Cigar smoke-filled rooms as captains of industry win and lose fortunes. There was one exception, Hetty Green, the woman some called the “Queen of Wall Street" and others called the “Witch of Wall Street”. This simple Quaker became the wealthiest woman in the world during the Gilded Age, becoming worth over two billion dollars today. How she did it and the legend that sprung up around her makes for a fascinating story.
Henrietta "Hetty" Howland Robinson was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1834. Her family was already quite wealthy, having made their money in whaling. She was quite close to her father as a child and learned to read ledgers, stocks, bonds, and figures at his side. Hetty also inherited her family’s frugality. Neighbors said of her father that he “squeezed a penny till the eagle squawked.”
Even as a teenager, people noted her disdain for matters of appearance. In 1854, her family sent her to New York City in hopes of her finding a husband. Introduced as the “Princess of Whales” (her family made their money in whaling), Hetty had no real interest in debutante balls. She spent her time eavesdropping on gossiping Wall Street traders and used the gossip to her advantage. She returned to New Bedford sans husband, much to her mother’s disappointment. Her father was delighted when she revealed that she had spent only $200 of her $1,200 budget, investing the rest in bonds.
Even with her disdain for matters of the heart, she eventually did marry an Edward Green, a millionaire himself. Unusually for the time, she arranged from him to sign a prenuptial agreement, forfeiting any rights he had to her money. This was quite substantial as her father had left her somewhere in the neighborhood of five to seven million dollars. Unfortunately, the marriage was not happy. Edward attempted to use part of her fortune to cover his market losses. She never divorced but lived apart from him, protecting her wealth from his bad investments.
Hetty, on the other hand, made good investments. Always sticking to her belief of “Buy Low and Sell High” she did just that. She even anticipated the Panic of 1907, maintaining a lot of cash on hand that enabled her to snap up property and businesses at rock bottom rates. Mrs. Green even floated money to keep the city of New York afloat in that desperate time. In ultimate tribute to her unique status, she was the only woman at a meeting held by J.P. Morgan to financially stabilize the nation.
Mrs. Green attracted a lot of press, not just for her wealth but also for her strange peculiarities. Some were true but most were probably fictional. However, the fact that people believed them shows just how people viewed the world’s richest woman. It was said she never used hot water or turned the heat on. She refused to pay New York’s high property tax and so moved from apartment to apartment. Hetty wore only a simple black dress until it wore out. She would go to a free clinic for health care. When she developed a hernia, she refused to pay for surgery, using a cane to push the lump down. People said she lived off of eggs, oatmeal, and raw onions. All of this while being worth millions!
Was this the real Hetty Green? She did not think so, commenting once that “It has turned out...that my life is written for me down in Wall Street by people who, I assume, do not care to know one iota of the real Hetty Green. I am in earnest; therefore they picture [me] as heartless. I go my own way, take no partners, risk nobody else's fortune, therefore I am Madame Ishmael, set against every man.” Despite her reputation as cold and grasping, it is clear that Hetty gave generously (anonymously) to charity. One of the cruelest rumors is that her son had his leg amputated when she refused to pay for medical care. This was not true at all and was very hurtful. It is difficult to separate fact from fiction but it seems that Hetty’ status as a frugal, wealthy woman seems to have generated much of the harsher rumors. Her black-clad Quaker simplicity stood out at the height of decadence during the Gilded Age.
Mrs. Green passed away on July 13, 1916, supposedly in the middle of an argument with a maid on the benefits of skim milk. She passed from this life into popular legend as perhaps the most famous wealthy miser in American history.
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Genealogy Center’s April 2025 Programs
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Join us for another month of free, virtual and in-person programs!
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Ancestors Calling! Luck, Research and Science” with Judy Nimer Muhn - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13054168
Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “In-Person DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13234138
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “From Research to Novel: Using Genealogical Research to Write Creative Nonfiction and Historical Fiction” with Aryn Youngless - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13207027
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET “Strands to the Past in Our Heritage Tapestry” with Todd Pelfrey, a program of the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-_AaLRFeTOmkQX3rbLf8Wg#/registration
Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Getting Started with Italian Genealogy” with Lisa Vogele - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13189764
Friday, April 11 – Saturday, April 12, each day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET – 2025 Indiana Genealogical Society Annual Conference – a hybrid program, virtual and an in-person program at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, IN. FRIDAY: “Tips for Doing Reasonably Exhaustive Research” with Curt Witcher, “Genealogy without Documentation is Mythology!” with Logan Knight, “Clearing Up ‘Alternative Facts’ in Family History” with Sara Allen, and “Writing Your Research” with Elizabeth Hodges. SATURDAY: All programs presented by keynoter, Sunny Jane Morton: “A Wild Ride: Ohio River Travel in Stories, Songs, and Scenes,” “What’s So Special about Special Censuses?” “Fable or Fact? Verifying Old Family Stories,” and closing with a general Q & A Session. Must register at: https://indgensoc.org/event-details/
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Researching the Big Sky: Montana Genealogy” with Desiree Funston - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13207776
Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “The Family History That Wasn't: How a Hidden Discovery - Redefined Our Identity” with Allison Lawrentz Barnhart - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13226018
Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 2P ET “Beyond the Keyboard: Navigating Library Resources for African American Family Research PLUS Hands on Research Workshop” a hybrid program online and at the Genealogy Center - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PKM-b7y4Ssy3cRig02bEIQ
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Verifying Your Genealogical Tree with DNA Results” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13243026
Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Are you Eligible for Italian Citizenship?” with Ariana Franco - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13189258
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “It’s All Greek to Me!: A Beginner’s Guide to Greek Genealogy” with Logan Knight - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/13207139
Please register in advance for these engaging programs.
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Staying Informed about Genealogy Center Programming
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Do you want to know what we have planned? Are you interested in one of our events, but forget? We offer email updates for The Genealogy Center’s programming schedule. Don’t miss out! Sign up at http://goo.gl/forms/THcV0wAabB.
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Genealogy Center Bits-o’-News
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Have you visited the Allen County Public Library’s online merchandise store? You really need to check it out--we think you will enjoy the offerings! There is a special Genealogy Center section of the store with some pretty cool items. 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.
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Genealogy Center Social Media
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenealogyCenter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genealogycenter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACPLGenealogy
Blog: http://www.genealogycenter.org/Community/Blog.aspx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/askacpl
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Driving Directions to the Library
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Wondering how to get to the library? Our location is 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the block bordered on the south by Washington Boulevard, the west by Ewing Street, the north by Wayne Street, and the east by the Library Plaza, formerly Webster Street. We would enjoy having you visit the Genealogy Center.
To get directions from your exact location to 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, visit this link at MapQuest:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=900%20Webster%20St&city=Fort%20Wayne&state=IN&zipcode=46802%2d3602&country=US&geodiff=1
>From the South
Exit Interstate 69 at exit 302. Drive east on Jefferson Boulevard into downtown. Turn left on Ewing Street. The Library is one block north, at Ewing Street and Washington Boulevard.
Using US 27:
US 27 turns into Lafayette Street. Drive north into downtown. Turn left at Washington Boulevard and go five blocks. The Library will be on the right.
>From the North
Exit Interstate 69 at exit 312. Drive south on Coldwater Road, which merges into Clinton Street. Continue south on Clinton to Washington Boulevard. Turn right on Washington and go three blocks. The Library will be on the right.
>From the West
Using US 30:
Drive into town on US 30. US 30 turns into Goshen Ave. which dead-ends at West State Blvd. Make an angled left turn onto West State Blvd. Turn right on Wells Street. Go south on Wells to Wayne Street. Turn left on Wayne Street. The Library will be in the second block on the right.
Using US 24:
After crossing under Interstate 69, follow the same directions as from the South.
>From the East
Follow US 30/then 930 into and through New Haven, under an overpass into downtown Fort Wayne. You will be on Washington Blvd. when you get into downtown. Library Plaza will be on the right.
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Parking at the Library
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At the Library, underground parking can be accessed from Wayne Street. Other library parking lots are at Washington and Webster, and Wayne and Webster. Hourly parking is $1 per hour with a $7 maximum. ACPL library card holders may use their cards to validate the parking ticket at the west end of the Great Hall of the Library. Out of county residents may purchase a subscription card with proof of identification and residence. The current fee for an Individual Subscription Card is $90.
Public lots are located at the corner of Ewing and Wayne Streets ($1 each for the first two half-hours, $1 per hour after, with a $4 per day maximum) and the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Harrison Street ($3 per day).
Street (metered) parking on Ewing and Wayne Streets. On the street you plug the meters 8am – 5pm, weekdays only. The meters take credit cards and charge at a rate of $1/hour. Street parking is free after 5 p.m. and on the weekends.
Visitor center/Grand Wayne Center garage at Washington and Clinton Streets. This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. For hourly parking, 7am – 11 pm, charges are .50 for the first 45 minutes, then $1.00 per hour. There is a flat $2.00 fee between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.
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Genealogy Center Queries
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The Genealogy Center hopes you find this newsletter interesting. Thank you for subscribing. We cannot, however, answer personal research emails written to the e-zine address. The department houses a Research Center that makes photocopies and conducts research for a fee.
If you have a general question about our collection, or are interested in the Research Center, please telephone the library and speak to a librarian who will be glad to answer your general questions or send you a research center form. Our telephone number is 260-421-1225. If you’d like to email a general information question about the department, please email: Genealogy [at] ACPL.Info.
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Publishing Note
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This electronic newsletter is published by the Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center, and is intended to enlighten readers about genealogical research methods as well as inform them about the vast resources of the Allen County Public Library. We welcome the wide distribution of this newsletter and encourage readers to forward it to their friends and societies. All precautions have been made to avoid errors. However, the publisher does not assume any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, no matter the cause.
To subscribe to “Genealogy Gems,” simply use your browser to go to the website: www.GenealogyCenter.org. Scroll to the bottom, click on E-zine, and fill out the form. You will be notified with a confirmation email.
If you do not want to receive this e-zine, please follow the link at the very bottom of the issue of Genealogy Gems you just received or send an email to sspearswells [at] acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line.
Curt B. Witcher and John D. Beatty, CG, co-editors
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