| Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne, No. 257, July 31, 2025 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygems genealogycenter.info)
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| Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2025 21:57:44 -0400 | |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne
No. 257, July 31, 2025
In this issue:
*Find It in the Fort!
*Deciphering Names in Galicia: Language, Religion, and Identity in Eastern European Genealogy
*Full-Text Search Comes to the Irish Memorials of Deeds Collection
*PERSI Gems: Shelter
*Preservation Tips: From Attics to Archives--Discovering the Genizah Tradition
*History Tidbits: Paul Langheinrich and the Rescue of East Germany’s Records
*Genealogy Center’s August 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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Find It in the Fort!
by Curt B. Witcher
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What an exciting August we’re going to have at the Genealogy Center! We typically have a robust collection of engagements, nearly something for every interest. This August, though, we are so fortunate to have some truly great happenings in the community. Make the time to participate; you’ll be glad you did.
On Saturday, August 2, 2025, a very special exhibit entitled “Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II” will open at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. This fantastic exhibit will run through October 26, 2025. With that many weeks to appreciate the fascinating collection of items, if you’re within driving distance of Fort Wayne you really don’t have an excuse not to enjoy this professionally curated exhibit about a unit that many simply don’t know about. Veterans, active military, and their families will have free admission to the Museum with their military ID.
This exhibit will tell the story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops which was a top-secret WWII unit that used deception and illusions to mislead the enemy. Fort Wayne’s own hometown hero and later internationally renowned fashion designer, Bill Blass, will be featured in the exhibit as an official member of the 603rd Camouflage Battalion.
For more information about the Ghost Army, enjoy exploring the following.
**The Ghost Army Legacy Project--https://ghostarmy.org/
**The National World War II Museum, New Orleans-- www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/exhibits/traveling-exhibits/ghost-army-combat-con-artists-world-war-ii
**Ghost Army' is honored for saving U.S. lives in WWII-- https://www.npr.org/2024/03/21/1239871379/ghost-army-congressional-gold-medal-world-war-2
**How the Ghost Army of WWII Used Art to Deceive the Nazis--https://www.npr.org/2024/03/21/1239871379/ghost-army-congressional-gold-medal-world-war-2
**A dynamic group of Fort Wayne community leaders who run Bill Blass Legacy, Inc. contributed amazing numbers of materials to our library’s Community Album. The Ghost Army specific materials can be found at this link: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/Bill-Blass/search/searchterm/ghost%20army/field/collec/mode/exact/conn/and
It’s not too early to mark your calendars for special events in the last month of the Ghost Army exhibit. Rick Beyer, a Ghost Army expert, penned a book “The Ghost Army of World War II.” Rick will kick-off our family history month activities in October this year with the following talks.
**October 1, 2025, 6 p.m., Allen County Public Library Theater: "Chasing Ghosts.” This presentation will tell the story in some detail of the effort to convince Congress to award the Gold Medal. Listen to a YouTube video from 2024 about the efforts here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8nQ6XI4etU
**October 2, 2025, early afternoon, Veterans National Shrine and Museum in Fort Wayne. This presentation will focus on Rick’s book, “The Ghost Army of World War II” with a book signing following.
**October 2, 2025, 5 p.m., Fort Wayne Museum of Art: “The Ghost Army.” This presentation will tell the history of the Ghost Army and especially highlight artifacts in the exhibit.
The library and its Genealogy Center are so pleased to be hosting the 45th Annual International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies’ (IAJGS) conference August 10-14, 2025. There is still time to investigate the offerings at IAJGS2025.org. On Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 7 p.m. CeCe Moore is the opening session keynote presenter for the kickoff of the IAJGS conference at the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Special tickets have been made available for those interested in hearing CeCe speak but are not attending the overall conference. You can register for that keynote and hear a great presenter at this link. https://iajgs2025.org/keynote_reg.cfm It assuredly will be an engaging evening.
A good number of years ago, the Allen County Genealogical Society <www.acgsi.org> generously sponsored CeCe Moore for an all-day seminar at the Allen County Public Library covering the topic of using DNA test results in our genealogical research. Those who attended still remember a very useful and most informative day. Since that time, CeCe has continued to grow in popularity and reputation. One can see her often on Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s PBS program “Finding Your Roots.” She is a highly regarded and frequently requested presenter. People in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana have an additional fondness for CeCe as it was her expertise that solved the horrible April Tinsley murder that had gone cold for a decade. Consider spending a Sunday evening with CeCe on August 10, 2025.
What kind of plans do you have for your hot August nights, and for your Family History Month that will be here before we know it? Take advantage of the many worthwhile engagements.
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Deciphering Names in Galicia: Language, Religion, and Identity in Eastern European Genealogy
by Kate McKenzie
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The former Austro-Hungarian crown land of Galicia—stretching across parts of modern-day western Ukraine and southeastern Poland—presents genealogists with a rich but complex landscape of cultural identities. One of the most significant challenges in researching Galician ancestors is interpreting their names, which often changed based on religion, language, and administrative recordkeeping.
Galicia was home to a diverse population: primarily Ukrainians (then often called Ruthenians), Poles, and a large Jewish community scattered throughout. Each group had distinct naming customs, shaped by religion and language, and names were recorded differently depending on the governing institution—civil, religious, etc.
Ukrainians (Greek Catholic or Eastern Orthodox) often used Slavic names such as Vasyl, Mykhailo, Petro, or Ivan. However, in official Latin-language church registers (common in Greek Catholic parishes), these were often Latinized: Vasyl would be Basilius; Ivan would be Joannes; Hryhoriy would be Gregorius; Catharina would be Kateryna, and so on.
Poles (Roman Catholic) followed Western Christian naming customs, using Latin given names such as Josephus, Franciscus, and Catharina, but also recorded vernacular forms like Józef or Katarzyna in Polish-language civil records.
Galician Jews typically spoke Yiddish and used Hebrew names in religious contexts, but appeared in civil records under Germanic names during Austrian rule. For example, someone known as Zvi Dov in Hebrew might be listed as Hirsch Ber in official documents. After Joseph II’s 1787 edict, Jews in Galicia were required to adopt fixed hereditary surnames, often in German. These names could be ornamental (e.g., Goldstein, Rosenfeld), occupational (Schneider, Weiss), or even assigned arbitrarily based on payment or status.
From the mid-19th century until Galicia’s dissolution in 1918, most civil records were written in Polish orthography, even for non-Polish families. Polish orthography often obscures how names were pronounced or later anglicized.
These conventions mean that a Ukrainian man named Vasyl might appear as Basilius in Greek Catholic baptismal records, Wasyl in Polish-language civil registers, and might go by William or Bill after immigration to North America.
Religion also often helped shape naming patterns and calendar traditions. Greek Catholic and Orthodox communities might name children after saints commemorated on the Julian calendar, while Roman Catholics followed the Gregorian calendar. This can affect both the child’s name and the feast days listed in baptismal records.
Family names may also suggest religious or ethnic identity. Surnames ending in -chuk, -yshyn, or -iuk are often Ukrainian; -ski or -wicz suggest Polish origin. However, these suffixes crossed boundaries—especially in mixed areas—and cannot be relied on as sole indicators.
To summarize: in Galicia, religious affiliation often aligned with ethnic identity. Families who were Roman Catholic were generally Polish, while those who were Greek Catholic or Eastern Orthodox were typically Ukrainian. Roman Catholics usually used the Polish form of names in both official records and everyday life. Greek Catholics and Orthodox individuals, by contrast, may have had their names recorded in Polish orthography—especially in civil or church documents—but would have used the Ukrainian version of the name in daily life.
Genealogical research in Galicia requires navigating a multilingual, multi-faith society where personal names are highly fluid and context-dependent. Recognizing how religion, language, and imperial bureaucracy influenced name forms—and how those names changed over time—can help researchers follow ancestral lines across shifting borders and inconsistent documentation. In learning to interpret these patterns, we gain a deeper understanding of both the historical complexity and personal identities of those who lived in one of Eastern Europe’s most culturally diverse regions.
Helpful resources at the Genealogy Center:
Ukrainian Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide by John D. Pihach - 947.71 P63u
First names of the Polish Commonwealth: Origins and Meanings - 929.4 H675f
The Family Tree Polish, Czech and Slovak Guide to Genealogy - 929 AL99f
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Full-Text Search Comes to the Irish Memorials of Deeds Collection
by Elizabeth Hodges
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FamilySearch has updated its Full-Text Search feature with AI-powered text recognition for the "Transcripts of memorials of deeds, conveyances and wills, 1708–1929" collection. This development makes one of Ireland's most valuable genealogical resources much easier to search and use.
Understanding the Memorials of Deeds Collection
The Registry of Deeds was established in Dublin in 1708 to record property transactions including leases, conveyances, and wills. These records, called memorials, documented dealings by people from various social classes—not just the wealthy, but also tenant farmers, leaseholders, tradespeople, and middle-class families. The records are particularly strong for Ulster and areas around major towns and cities.
These memorials often contain detailed genealogical information such as family member names, marriage settlements, land transfers across multiple generations, and sometimes death dates and burial locations. Deeds are important not only for grantor and grantee names, but also for the names of witnesses. In addition, many leases were issued not for a set number of years, but for the lifespans of three named people (often friends or fellow townspeople). Thus, a deed may contain the names of a variety of people, not just the principal parties. Since the 1922 Public Records Office fire in Dublin destroyed many Irish records, these deed transcripts have become particularly important for research into the 18th and early 19th centuries.
How Full-Text Search Works
FamilySearch introduced Full-Text Search in 2024 using optical character recognition (OCR) technology powered by artificial intelligence. This technology can read handwritten records, which was previously impossible for large collections like this one. Instead of relying only on indexed names or browsing through pages one by one, researchers can now search the actual text content of the memorials by typing in names or phrases.
While OCR technology isn't perfect—especially with difficult handwriting or faded ink—this tool can help researchers find information that might have taken hours or days to locate using traditional methods.
Search Strategies
To use the collection, go to the FamilySearch Full-Text Search page. A straightforward approach works best: start by typing a name in quotation marks, such as "John Murphy," and leave other search fields blank. After getting initial results, use the Place filter in the top-left corner to narrow results by county or locality. This method often produces better results than including location information in the original search.
When searching, try different name variations since spellings weren't standardized. "MacCarthy" might appear as "McCarthy," "MacCarty," or "Carthy." The search function includes wildcards: an asterisk (*) represents multiple characters, so "Murph" will find Murphy, Murphree, and similar names. A question mark (?) represents a single character, so "Neill?" will return both Neills and Neilly.
For more complex searches, look for phrases or combinations. To find a husband and wife together, try searching "Patrick O'Connor" in the name field AND "Bridget" in the keywords field.
As FamilySearch adds more collections to Full-Text Search, these tools will become increasingly valuable for genealogical research. The technology helps researchers break through research barriers and discover family connections that might otherwise remain hidden. This particular collection may reveal family land leases and property transactions that researchers didn't know existed, providing new avenues for tracing Irish ancestry.
FamilySearch Full-Text Search: https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text
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PERSI Gems: Shelter
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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Explorations of family history reveal people in motion. We visit those we love. We commute for work or school. We run errands for necessities. We explore our surroundings. We fellowship with others. We look for opportunities. We run to avoid danger or danger sweeps us away. We race to help or are, ourselves, rescued. We seek shelter.
Shelter is temporary but essential to survival. Every family's story includes journeys from one shelter to another, journeys that might have been by choice, out of desperation, or by force.
The Genealogy Center's newly-expanded offerings for Jewish research document story after story of families in motion and families seeking shelter. You can learn more about them here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Antonina Altszuler Babb, seven refugees' journey to safe haven, Tatsuo Osako, 1940+, Poland
Chronicles (Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia), Vol. 34, Issue 1 (Spr 2017)
Archbishop Alexander Szeptycki sheltered Jews in monasteries, monks forged ID for Kurt Lewin
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Calendar, 2010
Constitutional kingdom in Poland, a sanctuary of the world's largest Jewish community, 1495
Avi Avot (Jewish Genealogical Society, Orange County), Vol. 7, Issue 2 (Spr 1990)
European refugees who found shelter in Morocco during World War II, 1939-1945
Avotaynu, Vol. 20, Issue 3 (Fal 2004)
Gomez Mill House, oldest Jewish dwelling in North America, Luis Moses Gomez family, 1714+
American Spirit (Daughters of the American Revolution), Vol. 148, Issue 5 (Sep 2014)
Herta Zerna's Rheinsberg book about giving asylum to Jewish friends at her country home
AJR Information (Association of Jewish Refugees, Eng.), Vol. 8, Issue 8 (Aug 1953)
Jamaica provided haven for the Iberian Jews, 1536-1655
Family Gatherings (Jewish Genealogical Society of Broward County, Inc.), Issue 8 (Oct 2009)
Last Jewish displaced persons camp, Foehrenwald, to be dissolved, still shelters 640 people
AJR Information (Association of Jewish Refugees, Eng.), Vol. 11, Issue 4 (Apr 1956)
Mexico offered refuge and hospitality to Polish Jews, 1930s-1940s
Venturing Into Our Past (Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County), Vol. 15, Issue 2 (Dec 2019)
Post 126 assists veterans and shelter dogs to rescue each other, JWV in the community, 2018
Jewish Veteran, Vol. 72, Issue 3 (2018)
Safe Haven statue in Harwich, Kindertransport memorial unveiling, 2022
AJR Journal (Association of Jewish Refugees, Eng.), Vol. 22, Issue 10 (Oct 2022)
Swiss overturn wartime convictions for sheltering Jews, 2003
AJR Journal (Association of Jewish Refugees, Eng.), Vol. 3, Issue 2 (Feb 2003)
US Naval Academy, a safe harbor for Jewish Midshipmen, 1845+
B'nai B'rith, Vol. 125, Issue 3 (Fal 2011)
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Preservation Tips: From Attics to Archives--Discovering the Genizah Tradition
by Christina Clary, C.A.
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A genizah (plural genizot) is a storage area in a synagogue for discarded or worn-out religious books or documents. Jewish law forbids throwing away or destroying any text that includes the Hebrew name of God, so the items must be properly buried in a cemetery. They were kept in these reserved storage spaces to ensure they were respectfully handled at a later date. They were oftentimes located in the attic or cellar of the synagogue, where many people store their family archives today.
The types of records that were stored in a genizah can vary widely. Most primarily consisted of materials such as religious texts, scholarly writings, and prayers. Contracts, both legal and commercial, secular writings, receipts, letters, and even matzah wrappers were saved. Some communities appear to have expanded what was sacred to include anything written in Hebrew. Given that these items were meant for disposal, they are usually in poor condition or in fragments. Researchers can still glean invaluable information about Jewish life and customs from what is found.
How often a genizah was cleared out and buried depended on local customs. Some communities did this annually or on a set schedule, while others waited until the space was full before burying the contents. A genizah might also be buried during a drought, as some traditions hold that doing so would bring about rain.
Genizot have been discovered all over the world, with many of the best-known ones located in the Middle East. More synagogues have survived for long periods in this region, whereas many in Eastern Europe were abandoned or destroyed during pogroms or World War II. The dry climate has also helped to preserve the materials that might have been left in a genizah. Research on European genizot, especially in Eastern Europe, has grown in the last three decades as more concentrated efforts to find them have increased.
The Jewish Museum in Prague has been unearthing genizot in the country since the 1990s. Items including hats, shoes, and amulets have been found and preserved. One legend surrounding the genizah in the Old New Synagogue in Prague states that the body of a Golem resides there and protected the genizah from the Nazis during World War II. Significant finds have also been uncovered in Central and Southern Germany, most of which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. In a house in Franconia, a small bag tucked away in the attic turned out to be the former owner's private genizah before they left in 1939.
In 2013, a genizah was found in caves in northern Afghanistan. The documents date back to the 11th century, making them some of the oldest surviving records from that region. They provide valuable insight into the Silk Road through the records of a trading family that lived in the area. Around this time, a smaller genizah was found in the synagogue in Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel in the Azores during a synagogue restoration. The contents are now in the municipal archives and shed light on life within the Jewish community in the Azores, who immigrated from Morrocco in 1836.
The most famous genizah was discovered in Cairo in 1896. The collection includes over 400,000 fragments of documents and manuscripts, some of which date back to the 6th century. The largest portion of the manuscripts is now housed at the Cambridge University Library, where you can learn about the various conservation techniques used to piece together and preserve the fragments.
Secrets in the Attic (Czech) https://geniza.cz/en/homepage/
German Genizot https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb01genizatfreudental/
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit (Cairo Genizah)
https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/taylor-schechter-genizah-research-unit
Afghan Genizah https://www.nli.org.il/en/discover/judaism/jewish-people-treasures/afghan-genizah
Azorean Genizah https://notevenpast.org/a-hidden-jewish-archive-in-the-azores/
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History Tidbits: Paul Langheinrich and the Rescue of East Germany’s Records
by Logan Knight
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“If I have done great things, it is because I have stood upon the shoulders of giants”, or so Sir Isaac Newton said. This piece of wisdom applies to many human endeavors, but none more so than genealogy. Is there any field more dependent on the work of those who have come before us? Not just our ancestors but those who have done the hard work of recording and preserving. As we scroll endless amounts of digitized records, we should spare a moment to hear the harrowing and dramatic story of one man who saved thousands of church parish records during the stark aftermath of the Second World War: Paul Langheinrich.
Paul was born February 19, 1895, in Saxony, Germany. As a young man, he was converted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, colloquially knowns as the Mormons. He was also passionate about genealogy. Now, as many people know, genealogy is not simply a hobby for members of the LDS Church but a core part of their beliefs. It is important to identify ancestors through genealogical research so they can perform ordinance rites for them. Paul would move to Berlin, where he worked as second counselor in the mission presidency while also volunteering as a genealogist.
In his time there, he had noted the large-scale microfilming and collection of pre-1874 German Church Records by the Nazis. Paul was well aware that these Catholic and Lutheran/Reformed parish books were absolutely key for people to trace their family history. As the war began to turn against the Third Reich, the government hid many of these records in places such as salt mines and abandoned castles. Some of the precious registries from the East had been carried, in hand, by priests and pastors one step ahead of the vengeful Red Army. Langheinrich’s friends and contacts at the Office of Family Research dropped hints to him about such developments.
After Germany’s capitulation, Paul found himself busy trying to supply food, clothing, and shelter to fellow LDS members. All the while, though, he could not stop thinking about those precious records that were lingering in some less than ideal conditions. Somehow, he was able to convince Soviet authorities to allow him to try and retrieve the records.
So, he gathered a group of fellow believers and began to seek them out. He also found that permission did not mean permission from everyone. Many members of his team were arrested by Soviet secret police and interrogated. While all were eventually released, the decided to proceed along more clandestine lines.
Members of the team would sneak into salt mines disguised as miners, evacuating registries, microfilm, and even expensive microfilm cameras. The team would even hike to lonely, deserted castles to exfiltrate hidden records.
Over the next few years, Paul negotiated tense Soviet politics as he and his team filmed as many of the registers as they could, knowing that the whole project could be stopped at any time. All the while, rolls of microfilm were sent to the Genealogical Society of Utah (now FamilySearch). Then, in 1951, all records in territories now belonging to Poland had to be shipped there. Two years later, all the German records under Soviet control were to be shipped to an archival facility at Potsdam. Realizing that time had run out, Paul and his family fled to the safety of America.
Without these strenuous efforts, many of these records would have been lost forever, either through neglect or simply destroyed in piques of anger. Others would not have been filmed until after the Cold War, denying many an opportunity to research their families for decades. So, as you search through reams of digitized microfilm, spare a second to think of Paul and his team of LDS missionaries who risked so much to help so many.
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Genealogy Center’s August 2025 Programs
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Join us for these engaging August Programs.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Where Yinz From?” with Trish Buben - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083548
Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “In-Person DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083556
Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Tools to Research Your French Canadian Ancestors” with Johanne Gervais - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083687
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Tracing Your Portuguese Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Portuguese Genealogy” with Christina Clary - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14084025
Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “An Introduction to DNA Testing for Genealogy” with Sarah Fullem - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083925
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Promised Land: How the Midwest was Won” with Peter Bronson - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083869
Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Decoding Identities in Galicia: Ethnicity, Language & Nationality in Historical Context” with Kate McKenzie - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14084695
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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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Time to visit the Allen County Public Library’s online merchandise store? Look for the Genealogy Center merch! You really need to check it out--we have added more merch offerings! The special Genealogy Center section of the store with some pretty cool items. http://acpl.dkmlogo.online/shop/category/4726261?c=4726261 Please remember that your purchases support the Friends of the Allen County Public Library, and they in turn support the Genealogy Center. More than ever, this support is so very important. Indeed, I would call this support vital.
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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 $95.
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. 257, July 31, 2025
In this issue:
*Find It in the Fort!
*Deciphering Names in Galicia: Language, Religion, and Identity in Eastern European Genealogy
*Full-Text Search Comes to the Irish Memorials of Deeds Collection
*PERSI Gems: Shelter
*Preservation Tips: From Attics to Archives--Discovering the Genizah Tradition
*History Tidbits: Paul Langheinrich and the Rescue of East Germany’s Records
*Genealogy Center’s August 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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Find It in the Fort!
by Curt B. Witcher
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What an exciting August we’re going to have at the Genealogy Center! We typically have a robust collection of engagements, nearly something for every interest. This August, though, we are so fortunate to have some truly great happenings in the community. Make the time to participate; you’ll be glad you did.
On Saturday, August 2, 2025, a very special exhibit entitled “Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II” will open at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. This fantastic exhibit will run through October 26, 2025. With that many weeks to appreciate the fascinating collection of items, if you’re within driving distance of Fort Wayne you really don’t have an excuse not to enjoy this professionally curated exhibit about a unit that many simply don’t know about. Veterans, active military, and their families will have free admission to the Museum with their military ID.
This exhibit will tell the story of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops which was a top-secret WWII unit that used deception and illusions to mislead the enemy. Fort Wayne’s own hometown hero and later internationally renowned fashion designer, Bill Blass, will be featured in the exhibit as an official member of the 603rd Camouflage Battalion.
For more information about the Ghost Army, enjoy exploring the following.
**The Ghost Army Legacy Project--https://ghostarmy.org/
**The National World War II Museum, New Orleans-- www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/exhibits/traveling-exhibits/ghost-army-combat-con-artists-world-war-ii
**Ghost Army' is honored for saving U.S. lives in WWII-- https://www.npr.org/2024/03/21/1239871379/ghost-army-congressional-gold-medal-world-war-2
**How the Ghost Army of WWII Used Art to Deceive the Nazis--https://www.npr.org/2024/03/21/1239871379/ghost-army-congressional-gold-medal-world-war-2
**A dynamic group of Fort Wayne community leaders who run Bill Blass Legacy, Inc. contributed amazing numbers of materials to our library’s Community Album. The Ghost Army specific materials can be found at this link: http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/digital/collection/Bill-Blass/search/searchterm/ghost%20army/field/collec/mode/exact/conn/and
It’s not too early to mark your calendars for special events in the last month of the Ghost Army exhibit. Rick Beyer, a Ghost Army expert, penned a book “The Ghost Army of World War II.” Rick will kick-off our family history month activities in October this year with the following talks.
**October 1, 2025, 6 p.m., Allen County Public Library Theater: "Chasing Ghosts.” This presentation will tell the story in some detail of the effort to convince Congress to award the Gold Medal. Listen to a YouTube video from 2024 about the efforts here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8nQ6XI4etU
**October 2, 2025, early afternoon, Veterans National Shrine and Museum in Fort Wayne. This presentation will focus on Rick’s book, “The Ghost Army of World War II” with a book signing following.
**October 2, 2025, 5 p.m., Fort Wayne Museum of Art: “The Ghost Army.” This presentation will tell the history of the Ghost Army and especially highlight artifacts in the exhibit.
The library and its Genealogy Center are so pleased to be hosting the 45th Annual International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies’ (IAJGS) conference August 10-14, 2025. There is still time to investigate the offerings at IAJGS2025.org. On Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 7 p.m. CeCe Moore is the opening session keynote presenter for the kickoff of the IAJGS conference at the Grand Wayne Convention Center. Special tickets have been made available for those interested in hearing CeCe speak but are not attending the overall conference. You can register for that keynote and hear a great presenter at this link. https://iajgs2025.org/keynote_reg.cfm It assuredly will be an engaging evening.
A good number of years ago, the Allen County Genealogical Society <www.acgsi.org> generously sponsored CeCe Moore for an all-day seminar at the Allen County Public Library covering the topic of using DNA test results in our genealogical research. Those who attended still remember a very useful and most informative day. Since that time, CeCe has continued to grow in popularity and reputation. One can see her often on Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s PBS program “Finding Your Roots.” She is a highly regarded and frequently requested presenter. People in Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana have an additional fondness for CeCe as it was her expertise that solved the horrible April Tinsley murder that had gone cold for a decade. Consider spending a Sunday evening with CeCe on August 10, 2025.
What kind of plans do you have for your hot August nights, and for your Family History Month that will be here before we know it? Take advantage of the many worthwhile engagements.
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Deciphering Names in Galicia: Language, Religion, and Identity in Eastern European Genealogy
by Kate McKenzie
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The former Austro-Hungarian crown land of Galicia—stretching across parts of modern-day western Ukraine and southeastern Poland—presents genealogists with a rich but complex landscape of cultural identities. One of the most significant challenges in researching Galician ancestors is interpreting their names, which often changed based on religion, language, and administrative recordkeeping.
Galicia was home to a diverse population: primarily Ukrainians (then often called Ruthenians), Poles, and a large Jewish community scattered throughout. Each group had distinct naming customs, shaped by religion and language, and names were recorded differently depending on the governing institution—civil, religious, etc.
Ukrainians (Greek Catholic or Eastern Orthodox) often used Slavic names such as Vasyl, Mykhailo, Petro, or Ivan. However, in official Latin-language church registers (common in Greek Catholic parishes), these were often Latinized: Vasyl would be Basilius; Ivan would be Joannes; Hryhoriy would be Gregorius; Catharina would be Kateryna, and so on.
Poles (Roman Catholic) followed Western Christian naming customs, using Latin given names such as Josephus, Franciscus, and Catharina, but also recorded vernacular forms like Józef or Katarzyna in Polish-language civil records.
Galician Jews typically spoke Yiddish and used Hebrew names in religious contexts, but appeared in civil records under Germanic names during Austrian rule. For example, someone known as Zvi Dov in Hebrew might be listed as Hirsch Ber in official documents. After Joseph II’s 1787 edict, Jews in Galicia were required to adopt fixed hereditary surnames, often in German. These names could be ornamental (e.g., Goldstein, Rosenfeld), occupational (Schneider, Weiss), or even assigned arbitrarily based on payment or status.
From the mid-19th century until Galicia’s dissolution in 1918, most civil records were written in Polish orthography, even for non-Polish families. Polish orthography often obscures how names were pronounced or later anglicized.
These conventions mean that a Ukrainian man named Vasyl might appear as Basilius in Greek Catholic baptismal records, Wasyl in Polish-language civil registers, and might go by William or Bill after immigration to North America.
Religion also often helped shape naming patterns and calendar traditions. Greek Catholic and Orthodox communities might name children after saints commemorated on the Julian calendar, while Roman Catholics followed the Gregorian calendar. This can affect both the child’s name and the feast days listed in baptismal records.
Family names may also suggest religious or ethnic identity. Surnames ending in -chuk, -yshyn, or -iuk are often Ukrainian; -ski or -wicz suggest Polish origin. However, these suffixes crossed boundaries—especially in mixed areas—and cannot be relied on as sole indicators.
To summarize: in Galicia, religious affiliation often aligned with ethnic identity. Families who were Roman Catholic were generally Polish, while those who were Greek Catholic or Eastern Orthodox were typically Ukrainian. Roman Catholics usually used the Polish form of names in both official records and everyday life. Greek Catholics and Orthodox individuals, by contrast, may have had their names recorded in Polish orthography—especially in civil or church documents—but would have used the Ukrainian version of the name in daily life.
Genealogical research in Galicia requires navigating a multilingual, multi-faith society where personal names are highly fluid and context-dependent. Recognizing how religion, language, and imperial bureaucracy influenced name forms—and how those names changed over time—can help researchers follow ancestral lines across shifting borders and inconsistent documentation. In learning to interpret these patterns, we gain a deeper understanding of both the historical complexity and personal identities of those who lived in one of Eastern Europe’s most culturally diverse regions.
Helpful resources at the Genealogy Center:
Ukrainian Genealogy: A Beginner’s Guide by John D. Pihach - 947.71 P63u
First names of the Polish Commonwealth: Origins and Meanings - 929.4 H675f
The Family Tree Polish, Czech and Slovak Guide to Genealogy - 929 AL99f
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Full-Text Search Comes to the Irish Memorials of Deeds Collection
by Elizabeth Hodges
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FamilySearch has updated its Full-Text Search feature with AI-powered text recognition for the "Transcripts of memorials of deeds, conveyances and wills, 1708–1929" collection. This development makes one of Ireland's most valuable genealogical resources much easier to search and use.
Understanding the Memorials of Deeds Collection
The Registry of Deeds was established in Dublin in 1708 to record property transactions including leases, conveyances, and wills. These records, called memorials, documented dealings by people from various social classes—not just the wealthy, but also tenant farmers, leaseholders, tradespeople, and middle-class families. The records are particularly strong for Ulster and areas around major towns and cities.
These memorials often contain detailed genealogical information such as family member names, marriage settlements, land transfers across multiple generations, and sometimes death dates and burial locations. Deeds are important not only for grantor and grantee names, but also for the names of witnesses. In addition, many leases were issued not for a set number of years, but for the lifespans of three named people (often friends or fellow townspeople). Thus, a deed may contain the names of a variety of people, not just the principal parties. Since the 1922 Public Records Office fire in Dublin destroyed many Irish records, these deed transcripts have become particularly important for research into the 18th and early 19th centuries.
How Full-Text Search Works
FamilySearch introduced Full-Text Search in 2024 using optical character recognition (OCR) technology powered by artificial intelligence. This technology can read handwritten records, which was previously impossible for large collections like this one. Instead of relying only on indexed names or browsing through pages one by one, researchers can now search the actual text content of the memorials by typing in names or phrases.
While OCR technology isn't perfect—especially with difficult handwriting or faded ink—this tool can help researchers find information that might have taken hours or days to locate using traditional methods.
Search Strategies
To use the collection, go to the FamilySearch Full-Text Search page. A straightforward approach works best: start by typing a name in quotation marks, such as "John Murphy," and leave other search fields blank. After getting initial results, use the Place filter in the top-left corner to narrow results by county or locality. This method often produces better results than including location information in the original search.
When searching, try different name variations since spellings weren't standardized. "MacCarthy" might appear as "McCarthy," "MacCarty," or "Carthy." The search function includes wildcards: an asterisk (*) represents multiple characters, so "Murph" will find Murphy, Murphree, and similar names. A question mark (?) represents a single character, so "Neill?" will return both Neills and Neilly.
For more complex searches, look for phrases or combinations. To find a husband and wife together, try searching "Patrick O'Connor" in the name field AND "Bridget" in the keywords field.
As FamilySearch adds more collections to Full-Text Search, these tools will become increasingly valuable for genealogical research. The technology helps researchers break through research barriers and discover family connections that might otherwise remain hidden. This particular collection may reveal family land leases and property transactions that researchers didn't know existed, providing new avenues for tracing Irish ancestry.
FamilySearch Full-Text Search: https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text
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PERSI Gems: Shelter
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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Explorations of family history reveal people in motion. We visit those we love. We commute for work or school. We run errands for necessities. We explore our surroundings. We fellowship with others. We look for opportunities. We run to avoid danger or danger sweeps us away. We race to help or are, ourselves, rescued. We seek shelter.
Shelter is temporary but essential to survival. Every family's story includes journeys from one shelter to another, journeys that might have been by choice, out of desperation, or by force.
The Genealogy Center's newly-expanded offerings for Jewish research document story after story of families in motion and families seeking shelter. You can learn more about them here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Antonina Altszuler Babb, seven refugees' journey to safe haven, Tatsuo Osako, 1940+, Poland
Chronicles (Jewish Genealogical and Archival Society of Greater Philadelphia), Vol. 34, Issue 1 (Spr 2017)
Archbishop Alexander Szeptycki sheltered Jews in monasteries, monks forged ID for Kurt Lewin
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Calendar, 2010
Constitutional kingdom in Poland, a sanctuary of the world's largest Jewish community, 1495
Avi Avot (Jewish Genealogical Society, Orange County), Vol. 7, Issue 2 (Spr 1990)
European refugees who found shelter in Morocco during World War II, 1939-1945
Avotaynu, Vol. 20, Issue 3 (Fal 2004)
Gomez Mill House, oldest Jewish dwelling in North America, Luis Moses Gomez family, 1714+
American Spirit (Daughters of the American Revolution), Vol. 148, Issue 5 (Sep 2014)
Herta Zerna's Rheinsberg book about giving asylum to Jewish friends at her country home
AJR Information (Association of Jewish Refugees, Eng.), Vol. 8, Issue 8 (Aug 1953)
Jamaica provided haven for the Iberian Jews, 1536-1655
Family Gatherings (Jewish Genealogical Society of Broward County, Inc.), Issue 8 (Oct 2009)
Last Jewish displaced persons camp, Foehrenwald, to be dissolved, still shelters 640 people
AJR Information (Association of Jewish Refugees, Eng.), Vol. 11, Issue 4 (Apr 1956)
Mexico offered refuge and hospitality to Polish Jews, 1930s-1940s
Venturing Into Our Past (Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County), Vol. 15, Issue 2 (Dec 2019)
Post 126 assists veterans and shelter dogs to rescue each other, JWV in the community, 2018
Jewish Veteran, Vol. 72, Issue 3 (2018)
Safe Haven statue in Harwich, Kindertransport memorial unveiling, 2022
AJR Journal (Association of Jewish Refugees, Eng.), Vol. 22, Issue 10 (Oct 2022)
Swiss overturn wartime convictions for sheltering Jews, 2003
AJR Journal (Association of Jewish Refugees, Eng.), Vol. 3, Issue 2 (Feb 2003)
US Naval Academy, a safe harbor for Jewish Midshipmen, 1845+
B'nai B'rith, Vol. 125, Issue 3 (Fal 2011)
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Preservation Tips: From Attics to Archives--Discovering the Genizah Tradition
by Christina Clary, C.A.
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A genizah (plural genizot) is a storage area in a synagogue for discarded or worn-out religious books or documents. Jewish law forbids throwing away or destroying any text that includes the Hebrew name of God, so the items must be properly buried in a cemetery. They were kept in these reserved storage spaces to ensure they were respectfully handled at a later date. They were oftentimes located in the attic or cellar of the synagogue, where many people store their family archives today.
The types of records that were stored in a genizah can vary widely. Most primarily consisted of materials such as religious texts, scholarly writings, and prayers. Contracts, both legal and commercial, secular writings, receipts, letters, and even matzah wrappers were saved. Some communities appear to have expanded what was sacred to include anything written in Hebrew. Given that these items were meant for disposal, they are usually in poor condition or in fragments. Researchers can still glean invaluable information about Jewish life and customs from what is found.
How often a genizah was cleared out and buried depended on local customs. Some communities did this annually or on a set schedule, while others waited until the space was full before burying the contents. A genizah might also be buried during a drought, as some traditions hold that doing so would bring about rain.
Genizot have been discovered all over the world, with many of the best-known ones located in the Middle East. More synagogues have survived for long periods in this region, whereas many in Eastern Europe were abandoned or destroyed during pogroms or World War II. The dry climate has also helped to preserve the materials that might have been left in a genizah. Research on European genizot, especially in Eastern Europe, has grown in the last three decades as more concentrated efforts to find them have increased.
The Jewish Museum in Prague has been unearthing genizot in the country since the 1990s. Items including hats, shoes, and amulets have been found and preserved. One legend surrounding the genizah in the Old New Synagogue in Prague states that the body of a Golem resides there and protected the genizah from the Nazis during World War II. Significant finds have also been uncovered in Central and Southern Germany, most of which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. In a house in Franconia, a small bag tucked away in the attic turned out to be the former owner's private genizah before they left in 1939.
In 2013, a genizah was found in caves in northern Afghanistan. The documents date back to the 11th century, making them some of the oldest surviving records from that region. They provide valuable insight into the Silk Road through the records of a trading family that lived in the area. Around this time, a smaller genizah was found in the synagogue in Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel in the Azores during a synagogue restoration. The contents are now in the municipal archives and shed light on life within the Jewish community in the Azores, who immigrated from Morrocco in 1836.
The most famous genizah was discovered in Cairo in 1896. The collection includes over 400,000 fragments of documents and manuscripts, some of which date back to the 6th century. The largest portion of the manuscripts is now housed at the Cambridge University Library, where you can learn about the various conservation techniques used to piece together and preserve the fragments.
Secrets in the Attic (Czech) https://geniza.cz/en/homepage/
German Genizot https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb01genizatfreudental/
Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit (Cairo Genizah)
https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/taylor-schechter-genizah-research-unit
Afghan Genizah https://www.nli.org.il/en/discover/judaism/jewish-people-treasures/afghan-genizah
Azorean Genizah https://notevenpast.org/a-hidden-jewish-archive-in-the-azores/
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History Tidbits: Paul Langheinrich and the Rescue of East Germany’s Records
by Logan Knight
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“If I have done great things, it is because I have stood upon the shoulders of giants”, or so Sir Isaac Newton said. This piece of wisdom applies to many human endeavors, but none more so than genealogy. Is there any field more dependent on the work of those who have come before us? Not just our ancestors but those who have done the hard work of recording and preserving. As we scroll endless amounts of digitized records, we should spare a moment to hear the harrowing and dramatic story of one man who saved thousands of church parish records during the stark aftermath of the Second World War: Paul Langheinrich.
Paul was born February 19, 1895, in Saxony, Germany. As a young man, he was converted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, colloquially knowns as the Mormons. He was also passionate about genealogy. Now, as many people know, genealogy is not simply a hobby for members of the LDS Church but a core part of their beliefs. It is important to identify ancestors through genealogical research so they can perform ordinance rites for them. Paul would move to Berlin, where he worked as second counselor in the mission presidency while also volunteering as a genealogist.
In his time there, he had noted the large-scale microfilming and collection of pre-1874 German Church Records by the Nazis. Paul was well aware that these Catholic and Lutheran/Reformed parish books were absolutely key for people to trace their family history. As the war began to turn against the Third Reich, the government hid many of these records in places such as salt mines and abandoned castles. Some of the precious registries from the East had been carried, in hand, by priests and pastors one step ahead of the vengeful Red Army. Langheinrich’s friends and contacts at the Office of Family Research dropped hints to him about such developments.
After Germany’s capitulation, Paul found himself busy trying to supply food, clothing, and shelter to fellow LDS members. All the while, though, he could not stop thinking about those precious records that were lingering in some less than ideal conditions. Somehow, he was able to convince Soviet authorities to allow him to try and retrieve the records.
So, he gathered a group of fellow believers and began to seek them out. He also found that permission did not mean permission from everyone. Many members of his team were arrested by Soviet secret police and interrogated. While all were eventually released, the decided to proceed along more clandestine lines.
Members of the team would sneak into salt mines disguised as miners, evacuating registries, microfilm, and even expensive microfilm cameras. The team would even hike to lonely, deserted castles to exfiltrate hidden records.
Over the next few years, Paul negotiated tense Soviet politics as he and his team filmed as many of the registers as they could, knowing that the whole project could be stopped at any time. All the while, rolls of microfilm were sent to the Genealogical Society of Utah (now FamilySearch). Then, in 1951, all records in territories now belonging to Poland had to be shipped there. Two years later, all the German records under Soviet control were to be shipped to an archival facility at Potsdam. Realizing that time had run out, Paul and his family fled to the safety of America.
Without these strenuous efforts, many of these records would have been lost forever, either through neglect or simply destroyed in piques of anger. Others would not have been filmed until after the Cold War, denying many an opportunity to research their families for decades. So, as you search through reams of digitized microfilm, spare a second to think of Paul and his team of LDS missionaries who risked so much to help so many.
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Genealogy Center’s August 2025 Programs
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Join us for these engaging August Programs.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Where Yinz From?” with Trish Buben - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083548
Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “In-Person DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083556
Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Tools to Research Your French Canadian Ancestors” with Johanne Gervais - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083687
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Tracing Your Portuguese Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Portuguese Genealogy” with Christina Clary - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14084025
Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “An Introduction to DNA Testing for Genealogy” with Sarah Fullem - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083925
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Promised Land: How the Midwest was Won” with Peter Bronson - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14083869
Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Decoding Identities in Galicia: Ethnicity, Language & Nationality in Historical Context” with Kate McKenzie - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/14084695
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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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Time to visit the Allen County Public Library’s online merchandise store? Look for the Genealogy Center merch! You really need to check it out--we have added more merch offerings! The special Genealogy Center section of the store with some pretty cool items. http://acpl.dkmlogo.online/shop/category/4726261?c=4726261 Please remember that your purchases support the Friends of the Allen County Public Library, and they in turn support the Genealogy Center. More than ever, this support is so very important. Indeed, I would call this support vital.
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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 $95.
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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