| Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne, No. 264, February 28, 2026 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygems genealogycenter.info)
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| Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:28:03 -0500 | |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Allen County Public Library at Fort Wayne
No. 264, February 28, 2026
In this issue:
*Huh, Conferences - What's the Big Deal?
*Northern Neck of Virginia Pioneers Review
*Finding Specific Digitized Records on FamilySearch
*PERSI Gems: Duck!
*Preservation Tips: White Cotton Gloves--The Preservation Myth that Won’t Die
*History Tidbits: Great Panache--The Story of the Ile de France
*Genealogy Center’s March 2026 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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Huh, Conferences - What's the Big Deal?
by Curt B. Witcher
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I am going to start my column this month exactly where I left off last month--highlighting the National Genealogical Society Conference May 27-30, 2026 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. And then end with links to the Indiana Genealogical Society annual conference and RootsTech 2026.
With increasing frequency I hear the question, “what’s the big deal with genealogy conferences, anyway?” It’s often articulated with such a tone that it sounds like the individual inquiring already has made up their mind. Many times there is the often-heard retort when talking about most subjects in the twenty-first century: “it’s all online anyway.” Assuming it’s true that “it” is all online (which it isn’t--not even close), how successful are we with finding what we need; how well do we evaluate the online information and records we discover; how are we doing with writing-up our research or are we still embracing the comfortable model of being “hunters-and-gatherers” rather than true family historians; and how are we doing at recording the living memories of relatives through meaningful and engaging interviews? These topics and more are how conferences can provide so much benefit.
Yes, of course, there will always be presentations about particular record groups and how to find them as well as use the information they contain. As important, though, if not more important are the presentations on how to deploy the latest technologies and best methodology so you can reap the most benefit from what you discover. Such events could include writers’ workshops where you can harvest ideas for transforming your research from a massive collection of papers, bits, and bytes into your family story that can be enjoyed by others; the panel discussions that bring multiple strategies and techniques to light; and the Q & A sessions where you can not only hear answers to questions you haven’t yet thought to ask you can also connect with individuals researching the same names, time periods, or locations while building your knowledge base.
Any time there are exhibitors at a conference that is an additional bonus. While one can purchase most products and services online, it is a real plus to be able to talk with a company or sales representative about product features and functionality, gently thumb-through the pages of a book, and maybe even benefit from a customer’s experience that you observe right in the exhibit hall. Seeing new products that we might not be aware of yet and learning more about those things that caught our attention previously but we just didn’t know enough about them to make a decision can be a big plus to the conference experience.
There is never a bad time to visit the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. While some conference venues are served by more modestly sized genealogical research facilities, the Genealogy Center’s forty-two thousand square feet can “drink up” a lot of patrons! What you learn and experience in conference sessions can be immediately applied in the rich collections of the Center. And with more than 1.3 million physical items and north of thirty online databases, there is a lot to use in the pursuit of discovering your families’ stories. Professional staff are available to assist every hour the Center is open, and there will be additional open hours during the NGS conference. During major events trained and experienced volunteers complement staff in assisting patrons and conference attendees alike.
So why attend the NGS conference May 27-30? You have an opportunity to learn from knowledgeable presenters and conference exhibitors, network with genealogists from across the country, enjoy the Genealogy Center with friends old and new, and experience a friendly, safe, and welcoming city. And all the periodicals indexed in the Periodical Source Index are available in the Genealogy Center! The NGS conference days could truly be the most enjoyable family history days of 2026. You wouldn’t want to miss that! https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org
Working your way to NGS in Fort Wayne, you can experience an international conference virtually with RootsTech 2026, www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/registration, beginning in just a few days and the Indiana Genealogical Conference in Plainfield, IN or virtually in mid-April 2026, https://indgensoc.org/event-details/ Here’s to a great beginning to your conference year! I hope to see you in Fort Wayne May 27-30, 2026!
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Northern Neck of Virginia Pioneers Review
by John D. Beatty, CG, FASG
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The Northern Neck of Virginia is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the eastern side of the commonwealth, with the Potomac River on its northern side and the Rappahannock on its south. It includes the counties of Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland. Settlers began flowing into the area in the 1640s, leading to the creation of Northumberland County in 1648. The legislature later subdivided the county into portions of what are now Lancaster and Westmoreland counties.
Robert K. Headley’s six-volume work, “Northern Neck of Virginia Pioneers, 1642-1675” (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2024), GC 975.5 H34p, presents a dynamic new resource for researching early settlers on this peninsula. In a masterful work of genealogical scholarship, the volumes are arranged alphabetically and contain record abstracts from dozens of court order books, deeds, wills, and patent books. Headley also incorporates references from Nell Marion Nugent’s “Cavaliers and Pioneers” and Gertrude Gray’s “Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1694-1742.” The scope includes not only Northumberland, Lancaster, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties, but also Old Rappahannock County, founded in 1656 out of Lancaster and later abolished in 1692 to form Essex and Richmond counties. At times, Headley casts his research net more widely to identify residents who hailed from Maryland and other parts of Virginia.
The book documents a high percentage of Northern Neck white residents in the mid-seventeenth century, both men and women, planter and indentured servant. Within each entry, Headley arranges the records chronologically with brief abstracts. A great variety of sources are represented: orders to pay debts, land and livestock sales, disputes, powers of attorney, deeds of gift, wills, inventories, depositions, coroners’ inquests, punishments of runaway servants, prenuptial agreements, mortgages, livestock marks, and land divisions. Headley writes in the introduction of his challenges distinguishing people with the same name and dealing with archaic spellings and idiomatic expressions. Surnames are expressed in full capital letters, and sources appear under abbreviated acronyms that are referenced in Appendix One. Each of the six volumes has its own index and bibliography, as well as a glossary of surname variants and Northern Neck placenames. Each entry is “dense” with abstracted information, and the user should be prepared to break out each one, locate the source in the appendix, and then go to the original for more complete information.
This is a gem of a resource for seventeenth century northern Virginia. New researchers may face some challenges getting up to speed with the court record terminology, but the appendices are useful guides. The book functions virtually as a prosopography. Those with ancestors in this area will want to study it carefully.
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Finding Specific Digitized Records on FamilySearch
by Sara Allen
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A patron asked us for help in finding a copy of the last will and testament of Henry Stevens, who was born in 1611 in England, immigrated to America in 1635, and died in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 11, 1690. We checked first the Ancestry and FamilySearch databases, which have many wills and probate records online and are indexed by the deceased’s name. However, a search of Ancestry did not yield this record, so we turned to FamilySearch. Since FamilySearch has microfilmed and digitized many original records from across the United States, chances were good we would find this record on that website. There are many pathways to finding records on FamilySearch. To determine whether this will is available digitally, we must conduct at least three different searches. We begin under the pull-down menu off the homepage titled “Search” - including the Records Search, the Catalog Search, and the Full Text Search.
First, we can try the Search > Records page to see if the website indexes Henry’s will by his name in the cataloging metadata, and if it will show up in the search results. When I searched for Henry Stevens who died 1690 in Suffolk County, Massachusetts (where Boston is located) on the search page, I had several hits, none of which linked to his will. Remember that the Search Records page at FamilySearch will only locate records that are indexed by the names of people directly referenced in the record. The majority of the digitized records have not yet been indexed, so they will not show up in the search results. We need to do more digging.
When we look for unindexed records at FamilySearch, it is helpful to know the will’s location in the original record books, because it will probably be referenced by that book number on the FamilySearch website. I decided to check some print materials in the Genealogy Center (Fort Wayne) collection. We have a book titled Suffolk County Wills (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1984), but after examining it, we found that it only indexed wills up to 1670. Then, I turned to the Great Migration series by Robert Charles Anderson. In volume 6, pp 504-511, there is a biographical sketch for this Henry Stevens. It cites the source of his will as “Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, New Series,” volume 3, pp. 178-180. If this search in print titles had been unsuccessful, I could have searched FamilySearch for a will index of Suffolk County and found the same information there.
Next, let’s search what FamilySearch calls the “Catalog,” which refers to the catalog of materials held at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. It will also provide weblinks to any books or microfilm that are digitized and viewable on the website. I went to the Search > Catalog page, entered the place as “Suffolk County, Massachusetts,” and hit search. I got a list of subject headings for Suffolk County records in the catalog. Then I clicked on Probate records and found six titles, one of which was titled “Suffolk County (Massachusetts) probate records, 1636-1899.” In this entry, I scanned through the list of forty-four microfilms until I found one titled “Probate Records, New Series, volume 3.” I clicked on the camera icon to view the digitized copy of this book. Browsing through each image sequentially led me to page 178. There, I read through Henry Stevens’ 1690 last will and testament. If you are doing this search at home, please know that some of FamilySearch’s records are locked with restricted access. It requires you to view them at a FamilySearch Center or affiliate library, which the Allen County Public Library is one.
Finally, we will search for the will using the Search > Full Text option at https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text. Using artificial intelligence, this page will search through millions of digitized records not indexed by personal name in the Records search. This function is still being upgraded and improved, so it is not always able to find the name you seek, but it can often be successful. In the search box labeled “keyword,” I entered the name “Henry Stevens” in quotes. Then at the results screen, I filtered the list of records using the location filters on the left, United States, Massachusetts, Suffolk, then I filtered again by Date, limiting to the 1690s. Once I did this action, several mentions of Henry Stevens’ death in 1690 came up, including the same probate book found earlier (New Series, Volume 3), linking to the will. Success!
In the end, we were able to view the will in two places on the FamilySearch website, but it required us to drill down into the site and find it under several layers of search screens. Because it was not indexed under the testator name in the metadata on the site, it was not found using the popular main Records Search page that many people rely on.
I hope this example helps you to use the FamilySearch website more efficiently and successfully. Happy hunting!
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PERSI Gems: Duck!
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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We at the Periodical Source Index have a certain appreciation for bits of local and family history that seem stranger than fiction. One such example, published in the Longhunter by the Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society, is the story of five young Kentucky men indicted for attempted enticement of five college girls to a duck supper. A duck supper? Harmless, right? There was more to this story.
This was not to be a public supper, but rather a private off-campus one past midnight. The guys provided more than a catered meal. They brought along a ladder to help the gals escape a second-floor window. One of the late-night campus visitors carried a pistol. Shots were exchanged with the Potter College president, Rev. B. F. Cabell, when he arrived at the scene of the escape with a double-barrel shotgun.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, one of the perpetrators sought medical attention for the removal of bird shot. Apparently, he didn’t duck fast enough on his way to supper. Let’s hope the physician wasn’t a quack.
Waddle on over for a PERSI search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Aaron Butts, local chef, spends time working at The Fat Duck in London, England; IN 2007
Fort Wayne (IN) Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 11 (Nov 2007)
Abe McNeill captured duck which collided with the Methodist Church steeple, 1917
Montgomery County (IL) Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 29, Issue 2 (2007)
Alex Mad Duck Karras professional football player and actor bio., life in Gary, 1935-2012
Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, Vol. 24, Issue 4 (Fal 2012)
Bernadine Upjohn Chapman re change in Thanksgiving duck tradition in family, 1936, IA, CA
Pioneer Heritage News (Iowa County Historical Society, IA), Issue 206 (Nov 2004)
Bird banding operation real help in restoring Indiana duck flight, 1939-1940
Outdoor Indiana, Vol. 7, Issue 1 (Feb 1940)
Cage Byerly grew sweet potato on Jack Mayes' place, looks like a duck, Dec. 1897
Age (Wallisville Heritage Park, TX), Issue 12 (Dec 2015)
Donald Duck declared innocent of harboring Nazi sympathies by Russian court, 1943, 2016
World War II, Vol. 31, Issue 4 (Nov 2016)
Duck Brand Saloon becomes Epis. church, 1916
South Jersey Magazine (NJ), Vol. 4, Issue 2 (Apr 1975)
Federal duck stamps history and collector tips, 1934+
Kanhistique (KS), Vol. 15, Issue 4 (Aug 1989)
Iowa-tagged duck shot in South Korea, First Marine Aircraft Wing personnel, 1954
Graybeards (Korean War Veterans Association), Vol. 21, Issue 4 (Jul 2007)
Men indicted for attempting to entice five Potter College girls to duck supper, 1901
Longhunter (Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society), Vol. 35, Issue 1 (Win 2012)
Mother duck and 13 ducklings visit Delaware County Historical Society, photo, note, 2019
Bulletin of the Delaware County (IN) Historical Society, Vol. 7, Issue 4 (Jul 2019)
Nicholas G. Kazonis re duck attack, b. 1985, Merrillville, IN
Steel Shavings (Indiana University, Northwest), Vol. 38 (2007)
World's Championship Duck Calling Contest festival, cover photo note, 1950s
Grand Prairie (AR) Historical Society Bulletin, Vol. 58, Issue 2 (Oct 2015)
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Preservation Tips: White Cotton Gloves--The Preservation Myth that Won’t Die
by Christina Clary, C.A.
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Archivists have never been the biggest advocates for wearing white cotton gloves. In fact, references to a preference for gloveless hands date all the way back to medieval times. An apocryphal story circulated among archivists tells how a medieval woman, Lady Zwedera of the Netherlands, stopped wearing white gloves while reading holy scriptures after a religious figure told her that such cleanliness was extravagant and would send her straight to purgatory. The public obsession with archival gloves is a modern one, dating back only to the 1990s, according to a 2005 study on the efficacy of wearing gloves in archives.
The study theorizes that gloves, particularly cotton ones, were ostensibly marketed by archival supply vendors as a necessity to increase profits. This, coupled with film and media depictions, helped cement in the public’s mind that if one is handling an archival item, one must wear white gloves. In a New York Times article from 2023 discussing this issue, archivists and rare book librarians claimed that media outlets will request that they wear gloves when photographed. The article also states that at auction houses, gloves are worn in publicity photographs to add allure to an item, even though they do not require them behind the scenes. White gloves have become a cultural shorthand indicating an item is old, rare, and valuable.
So why do archivists eschew these seemingly ubiquitous white cotton gloves? They will wearily inform you that gloves decrease a person’s sense of touch and therefore decrease their manual dexterity. It becomes harder to handle items carefully, especially when gloves are improperly fitted. Cotton fibers can catch on tears and make them worse while also picking up and smearing pigments. The gloves quickly become dirty and moist from the sweat. Rubber gloves are slightly better, though they can stick to materials.
The 2005 study found no scientific evidence of chemical damage caused by bare hands. Recommendations for handling items call for clean, dry hands and no lotion or hand sanitizer. Jewelry should be removed. In some places, only clear nail polish is allowed.
There are, of course, some exceptions to the no-gloves policy. It is strongly recommended to wear gloves when handling photographic materials, film, or metal components. The oils and other residues on skin can cause chemical reactions in these types of materials. Nitrile gloves are preferred for these items. Gloves are also required when handling items with mold or other potentially hazardous substances, such as the arsenic used in the paint on “poison books.”
If you see an archivist or rare book librarian wearing white gloves at a publicity event and none of the exceptions apply, it is likely for show. Public outrage at a gloveless archivist has driven many to adopt gloves in public to avoid becoming beleaguered by complaints. Concern over a lack of gloves is one of the top issues archivists hear from the public. Remember that in preservation, training and expertise surpass optics.
Alvis, A. K. (2019, November 21). No love for white gloves, or: the cotton menace. Smithsonian Libraries & Archives Blog. https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2019/11/21/no-love-for-white-gloves-or-the-cotton-menace/
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (2005, December). Misconceptions about white gloves. International Preservation News, (37). https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/pac/ipn/ipnn37.pdf
Medieval Manuscripts Blog. (2025, September 18). White gloves or not white gloves. British Library. https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2011/08/white-gloves-or-not-white-gloves.html
Schuessler, J. (2023, March 9). For rare book librarians, it’s gloves off. Seriously. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/arts/rare-books-white-gloves.html
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History Tidbits: Great Panache--The Story of the Ile de France
by Logan Knight
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When good Americans die, they go to Paris. So said Oscar Wilde when explaining American’s love of French culture, cuisine and art. In the 1920s, they went aboard the famed ship, the Ile de France.
The flagship of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, France’s state-run steamship company, the Ile de France was launched in 1927 and quickly became the favorite way for wealthy Americans to shuffle back and forth to the continent. It was not her speed that attracted the rich and famous but, rather, her extreme luxury. For instance, she boasted a twenty-nine-foot bar where Americans could escape Prohibition with fifteen cent Scotch. Roughly a quarter of a million people would sail aboard her before the decade’s end.
The ship attracted its fair share of characters. Ernest Hemingway was in the luxurious ballroom when Marlene Dietrich declined to join a group because she would have been unlucky number thirteen at the table. Hemingway gallantly offered to join the party to keep superstition at bay. These are the kinds of events that the Ile de France was known for.
That does not compare, though, to the story of notorious conman and stowaway “Prince” Mike Romanoff. Romanoff had an incredible way of sneaking aboard ships and helping himself to the various amenities. Once, he managed to charm the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and joined his entourage. When a steward asked for his cabin number, he replied that the entire ship was his cabin. As a gesture of respect, the chivalrous crew allowed him to finish his meal before tossing him in the brig for the duration.
The morning of March 22, 1932, saw an event which firmly placed this great transatlantic liner in the highest realms of romance. As the ship made its way to Plymouth, a young lady named Dorothy Paine was gazing into the sky. What did she see but a small speck? As it came closer it was revealed as a small biplane. The tiny aircraft circled the craft, wagging its wings at Dorothy. The pilot could be seen blowing kisses to Dorothy.
As it turns out, Dorothy, a girl of a good New York family, had been squired around Paris by one Pierre Van Laer, the wealthy heir to a cotton fortune. Sparks had clearly flown, and Pierre had promised the fair maiden that she would see him once again before she returned home. By flying his plane to see her once more, the Frenchman kept his promise.
One can almost imagine the horror then as Pierre’s plane nosedived into the Atlantic. Captain Blancart immediately turned the ship around to look for the gallant man. The chances of finding him alive seemed infinitesimal, but luck smiled on the lovers as Pierre was found bobbing in the middle of the ocean, alive and unhurt. He was placed in the hospital for a day where he made a full recovery. Pierre borrowed the captain’s jacket and joined the passengers and crew, to great hurrahs all around. In a classy touch, Pierre’s mother wired payment for her son’s round-trip ticket, so his name was listed promptly as a full passenger. No other event can capture the spirit that was the Ile de France.
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Genealogy Center’s March 2026 Programs
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March’s robust program offerings are below. Take a look and register for at least a few today!
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Learning Your Family History” with Janice Smithers - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848089
Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. ET “IN-PERSON DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848090
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET “The Magic of Recording a Voice, a Story and a Family History” with Joe Collins - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15905474
Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Reading and Understanding Norwegian Records” with Tegan R. Price - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848093
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Tracing Your Irish Roots: Intro to Irish Genealogy” with Elizabeth Hodges - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848095
Thursday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Curating Your Physical Photo Legacy: A Minimalist System with Sentimental Keepers” with Joy Reddicks - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848133
Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. ET “Research Tools & Tips: Daughter, Mother, Wife - Tracking Women in the Census.” From enslaver’s names to husband’s names to chosen names, learn tools and tips to track women in the census with the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yg7a46B9QCeUuGci4pDvig
Tuesday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Free Resources for New York Genealogical Research (and Beyond)” with Marian Wood - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848150
Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. ET “They Lived Where? Tips for Researching Locations with Laura Kovarik - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848152
Tuesday, March 31 at 2:30 p.m. ET “A Guide to Württemberg Emigration Records” with Logan Knight - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15853683
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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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Look for the Genealogy Center merch! You really should check it out! The special Genealogy Center section of the store with some pretty cool items. Just added: some holiday ornaments! 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. As much as ever, this support is so very important.
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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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The library’s current parking system started on November 3, 2025, and may still be new to some. It is a real advantage for those using the Genealogy Center because the first three hours of parking are free. Then, as before, it is $1 per hour up to a maximum of $7 per day.
One can read all about the new system at www.acpl.lib.in.us/parking-at-main. There is a great FAQ section that will answer many questions one may have. And of course, one can always reach out to your friends in the Genealogy Center.
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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, FASG co-editors
No. 264, February 28, 2026
In this issue:
*Huh, Conferences - What's the Big Deal?
*Northern Neck of Virginia Pioneers Review
*Finding Specific Digitized Records on FamilySearch
*PERSI Gems: Duck!
*Preservation Tips: White Cotton Gloves--The Preservation Myth that Won’t Die
*History Tidbits: Great Panache--The Story of the Ile de France
*Genealogy Center’s March 2026 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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Huh, Conferences - What's the Big Deal?
by Curt B. Witcher
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I am going to start my column this month exactly where I left off last month--highlighting the National Genealogical Society Conference May 27-30, 2026 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. And then end with links to the Indiana Genealogical Society annual conference and RootsTech 2026.
With increasing frequency I hear the question, “what’s the big deal with genealogy conferences, anyway?” It’s often articulated with such a tone that it sounds like the individual inquiring already has made up their mind. Many times there is the often-heard retort when talking about most subjects in the twenty-first century: “it’s all online anyway.” Assuming it’s true that “it” is all online (which it isn’t--not even close), how successful are we with finding what we need; how well do we evaluate the online information and records we discover; how are we doing with writing-up our research or are we still embracing the comfortable model of being “hunters-and-gatherers” rather than true family historians; and how are we doing at recording the living memories of relatives through meaningful and engaging interviews? These topics and more are how conferences can provide so much benefit.
Yes, of course, there will always be presentations about particular record groups and how to find them as well as use the information they contain. As important, though, if not more important are the presentations on how to deploy the latest technologies and best methodology so you can reap the most benefit from what you discover. Such events could include writers’ workshops where you can harvest ideas for transforming your research from a massive collection of papers, bits, and bytes into your family story that can be enjoyed by others; the panel discussions that bring multiple strategies and techniques to light; and the Q & A sessions where you can not only hear answers to questions you haven’t yet thought to ask you can also connect with individuals researching the same names, time periods, or locations while building your knowledge base.
Any time there are exhibitors at a conference that is an additional bonus. While one can purchase most products and services online, it is a real plus to be able to talk with a company or sales representative about product features and functionality, gently thumb-through the pages of a book, and maybe even benefit from a customer’s experience that you observe right in the exhibit hall. Seeing new products that we might not be aware of yet and learning more about those things that caught our attention previously but we just didn’t know enough about them to make a decision can be a big plus to the conference experience.
There is never a bad time to visit the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. While some conference venues are served by more modestly sized genealogical research facilities, the Genealogy Center’s forty-two thousand square feet can “drink up” a lot of patrons! What you learn and experience in conference sessions can be immediately applied in the rich collections of the Center. And with more than 1.3 million physical items and north of thirty online databases, there is a lot to use in the pursuit of discovering your families’ stories. Professional staff are available to assist every hour the Center is open, and there will be additional open hours during the NGS conference. During major events trained and experienced volunteers complement staff in assisting patrons and conference attendees alike.
So why attend the NGS conference May 27-30? You have an opportunity to learn from knowledgeable presenters and conference exhibitors, network with genealogists from across the country, enjoy the Genealogy Center with friends old and new, and experience a friendly, safe, and welcoming city. And all the periodicals indexed in the Periodical Source Index are available in the Genealogy Center! The NGS conference days could truly be the most enjoyable family history days of 2026. You wouldn’t want to miss that! https://conference.ngsgenealogy.org
Working your way to NGS in Fort Wayne, you can experience an international conference virtually with RootsTech 2026, www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/registration, beginning in just a few days and the Indiana Genealogical Conference in Plainfield, IN or virtually in mid-April 2026, https://indgensoc.org/event-details/ Here’s to a great beginning to your conference year! I hope to see you in Fort Wayne May 27-30, 2026!
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Northern Neck of Virginia Pioneers Review
by John D. Beatty, CG, FASG
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The Northern Neck of Virginia is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the eastern side of the commonwealth, with the Potomac River on its northern side and the Rappahannock on its south. It includes the counties of Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland. Settlers began flowing into the area in the 1640s, leading to the creation of Northumberland County in 1648. The legislature later subdivided the county into portions of what are now Lancaster and Westmoreland counties.
Robert K. Headley’s six-volume work, “Northern Neck of Virginia Pioneers, 1642-1675” (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2024), GC 975.5 H34p, presents a dynamic new resource for researching early settlers on this peninsula. In a masterful work of genealogical scholarship, the volumes are arranged alphabetically and contain record abstracts from dozens of court order books, deeds, wills, and patent books. Headley also incorporates references from Nell Marion Nugent’s “Cavaliers and Pioneers” and Gertrude Gray’s “Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1694-1742.” The scope includes not only Northumberland, Lancaster, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties, but also Old Rappahannock County, founded in 1656 out of Lancaster and later abolished in 1692 to form Essex and Richmond counties. At times, Headley casts his research net more widely to identify residents who hailed from Maryland and other parts of Virginia.
The book documents a high percentage of Northern Neck white residents in the mid-seventeenth century, both men and women, planter and indentured servant. Within each entry, Headley arranges the records chronologically with brief abstracts. A great variety of sources are represented: orders to pay debts, land and livestock sales, disputes, powers of attorney, deeds of gift, wills, inventories, depositions, coroners’ inquests, punishments of runaway servants, prenuptial agreements, mortgages, livestock marks, and land divisions. Headley writes in the introduction of his challenges distinguishing people with the same name and dealing with archaic spellings and idiomatic expressions. Surnames are expressed in full capital letters, and sources appear under abbreviated acronyms that are referenced in Appendix One. Each of the six volumes has its own index and bibliography, as well as a glossary of surname variants and Northern Neck placenames. Each entry is “dense” with abstracted information, and the user should be prepared to break out each one, locate the source in the appendix, and then go to the original for more complete information.
This is a gem of a resource for seventeenth century northern Virginia. New researchers may face some challenges getting up to speed with the court record terminology, but the appendices are useful guides. The book functions virtually as a prosopography. Those with ancestors in this area will want to study it carefully.
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Finding Specific Digitized Records on FamilySearch
by Sara Allen
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A patron asked us for help in finding a copy of the last will and testament of Henry Stevens, who was born in 1611 in England, immigrated to America in 1635, and died in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 11, 1690. We checked first the Ancestry and FamilySearch databases, which have many wills and probate records online and are indexed by the deceased’s name. However, a search of Ancestry did not yield this record, so we turned to FamilySearch. Since FamilySearch has microfilmed and digitized many original records from across the United States, chances were good we would find this record on that website. There are many pathways to finding records on FamilySearch. To determine whether this will is available digitally, we must conduct at least three different searches. We begin under the pull-down menu off the homepage titled “Search” - including the Records Search, the Catalog Search, and the Full Text Search.
First, we can try the Search > Records page to see if the website indexes Henry’s will by his name in the cataloging metadata, and if it will show up in the search results. When I searched for Henry Stevens who died 1690 in Suffolk County, Massachusetts (where Boston is located) on the search page, I had several hits, none of which linked to his will. Remember that the Search Records page at FamilySearch will only locate records that are indexed by the names of people directly referenced in the record. The majority of the digitized records have not yet been indexed, so they will not show up in the search results. We need to do more digging.
When we look for unindexed records at FamilySearch, it is helpful to know the will’s location in the original record books, because it will probably be referenced by that book number on the FamilySearch website. I decided to check some print materials in the Genealogy Center (Fort Wayne) collection. We have a book titled Suffolk County Wills (Genealogical Publishing Co., 1984), but after examining it, we found that it only indexed wills up to 1670. Then, I turned to the Great Migration series by Robert Charles Anderson. In volume 6, pp 504-511, there is a biographical sketch for this Henry Stevens. It cites the source of his will as “Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, New Series,” volume 3, pp. 178-180. If this search in print titles had been unsuccessful, I could have searched FamilySearch for a will index of Suffolk County and found the same information there.
Next, let’s search what FamilySearch calls the “Catalog,” which refers to the catalog of materials held at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. It will also provide weblinks to any books or microfilm that are digitized and viewable on the website. I went to the Search > Catalog page, entered the place as “Suffolk County, Massachusetts,” and hit search. I got a list of subject headings for Suffolk County records in the catalog. Then I clicked on Probate records and found six titles, one of which was titled “Suffolk County (Massachusetts) probate records, 1636-1899.” In this entry, I scanned through the list of forty-four microfilms until I found one titled “Probate Records, New Series, volume 3.” I clicked on the camera icon to view the digitized copy of this book. Browsing through each image sequentially led me to page 178. There, I read through Henry Stevens’ 1690 last will and testament. If you are doing this search at home, please know that some of FamilySearch’s records are locked with restricted access. It requires you to view them at a FamilySearch Center or affiliate library, which the Allen County Public Library is one.
Finally, we will search for the will using the Search > Full Text option at https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text. Using artificial intelligence, this page will search through millions of digitized records not indexed by personal name in the Records search. This function is still being upgraded and improved, so it is not always able to find the name you seek, but it can often be successful. In the search box labeled “keyword,” I entered the name “Henry Stevens” in quotes. Then at the results screen, I filtered the list of records using the location filters on the left, United States, Massachusetts, Suffolk, then I filtered again by Date, limiting to the 1690s. Once I did this action, several mentions of Henry Stevens’ death in 1690 came up, including the same probate book found earlier (New Series, Volume 3), linking to the will. Success!
In the end, we were able to view the will in two places on the FamilySearch website, but it required us to drill down into the site and find it under several layers of search screens. Because it was not indexed under the testator name in the metadata on the site, it was not found using the popular main Records Search page that many people rely on.
I hope this example helps you to use the FamilySearch website more efficiently and successfully. Happy hunting!
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PERSI Gems: Duck!
by Adam Barrone and Mike Hudson
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We at the Periodical Source Index have a certain appreciation for bits of local and family history that seem stranger than fiction. One such example, published in the Longhunter by the Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society, is the story of five young Kentucky men indicted for attempted enticement of five college girls to a duck supper. A duck supper? Harmless, right? There was more to this story.
This was not to be a public supper, but rather a private off-campus one past midnight. The guys provided more than a catered meal. They brought along a ladder to help the gals escape a second-floor window. One of the late-night campus visitors carried a pistol. Shots were exchanged with the Potter College president, Rev. B. F. Cabell, when he arrived at the scene of the escape with a double-barrel shotgun.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, one of the perpetrators sought medical attention for the removal of bird shot. Apparently, he didn’t duck fast enough on his way to supper. Let’s hope the physician wasn’t a quack.
Waddle on over for a PERSI search here:
https://www.genealogycenter.info/persi/
Aaron Butts, local chef, spends time working at The Fat Duck in London, England; IN 2007
Fort Wayne (IN) Magazine, Vol. 5, Issue 11 (Nov 2007)
Abe McNeill captured duck which collided with the Methodist Church steeple, 1917
Montgomery County (IL) Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 29, Issue 2 (2007)
Alex Mad Duck Karras professional football player and actor bio., life in Gary, 1935-2012
Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, Vol. 24, Issue 4 (Fal 2012)
Bernadine Upjohn Chapman re change in Thanksgiving duck tradition in family, 1936, IA, CA
Pioneer Heritage News (Iowa County Historical Society, IA), Issue 206 (Nov 2004)
Bird banding operation real help in restoring Indiana duck flight, 1939-1940
Outdoor Indiana, Vol. 7, Issue 1 (Feb 1940)
Cage Byerly grew sweet potato on Jack Mayes' place, looks like a duck, Dec. 1897
Age (Wallisville Heritage Park, TX), Issue 12 (Dec 2015)
Donald Duck declared innocent of harboring Nazi sympathies by Russian court, 1943, 2016
World War II, Vol. 31, Issue 4 (Nov 2016)
Duck Brand Saloon becomes Epis. church, 1916
South Jersey Magazine (NJ), Vol. 4, Issue 2 (Apr 1975)
Federal duck stamps history and collector tips, 1934+
Kanhistique (KS), Vol. 15, Issue 4 (Aug 1989)
Iowa-tagged duck shot in South Korea, First Marine Aircraft Wing personnel, 1954
Graybeards (Korean War Veterans Association), Vol. 21, Issue 4 (Jul 2007)
Men indicted for attempting to entice five Potter College girls to duck supper, 1901
Longhunter (Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society), Vol. 35, Issue 1 (Win 2012)
Mother duck and 13 ducklings visit Delaware County Historical Society, photo, note, 2019
Bulletin of the Delaware County (IN) Historical Society, Vol. 7, Issue 4 (Jul 2019)
Nicholas G. Kazonis re duck attack, b. 1985, Merrillville, IN
Steel Shavings (Indiana University, Northwest), Vol. 38 (2007)
World's Championship Duck Calling Contest festival, cover photo note, 1950s
Grand Prairie (AR) Historical Society Bulletin, Vol. 58, Issue 2 (Oct 2015)
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Preservation Tips: White Cotton Gloves--The Preservation Myth that Won’t Die
by Christina Clary, C.A.
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Archivists have never been the biggest advocates for wearing white cotton gloves. In fact, references to a preference for gloveless hands date all the way back to medieval times. An apocryphal story circulated among archivists tells how a medieval woman, Lady Zwedera of the Netherlands, stopped wearing white gloves while reading holy scriptures after a religious figure told her that such cleanliness was extravagant and would send her straight to purgatory. The public obsession with archival gloves is a modern one, dating back only to the 1990s, according to a 2005 study on the efficacy of wearing gloves in archives.
The study theorizes that gloves, particularly cotton ones, were ostensibly marketed by archival supply vendors as a necessity to increase profits. This, coupled with film and media depictions, helped cement in the public’s mind that if one is handling an archival item, one must wear white gloves. In a New York Times article from 2023 discussing this issue, archivists and rare book librarians claimed that media outlets will request that they wear gloves when photographed. The article also states that at auction houses, gloves are worn in publicity photographs to add allure to an item, even though they do not require them behind the scenes. White gloves have become a cultural shorthand indicating an item is old, rare, and valuable.
So why do archivists eschew these seemingly ubiquitous white cotton gloves? They will wearily inform you that gloves decrease a person’s sense of touch and therefore decrease their manual dexterity. It becomes harder to handle items carefully, especially when gloves are improperly fitted. Cotton fibers can catch on tears and make them worse while also picking up and smearing pigments. The gloves quickly become dirty and moist from the sweat. Rubber gloves are slightly better, though they can stick to materials.
The 2005 study found no scientific evidence of chemical damage caused by bare hands. Recommendations for handling items call for clean, dry hands and no lotion or hand sanitizer. Jewelry should be removed. In some places, only clear nail polish is allowed.
There are, of course, some exceptions to the no-gloves policy. It is strongly recommended to wear gloves when handling photographic materials, film, or metal components. The oils and other residues on skin can cause chemical reactions in these types of materials. Nitrile gloves are preferred for these items. Gloves are also required when handling items with mold or other potentially hazardous substances, such as the arsenic used in the paint on “poison books.”
If you see an archivist or rare book librarian wearing white gloves at a publicity event and none of the exceptions apply, it is likely for show. Public outrage at a gloveless archivist has driven many to adopt gloves in public to avoid becoming beleaguered by complaints. Concern over a lack of gloves is one of the top issues archivists hear from the public. Remember that in preservation, training and expertise surpass optics.
Alvis, A. K. (2019, November 21). No love for white gloves, or: the cotton menace. Smithsonian Libraries & Archives Blog. https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2019/11/21/no-love-for-white-gloves-or-the-cotton-menace/
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (2005, December). Misconceptions about white gloves. International Preservation News, (37). https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/pac/ipn/ipnn37.pdf
Medieval Manuscripts Blog. (2025, September 18). White gloves or not white gloves. British Library. https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2011/08/white-gloves-or-not-white-gloves.html
Schuessler, J. (2023, March 9). For rare book librarians, it’s gloves off. Seriously. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/arts/rare-books-white-gloves.html
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History Tidbits: Great Panache--The Story of the Ile de France
by Logan Knight
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When good Americans die, they go to Paris. So said Oscar Wilde when explaining American’s love of French culture, cuisine and art. In the 1920s, they went aboard the famed ship, the Ile de France.
The flagship of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, France’s state-run steamship company, the Ile de France was launched in 1927 and quickly became the favorite way for wealthy Americans to shuffle back and forth to the continent. It was not her speed that attracted the rich and famous but, rather, her extreme luxury. For instance, she boasted a twenty-nine-foot bar where Americans could escape Prohibition with fifteen cent Scotch. Roughly a quarter of a million people would sail aboard her before the decade’s end.
The ship attracted its fair share of characters. Ernest Hemingway was in the luxurious ballroom when Marlene Dietrich declined to join a group because she would have been unlucky number thirteen at the table. Hemingway gallantly offered to join the party to keep superstition at bay. These are the kinds of events that the Ile de France was known for.
That does not compare, though, to the story of notorious conman and stowaway “Prince” Mike Romanoff. Romanoff had an incredible way of sneaking aboard ships and helping himself to the various amenities. Once, he managed to charm the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and joined his entourage. When a steward asked for his cabin number, he replied that the entire ship was his cabin. As a gesture of respect, the chivalrous crew allowed him to finish his meal before tossing him in the brig for the duration.
The morning of March 22, 1932, saw an event which firmly placed this great transatlantic liner in the highest realms of romance. As the ship made its way to Plymouth, a young lady named Dorothy Paine was gazing into the sky. What did she see but a small speck? As it came closer it was revealed as a small biplane. The tiny aircraft circled the craft, wagging its wings at Dorothy. The pilot could be seen blowing kisses to Dorothy.
As it turns out, Dorothy, a girl of a good New York family, had been squired around Paris by one Pierre Van Laer, the wealthy heir to a cotton fortune. Sparks had clearly flown, and Pierre had promised the fair maiden that she would see him once again before she returned home. By flying his plane to see her once more, the Frenchman kept his promise.
One can almost imagine the horror then as Pierre’s plane nosedived into the Atlantic. Captain Blancart immediately turned the ship around to look for the gallant man. The chances of finding him alive seemed infinitesimal, but luck smiled on the lovers as Pierre was found bobbing in the middle of the ocean, alive and unhurt. He was placed in the hospital for a day where he made a full recovery. Pierre borrowed the captain’s jacket and joined the passengers and crew, to great hurrahs all around. In a classy touch, Pierre’s mother wired payment for her son’s round-trip ticket, so his name was listed promptly as a full passenger. No other event can capture the spirit that was the Ile de France.
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Genealogy Center’s March 2026 Programs
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March’s robust program offerings are below. Take a look and register for at least a few today!
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Learning Your Family History” with Janice Smithers - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848089
Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. ET “IN-PERSON DNA & Genealogy Interest Group” with Sara Allen - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848090
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET “The Magic of Recording a Voice, a Story and a Family History” with Joe Collins - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15905474
Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Reading and Understanding Norwegian Records” with Tegan R. Price - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848093
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Tracing Your Irish Roots: Intro to Irish Genealogy” with Elizabeth Hodges - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848095
Thursday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. ET “Curating Your Physical Photo Legacy: A Minimalist System with Sentimental Keepers” with Joy Reddicks - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848133
Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. ET “Research Tools & Tips: Daughter, Mother, Wife - Tracking Women in the Census.” From enslaver’s names to husband’s names to chosen names, learn tools and tips to track women in the census with the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yg7a46B9QCeUuGci4pDvig
Tuesday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m. ET “Free Resources for New York Genealogical Research (and Beyond)” with Marian Wood - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848150
Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. ET “They Lived Where? Tips for Researching Locations with Laura Kovarik - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15848152
Tuesday, March 31 at 2:30 p.m. ET “A Guide to Württemberg Emigration Records” with Logan Knight - https://acpl.libnet.info/event/15853683
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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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Look for the Genealogy Center merch! You really should check it out! The special Genealogy Center section of the store with some pretty cool items. Just added: some holiday ornaments! 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. As much as ever, this support is so very important.
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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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The library’s current parking system started on November 3, 2025, and may still be new to some. It is a real advantage for those using the Genealogy Center because the first three hours of parking are free. Then, as before, it is $1 per hour up to a maximum of $7 per day.
One can read all about the new system at www.acpl.lib.in.us/parking-at-main. There is a great FAQ section that will answer many questions one may have. And of course, one can always reach out to your friends in the Genealogy Center.
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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, FASG co-editors
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