Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library, No. 37, March 31, 2007 | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygemsgenealogycenter.info) | |
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:05:34 -0700 (PDT) |
Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 37, March 31, 2007
In this issue: *FGSConference.org--It's Time! *Women in the Western Reserve Before 1840 *Catholic Church Histories *Countdown to Conference 2007 *Preservation Tip of the Month *Area Calendar of Events *Driving Directions to the Library *Parking at the Library *Queries for the Department
*************************************** FGSConference.org--It's Time! by Curt B. Witcher *************************************** "Time to Shine!" Many of us remember that educational slogan of yesteryear meant to inspire young people to give one hundred percent in their academic endeavors. I'd like to change one word in that slogan: "Time to Sign!" And that would be an encouragement to sign-up for the Federation of Genealogical Societies' conference in Fort Wayne, August 15 through 18 of this year! It is going to be an amazing four days of family history fun, learning, and networking!
You no doubt have noticed the informative columns about this genealogical event which my colleague, Elaine Kuhn, has penned in the "Countdown to Conference 2007" section of this e-zine. (Another good one about the exhibit hall is in this issue.) You may have picked-up an information flyer when last you were in the Genealogy Center or your favorite genealogy hangout. You might have heard some mention of it at a local genealogical society meeting or read about it in a number of publications that have announced the event. Now, it's truly time to make the decision to attend.
Go to the conference website <www.FGSConference.org> and take a good look around. Along the left-hand side of that webpage you will find a number of useful links. Among the first links, and one of the most important, is the "Program" link. Go ahead and click on that one. You'll be presented with a day-by-day, hour-by-hour listing of the programs that will be offered during the four days of the conference. If you have a favorite speaker and would like to see what that person is presenting, click on the "Sort by Speaker" link near the top-center of the page. Next to that link is a "Sort by Track" link so you can quickly see the presentations arranged by general topics such as 20th Century, British Isles, Computer/Internet, Land, Military, and Occupational. There are quite a substantial number of methodology sessions as well. These sessions tend to be among the most beneficial for attendees.
In the center of the FGSConference.org main page as well as along the left side, you will notice a link to register online. After you've looked through the lecture offerings and descriptions, this link is the quickest and easiest way to get signed up for the conference. The links will take you to a secure registration system called Cvent. Sign-in, mark the classes you think you'd like to take (you can always change your mind when you're at the conference), choose your method of payment, enter your card number, and be prepared to have one of the most enjoyable times you have ever had learning from experts as well as networking with vendors and fellow attendees.
Are you looking for a place to stay while you're in town for the conference? Well first, don't be disappointed that the downtown hotels are full for the dates of the conference. There are still some great buys on Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia. Check them out. Coming with a friend or two can really drive down hotel costs as well. And speaking of driving, there is plenty of very cheap parking in downtown Fort Wayne close to the library and the convention center.
Excellent presentations, a super exhibit hall with an amazing variety of vendors, an outstanding research facility across the street from a new convention center, and nearly countless opportunities to network--the time to sign up for this fantastic event is now.
*************************************** Women in the Western Reserve Before 1840 by John D. Beatty *************************************** The Western Reserve consists of all or part of 14 counties in northeastern Ohio (Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, Portage, Geauga, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Ashland, Lorain, Erie, Huron, and Ottawa), an area once owned by Connecticut and settled heavily by pioneers from New England beginning in 1796. During the 1890s, the Women's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission began collecting material on women who settled in the Reserve between 1796 and 1840. The effort brought together some valuable historical and genealogical information that fell into two different categories. Some of this material consisted of anecdotal and biographical information for thousands of women, describing their hardships or experiences in taming the wilderness. The bulk of the material gathered, however, was more skeletal in nature, consisting of typewritten lists of names for tens of thousands of women, giving their date, county, and township of settlement, and in many instances, their maiden names, birth dates, and places of origin.
Gertrude Van Rensselaer Wickham, the group's historian, gathered the biographical and anecdotal information in a series of three volumes under the title, "Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve" (977.1 W63m). The pages of these volumes are consecutively numbered with an index to the set in the third.
The lists of names, which comprise the bulk of the collection, have never been formally published and are a part of the collection of the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland. They have been microfilmed on a single roll, a copy of which can be found at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne. Arrangement is alphabetical by county and township. An essential guide to the film, providing a complete name index, is the "Index to the Microfilm Edition of Genealogical Data Relating to Women in the Western Reserve before 1840 (1850)," compiled in 1976 by the Genealogical Committee of the Western Reserve Historical Society (977.1 W52i, shelved in the Microtext Guide section). The numbers that appear after the names are not page numbers, as the pagination of the original typescript is only haphazard at best. Instead the index uses meter numbers that are found in the dark space beneath the pages on the microfilm.
This collection is not heavily used but is worth a closer look if you are researching a pioneer woman in northeastern Ohio before 1840.
*************************************** Catholic Church Histories by Don Litzer *************************************** Church histories of congregations can include names of members, photographs, and occasionally even sacramental recipients. However, if a denomination is known, but a specific congregation is not, try researching church histories covering a broader geographic area. Such histories exist more often for denominations with a well-developed institutional hierarchy and organizational structure. It is therefore unsurprising that many such histories exist for the Roman Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic hierarchy generally places individual congregations, or parishes, under the authority of a bishop or archbishop, whose territory is, respectively, a diocese or archdiocese. Histories can be found for dioceses or archdioceses, or for temporal jurisdictions such as states, with which church districts often share boundaries.
Many Catholic histories, especially older ones, are collections of individual parish histories, such as Harry H. Heming's "The Catholic Church in Wisconsin" (977.5 H372CAT). Photographs of church structures and pastors, dates of pastoral changes and new building construction, and listings of affiliated organizations (Knights of Columbus, rosary societies, etc.) can be found. Descriptions of other Catholic institutions such as schools, hospitals, sanatoria, and orphanages are also featured. Another work, "Catholicity in the Carolinas and Georgia" by J. J. O'Connell (975 Oc5C), while written as a narrative, shares with the Heming book a geographical arrangement, allowing for systematic perusal by researchers.
Catholic histories can indicate whether congregations were missions of established parishes before becoming full parishes themselves—possibly providing clues to early record availability and location. They can also help identify national parishes, a phenomenon especially prevalent in the nineteenth century, whereby Catholics affiliated with others of like ethnicity at the parish level to maintain language, ethnic identity and traditions. Roger Fortin's "Faith and Action: A History of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 1821-1996" (977.102 C49FOR) highlights specific Irish and German Catholic parishes. "Highways of Destiny: A History of the Diocese of Pembroke, Ottawa Valley, Canada" (971.301 R29O) by William C. O'Dwyer prominently notes ethnic intermingling and definition, principally among French, Irish, and Polish Catholics.
Some works, such as "Alaskana Catholica: A History of the Catholic Church in Alaska" by Louis L. Renner (979.8 R295AC), are simply remarkable history—in this case, an exhaustive work recounting a missionary undertaking as vast and unique as the state itself.
Browsing the Genealogy Center's shelves by geographic area, or searching the library catalog with keywords such as "(diocese name) diocese" or "catholic church (state name)" can identify Catholic church histories that may prove useful for your research project, whether you're a beginner or an experienced researcher.
*************************************** Countdown to Conference 2007! by Elaine M. Kuhn *************************************** One of the many exciting things to experience at a conference such as the FGS/ACPL 2007 Conference taking place this August 15th-18th is a visit to the Exhibit Hall to check out the latest and greatest in books, software and collectibles. This year's conference will be no different -- a wide variety of vendors will have literally something for everyone interested in the fields of genealogy and local history.
The Exhibit Hall will be located in the Grand Wayne Center. The Grand Opening of the Exhibit Hall -- always a thrilling event -- will take place Thursday morning, August 16th at 9:30 am. The Exhibit Hall will then have open hours Thursday from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm, Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Along with some of the well-known companies such as Ancestry.com, the National Archives, and the Genealogical Publishing Company, visitors to the Exhibit Hall will encounter goods from companies such as Colonial Roots, the Fossil Tree, Stoney Way, GenSmarts, and the ever-popular Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Book vendors like the Genealogy Shelf and Jonathan Sheppard Books will also have booths full of merchandise.
Finally, here's a tip to help you prepare for your visit to the Exhibit Hall: many of the vendors draw for door prizes throughout the conference. So, as not to slow down your shopping experience, have some business cards or mailing labels affixed to 3x5 cards at hand. When you encounter a drawing you'd like to enter, simply drop your card in the appropriate entry box. Door prize winners are usually posted near the entrance to the Exhibit Hall.
Happy shopping!
*************************************** Preservation Tip of the Month by Becky Schipper *************************************** The following is a very good website covering many aspects of preservation from the Library of Congress. <www.loc.gov/preserv/>
There are three major sections on the main page: Preservation at the Library, Preservation of Your Materials, and Special Topics & Presentations. The second link in the second section called, "Preparing, Protecting, Preserving Family Treasures" is a particularly good link to explore.
*************************************** Area Calendar of Events *************************************** Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) Refreshments at 6:30, meeting at 7:00. Questions: contact Katie Bloom kathrynabloom [at] verizon.net Wednesday, April 11, 2007, Main Library at 900 Library Plaza: Marshall Brinkman will speak about the 44th Indiana Infantry Regiment in the Civil War.
Computer Users Group--Third Wednesday of each month. Questions? Contact Marge Graham, gramar57 [at] aol.com or 672-2585.
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) "First Wednesday" program is suspended for January of 2007 during the Genealogy Center's major move to its newly expanded location at 900 Library Plaza. Look for them on February 7, 2007 in the new department from 9A – 7pm. Expert help from members of the DAR in becoming a member of that organization
*************************************** Driving Directions to the Library *************************************** Wondering how to get to the library? Our location is 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the block bordered on the south by Washington Boulevard, the west by Ewing Street, the north by Webster Street, and the east by the Library Plaza, formerly Webster Street. We would enjoy having you visit the Genealogy Department.
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 102. 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 112. 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 Road. Coming up to an angled street (State Street.) make an angled left turn. Turn right on Wells Street. Go south on Wells to Wayne Street. Turn left on Wayne Street. The Library will be in the second block on the right.
Using US 24: After crossing under Interstate 69, follow the same directions as from the South.
From the East
Follow US 30/then 930 into and through New Haven, under an overpass into downtown Fort Wayne. You will be on Washington Blvd. when you get into downtown. Library Plaza will be on the right.
*************************************** Parking at the Library *************************************** At the Library, underground parking can be accessed off of 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. ALPC card holders may use their cards validate the parking ticket in 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 $65.
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. It is free to park on the street after 5pm 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 5pm and 11pm.
*************************************** Genealogy Center Queries *************************************** The Historical Genealogy Department hopes you find this newsletter interesting. Thank you for subscribing. We cannot, however, answer personal research emails written to the e-zine address. The department houses a Research Center that makes photocopies and conducts research for a fee.
If you have a general question about our collection, or are interested in the Research Center, please telephone the library and speak to a librarian who will be glad to answer your general questions or send you a research center form. Our telephone number is 260-421-1225. If you'd like to email a general information question about the department, please email: Genealogy [at] ACPL.Info.
*************************************** PUBLISHING NOTE: *************************************** This electronic newsletter is published by the Allen County Public Library's Genealogy Center, and is intended to enlighten readers about genealogical research methods as well as inform them about the vast resources of the Allen County Public Library. We welcome the wide distribution of this newsletter and encourage readers to forward it to their friends and societies. All precautions have been made to avoid errors. However, the publisher does not assume any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, no matter the cause.
To subscribe to Genealogy Gems, simply use your browser to go to the website: www.FriendsOfAllenCounty.org. Scroll down toward the bottom of the first screen where it says, "Enter Your Email Address to Subscribe to "Genealogy Gems." Enter your email address in the yellow box and click on "Subscribe." 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 GenealogyGems you just received or send an email to kspears [at] acpl.lib.in.us with "unsubscribe e-zine" in the subject line.
Curt Witcher, editor pro-tem
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