Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library, No. 41, July 31, 2007
From: Genealogy Gems (genealogygemsgenealogycenter.info)
Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:08:09 -0700 (PDT)
Genealogy Gems:  News from the Fort Wayne Library
No. 41, July 31, 2007

In this issue:
*An August to Remember
*The Shaping of America: A Geographical Perspective on 500 Years of History
*Miami Indian Microfilm Collection
*Countdown to Conference 2007
*Preservation Tip of the Month
*Area Calendar of Events
*Sneak Peak at October's Family History Month Program Line-up
*Driving Directions to the Library
*Parking at the Library
*Queries for the Department

***************************************
An August to Remember
by Curt B. Witcher
***************************************
After many months of planning, it is hard to believe that the
Federation of Genealogical Societies' annual conference is just a few
short days away.  As she has done for many months now, Elaine Kuhn has
an informative piece on conference activities in this issue of the
e-zine.  Indeed, her top ten list is not to be missed.  Online
registration will be open for several more days.  Even when that is
closed, you're more than welcome to register onsite.  Onsite
registration hours are listed at FGSConference.org along with much
other useful data about the conference.  It will be some time before
one of the national conferences in the family history field is back in
Fort Wayne.  Don't be among those who end up regretting not attending
the conference after it is over.  Make it an August to remember by
attending this "meeting at the crossroads of America!"

While August will be a month to remember, July was a bit memorable as
well.  On July 10th, the GenealogyCenter.Info website successfully
served up its 1,000,000th search result page. (1,000,599 to be exact!)
 The library's Genealogy Center will continue to commit to providing
genealogical and historical information about Allen County, Indiana,
the United States, and beyond.  Through this site and our partnership
with the Foundation for Online Genealogy at WeRelate.org, look for
many good things in the future.

***************************************
"The Shaping of America: A Geographical Perspective on 500 Years of History"
by Don Litzer
***************************************
Genealogists fervently occupy themselves with pursuing the "what" of
their ancestors' history—facts about individuals that, taken together,
comprise skeletons of fact about their lives which, in turn, may lead
to research success elsewhere. Getting to the next level, to put flesh
on those skeletons of fact, is to reach beyond the "what" to the "how"
and "why"—the economic, social, religious, and cultural forces
prompting our ancestors' life choices, such as emigrating, pioneering,
settling, and migrating, or worshipping, protesting, and taking up
arms.

Memoirs and other personal narratives may explore these motivations,
but are all too rare. Area research—intensely studying the history of
the immediate localities in which our ancestors lived—may also provide
insight into the "why" of our ancestors' lives.  However, to get at
the global hows and whys, the study of historical geography—how humans
interact with their environment and create a cultural landscape—can
provide valuable insight into our ancestors and their world.

D. W. Meinig's four-volume series, "The Shaping of America: A
Geographical Perspective on 500 Years of History," sets out to present
a fresh interpretation of the forces that attended America's
development from a series of precarious European footholds to a global
power. "Atlantic America, 1492-1800" shows how American settlements in
the colonial and early national period evolved from outliers of
European mercantilism to a matrix of distinct regional societies.
"Continental America, 1800-1867" emphasizes that the expansion into
continental America was full of uncertainty and unpredictability by
describing and assessing the emerging patterns of cities, waterways,
roads, railways, and attempts at national planning, and by integrating
the story of secession, war and reconstruction.

The series' third volume, "Transcontinental America 1850-1915," begins
with the struggle of where to build the Pacific railway and thereby
fix the nation's first transcontinental axis, and then discusses the
nation's evolution in various regions and aspects: describing the
American West as a collection of diverse settlements, the South as
emerging from Reconstruction with a distinctive economy and ethnicity,
and the effects of industrialization on a nation's wealth and power.
The final volume, "Global America: 1915-2000," puts into perspective
the effects of the automobile and other technology on population
shifts, residential patterns, lifestyles and America's growing
connections with Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Meinig is not only thorough in describing the economic, cultural, and
social forces that have brought us to the present day, but presents
his material in a readable style that non-professionals will find
approachable. In addition, the text is liberally enhanced by maps,
illustrations, and other images that demonstrate the concepts being
discussed.  These features make "The Shaping of America" series a
pleasure to read.

Every day more of us find it difficult to remember life before the
cell phone…before the personal computer…before the interstate highway.
Very few of us can remember a time before the automobile
revolutionized transportation and the concept of personal mobility.
"The Shaping of America," in setting aside politicians and other
famous historical characters to bring out the underlying historical
trends that influenced the decisions made by regular people, helps us
to understand our ancestors' world, and enrich and build upon the
history genealogists strive to uncover.

***************************************
Miami Indian Microfilm Collection
by Mary D. Kraeszig
***************************************
The Genealogy Center collection includes several rolls of microfilm
concerning the Miami Indian tribe during the 19th century. Some of
these are best suited to local historians or ethnographers, but others
contain hard-to-find genealogical information about tribe members. The
Miami Indian census of 1881 lists 321 members of the tribe from
Indiana who were entitled to share in the proceeds of the Treaty of
St. Mary's.  Information recorded for each individual includes their
enumeration number in the 1854, 1880, and 1881 censuses; names as
originally spelled, with English aliases; relationship to the head of
family; age; sex; number of the ancestor on the 1854 census; name of
ancestor as originally spelled in the 1854 census; relation to
ancestor; current spelling of name; residence (broad, such as "Near
Ft. Wayne, Ind."); and remarks (errors in previous censuses, birth
dates, recent deaths, previous spellings of the name, etc.). The same
roll of microfilm also contains the 1895 Annuity Pay-Roll which lists
440 Miami, each of whom received $99.49 from the U.S. government. The
annuity roll includes "last" and "present" numbers, names (with
English aliases when a native name is used), age, sex, payment, marks
and signatures, signatures of witnesses, the date of receipt, and
remarks. Researchers should keep in mind that the native name of a
Miami adult could change throughout his or her life.

Other microfilm in our collection includes The Account of Traditions,
Manners and Customs of the Twaatwaa or Miami Indians by C.C.
Trowbridge, a handwritten manuscript from about 1825 describing the
culture of the Miami people. The other three microfilm rolls
pertaining to the Miami were filmed by the National Archives and
include letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs. Roll 416
includes letters relating to the Miami Agency from 1824-1841 and
1846-1850, and Roll 417 contains letters regarding the land reserved
for the Miami. Both of these microfilm rolls have greater historical
than genealogical significance. However, Roll 418 contains
correspondence regarding the Miami forced emigration from 1842-1853,
including several different lists of tribe members who were moved or
exempt from being moved. Some lists, such as the Miami Indians
descended from Frances Slocum (a white woman captured by the Delaware
who eventually married Miami chief Shepoconah), includes each
individual's native name, age, and relationship to Frances Slocum
(also known as Maconaquah). Other lists, such as the Miami families
not permitted to remain in Indiana, included only the native name of
the head of household and the total number of individuals in that
family. The lists in Roll 418 plus the 1881 census and 1895 annuity
roll may be helpful to researchers trying to identify Miami ancestors
who lived in northern Indiana during the 19th century. Historians and
ethnographers should find all of this microfilm useful and
interesting. The only drawback to these materials is that none are
indexed.

***************************************
Countdown to Conference 2007!
by Elaine M. Kuhn
***************************************
We're at less than a month to go now until the 2007 FGS/ACPL
Conference, and the excitement is almost palpable! With such a huge
gathering of genealogists, local historians and knowledgeable
speakers, not to mention the endless opportunities for networking,
learning and just plain enjoyment, now is a good time to go over the
top ten reasons why this conference is destined for greatness:

10. The Grand Wayne Center and the Allen County Public Library are
comfortably air conditioned. You'll have none of that sultry August
air to distract you.

9. The Exhibit Hall, drawings for prizes, shopping…need I say more?

8. The Youth Fair to be held on Saturday, August 18th. There will be
music, reenactors, demonstrations of folk ways, and representatives
from area youth agencies and genealogical societies on hand. Youth of
all ages are invited to attend, including the young at heart.

7. Participants in the Librarians' Day activities on Wednesday, August
15th, will receive an in-depth tour of the renovated Allen County
Public Library's main facility from none other than the Genealogy
Center's own Curt Witcher.

6. Conference goers will have the opportunity to eat breakfast at
Cindy's Diner, a downtown Fort Wayne landmark located at the corner of
Wayne and Harrison Streets. Go early to get a seat (you'll understand
why when you see the building) and order a plate of
garbage...seriously, it's one of their specialties.

5. The great variety of speakers at the conference. Here's your chance
to hear some of the most knowledgeable people in their respective
fields speak about topics ranging from slave ancestry research to
building a society website to Jewish genealogy and electronic
publishing.

4. Participants in the Association of Professional Genealogists'
Professional Management Conference, to be held Wednesday, August 15th,
will enjoy a day filled with presentations designed to help
genealogists grow their businesses and "Rev It Up!"

3. The conference luncheons and banquet. Good food, fellowship,
excellent speakers, could you ask for a better combination?

2. The opportunity to sample the wonders of the Genealogy Center of
the Allen County Public Library. Early morning and late night extended
hours will allow you to research until your eyes get fuzzy. Let's see
a show of hands now - how many of you told your families that the
conference really *will* last longer than scheduled just so you could
spend a few extra days at the library?? It's okay to admit it!

1. Four fun-filled, education-packed days of camaraderie with your
fellow enthusiasts in one of the most genealogist-friendly cities in
the country. May you meet many new friends and connect with your old
ones, too!

Keep in mind that you still can register for the conference if you
haven't already. Go to the FGS/ACPL 2007 Conference website at
http://www.FGSConference.org where you can register online or print a
registration form and mail it in. The conference website also contains
information about lodging.

See you at the conference!

***************************************
Preservation Tip of the Month
by Becky Schipper
***************************************
When consulting old documents, place them flat on the table or desk
where you are working.  They should be kept away from the edges of the
work surface and also be supported on a blotter or heavy acid-free
paper that is larger than the item itself.  Make certain that your
hands are clean and dry before beginning, and handle any paper object
as gently and infrequently as possible. If the object must be
consulted frequently, place it in a Mylar sleeve to protect it from
further deterioration.

***************************************
Area Calendar of Events
***************************************
Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI)
+Sep. 12, 2007 at 6:30 pm at the Allen County Public Library's Main
Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne.  Genealogy Center manager Curt
Witcher will speak about updates in the Genealogy Center.
+Oct. 10, 2007 at 6:30 pm at the Allen County Public Library's Main
Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne.  John Kalb of the Indiana
Postal History Society will speak about early correspondence and
stampless folded letters.
+Nov. 14, 2007 at 6:30 pm at the Allen County Public Library's Main
Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne.  John Hannigan will speak
about 21st Century military veterans of Allen County and an effort to
record them.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) "First Wednesday" program
of lineage assistance is Wednesday, May 2nd from 9 am – 7 pm.  Expert
help from members of the DAR on becoming a member of that
organization.

***************************************
Sneak Peak at October's Family History Month Line-up
***************************************
Monday, October 1, 2007: Using Ancestry.com

Tuesday, October 2, 2007: Irish Civil Registration & Other Vital Records Sources

Wednesday October 3, 2007: Daughters of the American Revolution
Research Assistance for Membership

Thursday October 4, 2007: Griffith's Valuation & The Land Ordinance
Survey Maps—What They Are, Why They Are Useful, and How to Use Them.

Friday October 5, 2007: Genealogy Searching in the Online Catalog

Saturday October 6, 2007: Beginning Genealogy [Contact Marge Graham at
260-672-2585 or Gramar57 [at] aol.com]

Monday October 8, 2007: Image Restoration

Tuesday October 9, 2007: Making Genealogy Contacts via the Internet

Wednesday October 10, 2007: Uses of Early Correspondence and Stampless
Folded Letters

Thursday October 11, 2007: Preserving Your Family History Through Scrapbooking

Friday October 12, 2007: WeRelate – the Genealogy Wiki

Saturday October 13, 2007: Indiana Court Records

Sunday October 14, 2007: The History of the Bourbon Whiskey Industry
in Kentucky

Monday October 15, 2007: Using Flickr to Document Your Genealogy

Tuesday, October 16, 2007: Who Went Where and Did What? Using
Directories in One's Genealogical Research.

Wednesday October 17, 2007: Allen County Genealogical Society of
Indiana Computer Interest Group meeting

Thursday October 18, 2007: Choosing and Using a Digital Camera for Genealogy

Friday October 19, 2007: Genealogy Searching in the Online Catalog

Saturday October 20, 2007: Picturing Your Past: Scrapbooking Workshop

Sunday October 21: Introduction to Scottish Research

Monday October 22, 2007: Using PERSI (Periodical Source Index)

Tuesday October 23, 2007: Using the Online Catalogs for Genealogy

Wednesday October 24, 2007: Using Local Sources

Thursday October 25, 2007: Creating a Family History Website 101

Friday October 26, 2007: Midnight Madness--Extended Research Hours
[Genealogy Center open from 9 am to 12 midnight]

Saturday October 27, 2007: Using Ancestry.com

Sunday October 28, 2007: What's in a German Place Name

Monday October 29, 2007: Not Just Ancestry -- Learning About Genealogy
and the Internet

Tuesday October 30, 2007: Hidden Treasures: Genealogical Resources in
Small Community Libraries

Wednesday October 31, 2007: Haunted Fort Wayne

***************************************
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 Wayne
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) and 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 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 $70.

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 Genealogy Center hopes you find this newsletter interesting.
Thank you for subscribing.  We cannot, however, answer personal
research emails written to the e-zine address.  The department houses
a Research Center that makes photocopies and conducts research for a
fee.

If you have a general question about our collection, or are interested
in the Research Center, please telephone the library and speak to a
librarian who will be glad to answer your general questions or send
you a research center form.  Our telephone number is 260-421-1225.  If
you'd like to email a general information question about the
department, please email: Genealogy [at] ACPL.Info.

***************************************
Publishing Note:
***************************************
This electronic newsletter is published by the Allen County Public
Library's Genealogy Center, and is intended to enlighten readers about
genealogical research methods as well as inform them about the vast
resources of the Allen County Public Library.  We welcome the wide
distribution of this newsletter and encourage readers to forward it to
their friends and societies.  All precautions have been made to avoid
errors.  However, the publisher does not assume any liability to any
party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, no matter
the cause.

To subscribe to "Genealogy Gems," simply use your browser to go to the
website:  www.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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