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During Fort Wayne Ancestry Day's Ask the Experts Panel, we received so many questions that we were unable to answer them all during the event. The following is a question asked and The Genealogy Center staff's response.

I have an ancestor with a Grand Army of the Republic marker on his grave, but haven’t found him in the Civil War database. Did he have to have fought to be eligible for the marker?

He had to be a member of the Grand Army of the Republic organization to have a GAR tombstone. To be a member of the GAR he should have been a Union soldier. However, occasionally, men would join by stretching the truth (i.e.: lying) in their applications. However, although the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System database is terrific, not everyone is listed. Check to see if records for the local GAR post survive. Beyond that, research him as you would any Union soldier.

The Allen County Public Library will be the site of this year’s Indiana Genealogical Society's Annual Meeting and Conference on 28 April 2012. The conference will include a wide variety of topics for all levels of genealogists.

Featured speaker for the event will be Debra S. Mieszala, CG^..

Debbie is a nationally-known genealogical lecturer, teacher and writer. In addition to her presentations at the National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies conferences, she has taught at the prestigious Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University, and at the Salt Lake City Institute of Genealogy. Her “day job” is as a forensic specialist who works with the United States military to identify the recovered remains of soldiers. She previously did adoption-related research as a Confidential Intermediary in Illinois. Debbie will be presenting the following topics:

• Lessons from a Snoop: Collaterals and Associates
• Bringing Our Soldiers Home
• Digging Through Documents Word By Word
• Patently Unique: Locating Patent Records, Online and Off

The IGS Conference will feature two tracks. Other topics being presented are:

• What’s New With FamilySearch? (Michael Hall of FamilySearch)
• Becoming Expert On Using Ancestry (Melissa Shimkus of The Genealogy Center)
• Finding Indiana Records ...

by Dawne

It’s been a mild winter – so far! – here in the Midwest. But if the mild weather doesn’t hold, or if it’s inclement where you are and you are hibernating inside until the days get longer, take advantage of the time at your computer to compile some family history from the contents of your files. If you are like most genealogists, you plan to write a book (or more than one) of your family history “someday.” But again, if you are like most of us, the task feels overwhelming! Why not get started on “someday” right now by writing just a little piece of that book that’s in your future? Even better, why not partner with another genealogist, or a whole society of them, and set some goals for family history writing? Then you cheer each other on and hold each other accountable! Maybe a family history writing interest group would be an appropriate arm of your local genealogical society.

Writing family history isn’t hard, just time consuming! And you don’t have to be finished researching to begin writing. For example, start like this with one ancestral couple: John Brown was born 14 November 1845 in Allen ...

Now that you have your research targets, you will need locations. As mentioned last time, family letters or address books would be great, but most of us don’t have access to that information. City directories are an excellent source for locating addresses. Unlike a telephone book (another alternative for locating addresses), city directories usually list both husband and wife, as well as adult children, and their occupations. You can also locate those who are lodgers or boarders by name as well. The address section of the directory allows you to identify the names of the householder and lodgers, as well as cross streets near the address. These cross streets will be vital in identifying the enumeration district in which the person is listed on the census.

 

City directories are available for many large towns and cities. Local libraries often have directories for their own communities, but The Genealogy Center has one of the largest collections of city directories in books and on microfilm. Be sure to check both the Microtext Catalog and Genealogy Center Catalog for our holdings.

Other sources for locating addresses include other types of directories (church, alumni) and the World War II draft lists.

 

by Delia

In order to get you ready for the opening of the 1940 census (April 2, 2012!), we're going to break the steps down one at a time, so that, instead of waiting, you can methodically get all of your ducks, ah, ancestors in a row. Remember that, although the census will be available at the National Archives and Records Administration site immediately, and several other sites in quick order, the census will not be indexed. Being prepared will save you a great deal of time once you finally get a chance to browse.

Your first step is to identify for whom you will be searching. Parents or grandparents? Siblings and cousins? At this point, create a file, paper or digital, on each person or family group, noting names, ages or birth dates and places, and where you think they might be living in 1939 or 1940. Check the files you already have, old letters and address books to see if you have possible addresses for them.

That's it! That's step #1. Step #2 will be coming soon!

The "Exploring Origins.net" class has been rescheduled for the week of March Madness: Genealogy Style(March 18-24). This is a great fit for our week of ethnic genealogy research classes as the Origins database covers British, Irish, and Scots records. The class will discuss the many databases, CD products, research articles and other resources available through The Genealogy Center’s subscription to the Origins Network. So visit us on Wednesday, March 21, from 10 am - 11 am in Meeting Room A for "Exploring Origins.net."

And stay for an informal discussion in the afternoon with the Daughters of the American Revolution concerning patriots of all ethnic backgrounds who participated in the Revolution. The discussion is scheduled for 2 pm entitled "It Was Everyone's War."

Please register for these informative sessions by calling 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@ACPL.Info.

You may have noticed recently on our facebook page and website that we will be closed on Friday, February 10. The Genealogy Center, along with the entire Allen County Public Library, will be closed for Staff Development Day. We will be open Thursday, February 9, from 9 am - 9 pm and Saturday, February 11, from 9 am - 6 pm. Though we are closed on February 10, we will be open on Presidents Day, Monday, February 20, so take advantage of a long research weekend over the Presidents Day weekend!

Unfortunately, the Exploring Origins.net class scheduled for Wednesday, February 8, from 2:30 - 3:30 pm has been canceled. The Genealogy Center will offer more classes on ethnic genealogy research during our March Madness: Genealogy Style sessions the week of March 18-24.

On Wednesday, February 8, from 2:30-3:30 pm, join us in a survey of the Origins.net website for British, Irish, and Scots research. For more information, see the flyer at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Libraries/Brochures/WT2011.sflb.ashx. Please call 260-421-1225 or email Genealogy@ACPL.Info to register.