The Search box on the top of each page will find names and keyword search items on all of our pages. If you can supply biographical material on more people for these pages please Contact Allen INGenWeb.
The U.S. population is predicted to hit 325 million on 11/26 at 1:47 a.m. EST, according to our vintage 2015 population estimates. Visit our pop clock here:
Top 5 misspelled genealogy words. How many of us make these spelling mistakes? www.tmegenealogy.com
In May of 1997, Jeff Murphy started collecting biographies for the Indiana Biographies Project including Allen County, Indiana Biographies using the Kentucky Biographies Project as a model. State coordinators were sought to set up their own state project. They were offered the system design and tools created for the KY project, but were free to set up their project any way they chose. Volunteers were needed to enter, edit, and archive additional biographies for each project. Those biographies were included as submitted.
Like the colliding waters of the confluence of our Three Rivers, Allen County has been a home to a diverse array of peoples. Over the centuries, this region has welcomed a spectrum of nationalities, ethnicities, creeds, beliefs, classes, abilities, orientations, and identities. The paths these peoples took to become part of our community are equally diverse. From the indigenous Miami to European settlers, from immigrants seeking opportunity to refugees fleeing conflict and persecution, all types of peoples and cultural groups have formed our community. While this exhibit is not an exhaustive example of every representative sub-group in Allen County’s history, it is an attempt to highlight and celebrate the individual stories of the peoples who have created the Confluence of Cultures in our Land of Three Rivers. #sociallyhistory
The place where Fort Wayne was founded referred to as the confluence, literally “the flowing together,” has long been prized for its strategic location at the meeting point of the three rivers. Yet it is also a place where people come together. Over the last three hundred years, individuals from all over the world have traveled to the confluence in search of opportunity and a new life. Each wave of new immigrants has left a lasting mark on the region’s story and culture. Since 2009, Welcoming Week has promoted the bringing together and building of strong connections amongst all people. This year’s theme is ‘Creating Home Together.’ …”Home is not just a house. Home is any place where you feel safe and accepted: in your neighborhood, in your community, at work. Ultimately, home is where you feel you most belong…” Today the History Center shares some materials from popular past ‘Socially History’ posts that highlight some of the many peoples that have made their home in Allen County. “This Welcoming Week, let’s build home in new ways through virtual spaces, digital sharing, and being together even when we’re alone. Let’s create home together so everyone feels they belong, no matter where you are, or where you are from, so that each of us has a stake in its future.” #sociallyhistory
Historical Record Lists has over 400 names of people who served such as ministers, mayors, state representaives and more prior to 1900 in Allen County and other counties in Indiana at OurFamilyTree.com.
History Journal archives of the Journal Gazette newspaperstarted posting almost weekly stories in November 2018. It was previously known as Throwback Thursday with stories from their archive of newspapers going back to the 1800s and a collection of photo negatives beginning in the early 1940s. A History Journal indexed by decade was published January 26, 2020 by Corey McMaken.
Bibles passed down through the generations can hold valuable family information such as births, marriages, deaths, and other significant family events. The Genealogy Center has a collection of family bible records, which feature images and transcriptions from bibles donated to us. View the digital collection here: https://www.genealogycenter.info/bibles/
Included in this collection is the Anthony and Mary (Penrose) Wayne Family Bible. General Anthony Wayne (1745-1796) was a staff officer of George Washington during the Revolutionary War and later took charge of the American army in the 1790s. His military victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers helped to establish American control of the Old Northwest Territory. The artifact complements a manuscript letter of General Wayne, which the library acquired in 1994.
Published in 1788, the Wayne family Bible was presented by Wayne's wife Mary to their son Isaac Wayne, a Philadelphia attorney, probably soon after the book was published and contains her inscription to him. Perhaps it was Isaac Wayne who carefully recorded the deaths of both of his parents on the Bible's flyleaves, as well as his own marriage and the births and deaths of his children.
Have you explored our Family Resources section lately?
The Family Resources database on Genealogycenter.org features unique family histories and family files submitted by researchers who have granted permission for their material to be hosted on The Genealogy Center site. View the digital files here: https://www.genealogycenter.info/familydb.php
This particular entry offers information on the Descendants of Nicholas Hathaway, compiled by Lanning, Smith, and Miyamoto.
Contributions of additional data are most welcome!
Discovering the maiden names of our female ancestors can often prove to be a challenging task. To assist with your research, we've put together a few tips and tricks that may prove helpful. We encourage you to share any of your own favorite discoveries and research tips in the comments below. Let's celebrate the women in our family tree together! #matrilinealmonday#femaleancestors#genealogyresearch#thegenealogycenter
Once A Hoosier... Always A Hoosier Blog April 3, 2023 Indiana Genealogical Society, Inc. on YouTube This is an IGS Facebook Live event from February 2023. During a recent IGS Facebook Live event, we had the pleasure of talking with Jennifer Alford, who helps manage the Once A Hoosier... Always A Hoosier Blog. Jennifer shared her experiences and insights on sharing Hoosier heritage, family history, and how the blog might help you uncover something about your Indiana ancestors. Once A Hoosier... Always A Hoosier Blog https://oahblog.indgensoc.org/ The Indiana Genealogical Society is proud to host the IGS Facebook Live events, which are held on the first Tuesday of every month. For updates on our upcoming events, please visit our Facebook page at @indianagensoc. And if you have ancestors from Indiana, be sure to check out our website at www.indgensoc.org for more resources and information on how to connect with your Hoosier roots. #ancestors#indiana#hoosier#familyhistory#genealogy#genealogyresearch
Indiana Orphanages April 3, 2023 Indiana Genealogical Society, Inc. on YouTube This was an IGS Facebook Live Event from February 2022. We discussed Indiana orphanages with Diane Steproe. As an experienced genealogist and researcher, Diane has extensive knowledge of the history and genealogy of Indiana orphanages. During our discussion, we learned about these institutions, as well as the impact orphanages had on Indiana's social history. Don't miss this insightful conversation with Diane Steproe! The Indiana Genealogical Society is proud to host the IGS Facebook Live events, which are held on the first Tuesday of every month. For updates on our upcoming events, please visit our Facebook page at @indianagensoc. And if you have ancestors from Indiana, be sure to check out our website at www.indgensoc.org for more resources and information on how to connect with your Hoosier roots.
#genealogy#genealogyresearch#familyhistory#orphanages#indiana#orphans
Genealogy of the Tragedies: Death and Sorrow in America Published on November 1, 2018 by Allen County Public Library on YouTube. Presented by the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library. Every family has at least one tragedy in their family narrative. Let’s explore the process of researching some of these tragedies and how you can apply these same methods to your family history research.
Indiana ArtistsMore than 1,000 entries compiled from the "Indiana Artists" clipping folder of the Indiana Collection Vertical File (which no longer exists).
With every investigation, there is more to the story than police reports, court trials and convictions. In Beyond the Evidence, we take a closer look at memorable area cases that have left an indelible mark.
The series runs Sundays from July 10 to 31 in The Journal Gazette.
George Osborne kept calling, but his brother wouldn’t pick up the phone. Osborne lived in Lawrence, Kansas, and his brother lived in Fort Wayne. Osborne called Saturday and Sunday, but to no avail.On Monday, Sept. 19, 1983, he called again. This time, a Fort Wayne police detective answered the phone and explained that Osborne’s brother, Ralph Daniel Osborne, his wife, Jane Osborne, their 11-year-old son, Benjamin Osborne, and dog, a schnauzer, had been bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat. Beginning paragraphs copied from Random killing of family shook city in 1983 Almost 39 years have passed since three people were bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat in an attack investigators said was random by Jim Chapman published July 17, 2022 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. See Osborne Murders.
108 year old resident: Irene Alma Steiss Burgoon Mensalvas died September 11, 2012. She lived on Ferguson Road farm that became part of Fort Wayne International Airport, lived in Hawaii, several states, a couple other countries before returning to Fort Wayne. From her Fort Wayne Newspapers Legacy.com obituary.
Business People magazine started their online digital edition in April 2019.
Cumberland Gap and Hoosier pioneers posted December 1, 2018 on the Archives of Hoosier History Live podcast on Saturdays, noon to 1 p.m. ET on WICR 88.7 FM introduction starts with: What would a site near the junction of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee have to do with Indiana's early heritage? More than you might expect! But to understand the connection, a little geographical history is needed. The Cumberland Gap is a pass in the Cumberland Mountains in far-southeastern Kentucky that many early pioneers of European heritage used to reach the wilderness territory that would later be known as Indiana, where they established settlements on the frontier. For many decades before Europeans' arrival, Native Americans also had been using the narrow passageway through the mountain range, which otherwise posed a nearly insurmountable challenge to those traveling by foot, horseback or wagon. In the spirit of the early adventurers, our show will explore a range of aspects related to the Cumberland Gap - also known as the Cumberland Pass - and the travelers who came through it.
Farm wives of the mid to late 1800s posted March 28, 2020 on the Archives of Hoosier History Live podcast on Saturdays, noon to 1 p.m. ET on WICR 88.7 FM introduction starts with: Digging up details about the lives of farm wives in Indiana during the 19th century wasn't easy for historian Morgan Lee Wilson, who will be our guest as Hoosier History Live salutes Women's History Month. Morgan, who lives on a small farm near Walkerton in St. Joseph County, has read diaries and letters written by rural women whose roles in agricultural life were crucial, but often unheralded and misunderstood by subsequent generations. Farm wives of the mid and late 1800s tend to be romanticized or described in "limited" ways, Morgan says. Morgan, who works at the University of Notre Dame, says misperceptions include the notion that farm wives had isolated lives. Diaries and letters often describe, in Morgan's words, "social opportunities through trips to towns and churches." Rather than being confined to kitchens and washbasins, farm wives of the 19th century often worked in fields, barns and gardens.
First Name AbbreviationsIn many historic documents, first names were abbreviated. For example, old street directories and city directories always abbreviated common first names. Parish records often abbreviated familiar Christian names. This was done to save space and paper. From Genealogy In Time archived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.
Food can be an important ingredient in your family history research! Items such as family and church cookbooks can be a great way to trace your female ancestors and gain insights into their daily lives.
Sat, Apr. 11 “Foods of the pioneers” Listen Sat. noon to one on WICR 88.7 fm or at www.hoosierhistorylive.org What did Hoosiers eat during the 1820s, '30s and '40s? Nelson’s guest food historian Sheryl Vanderstel will describe what she calls "lost" foods. “And even the earliest settlers were interdependent, bartering with each other." Sheryl explains. Call in at 317-788-3314.
A second serving of foods of the pioneers with podcast posted June 20, 2020 on the Archives of Hoosier History Live podcast on Saturdays, noon to 1 p.m. ET on WICR 88.7 FM introduction starts with: The table was overloaded when Hoosier History Live served up a show on topics related to the foods of the pioneers earlier this year. So during this show, we will savor additional, fresh aspects of what and how Indiana residents ate during the 1820s, '30s and '40s. Which members of pioneer households worked in the gardens? Did early settlers really believe tomatoes were poisonous? How was the corn grown in the pioneer era different from what's cultivated in Hoosier soil today? Indianapolis-based food historian Sheryl Vanderstel will discuss those and other topics that we were not able to explore when she was our guest in April. In addition, Sheryl is planning to share insights about aspects of what she calls "food etiquette," of the pioneer era, customs ranging from "tableware to table settings, serving and meal manners."
“Foods of the pioneers; encore show” Listen to the radio show Sat. Nov. 27 noon to one ET at WICR 88.7 fm or stream at...
Foods of the pioneers - Encore with podcast posted November 27, 2021 on the Archives of Hoosier History Live podcast on Saturdays, noon to 1 p.m. ET on WICR 88.7 FM introduction starts with: When you dig into questions of what Hoosiers ate in the 1820s, '30s and '40s, when they gathered for meals, the dining utensils they used, and related topics, you have a lot to savor. Indianapolis-based food historian Sheryl Vanderstel even described what she calls "lost" foods as Nelson's guest on a show with a smorgasbord of information and historical facts about the foods of pioneers. During this encore broadcast from 2020, she also shared insights about dining routines during Indiana's earliest era as a state. Misconceptions abound, including the "myth of pioneer self-sufficiency," Sheryl says. Sheryl Vanderstel"Even the earliest settlers were interdependent, bartering with each other," she explains. "Grocers and merchants were among the first residents of Indianapolis and could easily obtain goods from thriving, established communities like Salem or Connersville and Ohio River cities Madison, New Albany, Cincinnati and Louisville." During the first half of the 19th century, the largest meal was eaten at midday and called "dinner," not "lunch." The evening meal, "supper," was much lighter. Except for the spoon, Sheryl says the pioneers' dining utensils "looked much different."
Now, a poem: "What did Hoosiers eat, when it was long ago? Corn and beans and boiled meat, butter and potatoes." Read...
Founders Online CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER WRITINGS OF SIX MAJOR SHAPERS OF THE UNITED STATES: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams (and family), Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. Over 182,000 searchable documents, fully annotated, from the authoritative Founding Fathers Papers projects. At The National Archives. Discussed April 4, 2019 on the National Historical Publications and Records CommissionFacebook page.
Hoosiers: The Story of Indianafour-part video series explores Indiana’s 200-year history. Based on the definitive history of Indiana, Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana, by James Madison. Produced by WFYI Public Media.
The Indiana Historical Society has many searchable collections online. One is Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History an award-winning popular history magazine for Indiana Historical Society members. This collection includes full issues of the magazine from its first issue in 1989 through 2013.
The book Legendary Locals of Fort Wayne by Randy Harter and Craig Hartman is about 182 well known Fort Wayne locals released August 31, 2015.
From our archives: Even though many may have had unusual names—at least to an English speaker—it is a persistent myth that Ellis Island inspectors altered birth names of the weary immigrants.
From our archives: Even though many may have had unusual names—at least to an English speaker—it is a persistent myth that Ellis Island inspectors altered birth names of the weary immigrants.
On the 125th anniversary of the famous portal to the U.S., history shows inspectors were not the ones changing people’s names Alicia Ault December 28, 2016
Reunions - early newspapers published lists of names of people who attended such as this September 14, 1927 newspaper for Reunions of the Thomas, Bieber, Seidel-Schneider and Evard families.
Family reunions were often photographed through the years and we have some tips and observations with each photo. To see if your family photos are included in our database, visit Welcome to the Indiana Album online catalog! and do a keyword search for your surname. If your name is common, narrow the search by location, such as "Smith and Crawfordsville".
People have always whinged about young adults. Here's proof by Amanda Ruggeri October 3, 2017 on BBC.com. Older people love to gripe about the entitled, lazy millennial generation. But it's nothing new – by delving into the archives, we found plenty of parallels stretching back 2,000 years.
On this day in 2015 one of the books I'm most proud of being part of arrived at the Indiana Historical Society's offices: "Indiana's 200: The People Who Shaped the Hoosier State." It started with artist J. Ottis Adams and ends with industrialist Frederick Zollner. Between these two men are fascinating stories from 136 different authors on the lives of notable individuals from the 19th state.
Why is HE so important? (A brief reason why some things in Fort Wayne were named that) (The dead guys with streets and places named after them) by Carmen Doyle published December 24, 2013 in the History Center Notes & Queries blog.
Writing Her Story annually since 2013 by the Indiana Commission for Women.
In an effort to capture a snapshot of the U.S. job market’s history, Stacker compiled a list of the most common jobs in Indiana from 150 years ago using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source of the following information was obtained from the ATB website.
What follows is a reproduction of an article published by the late Otto Meyer about 1980 which gives a little background on the Trentons and the ATB.
American Trenton Breeders
------------------------------
by Otto Meyer, Publicity
Rt. No. 1. Box 331-B
Madison Heights. Va. 24572
The original purpose of the American Trenton Breeders was to promote and perpetuate the Trenton Strain of racing pigeons. When the ATB was organized 23 years ago, there were only a very few fanciers who had any Trentons, and the strain had almost disappeared. Today there are several hundred fanciers who have at least a few Trentons and some of the members have nothing but Trentons. This was one of the greatest strains of pigeons ever in America. Never in the history of pigeon racing has any strain won as many races as was won by the Trentons. This was during the early part of the nineteen hundreds and this winning trend went on for a period of about 25 years. The Trentons made more world records at the long distances (1000 miles and further) than all other strains combined. These records were printed in this publication about two and a half years ago.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the ATB is welcome to join. You are not required to have Trentons to participate in the activities of the organization. The ATB has encouraged many things to improve our pigeon society. For a long time a national trophy was awarded each year to the owner of a 600 mile bird with the fastest speed. A national trophy was also awarded for the fastest speed at 500 miles. Then came the 1000 mile classics for which Harold L. Driver was primarily instrumental in establishing. Eventually these races may become the National Classics of America.
Milton E. Haffner of Fort Wayne, Indiana is recognized as one of the best 1000 mile racing pigeon experts in the United States.In November 1979 he was the guest speaker at the Washington State R.P. Organization Convention. He has permitted me to quote all or any part of his presentation. I am happy to quote the following parts that will be of special interest to fanciers who wish to fly some of their birds in the 1000 mile classics:
"The Fort Wayne Racing Pigeon Club has been in existence and has had young bird series and old bird series since 1887 or for 92 years. Around the turn of the century. four or five of the local fanciers ordered direct from Conrad Mahr four or five pair of his Trentons. It was from these Trentons blended with Grooters that the Fort Wayne fanciers started making long distance records, some of which still stand today. During the period from 1905 thru 1930 the Fort Wayne flyers were flying 2 and 3 1000 mile old bird races and a 1000 mile young bird race, it definitely required a different type of bird than the Sprinters and Speedsters in short races where money is the big factor. It required then and still does today, a bird that comes home on his own initiative and determination to get home.
Oscar Anderson is the oldest living flyer in Fort Wayne. He is 92 years old and up until a year ago. could tell all about his flying with the Old Timers in 1902 and 1903. It is rare in a 1000 mile race that two birds will come together. The 1000 mile world record established in Fort Wayne was by Dr. Schilling's Blue Checker Trenton, named Hagen, who made the flight in 2 days, 3 hours, and, some minutes from Abilene, Texas. Needless to say, the publicity his bird got only gave the local boys something to shoot for as they all wanted to beat Hagen's world record. In 1910 Hagen's record was beaten by a Red Slate Trenton cock flown by Henry Beach. He called his bird 'Abilene'. Henry Beach's bird made the 1000 mile flight in 2 days, 2 hours and some minutes. Needless to say, Abilene's performance gained a lot of national publicity in pigeon circles.
Henry Beach sold many Trentons and many prominent flyers obtained their first Trentons from Beach. Among the well known flyers of today who obtained birds from Beach are Otto Meyer and Art Nemechek.
Three years later on July 11, 1913, a Blue Checker Trenton-Grooter cross hen named 'Bullet' homed in Fort Wayne from Abilene, Texas, 1000 miles late in the afternoon of the 2nd day to the loft of Oscar Anderson, whom I referred to before. Only a died in the wool pigeon fancier can dream of the pleasure young Oscar had when his 'Bullet' made the world record in 1 day. 11 hours, and 24 minutes, and 6 seconds making a speed of 1042.54 yards per minute. This was not the first good performance for 'Bullet' as she had previously flown 500 miles same day two different times. I might add that Oscar disposed of his last pigeons in May 1979. He said at 92 it was too hard for him to get up into his second story loft in his barn.
In 1927, the 24th of June, Bullet's record was broken by "Wayne Jr." another full Trenton bred and flown in Fort Wayne by the late C.W. Oetting and to the best of my knowledge this record still stands for a club sponsored race from 1000 miles. Wayne Jr. flew 1005 miles to his home loft in I day, 10 hours, 22 minutes and 20 seconds, with a speed of 1122.43 ypm. Wayne Jr. was bred down from the Mahr Bright Eye Trenton strain. Mr.Oetting sold quite a few birds in the 30's and 40's and I am sure some of his blood lines exist in many lofts around the country.
Not long after Oetting's record, the Depression of the early 30's came. Hard times followed & the local club had difficulty in keeping its ranks together as everyone was pinched for finances. Then the unforgetable war years from 1941 thru 1945. During the period 1931 till 1945, pigeon racing all over was at a low ebb. Only short races were flown and rarely a 1000 mile race.
Around 1948 as an admirer of the 1000 mile performances, I started promoting a 1000 mile race again and it was not until 1953 that our club started flying the 1000 miles again. and with the exception of a few years. it has been scheduled as an annual race.
In 1958 on Thursday, July 3rd our race birds were released at 7 AM Fort Wayne time. Friday the 4th of July, was a holiday and of course, in as much as the weather was favorable. I did a lot of looking for a bird. Saturday morning I had to go to work till 12 o'clock noon. When I returned home at 12:15 my wife nonchalantly told me she clocked a bird around 10 o'clock. I went into the loft and it was the bird I later called 'Abilene Jr.' He had flown the distance in 2 days, 2 hours and 58 minutes. 'Abilene Jr.' was then put into the Golden Cage and used for breeding only.
In 1960. two years after Abilene Jr. made the good time. a bird I later called 'Ditto'. a full brother to Abilene Jr flew from the same 1000 mile station in 2 days. 4 hours. and 59 minutes. 'Ditto' won this race by a full 24 hours to the next bird home in the club, which was my bird called 'Spotty'. Spotty flew from the 1000 mile station a total of five times. During the period from 1958 till 1968, we had birds home almost every year on the 3rd and 4th day.
In 1977, we participated in the 1000 mile race from Houston, Texas. This race has been known as the Atlantic Coast Thousand. We are over the 1000 mile dis- tance so we participated in 1977 and 1978. Lofts from North Carolina, South Carolina. Virginia. Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana participated. Approximately 35 lofts with 105 to 140 birds were entered in this event. In 1977, Fort Wayne birds won 2nd and 3rd and in 1978 we won 1st and 3rd. The same 3 birds that in 1977 won 1st 2nd and 3rd came in 1st 2nd and 3rd in 1978 only in a different order. Is it coincidence, or does this tell us that some birds will come from the 1000 and some just won't? In the last 18 years, I have shipped a total of 66 birds to 1000 mile race stations and of this total of 66 birds. 48 have returned home. This is quite a good return home percentage.
My family of birds which I call my Abilenes are a four way cross - the old Fort Wayne Trentons, Grooters, Bastins and Bricoux which I myself brought into Fort Wayne. I found back in the late 40's that this four way cross gave me everything I wanted in the way of good type and smart birds.
I do admire long and wide flight feathers which is a characteristic of my birds. I do not like to ship a bird to the 1000 mile station until it has been to the 500 and 600, which means it must be in its 4th year of flying. I do not like to send yearlings to the 500 or 600. only to 275 miles. Then the 3rd year to 500 and 600.
Now, how do I prepare the bird for a 1000 mile flight? The year that I intend to ship the bird to the 1000 mile race, I only enter it in the first 100 mile race of the season. Then for about three weeks before the 1000. I try to get the bird or birds to 50 miles about 3 times a week. and feed them quite heavy so they have good body.
I like a cock bird on a 10 day old youngster and a hen on eggs about 12 to 14 days. I have had much better results with the cocks at 1000 than the hens.
Here in the United States, popularity of a 1000 mile race seems to be gaining. More and newer clubs are sponsoring a 1000 mile race each year. In European countries a 1000 mile race is rare. There have been so many wonderful performances by fanciers in this country with birds of the Trenton background, I cannot but help think this All American strain should get more credit. They definitely have a stronger homing instinct and will work home from some of these SMASH races all clubs seem to be experiencing today."
I respectfully thank my good friend and ATB member, Milton E. Haffner for per mitting me to quote the above information. Many fanciers will be happy to broaden their knowledge on the 1000 mile flights to better prepare them for the American Classics.
The Trenton book, "I Kept Them Flying" by Conrad A. Mahr is being reprinted for the 4th time. It seems to be the best seller of all books.
NEW: #Population trends are returning to pre-pandemic norms as the number of annual deaths decreased last year and #migration reverted to patterns not seen since before 2020, according to new Vintage 2023 population estimates.
The nation gained more than 1.6 million people this past year, growing by 0.5% to 334,914,895.
The #2020Census Population Profiles present a graphic overview of selected information from the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File.
Each profile includes #DataVisualizations illustrating the percentage of total population by race, population by sex and age, and more.
I love stuff like this article - "Rutherford B. Hayes was alive at the same time as John Adams and at the same time as Dwight Eisenhower."
[ John Tyler was born in 1790. He took office in 1841, after William Henry Harrison died. And he still has one living grandchild: Harrison Ruffin Tyler.President John Tyler's Grandson Is Still Alive Jason English | Sep 13, 2020 Mental Floss ]
In 1966, the famous “Blue Light Special” was invented by a Kmart manager in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who was seeking a way to make it easier for his customers to find the Christmas wrapping paper that he was clearing; the Blue Light Special went on to be adopted chainwide and become an American icon. Copied from Kmart Corporation on Encyclopdia.com.
Through a series of short stories and wonderful engravings, The Accidents of Youth (1819) is aimed at keeping young people out of trouble and "calculated to improve [their] moral conduct" — The Accidents of Youth (1819)
We hate to bring up the subject of , but this post is historically interesting!
Did you know that the federal government - through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) - built about 2.3 million outhouses during the 1930s and early 1940s?
Most Montanans have seen the inside of at least one outhouse, but did you know that the federal government built about 2.3 million outhouses during the 1930s and early 1940s? While the Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) economic relief program is known for large-scale infrastructure projects like dams and civic centers, it also worked to improve rural sanitation and public health. The WPA provided the outhouse plans and labor, and the property owner provided the materials.
YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY! If your school picture is similar to this one then you were a teenager in the 1960s. Remember penny loafers, chains made out of chewing gum wrappers, SWAK, LYLAS, cherry vanilla cream cokes, hair curlers 1 inch round, mini or maxi dresses, scrapbooks with movie ticket stubs, the Beatles????
Well here are some changes you may remember as well. The following list is of NINE things a woman couldn’t do in 1971.
1. Get a Credit Card in her own name – it wasn’t until 1974 that a law forced credit card companies to issue cards to women without their husband’s signature.
2. Be guaranteed that they wouldn’t be unceremoniously fired for the offense of getting pregnant – that changed with the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of *1978*!
3. Serve on a jury - It varied by state (Utah deemed women fit for jury duty way back in 1879), but the main reason women were kept out of jury pools was that they were considered the center of the home, which was their primary responsibility as caregivers. They were also thought to be too fragile to hear the grisly details of crimes and too sympathetic by nature to be able to remain objective about those accused of offenses. In 1961, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld a Florida law that exempted women from serving on juries. It wasn't until 1973 that women could serve on juries in all 50 states.
4. Fight on the front lines – admitted into military academies in 1976 it wasn’t until 2013 that the military ban on women in combat was lifted. (See Combat Exclusion Police of Jan 24, 2013.)Prior to 1973 women were only allowed in the military as nurses or support staff. However, there were exceptions Vicki Wallace Harris says “my daughter was a combat medic in Afghanistan in 2004/05 with the 25th ID, she was going to Forward Operating Bases(FOB’s) back then. She was outside Bagram Airfield quite a few times and carried weapons to help protect herself and her fellow soldiers if need be.”
5. Get an Ivy League education, with the exceptions of Penn and Cornell, who began admitting women in 1870. Penn and Cornell are large universities and have always accepted hundreds of women in their entering classes. Yale and Princeton didn't accept female students until 1969. Harvard didn't admit women until 1977 (when it merged with the all-female Radcliffe College). Brown (which merged with women's college Pembroke), Dartmouth and Columbia did not offer admission to women until 1971, 1972 and 1981, respectively.
Other case-specific instances allowed some women to take certain classes at Ivy League institutions (such as Barnard women taking classes at Columbia), but so many women in the '60s who harbored Ivy League dreams had to put them on hold. Some of you may remember when college dorms had curfew for women and having to sign out and in when going out of the dorm.
6. Take legal action against workplace sexual harassment. Indeed the first time a court recognized office sexual harassment as grounds for any legal action was in 1977!
7. Decide not to have sex if their husband wanted to – spousal rape wasn’t criminalized in all 50 states until 1993.
8. Obtain health insurance at the same monetary rate as a man. Sex discrimination wasn’t outlawed in health insurance until 2010 and today many, including sitting elected officials at the Federal level, feel women don’t mind paying a little more.
9.The birth control pill: Issues like reproductive freedom and a woman's right to decide when and whether to have children were only just beginning to be openly discussed in the 1960s. In 1957, the FDA approved of the birth control pill but only for "severe menstrual distress." In 1960, the pill was approved for use as a contraceptive. Even so, the pill was illegal in some states and could be prescribed only to married women for purposes of family planning.
Jeanie McCarty shares “When dad died the electric company refused to place a security light on the backyard pole because the bill was in his name and mom, as a woman, wasn't considered credit worthy. This despite the fact that she worked at a manufacturing job. Also, girls on the high school basketball team only played half court. We were deemed too delicate to play full court.” Joy Wert says “We lived through archaic times.”
A new report, New Americans in Allen County, released today by the American Immigration Council—in partnership with Amani Family Services, Inc., Downtown Fort Wayne, and Greater Fort Wayne Inc..—underscores the crucial role immigrants play in the region’s labor force, business creation, and consumer spending power.
The new report was awarded to Amani Family Services, Downtown Fort Wayne, and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. as part of the Gateways for Growth Challenge, a competitive opportunity for localities to receive research support and/or technical assistance from the American Immigration Council and Welcoming America to improve immigrant inclusion in their communities.
Starting at an early age, children were conditioned to follow prescribed gender norms. In this family group, both of the older children are playing instruments associated with their gender. The young girl, for example, plays the piano and not the violin because of how it would change her posture and make the young girl look "indecent." Portraying children, especially those approaching marrying age, as well-versed in gender prescribed etiquette was a way for families to increase their odds of marrying into another affluent family.
Pink and blue arrived as colors for babies in the mid-19th century; yet, the two colors were not promoted as gender signifiers until just before World War I.
"Learning the laws in place at the time of arrival—or any time within our US ancestors’ lifetimes—can help us better navigate the records that may be available, understand why they made certain choices at certain times, and contextualize the lives of our immigrant ancestors."
Every day when getting dressed, you are reliant on the art and skill of sewing. Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects together using stitches made with needle and thread. It is one of the oldest of the textile arts, and archeologists have found evidence at multiple prehistoric sites. For thousands of years, all sewing was done by hand. The invention of the sewing machine in the 19th Century and the rise of computerization in the 20th Century led to mass production and export of sewn objects, but hand sewing is still practiced all around the world. National Sewing Month has been celebrated in the United States since 1982. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed that National Sewing Month would take place in September. Take sometime this month to appreciate the hard work or even participate in some sewing activities! #sociallyhistory
In November 2021, a team of scientists made a groundbreaking discovery at White Sands National Park in New Mexico: the oldest human footprints ever found in North America, dating back to 21,000-23,000 years ago. These fossilized footprints were preserved along the ancient shores of a prehistoric lake that once existed in the Tularosa Basin.
This remarkable finding reshapes our understanding of North American human history, pushing back the estimated arrival of humans on the continent by nearly 10,000 years. The team's excavation efforts revealed a total of 61 footprints, primarily left by teenagers and children. It is hypothesized that adults engaged in skilled tasks at the lake's edge, while adolescents and children were responsible for fetching, carrying, and possibly playing, resulting in more imprints from these younger individuals
Dawn of the Bathroom The bathroom didn’t become a thing until the nineteenth century, and most working-class US homes added plumbed-in amenities in piecemeal fashion over time. Livia Gershon, October 17, 2023, on JSTOR Daily
As part of American Archives Month, we are launching a series on National Archives History. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Archives and Records Center building in Chicago.
Since the early 1950s, Chicago's Federal Records Center (FRC) stored records from the midwestern Great Lakes states. The Chicago FRC had relocated to numerous locations throughout the city by the early 1970s, including a Dodge-Chrysler building and the Ford Aircraft Plant. Unfortunately, no single place had enough space for the records. The General Services Administration (GSA) eventually built a new building at 7358 South Pulaski Road, which was dedicated on July 18, 1974. This facility has a storage capacity of 700,000 cubic feet and consolidated the FRC assets from multiple buildings in the Chicagoland area.
The Chicago Federal Records Center now houses over 650,000 cubic feet of inactive federal records. The National Archives at Chicago houses about 130,000 cubic feet of permanently accessioned records from this region, encompassing Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, most of which are accessible to the public. The majority of its holdings and reference requests concern U.S. District Court records.
Learn more about NARA in Chicago in the Pieces of History blog:
ArchiveGrid is a powerful finding aid for old documents genealogy researchers do not want to miss. Learn to search ArchiveGrid for your ancestors' records.
ArchiveGrid includes over 7 million records describing archival materials, bringing together information about historical documents, personal papers, family histories, and more. With over 1,400 archival institutions represented, ArchiveGrid helps researchers looking for primary source materials held in archives, libraries, museums and historical societies.https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/
Dig deep into Indiana history with a virtual step back in time! Explore our online exhibits for our “You Are There” and “Be Heard” exhibits where you can view videos, images and objects and interact digitally with the exhibits. Learn more: Online Exhibits
The United States may lack an official language, but a road trip across the country reveals dozens of different accents and dialects of English that serve as living links to Americans’ ancestors.
Let's Talk: Labor Unions Jan 10, 2023 by Allen County Public Library on YouTube
The Genealogy Center This Let's Talk! session will focus on the history of labor unions and resources for research. These quarterly programs are a continuation of the partnership between the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center and the Indiana Historical Society to encourage conversations on themes of interest to family historians.
Dark History in Fort Wayne:A discussion of dark tourism and hometown discoveries as they relate November 2, 2023 Allen County Public Library on YouTube
While the phrase "Dark Tourism" has only been used for the past decade, morbid curiosity has been a documented draw for travelers for centuries. As communities attempt to heal from tragedy, unfamiliar faces often appear in an effort to view the spaces in which misfortune occurred. Such visitors are often labeled disrespectful or said to be meddling with the necessary processes required by governing bodies. What does the recognition and remembrance of tragedy do to the landscapes we travel through on a daily basis? Should you feel guilty about taking a "ghost tour" of your own community?
Join us as we host Amber Hansen, for a discussion of local history, specifically focusing on crimes of the last sixty years, and how knowledge of these events tends to impact spaces in lasting ways. Please be advised that a range of disturbing content will be discussed, and discretion is encouraged.
Fort Wayne’s Burmese population is estimated at 25,000 people. Many of them come to the United States having spent...
Fort Wayne’s Burmese population is estimated at 25,000 people. Many of them come to the United States having spent months—or even years—in refugee camps. They often speak no English, some may not even be literate in their own language, and rarely have access to people who can understand them, translate for them, and advocate for them.
Upon arrival in the United States, many refugees have no idea where to begin when it comes to healthcare, nutrition, counseling, and other basic services English-speaking residents might take for granted. Fort Wayne’s Refugee Health Collaborative was born from the need to provide wraparound care for Burmese refugees and offer a bridge between multiple services and touchpoints. At the end of 2023, the Refugee Health Collaborative was awarded a $1 million grant for its continued development in the community.
The Refugee Health Collaborative is an initiative facilitated by the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation. Participating organizations and programming include:
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, serving as the primary touchpoint for initial case management
- IU Health Primary Care Medical Office on Pettit Avenue, where refugees can receive care from Dr. Cho Mar Aung, a former Burmese refugee
- Amani Family Services, providing mental health resources and extended case management
- International House, transporting, accompanying, and advocating for refugees in their appointments
- Double Up Indiana Program, offering culturally competent, affordable fruits and vegetables for refugees who use their SNAP/EBT cards.
“This is such an exciting opportunity to serve the refugee population in Fort Wayne,” says Dr. Matt Sutter, chief medical officer at IU Health. “We know resettling in a new country comes with a lot of challenges, and physicians can only do so much—which is why providing wraparound services is really important. The St. Joseph Community Health Foundation has done a great job with bringing partners together, so we didn’t have to bring in any organizations from outside this Fort Wayne community.”
The Key to the Fort goes to individuals who’ve made an extraordinary commitment to the community through a lifetime of stewardship and involvement. The Key is a hand forged replica of the iron key that was at the Fort in the days of Anthony Wayne, circa 1790. The original key is at the History Center. Recipients include the late Charles Redd, a former City Council member and community activist, the late Jane Avery of Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Bob Chase, legendary Fort Wayne Komets broadcaster and WOWO personality, Belinda Lewis of Animal Care and Control.
Journal Gazette Citizen of the Year Kathy Callen is head of the Doermer Family Trust. For more than 30 years Callen has raised money for and lent her support to institutions throughout her hometown.
Zachary Benedict is The Journal Gazette's Citizen of the Year for 2022. The Editorial Board says he is a community leader who sees the importance of creating a sense of belonging and inclusivity. His life intersects vocation, spirit, family, and fidelity toward the concept of The Greater Good.
Editorial: For the efforts they’ve made in supporting local artists, in making art accessible to all and in positioning Fort Wayne as an arts destination, The Journal Gazette has named Nancy Stewart, chair of the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission, and Susan Mendenhall, president of Arts United, as our Citizens of the Year. Read more: Nancy Stewart, Susan Mendenhall
For her steadfast leadership and careful management of important resources to combat the pandemic, the editorial board has named Mindy Waldron as The Journal Gazette's Citizen of the Year. Allen County Department of Health
Editorial: Citizen of the year: Pastor Javier Mondragon is one of many people working to make southeast Fort Wayne a better place to live. Many Nations Church of the Nazarene
For her continuing leadership in the opioid crisis, her eloquent advocacy on behalf of children and her ceaseless crusade to get others to share her vision of a healthier Fort Wayne, Dr. Deborah McMahan is The Journal Gazette's Citizen of the Year. Dr. Deborah McMahan
Parkview Regional Medical Center’s President and CEO Michael Packnett is Citizen of the Year.
“We asked him to describe his leadership style and he responded that he viewed himself as a servant leader.”
2012: Irene Walters, executive director of university relations at IPFW, community volunteer. See Irene Walters section.
2011: Larry Wardlaw, chairman of Fort Wayne Metropolitan Human Relations Commission, community volunteer. See Larry Wardlaw section.
2010: Meg Distler, executive director of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, and Minn Myint Nan Tin, executive director of the Burmese Advocacy Center
2009: Lynn Reecer, co-founder and president of Aboite New Trails
2008: Jane Avery, executive director of Community Harvest Food Bank. See our Jane Avery section.
2007: Jeff Krull, director of the Allen County Public Library. See our Jeff Krull section.
2006: Hana Stith, founder and curator of the African/African-American Museum. See Hana Stith section.
2005: John Stafford, director of the Community Research Institute at IPFW
2004: Shirley Woods, founder of the Euell A. Wilson Center
2003: Donald Andorfer, Sister Elise Kriss, university presidents; Chancellor Mike Wartell
2002: Judges Fran Gull, Steve Sims and John Surbeck, court reform activists
2001: Jim Kelley, philanthropist
2000: Rosetta Moses Hill, education activist
1999: Father Tom O’Connor, founder, St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen
1998: Phil, Joann, Matt, Glen and Ryan Nixon, activists for bike trails, traffic safety
1997: Jane Novak, mental health advocate
1996: Ternae Jordan, Stop the Madness founder
1995: Ian Rolland, Lincoln National CEO, community activist. See our Ian Rolland section.
1994:Irene Walters, Mike Hawfield and Patty Martone, Fort Wayne bicentennial organizers
1993: Jane and Tom Dustin, environmentalists. See our Dustin section.
1992: Joyce Schlatter, Fort Wayne Community Foundation specialist
1991: Don Wolf, founder of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne Community Schools Study Connection
1990: Brenda Robinson, director of Old Fort YMCA
1989: Dr. David Porter, child abuse prevention specialist/advocate
1988: Paul Clarke, philanthropist and founder of Fort Wayne Community Foundation
We added this post with an Ancestry video that explains "What is a First Cousin Once Removed?"
https://www.census.gov/.../population-trends-return-to...
, but this post is historically interesting!