Home > People > Societies of Allen County, Indiana

Societies of Allen County, Indiana

See our Clubs page.

February 2, 2024 post by the Genealogy Center on Facebook:

Explore a plethora of records in our FREE databases, including a rich selection of resources from right here in Allen County, Indiana. 🧐 Delve into the 1954 Directory of Fort Wayne's Civic Clubs, Trade Associations, and Fraternal Organizations: https://www.genealogycenter.info/search_fwclubs1954.php

Discover a treasure trove of yearbooks, photos, government records, church records, and more in our comprehensive database: Fort Wayne and Allen County Resources

Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI)

Formed in 1976 and web host for the Allen INGenWeb web site. Search boxes are linked together to easily find all information on either web site. ACGSI free educational programs related to genealogy are the second Wednesday of each month, September through June. Refreshments are served at 6:30 p.m. followed by a speaker at 7:00 p.m. in Meeting Room B at the main Allen County Public Library.

P.O. Box 12003
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Website: www.acgsi.org , Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACGSI/, Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACGSI

It's Not Trash - It's History was a newspaper ad run several years ago encouraging donations of genealogy material to the The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

African-American Genealogical Society of Allen County, Indiana

In 1975, African American teachers Hana L. Stith and Miles Edwards started working with the Allen County Historical Museum to preserve their history. In May 1999 they moved into their current building.

436 East Douglas Avenue
P.O. Box 11524
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46859
Website: www.african-americanfw.com , Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aagsfw, YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXKpcegWbuTA1NRpKk0oA-A

Celebrate the African/African-American Historical Society’s Anniversary! by Renee posted on March 20, 2012 onFort Wayne Insider official blog of Visit Fort Wayne.

Back to top

Allen County - Fort Wayne Historical Society

Formed in 1921, since the 1980s housed in the 1893 City Hall building, oversees the historic Barr Street Market dating back to 1837 and the 1827 home of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville. See The History Center on our Place page.
302 East Berry Street, Fort Wayne

Website: familyhistorycenter.org; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fwhistorycenter

Anthony Halberstadt Chapter SAR

A chapter of the Indiana Society of the Sons of the American Revolution located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Website: http://halberstadt.indianasar.org/, Facebook: SAR - Anthony Halberstadt Chapter

Anthony Halberstadt Chapter SAR (IN0027P) along with Lindenwood Cemetery (INFWLC) at Wreaths Across America.

See our Revolutionary War page.

September 22, 2023 post by SAR - Anthony Halberstadt Chapter on Facebook:

SAR PATRIOT MARKER: as read by Seth Bradtmueller during the Patriot Grave Marking of Colonel Alexander Ewing on 16 September 2023 in Ft. Wayne, IN.

The center of the SAR Patriot Grave Marker contains a picture of a Minute Man; the first volunteer for the American Revolution. He was ready to go “at a minute’s notice.”

The Minute Man is surrounded by 13 stars which represents the original 13 colonies.

The date of 1775 is the generally agreed upon date of the start of the American revolution.

The term “Patriot” at the bottom of the marker signifies someone that served or supported the American Revolution.

Finally, the Grave Marker contains the letters “S”, “A” and “R” which stand for the recognizing organization, the Sons of the American Revolution.

ARCH

818 Lafayette Street, Fort Wayne. See ARCH on our Places page:

Website: https://archfw.org/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archfw;

Website videos: https://archfw.org/page/1/?s=video; YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@archinc6604/videos

Besancon Historical Society

French settlement and St. Louis Catholic Church history society formed in 1995 to serve the eastern Allen County, Indiana area.

15535 Lincoln Highway East
New Haven, Indiana 46774
www.besanconhistory.org

Delta Sigma Theta

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. One hundred years ago Sunday [January 13, 1913], 22 women at Howard University in Washington, D.C., founded an organization geared toward service, scholarship and sisterhood. Less than two months later, those women performed their first public act: They were the only black group and the only Greek group to participate in the Women’s Suffrage March in Washington, D.C. read the rest of their story in Sorority celebrates a century From suffrage to service Delta Sigma Theta keeps founders’ ideals by Jaclyn Youhana published January 14, 2013 The Journal Gazette newspaper. Delta Sigma Theta sorority celebrates century of service by Frost Illustrated Staff October 18, 2013 on Frost Illustrated now on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, Inc.

Location:
15808 Edgerton Road
New Haven, Indiana 46774
Website: fortwaynerailroad.org/
Mailing Address:
PO Box 11017
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46855
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fortwaynerailroad
YouTubes on Fort Wayne Historical Society channel
See Santa Train on Visit Fort Wayneblog.

Four Presidents Corners Historical Society

Dedicated to the history and historic preservation in Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe townships of Allen County, Indiana.

Meetings first Wednesday of each month at Monroeville Library

115 Main Street
Monroeville, Indiana 46773
Web site: www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~infpchs/

Back to top

Grabill Historical Society and Olde Church Museum

Mission is to recognize and preserve the unique history of Grabill.

13506 West Street
P.O. Box 346
Grabill, Indiana 46741
web site

Hoosier Homestead Awards

Photos and more since 2011 online
www.in.gov/isda/2237.htm

The Hoosier Homestead Awards recognizes families with farms that have been owned by the same family for 100 years or more. Started in 1976, more than 5,000 statewide awarded. Earliest Allen County award is Paul Parker from November 5, 1837.

Centennial Award - 100 years of ownership
Sesquicentennial Award - 150 years of ownership
Bicentennial Award - 200 years of ownership

Huntertown Historical Society

Established in 1997, serving Perry and Eel River Townships.

P.O. Box 662
Huntertown, Indiana 46748-0662
Has obituaries, photos, stories, contact information and more on their web site:
www.huntertownhistoricalsociety.org and Huntertown Historical Society Family Files at The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Indiana Chapter of the Association for Gravestone Studies

Founded in 2010, they meet twice a year (Fall & Spring) for those in the state of Indiana and the Midwest with interests in cemetery research and preservation.

Facebook
Indiana Chapter, Association for Gravestone Studies blog
National gravestonestudies.org website.

Indiana Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 10507
Fort Wayne IN 46852
Website: www.indgensoc.org, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indianagensoc, YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@indgensoc/videos
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IndianaAncestors
Blog: indgensoc.blogspot.com

2022 Chat with IGS Officers about Future of Indiana Genealogical Society by Indiana Genealogical Society, Inc. April 3, 2023 on YouTube
#familyhistory #genealogy #indiana This was an IGS Live event from April 2022. Join the incoming IGS President, Curt Sylvester, and Vice-President, Sue Caldwell, and outgoing IGS President, Rhonda Stoffer, as they discuss the 2022 Annual Conference and future of IGS. 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.

Back to top

Indiana Jewish Historical Society

Founded in 1972, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, holds events throughout the state, collects, preserves, and publishes information on the 250 years of Jewish Life in Indiana.

6301 Constitution Drive
Fort Wayne 46804
Web site: ihs.org

PrimeTime39- Indiana Jewish Historical Society- July 26,2019 Season 2019 Episode 25 | 27m 36s Indiana Jewish Historical Society. Guests - Dr.Wendy Soltz and Dr. Steven Alan Carr. This area’s only in-depth, live, weekly news, analysis and cultural update forum, PrimeTime 39 airs Fridays at 7:30pm. This program is hosted by PBS39’s President/General Manager Bruce Haines.

INPAWS - Indiana Native Plant And Wildflower Society

Since 1993, a diverse mix of naturalists, gardeners, conservationists, scientists, writers, and photographers educating the public about the value, beauty, diversity and environmental importance of indigenous vegetation.

P.O. Box 501528
Indianapolis, IN 46250
Web site: www.inpaws.org

Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter NSDAR (National Society Daughter's of the American Revolution)

Organized December 18, 1901, the eleventh chapter formed in the State of Indiana, the chapter name was chosen to honor the wife of General Anthony Wayne. Around 20 of their Yearbooks before 1923 are online at the Internet Archive.

DAR LIBRARY DAY at the Allen County Public Library The Genealogy Center

900 Library Plaza
Fort Wayne, Indiana
1st Wednesday of each month
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Web site: www.rootsweb.com/~inmpwcd/

Back to top

St. Vincent de Paul Historical Society

Originally located near Academy, Indiana in St. Joseph Township. Central focus of Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Washington Township.
Wayback Machine archived web site: www.rootsweb.com/~insvhs/

Settlers, Inc.

Since 1971, costumed Settler members have researched the early Americana domestic arts and crafts, their politics, history, folklore and mechanics involving the many skills needing to survive early America. Settlers have shared their knowledge with the community via their Speakers' Bureau and their programs at the Swinney Homestead. In 1980 Settlers leased and moved into the Swinney House and began teaching classes in a historical, elegant setting. Copied from their About Settlers, Inc. section of their web site.

1424 West Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802
Web site : www.settlers.org

St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative

Formed in March 1996, joining local and state natural resource professionals and political leaders to share information and to discuss issues and solutions to water quality issues. Was a response to publication of Weed Killers by the Glass, published by the Environmental Working Group in 1995, which brought to light the problem of herbicides found in Fort Wayne, Indiana's tap water. In the report, a single sample of tap water taken on June 1, 1995 contained nine different herbicides. 

3718 New Vision Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46845
Web site: www.sjrwi.org

Scottish Cultural Society of Fort Wayne

2010 Indiana Highland Games & Scottish Festival at IPFW uploaded May 24, 2010 YouTube
Blog: www.scottishsocietyftw.org

Back to top

Other Societies

  1. Local Societies Can Help Preserve the Past by Margery Graham, originally appeared in the IGS June 2010 Newsletter, published March 30, 2015 on the Indiana Genenealogical Societyblog.
  2. Indiana Postal History Society
  3. Indiana Historical Society
  4. Indiana History Bureau
  5. Indiana Historic Architecture
  6. Indiana Historical Society has Local History Contacts to county historical societies, county genealogical organizations, and county historians.
  7. Indiana Horticultural Society is mentioned many times in Johnny Appleseed discussion, especially Johnny Appleseed Newspaper articles.
    1. The First Indiana Horticultural Society by W. H. Ragan, [Extracts from a paper read at the annual meeting of the Indiana Horticultural Society, 1906, and printed in full in the proceedings of the Society for that year.] online pages 71-79 of Volume 4, Issue 2, June 1908 of the Indiana Magazine of History journal in the archives at Indiana University Scholarworks is viewable online at jstor.org.
    2. Indiana Horticultural Society meetings are orgainized by Purdue University.
    3. The American Horticultural Society started in 1922 lists the Purdue Master Gardener State Coordinator as their Indiana contact.
  8. Indiana Magazine of History published since 1905, free online access to all but the two most recent years of the publication.
  9. National Society Sons of the American Revolution
  10. Society of Indiana Pioneers - Several videos on YouTube by threehermits
    The Society of Indiana Pioneers: Overview
    The Society of Indiana Pioneers: Membership, Benefits and Genealogy
    The Society of Indiana Pioneers: Founders Project celebrating Indiana's 2016 bicentennial.
  11. Territorial Guard Society of Indiana - Indiana Genealogical Society member who is a direct descendant of someone who lived within the boundaries of present-day Indiana on or before December 11, 1816, the date of Indiana statehood, apply for membership.

    Territorial Guard Society of Indiana with Ron Darrah August 1, 2023 Indiana Genealogical Society, Inc. on YouTube
    #familyhistory #indiana #genealogy Learn more from Ron Darrah, IGS Central District Director and Lineage Committee Chair, about the Territorial Guard Society of Indiana. The TGSI is a lineage society within IGS for members who can prove they are descended from an ancestor who resided in Indiana before Indiana became a state on 11 December 1816. Video recorded on 1 August 2023.#genealogy #lineagesociety #territorialguardsociety #familyhistory #indiana #hoosierhistory

Heritage descent is you to your ancestor, lineage descent is person of note to you. You generally need to prove your descent with copies of certificates of birth, marriage and death; Bible records with page listing Bible copyright to prove age of Bible; records for land, wills, probate and military, or from books, newspapers. It depends on the organization requirements.

  1. Daughters of Union Veterans of Civil War 1861-1865
  2. General Society of Mayflower Descendants - on the Mayflower 1620
  3. General Society of the War of 1812 - gentlemen lineal descents only - no Indiana Society - Ohio Society of 1812
  4. Grand Army of the Republic and Kindred Societies
  5. Indiana Lineage Links
  6. Jamestowne Society - 1607 - There is a Thomas FOLLIS who might be related to the webmaster Stan Follis so maybe you have an unknown relative too?
  7. Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic
  8. National Genealogical Society
  9. National Society Daughters of the American Colonists - before July 4, 1776
  10. National Society Sons & Daughters of the Pilgrims - before 1700 lower 48 states
  11. National Society of The Colonial Dames of America - before 1750
  12. National Society United States Daughters of the War of 1812 - Indiana Society
  13. Society of Indiana Pioneers - before 1840, some exceptions
  14. Sons of the American Revolution National - Indiana Chapter - Fort Wayne Anthony Halberstadt Chapter
  15. Sons of Confederate Veterans
  16. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Back to top

Page updated: February 2, 2024