Court Cases

      Providing for Illegitimate Children.  Article on this topic in Indiana Genealogist 2013

Circuit court files,  Probate,  Adoptions,  Guardianships

Church Records

                Memberships,  Baptisms,  Separations from the church, Confirmations

                Deaths,  Marriages,  Pastors,  Attendance Records,  Giving Pledges

Voter Records

                Elections-who voted/who was eligible to vote and where

                Purged Voter records can include birth place and date   

Enumerations other than censuses

                Civil War draft enrollment 1862 and 1863

                Veteran’s enrollment 1886, 1890, 1894

                Enumerations of males give ages and locations of all men over 21 in the township.

How to Humidify and Flatten Folded Documents

by Lynita Wallace Pollock, Marshall County Historical Society and Alan Rowe, coordinator, Local History Partners, Indiana Historical Society

Local history organizations often face the challenge of storing and preserving documents that are curled, folded, or rolled. For documents that are in good condition, flattening will allow the documents to be used for research and access without the extra handling required to unroll or unfold each document. If the documents are brittle and crumbling, make sure to consult a professional paper conservator before going forward with a humidification and flattening project. Do not attempt to humidify vellum, parchment or paper with watercolors, chalk, charcoal or pastels – remember, when in doubt, contact a conservator… read more  

Preparing for a Visit to the Fort Wayne Library

Marshall County Genealogical Society

Nothing beats the fun of actually doing research yourself in a real place where your ancestors actually walked. The Internet has a lot of helpful items, but these should be used mostly as clues to the real thing. The Internet has other people’s research, which may or may not be accurate.

Doing your own research will help you find the answers you’re seeking.

The Allen County Library houses the second largest genealogical collection in our country, and it is an easy drive from Marshall County. It has so much that it is very easy to get overwhelmed. You will get more accomplished if you take some time to prepare before you get there.

Here are a few suggestions for getting the most out of your visit:

1. Review your files. What is it you want to find?

2. Familiarize yourself with your family so that names, places and dates are fresh in your mind.

3. Make a list and set your research priorities. You’ll only have a few hours!

4. Check out the website ahead of time. The Fort Wayne library has its catalog on its site, so you can check their collections ahead of time.

5. Parking. There is a parking lot in front of the Fort Wayne library, as well as underground parking. Parking for non-card holders is $7.00 per car.

6. The Fort Wayne library is now organized with open stacks so you can get your own books. They have a map of the location of the books. There are sections by state, by name, and also a special area for microfilm.

7. You might want to make copies. To make copies, you get a card from the librarian’s desk and put $1 or $5 on it from a machine. When you make the copies, you put the card under the light which lets you use the copy machine and also tells you how much money is left on the card. 

8. Lunch: there is a Dunkin’ Donuts on the first floor of the library for breakfast items and a few lunch items.        

9. Don’t do at the library what you can do at home. Concentrate on doing what you can only do at the library, looking at what you can only see while you are there.

I hope these hints will help you maximize your day in the field.

Court Cases

Providing for Illegitimate Children. Article on this topic in Indiana Genealogist 2013

Circuit court files,  Probate,  Adoptions,  Guardianships

Church Records

Memberships,  Baptisms,  Separations from the church, Confirmations

Deaths,  Marriages,  Pastors,  Attendance Records,  Giving Pledges

Voter Records

Elections-who voted/who was eligible to vote and where

Purged Voter records can include birth place and date   

Enumerations other than censuses

Civil War draft enrollment 1862 and 1863

Veteran’s enrollment 1886, 1890, 1894

Enumerations of males give ages and locations of all men over 21 in the township.

How to Humidify and Flatten Folded Documents

by Lynita Wallace Pollock, Marshall County Historical Society and Alan Rowe, coordinator, Local History Partners, Indiana Historical Society

Local history organizations often face the challenge of storing and preserving documents that are curled, folded, or rolled. For documents that are in good condition, flattening will allow the documents to be used for research and access without the extra handling required to unroll or unfold each document. If the documents are brittle and crumbling, make sure to consult a professional paper conservator before going forward with a humidification and flattening project. Do not attempt to humidify vellum, parchment or paper with watercolors, chalk, charcoal or pastels – remember, when in doubt, contact a conservator… read more  

Preparing for a Visit to the Fort Wayne Library

Marshall County Genealogical Society

Nothing beats the fun of actually doing research yourself in a real place where your ancestors actually walked. The Internet has a lot of helpful items, but these should be used mostly as clues to the real thing. The Internet has other people’s research, which may or may not be accurate.

Doing your own research will help you find the answers you’re seeking.

The Allen County Library houses the second largest genealogical collection in our country, and it is an easy drive from Marshall County. It has so much that it is very easy to get overwhelmed. You will get more accomplished if you take some time to prepare before you get there.

Here are a few suggestions for getting the most out of your visit:

1. Review your files. What is it you want to find?

2. Familiarize yourself with your family so that names, places and dates are fresh in your mind.

3. Make a list and set your research priorities. You’ll only have a few hours!

4. Check out the website ahead of time. The Fort Wayne library has its catalog on its site, so you can check their collections ahead of time.

5. Parking. There is a parking lot in front of the Fort Wayne library, as well as underground parking. Parking for non-card holders is $7.00 per car.

6. The Fort Wayne library is now organized with open stacks so you can get your own books. They have a map of the location of the books. There are sections by state, by name, and also a special area for microfilm.

7. You might want to make copies. To make copies, you get a card from the librarian’s desk and put $1 or $5 on it from a machine. When you make the copies, you put the card under the light which lets you use the copy machine and also tells you how much money is left on the card. 

8. Lunch: there is a Dunkin’ Donuts on the first floor of the library for breakfast items and a few lunch items.        

9. Don’t do at the library what you can do at home. Concentrate on doing what you can only do at the library, looking at what you can only see while you are there.

I hope these hints will help you maximize your day in the field.