Fresh Updates from the Allen County Public Library’s Genealogy Center
Genealogy Gems: News from the Fort Wayne Library No. 45, November 30, 2007
In this issue: The Military Heritage Center
Researching Mayflower Families
Scanning Old Photographs
Preservation Tip of the Month
Driving Directions to the Library
Parking at the Library
Queries for the Department
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The Military Heritage Center by Curt B. Witcher
In this season of giving, and after having just celebrated Thanksgiving and Veterans’ Day 2007, we are pleased to announce a new feature of the GenealogyCenter website.
Starting December 1st there will be a special section of the GenealogyCenter site called “Our Military Heritage” to honor those who have given so much to our country.
This is our way of both giving thanks for our military men and women, living and deceased, and assisting researchers in gaining access to data that documents our military heritage.
In this section we will be posting full-text searchable images of public-domain publications, soldiers’ letters and diaries, photographs, pension and service records, posters, military burial records, commemorative works, military institutions’ yearbooks, articles, postcards and links to significant military websites.
We anticipate this will be a very dynamic, growing area of the site as we look to include web-streamed interviews and programs in addition to other contributed materials.
The section is linked on the main page of GenealogyCenter.Info and can also be accessed directly by the following URL: www.GenealogyCenter.Info/military
Exploring this site, you will see that we have an interesting and rather unique collection of military documents already assembled.
Scanning Old Photographs by Kay Spears
Do you have some old photographs you want to scan, but you’re not sure what format to use when saving them?
Well, here’s the definitive answer: it depends.
Yes, what format you choose for saving images depends on how you intend to use them once they are scanned.
Here are some general guidelines:
- If the image is to be used for the Web/online, use JPEG, PNG or GIF.
- If the image is to be printed or used in a print publication, use TIFF.
JPEG should be used when you need to keep the file size small and don’t mind giving up quality for a significant reduction in size.
JPEGs are optimal for posting and transferring photos online.
JPEGs aren’t suitable for images with text because crisp lines will blur.
If you plan on doing any kind of restoration work on your photograph, JPEGs are not the format to use.
PNG is ideal when you need smaller file sizes with no loss in quality.
PNG supports alpha transparency (soft edges).
PNG files offer greater compression and a much wider range of color depth than GIFs.
However, not all web browsers support PNGs.
GIF is a good choice for simple Web graphics with limited colors.
GIF should rarely be used for photos.
TIFF is good for any type of bitmap image.
If you want to archive your family photographs, this is the format to use.
This is also the format to use if you are planning on doing restoration work.
Unlike JPEGs, TIFFs do not lose any compression when edited and resaved.
I recommend that you scan your family photos as TIFFs; you can always reduce them to JPEGs for sending through emails or putting online.
Always keep the original TIFF saved in a separate file.
The downside: TIFF files are extremely large and take up a lot of storage space.
However, the cost of disk storage continues to plummet while options continue to increase.
6. BMP may be used for any type of pixel-based image.
BMPs are huge files, but there is no loss of quality.
BMP has no real benefit over TIFF, except you can use it for Windows wallpaper.
A final tip: for sharing a photo via the Web or email, scan at 75 or 100 dpi.
For printing, scan at 300 dpi.
Printers have higher resolution than monitors.
If you’re planning on enlarging an image, the general rule of thumb is double the resolution when doubling the size.
Preservation Tip of the Month by Becky Schipper
This tip was sent to me from Russell Jones, a Genealogy Gems subscriber who attended one of my presentations during the FGS conference in August.
The June 2007 issue of Consumer Reports contains an interesting article beginning on page 26 concerning the transferring of LP’s, tapes, photos, and home movies to CD & DVD formats.
It is easily read and gives one practical tips and cautions.
Area Calendar of Events
Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana (ACGSI) Dec. 12, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Allen County Public Library’s Main Library, 900 Library Plaza. Members will show and tell about their oldest heirloom or artifact. Bring yours to share.
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) "First Wednesday" program of lineage assistance is Wednesday, December 5th 9 am – 7 pm.
Expert help from members of the DAR on becoming a member of that organization.
Driving Directions to the Library
Our location is 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 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 Center.
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%20Web ster%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 Ave. which dead-ends at West State Blvd.
Make an angled left turn onto West State Blvd.
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.
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 halfhours, $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
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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@ACPL.Info.
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Publishing Note:
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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.GenealogyCenter.Info.
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@[SITEURL] with “unsubscribe e-zine” in the subject line.
Curt Witcher, editor pro-tem
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