A Genealogist's Dream: Researching at the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
One
of the highlights of my trip to Fort Wayne for the National Genealogical
Society Family History Conference was finally visiting the world-famous
Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library (ACPL). For many family
historians, a trip to the Genealogy Center is a bucket-list experience, and I
can now say it lived up to its reputation.
The Genealogy Center is home to the renowned Periodical Source Index (PERSI), which contains more than 3.2 million citations from genealogy and local history periodicals. Before arriving in Fort Wayne, I spent time exploring PERSI online and compiling a research list of books, articles, and periodicals that might contain information about my ancestors.
As any genealogist knows, the challenge is not finding things to research—it's deciding where to begin. My list included families from Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, and Alabama, representing both sides of my family tree. Even after weeks of preparation, I quickly realized I had only scratched the surface of what is available at the Genealogy Center.
Although I wasn't able to take one of the popular library tours offered during the conference—they sold out quickly—I had no trouble getting started. The library is remarkably well organized, and the staff members were incredibly helpful. Whenever I had a question, someone was nearby and ready to assist.
One of the things I enjoyed most was simply being surrounded by other researchers. Everywhere I looked were professional genealogists, family historians, and researchers immersed in their work. There was a shared sense of purpose and curiosity in the room. Sitting among them, searching through records and publications, I felt completely at home. Quite simply, I was in my happy place.
The Genealogy Center also offers an excellent document-copying service. For a very reasonable fee, staff members will copy articles and materials and mail them anywhere in the United States. That service alone makes the collection accessible to researchers who may never have the opportunity to visit Fort Wayne in person.
Fortunately, I found everything on my research list and more. Rather than spending valuable time at the copy machines, I used my smartphone to photograph the pages I wanted to review later. By the end of the two days I spent there, I had taken an astonishing 761 photographs.
Now that I am back home in my genealogy study, the real work begins. Organizing, reviewing, and extracting information from hundreds of images will likely keep me busy for several weeks. But that's the kind of work genealogists enjoy—the process of turning scattered clues into documented family history.
My visit to the Genealogy Center was the perfect way to conclude an outstanding week in Fort Wayne. The conference itself was exceptional, but having the opportunity to conduct research at one of the premier genealogy libraries in the world made the trip even more memorable.
A special thank you goes to Curt Witcher and the dedicated staff of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Day after day, they help genealogists and family historians across the country, whether through in-person visits or remote services. Their commitment to preserving and sharing family history resources benefits all of us who seek to discover and tell our ancestors' stories.
Hats off to the ACPL Genealogy Center. I have a feeling this won't be my last visit.
The Genealogy Center is home to the renowned Periodical Source Index (PERSI), which contains more than 3.2 million citations from genealogy and local history periodicals. Before arriving in Fort Wayne, I spent time exploring PERSI online and compiling a research list of books, articles, and periodicals that might contain information about my ancestors.
As any genealogist knows, the challenge is not finding things to research—it's deciding where to begin. My list included families from Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, and Alabama, representing both sides of my family tree. Even after weeks of preparation, I quickly realized I had only scratched the surface of what is available at the Genealogy Center.
Although I wasn't able to take one of the popular library tours offered during the conference—they sold out quickly—I had no trouble getting started. The library is remarkably well organized, and the staff members were incredibly helpful. Whenever I had a question, someone was nearby and ready to assist.
One of the things I enjoyed most was simply being surrounded by other researchers. Everywhere I looked were professional genealogists, family historians, and researchers immersed in their work. There was a shared sense of purpose and curiosity in the room. Sitting among them, searching through records and publications, I felt completely at home. Quite simply, I was in my happy place.
The Genealogy Center also offers an excellent document-copying service. For a very reasonable fee, staff members will copy articles and materials and mail them anywhere in the United States. That service alone makes the collection accessible to researchers who may never have the opportunity to visit Fort Wayne in person.
Fortunately, I found everything on my research list and more. Rather than spending valuable time at the copy machines, I used my smartphone to photograph the pages I wanted to review later. By the end of the two days I spent there, I had taken an astonishing 761 photographs.
Now that I am back home in my genealogy study, the real work begins. Organizing, reviewing, and extracting information from hundreds of images will likely keep me busy for several weeks. But that's the kind of work genealogists enjoy—the process of turning scattered clues into documented family history.
My visit to the Genealogy Center was the perfect way to conclude an outstanding week in Fort Wayne. The conference itself was exceptional, but having the opportunity to conduct research at one of the premier genealogy libraries in the world made the trip even more memorable.
A special thank you goes to Curt Witcher and the dedicated staff of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Day after day, they help genealogists and family historians across the country, whether through in-person visits or remote services. Their commitment to preserving and sharing family history resources benefits all of us who seek to discover and tell our ancestors' stories.
Hats off to the ACPL Genealogy Center. I have a feeling this won't be my last visit.
SOME PICS
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| Walking in with Kelvin Meyers |
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| Got Alabama? |
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| My 3rd. Great-grandfather, Charles Gowens |
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| My 2nd. Great-grandfather |
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| President Lincoln's cane! |
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| The ACPL also had a great President Lincoln exhibition |
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| My setup |
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| In the stacks! |
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| The Draper Manuscripts |
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| Happy 250th. America! |
