All History is Local
African American Genealogy Day @ the Main Library
The Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society's African-American Interest Group will be holding it's second annual genealogy day (Saturday, September 18, 2010, here at the Main Library. The theme is "What Didn't You Ask Your Grandmother, Reclaiming Your Heritage". Anyone from beginners to seasoned researchers are welcome to attend this all day mini-conference. Classes offered this year include: Beginning Genealogy, Writing Your LIfe Stories & Oral Histories, Voices From Our Elders, Using Google, Military History, African American Timelines Directories 1870-1900 and African American Settlements, Schools, Churches and Cemeteries. During lunchtime you'll have the opportunity to do research in the library, take a brief orientation to the library's genealogy collection, or attend several roundtable sessions on doing African-American research in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, and West Virginia.
August 31, 2010
The Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society's African-American Interest Group will be holding it's second annual genealogy day (Saturday, September 18, 2010, here at the Main Library. The theme is "What Didn't You Ask Your Grandmother, Reclaiming Your Heritage". Anyone from beginners to seasoned researchers are welcome to attend this all day mini-conference. Classes offered this year include: Beginning Genealogy, Writing Your LIfe Stories & Oral Histories, Voices From Our Elders, Using Google, Military History, African American Timelines Directories 1870-1900 and African American Settlements, Schools, Churches and Cemeteries. During lunchtime you'll have the opportunity to do research in the library, take a brief orientation to the library's genealogy collection, or attend several roundtable sessions on doing African-American research in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, and West Virginia.Date: September 18, 2010
Time: 10am-3:30pm
Where: Columbus Metropolitan Library's Main LIbrary (Downtown at 96 S. Grant Avenue)
Cost: FREE (bring your own lunch or visit area restaurants)
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND!
You may register by telephone at 614-849-1242 or visit the Genealogy, History & Travel Division at the Main Library (downtown at 96 S. Grant Avenue).
Old Memories / New Technologies
August 16, 2010
Technology is forever changing the way our world interacts. It is even changing the way our history is viewed, researched, recorded, and shared. Whether it is from the comfort of your own home or some distant location, you can now research and share history anywhere in the world. Here in Columbus we have some new opportunities and resources for local information.
Through an exciting partnership between WOSU Public Media and The Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbusneighborhoods.org was created for visitors to post pictures, video, and audio files that tell the history of your neighborhood, your friends and your neighbors. Document the past, but don’t forget about today, because the pictures of today represent the archives of tomorrow.
ColumbusMemory.org was created through a partnership of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the Columbus Historical Society. This site will be a first in making accessible unique and rare items from the archives of CHS and CML. Learn about our city’s history, research your unique topic, or loan items to be electronically preserved and shared.
Presenting will be Susan Meyer, Senior Director of Marketing, Communications and Organizational Development for WOSU Public Media, who will discuss Columbus Neighborhoods.org. Also presenting with be Bonnie Chandler, Manager – Genealogy, History & Travel Division of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, as she will introduce the ColumbusMemory.org website.
Come hear about these sites and their unique functions and capabilities at the next Columbus Historical Society program on August 19th, 2010 at the Main Library auditorium from 6-8 p.m.
The Revolutionary Generation
August 09, 2010
The Last Muster: Images of the Revolutionary War Generation, by Maureen Tayl
or is an amazing book. It is a collection of seventy photographic images of persons who lived during the Revolutionary War era. Included are participants from both sides of the war, African Americans, Native Americans, women and individuals who, as children, witnessed the war. The author painstakingly researched each person using historical and genealogical information to provide their life history, especially as it pertains to their connections to the American Revolution. Check out Dick Eastman's review of The Last Muster and reserve your copy today!
or is an amazing book. It is a collection of seventy photographic images of persons who lived during the Revolutionary War era. Included are participants from both sides of the war, African Americans, Native Americans, women and individuals who, as children, witnessed the war. The author painstakingly researched each person using historical and genealogical information to provide their life history, especially as it pertains to their connections to the American Revolution. Check out Dick Eastman's review of The Last Muster and reserve your copy today!If you think you might have an ancestor who participated in the Revolutionary War, then the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) might have information for you. They have made searching for our ancestors easier by providing a collection of databases to help us find our Revolutionary War ancestors. It is called the DAR Genealogical Research System and is a collection of information collected by the DAR since it's founding in 1890. Read the introduction for a detailed description of the collection and how to search for a Revolutionary War ancestor, their descendants and more including access to the DAR Library catalog. Remember there are limits to the information found here and you'll be given instructions on how to find more information at the DAR.
I'd like to remind you that we have an extensive genealogy collection at the Main Library that includes Revolutionary War information. You'll find research guides, rosters, pension lists (including HeritageQuests online "Revolutionary War Era Pension & Bounty-Land Warrent Application Files") , and more in the Genealogy, History and Travel division.
There’s to be good "Craic" In Dublin This Weekend!
August 02, 2010
Craic means banter, fun and good times and there'll be plenty of craic this weekend (August 6-8th) at the Dublin Irish Festival. There will be good food and fun and games for everyone in the family. If you love music, it doesn't get any better than this for the variety of music on hand from traditional folk to rock and everything in between being performed throughout the entire weekend. Check out the entertainment schedule here. There's a free iphone app to help you customize your schedule and help you keep track of what you want to see.
What better time to discover your family's heritage (Irish or otherwise) than at the festival. There will be a genealogy tent at the festival with specialists such as Dwight Radford and Irish Roots Cafe along with members of the Franklin County Genealogical and Historical Society (including myself and other staff from Columbus Metropolitan Library's Genealogy, History and Travel division) on hand to help you find your ancestors and learn about family history including DNA research.
Don't forget to check our catalog if you're looking for more information on Ireland, it's history, culture, music and of course Irish genealogy research and resources as well.
Stop by and say hello and we'll talk genealogy for a bit.
Welcome to the new Ohio Genealogical Society Library!
July 25, 2010
The Ohio Genealogical Society officially dedicated the opening of their new facility this past Friday (June 23rd). The new Samuel D. Isaly Library is a 19,000 square foot facility and will provide more room for one of Ohio's best genealogy collections. It was designed specifically for a library collection and manuscript archives and houses many special collections. These special collections include a 250,000 ancestor cards by surname, 4000+ family Bible records, First Families of Ohio files with information on over "10,000 pre-1821 Ohio settlers", Settlers and Builders of Ohio, and Society of Civil War Families of Ohio, approximately 300 manuscript collections and much more.
The library is located at 611 State Route 97 West, Bellville, Ohio, 44813. At this time it is open Tuesday-Saturday 9am to 5pm and has a very helpful staff and volunteers to assist you with your research. Admission for OGS members is free, non-members pay $4.00 per day. This new facility is a big jump forward for genealogy in Ohio and I recommend you take the time to visit the OGS Library.
This along with the consolidation of several major genealogy collections from the State Library of Ohio, the National Palatines To America Society Library, and the Franklin County Genealogical and Historical Society Library, now housed here at Columbus Metropolitan Library's Genealogy, History & Travel division, keeps genealogy at the forefront for those doing genealogy research in Ohio.
African American and Native American Revolutionaries
July 21, 2010
Check out a new book on African Americans and Native Americans who participated in the American Revolution. Forgotten Patriots-African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War: A Guide to Service, Sources and Studies. Published by the Daughters of the American Revolution it identifies over 6000 names of African Americans and Native Americans who supported the American cause either as soldiers, spys, suppliers of goods, etc. The book also serves as a guide to research with it's extensive bibliography of resources used to support documenting the identification of these individuals. This is not only useful for genealogists looking for their ancestors but also those doing research on late 18th century America as it pertains to the war. This is a book that has become a standard resource for any genealogy collection. We not only have a reference copy in the Main Library's Genealogy, History & Travel division, but you can also reserve a copy for check out as well.
Free Genealogy Program!!!
June 12, 2010
There will be a "Genealogy Forum" program on Saturday June 19th from 2-4pm at the Main Library downstown. This forum is an opportunity for you to ask local experts any questions about genealogy research. It's your chance to ask any question from something basic to that pesky brick wall you've run into that's stalling your research. Again the Genealogy Forum will be next Saturday, June 19th, form 2-4 at the Main Library downtown.
If you wish to attend please register at our "Events" page.
Columbus Artists 101 -From Controversy to Mainstream
Please join the Columbus Historical Society on Thursday, June 17th at 6 pm as we explore historical Columbus artists from the mid 1800s through the mid 1900s. We will also hear from a current muralist, Curtis Goldstein, who has painted several historically inspired murals throughout Columbus.
June 07, 2010
Thursday, June 17th from 6-8 pm, Main Library Auditorium
Please join the Columbus Historical Society on Thursday, June 17th at 6 pm as we explore historical Columbus artists from the mid 1800s through the mid 1900s. We will also hear from a current muralist, Curtis Goldstein, who has painted several historically inspired murals throughout Columbus. Bellows, Burkhart and Schille are some of the best known names in Columbus art history, and in their day they were not without their share of controversy. Hear how artists have been and are working on the Columbus art scene. Librarian and Columbus Historical Society Board member Andy Miller will discuss historical aspects of these and other Columbus artists.
We will then hear from Curtis Goldstein about his work and some of the historical murals that he has created. The discussion will focus on local artists, their careers, and examples of their artistic expressions.
Join us for an evening with amazing Columbus art history. Reservations are recommended and can be e-mailed to reservations@columbushistory.org or phone in to (614)-224-0822. Seating is limited, so please reserve your space.
Check out Columbus Metropolitan Library’s new Digital Collections Page:
May 25, 2010
The Ohio Postcard Collection:
For the past couple of years, the staff in Genealogy, History, and Travel have been busy working on a project that will bring a large collection of Ohio postcards to the public. The collection was originally purchased back in the 1970s with funds provided by the John M. Lewis estate, and it has been added to over the years.
In 2008 approximately 9,000 postcards covering numerous Ohio towns and cities were digitized, and since then, the staff of Genealogy, History and Travel has been adding metadata to each postcard. (Yes, we have physically touched each postcard at least once, and often several times.) Over the past couple of years this has become quite an interdepartmental project, where the staff of GHT and Digital Services/Information Technology have worked closely to customize the database software that holds the postcard collection.
After many, many months of work, the collection "went live" this morning. This will be a wonderful historical resource for the public as the historical postcards show Ohio from the early 20th century, a landscape that has changed dramatically since these images were taken.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my fellow staff members in GHT for all the hard work, effort, and patience they’ve exhibited over the past couple of years, while working on this project. Great job guys: Julie Callahan, Scott Caputo, Bonnie Chandler, Russ Pollitt, Tom Reitz, Nick Taggart, and Judith Zawodniak. …On to the next project !!
Genealogy Workshops @ CML
May 19, 2010
On May 7th I mentioned a workshop on how DNA research may help you with your genealogy. I just wanted to remind you that the Introduction to DNA, Genetic Genealogy program is this Saturday (May 22) from 10:30 to 1 p.m. at the Main Library downtown. Seating is limited so be sure to register if you wish to attend. For more information and to register please click here or contact the library at 614.645.2ASK (2275).
There will also be another Genealogy Forum at the Main Library on Saturday June 19th from 2-4 p.m. This is your opportunity to ask a panel of expert's questions about genealogy research. Panelists will be from the Ohio Historical Society, Palatines to America Society, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, and Columbus Metropolitan Library. For more information ant to register for the Genealogy Forum please click here or contact the library at 614.645.2ASK (2275).
Both workshops are free so register and take advantage of a great opportunity to find out more about genealogical research and connect with others doing the same.
DNA Workshop
May 07, 2010
Are you interested in how DNA can enhance your genealogy research?
The Franklin County Genealogical and Historical Society is sponsoring a free workshop "Introduction to Genetic Genealogy". You'll learn how genetic genealogy (DNA research) can help you break through your research brick walls, determine if two males with the same surname or variant name share a common paternal ancestor, confirm your family tree, prove or disprove a research theory, and much more. The workshop will be held in the 3rd Floor Conference Room at the Main Library downtown on Saturday May 22, 2010 from 10:30-1 p.m. Seating is limited for this free workshop so register early online or by calling 614-645-2ASK (2275).
Ancestry's "The Source" and "Red Book" Are Now Online!
May 01, 2010
Ancestry.com made an announcement this week at the NGS Conference. They have added The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy and Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources to their wiki. These standard research guides that should be in every genealogist or historian's library, provide information on various types of records and resources (census, church, court, land, probate, vital records, etc.) used for family history research. They are now online, searchable, provide links to many of the references mentioned in each one, and best of all they're free! Since these are in a wiki format anyone can add to them making them a dynamic living resource for us all. I recommend that you bookmark these and also check out future information on the Ancestry.com Wiki.
More Of Your Ancestors Are Waiting For You To Find Them!
April 30, 2010
This week I'm in Salt Lake City for the National Genealogical Society's annual conference. During Wednesday's opening session "From the Granite Mountain to the Ends of the World", Jay L. Verkler of FamilySearch gave a presentation on what has to be the world's largest digitization project. Staff of FamilySearch have been busy digitizing microfilmed genealogy records from around the world that are stored for safekeeping in the Granite Mountain. After the presentation, he announced to conference attendees and the genealogy community that the new beta version of the FamilySearch site was going public that morning. He then wowed the room when he announced the addition of 180 new record collections with over 300 million names now available on the beta site. For more on the announcement see the Salt Lake City Tribune.
The genealogy world is changing for the better thanks to the efforts of FamilySearch and the many volunteers assisting them with indexing these records. Check the site out and see what you can find about your ancestors.
Merion Village
April 08, 2010
Merion Village was named for an early pioneer family that settled in the area during the early days of Ohio's statehood. William Merion, his brother Nathaniel and sister Millie came from Massachusetts to Franklin County, Ohio in 1807 or 1808. They purchased and settled on nearly 1800 acres of land in the Refugee Tract area of the county. In 1809 William and his wife Sarah Wait [Waite] built a log house near Moler and South High Streets. They had seven children and in 1818 built a larger brick house to accommodate their growing family. William was a farmer and like others in his family a smart businessman as well. In the 1830's he took advantage of the feeder canal that ran through his land from Main Street to Lockbourne Road and built Merion's Landing. This brought much wealth to the family as they and other farmers brought their good to Merion's Landing for trade along the canal system. The Merion family married into many of the other prominent families of Franklin County. These include the Innis, Morrill, Kienzle, and Obetz families just to name a few.
For more information about Merion Village stop by the Genealogy, History and Travel division at the Main Library downtown. Also check out the Merion Village Association, Merion Village blog and Columbus Neighborhoods-Merion Village
Titanic!
April 02, 2010
This month marks the 98th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. On April 14,1912 the ship struck an iceberg just before midnight and sank less than three hours later, on April 15,1912. Of the 2,223 people on board, 1,517 lost their lives. Much has been written about the ship and it's tragic end and many of us have probably seen movies such as James Cameron's Titanic where romantic stories are intertwined with the disaster.
Did you know Columbus has several connections with the Titanic? There were people from Columbus traveling back to the states and several on their way from other places coming to visit Columbus as well. For information check out the encyclopedia titanica.
In the meantime check out Titanic The Artifact Exhibit here in Columbus at COSI from now until September 6, 2010.
Get Your Irish On!
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all those who are Irish or of Irish descent.
March 17, 2010
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all those who are Irish or of Irish descent. If you're interested in finding out about your family's Irish past or the history of the Irish in America or the Emerald Isle we have many books here at the library that might be of interest to you.
Tracing Your Irish Family History by Anthony Adolf helps you learn about research in the country where your ancestors migrated to and then takes you back to Ireland for resources to continue your research there. Your Irish Ancestors: A Guide for the Family Historian, by Dr. Ian Maxwell focuses on research in Ireland and sheds light on some of the lesser known records and resources every genealogist should be using to further their research.
For those more interested in history we have many books on Ireland, the Irish and Irish-Americans. Jay P. Dolan's The Irish Americans: A History provides insight on the Irish in America from the early 18th to the 21st centuries. The potato famine of the 19th century was one of the most tragic times in Ireland's history and many people died or migrated to other countries including the United States. The Great Irish Potato Famine by James S. Donnelly, Jr., explores the history of the famine and how it touched the lives of every family in Ireland. Check out these and many other books and resources at the library about Ireland, the Irish and Irish Americans.
Genealogy Forum
March 15, 2010
Do you have questions about doing family history research? Have you hit a "brick wall" and don't know how to break through it? Come and get advice from local experts about your questions. The Genealogy Forum will be held at the Main Library Auditorium this Saturday, March 20, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. If you have any questions please call the library at 614-645-2ASK (2275).
The "Forum" is FREE but we do ask that you register through Columbus Metropolitan Library's Events page.
The "Genealogy Forum" is part of an ongoing series of workshops sponsored by the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Palatines to America-Ohio Chapter, and the Ohio Historical Society.
Gathering Census Data to Create A Snapshot of Ohio.
March 10, 2010
Community Research Partners (CRP) of central Ohio uses various types of data to create their CRP Data Bytes. Data Byte No. 5 is "Census 1810-2010: Celebrating 200 Years of Census in Ohio" is one way CRP is promoting the importance of the 2010 census and everyone's participation in the census process. Reading the data byte will quickly demonstrate how beneficial the census has been in telling the history of Ohio's population and resources.
For instance, did you know that:
- Ohio had a population of 230, 760 in 1810. Fifty-five percent were under the age of 16 and "Spirits distilled" was the most valuable manufacturing industry within our states' borders. Ross County had the largest number of blacks (370), which was 19% of the state's total black population of 1,899.
- We all know that Ohio was created a slave-free state but did you know there were 6 slaves in Ohio in 1830 and 3 in 1840? It's not known for sure how this could be but one theory is that these slaves were rented out to Ohioans by slave-holders in other states.
- By 1860, Ohio's population had grown to 2,339, 511. Over 328,000 residents were foreign born. The two largest groups of immigrants were from Germany and Ireland.
- In 1910 Ohio's population was 4,767,511 with over 598,000 being foreign born. The largest group was still from Germany but data from the census showed there was a significant increase in the number of people coming from eastern and southern Europe, mostly Hungary, Austria, Russia, and Italy. The 1910 census also marked a significant turning point for Ohio as it shows residents were living in more urban than rural areas.
What will Ohio look like in 2010? It's up to each one of us to "stand up and be counted" so that we get a more accurate snapshot of Ohio and our nation during this time. Don't forget that census forms will start to be distributed this month. Fill the form out so that we can all be more fairly represented and supported.
Women's History Month: Columbus Women Profiles
Annie Maude (Norton) Battelle
March 09, 2010
Annie Maude (Norton) Battelle (1st woman to serve on the Columbus Metropolitan Library Board: 1920-1925)
Born: 26 January 1863, Montgomery, Alabama
Died: 23 March 1925, Columbus, Ohio
As a resident of Columbus you may have wondered about the origins of Battelle Institute. One of the driving forces behind the nationally known research Institute was Annie (Norton) Battelle. Annie was born in Montgomery, Alabama, the daughter of Dr. Samuel Edwin Norton, MD, DD and Julia Justina Alston. On 10 February 1881, she married John Gordon Battelle. The Battelles came to Columbus in 1909, when John Gordon Battelle became involved as a partner in the Columbus Iron and Steel Company. Quite financially successful, the Battelles were also quite philathropic with their wealth. Annie was the first woman to serve as Columbus Public Library Trustee from 1920-1925, as well as Board vice-president.
Having been recently made a widow with the passing of John Battelle in 1918, Mrs. Battelle committed herself to even greater philanthropic work. She volunteered with the American Red Cross, taking care of soldiers in the army barracks in Columbus during World War I. After the War she worked with the American Fund for the French Wounded and Fatherless Children of France committees, as well as the American Committee for Devastated France, through which she helped to raise almost $400,000.00 from the War Chests in Ohio for devastated France. For her efforts, she was decorated by the French government.
During this period she also worked as a suffragist, being a member of the National Women’s Party –a group which she both lent her efforts as well as considerable financial backing. After women were granted the right to vote in 1921, she was a Republican delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1924.
Three years before his death, Gordon Battelle (son of Annie), drew up a will providing for the creation of the Battelle Memorial Institute. In 1923, he died unexpectedly at the age of 40 after complications from a routine appendectomy. A bachelor, Gordon Battelle had willed almost half of his estate to the creation of the Institute, and when his mother, Annie Norton Battelle, died two years later with no immediate heirs, she left the balance of the Battelle family fortune to the Institute, bringing the total endowment to $3.5 million.
Between 1910-1916, the Battelles were living at 662 East Town Street. Unfortunately, the mansion at that address was torn down when Interstate 71 was put through the city.
Women's History Month: Columbus Women Profiles
March 05, 2010
Columbus has given birth to some remarkable women over the years. We've had pioneer attornies, physicians, architects and journalists. One of the lesser recognized women journalists of the early 1900s was Lida Rose McCabe. Long before we had Andrea Cambern or Angela Pace, Columbus was the hometown of Lida Rose McCabe. Although she moved on to New York City and Paris for her career, she is still a daughter of Columbus.
Lida Rose McCabe (1865-1938) was an accomplished female figure in journalism around the turn of the century. Born in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Bernard McCabe, an Irish immigrant, Lida was a Paris Correspondent for both the American Press Association (1889-1890) and for the New York Tribune (1890). McCabe went on to work as a Special Writer for the New York Herald and the New York Times. She opened an ethical lecture course to women at Saint Xavier's College in New York and was the author of several books on the subject of the occupation and compensation of women.
McCabe also wrote about local history. An anthology of her work, Don't You Remember? contains stories about the city of Columbus from the 1830s-1850s, as recounted to her by her aunt and mother. One of the stories in Don't You Remember centers around a crazy quilt that her aunt Cynthia had made out of pieces of material that were historically significant to Columbus. Scraps of silk from a Columbus ballgown from 1833, pieces of uniform from General William H. Harrison, and pieces of a necktie from Henry Clay. The story is very informative in that it talks about downtown Columbus in the 1830s-50s, telling when theaters, businesses and residents came and went. This fascinating resource of Columbus local history is in the reference collection of Genealogy, History and Travel.... along with untold other gems of local history.
