Genealogy, History, and whatever else crosses my mind
The Ohio Historical Society has just launched a new website to raise awareness of Ohio’s role in the Civil War: OhioCivilWar150.org. The site features:
I am looking forward to watching this site grow as we get closer to the sesquicentennial in 2011. (Is that really only a little more than a year away?!)
Ever since the announcement that the documents from the Lincoln Collection at the former Lincoln Museum would move to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, I’ve been anxious to see just what treasures are in the collection. If the first round of digital images are any indication, the collection is beyond “cool.”
When the Lincoln Museum closed, the Lincoln Financial Foundation gave the artifacts to the Indiana State Museum and the records to the Allen County Public Library. Work has begun on digitizing the records and posting them online. The images that they’ve posted so far are rather tantalizing. My favorite is an undated note written by Lincoln: “Let Master Tad have a Navy sword. A. Lincoln”.
Although not part of the Lincoln Collection, the Genealogy Center at ACPL also has posted an image of a silk ribbon commemorating Lincoln’s death. As they note on the website, it is a rare glimpse into life in Fort Wayne at the time, as the newspapers from April 1865 have been lost.
A recent article in the Journal Gazette has some behind-the-scene photos and more detail about the Lincoln Collection at ACPL. It will be interesting to watch as more and more images are posted on the Lincoln Collection website.
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has issued Executive Order 2009-36, abolishing the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries. This order abolishes the Library of Michigan and disperses the collection. This would be a travesty not only to the people of Michigan, but to the entire United States. The Library of Michigan is one of the most highly respected state libraries in the country. This is an extremely short-sighted approach to solving the state’s economic woes.
The Records Preservation and Access Committee, sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the National Genealogical Society and several other national organizations, has stared an online petition urging the Michigan Legislature to overturn the governor’s executive order.
The Michigan Senate has already voted to overturn the executive order. Now, the Michigan House of Representatives needs to do the same. If they do not, the order will take effect October 1.
Please take a moment and sign the online petition. It takes only a moment. You do not need to make your email address public. You do NOT need to live in Michigan to sign this petition.
If you care about genealogy and about libraries, I urge you to sign the petition and to let all of your friends know about this issue. Thank you.
Governor Ted Strickland’s proposed state budget includes a nearly 50% cut in the state’s Public Library Fund. This will be devastating to all public libraries, especially to the approximately two-thirds of public libraries that don’t receive local funding.
In such difficult economic times, public libraries play an increasingly important role in society. They provide vital Internet access. (Think of how many employers today require applicants to fill out online applications.) They assist students. They provide education, such as computer training. Without these services, those who are unemployed or disadvantaged are going to find it even more difficult to get ahead.
There will be a rally at the Statehouse tomorrow (June 25) at 11:30am. Attendees are urged to wear RED and bring their library cards. Signs are encouraged, but please do not place them on sticks or poles.
More information on the proposed budget cuts can be found at the Ohio Library Council website.
There is a Save Ohio’s Libraries group on Facebook.
I hope to see you at the Statehouse tomorrow!
This tombstone in Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Ohio is a great example of the Modern Woodmen of America. Many genealogists and taphophiles are familiar with the Woodmen of the World organization, which placed countless tree-stump tombstones on the graves of its deceased members. The Modern Woodmen of America is older than WOW, though it was founded by the same man, Joseph Cullen Root. He formed MWA in Lyons, Iowa in 1883. He left the organization and formed WOW in Omaha, Nebraska in 1890.
Modern Woodmen of America is still an active fraternal/insurance organization. Today it offers a variety of insurance and financial services. Its website features a timeline of its history.
Rihl tombstone with Modern Woodmen of America logo, Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, 10 May 2009; all rights reserved.
Close-up of Modern Woodmen of America logo, Rihl tombstone, Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Ohio. Photo by Amy Crow, 10 May 2009; all rights reserved.
John C. Coble tombstone, Asbury Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. Photo taken by Amy Crow 9 June 2009; all rights reserved.
This tombstone is in Asbury Cemetery in Madison Township, Franklin County, Ohio, near the intersection of Noe-Bixby Road and Winchester Pike. It is in excellent condition. I love the epitaph.
“In
memory of
John C.
Son of John and
Jane Coble.
born Augt 3th 1838.
died Septr. 17th 1840.
aged 2 years,
1 month and 14 days.
This lovely bud so young
and fair,
Called hence by early doom
Just came to show how
sweet a flower
In paradise would bloom.”
I am soooooooo far behind in my blogging that I’ve neglected to mention something I’m very excited about: presenting at the Student History Conference at Ohio State University – Newark today! I’ll be presenting two papers. The first is “For the Benefit of the Private Soldiers: The History of the Grand Army of the Republic in Ohio,” which was my research paper for History 310 (Ohio History) last fall. The second paper is a portion of my senior honors thesis. I’m a bit nervous about that one as (1) so many of my friends have told me they’re going to that session and (2) I’ve had to use just different sections of the thesis because the whole thing it too long to present. I hope what I present makes sense!
If you happen to be in the area this morning, stop by the Reese Center on the OSU-N campus. There are 3 sessions: 9:00, 10:15, and 11:30. There are also two presentations this afternoon: one by a history prof at Denison talking about local history (yea!) and the other by an author talking about historical fiction.
A reminder to everyone that the Ohio Historical Society — including the Archives/Library — is closed today (March 28) through April 3. You can thank the Ohio legislature and their massive slashing of OHS’ budget for this.
Other OHS sites closed this week are:
You can read the “Special Notice” on the OHS website: http://www.ohiohistory.org/sn/010509.html
This year’s Ohio Genealogical Society conference will be held 2-4 April at the Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron. The schedule is filled with sessions covering topics such military research, Internet sources, software, publishing, migration, oral history, and historical fiction. I think my favorite title is Shirley Hodges’ session “Family Historian or Pack Rat?” I didn’t know there was a difference 
Before March 15, full registration for OGS members is $115; for non-members, it is $153. The price goes up to $135 and $168 respectively after March 15.
You can download the booklet which contains the registration form at www.ogs.org/conference2009/OGSConferenceBooklet2009.pdf
I’m a bit of a stickler about grammar. I cringe when I see things like “Its snowing now” or “Their going to the movies.” Similarly, it bothers me when I read especially bad sentences.
In yesterday’s Columbus Dispatch, there was a short article about a man who was charged with negligence in the death of his daughter in a car accident last year. The sentence read:
“He was charged with failure to restrain his unbelted 12-year-old daughter, Jessica, after she died in a Feb. 22 crash in which another vehicle slid across the center line and struck his van on an icy Rt. 22.”
I know that is not what the reporter intended to say. (At least, I hope that’s not what the reporter intended to say!) Why would the man restrain his daughter after she died?
The incident was a tragedy and I don’t mean to sound flippant. But that sentence is so poorly constructed that it has bothered me ever since I read it yesterday. I think I need to turn “editor mode” off every now and then.
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