Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

January 17, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Sculpture is a visual art form that is presented in three dimensions. These works are created through the manipulation of materials such as metal, plaster, stone, wood, glass, plastic, and ceramic. A few methods used to shape these raw materials include carving, casting, welding, molding, shaping, or bonding. Sculpture is one of the longest-lived forms of art and craft, dating back to the prehistoric era of the Upper Paleolithic, over 35,000 years ago. Some of the earliest examples of sculpture work include crafted tools and figurines. Sculpture has been used as a method to document important people, to celebrate ideas, to create tools, or to replicate the natural world. Sculpture is often thought of as a grand work of stone or bronze, such as a monument or statue, because these objects are typically referenced as “sculptures.” However, sculpture as an art form and crafting method also encompasses works such as pottery, jewelry, musical instruments, and weaponry. Various methods of craft and artistic expression that can fall under the large umbrella of sculpture also fall into their own specialized sub-category such as wood-carving, blacksmithing, or glass blowing. Visit the History Center to see our new temporary exhibit “Sculpture: Craftsmanship and Art in Three Dimensions.” #sociallyhistory

October 31, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Halloween, with roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, has come to be a time associated with both fun and scares. Popular Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins or turnips into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, and watching horror or Halloween-themed films. The celebration of Halloween in the United States grew in the early 20th Century, making it one of our country’s principal holidays. Halloween Greetings from the History Center! #sociallyhistory

[One of the postcards has the caption: the boogie man will catch you if you don't watch out which could be a variation of the line: An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you Ef you Don't Watch Out! from the 1885 poem Little Orphant Annie by James Whitcomb Riley. The is also a 1942 comedy horror movie called: The Boogie Man Will Get You.]

November 22, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Throughout modern western history, children have associated Christmas with toys. However, it was not until the late 19th and early 20th century that Christmas became more of a family-oriented holiday where children could expect to receive toys as gifts. As mail order catalogs and department stores flourished, so did the marketing of toys for children at Christmas. During the earliest period of the Christmas toy boom, most working class families could spare limited funds on toys, if at all, and it was the wealthy that could purchase multiple toys or toy sets for their children. This remained true until after WWII, when postwar growth in income and standard of living created greater demand for non-essential goods such as toys. As demand for toys among the majority of families grew, children were given multiple toys or even entire sets of toys. These toy sets were usually made up of a group of like-themed toys that were used to execute some type of action, re-enact some type of event, or create an interactive multi-piece experience. Toys that were part of a related series or set could often be expanded by purchasing additional sets or accessories related to the same theme or from the same manufacturer. Check out some of the historic toy sets from our collection that are featured in this exhibit and compare them to the types of toy sets you might receive for Christmas this year! #sociallyhistory

December 25, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

The Holiday Season is a time of year when we often think about those close to us that we cannot see because of distance. In response, to this we often send cards to each other. In the early 20th Century, it was popular to send Christmas postcards to loved ones. Here are some Christmas postcards from our collection dating from the early 20th Century. Season’s Greetings from the History Center! #sociallyhistory

January 4, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired. It can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille displays that connect to computers and smartphone devices. It is named for its creator, Louis Braille, a Frenchman who lost his sight as a result of a childhood accident. In 1824, at the age of fifteen, he developed the braille code based on the French alphabet. He published his system, which subsequently included musical notation, in 1829. The second revision, published in 1837, was the first binary form of writing developed in the modern era. In November 2018, World Braille Day was established as an international day to celebrate awareness of the importance of braille as a means of communication. The date for the event, January 4, was chosen by the United Nations General Assembly and marks the birthday of Louis Braille. The first World Braille Day was celebrated on January 4, 2019 and each year since. #sociallyhistory

January 18, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Since the founding of Allen County, its citizens have been looking for and engaging in recreational activities. One way the people passed the time was through their hobbies. These include but are not limited to: photography, sports, knitting, drawing and dance. January is National Hobby Month, the perfect time of year to pick up a new hobby, or get back into an old one that you haven't thought about in a while! The great thing about having a hobby is that it can take your mind off the pressure of work or other daily stresses. Take some time this month to enjoy the hobby that appeals to you. #sociallyhistory

February 11, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

When asked about Allen County, is the first thing that comes to mind inventions? For most of the population the answer is probably no, but our county has been home to numerous inventors over the decades. Since 1983, National Inventors’ Day has taken place on February 11, Thomas Edison’s birthday, honoring the inventors of the past, the creators of the present, and encourages the architects of the future. In honor of this day, we share some of the inventors and their creations that have called Allen County home. Gertrude Muller, an Allen County native, invented the first folding potty chair. While living in Fort Wayne, Edward White started his own electronics firm, Bowmar, and invented the first handheld calculator – the Bowmar Brain. James Wood came to Allen County to work for Jenny Electric and patented many objects, including the arc-lamp. This was used by municipalities to light their streets. Take sometime today and learn about the other wonderful inventors that have lived in Allen County. #sociallyhistory

Clothing is an essential part of everyday for the people of Allen County. One of the oldest forms of clothing is the...

Posted by The History Center on Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Clothing is an essential part of everyday for the people of Allen County. One of the oldest forms of clothing is the dress. Dresses have been worn for hundreds of years. Today, they come in a variety of shapes and designs. From long, mini, fit, and flare to the ball gown and A-line, there are many ways to celebrate. Throughout the years, dress designs have changed drastically! However, they still provide a distinctive look and one-of-a-kind fit adding a level of poise and confidence to any event. Since 2016, National Dress Day, founded by designer Ashley Lauren Kerr, has been celebrated annually on March 6. Take time today to share your favorite dress, past or present, or go shopping for one! Today we share a sampling of the dresses in the Historical Society’s collection. #sociallyhistory

For 50 years the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir has provided music education to thousands of children in northeast Indiana....

Posted by The History Center on Thursday, April 6, 2023

Thursday, April 6, 2023 post by The History Center on Facebook:

For 50 years the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir has provided music education to thousands of children in northeast Indiana. Originally known as the Children of Peace Choristers, the extracurricular program was created by Jocelyn Basse in 1973 and incorporated in 1984 as the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir. It has since grown to more than 250 singers representing 83 schools in northeast Indiana and western Ohio, as well as 36 homeschools. Five different artistic directors have provided their expert leadership to the group. The FWCC’s mission has always been to unite young singers from diverse backgrounds to achieve artistic and educational excellence. Along with music literacy and theory, the FWCC educates its singers in history, culture, foreign language, poetry, and performance. Teamwork, discipline, leadership, and other practical skills are taught as well. Throughout its 50 year history, the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir has provided its members with numerous opportunities in the world of music at home and abroad. Visit the History Center to see our new temporary exhibit “Fort Wayne Children’s Choir: 50 Years of Excellence in Music Education” presented in conjunction with the Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, through June 14th. #sociallyhistory

Capturing the world around us has long been the goal of humanity. One of the most prominent ways this is accomplished is...

Posted by The History Center on Monday, May 13, 2024

Monday, May 13, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Capturing the world around us has long been the goal of humanity. One of the most prominent ways this is accomplished is through photography, which is the art, application, and practice of creating images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. While the tools used in photography have changed since its start some 170 years ago, the fascination it generates has not stopped. We capture moments in time and collect elements of our lives from the everyday to those landmark events. Take some time this month to appreciate the art of photography by taking a photograph or by visiting a museum to see the past through a masters lens. #sociallyhistory

Being able to see the world around us is important to our everyday lives. For centuries, humans have striven to improve...

Posted by The History Center on Thursday, June 6, 2024

Thursday, June 6, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Being able to see the world around us is important to our everyday lives. For centuries, humans have striven to improve our ability to clearly see. Eyeglasses have been around since the mid-13th century and have been improved upon ever since. Beginning in the mid-1800s, the citizens of Allen County could purchase glasses from local optometrists instead of sending for them from the East Coast. Since 2016, June 6th has been designated as National Eyewear Day. This day is to remind people of the importance of eye health and to encourage people to have eye exams. There are many ways to celebrate this day including but not limited to: wearing your favorite eyewear. Whether they are for clearer vision, protection or just to change up your style, eyewear proves to be versatile in many ways. Show off your personality with a new set of frames or change up your look by swapping out old lenses. Today, we share some of the eyewear in our collection. #sociallyhistory

The people of Allen County have long looked for ways to unwind after a full day. One of the ways that the people of this...

Posted by The History Center on Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

The people of Allen County have long looked for ways to unwind after a full day. One of the ways that the people of this county found to accomplish this was through music and instruments. The German immigrants to our community brought with them one of these instruments, the accordion. The accordion was first introduced in the 1820s and its popularity spread through Europe and North America. Since 1989, National Accordion Month has been observed each June in the United States. It strives to educate the public about the musical resilience of this instrument. During this June take some time to appreciate and learn about the history and kinds of accordions. Each one produces a different quality sound. The sophisticated instrument is not only beautiful to hear but to witness being played. In celebration of National Accordion Month, the History Center shares some of the accordions in our collection. #sociallyhistory

Owners of local businesses long found it difficult to coordinate their individual goals and help the local community to...

Posted by The History Center on Friday, September 27, 2024

Friday, September 27, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Owners of local businesses long found it difficult to coordinate their individual goals and help the local community to grow. One way of accomplishing this is through a local chamber of commerce. A chamber of commerce is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community. Local businesses are members, and they elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy for the chamber. The board or council then hires a president, CEO, or executive director, plus staffing appropriate to size, to run the organization. Our first organization to bring together local businesses was established in 1899 and known as The Commercial Club of Fort Wayne. The Commercial Club served Fort Wayne businesses until June of 1918, when it was reorganized into a modern chamber of commerce. The Chamber of Commerce broke ground on the northwest corner of Wayne and Ewing for their first building in 1926 and was completed in the Spanish Eclectic style in 1928. After 108 years, the Chamber of Commerce still continues to serve the Fort Wayne community as Greater Fort Wayne, INC. #sociallyhistory

Elections are a vital part of American society, in which we make our choice known for elected offices. Elections have...

Posted by The History Center on Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Tuesday, November 5, 2024 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Elections are a vital part of American society, in which we make our choice known for elected offices. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century. These races may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and the judiciary, and for regional and local government. Locally, elections have taken place since the city charter was approved in 1840 by a vote of 116 to 53. Our first elections used a paper ballot and these were placed in a wooden ballot box (on display at the History Center), which was used from 1840-1856. Today, on Election Day, we share some of the materials in our collection from previous elections. #sociallyhistory

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