Congratulations, Kathy!

By Lauren Kuntzman and Kathy Petras

Our subject for this week's blog post is library associate Kathy Petras.  After 34 years of service at MCDL, Kathy will be starting retirement on July 1st. Here's a look back at some of the highlights of her career and what's in store for her next!

Lauren: You're not a native of Medina County, but throughout your career you've become an expert on Medina County history. What is the most interesting story you've discovered while researching our community's history?

Kathy: There are so many very interesting stories about Medina County. The circus connection to Medina County was surprising, that some circuses would winter here. The same was true of Peru, Indiana, where I worked at the Historical Society for a year. And Chippewa Lake’s huge popularity back in the 40’s and 50’s – that it brought in big name entertainers and was a favorite spot for some members of the MAFIA. Didn’t expect that!

Lauren: In your career at MCDL, you've witnessed major changes in the technology offered at the library, from the early days of computers and internet, to the creation of the Digital Lab and Makerspace. What tips do you suggest to anyone who's little nervous about getting started with technology?

Kathy: Ask for help. MCDL offers classes on all sorts of technology and LinkedIn Learning offers online tutorials. If none of those resources are helpful, try asking one of the very friendly staff at our Reference Desks. They do incredible jobs of making technology accessible.

Lauren: What resource(s) do you consider a "hidden gem" of the local/family history collection?

Kathy: The “hidden gem” of any good library is their staff. If they don’t know the answer immediately, if it is findable, they know where to find it.

Lauren: You started an earlier version of the MCDL Genealogy Blog 14 years ago. Which blog post has been the most fun to write? 

Kathy: Oh, that is like asking which is your favorite child!?!… I had fun learning & writing about Green Goose Club because of its unusual nature. But almost any one of the blogs where I was learning as much as the reader. Like the tank testing site in Hinckley or Eugene Bosnavitz (WWII casualty).

Lauren: What will you miss the most about working at MCDL?

Kathy: The people. The staff and the members. They are friends.

Lauren: What are your plans for retirement?

Kathy: I am going to take the time to do nothing, at least for a while. I am already volunteering at the Medina County Historical Society. And when I am ready, I plan to take classes on yoga, Mahjong, brush up on my Spanish or learn a new language and finish (Hah!) researching my own family history. Oh, and I will travel a bit every year.

A few additional notes from Kathy on her career:  

• When I started in 1988, MCDL had just passed its first levy. Dozens of people were hired in the next year. To the best of my knowledge, I am the last of those “new hires”
• The catalog was truly a “card catalog” with 3” X 5” cards that were filed by author, title and subject. Each book would have multiple cards. Within two years we had joined the CLEVNET Consortia and all the books had to be hand entered into the computer. 
• I was hired by Beverly Cain who went on to serve as the State Librarian of Ohio for ten years.
• One of my big accomplishments was to have Cyndi (Howell) Ingle of Cyndi’s List fame come to Medina for an all-day program. There were nearly 250 attendees from all over.
• After 32 years at the Medina Reference Desk, I transferred to the Virginia Wheeler Martin Family History & Learning Center in March of 2020. 

Congratulate Kathy on her career and wish her a happy retirement in the comments below!

Granger Historical Society and the Granger Township Bicentennial

By Madison Thomas 

    It is an exciting time in Granger Township, celebrating the 200-year anniversary of its establishment in 1820. The township and its local historical society have been working together to create the festivities deserving of such a celebration for two years now due to Covid. Robert Hummel and JoAnn Boruvka have answered some questions to give an insight into what the Granger Historical Society has to offer and what to expect from the upcoming Bicentennial weekend!  

(Link to event information can be found at the bottom of this post) 

Granger Historical Society Building

JoAnn Boruvka – Research Director & Co-Chair for the Granger Bicentennial 

Q: Tell me a little about yourself and the work you do within the Granger Historical Society? What sparked an interest in your town's history?  

A: I became interested in local history when I accepted a second-grade teaching position at Garfield School in Medina in 1973 and learned that the social studies curriculum for the year was to be local history. I had to learn about the topic before I could teach it! When we moved to Granger in 1979, I found its history to be interesting. Bob Hummel asked that I write books that Highland 3rd graders could use to learn about local history. Seeing the local side of various periods in US history really brings history to life. 

Q: Near the end of this month is the Granger Township Bicentennial celebration. What might the community expect to find and learn at this event?  

A: I am the co-chair of Granger’s Bicentennial along with Roberta Gifford. We have 3 days of activities planned including; a parade, games, food, music, visits to the historical society and magical entertainment. All these events are designed to bring the community together. We will be presenting a theatre production Our Town: Granger, in the style of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. Telling the history of Granger up to the 1840s with a cast of 35 people aged 6-80. There will be talks by Trustee chairperson Rich Pace and David “Doc” Loomis, pastor of Granger’s Remsen Christian Church. Also, the unveiling of a bicentennial quilt made and donated by the Little Red Quilt House in Granger. Residents can even start prior to the events to learn about Granger’s history by driving to various places throughout the township to participate in our bicentennial quiz. 

Q: How has the Granger Historical Society incorporated the history of Granger’s founding families in the Bicentennial? 

A: We will recognize descendants of Gideon Granger’s family, and descendants of the Codding, Ganyard, Hills, and Low families. Those 4 families together purchased 3/4 of the township from Gideon Granger and were among the first pioneers. (The other 1/4 of the township was purchased by Henry Remson, but we have none of his descendants.) 

Q: During the Bicentennial’s weekend the Granger Historical Society is hosting several open house events in their facilities. For the community and non-members, what are some benefits of attending? 

A: We hope to see our “regulars” and lots of new folks at our open houses. A lot of upgrades have been made to our museum and library in the last few years. There will be special displays about Granger’s earliest homes, and a wonderful collection of GAR items. 

Q: How can people get involved and volunteer for the Granger Historical Society and events in the future? 

A: We love to welcome new members and would be delighted to have people volunteer to do a myriad of tasks. 

Q: Is there anything else you would like people to know about the Granger Historical Society and/or the upcoming Bicentennial Weekend?  

A: You can see the timeline of bicentennial events at www.grangerhs.com where you will also find a list of contests we’ll be having. All events are free. Food will be available for purchase. 

 
Bob (Robert) Hummel- Granger Historical Society President 

Q: Tell me a little about yourself and what sparked an interest in your town's history? 

A: My interest in local history certainly evolved over the years. I have been a resident of Granger Twp. and lived on a dairy farm with both sets of my grandparents nearby who certainly influenced my interests. As a child, I would walk through the Granger cemeteries with my grandparents who would relay stories about those that they knew. This gave me a background to the various families and how they were connected.  

In my elementary years, our reading books followed a family from the early settlements into the 20th century. The stories fascinated me as we read about one generation to the next. Images of household goods, farm tools, clothing, toys, etc. were displayed which fascinated me, and I began to look for the items on the farm, in my grandparents' homes, and antique shops. I graduated from Highland High School, attended college, served in the army, and then returned to eventually begin a career in the Highland Schools for a period of 32 years.  

Q: How did the Granger Historical Society begin and who were some of the early members? 

A: In 1966, Helen M. Thompson, a 1922 Granger graduate, donated her home and property to the Granger Township Trustees who at that time were Paul Krueger, Willis Stoll, and William Hummel. Helen's intentions were that her home would become a museum, especially for the benefit of children. She retained life-use of her home and died in 1989 leaving the contents of her home and her extensive doll collection. The house is known as the Thompson-Work Museum to honor her parents. With the donation of this house, the Granger Historical Society was formed in 1970 and incorporated in 1972.  

A donation was then received from Judge Aldrich B. Underwood, a 1906 Granger graduate, and a retired judge in Summit Co., that provided the funding to construct a 30x40 ft. building on the property to be known as the Judge Aldrich B. Underwood Library. His library collection, Native American collection, tools, and household items were a part of his gift. Some of the earliest supporters of this endeavor were Hazel and Willis Stoll, Faye and John Scanlon, Gladys and Al Kahl, and Esther and Stanley Allard to name a few.  

Q: What resources are available within the Aldric B. Underwood Library and Thompson-Work Museum?  

A: The house and library hold interesting displays of the artifacts and collections donated by Helen Thompson, Judge Underwood, and others over the course of fifty years. The class composites of the Granger School graduates are displayed. Albums of school group pictures and family genealogies are also maintained. People visiting often look for family, home, and property information which we can then use early histories that have been published as well as maps of various time periods. 

Q: For individuals looking for help with their research or for those who are not close enough to visit, how can they get assistance? 

A: The library building is open on the first Saturday, April through October, 1:00 to 3:00 P. M. or by appointment. I can be contacted via email, hummel1195@gmail.com or by phone, 330-239-2380. 

A link to the Granger Historical Society and the Granger Township Bicentennial can be found here: https://www.grangerhs.com/granger-bicentennial-events-granger

JUNETEENTH

 June 19

by
Lauren Kuntzman
and 
Kathy Petras

Juneteenth Flag
The white star stands for Texas. The curved arc represents a new horizon 
Wiki Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?

June 19th, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Union General Gordon Granger proclaimed  that "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free." 

From Whitehouse.gov

The "Executive" was Abraham Lincoln who had died April 15, 1865 from an assassin's bullet. The "Proclamation" was the Emancipation Proclamation that had freed all slaves in Confederate Territory on January 1, 1863. 

However, the proclamation was hard to implement in states that were still under Confederate control. Only as Union troops moved into Confederate territory were they able to enforce the proclamation. And even though the Robert E. Lee had surrendered on April 9, 1865, Confederate troops held out in many places for weeks after. As the furthest west Confederate state, Texas was late to come under Union control.

Celebrating Granger's proclamation was immediate in Texas with feasting, song, dance and prayer. One year later, the first "official" Juneteenth took place. "Juneteenth" being a blending of "June" and "nineteenth".

Over decades the celebration spread throughout the country, each community developing its own tradition.

In 1980, Texas made it a state holiday, followed by Florida in 1991, Oklahoma in 1994, and Minnesota in 1996. Other states followed suit. Ohio proclaimed it in 2006. 

States that adopted Juneteenth as a holiday prior to the 2021 Federal recognition.
Red states recognized it before 2000. Yellow States recognized between 2000 and 2009. 
Blue states recognized between 2010 and 2021.
South Dakota (in grey above) did not codify the celebration until 2022.
Wikipedia

 

And in 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed an act making it a National Holiday. 

And on June 19, 2022 Medina will officially celebrate Juneteenth for the first time.

And following the traditions from the first Juneteenth, the day will start with a church service, followed by speakers, including Danita Harris from WEWS, vendor tables, food trucks featuring soul food and traditional Southern cooking, African drummers and the Mojuba! Dance Collective from Cleveland.

Join your neighbors and friends in celebrating this landmark day!

In honor of Juneteenth, here are 5 resources to help you research African American ancestry: 

1. African American Heritage
Search historical records specific to African Americans to trace your genealogy or to do research. Visit https://mcdl.info/OnlineLearning and access with your library card.

2. Ancestry - Freedmen's Bureau Records
Search 3.5 million records from 1846-1874 to learn about previously enslaved people moving from slavery to citizenship and freedom. Free access to Ancestry at MCDL branches.

3. Black Freedom Struggle in the United States
Explore newspaper articles, diaries, correspondence and more, from periods in U.S. history marked by the opposition African Americans have faced on the road to freedom. Access at https://blackfreedom.proquest.com.

4. Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936 to 1938
Explore 2,300 first-person accounts of slavery and 500 black-and-white photographs of former slaves. Access at https://www.loc.gov/collections/slave-narratives-from-the-federal-writers-project-1936-to-1938/about-this-collection.

5. Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery
Search 2,500+ newspaper ads by formerly enslaved people seeking information on loved ones after emancipation. Includes 275 U.S. newspapers, published between 1865 and 1920. Access at https://informationwanted.org.

Sources:

• Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Juneteenth". Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Apr. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Juneteenth. Accessed 9 June 2022.
• Higgins, Molly, "Juneteenth: Fact Sheet", Congressional Research Service, R44865,  https://crsreports.congress.gov  , accessed 9 June 2022. 
• "Juneteenth.com" https://www.juneteenth.com/   accessed 6-9-2022.
• "Presidents: Abraham Lincoln 16th President of the United States",  The White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/abraham-lincoln/  , accessed 9 June 2022.
• Sipos, Lorraine, "Why Juneteenth Matters" Medina Weekly News, 2 June 2022, pp. 1-2
• Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, accessed 9 June 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Juneteenth&oldid=1092090534
• Wikimedia Commons contributors, "Juneteenth Flag", Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository,   https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php? , accessed 9 June 2022.

Military Records at Fold3

 

by
Kathy Petras

Fold3 is a database available either with a subscription or through your local Medina County District Library. 

It provides access to U.S. military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who have served in wars and conflicts since the Revolutionary War.

In 2007, when it was first created it was called Footnote and contained over 5 million records.

In 2010, Ancestry.com bought the database and it was renamed Fold3. Fold3 comes from the traditional flag folding ceremony in which the third fold is made in honor and remembrance of veterans who served in the U.S. military. 

Fold3 Library Edition is available in most Ohio public libraries. From the Medina Library site, mcdl.info, go to the Research & Learning tab and click on "F" from the alphabet list. Fold3 is the third item down.

It's a useful tool for all types of researchers:

• Historians
• Genealogists
• Teachers
• Veterans and their families.
• Genealogical Societies

While its focus and strength has always been U.S. military service people, it also covers records from the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The landing page has a simple search box with links to the records from different countries below it.

Beneath that are links to the most popular record groups and Featured Memorials for a few of the veterans on the site.

 The menu bar at the top of the page gives you several options.

The "HOME" button will always take you back to the Home Page, and the "SEARCH" button will always take you to the Search Box. 

"BROWSE" lets you browse the collections by:

• Conflict
• Title of the database set
• Place
• Publication Type
• Content Provider 
• Branch of Service

"WAR STORIES" provide insight to the events of the conflict. You can narrow it down by conflict, country and keyword. Since it is a new feature, they are looking for feedback.

"MEMORIALS" are dedicated to specific individuals. Anyone that Fold3 can identify has a Memorial created by the Fold3 team. But you can create Memorials to any of your ancestors. You will need to create a "MEMBER LOGIN" for that function. You can add stories, pictures and documents. 

Memorials I've created for just a few of my ancestors with military experience. I've included
photos, stories, records and even maps to help tell their stories.

The "HELP" tab lands you on Fold3's Training Center with videos explaining all of the sites many functions. I highly recommend you spend some time there. 

The easiest way to search an individual is to type a veteran's name into the search box. If it is a very common name, add the person's birth year to narrow down the search results. 

The search results page displays the most likely search results and how many results were found. On the left, a list of filters helps to narrow down your search results. 

With such a common name as Donald W. Johnson, this relative's military service nearly escaped my attention. Nothing I knew about him suggested he had served. His draft registration card even indicated he had "a short right leg" which would have disqualified him for military service. 

This "Application for Headstone or Marker" proves that he did serve. He was part of the Army's 1560th SCU. SCU stands for Service Command Unit. The 1560th was stationed at Camp Atterbury in Indiana as a Special Training Unit. They trained recruits in academic as well as military subjects that better prepared them for service elsewhere. 

The database has numerous tools to help you modify or use images of the records you find. The most important one is the Tools icon that appears above and to the right of the image.

It allows you to download or print the image, add it to an Memorial or share it via Facebook or Twitter.

Explore all these tools as you research your ancestors and relatives with military service in their background. Or honor your ancestor by creating a Memorial.