Professional Baseball in Evansville

Professional Baseball in Evansville, Indiana

I stopped by Willard Library this morning as I was out doing some errands... thought I would check out some new leads to Newberry Co., SC for my Williams family.  Peggy Newton was busy working on her display for May for the Genealogy/History Department on Willard's second floor.  She was putting together some display boards to put up behind the counter.  Peggy had already completed a great looking display case exhibit at the top of the steps at the entry door to the second floor.  The photo below is the title of the case and the display boards behind the counter... "Play Ball!"  (That is a miniature bat in the case.)

 Below is an all-time Evansville baseball team with some baseball cards on either side.

Peggy busy putting together the last display board of four.  Peggy has put a lot of time & effort into this local history of professional baseball.  It is a must see exhibit!

 Some info about Evansville leagues from 1901- 1957 with some stats and a few photos.

 The Frontier League with the Otters was the board that Peggy was working on.  She had a lot of great photos of people like Don Mattingly, Gil Hodges and several others that she was not going to be able to use due to the lack of space.  Stop by Willard to check this exhibit out... you will enjoy it!  Let Peggy or one of the librarians know how you liked it.

- Photos taken by JGWest

TSGS Meeting Report For Those Not In Attendance

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TSGS First Meeting for 2011-2012
13 Sep 2011

President Don Counts presides over the meeting (Peggy Newton, librarian is standing to his right). Seated in the first row is (L-R): Carol Lantaff, Rena & Larry Goss, Peggy & Ken Gilkey.
At end of the table (standing), Secretary Kim Nightingale reads the minutes of the previous meeting. Seated at that table at the end is Treasurer, Diana Davis, Former President Karin Kirsch, Program Chair Becky West. Carol Lantaff is at the end of the table to Kim's left.

Lyn Martin gives an animated Library Report as President Counts stands by.

Speaking of animation, former President John G. West, presented a lively program "Genealogical Research Skills vs. Just Plain Luck!" John used this John Deere cap to illustrate that all of his ancestors were farmers. Holding a corn-cob pipe was used to show that those farmers were almost exclusively tobacco farmers.

John dramatized that most of his lucky success in finding ancestors was that he had a wee bit o' Irish blood in him... and possibly a wee bit of Leprachauns along the line. Here John asked the audience if they thought he looked like a "little Leprachaun!" John used humor & unusual stories to point out his lucky findings, but then mentioned how using better research skills could have eliminated the need of luck to discover his ancestors. About 18-20 members were in attendance. Peggy Gilkey won the attendance prize... one year's TSGS membership.

- Photos taken by JGWest & Don Counts

TSGS Meeting Report For Those Not In Attendance

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TSGS Annual Dinner Meeting 2011

I did not take an actual count, but I estimate about 30 people made it to the dinner last night. About 7:00 as President, I called the meeting to order announcing that the deadline for the next issue of the Tri-State Packet (our quarterly membership journal) is this Friday, 15 April. We recognized three individuals for significant contributions to our society and to the genealogical community. These awards, created over 30 years ago, may go to members or non-members and generally not given to TSGS officers for doing the job they have been elected to do. The first "TSGS Certificate of Appreciation" award announced was to Pastor John F. Schroeder for is work with Zion UCC records which resulted in the publication of these German church records in four volumes to date. The second award was presented to Don Counts for stepping up this year to fill any position that needed someone to get things done, including to agree serving as TSGS President for next year. The last one went to Becky West for also stepping up to serve (actually drafted) as TSGS Program Chair when we had no one and, then, agreeing to do it again next year! Becky is not a genealogist researcher but is a "spouse tag-a-long" or better "drag-a-long" to our meetings & events over the past 30 years. She has done a lot of typing and other routine chores for the 10 terms that her husband (me) has served as President.

This year, I felt that we needed saying a special "thanks" to those that present programs at our monthly meetings. I created a Certificate of Appreciation for these great programs we enjoy at each meeting. Those present to be recognized were Robert Hall: "The Legend of Washington Irving" - John G. West: "1871 Murder Confession" - Larry & Rena Goss: "Old Family Love Letters." Don Counts surprised me by presenting me a special gift in recognition of my long service to TSGS. Don gave me a DVD of a book he compiled "America's Godly Heritage."

Lyn Martin gave her Willard Library report. The President recognized the library staff that were present from the genealogical department, in addition to Lyn were: Peggy Newton, Vannetta McDowell, Pat Sides and John Scheer.

Becky West, TSGS Program Chair, introduced the program presented by Connie Conrad "Tombstone Art" a slide presentation. The slides were really interesting. I thanked Connie for her program and presented her with a TSGS Certificate for her entertaining program.

John G. West, TSGS President

RACING DOWN the RIVER -Brief Genealogical Notes

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From Peggy Newton (Willard Library Staff): "The link is http://www.willard.lib.in.us/> Go to 'Tri-State Genealogical Society' on the lefthand-side list, click, then go to bottom of page. The newsletter should download as pdf file." Great newsletter written/edited by Peggy. Great job, Peggy. The current issue mentions: " What’s new…New Computers & Microfilm Scanners. You may have noticed some changes on our floor. We’ve recently purchased two new computers and two new Canon 300 ii microfilm readers/scanners.There should be fewer mechanical breakdowns and interruptions due to refilling paper or toner. If you haven’t tried using the new readers, don’t let them intimidate you. One of our staff members will be happy to show you how they work." I used the new system today and they were great; and, as Peggy reported, the staff was happy to teach me how to use it... if I can do it anyone can. Poor Vannetta was stuck with having to teach me... she is patient and a good teacher!

From the Hart County Kentucky Genealogy Interest Group (powered by MyFamily.com)... Ruth Rogers passed along an interesting site that works like wikipedia--but is for genealogy! The site is called Encyclopedia of Genealogy, a free-content encyclopedia created by its readers. The Encyclopedia of Genealogy is available to everyone, free of charge. Everyone can also contribute information. Check it out: http://www.eogen.com/

From Pat Sides (Willard Library Staff): "You are invited to attend author Harold Morgan's program Evansville and the Tri-State after the Civil War on Thursday, February 24, at 6:00 p.m. This is the fourth installment in his Home Town History series. Mr. Morgan will survey Evansville's prosperity in the post-war years that catapulted the Tri-State area into the global market, in large part due to its hardwood/furniture industries, among others. Reservations are appreciated. For more information, or to register, go to:
http://www.willard.lib.in.us/calendar_of_events/event_details.php?eventID=433

Last night's NBC TV show "Who Do You Think You Are?" with Rosie O'Donnell was quite interesting. She followed her Murtagh family back to Ireland and learned of her family's suffering during the potato famine. At the very end she and her brother walk into an Irish pup in Ireland "Murtagh's Corner!" If you missed this episode or one of the previous two, you can watch them in full at: http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/

THE CAPTAIN'S LOG –TSGS News

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I hope to see a large crowd tonight at our Tri-State Genealogical Society monthly membership meeting:

13 Oct 2009
6:30 p.m. Individual Research Assistance
Bring your information!

7:30 p.m. Regular Meeting
"What Everyone Needs To Understand About Research..." - Mary Lou Bevers

Discussion Groups:

"Organizing Your Information" - Mary Lou Bevers

OR "Passenger Lists" - Karin Marie Kirsch

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When you visit Willard Library, be sure to check out the display cases on the first floor by the front door and, especially the case at the top of the stairs to the genealogy floor. This month Vannetta McDowell has done an excellent display on cemetery preservation. To add to this is a display behind the upstairs counter in the book cases of some very nice examples of some of the incredible grave markers she has photographed. I am very much impressed with this display and photos.

Peggy Newton, Pat Sides & Lyn Martin have made displays including those book cases and a "Treasure Chest!"

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Karin Kirsch is developing a "Special Interest Group" (SIG) concerning German Genealogy. If you are interested contact Karin or come to tonight's meeting to learn more!

John G. West, TSGS President

"Good Time & Learning for All at Workshop"

Ron Darrah presented his workshop on "Obscure Genealogical Sources" inside Willard Library while several organizations & book vendors were under tents outside in the library's park.



Photo above taken by Lyn Martin right at the end of the four programs conducted by Ron Darrah far left. Going from Ron to the right is Bob Johnson (longtime TSGS member), Vannetta McDowell (Willard Staff Member, past TSGS Board Member), Graham Denby Morey (TSGS Member) and John G. West (TSGS President). I learned from this program that the 1930 US Federal Census includes two questions to help identify veterans... this I was not aware of. We all learned a lot more that may be available through school records. Graham & I attended Evansville College (U of E) together and are both members of the Ohio Valley Chapter of the Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution (INSSAR). Ron is a member of INSSAR, as well.

This photo was taken by Don Pierce, just before I packed up the TSGS books to go back in the library's TSGS closet. This was the first time for me to set-up and man the TSGS table... I can honestly say that I now appreciate the work so many others have done in the past events working the TSGS table! Thanks to all of them! We did sell two books and got two membership renewals. The Posey County Historical Society (PCHS) members can be seen in the background taking down their information booth. Many working it were also active TSGS members. As a fund raiser for their cemetery preservation project, they were selling chocolate suckers (bars on a stick) that were in the shape of tombstones. They used Halloween candy molds to make them... really neat!

Several other vendors were present: Pat Gooldy of Ye Olde Genealogie Shoppe (one of the Evansville area all-time favorites) came all the way from Indianapolis and Brenda Joyce Jerome (TSGS Secretary) had a table of her publications with two or three other vendors there as well. Brenda watched the TSGS table while I was inside learning new things in the workshop.

It was a chilly, breezy, overcast day and we had a few light mists of rain... mixed with some sunny periods, too. Nice day for vendors outdoors (as long as you had a light jacket or sweater)!

Lyn Martin, Peggy Newton, Vannetta McDowell and several other Willard staff members did a great job of organizing and keeping this workshop going for Willard's first free all-day genealogical workshop. Congratulations and a big thank-you for a successful event. After 50 years of researching... I still learned a lot from this one day. Thanks to Ron Darrah for a very well conducted workshop. Many of us know him through the Indiana Society of SAR and others through his involvement in the Indiana Genealogical Society (IGS).