Allen County Public Library Receives $1 Million Gift

Fort Wayne philanthropist Ione Auer, who died in January 2007 at the age of 103, has left large gifts to each of several Fort Wayne institutions: the Allen County Public Library, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Each will receive a one million dollar endowment now plus additional $1 million donations annually for the next ten years. The funds are earmarked for "improving the quality of life for area residents," just as Ione Auer wished.

The Auer Foundation, established in 1985, was funded upon Ione Auer’s death. Her husband, Edward, a Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. executive, died in 1975.

Allen County Public Library officials said the gift could be used to help pay for operation of the library’s renowned genealogy department – the largest publicly owned genealogy collection in the world.

Comments

[Nancy]

Wow!! What that great library can do with an additional $11m!! That is just so exciting, especially for us genealogists fortunate enough to be able to travel to Fort Wayne for research in their wonderful facility. Many loud huzzahs for Ms Auer's foresight and generosity!!!

[Barbara]

This is a wonderful gift to the library and to the Fort Wayne community. The new ACPL genealogical library is a real asset to the genealogical world and I'm anxious to see the growth that this gift generates. I am very fortunate to live within driving distance and look forward to visiting the facility again soon. Thanks to Ms. Auer's foresight and generosity to the Fort Wayne Community.

[Nora]

I am happy to hear that the Allen County Public Library will be receiving the endowment of $1 million now and $1 million for the next 10 years. I hope they use it for more than the operation of the library. I live within driving distance but usually go to the LDS library because it has more records. I hope the ACPL will use some of this money to acquire more state records and original records.

[Rose]

I'm so happy to hear this news. Last year the university for which I work was clearing out some unwanted books and other materials from one of its libraries. They were offering the items free to anyone who wanted them--and anything that wasn't taken would be destroyed. I saw several volumes of interest to genealogists, including a professionally published 3-ring binder that included pictures and stories of emigrant families from all over the world who came through Ellis Island.

Though my own ancestors sailed to America (Virginia) in the 1600's, I couldn't bear to see this material destroyed! So I took it home and contacted Allen County Public Library about it. They said they'd be delighted to have the items, so I shipped them. I can only hope someone going through the library someday finds his or her ancestors in the collection!

[Elaine]

You don't have to live close to the Allen County Public Library to use their services. They have a great web site http://friendsofallencounty.org/ . Click on "Search Site" (top left) to search all the records. I like to just put in the surname (if not too common) to see all that they have. Here is the main page: http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/index.html Happy Hunting!