Tuesday, August 19, 2014

IGS Issues Match Challenge for War of 1812 Pensions

In honor of 1816 (the year of Indiana statehood), the Indiana Genealogical Society is seeking a total of $1,816 in donations to help the Federation of Genealogical Societies in its project to digitize the pension files of War of 1812 veterans. If donations total $1,816, IGS will match that with another $2,016 (in honor of Indiana's upcoming bicentennial). And because of the matching programs from other organizations, that $3,832 total will grow to so much more:

--The Illinois State Genealogical Society will donate $3,832, for a total of $7,664
--The Federation of Genealogical Societies will donate $7,664, for a total of $15,328
--Ancestry.com will donate $15,328, for a total of $30,656

Even a $5 donation is enough to digitize 10 pages!

The digitizing of the War of 1812 pension files is about 20% complete - there are already 188 files of Indiana veterans online, representing those whose surnames begin with the letters A through H. Because pension applications required proof of certain events, the pension files are often filled with original family documents, including Bible records.

HOW TO DONATE:
Donate online through the IGS website, or mail your check (please indicate "War of 1812 donation" in the memo line) to:

Indiana Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 10507
Fort Wayne, IN 46852-0507

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