Research Planning Tips for Visiting the Grosvenor Room

Research Guides – Check out our Research Guides before your visit so that you get the most out of your trip.  These guides outline materials available in the Grosvenor Room by subject.  They tell you what materials we have and where to find them in our collection, as well as give referrals to other agencies.  Topics covered include city directories, yearbooks, atlases, ethnic groups, census records, and many more!

Vital Records Research –If you are looking for vital records information, please see our Vital Records  guide.  While the Library carries the New York State Vital Records Index, our collection of vital records certificates is limited.  If what you are looking for is not in the Grosvenor Room, see our Government Sources of Vital Records listing to find out where to obtain Erie County records.

Online Catalog – Search our online catalog to see if the resources you are looking for are available in the Grosvenor Room.

Rare Book Room Materials – If the materials you are interested in are housed in the Rare Book Room, an appointment is necessary to view them.  Please see the Rare Book Room terms of access for more information.

Databases – Save time spent at the Grosvenor Room by doing some research at home first.  The Library subscribes to several databases pertinent to genealogy and local history research.  If you have a Buffalo and Erie County Public Library card, most of the databases can be accessed at home.  All databases can be used at any B&ECPL location.

You Won’t Want to Miss – Here is a list of some of the unique or harder to find resources available in the Grosvenor Room:

• Local History Files – These files are one of a kind and cover Buffalo and Erie County topics.  They index materials such as local newspapers and periodicals, books, and our scrapbook collection.
• Vital Index of Early Western New York Families – This is part of the Western New York Genealogical Society Collection.  It is a card file containing 120,000 cards from 75 sources of Births, Deaths, & Marriages of early Western New York families.
• NYS Vital Records Index – The Grosvenor Room is one of the few libraries who carry this resource.  It is an index to New York State births, deaths, and marriages.  The index will tell you the place and date of the event.  To read more about the index and its coverage see our Vital Records guide.
• Scrapbooks – This collection features over 400 scrapbooks containing articles that have been arranged by subject.  Numerous local topics are covered in this collection including: biographies, clubs, businesses, architecture, homes, organizations, local history, and much more.   Many of these scrapbooks have been indexed in the Local History File.
• Newspapers – The Grosvenor Room carries a large collection of Buffalo newspapers.  While Buffalo’s first newspaper came out in 1811, the Library has Buffalo newspapers on microfilm from 1842 to the present. Papers prior to 1842 are in original bound volumes and must be seen by appointment in the Rare Book Room.  To view what repositories in New York State carry the newspapers that you are seeking, please see the New York State Newspaper Project website.

Planning and Preparation – Details on directions, hours, parking, copying cost, standard and digital microfilm machines, computer access, and personal laptop use can be found on our Visiting Us web page.  If you plan on copying, it is recommended to bring coins or one dollar bills.  Larger bills are not accepted in our machines, but you can buy a copy card from Borrower’s Services if you have a larger bill.  Change for one and five dollar bills is available from a coin machine near the Washington Street entrance.

Room Policies – Please be aware of Grosvenor Room Policies.  These are necessary to help ensure the safety of our valuable and unique materials as well as protect our patrons’ access to our resources.

Cameras – Photographic and digital reproduction of any Library materials whether for personal use or publication requires Library permission.  Read our Reproductions and Permissions web page for further details.

For More Information – Please see our web page for more information about the Grosvenor Room.   If you have additional questions, please Contact Us.

Local Links – Here are some other places  and websites that may help with your Buffalo and Erie County genealogy and local history research:

• Buffalo History Museum – http://www.buffalohistory.org/
• Buffalo Research – www.buffaloresearch.com
• City of Buffalo Inactive Records Center – https://www.buffalony.gov/296/Records-Management
• City of Buffalo Clerk’s Office – https://www.buffalony.gov/276/City-Clerk
• Erie County Clerk’s Office – http://www2.erie.gov/clerk/
• Erie County Directory of Public Officials – https://www.elections.erie.gov/PublicOffice – This includes town clerk’s offices which carry vital and other records.

For general genealogy research trip planning information see: http://experts.archives.com/macentee-thomas/a-trip-to-bountiful-genealogy-research.html .

What is a rare book and special collections librarian and what do they do?!

Do you read all day?  Do you just shelve books at work?  How do you get to be a rare book librarian?  What is a special collections librarian?  These are just a few of the common questions rare book room staff is often asked about our profession.  We don’t mean to be mysterious, so here’s our best explanation of what we do and how we ended up in this professtion!

First, special collections and rare book librarians specialize in the unique, rare, and historically significant holdings of a library.  Examples include books, artwork, maps, photographic material, manuscripts, and archives.  Keep in mind that rare and unique does not automatically mean valuable in terms of money!  A single photo of mid-19th century Buffalo may not be worth much money, but its historical value make it a unique and precious object.

To handle, exhibit, interpret, collect, and describe objects such as these, specialized training is imperative.  Librarians [all kinds] have an advanced master’s degree.  Librarianship offers many specializations: children’s services, cataloging, and information technology are just a few.  How to choose?  Most choose a path based on their passion.  For those of us in special collections, rare and historical books and manuscripts are what we love.  But training doesn’t stop there, all librarians take extensive continuing education courses throughout their career.  After all, the way we access and use information changes each day, and being an information professional is what we do!

Rare book and special collections librarians wear many hats.  Each special collection itself is unique, which dictates the training and skills of staff.  In our own Grosvenor Rare Book Room, these are just a few of the skills and services our staff provide:

reference, cataloging, digitization, Web tools [like this blog!], exhibit design and curation, xml coding, tour guide, copywriter, foreign language interpreter, grant writer, project coordinator, manager, preservation librarian, conservator, general office management, collection development, preparation and maintenance of budgets, teacher, historian, program and event creation, and archivist.

Learn more about rare book and special collections librarians:

• Terry Belanger, founding director of the Rare Book School at the University of Virginia, wrote a great article on rare book librarians.  Although more than 20 years old, the article still has great information.
• Library Trends, summer 2003 focused on special collections.   A great resource.
• Librarians, different kind of.  View here.
• Interview with Jessica Pigza, New York Public library rare book librarian.

Buffalo Talking Proud–30 Years Later

 

News of the Year : Buffalo’s 150 Years of History, Year by Year… (Grosvenor Room, Buffalo Collection, F129.B8 N44), are transcripts of a 150 episode series aired on WBFO during Buffalo’s Sesquicentennial year (1982). The entry for 1980 discusses among other things, a “new campaign promoting the City of Buffalo was introduced…local residents were “talking proud” about Buffalo…a city that had been the brunt of jokes around the nation for several years.”

Anyone who lived through the 1980’s in Buffalo recalls the snappy jingle and the peppy woman in the red jumpsuit who sang the Queen City’s praises. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the video for the commercial but the “Forgotten Buffalo” Web site has the audio.  We learned from the Buffalo News database that Terry Licata Braunstein was the actress who lead the crowds through the streets of Buffalo for the commercial commissioned by the then Buffalo Chamber of Commerce.  (Library card holders have free access to the database, which covers articles from 1989 forward). WGRZ recently did a “Where are they now?” feature in 2008 and updated viewers on the “Talkin’ Proud Gal”.

Paper-making 101

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

On Monday, September 20, the Western New York Library Resources Council and the Buffalo Museum of Science presented a fantastic paper-making class.  Led by Ron Gaczewski, Preservation Officer at the University at Buffalo Libraries, participants learned about the history of paper, and practiced paper-making using the mold and deckle technique.

First, students created their own mold and deckle out of picture frames and wire mesh.  Both frames are the exact same size, with mesh stapled to one of the frames; this serves as the mold.  The empty frame is the deckle and holds the paper pulp onto the mold.

Next, paper pulp is crushed with water in a blender.  The pulp is then added to a bin of water.  The mold and deckle are held together [mold on the bottom] and inserted into the pulpy water.  After removing from the bin, the deckle is removed and the mold is turned out paper side down on an absorbent mat.  Excess water is removed and the mold is pealed away, revealing the piece of paper.

By the end of the class, students experimented with dye and other additions to the paper pulp.  Tempera paint, fabric dye, and even the spice tumeric were used to tint the pulp.  Texture was achieved using thread, tea, coffee, and moss.  More images and description of the class can be viewed at  WNYLRC’s blog, here.

Mark Twain lecture – Free at Central

The Rare Book Room is proud to announce that Robert Hirst, preeminent Mark Twain scholar, will give a lecture at Central Library this Saturday.  Hirst has served as editor and curator of the Mark Twain Papers at UC Berkeley for the past 30 years.  Earlier this week, Joyce Kryszak of WBFO interviewed Hirst.  WBFO: Twain scholar to speak at Buffalo library (2010-09-22).

Hirst just finished Mark Twain in Buffalo, a new book written with Patrick Martin.  Copies will be on sale and an author signing will follow the lecture.  Continuing the library’s celebration of the 125th anniversary of the publication of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 3 new commissioned Twain-themed prints will also be offered for sale.  These limited edition screen prints were created by Buffalo’s own Hero, a graphic design firm.  All three Twain prints can be viewed below:

Celebrating 125 Years of Huck

Mark Twain’s Buffalo home

Mark Twain’s Buffalo, 1870

Event: Robert Hirst Mark Twain lecture and book signing

Where: Central Library auditorium

When: Saturday, September 25, 2010; 2 pm

After the lecture, visit the current exhibits on the 1st floor of the Central Library: 125 Years of Huck and In the Garden: the Art of Botanical Illustration.

Hispanic American Heritage Month: September 15 – October 15

Hispanic Heritage Month, has been observed in the United States since 1968.  During this month, the history and culture of Americans with Hispanic roots in Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America is celebrated.  Please see our Latin American and Caribbean Genealogy guide for a select list of resources in the Grosvenor Room pertaining to Hispanic local history and genealogy.

Another resource helpful to those who want to research their Hispanic roots, is Ancestry Library Edition (ALE).  ALE is a database available for use at any of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library locations.  When using the database, a good way to see if there are materials related to the country you are researching is to search the ALE card catalog by inputting the country’s name in the’Keyword’ field.  To access the card catalog, go to the ‘Search’ menu located at the top of the screen in the database.

Featured Ancestry Library Edition Database:

Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1903-1957 – Most content is related to aliens crossing the U.S. Mexican Border for select locations in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.  The information that may be found includes birth date and place, port and date of arrival, names of individuals accompanied by, marital status, and physical description.

Argh ya’ Scalliwags!

Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates. RBR Illus. P9 1921

Ahoy maties!  Sunday, September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.  That’s tomorrow ye foul scurvy-ridden toads!  Celebrate the day with all of yer fellow buccaneers!  The official site with ideas for all of your pirate merrymaking and festivus needs is right here.  

The Rare Book Room has many items related to piracy.  Below are a few selections…  Enjoy it lads, or you’ll be walkin’ the plank!

Mr. Glasspoole and the Chinese Pirates. RBR Golden Cockerel 1935 .G6

Mr. Glasspoole and the Chinese Pirates. RBR Golden Cockerel 1935 .G6

United States Criminal Calendar, or, An Awful Warning to the Youth of America. HV 6785 .S2

 

United States Criminal Calendar, or, An Awful Warning to the Youth of America. HV 6785 .S2

The Dangerous Alphabet. RBR Ellis ABC 2008 .G35

The Dangerous Alphabet. RBR Ellis ABC 2008 .G35

Subscribe to the Rare Book Room blog

Enjoy reading the Rare Book Room blog?  Did you know you can subscribe to it?

It’s simple- click on the “Feed it” link in the right column of the page and follow the directions.

Each time the blog is updated with a new post, you’ll receive it automatically!

Buffalo Bills History

Buffalo Bills: The Complete Illustrated History. By Sal Maiorana. GV956.B83 M34

This new book hit our shelves this week, just in time for the start of another season of Buffalo Bills football.  Circulating copies are available at several library branches, and a reference copy can be found in the Grosvenor Room.  Check our online catalog to see where you can pick up a copy.

Islamic Prayer Book

The Rare Book Room holds many examples of illuminated religious works.  One example is the Islamic prayer book: Ibrahim el Shawki/Dala el El Karpat Shawareck El Anwar (loosely translated as “The Guides for Blessing and the Glowing of the Lights”).  The book was donated to the library by the local bibliophile group, the Salisbury Club.

The binding is embossed leather with gilt floral decor.  The 114 interior pages are made of vellum and consist of hand-painted in calligraphy with gold illumination.  This type of calligraphy is only used in Islamic sacred texts.

This year, a conservator was hired to reback the book.  This is an extremely common book repair, as the spine is the weakest part of a book.  In rebacking, the front and back covers were retained and reused, and a new spine was created and attached to the cover.  Click on any of the images for a larger view.