These Aren’t the Rare Books You’re Looking For…

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Actually, these are EXACTLY the books a few of our friends from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away came to see in the Rare Book Room at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. 

While enjoying a fun-filled day at Buffalo Comics Fest 2010 at the Central Library, Chewbacca, Anakin Skywalker, Princess Leia and the whole Star Wars crew visited the rare book exhibit called The Ideal Book: William Morris and the Kelmscott Press.  (Who knew Chewbacca longed to quietly contemplate the delicate beauty of William Morris’ Kelmscott Chaucer?)

Our camera was even able to capture an exciting moment for R2-D2 – Princess Leia handed him his very first library card!

Afterwards, they all stopped by the Grosvenor Room to do some local history and genealogical research before boarding the Millennium Falcon and setting a course for Alderaan.

Old Buffalo Images

Nothing brings the past alive quite like photographs from days gone by, and images of old Buffalo are no exception.  Whether you’re researching architecture, a local business, street or neighborhood, locating an early photograph is like finding a treasure.  Books that primarily consist of illustrations and photographs are often the best source for local history researchers seeking images.  This Illustration Guide lists and provides an index to select books in the Buffalo Collection that include images of late 19^th century and early 20^th century Western New York.  Locating such images can often be a difficult task, and this guide is one resource that can assist searchers.

Two recent photo-centric publications have just been added to our collection.  Copies can also be found at several branch libraries.  Check our online catalog to see where you can pick up these titles:

Bygone Buffalo: Photographs from the Past. Edited by Michael Mulley; Introduction by Mark Goldman. F129.B88 A22 2010

Western New York and the Gilded Age. By Julianna Fiddler Woite,  Mary Beth Paulin Scumaci, and Peter C. Scumaci. F126.9.F53 2010.

Top image source: Main Street & Shelton Square, Buffalo, N.Y. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Some binding examples from the Kelmscott Press exhibit

Click on any of the above images to read about the bindings.

Marriage Information in U.S. Census Records

If you are having trouble finding marriage data about your ancestors, consider using census records to help narrow your search.  You may save valuable time!

Marriage Information in the 1850-1930 Censuses

• 1850, 1860, 1880, 1890 – A column is checked if married within the year.
  •  “Within the year” means during the year before the official census day.
• 1870 – If married within the year, the month of marriage is given.
• 1880-1930 – Marital status is given (single, married, widowed or divorced.)
  • A status change over the years helps narrow down the date of an event.
• 1900, 1910 – Lists the number of years married to the present spouse.
• 1910 – Reports for married persons, whether the marriage is the first (M1) or more than first (M2 – used for any number over 1 marriage).
• 1930 – States the individual’s age at their first marriage.
  • Narrows the date of the present marriage.
  • Provides evidence of previous marriage(s).

Other Clues to Marriage

• 1890 – 1910 – Women are asked how many children they have given birth to and the number of children still living.
  • Could be a clue to previous marriages.
• 1790 – 1840 – The head of household is named with others in age and/or gender categories.
  • Helps build a family profile.
  • Track categorized individuals to help determine if they may have left the family unit through marriage or death.
  • Examining adult female age categories can help determine if a man remarried.

Find out what census resources are available in the Grosvenor Room for New York State by reading our Census Guide.

Bibliography

Dollarhide, William. The Census Book: A Genealogist’s Guide to Federal Census Facts, Schedules and Indexes. Bountiful, Utah: HeritageQuest, 1999. GRO REF HA 214 .D63 1999

Hinckley, Kathleen W. Your Guide to the Federal Census. Cincinnati: Betterway Books, 2002.  GRO REF HA 37 .U6 H556 2002

Minnesota Population Center. Enumerator Instructions. In Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Census Microdata for Social and Economic Research. http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/tEnumInstr.shtml

The National Archives.  Census Records. https://www.archives.gov/research/census

U.S. Department of Commerce. Measuring America: The Decennial Censuses From 1790 to 2000.  United States: U.S. Department of Commerce, 2002.  https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2002/dec/pol_02-ma.html

Edgar Allen Poe’s Watch Stolen from Downtown Library!

On June 7, 1906, a thief entered the downtown library at about 5:00 am in the morning.  A short time later, he or she left the building with a small cache of nickels, and a watch once belonging to famed author Edgar Allen Poe.  Who could have committed such a dastardly deed?!  Alas, the thief was never identified…

Article of the theft from the Courier-Express, June 8, 1906.*

*Courtesy of the Buffalo State College Archives, Courier-Express Collection.

Scene of the Crime. Image reproduced from The Buffalo Library and its Building. Buffalo : Art-printing Works of Matthews, Northrup & Co., 1887.

The Rare Book Room holds a letter by Poe, dated April 22, 1843. Poe wrote the letter to Thomas G. MacKenzie, inquiring if The Southern Literary Messenger was for sale. The original handwritten letter is currently on exhibit in the James Fraser Gluck Display case at the Central Library.

Celebrate Edgar Allen Poe at the Central Library for The Big Read 2010.  See the website for events and programs.

Celebrating 75 Years of the BPO

On October 20th the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will celebrate its 75th anniversary! The Grosvenor Room will present a display of library materials from the archives of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library that chronicle the history of the BPO and its involvement in the community. The display will be located just outside of the Grosvenor Room in the Central Library.

The Library has several events planned:

“BPOvations @ the Library”a music appreciation series, BPO Conductor Paul Ferington will present “From Poland with Love” at at Audubon Library on October 20th at 7pm.

“American Ingenuity” – November 3rd – 12:10pm Downtown Central / 6:30pm Orchard Park, Wed. November 10th – 7:00pm Amherst Audubon Library.

There is no charge for these discussions!  A variety of presentations by Mr. Ferington will continue through May 2011.

There will also be a community discussion, Pastforward Discussion Series: Arts for the People. Panelists JoAnn Faletta, Mark Goldman, Prof. David Herzberg, Paul Hogan and moderator Mark Sommer, will discuss the issue of public funding for arts organizations. It will be held Thursday, October 21, 6-9 pm at Central Library. It is free and open to the public.

If you want to conduct your own research on the BPO, check our Vertical Files particularly the “Buffalonia” files that have ephemera related to Buffalo music history. Also our Local History File has a number of entries that will lead you to newspaper articles and books that focus on the BPO, its personnel, Kleinhans Music Hall and The Work Progress Administration, which played a pivotal role in funding the BPO in its formative years.

The Story of the Glittering Plain

Morris, William, 1834-1896. The Story of the Glittering Plain. Which has Been Called the Land of Living Men, or the Acre of the Undying. Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1891. Golden type; white vellum binding. Gift of Julian Park.

The Story of the Glittering Plain (1891) was the first publication issued by the Kelmscott Press.  The Golden Legend (1892), a much larger book, was slated to hold this distinction, but the paper initially supplied by J. Batchelor and Son would have only allowed for two pages to be printed at a time.  The Story of the Glittering Plain is the only title which was published twice by the Kelmscott Press, the second edition (1894) being set in Troy and Chaucer types and bearing 23 wood-engravings by Walter Crane. 

Check out a complete digital copy of the first edition via Morris Online Edition hosted by the University of Iowa Libraries here.  You can see an original when you stop by the new Buffalo & Erie County Public Library exhibit called, The Ideal Book: William Morris and the Kelmscott Press, through January 30, 2011.

How Ink is Made

Printing Ink Company, based in Canada, has a beautifully shot promotional video on how modern ink is made.  Read a related post on paper-making here.  More you say?!  Check out WNY Book Arts Center upcoming events and classes.  Still not satisfied?!  Check out the newest Rare Book Room exhibit, The Ideal Book: William Morris and the Kelmscott Press.

Local Hauntings

From September 23-November 7, the Library is presenting the Big Read 2010.  This year’s featured author is Edgar Allan Poe, who is best known for his works of horror.  In honor of Mr. Poe, the following are some sources related to Buffalo and Western New York ghosts and hauntings.  These resources are available in the Grosvenor Room.

Local History File

Our Local History File indexes local newspapers, periodicals, and books related to Buffalo and Erie County people, places, events, and history.  Look alphabetically under the following subject headings:

• Ghosts
• Folklore
• Legends
• Also search for the public building or business you think is haunted.  For example if you are searching for information on ghosts at the Grand Island Holiday Inn, there are entries under “Hotels – Holiday Inn – Grand Island.”  Ask a Librarian for assistance.

Vertical Files

Our vertical files include materials such as newspaper clippings, magazine articles, pamphlets, brochures, and other ephemera.

•  Ghosts

Books

• Haunted Buffalo : Ghosts of the Queen City – Claud, Dwayne.  – Buffalo BF 1472.U6 C585 2009
• Ghosts of 1812: Folklore, History and Supernatural Tradition from the Niagara War – Winfield, Mason. – GRO BF 1472.U6 W537 2009
• Village Ghosts of Western New York – Winfield, Mason. – Buffalo BF 1472 .U6 W58 2006
• Shadows of the Western Door: Haunted Sites and Ancient Mysteries of Upstate New York – Winfield, Mason. – Buffalo BF 1472.U6 W56 1997
• Spirits of the Great Hill: Haunted Sites and Ancient Mysteries of Upstate New York – Winfield, Mason. – Buffalo BF 1472.U6 W57 2001
• Haunted Places of Western New York: A Supernatural Tour Guide – Winfield, Mason.  – Buffalo BF 1472.U6 W54 2003
• Haunted Lakes: Great Lakes Ghost Stories, Superstitions and Sea Serpents – Stonehouse, Frederick – Buffalo BF 1472.U6 S76 1997

Library Events

If you would like to find out more about ghosts and haunted places in Western New York, come to one of our Haunted Western New York library programs.  These events feature local haunted history authors Mason Winfield and John Koerner as well as Paranormal Researchers of Niagara and Erie.

New Kelmscott Press Exhibit!

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The Ideal Book: William Morris and the Kelmscott Press is now open!  Located on the first floor of the Central Library, the exhibit runs until January 30, 2011.