The Library Cat Saga

In 1935, a  little black cat named Rosita found a home at the original Grosvenor Library, our predecessor and namesake.  We learned of this story while searching through the newspaper scrapbooks that were meticulously compiled by library staff over the years.  The Grosvenor Library was a public reference library that existed from 1871 to 1963, with extensive collections in American history and genealogy.  It was located at 383 Franklin at the corner of Edward, and later annexed the Cyclorama building.

The newspapers at the time regaled readers with witty stories on the “library cat” and even reported on her disappearance, happy return, and birth of kittens aptly named Cataloga, Medicala, Orderina, Perioda, and Referentia!

 

Margaret Richmond Fess, a Buffalo newspaperwoman, related the cat saga in the context of the Great Depression in her book, The Grosvenor Library and it’s Times:

During these dark and troubled times, the press snatched eagerly at any news which touched the lighter side of life. Rosslyn, alias Rosita, alias Blackie, the Grosvenor Library’s classical cat, received more space in the local papers in 1935 and 1936 than the most valuable gifts to the institution.

Source: Grosvenor Library Scrapbook, Vol. 6, unpaged. Buffalo Collection *Z733.B92 G8

New Books in the Grosvenor Room

Bockstruck, Lloyd de Witt. Revolutionary War Pensions: Awarded by State Governments 1775-1874, the General and Federal Governments Prior to 1814, and by Private Acts of Congress to 1905.  GRO Ref E255 .B67 2011

Byrd, William L. North Carolina General Assembly Sessions Records: Slaves and Free Persons of Color 1709-1789.  GRO Ref E185.93.N6 B97 2001

Douglas, Althea. Time Traveller’s Handbook: A Guide to the Past. GRO Ref CS9 .D69 2011

Gingerich, Hugh F. and Kreider, Rachel W.  Amish and Amish Mennonite Genealogies.  GRO E184 .M45 G56 2007

Hatcher, Patricia Law. Researching Your Colonial New England Ancestors.  GRO Ref F3 .H28 2006

Jensen, Cecile Wendt.  STO LAT: A Modern Guide to Polish Ancestry.  GRO Ref CS872 .J46 2010

Koons, Bee Bartron. Teaching Genealogy to Young People. GRO Ref CS21 .K66 2004

Koons, Bee Bartron. Young People’s Workbook for Junior Genealogy Classes. GRO Ref CS15.5 .K66 2004

Leclerc, Michael J. Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research 5^th Edition.  GRO Ref F3 .N4 2012

Maxwell, Ian. Tracing Your Northern Irish Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians.  GRO Ref CS442 .M39 2011

Merriman, Brenda Dougall.  Genealogical Standards of Evidence: A Guide for Family Historians.  GRO Ref CS83 .M47 2010

Pihach, John D. Ukrainian Genealogy. GRO Ref. CS862 .P54 2007

Riemer, Shirley J. The German Research Companion 3^rd Edition, Revised & Updated. GRO Ref CS613 .R56 2010

Rising, Marsha Hoffman. The Family Tree Problem Solver: Tried-and-True Tactics for Tracing Elusive Ancestors. GRO Ref CS14 .R57 2011

Rose, Christine. Military Bounty Land, 1776-1855.  GRO Ref CS49 .R665 2011

Stahley, Susan E.  Cattaraugus County New York Surrogate Court Abstracts: Guardianship Edition.  GRO F127 .C4 S73 2008

When Buffalo Burned…..

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Please check out our latest exhibit: When Buffalo Burned: The War of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier

The Burning of Buffalo on December 30, 1813 during the War of 1812 was an early setback for the flourishing frontier village that remains an integral part of its legacy.  As devastating as such an event was to the expanding settlement, the resilient pioneers of Buffalo and the Niagara region would soon rebuild, becoming the western terminus of the all-important Erie Canal and growing continuously until becoming host to the Pan-American Exposition in 1901.

Along with items of local and regional interest, on display are a series of letters from the war, maps from the time period, popular literature and broadsides, and documents of cultural and national relevance, including the declaration of war and early printings of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Exhibit dates: June 28, 2012 through  January 20, 2013