The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-03
OYER EOUR OUSIND JOTS AND
~ HISTORIES.
A Washington Man Spent Twenty-Five
Ycnrs In Gnlieetlng the Lnrgcr Part.

The I.enoN Library has recently bought nm
unusually valuable collection Of histories Of
American towns and families and books of
genealogies. 1t was gathered by a Washing.
ton man, who spent twenty-five years In its
formation. He was In Massachusetts, and,
beginning with the history OF his own family
and town, lie gradually went outside Of New
England and collected similar works relating
to other parts of the country.
The collection Is a surprise to the average
reader. Most of the older towns Of the coun.
try prove to hnyn had an historian. and even
some OF the towns of the West. and there is
apparently TO end ot families which have found
members % compile their gcncalUgieS and print
them, often ut much expense to themselves.
The collection of the Washington man con-
slst' of about $500 volumes. big and little,
to which have been added nearly 400 more
from other sources. The Washingtnn collcc-
ton was bought Mt the rate OF 81 n volume
for the lot. While some of it consists OF pam
phlets of 10 great value. several volumes are
estimated to lie worth from So to $50 each.
and n considerable number from $40 to ST.,
so that the library thinks that, on the whole.
ii. has a bargain. MANY Of tho books arc ont
Of print and are val liable for their rarity. II tor
The lenox Library already had a consid.
erable number of similar hooks. Ms there were
& oil lnany town histories III the library of
Bancroft, the historian. which IL bought in
1893. while It had not IA fow to start with. 1t
o o. satT inlSi't to add ID To l"' tie n,ot cnlier IL se't So t avs ty
make it as complete rs possible.
There is a great demand at the library for
books OF gercalnEIes, more 50 ti.an for those
on any other subject. III Ira',y instances this
is based on a desire to trace pedixrecs. W tn a
view TO lay ing claim. to property. More or.cn.
perhaps. ii is t" find grounds Tor n%dini;taIre
into The various societies which are formed "f
ancestors. wl.os" growth has been so rapid.
in ihe collection recently ACQUIRED u the
tories and genraioGics ri American families.
As n rnle. weIl-known families that is.
try's history. are ,.ronspiruous 10y their all
,cnce from the collection. Among those rep
wood, felton, Porter, iRiehsrison. fina
stiles. Van, N~oorhis, and Wa!sworth. TIE
octave volume over six inches thick.
Win the genea!ogi"al books are indexes of
Is %;-t tmws a snpT fdmj,y w hi1,or iieS T TEs lnr "ri med
he several standard genealogical dictionaries.
Marty SNeryn"ly Nb"s@ family IN this c"nn;
out 'omewhat about his pedigree or learn where
The town histories of Massachusetts nr.
most in number $50. New York con es next
with go. The town histories OF Main" nun
liz, and Vermont. -. Outside Of H@w ! OK
and View England. there ar" | go histories OF
h fiT5'T :" Of "f? Mai H,'j "a,% %r 'ly Sp "; 'n with fh Ha i&w.!
t.; W iSos ,D@ u, Wins"r,. BostHn heads the
Mis. % i.'i and pt o, iE1"sS MeStcrn t,p tt!." %rS cn l"Mi;
represented 10y tie history OF ~coTntles.
Their are ais" many hooks relating to Cen-
ada. Conspicuous among them ~ q die.
tionNry In eight volumes, printed In Frcurh,
containing the names rnd rcd'-r"cs of FreA,h
Canadian families. Many of the town his
tories on the surface appear to lc only OF in
t"r"st to those who liv" or have lived IN tho
towns. described. hut others afford material to
the Historian. II tn. y havs no other value.
The genealogical books naturally are of inter
est only to those belonging l." tie families Of
which the" are tho chronicles. Aside from
those hoonS that nrc of interest only to Il
few, the new collection contains enough vol
uIncs I" form n library that would interest
any one desiring acquaintance with local
The lHnox Library Inns acquired. within the
past, year. II file of tho London Times from 1908 1
to date. together with an index dating hack
e. l!SiG. 1t also has Mr.. Tilden'- flies OF New
YORK newspapers. or papers rr!;tcd hefDro
the Revolution Il contains many specimens.