The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-11-09
Vital Records of Maint,

Vital Records of Mainl,
Methods of Arranging the Records for Pub
LEGATION.
5CoNCLUpEDl
| We will now pass to the consideration of the
method of arranging the ancient records for
publication. As we have seen, it the
Vital Record Law Of 1902 that provided for
printing the records in Masss chusetts. This
law authorized An annual expenditure of Sl5.-
600 for purchasing the books when completed
An enormous amount of work has already been
accomplished in Massachusetts, and something
less than half the number of towns IN that
State have been printed. The work has been
going On for fourteen years, and 1t Will require
probably many Years more TO complete 1t,
and the expenditure of huhdreds of thousands
of dollars is involved The New England His
toric Genealogical Society at Ashburton
Place. Boston, Mass, is the l?rgest publisher
of the Massachusetts books, and that society
stands ready to give all the helpit can to those
interested in publishing the records in Name
complete system of compiling and editing
the thousands of names and other data found
on the books has been developed during the
fourteen y ears throughout which the work has
! been going on.
The Commission appointed by the State of
Massachusetts to approve the printed form de-
mandeo an alphabetical arrangement of the
entries found in the town books. rather than a
verbatim copy. This was a wise mandate, as
town records are frequently imperfect through
neglect or destruction, and the only data avail
able are to be found on the church RECORDS
pravestone inscriptions. and Bible records
which can be Incorporated under the accepted
system n ore easily than under any other AL
though the process of adding this outside
material enlarges the cost and lengthens the
work. it greatly increases the value of the
publication. The syste m which has been grad
ually developed for incorporating this outside
material, though complicated, is perfectly in
telligible to users of the volumes.
In addition to the form and material exacted
by the Commission. a verbatim manuscript
copy of the vital records of the town is requir-
| ed. This manuscript is finally bound and
deposited at the State House. v here it is care
fully preserved to take the place of the orgl
| nal books should they ever be destroyed.
AS soon as the manuscript copy of the town
re cords has been made. 1t is verified, and is
next sent TO the publisher where each entry is
| then copied onto an individual slip of paper,
and these slips arranged in alphabetical order.
| The outside material is then carefully added to
| the slips in accordance with rules based upon
| the fourteen years experience in the work.
This GU SIDE material may consist of additional
| or supplementary material found in the county
records, rebellion records, gravestone records,
| church records, and private records, the latter
including family bibles, samplers, genealogical
charts. etc. Original documents only are con-
suited, hence no compilations. and no material
which has already been printed. are used. The
state law makes specific stipuations in regard
to the size of the page, size of the type, bind
ing, etc, and the commissioner passes upon
the finished book before the five hundred
copies of it are bought by the State at not
more than l cent per page. 1t was estimated
| by the trainers of the law relating to the
printing of the records that this price SHOULD
cover the cost of compiling and publishing.
| The Maine Law was based on that of Massa-
chusetts, and was passed year later than it,
! j. e., in 1908. The appropriation here in Maine
! is as yet small. but it has been doubled once;
and should be again in the not distant future
1t is to be hoped that the Legislature will see
the need IF devoting sufficient funds to the
work to insure it's completion within a reason
able time. Six volumes of Maine Records have
been printed, and others are in preparation, and
at present the records of Belfast are going
through the press. Maine has no Vital Re-
cords Commissioner, but the Law of 1903 pro-
vides for the appointment by the Maine His
torical Society of a person to supervise the
publication of the books.
1t should be made clear that in no case does
the State print the records itself. 1t buys 500
copies of the books at set price of one cent
per page when they are printed in accordance
with the law The books are then distributed
| to all public libraries and many public Offices
thre ughout the State and elsewhere, and to all
State ard territorial libraries in the country
the intention being to keep them on file
| ference.
While all the New England States have taker
steIs toward the preservation of their ancient
records, it is interesting to note that no pub
I fishing of ancient records has been atte mDtee
by States outside of New England: and, in fact
now here else in this country have the old re-
cords been kept with anything approaching the
| Ia%e Of of
is, doubtless. owing to the fact that the early
New England towns were modelled on the
English parishes. the town clerk taking ovel
many of the duties Of the parish clerk.
Work the D. A. r. Can do in copying
Vital Records.
We may now, before closing. ask ourselves
| l.Asx fho lizard nj