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

ing, the work should be done at once. quite
properly ut the expense of the town. II the
town cannot, will not. pay for it. the Chap
ter can possibly devise other ways and means.
As you perhaps know. there is in Taunton,
Mass, firm called the Emery Record Pre-
serving Co., which makes business of re.
pairing town books. This company will simply
rebind the book. if that is all it requires. or
cover every one of its pages with protective.
transparent silk. The cost may run from S. 90
to $3.50 90 per volume. (Here Mr.. johnson
showed some of the older Belfast books which
had been rebound and repaired and explained
t. e process) 81
The vault itself should be clean and WELL
can afford. and have proper metal shelves
with rollers upon which the books should be
arranged in chronological order. In both Maine
and Massachusetts a fire-proof vault is re-
quired by law. and in enforcing this law. as
we'll as by insisting that durable paper, and
ink that will not fade be used for the record
ing of public records throughout all Offices
Maine would do well to follow Massachusetts,
After the Town Records, the Church Records
are of the greatest importance. Often the
baptisms. burials, and marriages contained in
them, supply material not found in the town
books. These should be gotten together and
copied, and the copies deposited in some fire.
proof place, separate from the originals. The
New England Historic Genealogical Society
would gladly store these copies, or preserve
them for all time by printing them in its maya
zine, the Register. as it is cont family doing
the Vassaborough Friends Records having
been recently published in it. This magazine
has an annual index running back for over 70
years, which insures the accessibility of its
articles for reference. and it is on file in all
large libraries. Further, it is like the Vital
Records themselves, printed on a specially
prepared durable rag stock paper that will not
fade nor disintegrate, and 1t is much better
that records be printed on such than on the
short lived, wood-pulp paper of the modern
newspapers. Records may of course be pub
lished also in the National ID. A. R. Magazine. |
The Gravestone Records up 10 1892, especial /
ly those in the remote and neglected ceme-
teries, may next he copied. These often con-
tain dates and names for which futile search |
has been made elsewhere The Genealogical
Society will also preserve print these grave
yard records and will gladly send instructions
as to just how gravestones should be copied,
and what parts of them. such as epitaphs, may
properly be omitted. Certain members of the
Chapter might be delegated to transcribe each
cemetery, and in that way all those of the
town be copied in surprisingly short time.
The old family Bibles of the town may also
be copied. For this, house-t to house canvass
among the older families is usually required.
The County Records, Rebellion Records, and
Tax Lists. worthy of similar preservation.
To up: First Talk about your town
books. give them publicity. and see that they
are in a proper state of repair and well housed.
Let the school children and others know
of their existence. their purpose and their
uses and value. Second. collect and copy all
Church Records, Gravestone Records, and old
Family Bibles Lastly land most important, the
Town Books themselves may be copied, and
the manuscript, after being bound, stored in q
fire. proof vault until such time as the COM
pete records can be compiled and printed in
accordance with the State law, due credit for
it's share in the work being, of course. given
to the D. A. R Chapter making the copy. The
book, in addition to preserving local history,
thus becomes monument to the local D. A.
R. Chapter.
The Genealogical Society will furnish in
structions for copying these well as the
other records. lay stress on this question of
inst ructions, because it seems of the utmost
i'm portance that whatever work of this kind is
begun, should be in accordance with the uni
form plan which has been adopted, after years
of experience, both in Massachusetts and in
Maine.
By conforming to this system, such collect
ing and copying of the Vital Records as the
Daughters of the American Revolution might
Care TO undertake, would. instead of remaining
isolated and transitory, become at once per-
manent and important part of the general
movement to preserve the early New England
Records.