The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-10

lost sight of, unless, like us, any library
may be able to get them as a loan instead
OF purchase. If not, it would be worth
while laboring for to see the vital sta
tistics of Massachusetts placed in all IL
braries in the state of Vermont, for if
Massachusetts vital statistics are import
ant to us in Brattleboro, why not to all
libraries in our whole state? Perhaps you
ask why they are important to US. Are
We not, one and all, granddaughters OF
Massachusetts,? Can any one of you tell
me of some one who is not granddaugh-
ter OF Massachusetts in at least one line
OF descent, especially if she is not of
foreign parentage? For was not Mass
achusetts the pioneer state of all New
England? At least / have failed to
find anyone, so far, who fails to
claim relationship to Massachusetts in
the days of New England's early settlers.
Therefore, it was Massachusetts vital, sta
tistics that we needed primarily and that
we resolved to move mountains to secure
OF course the vital statistics of our own
towns and state are very important, and
l do not belittle their worth in any way,
for / think the next thing for us to work
for will be to see that those, when COM
piled and published, if they are ever COM
pleted, shall be placed upon our shelves
for the use of our people.
But to return to our aim, the matter
of the Massachusetts, state vital statistics
was talked over and left with Miss Pratt,
when 10 and behold, she waved her magic
wand, the books themselves came, two
large crates of them, $50 volumes, books
that are priceless, books that couldn't
be purchased at any price, but would be
loaned permanently, as a matter of ex-
change
| am sure we certainly owe it, as loyal
granddaughters of the state of Massachu-
setts, and Daughters of the American Re-
vouton, that we feelingly and fittingly
thank that relative and pioneer state for
its example of generosity and historical
research, by trying to follow so far as
possible in its footsteps to make our state
its equal and our own towns and home
libraries the equal of each one of Mass
achusetts.
The set lacks a few numbers as few
are out of print, and may not be able to
be found, but some are to be had at the
second hand book shops, and | hope it
will be to the interest of the chapter, or
library, or both jointly, to try to place
these missing books upon our shelves to
make the list complete, for they are very
necessary to do good work. And the SOON
er they are purchased the less likely are
they to be out of print and the cheaper
they will be. These books are not to be
taken from the library, but the Lineage
Books will be loaned only with the con-
sent of the historian of the chapter We
are also to place our reports of Con-
tinental Congress. state reports, and chap
ter year-books. in the locked case with
the others. All are for reference, not only
for members of the chapter, but for any
one who would like to use them as such.
and it is hoped they will prove useful to
many in the years to come.
And here | would like to ask your heart
felt cooperation in making our reference
room one to be proud of, one of value to
future generations, and if it is possible
will you not each one, or any public
spirited citizen who is interested try to
add at least one more volume of value to
our collection, either as a gift. per
manent loan. or perhaps as a loan of a
few weeks, during which time it viii re-
ceive proper care and protection; "or will
you not add materially to our fund to
purchase the books most needed: These
books may be copies of family genealogy,
histories of towns, or historical sketches
of any kind, in fact any book that would
add value to the purpose of the room.
We who are most closely interested wish
to thank each and every one who has
| labored to bring this gratifying result
about. and we hope the good work has
only just begun
GRACE BAILEY DUNKLEE,
Historian Rrattleboro Chapter D. A. r.
Jan %, 1920.
| Note-The historian would like to add
that since the above report was given be.
fore the chapter, Jan. y, several matters