One of several books for sale in the CGS Library
Have you ever wondered what happens to books donated to CGS? We welcome donations, which can enhance our collections or be sold to raise money for the society. A few months ago we received book donations from the estates of two members. The family of John Moore shipped us two boxes of books and I collected sixteen boxes of books left to the society by past librarian Laura Spurrier. John’s books were mostly about New England, while Laura’s collection included several books on Quakers, some New England books, and several classic source and reference books. All are in excellent condition.
Members of the Library Committee have been processing the books ever since and are nearly finished. About half of what was donated has been added to our shelves. Each book is cataloged, listed on WorldCat, given a label and added to the database of what we own. Most of the remaining half have been listed on eBay for sale. A few books have been sitting in the library on the “for sale” shelf where members can peruse and purchase selections at whatever they consider a fair price.
Unfortunately, due to COVID and the library closure, few of our books on the sale shelf have found new homes, despite there being some real treasures. One good example is Reading Early American Handwriting by Kip Sperry. If you don’t already own a copy of this very helpful book, it can be yours. For a reasonable offer, our Library Committee volunteers will ship the book to you, or, since the library is now open by appointment, you can come into the library to pick it up and do some research while you’re there. Email Chris Pattillo with any questions: [email protected].
Sperry’s book provides techniques to teach you how to decipher early American documents. The book provides examples of handwriting styles, letter forms, commonly used abbreviations, and tips about terminology typically used during different periods.
Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archive
Guide to Genealogical Research In the National Archives is another very useful reference book published by the National Archives Trust Fund Board.
A similar prize is Guide to the Manuscript Collections of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, first edition, by Timothy Salls. This is a massive book originally published in 2002 that will undoubtedly be useful to anyone with New England ancestors.
Timothy Salls’ guide to NEHGS collections
Are you curious about what it takes to become a certified genealogist? If so, you might want to grab our copy of The BCC Genealogical Standards Manual by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, Millennium Edition. A quote on the back cover says, “We often start out as hobbyists, learning as we go. As our interest swells we attend lectures, buy books, and perhaps even consider turning professional. But do we understand the many changes in the field? What are the present-day standards? This manual will remove the guesswork!” Originally priced at $19.95, it can be yours for a bargain.
After finishing the Standards Manual you’ll be ready for Becoming an Accredited Genealogist Plus 100 Tips to Ensure your success, revised edition, by Karen Clifford, AG.
I will blog about some of the other books that are for sale in the library but if you just can’t wait, go ahead and plan a trip to the library and see for yourself what is available.
Becoming an Accredited Genealogist
