NEWS FROM THE EDITH MASON LIBRARY

A number of manuscripts were recently added to the Library. The first is a transcription of the 1824-1843 membership book for the Baptist Church in Mansfield, containing lists of members and in the case of women, their husbands’ names; also, where members went if they moved elsewhere. The original volume was given to the Baptist Church where it properly belongs.Sharon Barrows Sanzo gave us a volume entitled THE BARROWS FAMILY: 14 GENERATIONS IN PROGRESS. This is a large loose-leaf binder containing genealogies of the Barrows family, along with photographs and other material, all carefully protected with page protectors. Alison Haber gave us an interesting account book from the 1830s which belonged to Stephen Barrows of the Mansfield Four Corners area. The ledger reveals that he was a farmer and shoemaker, who also dabbled in the local silk and horn comb industries. Research materials compiled by Alice and Floyd Atkins were also generously given by Adrian and Janet Atkins. The material includes information on Mansfield houses, genealogy, and the Civil War. Four books relating to Columbia were acquired. THE STORY OF COLUMBIA by the Women’s Guild of the Columbia Congregational Church (1954, reprinted 1993); SCHOOL MEMORIES by members of the Columbia Historical Society (1976); THE STORY OF COLUMBIA CONTINUES...1954-1992, by members of the Columbia Historical Society; and COLUMBIA LIBRARIES, by Meredith Peterssons and others published by the Columbia Historical Society (1983). One of the great advantages of having an up-to-date computer in the Museum is the capability of using CD-Rom, or read only memory. We are all familiar with compact discs for music. A tremendous amount of information can also be accessed through compact discs. Recently added to the Library are four CD’s along with a computer program to utilize them. These items reflect genealogical material in a fairly low-priced format. IMMIGRANTS TO THE NEW WORLD, 1660s-1802s; THE COMPLETE BOOK OF EMIGRANTS, 1607-1776; MASSACHUSETTS AND MAINE FAMILIES; and GENEALOGIES OF CONNECTICUT FAMILIES. Use of these compact discs will be demonstrated by Ann Galonska as needed.

July 1999 The library has added nine CD’s containing the complete set of The New England Historical and Genealogical Register from 1847 through 1994, including an index. The Society is now a subscriber to this periodical and will continue to receive future issues.Having a computer with a CD-ROM drive enables us to purchase such CD’s which contain vast amounts of information but take up little shelf space. Ann Galonska will demonstrate the use of these compact discs as needed.Richard Schimmelpfeng, Librarian