Adopt a Book!
For nearly 20 years, the generosity of our patrons has allowed the Library and Special Collections at the Fairfield Museum and History Center to purchase specific materials to enhance the collections and bring the newest research publications into the reading room.
Most recently, the Adopt-a-Book program allowed the Library to purchase Dan Cruson’s The Slaves of Central Fairfield County: The Journey from Slave to Freeman in Nineteenth-Century Connecticut (The History Press, 2007). The volume is a crucial addition to the Library’s resources on African American history in Fairfield. Its purchase was made possible through the thoughtful gift of Melanie Marks and Melissa Beyerlein. Thanks, Melanie and Melissa, for your long-standing generosity!
If you would like to make a donation towards the purchase of a book or other library resource, please fill out the form below or contact Regine, the Librarian at 203-259-1598. Your donation is tax-deductible as permitted by law, and a bookplate acknowledging your gift will be placed in the book you “adopt.” We will also periodically acknowledge new adoptions on our website.
The following items are currently on our wish list: George F. Jones. German American Names. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing, 2006. Third, extended edition.
An easily navigated etymological reference book to explain the meaning, history, variants, and spellings of approximately 18,000 German family names. This volume explores the Anglicization of immigrants’ family names and their origins in regional dialects, and can be a valuable source in tracing German ancestors across the Atlantic. Price: $29.95 (hardbound)
John H. Roy, Jr. A Field Guide to Southern New England Railroad Depots and Freight Houses. Pepperell, MA: Branch Line Press, 2007. Roy’s reference book is arranged alphabetically by state and town. It includes close to 500 entries describing the date of construction, architecture, history, and current use of the surviving railroad stations and depots in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Each entry has a photograph. The volume is an exciting addition to the Library’s resources on transportation in Connecticut and will be attractive to scholars of architecture and engineering. Price: $19.95 (softbound)
Ronald Dale Karr, ed. Indian New England 1524-1674: A Compendium of Eyewitness Accounts of Native American Life. Pepperell, MA: Branch Line Press, 1999. In this anthology, Ronald Dale Karr has collected 22 first-hand accounts from explorers, soldiers, and travelers describing their impressions of Native American daily life. The excerpts are organized by topic. A quick introduction into the elusive history of Native American peoples, this volume will be a fascinating resource for students. Price: $12.95 (softbound)
Diane Rapaport. New England Court Records. A Research Guide for Genealogists and Historians. Burlington, MA: Quill Pen Press, 2006. This volume is recommended by Ancestry as an essential work for understanding and locating court records in New England. It makes an indispensable addition to our genealogy reference collection that will help patrons unlock the jargon and logistical particularities of court records. Price: $29.95 (softbound)
