I have loved books for as long as I can remember. I probably even loved them before that. When I was a teenager there was a certain book I checked out from the library several times. I loved it so much that I asked my mom if I could say that I “lost it” and pay the lost book fee so I could keep it. I was only joking. Mostly. You see, it was out of print and I really wanted my own copy.
That is definitely not the only time I have longed for an out of print book.
A few years ago I solved a long-standing brick wall using indirect evidence. It was a lot of work. I was nervous to call my conclusion solid. The whole concept of indirect evidence was new to me. I didn’t even know that phrase until well after I had drawn my conclusions.
Then I took an excellent class taught by Tom Jones at RootsTech in 2016 and realized I was, in fact, solid. I had already done the very things he was teaching us, but I was uncertain until I watched him masterfully lay out how to use direct, indirect, and negative evidence.
But before taking that class and learning the phrase “indirect evidence”, I was scouring the web searching for more information to help solidify my conclusions. I came across the book pictured above – Reminiscences of My Life and Times by, Telesphore Brouillette.
I could find it in only one location in the world – The University of Washington.
Telesphore was the brother of my previous brick wall. I wanted desperately to get my hands on that book and see if my conclusions were correct. Would he mention his sister in that 183 page volume and confirm my conclusions?
So onto the genealogy to-do list that book went. I tried getting inter-library loan privileges, I considered asking my brother to go visit the library (but there is noooooo way he would scan all 183 pages for me), and I thought about going to Seattle myself and scanning away.
But I was definitely more thought than action on this to-do list item. There were just other projects that were simpler to tackle.
Can any of you relate to that? 😉
Well, this past summer I connected with a newly found cousin, Margaret. Margaret happens to own a copy of that prized book. She generously offered to loan it to me to scan. It arrived on Friday!
❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Can you feel my pure genealogy joy pouring off your screen right now? Because it is like the mighty Mississippi in both volume and current – lots and lots of joy!
So now I will interrupt my current and equally joyful scanning project (My Grandpa’s journals from his LDS mission to New Zealand in the late 1940s with a recap of his time in the Marine Corps during WWII) so that I can scan and return this precious book to Margaret.
Who needs chocolate when you can have rare books?
Thank you, Margaret!
Now for a very quick bit about two additional books written by dear genealogy friends.
Last Wednesday I completed reading Kin Types by, Luanne Castle.
Oh! Be still my heart and soul. This slim, but powerfully moving chapbook (44 pages) of poetry, prose, and flash non-fiction is the perfect read for anyone who loves language, history, and genealogy. You will be drawn into so many different compelling events in Luanne’s family tree. Please read it and tell your friends about it. You will love it!
I know exactly who needs to receive a copy of this book from me for Christmas.
Read Luanne’s own words describing the project here, and purchase this lovely book here.
In June, I finished reading Pacific Street by, Amy Cohen.
Why haven’t I told you all about this book sooner? Life, I suppose. 😉 Amy has created a beautiful historical fiction account of her own grandparent’s early lives. It is lovely, moving, and so eye-opening. Amy brings to life the experience of first-generation immigrants in America, of the challenging process for families to save and work to slowly bring everyone safely to America, and the persecution Jewish families have experienced pre-WWII. It was especially meaningful to me to know that she wove this story using facts. It felt like being invited into Amy’s home to listen to her tell you all about her Grandparents youth and how they met and I loved every minute of the tale.
You can read Amy’s own words about the project here, and you can purchase her wonderful novel here.
Ahhhh, books. My love for you just never ends. ❤️
Do you love books like you love air? What is your favorite?
ps – Nobody take away my chocolate, please. I may have been exaggerating a tiny bit about rare books replacing chocolate. 😉