Historical Treasures in the Library at the Museum of Buford

The Museum Library: 

This week the museum acquired a collection of the Journal of Cherokee Studies dating back from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. The Journals, published by the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, are full of interesting and academic articles on everything from traditional storytelling to notable persons in Cherokee history, and are a good source of information for anyone studying the history of the tribe. 

Speaking of...the library at the Museum of Buford is a great place for anyone wanting to do genealogical research, or is perhaps studying the history of this part of Georgia. The library contains books and periodicals about North Georgia, Gwinnett County, the Civil War, and of course, Buford. Holdings include materials that are very specific to the city, such as the many years worth of school yearbooks (I believe the earliest goes back to the 1940s) and City of Buford scrapbooks dating from the early 1990s through 2006. The museum files are brimming with source materials -- everything from invoices from some of Buford's earliest businesses, to original records from the Bona Allen Shoemakers. And of course, photos -- the archives at the MOB hold hundreds and hundreds of photos from Buford's past. (I have recently begun managing the MOB Facebook page, and have started posting interesting photos from the archives. See the photos attached to this post for this week's offering.)

Two other equally important resources for anyone wanting to do research at the MOB -- free wi-fi, and Curator Lynn Bowman, who can be found at the museum on Thursdays.  Lynn is an invaluable source of information regarding the history of Buford and it's early families.

The Museum of Buford and its library welcome donations of any kind. Do you have any old books about the area, family photographs, or anything that might pertain Buford or North Georgia's history (early or late) that you would like to share? The museum is open Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 P.M. and the  phone number is 770-945-4559.

Archival Tip: 

Not every exhibit or new acquisition that comes into the museum is easily labeled. Sure, books and photographs, magazines...those can be marked with their catalog designation in light pencil -- but what about other things, like an old hand tool from the Tannery? A fragile piece of china? Or an old document that is too precious to risk marking on at all? The perfect product for labeling these types of surfaces is white artist's tape. It's acid free, neutral pH, and can be written on in either ink or pencil. Best of all, it's re-positionable -- it can be moved or removed from a surface easily, without causing marks or damage. I'm already discovering uses for it at home, including labeling heirloom Christmas ornaments. Artist's tape is inexpensive, comes in a variety of widths,  and can be purchased at any art and craft supply store. 

From the Green & White: 

As promised, a bit more from the Green and White, Buford High School's newspaper from the 1930s through the 1950s (see previous blog post).

Last Will and Testament of the Class of 1935

(in which the departing Seniors "bequeath" gifts  to the upcoming Juniors)

• Ruth Jones wills her skill at working arithmetic to Dorthy Dodd, and her gentle, ladylike manner to Julia Davis.
• To J.D. West, Louie Dodd leaves his love of girls and his hot-air blarney to Grace Pirkle.
• Sara Louise Light leaves her quiet manner and her blush to Grace Bowman.
• Lavina Brown leaves her Palmer writing certificate to Mildred Bennett and her basketball shoes to Caroline Gunter.
• Earnest Rowe leaves his love of chewing gum to Jeanette Brogden.
• Dorsey Hutchins, the President of the Senior class, leaves his skill at managing the class to Leon Kemp, the president of the Junior class.
• Margaret Buice leaves her compact, comb and mirror to Annie Lou Richardson. Margaret has made good use of the powder puff that was willed to her last year and is now ready to pass it on. 

Rebecca