If only these books could talk ...

...they could tell us where they’ve been and who opened their covers and turned their pages throughout the many years they’ve existed. Wouldn’t we love to know? Alas, the books remain mute, but they can still tell us a great deal if we are willing to look at their contents, handwritten notations, and signatures. And using that information, we can answer some of the frequent questions asked about this unique collection.

Question: Why does the collection have books on such a wide variety of subjects and genres? Answer: The Bullis family was composed of pioneers, farmers, physicians, a mathematical genius, botanist, corporate leader, educator, business leaders, a military leader and hero, and surveyor. There are books in the collection that cover all these areas as well as history (local, county, state, national, and world), politics, engineering, general science, classical literature, poetry and fiction.

Question: How did all of these books become a part of this collection?
Answer: Some were gifts to members of the Bullis family (evidenced by handwritten notes inside the front covers), a few were purchased new, and still others were acquired at auctions and other types of sales. Some of the latter are identified by previous owners’ signatures.

Question: How did the collection grow to over 5,000 items? Answer: The Bullis home on Canandaigua Road in Macedon was completed in 1839. It is reasonable to assume that this book-loving family began to accumulate reading material at that time. By the 1970s, when Nettie and her brother Charlie occupied the same house, books filled three of those rooms.

Question: Is there anything you’d like to know about the Bullis Books or the Bullis Family? We’re looking forward to your questions.