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.

FROM THE FLOOR

How often do we look at the bottom shelf of books in a library? Speaking for myself, the answer is: "Not often enough." So last week I plopped myself down in front of the History section and began pulling books at random from the lower shelves. These books may be low, location-wise, but they are high in interest to those of us who love local history. Thus I was rewarded well for my time, effort and the occasional "twinge" from my lumbar region as I made the acquaintance of these books:

Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York

Niagara and other Famous Cataracts of the World

Landmarks of Wayne County Landmarks of Monroe County

Warriors of the Genesee Political History of New York

Topographical Survey, Adirondack Region, New York

Hotchkins History of Western New York Annals and Recollections of Oneida County

Exhibit of State of New York at World's Columbia Exposition

All these books are over a hundred years old and they do show their age. A book evaluator would use words like "loose boards, warping, yellowing," or "brittle" to describe some of their conditions. In addition to natural aging, many of these books sustained additional damage from the heat and water of the 2001 library fire. Despite the toll taken by the storms of life, however, they keep on keeping on, their contents enhancing our knowledge and appreciation of the past as well as the present. Today, they sit in their assigned places, ready to serve yet another generation of readers. Let's not disappoint them.

(As the title states, this viewpoint comes from the floor...The Bullis Room floor. Hope to see you there one of these Thursdays.)

MORE ON AUDELS CARPENTERS AND BUILDERS GUIDE

"By Hammer and Hand All Things Do Stand"

Last week we talked about John Ruskin's quotation found in this set of books. What other gems can we discover in these four+ volumes?

Authors Frank D. Graham and Thomas J. Emery put together "A Practical Illustrated Trade Assistant on Modern Construction For Carpenters-Joiners, Builders-Mechanics, and all Wood Workers."

Illustrations, diagrams, charts, graphs, and pictures enhance the how-to explanations "in practical, concise language" that include how to figure and calculate various jobs.

Publisher Theo. Audel Co. seemed to do well with this series as it was copyrighted in 1929, 1933, 1945 and reprinted in 1948.

Whether you are a professional or a DIYer, you can find good information and interesting facts between the covers of these little black books.


Volume 1: Tools - Steel - Square Saw Filing - Joinery - Furniture

Volume 2: Builders Mathematics - Drawing Plans - Specifications - Estimating

Volume 3: House and Roof Framing - Laying Out - Foundations

Volume 4: Doors - Windows -Stair Building - Mill Work - Painting


We invite you to stop by and give Audel's guides a look-through. You may learn something that will make your next project go a little smoother.

NETTIE'S LEGACY

Last week I arrived for my regular shift in the Bullis Room with a mental "to-do" list for the morning. I soon found my focus redirected by a stacks of small black books in the middle of the round table. Stamped into the cover of each one was the title, Audels Carpenters and Builder Guide. The title did not impress me as something of personal interest but the quote on the flyleaf changed my mind:

When we build, let us think that we build forever.
Let it not be for present delight nor for present use
alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will
thank us for; and let us think, as we lay stone on stone,
that a time is to come when those stones will be held
sacred because our hands have touched them, and
that men will say, as they look upon the labor and
wrought substance of them, "See! This our father
did for us."
---John Ruskin

I can picture Nettie Bullis reading this quote, tilting her head in contemplation, then slowly nodding. And I think she would nod her head again if she could be with us today to see the results of her wise stewardship, her laying "stone on stone" to build a legacy for the rest of us to enjoy.

And so today, we say: "See! This our sister did for us."

Thank you, Nettie.