Does the Bullis Collection contain banned books? For some of us volunteers, our first answer to this questions was, "Surely not." But we were wrong.
There's an impressive number of banned books among the books on the shelves here in the Bullis Room. And some of them will be on display in the case outside the room.
So stop by and take a look. You might be surprised, like we were.
(We'll post some of the banned titles, next week.)
Friday, September 16, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
TWO AMAZING WOMEN
This week we continued to read through the Bullis Room's copy of Sojourner Truth, and we couldn't help being reminded of another great woman who made an important impact on her society--Nettie Bullis.
Nettie Bullis made her impact in a quieter way, on a smaller scale, showing her contemporaries that it was possible for a women to succeed in what was then a man's world.
Sojourner Truth died ten years before Nettie Bullis was born, but although they were women of different centuries, they shared a cause--women's rights--and each in her way was truly amazing.
If you'd like to know more about either of these women, we invite you to stop by the Bullis Room.
Nettie Bullis made her impact in a quieter way, on a smaller scale, showing her contemporaries that it was possible for a women to succeed in what was then a man's world.
Sojourner Truth died ten years before Nettie Bullis was born, but although they were women of different centuries, they shared a cause--women's rights--and each in her way was truly amazing.
If you'd like to know more about either of these women, we invite you to stop by the Bullis Room.
Friday, September 2, 2011
LABOR DAY(S)
In 1894, the year after Nettie Bullis was born, Labor Day was designated a federal holiday and observed with street parades honoring labor organizations and festivals for workers and their families. From what we know of the Bullis family, we wonder if they would have taken part in these festivities. Perhaps they did. Or, perhaps they stayed home and read some of their books on the subject. Here are a few they had to choose from.
1) An Introduction to the Study of Organized Labor in America by George Gorham Groat, published in 1920.
2) Rural Letters and Other Records of Thought at Leisure, Written in the Intervals of More Hurried Literary Labor by Nathaniel Parker Willis, published in 1849.
3) Narrative of Sojourner Truth: a bondswoman of olden time, emancipated by the New York Legislature in the early part of the present century. With a history of her labors and correspondence drawn from her "Book of Life" by Sojourner Truth, published in 1875.
Our choice of reading is the last book listed. In next week's post we'll share some fascinating things about this book and its remarkable author.
(Just an aside - when we searched the Bullis Books data base for "labor," one of the results was David Copperfield, which of course is another wonderful read...but perhaps not for a "day off.")
Friday, August 26, 2011
JOHN LAPHAM BULLIS PRESENTATION
JOHN LAPHAM BULLIS
A presentation by June Hamell, Town of Macedon Historian and conservator of the Bullis Room at the Macedon Public Library
Wednesday, October 12, 6:30 p.m.
Community Room, Macedon Public Library
Mrs. Hamell’s presentation will cover her recent visit to the historic Fort Sam Houston Museum in San Antonio to view a retrospective exhibit honoring Brigadier General John Lapham Bullis. In addition, she will include some information about the history of San Antonio, the early Canary Islander settlers, the Missions, ranches, and cattle drives to New Orleans to help feed Civil War troops.
This presentation will be co-hosted by the Macedon Historical Society, Bullis Committee,
and the Friends of the Macedon Public Library. Friday, August 19, 2011
ROMANCE AND HISTORY
These last few weeks in the Bullis room, we've worked with books in two genres--romance and history. There's one book in this collection that ties these subjects together...Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell.
The Bullis copy is currently in the display case outside the room. One glance will tell you it's not a quick read. With 1,037 pages, it may be a book to put on your winter reading list.
If you do read (or reread) Gone With the Wind, we suggest you think about men like John Lapham Bullis who enlisted in the 126th New York Volunteer Infantry at 21 years of age and was quickly plunged into the middle of that heartbreaking war. He was injured and captured in the Battle of Harper's Ferry in September, 1862, barely a month after he enlisted. And although he rejoined his regiment after exchange, he was again wounded and captured at the battle of Gettysburg, and spent the following ten months confined to Libby Prison in Virginia.
John Lapham Bullis's wartime experiences can add perspective to both fiction and nonfiction accounts of the Civil War by giving us a personal connection. And perhaps when we better understand our history, we can in turn have a greater understanding of current events and situations. We can always hope so.
The Bullis copy is currently in the display case outside the room. One glance will tell you it's not a quick read. With 1,037 pages, it may be a book to put on your winter reading list.
If you do read (or reread) Gone With the Wind, we suggest you think about men like John Lapham Bullis who enlisted in the 126th New York Volunteer Infantry at 21 years of age and was quickly plunged into the middle of that heartbreaking war. He was injured and captured in the Battle of Harper's Ferry in September, 1862, barely a month after he enlisted. And although he rejoined his regiment after exchange, he was again wounded and captured at the battle of Gettysburg, and spent the following ten months confined to Libby Prison in Virginia.
John Lapham Bullis's wartime experiences can add perspective to both fiction and nonfiction accounts of the Civil War by giving us a personal connection. And perhaps when we better understand our history, we can in turn have a greater understanding of current events and situations. We can always hope so.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
ROMANCE IN THE BULLIS ROOM
The morning air is getting "crisp," but there's still time for some good summer reading. These last three months we've recommended to you books on Revolutionary and Civil War history. We think it's time for a change, so--are you ready for this?--how about reading a romance?
The display case outside the Bullis Room is full of romance books from the collection. We're going to list a few of them here, but we hope you can stop by in the next few weeks and look over the whole group. In the interim, we suggest you consider reading one of the following:
When Knighthood Was In Flower..., by Edwin Caskoden (Charles Major), published in 1898.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, by John Fox, Jr., published in 1908.
Lalla Rookh, An Oriental Romance, by Thomas Moore, published in 1856.
Rose Mather, by Mary J. Holmes (who lived 40 miles west of Macedon, from 1852 until her death in 1907).
The Mine With the Iron Door, by Harold Bell Wright, published 1923.
The Iron Trail: An Alaskan Romance, by Rex Beach, published in 1913.
Enjoy!
The display case outside the Bullis Room is full of romance books from the collection. We're going to list a few of them here, but we hope you can stop by in the next few weeks and look over the whole group. In the interim, we suggest you consider reading one of the following:
When Knighthood Was In Flower..., by Edwin Caskoden (Charles Major), published in 1898.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, by John Fox, Jr., published in 1908.
Lalla Rookh, An Oriental Romance, by Thomas Moore, published in 1856.
Rose Mather, by Mary J. Holmes (who lived 40 miles west of Macedon, from 1852 until her death in 1907).
The Mine With the Iron Door, by Harold Bell Wright, published 1923.
The Iron Trail: An Alaskan Romance, by Rex Beach, published in 1913.
Enjoy!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
SCHUYLER COLFAX
Here are the answers to the questions we posted pertaining to Schuyler Colfax:
First question: Why is there a sketch of Schuyler Colfax included in the Bullis Collection book, A Person History of Ulysses S. Grant: with a portrait and sketch of Schuyler Colfax by Albert D. Richardson (published in 1868). Perhaps because he served as a long-term member of Congress and was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. In the ending pages of his book, Richardson heaped great praise on Colfax with these words:
"He is now in his third term as Speaker. No abler presiding officer ever sat in the chair of the House....Despite the bitterness of our recent contests, opposition members usually join unanimously at the close of a session in voting him thanks for his invariable impartiality." (page 559)
Second question: Who was Schuyler Colfax? In addition to being a member of Congress, he was also the 17th vice president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1873 under President Ulysses S. Grant. Again quoting from Richardson's sketch:
"In May, 1868, a national republican convention at Chicago unanimously nominated him for the second place on the ticket with Grant...It was the greatest personal triumph ever achieved in such a body." (pages 559-560)
And yet with this admirable background, Schuyler Colfax was not chosen as President Grant's second-term vice president. Various historical sources indicate that Colfax left office under a cloud, involving the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad. A sad ending to what now appears to have been a successful career in public service.
You can read the entire sketch when you stop by the Bullis Room.
First question: Why is there a sketch of Schuyler Colfax included in the Bullis Collection book, A Person History of Ulysses S. Grant: with a portrait and sketch of Schuyler Colfax by Albert D. Richardson (published in 1868). Perhaps because he served as a long-term member of Congress and was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. In the ending pages of his book, Richardson heaped great praise on Colfax with these words:
"He is now in his third term as Speaker. No abler presiding officer ever sat in the chair of the House....Despite the bitterness of our recent contests, opposition members usually join unanimously at the close of a session in voting him thanks for his invariable impartiality." (page 559)
Second question: Who was Schuyler Colfax? In addition to being a member of Congress, he was also the 17th vice president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1873 under President Ulysses S. Grant. Again quoting from Richardson's sketch:
"In May, 1868, a national republican convention at Chicago unanimously nominated him for the second place on the ticket with Grant...It was the greatest personal triumph ever achieved in such a body." (pages 559-560)
And yet with this admirable background, Schuyler Colfax was not chosen as President Grant's second-term vice president. Various historical sources indicate that Colfax left office under a cloud, involving the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad. A sad ending to what now appears to have been a successful career in public service.
You can read the entire sketch when you stop by the Bullis Room.
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