The Dust Bin Newsletter of the Ad Hoc Historians Committee SUMMER 2012

Indian Names in Western New York Here are some Native American area Monroe County: Lake Erie, Do-sho-weh, Splitting the fork place names and their meanings included Rochester, Ga-sko-sa-go, At the in Chipman P. Turner’s The Pioneer Falls Chautaugua Lake, Cha da-queh, Place where one was lost Period of Western New York. Brockport, Gweh-ta-a-ne-te-car- nun-do-the, Red village Conesus Lake, Ga-ne-a-sos, Place Erie County: of many berries Niagara County: Buffalo, Do-sho-weh, Splitting Allegany River, O-hu-yo, The the fork. Lewiston, Ga-a-no-geh, The beautiful river Black Rock, De-o-steh-ga-a, A mountain neck Genesee River, Gen-nis-he-go, rocky shore Niagara Falls, Date-car-sko- The beautiful valley Lancaster, Ga-squen-da-geh, sase, The highest falls Niagara River, Ne-ah-ga, A neck Place of the lizard Lockport, De-o-do-sote, The Akron, De-on-gote, Place of spring (referring to Cold Spring) hearing Middleport, Te-ka-on-do duk, Place with a sign post Genesee County: Youngstown, Ne-ah-ga, A neck Batavia, Deo-on-go-wa, The great hearing place Orleans County: LeRoy, Te-car-no-wun-na, Albion, De-o-wun-dake-no, Place Many rapids where boats were Pine Hill, Te-ca so-a-a, Pine ly- ing up Lakes & Rivers: Lake Ontario, Ska-no-da-ri-o, The beautiful lake Next Meeting Date: Niagara Falls, December 7, 1954 After conducting a straw Descriptions from the Gazetteer of 1812 poll, it has been decided This is the first of a series on the evolution of County. . . The whole population of this that too many of you will Western New York . Here are some descrip- Town is 3645. It contains about 40 houses, not be able to attend an Ad tions from the Gazetteer of the State of New a court-house and jail, and some other Hoc Historians meeting on York, published in 1812. buildings, and is a place of considerable business. August 2nd. Therefore it has Buffalo, the Capital of Niagara County. . . been cancelled. In 1810 . . . The population of this town The little Village of Williamsville, is situ- The next Ad Hoc Historians was 158. . . The Village of Buffalo . . . ated on the main road, 11 miles N.E. of meeting will be held at the Contains about 100 houses and stores. . . Buffalo, at the falls of Ellicott’s Creek. Historians Office on: Here are also the court-house and jail for Here are 15 dwellings, a grain-mill, 2 saw- the county. mills, a fulling-mill, carding machine, and Thursday, 10 AM a trip hammer; and a Post-Office was es- Batavia . . . The capital of Genesee November 1st. tablished here in the autumn of 1812.

Continued on page 4 Book Keeping or Keeping Books

Books are mostly paper whether be no higher than 75° F and carefully. Remove objects from they are leather bound with gold relative humidity should be between the pages such as paper leaf edges or an inexpensive novel. close to 50%. clips, sticky notes, book marks, Unfortunately some paper is short newspaper clippings or flowers. Excessive light is another peril as lived. Since 1860, publishers began These can cause discoloration, rips prolonged direct exposure to making paper from wood pulp and even chemical damage. bright light from any source rather than rags. Paper high with causes fading and accelerates the Except for oversize volumes such wood pulp is very acidic, causing chemical reactions that cause as atlases and family Bibles, it is the material to discolor, dryout and paper to deteriorate. This in- best to keep books standing up- crumble – sometimes within a mat- cludes not just the paper but right with another one of similar ter of months. Newspapers and also book bindings and dust jack- size or with a bookend on each books made with poor-quality paper ets. Books and papers should side. They should not be packed have a limited life span no matter not be stored in basements, too tightly on a shelf. A few We get no good how new or how attics or inches of open space behind carefully they are By being ungenerous, unheated shelved books allows air to circu- cared for. However, buildings and late. Exposure to fresh air retards even to a book, a book or newspaper they should deterioration, so occasional careful And calculating printed on good pa- be kept away handling is actually good for the per has a potentially profits—so much help from heat book. Never force a book open too long life. This is why vents, radia- wide. Support the book beneath By so much reading. It newspapers from the tors, hot both sides so that undue stress is 1820s are found in is rather when lights or not put on the spine. much better condi- We gloriously forget fireplaces. tion than those from Even treated wood contains natu- ourselves, and plunge 2002. Air should ral acids that react with paper and circulate around books and they accelerate its deterioration. Glass Soul-forward, Proper care of books and papers should be frequently cleaned to shelves or metal shelving that is means protecting them from several headlong, into a book's remove pollen and dust. Valu- powder-coated or coated with hazards. Mold is one danger. Ex- able books should be carefully baked enamel is preferable to profound , posure to certain chemicals or envi- wiped, opened and inspected for wood, however, a reasonable com- Impassioned for its ronmental conditions, animal and signs of mold or pest infestation promise can be obtained with insect pests also imperil the printed beauty, and salt of annually. They can be vacuumed wood shelving. Line the shelves word. Damage to the structure or on low suction with a brush with a polyester film or a heavy, truth— the binding of the book is another. attachment covered by cheese- acid-free paper board. 'Tis then we get the High humidity and warm tempera- cloth or an old clean nylon – based on Caring for Your Family right good from a tures encourage mold growth and stocking secured with a rubber Treas- once developed, it is hard to con- band. book. ures by trol. These same conditions, along Another preventative measure is Jane S. Elizabeth Barrret with frequent rapid fluctuations in to handle the books properly. humidity and temperature, stimu- and Browning, Aurora When removing them from the late the chemical reactions that Richard Leigh, Book 1, line 700 shelf, grasp the spine between speed-up the deterioration of paper. W. Long the thumb and fingers and pull (1856) Low humidity can also cause prob- the book out. Many books are lems, particularly brittleness. The damaged by pulling them by one best protection against acid damage finger at the top of the spine. PAGE 2 and mold is to keep a constant, The structure of old books may moderate temperature and relative be week. Do not force them humidity. Temperatures should open too far and turn the pages Mystery Civil War Era Letter We found a letter in our collection. It was written during the Civil War by Jane Sackett to Ann Eighnez. Can you help us with their identification? What regiment did John belong to and where was he? From looking at the Civil War timeline for 1862, he may have been taken at the Battle of Richmond KY. We think it was written from Belmont, NY but aren’t sure. It could also be Belmont OH. The stationary includes a lithograph bust of someone— a general? Written below it in a squiggly box is “Abe Lane”. I have kept the spelling as written but have included punctuation where it is missing in the original.

Belmont Sep the 19th 1862 Clothes. He makes Dear aunt a brave looking Soldier. Aunt I now seat my Self to write to ann we will have you. We are all well at present to wait till the war and hope those few lines may is ended to get us find you all well. We received a man but tell your letter and was very glad to uncle Philip his hear from you but Sorry to hear chance is good for that aunt tirzah and Caty out here there is wasent any better. John has bin wimin by the acre taken prisoner by the rebbles. He that their men was in three battles. He was has gone to war. Tell him to Step say anything about him. Write taken the 30th [?] of August out this way before he looks around as Soon as you get this and 12 hundred more poor out their. I cant think of much more [unintelligible] at present good fellows. He is bye. This is from your in Maryland affectionate niece and well close to the wisher Jane Sackett Chesapeake To bay. He has rote home since Ann Eighmez he has bin And all the rest — good by their. He said [on the fourth side with an ink his rigament border] was most all killed or Write as Soon as you received wounded. this my love to Aunt Cate and There is five of trizah. Tell them both to write his Company Good bye with him. Henry and Charley to write. Give my love to you all. I are in Michagan. I don't think wish I could come and see you. I they will be fools enough to go to don't know but I shall. Maria rote war. John has sent me and PAGE 3 Alfred Snow a letter last Sunday. maria his picture in his Soldier Is Harrison with him. You dident Gazetteer Cont.

Lewiston, a Post-Village of Cambria, Niagara County . . .Here is a ware-house and wharf, a Post-Office and about twelve dwelling-houses with a great amount of business. Youngstown, an inconsiderable settlement, called a village, in Cambria, Niagara County, 1 mile from Fort Niagara, and 6 from Lewiston, containing about 6 or 8 houses. Canandaigua, the capital of Ontario County. In 1810, it had 415 families . . . and a population of 2392 inhabitants. The household manufactures of that year produced 27,535 yards of cloth. In 1790, this tract contained but one family, in a wretched hovel, where now is so much of ease of opulence, and of the bustle of busy life. Utica, a flourishing incorporated Post-Village, the commercial capital of the great Western District of this State. . . and was incorporated as a Village, in 1798. At present, Utica, thought small in area, comprises a population of 1700 souls; has 300 houses and stores, a Presbyterian, and an Episcopal church, a grammar school, &c. There are many mills, factories, mechanics’ shops, and a vast many buildings other than those enumerated. There are several printing-offices, and large book-stores. – Weekly papers are published here, and widely circulated through the surrounding country. The hotel at Utica, is an elegant establishment: and the many fine private mansions of gentlemen of taste and opulence, give Utica, a character in this respect, worthy a great commercial Town. The Manhattan Bank has established a branch. . . .

Basics of Archives Workshops offered starting in September

WNYLRC and the New York State Documen- Session 3 Records Programs: A Self-Study Guide," tary Heritage Program Presents a series of one Putting Your House in Order: Appropri- as well as the "Basics of Archives" work- -day training sessions designed to address ate Storage and Handling of Records in shop series sponsored by the Council of major topics in managing records collections. Y our Collection State Archivists. There are five sessions in "The Basics of Man- Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 9am-3pm aging Archives and Historical Records Collec- Discussion Preservation issues and solu- Jaclyn McKewan tions" and you can register for all 5 for $80, or tions for collections, evaluating preserva- Training & Emerging Technologies Librar- individual sessions at $16 each. tion needs, and developing reasonable ian responses to those needs. Western New York Library Resources Register for the entire series or just one ses- Council sion at: http://www.wnylrc.org/ Session 4 4455 Genesee St. / Suite 120 How Things Shape Up: Principles of Buffalo, NY 14225 Session 1 Arrangement and Description to Guide (716) 633-0705 x106 A Mission and a Plan: Administrative Ele- the Organization of Your Collection ments of Your Historical Records Program Tuesday, October 30, 9am-3pm Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 9am-3pm Address concepts, policies and procedures Introducing components of an efficient and to guide organizational activities involved effective program such as a clear mission/ in managing records collections. purpose, obtaining financial and other re- sources, evaluating program needs, and identi- Session 5 fying policies and procedures that address How Things Look to the Outside: Pro- goals. moting Use and Support For Your Col- lections Session 2 Tuesday, November 13,9am-3pm The Selection Process: Appraising and Ac- Address sending a message to your audi- cessioning Records For Your Collection ences about the value and content of your In June, The Brig Niagara sailed across Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 9am-3pm collection through public programs, infor- Lake Ontario and down the River to Identifying and evaluating historical records, mational materials, and other outreach Lewiston. Two salutes were fired from the developing a system and supporting policies activities. Fort. It will be in Buffalo for Navy Week, for executing and documenting the acquisition Sessions will be based in part on the New Sept. 10 –17th along with others as part of process, including securing legal title to ac- York State Archives publication, the War of1812 commemoration. quired records. "Strengthening New York's Historical