RURAL REGISTERS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

The Research Library of  the New York State Historical Association has
recently obtained the surviving inventory of Rural Registers published
from 1937 to 1940 by Rural Surveys, Inc. of Ithaca, N.Y.   Registers
were published by that company for 29 counties in the state and were a
directory of all of the farms in those counties.  The paper covered
registers give the names of the head of each family living in rural
areas in the counties, if the person is married, the "Compass System"
address of each one, and coordinates for finding the farm's location on
an accompanying map.

Copies of these registers are uncommon. The information in them would be
of interest to local historians in identifying area residents,
genealogists in finding ancestors, and agricultural historians
interested in farming in New York State just before World War II.  We
would like to disseminate copies of the registers to make the
information available to researchers in the local areas.  We have copies
of 26 counties' registers available as follows:



Albany
Broome (no map available)
Chemung
Chenango
Cortland (no map available)
Erie (no map available)
Fulton and Montgomery (no map available)
Genesee
Herkimer (Southern)

Jefferson
Livingston
Madison
Monroe
Niagara
Oneida
Onondaga
Ontario
Orleans (no map available)

Oswego
Otsego
Rensselaer
Schenectady and Southern Saratoga
Schuyler  (photocopy only)
Seneca (photocopy only)
Steuben
Tompkins

Copies will be made available as long as the supply lasts according to
the following price schedule:

            A county's register and a map  -   $10.00 per copy
            A county's register for which no map is available -  $8.00
per copy
            An order of five or more registers -       $  8.00 per copy

Each register was issued in three slightly different versions with the
same map accompanying each.   The Rural Guide (sometimes called Rural
Index) gives names of farmers, the "Compass System" address of each one,
and coordinates for finding the person on the map.  The Rural Register
(sometimes called Farm Register) adds the postal address for each person
listed.  The Special Classified Rural Register adds the number of
persons living in each home and other information on each farm.   Orders
will be filled with copies of the Special Classified Rural Register as
long as the supply lasts, then we will fill orders with the Rural
Register or Farm Register, and finally the Rural Guide or Rural Index.
There are many good copies available, but there are also some with water
stains or torn covers.  Orders will be filled with the best copy
available.

Checks should be made out to New York State Historical Association.
Orders may be sent to:

Research Library, New York State Historical Association, P.O. Box 800,
Cooperstown, NY  13326.

If you have questions, please contact library staff at 607-547-1470 or
send e-mail to the Research Library at [log in to unmask]


______________________________________

Melissa McAfee
Research Library Director
New York State Historical Association
The Farmers' Museum
PO Box 800  Lake Road
Cooperstown, NY  13326
607 547 1473 (tel)
607 547 1405 (fax)