The Genealogy and Family History Collection is a unique set of materials that describes the histories and narratives of particular American families. The Collection brings to life pre-1923 books that contain information such as birth, death, marriage, property and migration records of specific families. Many of these families followed interesting migration and movement patterns from Western Europe and beyond to the United States well over 200 years ago. Included in these volumes is information such as last wills and testaments, period photographs of towns, buildings and landscapes, portraits of family members, and descriptions of business interactions. Encompassing such comprehensive and personal information, this collection will appeal to genealogists, family history researchers, as well as descendants and casual historians.

With his newest book Justin Taft, Jr. continues to build on his previous success. As I Saw It was well received by the Rochester community as a colorful and engaging look at Rochester during the 1930s Depression. Whereas his first book included humorous recollections of town characters, community leaders, escaped convicts, gypsies and chicken thieves The Tafts of Rochester, Illinois focuses on the Taft family itself. Through this book Justin Taft continues to share his insight on life in the early days of Rochester. Unlike his previous work, this newest effort is professionally researched within its historical context. The westward migration and acquisition of land by Vermont to Rochester families is explored. Previously unidentified relationships between migrating Vermont families are documented. Each of the Rochester Tafts is traced through vital records, census listings, land transactions, family letters and bibles. The author annotates the book with early Rochester photographs and Taft family heirlooms, never forgetting to spin his signature folktales, adding depth to our understanding of the lives of his ancestors and many other early pioneers of Rochester. The Tafts, and their associated families, were some of the earliest settlers in Rochester. They were active in the political and social structure of the fledgling community. Their impact on Rochester's development is a must read for anyone interested in the history of Sangamon County.

This Encyclopedia is the first to compile some 500,000 pseudonyms of roughly 270,000 people from all over the world, from all ages and occupations. Besides pseudonyms in the narrower sense, initials, nick names, order names, birth and married names etc. are included. The volumes 1 to 9 list persons by their real names in alphabetical order, in volumes 10 to 16, the pseudonyms are listed alphabetically and the real names provided. To make identification of a person easier, year and place of birth and death are provided where available, as are profession, nationality and more personal data.

Assistant Surgeon James A. Black takes the reader on a seldom traveled journey--a fourteen hundred sixty-one day excursion--as he participates in the American Civil War. During his sojourn the Union soldier openly shares his observations, his joys, his concerns, and his frustrations, as he provides the reader with tremendous insight into the daily lives of soldiers in their camps and on their campaigns some one hundred fifty years ago. Black and a contingency of Southern Illinois men enlisted in the Union Army October 6, 1861. The 49th Illinois Infantry Regiment was mustered into service December 31, 1861, briefly trained at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois, and was engaged in combat by February, 1862. The regiment remained active in the Western Theatre of action for the duration of the war. Although the diary does not offer revolutionary revelations about the war or its generals, it does present interesting and revealing perceptions about the conflict, especially concerning the impact on soldiers involved in prolonged military engagement. Black s perspective as a Civil War soldier is unique in many ways. For the first year he wrote with the view of an enlisted infantryman, while the last three years he viewed events from the eyes of a commissioned medical officer. In addition, James Black, a good soldier, was a strong believer in the Union cause, a religious man, and a moralist. In many ways his thoughts reflect the times and yet many thoughts do not necessarily follow conventional Civil War wisdom. The diary is completely unabridged and void of interpretation or comment by scholars. Simply, the diary is James personal story as he lived it.