Genealogical Ephemera

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Comment by Rochon Laverdet on September 19, 2010 at 11:38am

A small challenge for me! I would love to hear what others suggest!
I'm make a long story short, so forgive my lack of organization. I have an extremely large collection of ephemera, which includes pretty much anything you can think of that's made from paper. I began sorting through everything last year in November, and here I am nearly a year later, amazed, informed and forever changed. I have parted with a few items, which turned out to be photographs (1900-1920's) of nude women modeling for art. I was surprised to see how popular they are, and was even more surprised at the amount paid as the winning bid. For a picture of someone they will never know and have no connection with. Amazing!
Anyway, I am overwhelmed. I love it all, but it's too much. Where do I begin when it comes to putting any type of value to an item? The cost of hiring an appraiser would be excessive, not to mention the fact that I would need more than one because of numerous item types, wouldn't I? Also, it has taken me a year just to sort it, and I won't bring up the archiving and lack of storage space part. I don't know what to do with all of this paper! Artwork, letters (thousands), photos,magazines, bus/train/plane tickets etc., comics (approx. 4,000), sheet music, greeting cards galore,maps, checks and banking, correspondence from Congress, the White House, founder/pres/CEO/secretary/etc. of... companies of paper, oil, steel,silver,art supplies, the list goes on and on.... And the stamps on the thousands of envelopes dating from the early 1900's to where I stopped out of desperation in 1980 something.
I will stop now. Basically, I want to move some items out and I don't know the value of what I have.
Can anyone tell me where to go from here?

Comment by Kyle Boyd-Robertson on October 11, 2008 at 1:45pm

Searching for information on William Solon Kelly of Texs, possibly Cameon,Texas. Died August of 1926,

Comment by Kyle Boyd-Robertson on September 17, 2008 at 5:09pm

Just acquired thes two signatures of Richard Henry Stanton my 4th Great Grandfather.

Comment by Kyle Boyd-Robertson on September 10, 2008 at 9:30pm

I will try to post some photos sometimes next week if possible, right now we are preparing to evacuate for Hurricane Ike, looks like we could take a direct hit.

Comment by Nancy on September 9, 2008 at 3:45pm

Kyle Boyd
What a great find you made.
I would love to see some of the images uploaded here for us to view.
For anyone that would like to read a short history of post cards. This Is the PLACE To LOOK.

Comment by Kyle Boyd-Robertson on September 9, 2008 at 1:53pm

I have obtained a great collection of postcards dated 1876 - 1907 from FRED M. BUTLER, ESQ. Originating from and addressed to mostly Jamaica and Rutland Vermont, though including a few other towns as well, these wonderful, personal cards with sometimes lengthy handwritten messages are indeed a gem. Encompassing over 30 years of correspondence as Mr. Butler rose to popular status as a prominent figure in Vermont history, these postcards also act as an incredible source of genealogy to the Butler family. Many of the cards are between he and his brother Aaron though later some include his children as well. Topics range from family happenings, to activities around the law offices, to daily bill paying as well as intimate details of relationships.
FRED M. BUTLER: Mr. Butler is listed in several genealogical works published in the late nineteenth century of Prominent Men and Families of Vermont and New England. His family was among the first to settle in Vermont in the 1600s and his grandfather Aaron was a Revolutionary war Hero. Born in 1854 at Jamiaca in Windham County Vermont to Aaron and Emaline Butler. Fred Butler graduated in 1874 from Leland Seminary and moved to the office of Jonathan G. Eddy in Brattleboro Vermont. He was admitted to the bar in 1877 and practiced law under Hoyt H. Wheeler (a United States District Judge). Eventually he went on to become a partner in his own firm in Rutland, Vermont in which a few cases are listed in the Vermont Supreme Court. One of the most prominent and successful cases was that of John O’Brien and John C. Sheehan against the Rutland Railroad Company which resulted after nearly two years of litigation in an award of fifty thousand dollars to the plaintiffs. He was appointed judge of the City Court in 1889 appointed by Governors Dillingham, Page and Fuller. Mr. Butler married Novermber 24, 1875 Lillian Knight Holton of Dummerston and their children are Anza Lillian Helen Maria and Florence Muzzey.