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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the Herbert Furman Seversmith Genealogical Working Papers
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Seversmith, Herbert Furman, 1904- | |
| Title | Herbert Furman Seversmith Genealogical Working Papers, | |
| Dates: | 1939-1965 | |
| Abstract: | The papers in this small collection consist principally of some of the working papers which Dr. Seversmith produced while engaged in doing research for his Colonial Families.... These working papers are both in manuscript and in typescript. Included among these papers is an occasional letter or note from a researcher who had inquired concerning information on a particular family. The papers were not arranged in any order though it was quite apparent in some instances that certain work papers were grouped together. | |
| Extent: | 1 box, .2 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | S-1 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
Herbert Furman Seversmith (May 31, 1904 - October 13, 1967) was born in Far Rockaway, Queens. He was a biologist by training but pursued the study of genealogy as a deep and abiding avocation. He achieved such prominence in this field that in 1942 he was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists. Though he was the author of several articles concerning genealogy, he will probably best be remembered as the co-author with Dr. Kenn Stryker-Rodda of Long Island Genealogical Source Material a basic bibliographic tool on the subject. Another monumental work produced by Dr. Seversmith was Colonial Families of Long Island, New York and Connecticut Being the Ancestry and Kindred of Herbert Furman Seversmith. This work (which reached 5 volumes at the time of his death) is considered one of the better genealogical studies relating to the Long Island area. It is the working papers which Dr. Seversmith produced while engaged in this study which form the basis of this collection
An obituary of Dr. Seversmith which appeared in the December 1967 issue of "National Genealogical Society Quarterly” gives a rather comprehensive view of his life.
In 1939, Dr. Seversmith privately published the first volume of his Colonial Families of Long Island, New York and Connecticut a work in which he attempted to trace, on an exhaustive as possible basis, his vast family tree. He subsequently published a second volume of this work (also in 1939); a third volume (in 1943); a fourth volume (in 1953); and a fifth and final volume in 1958. The first volume was issued in a very small edition of only 25 copies. The other volumes were, no doubt, also issued in this quantity. Though 5 volumes were Issued, Dr. Seversmith had investigated less than half of the families with whom he claimed kinship. Thus, we find that the 5 volumes cover only the Ackerly through the Ludlow families. Indeed, the research was so thorough that the last volume dealt with the Ludlow family alone.
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Scope and Content Note
The papers in this small collection consist principally of some of the working papers which Dr. Seversmith produced while engaged in doing research for his Colonial Families.... These working papers are both in manuscript and in typescript. Included among these papers is an occasional letter or note from a researcher who had inquired concerning information on a particular family. The papers were not arranged in any order though it was quite apparent in some Instances that certain work papers were grouped together. Therefore, we have divided and sorted these papers as follows:
Hulse Family (largest segment), Jarvis Family, Judd Family, Kellura Family, Kent Family and Miscellaneous.
There is also another grouping which we have termed "English Tribes” because, apparently, Dr. Seversmith was researching such ancient races as the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. It should also be noted that though the "Miscellaneous" grouping listed above is not very large, notes on some half-dozen families not included in his published work (Pallavicini, Turner, etc.) are to be found.
Sometime around 1946, Dr. Seversmith gave to the Library a second set (as far as completed up to that time) of Colonial Families (the Library having received a first set as each volume was published) with the following stipulation as recorded by Herbert P. Ricard, then head of the Archives at Queens Library:
“This is a second copy of Mr. Seversmith’s genealogy which has been given to the Queens Borough Public Library with the proviso that it will be returned to him if his copy should be lost or destroyed. Herbert P. Ricard September 17, 1946”
A letter (now torn) from Dr. Seversmith to Mr. Ricard, dated, February 3, 1947 included the following excerpt:
“In answer to your implied question would suggest that the book be left unbound. Reason -tipped in pages, and all the photographs I plan to insert. After completion, bind it, of course.”
Of course, as stated previously, Dr. Seversmith never completed his project* Therefore, shortly after his death, the second set was bound. The above letter is quoted primarily to give some indication as to the wide scope Dr. Seversmith had planned for the second copy of his work which he had set aside here in the library. The extra inserted pages (presumably of corrections or added material received on any particular family) and photo graphs would have made this second set more thorough.
The collection also includes a small amount (ca. 5 items) of correspondence between Dr. Seversmith and the Archives at Queens Library of the Queens Borough Public Library (1960,1964,1965), as well as some correspondence (ca. 20 items) which he had with fellow genealogists, and which presumably were turned over to the Library. This latter correspondence is dated ca. 1935-1960. All of this correspondence was placed with Dr. Seversmith’s working papers in the hope that interested researchers would find this added material useful.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a photograph its control number. The Herbert Furman Seversmith Genealogical Working Papers, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions. Manuscripts are only available in the Archives at Queens Library, please call (718) 990-0770 for hours. Manuscript users will be required to complete the division's Manuscript Usage Form and deposit their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card with a staff member. The identification will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material. Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk. Manuscript users must use the division's loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pen of any type is permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request. Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
- Archives at Queens Library
- Queens Borough Public Library
- 89-11 Merrick Boulevard
- Jamaica, NY 11432
- Phone: (718) 990-0770.
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Access Points
Subject Names:
- Seversmith, Herbert Furman, 1904-
Subject Family Names:
- Hulse family
- Jarvis family
- Judd family
- Kellura family
- Kent family
Subject Topics:
- Genealogy
Subject Places:
- Long Island (N.Y.)
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
