Family Bibles

Genealogical treasures often surface when least expected as was the case with my husband’s family bible. My husband’s ancestry is Scottish and he also enjoys genealogical research. In a past phone conversation with an out-of-town cousin he expressed an interest in looking at any memorabilia she might have in her possession. My husband’s late father (1902 DOB) and her late mother (1900 DOB) were siblings and hence, they are first cousins.

About five years ago when we were visiting her home, she put a visibly old and massive leather-bound family bible on the kitchen table. Apparently, she’d found it in the basement when sorting clutter. Uncertain about its provenance, she believed it had once belonged to her mother. Regardless, she gave the bible to my husband.

Please note this as a good reminder as to why it is important to share one’s interest in genealogical research with other family members.

What would have happened to this bible otherwise?

Preliminary Details About The Bible

Type: New and Devotional and Practical Pictorial Family Bible.

Publication: Published by Oberholtzer and Company; Berlin, Ontario.

The name of the city, Berlin was changed to Kitchener in 1916.

I was able to authenticate the bible as an 1879 edition of The King James Bible. It has circa 900 pages and 2,500 illustrations, contains the Old and New Testaments, maps, a dictionary, prayers, biographies, parables, proverbs, etc.

In addition to the above, there were certificates to record births, marriages and deaths as well as folders for photographs. An unexpected genealogical find!

Preservation Tips

There is a valuable article in the Family Archivist Section of the October/November 2017 issue of Family Tree Magazine. https://www.familytreemagazine.com

My husband and I have only begun to review this splendid resource. I have included a few photographs and welcome your comments.

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