The following book review was written by Bobbi King:
Cape Cod and the Islands: Resources for Genealogists
Published by The Cape Cod Genealogical Society, Inc., 2011, Harwich, Mass. http://blog.capecodgensoc.org. A paperbound book of 128 pages with photographs, images, and lists.
This is a society publication meant to be a helpful guide for researchers looking for information on their families on Cape Cod and the Islands. This is a companion to the previously published Historical and Genealogical Guide to Barnstable County, Massachusetts (Falmouth Genealogical Society, 1995).
This book is rich in resources, and the society is very tech-savvy. Throughout the book there are dozens of online resources. You’ll be at your computer doing research within minutes of diving into this book.
The book contains lists of: Cape and Islands libraries with their addresses, phone numbers, and website addresses with brief descriptions of their genealogical collections; a full description of the Dennis Public Library, where the Cape Cod Genealogical Society has their collections; the genealogical societies on Cape Cod; the historical societies and museums organized by town, county, and unique museum collections; and Cape Cod Family Association websites.
Of particular interest are excerpts from past issues of the Cape Cod Genealogical Society Bulletin offering histories of Cape Cod towns: Barnstable (with an excellent bibliography); Bourne; Brewster (“the Sea Captains’ Town); Brewster’s Harbor; Chatham; Dennis (“From Farming and Fishing to Salt-Making and Ship-Building”); Falmouth; Harwich (“the Home of the Cranberry”); Orleans; Provincetown; and Sandwich. There are historical write-ups about Eastham, Mashpee, Truro, and Wellfleet.
While this is an expansive gathering of resources, I wish the descriptions of holdings were more explanatory, both in detail and length; I think the reader benefits from understanding the full extent of the collections before considering calling or visiting the repository.
There are interesting images of historic photos of places and people with explanatory captions. There are references to cemeteries and bibliographies offering opportunities for more research sources, as well as interesting narratives describing the towns and families with stories and timelines.
This is an exceptional compilation, and a tribute to the dedicated work of the individuals and the Society. This is a significant contribution to New England genealogical research.
Cape Cod and the Islands: Resources for Genealogists is available at http://blog.capecodgensoc.org/p/ccgs-shop.html.
