Stamford, Connecticut – A Bibliography
Foreword to the First Edition
by
Estelle Feinstein
Devotées of Clio, the
Muse of History, have long known that an historical source uncatalogued
or unlisted,
will almost
certainly end as an historical source ignored or forgotten. Due largely to
the untiring efforts of Ronald Marcus, the City of Stamford, Connecticut
has been
spared such a fate.
Over the last several decades Ron
Marcus has served the Stamford Historical Society in a variety of ways, including
a stint
as President, and currently as the Librarian of the Society. His knowledge
of the history of the community and of the historical resources available
is encyclopedic,
and as I have reason to know, he shares this knowledge enthusiastically. Whether
I needed clarification of a knotty point of law in colonial Connecticut or
was
obliged to visit the archives in the Connecticut State Library in Hartford,
Ron never failed to come to my aid. Moreover, as an historian himself, Ron
has
published several treatises, including an account of a Stamford witch trial
in 1692, a Survey of the Revolutionary War Claims of Stamford citizens, and
the history of Fort Stamford during the American War of Independence. His
most
important work, however, may well prove to be the comprehensive Bibliography
of sources, bearing on the history of the town, that he has collected. The
title
page avers Ron's intention to compile a record of a significant number of books,
pamphlets, special editions of newspapers, atlas, articles in periodicals, and
motion picture films relating to the history of Stamford, Connecticut.
The Bibliography opens with an Introduction,
in which Ron candidly explains the origins and evolution of the project. The
heart of the study are three guides to the holdings of the Stamford Historical
Society, the Ferguson Library and elsewhere. The first is a list of 200 items,
arranged alphabetically by surname of author or by title when required. Each
entry includes standard bibliographical information, such as name of publisher,
date of publication, number of pages, and lists of maps and illustrations. It
also includes a succinct account of the context of the item, taken directly
from a preface or commentary by the author or a friendly critic. In addition
it uses the symbols of the National Union Catalogue to provide a list of locations
where the entry may be found. The list casts a surprisingly wide net and includes
libraries as far away as Cambridge University. It also calls attention to relevant
materials unavailable in Stamford. Both the substantive summaries and the location
lists are invaluable tools for the researcher. Next come 12 pages which spell
out the National Union Catalogue symbols and a half-page list of other abbreviations
used.
A second guide to the sources follows. It is
composed of 200 items arranged according to the Record Number which Ron has
assigned to each item. The brief entries list only author, title and date for
a book or pamphlet; and author, title of article, and name and date of periodical
for an article.
The third and final guide is an Index of 116
pages, arranged alphabetically by topics and names of individuals. The citations
are to the Record Numbers. The Index is thorough, scrupulous, and innovative.
For example, the History of Stamford is divided into 27 time-periods of varying
length. A complete list of references to the relevant Record Number(s) for each
era is provided. The Bibliography on Stamford concludes with a two-page list
of the sources and bibliographies used in the study.
The number of individuals beholden
to Ron Marcus is already impressive and will grow steadily. My own debt is
large, indeed.
Historians and students of urban affairs, genealogists and journalists, politicians
and ordinary citizens curious about the development of communities in general
and Stamford in particular will all find cause to applaud. STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT—A BIBLIOGRAPHY is a monument to the intellectual acumen, unflagging
determination, prodigious effort, and genuine civic pride of Ronald Marcus.
Estelle F. Feinstein,
1995
© 1995 Stamford Historical Society
Bibliography, Table of Contents and Instructions
