Three people came together to create this book, Barbara Barth, Harry Macy her mentor, and me. We were all volunteers, no paychecks here. Barbara and I worked for years, 5 to 7 hours a day, she was the author, I was her researcher, we never met physically. None the less we worked well together. Her one demand, I would be willing to toss out everything bit of research I had done and start again, making sure I could document and cite everything and keeping an open mind. I took a chance and we were on our way from 1997 until 2003 when she died. We worked right up to the week before she died. >From Barbara's Preface in the book: "The better books, copiers, computers and record systems available at present have been of great assistance in the identification of relatives. The Internet has been helpful for clues, but this aid must always be used with discretion, as original documentation is essential. Harry Macy stressed the necessity for careful documentation of each and every statement and I have tried to adhere to that rule though out the book" " Over the intervening years, Mrs. Mable Spell made suggestions and corrections, as well as Wilson V. Ledley and others. Their articles were published in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record and The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey (and reprinted in Genealogies of Long Island Families and Genealogies of New Jersey FAmilies). Some of these articles have also needed correction." Barbara and I followed these guide lines, word for word, line for line, statement for statement for the entire book, 364 pages worth, and after Barb died, a decision had to be made, do I just do nothing or do I go ahead and get her families permission to continue her work. Barb and I had put so many years into this book, others were depending on me to try and get it completed, so I contacted her family and I received their permission. Barbara was very ill towards the end of her life, but she managed to get the book written, but not proofed. So I proofed if for her, word for word, line for line, statement for statement, space for space which is why it took so darn long. >From Harry's Foreward: "Barbara had just finished her final draft of her book when she was taken from us. Her children had promised her that the book would be published, but final editing ws needed. I was happy to volunteer some of my time, but could not undertake all the work that ws needed. Fortunately, Barbara's genealogical friend and fellow Dorland descendant Judith Cassidy stepped into the breach and has spent the better part of a year going through the entire draft, checking facts and verifying references and conforming the text to the style that Barbara intended to use". I was very fortunate that Harry Macy, Jr. was willing to give the time to take me under his wing to teach and assist me. I learned to use the same method of editing articles and books as used by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Not only was Harry a terrific mentor but he jumped in and we worked together on this. I had never done this before, but I am a very good student, and both Barbara and Harry were excellent teachers if you were willing to listen and learn, and "get over youself and your own preconceived ideas". I was. What did I get out of this, if not money. An education that money can't buy and the satisfaction of knowing that I was part of a three man team of the very best in the business. It can't get better than that. My point, we need to encourage everyone on the right way to research their families, to write about it and to how to proof it, edit it and then publish it and to quite constantly repeating the work of others. Many many descendants of the spousal families who intermarried with the Dorlands/Darlands contributed all kinds of documents and information for inclusion in this book, it was not a one man band kind of book, but a compilation of many people coming together to try and accomplish and create a new genealogy. They knew Barbara was the person to do just that, because of her meticulous methods of research and writing. Now hopefully everyone will benefit and that is why this book is important, Not just for the information that was included in the book but for the fact that anyone can on this list site or any list site or where ever can join forces and come together to create a family history or any history, if they are willing to and want to accomplish that book or document. As mentioned, Barbara and I never physically met, nor have Harry and I, although we spoke over the phone and of course emailed a million emails. To me, this is pretty amazing. Judy ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.