At 06:51 AM 3/15/2006, Stefanie wrote: >What are the tan books that are under discussion? Stefanie asked this question off-list, but I decided to answer it on-list as it is asked from time to time by those new to Massachusetts genealogical research. The "Tan Books," also known as the "Official Series," are a set of birth, marriage and death records volumes for about 200 of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. Each volume transcribes vital records for the town or city from its founding through about 1850. Supplementing the town or city clerk's records are church records, gravestone transcriptions, and vital records from private records such as minister's or grave-digger's records, Bibles and diaries. They were published between 1900 and WWII under a project initiated by NEHGS and later joined by other organizations such as the Essex Institute and the Topsfield Historical Society. The Commonwealth agreed to purchase a set for every municipality in the state. They are called "Tan Books" because of the uniform color of their binding. They can also be found in some large genealogical collections outside of the state - the genealogical room at the North Carolina Archives, for example, has a set. Dale H. Cook; Research Member, NEHGS; Member, Mass. Soc. Mayf. Desc. Plymouth Co. MA Coordinator for the USGenWeb Project http://members.cox.net/oldcolony/index.shtml