Hi Kelly, Thanks so much for checking this, and saving me from a fruitless all-day trip to Fonda. I have double-checked my source for this reference. It is possible that a typo in my own source, or a transcription error in my notetaking, led me to believe that this primary source was shelved in the archive at Fonda. My source is the following reference book: "Guide to historical resources in Mongtomery County, New York, repositories," published by New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library Cornell University, 1983. This book is call #CD3407.M7 G8 in the library of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., http://umlibr.library.umass.edu , and the ISBN/ISSN is 13956935. This reference lists "Papers of a Fort Plain Physician" and gives the location of this volume by referring to an alphanumeric code that is written in my notes as MT 292-520-002, for which MT 292 #520 refers, in the volume's key, to the Montgomery County Dept. of History and Archives. It is possible that I made an error in copying this information into my notebook, and that this material is actually shelved elsewhere in Montgomery County. Perhaps you have a copy of the book "Guide to historical resources in Montgomery County...," and a quick check of it might clear up such an error. The obstetrical record book of Ft. Plain Dr. Douglas Ayres 1868-80, if it is indeed available, could provide valuable primary evidence for birth dates during a time when birth certificates had not yet become commonplace. Thank you again for your interest in this resource. Joanne Garland -----Original Message----- From: History & Archives <histarch@superior.net> To: NYMONTGO-L@rootsweb.com <NYMONTGO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, February 08, 2000 12:30 PM Subject: Re: [NYMONTGO] Fonda look-up >Joanne, > >Our staff, here at the Dept. of History & Archives in Fonda, has checked >our archival index and files on the shelf for "Papers of a Fort Plain >Physician" and we are unable to locate this material. Can you tell me >the source from where you got your information that we have that data >here? I have checked around with the Fort Plain Museum, the Fort Plain >Library, and our former historian here and no one seems to be familiar >with this. > >I was told that someone out in Red Wing, Michigan may have gotten hold >of some of the Ayres family papers as Mrs. Ayres was from there >originally before marrying Dr. Ayres. Let me know, and I will try to >help more if I am able. > >Kelly A. Yacobucci >Asst. County Historian >Montgomery Co. Dept. of History & Archives > >> If anyone is stopping in at the archives in Fonda and would be willing to do >> a look-up, I would sincerely appreciate it! >> >> They have a work called "Papers of a Fort Plain Physician," including >> obstetrical record book, 1868-80, Dr. Douglas Ayres papers 1868-1915. >> >> I am seeking page numbers of any mention of a female child born to Mrs. >> Richard Harrison (nee Alvira Van Etta) in Ft. Plain on 23 April, 1873. I >> believe that this family lived on the Erie Canal towpath in Ft. Plain. >> >> Many thanks! >> >> Joanne Garland >> (Massachusetts) > >______________________________