Mary Jane Kellam's Birthday Book

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On Christmas day, 1888, Mary Jane Kellam (1874-1944), daughter of John Ross Kellam (1830-1903) and Frances Maria Shafter (1845-1924), was given a copy of Tennyson's Birthday Book by her Auntie Davis. 


Mary Jane - usually known as Mame or Mamie - began recording birthday's of friends and families. She continued to add information to the book until the late 1920s. Mamie clearly asked when people's birthday, year of birth and a location - because she included it in this wonderful record she left. 



Given the scarcity of vital records for Sullivan County, New York, where she was born and raised, Mame's birthday book is one of the few sources I've found that has exact birthdates for many in the Kellam, Hankins, Ross and Shafer families. 


My plan for sharing the information contained in the Birthday Book is to photograph all the pages that she wrote on, and share them by month, with what information I can find about people to help other's find this resource. 

Next Post in the birthday book: January Birthdays

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