The Family testament found in your Bible

Did you know that a bible entry can take the place of a birth, death or marriage certificate when other vital statistic records cannot be found?

Just as the church was the original 'record keeper,' the bible was the first 'family tree' source. For more than 200 years, family bibles have been a cultural cornerstone for families all over the world. For many, this bible was handed down from parents or grandparents and measured at least 12 inches tall and two inches (or more) thick. A collection of family register pages located in between the old and new testaments provide a wealth of information for the family historian.

Do you know if you have a family bible? There are agencies both in Canada and the U.S. that are compiling databases of lost and found bibles along with their entries.

Lafleur Archives maintains information on bibles which is accessible through their internet site.

If you have a family bible, you can protect it by keeping it out of sunlight or areas of dampness (such as basements, attics and closets). Copy out the data and keep it in a safe place. The best place for your bible is on your bookshelf!

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This article appeared in the May 1998 issue of Hot Chocolate.

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