Mary Beth Parrinello Continues her Journey of Discovering Charles Cary Rumsey

And yet another source of Charles Cary Rumsey information! The Buffalo History Museum, formerly know as the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

As you drive up Nottingham Terrace near Elmwood Avenue, you will see C.C.R.'s sculpture, The Centaur in front. The building was designed by George Cary, a Rumsey cousin.

Thanks to History Museum Librarian, Cynthia Van Ness, I was able to find some new materials, and get some ground rules for a Museum Library visit.

The Library is opened Wednesday - Saturday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Admission is $7 for "yet to be members" and free for members. I think of this as the best part of my membership! It is NOT a lending library, so you can only visit the materials there. No food or drink may be brought in and you are asked to only write in pencil to preserve the artifacts. There is free WI-FI available.

You will find City Directories, Social Registers, and Buffalo Blue Books just as in the Central Library.

You will also find Ready References, meaning file folders with newspaper clippings; etc. There is a wonderful collection of photos of the Rumseys (not to mention Carys and their connections) but also their home at 330 Delaware and the land behind it know as Rumsey Park. Cynthia has a wonderful photo that was new to me of Pad as a polo player! If you really liked the Centaur, you can see a file folder of its construction. The Cary Family donated 30 boxes with information about their history.

Stop in for a visit soon!

The Buffalo History Museum's Library  phone number is (716)  873-9644 ext.306 or email library@buffalohistory.org.

For comments and questions for Mary Beth, please email us.

When not time traveling, working out, or hanging out at the Burchfield Penney, Mary Beth Parrinello is the religion teacher in the Montessori program at Nardin Academy in Buffalo, N.Y. She also volunteers her time at Westminster Presbytarian Church, C.G. Jung Center, and Junior League of Buffalo, which was founded by Mary Harriman Rumsey, Charles Cary Rumsey's wife!