This is a 3 volume set titled History of Chautauqua County New York and Its People by John P. Downs, editor-in-charge and Fenwick Y. Hedley, editor-in-chief. Published in1921 by American Historical Society, Inc. Between the 3 books, there is around 1500 pages of information about the area. The first volume contains geography, history, towns, organizations, agriculture and more while the other 2 volumes contain biographies of noted residents. All volumes have illustrations placed throughout, primarily portraits but also maps, engravings and early photos.
Estate find, please see photos for more information on condition. Books are stamped as property of the Great White Fleet Museum at The Casino, Bemus Point, New York. They were auctioned off when The Casino folded, and remained in private hands until a subsequent estate auction where I picked them up. They were stored in a damp environment at some point, the pages are rather stiff and occasional stains will be found throughout. Covers have some discoloration. Photos have discolored opposing pages. Otherwise in relatively good condition for age, readable and can be used for study if handled with care. An invaluable resource for those interested in the history and people of the Chautauqua County area, and a great set of historical documents from over a century ago.
