[Genealib] DISHEARTENED BY A COAT-OF-ARMS QUERY

[Nancy Miller]

Janet,

Here is one possible book:

Database: WorldCat
Heraldry--coats of arms /

                   Diane C Watts;  Marguerite Starr Crain
                   2003-  English  Book v. <1> : ill., col. coats of
                   arms ; 29 cm. Dallas, Tex. : Taylor Pub. Co.,

Title:             Heraldry--coats of arms /
Author(s):         Watts, Diane C. 1947-  (Diane Cecile),
                   Crain, Marguerite Starr,; 1921-
Corp Author(s):    National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century.
Publication:       Dallas, Tex. : Taylor Pub. Co.,
Year:              2003-
Description:       v. <1> : ill., col. coats of arms ; 29 cm.
Language:          English
Standard No:       LCCN:              2005-276755
SUBJECT(S)
Descriptor:        Heraldry -- United States.
Named Corp:        National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century --
                   Heraldry.
                   National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century --
                   Genealogy.
Geographic:        United States -- Genealogy.
Note(s):           "National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century."/
                   Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
Class Descriptors:  LC: E186.99.C55; Dewey: 929.6074/753
Responsibility:    National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century ;
                   lineage and research submitted by members ; compiled
by Diane Cecile
                   Watts ; edited by Mary Marguerite Starr Crain.
Vendor Info:       Baker and Taylor (BTCP)
Document Type:     Book
Entry:             20050527
Update:            20061207
Accession No:      OCLC:              52163282
Database:          WorldCat

Nancy M. Miller, MSLS
Collection Development Librarian
Virginia Beach Public Library
4100 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452-1767
757-385-0163
757-431-3741 FAX
nmiller at vbgov.com
vbgov.com/libraries

-----Original Message-----
From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of janet
tomkins
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 1:52 PM
To: genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
Subject: [Genealib] DISHEARTENED BY A COAT-OF-ARMS QUERY


As the genealogy librarian here at the Vancouver Public Library, I am
"in
charge" of the closely related topic of heraldry as well.

I knew very little about heraldry before I started, and as a way of
learning more, created a guide for the public (online at
http://www.vpl.ca/branches/LibrarySquare/his/StudyGuides/coats_of_arms.h
tml)

Of course, I found that it is very difficult to prove a legitimate claim
to
a coat of arms and that it takes a huge amount of (possibly expensive)
research to do so.

Yesterday a woman came into the library.  Her son wanted a tattoo with
the
"family crest" on it (let's say the family name was Fuller), and had
found
several versions of the "Fuller" crest on the Internet.  They had picked
one, and wanted a nice big colour image of it.

Virtually all of our books have only small black-and-white images, but
in
any case, I gave them a copy of the guide and tried to explain that just
because they had found a "Fuller" crest on the Internet, it did not mean
that it had anything to do with their family.  They were completely
undeterred or unconcerned by this, and  even mentioned that they had a
coat-of-arms for another surname associated with their family that they
had
"sent away for".

At one point, I actually mentioned the word "scam".   In the end, I
think
what they might have decided to do was print out the small color version
they had found on the Internet and take it to a photocopy shop to be
enlarged.

I feel that I did all I could to help them in terms of providing
information etc., and of course, it's up to them if they are happy with
a
bogus coat of arms.   But what is truly disheartening about the whole
thing
is that they left the library thinking that we don't have what they
want/need but the Internet does!

I suppose this is just a bit of a rant, but I would be interested in
comments / feedback and perhaps suggestions.  Also, does anyone know
good
comprehensive printed sources of COLORFUL coats of arms?

Thanks,

Janet Tomkins
Genealogy librarian
Vancouver Public Library
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