GMG recently received a press release announcing the retirement of librarian/archivist Stephanie Buck after serving in her role there since 2004. Since she has been of great personal help to me over the years in my research, I was anxious to speak with her about her experiences before she retires.
She seems reluctant to blow her own horn, but her vast knowledge of Cape Ann and the holdings of the Cape Ann Museum Library and Archives has been shared widely with many people such as myself who needed some expertise to sort through the various resources. And since Ms. Buck also volunteers at the City Archives, the card catalog in her mind is packed with a variety of helpful information.
These are some of the resources at Cape Ann Museum available to visitors. I’m sure Ms. Buck and the other volunteers have these cataloged in their brains ready for access at request by interested parties.
She told me she has been on Cape Ann since the 1970s and was grateful to have landed on Cape Ann. She was an integral part of the research team that finally uncovered evidence of Fitz Henry Lane’s actual middle name: a renowned local artist born as Nathaniel Rogers Lane and sometimes known as Fitz Hugh Lane. Information provided by the Cape Ann Museum (Sarah Gledhill) informed me that Ms. Buck wrote a book about this discovery called Fitz Who? The Artist Latterly Known as Fitz Hugh Lane. She also co-authored other books about Fitz Henry Lane ( Fitz Henry Lane : Family and Friends as well as Chronology of Mary Mellen, published in Fitz Henry Lane & Mary Blood Mellen : Old Mysteries and New Discoveries.
Tellingly, she did not mention these to me herself, but she did mention she is working on another book and that she likes to do house research. The Museum library and archives will miss her deep knowledge and talents. I know I will miss seeing her behind her desk when I visit!
Dr. Molly O’Hagan Hardy will be taking over the position following Ms. Buck’s retirement at the end of the month. She is the guest curator for the current exhibit Unfolding History, Cape Ann Before 1900; a fascinating display of old documents relating to the history of Cape Ann from a variety of perspectives. The oldest one I took note of was from the 1620s!!!!! Imagine that! I suggest you take time to view this marvelous exhibit.
We wish Stephanie Buck a long and happy retirement. Best wishes from GMG and a grateful public.
Good Morning Gloucester 
Stephanie and her late husband, Fred, were a great help to me when I was working on my Gloucester
Photographic memoir,My Gloucester. I grew up in Gloucester during the 30’s and 40’s,the depression years. I wanted to Include a map showing the streets and the downtown before urban renewal. The two of them welcomed me and found just what I wanted! One of the prints Fred made for me is in the front of my book. The others I study every so often. I live in Ipswich and love the town,but I’m a Gloucester Girl!
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