A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, NY, June 7, 2011: James Cox Anderson, Jr., 84, a lifelong resident of Schenectady and Latham, passed away on Monday, June 6, 2011, at the Wesley Health Care Center, Saratoga Springs, NY. Jim was born on February 6, 1927 in Schenectady, NY, the son of James Cox Anderson and Margaret Sorine (Brandt) Anderson. He was a graduate of Nott Terrace High School and a 36-year employee of General Electric. Jim was best known as an avid autograph collector, a hobby he began when he was in high school. He worked as an usher at the Fabian, Erie, and State Theatres in Schenectady, NY. After serving 18 months in the Navy Medical Corps, 1945 to 1946, stationed in San Diego, CA and Long Island, NY, Jim returned to Schenectady and worked at The Plaza, and Proctors Theatres. In 1951 Jim started working at General Electric, retiring in 1987. A lifelong bachelor, Jim spent all of his free time seeking out celebrities to obtain their autographs to add to his growing collection. Jim did not limit his autograph collection to just photographs; he often purchased multiple copies of a celebrities' book, to have autographed, and if a doll had been made in their likeness - Jim would buy the doll and ask them to autograph it. Jim loved talking about and displaying his collection whenever he could. He set up displays at several local libraries; he visited nursing homes to display part of his collection, and was very proud to create several exhibits in the windows of the Proctors Arcade. He enjoyed seeing people smile as they pointed out celebrities they recognized in his exhibits. To preserve his collection for future generations to enjoy, in 2009 Jim donated his celebrity and sports memorabilia items related to New York, to the New York State Museum in Albany; and he made a special donation of his theatre and entertainment collection of autographs, celebrity dolls and memorabilia to the theatre where he once worked as an usher, and where he spent many happy hours obtaining autographs from the performers, Proctors Theatre, in Schenectady. Some of Jim's collection is currently on display at Proctors Theatre Museum and in the Proctors Arcade display windows. Jim was predeceased by his father in 1987, his mother in 1991, his brother, Robert in 1993 and his lifelong friend, Margaret (Albrecht) Gibson, in 2009. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m. at Griswold Funeral Home, 1867 State Street, Schenectady, NY. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens, Colonie.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
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