Governor William Bradford’s (ca. 1590-1657) handwritten Of Plymouth Plantation is well known to genealogists as the earliest journal history of the Mayflower passengers, their voyage across the Atlantic, and the settlement in Plymouth Plantation.
According to the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC), the Bradford Manuscript contains 580 pages, is hand sewn, “and bound in a parchment-covered binding.” It is housed in the State Library of Massachusetts.
Click here to read the State Library’s guide to the Bradford Manuscript.
The Northeast Document Conservation Center took on the task of conserving, repairing and restoring this historic manuscript. The NEDCC has now put a detailed article about the conservation process for this important document online.
Click here to read the NEDCC’s account of their work on the Bradford Manuscript.
The conservation work was done to prevent further deterioration of the historical journal, and to make it more accessible to the public by the creation of two facsimile volumes.
A digitized version of the Bradford Manuscript is available online.
Of special interest to genealogists, the Bradford Manuscript contains a multipage list of the passengers on the Mayflower.
Having this invaluable historical Mayflower resource protected – and having a digital copy of the manuscript online – is a great benefit to genealogists.
Related Mayflower Articles & a Link:
- History of the Plymouth Rock Landmark
- Researching Your Pilgrim Ancestry from Mayflower Ship Passengers
- Mayflower Genealogy Tips (GenealogyBank Pinterest Board)