Any bit of family history ephemera can contain a genealogical clue. Baby books are no exception, but there could be more than the obvious details about the birth of the child. Lists of attendees at showers and gifts given could be clues as well.
Those who attended a shower or gave a gift were obviously alive around the time the child was born. It’s possible a city of residence or an address was listed. Who “went together” for a gift could also be a clue depending on the family structure and dynamics of the time. Given that spouses are sometimes included in the list of gift-givers a reference in a baby book could name the elusive spouse for that aunt or uncle.
Baby books can contain information about people besides the baby.
2 Responses
My baby book listed all the addresses my parents lived at from the day of their marriage until my 3rd sibling was born 5 1/2 years later. My brothers and I were elated to have this knowledge. (Early 1950’s).
A name in the pedigree chart in a second cousin’s baby book gave us the first clue to a second-great-grandmother’s name. It wasn’t completely correct, but it eventually led us to the right family. You never know where you might find the clue you need.