On May 14, Bancroft Memorial Library Director Keely Bethel-Penny and Library Trustee Frederick Oldfield III had the honor of welcoming Allyson A. Shippee-Whitmer and her family to the library.  

Shippee-Whitmer’s lineage traces directly to the Bancroft family through Anna Bancroft Winsor Shippee. Her father is William Shippee, son of Robert Shippee, whose mother, Anna Bancroft Winsor Shippee, was a direct descendant of Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft.  

During the visit, the family was given an opportunity to explore a collection of historical artifacts and archival materials connected to Joseph Bancroft and the early history of the area. Allyson and her family were invited to sign the library’s treasured 1889 Visitor Ledger. As the very first signature recorded in the ledger belongs to Joseph Bancroft himself, it created a meaningful link between past and present generations.

Oldfield said, “To see descendants of Joseph Bancroft signing the very ledger he signed in 1889 was incredibly meaningful. Preserving these stories and connections is at the heart of what our library strives to do for community. The visit served as a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Bancroft family and the value of preserving historical records in the Library.” 

Submitted by Bancroft Memorial Library