Great Scott!
Many, many thanks to all of you for all the information on Button 
references. I am overwhelmed. Please understand, this is not my 
undertaking but a suggestion for a group for a possible project. 
Rolla Shaller started this ball rolling.
Carol, your idea for all to share is a wonderful direction for us all 
to go. Placing the info on the net is a great idea. There is soooo 
much info out there in LaLa land that all of us could use at one time 
or another.
How would we go about this? Then, of course, there are a number of 
folks that want their info kept theirs only. BUT you know those 
willing to share on an open data base would be helping many folks 
with their research.

David



At 12:05 PM 1/2/2008, Carol Serr wrote:
>Wow Gaye...your Cossack study collection sounds wonderful!  You should
>seriously look in to getting the information published...or put online
>(even better?).
>
>I have wanted such a button (and other clothing fixtures) reference for
>western (and specifically S. California) sites...and have been thinking
>of collecting data...and producing something along those lines
>myself...but, never seem to have the spare time.
>
>If Everyone would share their info - and illustrations - just think what
>a wonderful database we would ALL have to use.  How many of us ever get
>info published?  Or ever see the gray literature reports...even in our
>own County??  It would really be helpful if more info was made available
>to everyone.  And, as you HISTARCH folks know, I think having info
>available on the web is the way to go these days.  Saves so much time
>having to track down hard copy references (only to find them of little
>use since they lack good enough descriptions; have no illustrations, or
>dimensions, etc.; or are not from the time period of your collection so
>have nothing comparable...etc.).
>
>But...this all takes TIME...which there seems to be so little of (even
>with the time saved by finding things online).
>
>Carol
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gaye
>Nayton
>Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 7:45 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Button Books
>
>David
>
>New Zealand archaeology had a strong interest in typology and dating so
>a
>lot of useful work has come out of there. This includes a hons thesis on
>
>buttons from Chinese mining sites (Cameron) which was included in a Ph.D
>
>thesis on Chinese mining archaeology (Richie).
>
>Fiona R Cameron 1985 An analysis of buttons, clothing hardware and
>textiles
>of the 19th C Chinese goldminers of Central Otago. B.A. dissertation,
>Anthrop Dept. Uni of Otago, Dunedin.
>
>  I don't have a contact for Fiona but the univerisity might, they will
>certainly know how to get hold of Neville Richie.
>
>I also have a lot of buttons from my Cossack Ph.D research, which has
>never
>been published (about 160 types from memory). These have been finely
>dated
>into site layers of average 10 years duration so are potentially very
>useful
>for dating button types.
>
>Regards
>
>Gaye
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "David Parkhill" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 11:50 AM
>Subject: Button Books
>
>
> >A small group of folks are showing an interest in books that identify
> >BUTTONS. Enough interest may be generated to attempt to develop or
>publish
> >a document (book etc.) for reference.
> >
> > Do any of you HISTARCH folks have books, documents or what have you
>that
> > are all ready in print that could be used as a starter? Are you
>willing to
> > share? Sure, there are piece meal publications out there but where are
>
> > they?
> >
> > Certainly could use some help, ideas!