Yes, I do recall the frock coat usually being hung in the diningroom closet, as I have stated above, and the "reefer" being on a nail or peg in the kitchen. I make sure to put this information on the house tour. The fact that the frock coat is found thrown over the arm of the sofa (covered in blood) instead of being hung up in the diningroom has always impressed me as a significant factor. Yes, SOMEWHERE in the source documents, and at the moment I have not got any time to go digging, there is mention of a "library" in the sitting room. Of course library in that era, did not always refer to a huge room with ceiling to floor bookcases and volumes- it was also a word given to a
collection of books, i.e. "home library" and a publishing company called "Everyman's Library" which published affordable volumes on popular topics for the home bookshelf. It makes perfect sense that the Borden household collection of books be in the sitting room come to think of it. I have always thought the deep understairs closet with those 2 shelves was the probable place for this collection of family books.
Nearly every family had a household compendium of domestic cures,recipes,etiquette,medical advice, etc. I have quite a collection of these myself from the 1860's-1915. There would usually be a Bible, hymnal, some religious publications, maybe cookbooks, almanacs, maps of the world and geography. If the head of the house were a scholar like Louisa May Alcott's father, Bronson- the library was more extensive with biographies, the classics, philosophy, etc. You can still see his library and books in Concord, Massachusetts at the Alcott home, Orchard House. I enjoy looking at what people read- it says a lot about the person.
Lizzie's book choices sure say a lot about her!
![Very Happy :grin:](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)