Here’s a peek into a box (one of six) of Ely and Lord family photographs, diaries, letters and other goodies donated to the Lyme Local Archives in August 2024 by Parker and Diana Lord! This box is filled with materials related to Isabel “Belle” Ely Lord (1871-1959). She’s second from the right in the photo. Belle appears to have been quite the character, keeping a detailed record of every book she read and producing yearly summaries. In 1913, for instance, she read 242 books in 16 different genres (chiefly drama, biography, and home economics) in four different languages. Many books are annotated with snappy one-liner reviews. Boris Sidney’s The Psychology of Laughter? “Amusing without intention.” Harper’s Household Handbook? “Hodge-podge.” Oscar Wilde’s Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime? “Amusing and clever but hardly worth while.”