You’re working on an application to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (“Mayflower Society”). Someone asks if you’ve checked the “Silver Books” yet. What do they mean?
The “Silver Books” is a term used to describe a series of publications called “Mayflower Families through Five Generations.” Each publication – which has a silver cover – takes the family from a passenger, down five generations, documenting out the line as completely as possible. Some families have multiple volumes, so generations 1-2 may be in one volume and 3-5 in another. In most cases, the Mayflower Society treats the contents of the Silver Books as accurate and will allow them to be referenced – rather than submitted – in an application.
Read citations closely if using them in other circumstances: some books are better sourced than others. Some societies will accept the books as written. Others will not, but may allow you to use the citations to find the original documents.