BIRDSEY LUCIUS MALTBIE, ESQ.
(CFG-BBC-CB)
It is a pleasure to be able to publish the photograph of Mr. Birdsey L. Maltbie, to whom we are indebted for this book. Had it not been for Mr. Maltbie’s great generosity in privately financing the publication of these records, they would have been unavailable to the public and doubtless would ultimately have become lost to posterity.
The expense of publishing such a book is great and we can best express our gratitude and appreciation of Mr. Maltbie’s kindness by showing our copies to any relations who have not yet subscribed for one.
It must be understood that under the best of conditions as to the sale of the book, etc., there is not one cent of pecuniary gain for Mr. Maltbie, as a result of his philanthropy. He generously declares that should he more than cover the cost of the book, any surplus will go to the compiler as a mark of appreciation of the work of years. This would be very nice, but it should be thoroughly understood by purchasers that neither Mr. Maltbie or Mrs. Verrill went into the editing or publishing with the faintest idea of deriving any personal benefit from their efforts. If the Maltby descendants find the book of interest to such an extent that Mr. B. L. Maltbie may feel no regret for his kindness, then indeed may all those concerned feel well satisfied and amply repaid.
Mr. B. L. Maltbie was born at Cattaraugus, N. Y., September 19th, 1864. At an early age he began his life’s work in a drug store, was graduated from the Albany College of Pharmacy, class of 1885, with highest honors (he was elected president of the College Alumni in 1915). In 1888 he started in the drug business in a small way, for himself, and later in partnership with his brother, Ralph H. Maltbie, started in the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations, which business was later incorporated as The Maltbie Chemical Company, and which is now a thriving organization with laboratories in Newark, N. J.
Mr. Maltbie is the author of “Maltbie’s Practical Pharmacy” and editor of several other publications. In 1915 he was elected president of The American Associatin of Pharmaceutical Chemists.
He was married in 1897 to Emma D. Bancroft in Bancroft in Buffalo, New York. They have one daughter, Harriet B. Maltbie. They reside in East Orange, N. J., except during the winter which time is spent at Altamonte Springs, Florida, where they have a winter home.”