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The Clements Library's collection of individual friendship and autograph albums (the ones that are not part of larger bodies of family papers) dates primarily from the second half of the 19th century. The creators of these albums sought out friends, family, schoolmates, public persons, and others to write signatures, sentiments, poetry, extracts from books and serials, personal sentiments, and more. Contributions often emphasize ties of friendship, exhortations to seek love, happiness, or Christian religious salvation. Most of the volumes in this collection were compiled in the Northeast United States and areas in the Midwest, with urban and rural areas represented. The greater number of the albums were kept by young women and the bulk of the signers were also female. Contributors occasionally illustrated pages with calligraphic designs, trompe l'oeil visiting cards, animals, flowers, and themes that had particular significance to their relationship with the keeper of the album. The volumes in this collection are largely decorative blank books adorned with tooled covers, sometimes containing interspersed engravings of religious, literary, historical, and landscape themes. Some include pasted-in photographs, die-cuts, or stickers.

The Clements Library's collection of individual friendship and autograph albums (the ones that are not part of larger bodies of family papers) dates primarily from the second half of the 19th century. The creators of these albums sought out friends, family, schoolmates, public persons, and others to write signatures, sentiments, poetry, extracts from books and serials, personal sentiments, and more. Contributions often emphasize ties of friendship, exhortations to seek love, happiness, or Christian religious salvation. Most of the volumes in this collection were compiled in the Northeast United States and areas in the Midwest, with urban and rural areas represented. The greater number of the albums were kept by young women and the bulk of the signers were also female. At least one volume was kept by an African American man, Lewis G. Mosebay. Contributors occasionally illustrated pages with calligraphic designs, trompe l'oeil visiting cards, animals, flowers, and themes that had particular significance to their relationship with the keeper of the album. The volumes in this collection are largely decorative blank books adorned with tooled covers, sometimes containing interspersed engravings of religious, literary, historical, and landscape themes. Some include pasted-in photographs, die-cuts, or stickers.

A currently unidentified writer copied six Protestant Christian hymns and songs into this volume sometime around the 1850s. The 16 pages of text include "Montgomery", "The Romish Lady", "The Orphan's Song", "Gloom of Autumn", "Remember the poor; or, the Widow's Prayers" (by Rev. H. G. Barrus), "Dying Hymn" (by Alice Cary). The copyist wrote the hymns and songs in a slim blank book with blue-green covers. The front cover bears a printed decorative border at the center of which is an armored prince with sword and shield, standing before a seated Clio with two books and holding out a quill pen to him. Surrounding text explains the relationship between history and "men's great actions." The back cover bears a printed multiplication table and advertising information for Benjamin B. Mussey & Co., Publishers, Booksellers, and Stationers, 29 Cornhill, Boston (including a list of popular books and music books published by Mussey, and types of stationery supplies).

A currently unidentified writer copied six Protestant Christian hymns and songs into this volume sometime around the 1850s.

• "Montgomery"
• "The Romish Lady"
• "The Orphan's Song"
• "Gloom of Autumn"
• "Remember the poor; or, the Widow's Prayers" (by Rev. H. G. Barrus)
• "Dying Hymn" (by Alice Cary)

The copyist wrote the hymns and songs in a slim blank book with blue-green covers. The front cover bears a printed decorative border (with quills) at the center of which is an armored prince with sword and shield, standing before a seated Clio with two books and holding out a quill pen to him. Surrounding text explains the relationship between history and "men's great actions." The back cover bears a printed multiplication table and advertising information for Benjamin B. Mussey & Co., Publishers, Booksellers, and Stationers, 29 Cornhill, Boston (including a list of popular books and music books published by Mussey, and types of stationery supplies).