Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

Charles H. F. Daigneault, a teenager in Hudson, New Hampshire, filled this pre-printed account ledger with pencil, pen, and ink drawings between 1904 and 1905 (mostly dated February 1904). The volume had been used sparsely by Ren W. Philbrick as early as 1901; between 1903 and 1905, Ren and possibly other Philbricks contributed a small number of drawings. Daigneault's illustrations feature the Philbricks' "Deer Field Farm," the Hudson schoolhouse, vehicles and transportation, caricatures and anthropomorphic animals, decorative patterns, clothing (uniforms, stockings, garters, shoes, hats, etc.), people and faces, Masonic symbolism and imagery, astrological and horoscope content, mystical and occult symbolism, sideshow performers, museum objects and oddities, American Civil War scenes, historical and mythological torture devices, the use of torture by religious groups, and much else.

Charles H. F. Daigneault, a teenager in Hudson, New Hampshire, filled this pre-printed account ledger with pencil, pen, and ink drawings between 1904 and 1905 (mostly dated February 1904). The volume had been used sparsely by Ren W. Philbrick as early as 1901; between 1903 and 1905, Ren and possibly other Philbricks contributed a small number of drawings.

Daigneault's drawings feature the Philbricks' "Deer Field Farm," the Hudson schoolhouse, vehicles and transportation, caricatures and anthropomorphic animals, decorative patterns, clothing (uniforms, stockings, garters, shoes, hats, etc.), people and faces, Masonic symbolism and imagery, astrological and horoscope content, mystical and occult symbolism, sideshow performers, museum objects and oddities, American Civil War scenes, historical and mythological torture devices, the use of torture by religious groups, and much else.

Charles Dagneault drew pictures of vehicles and transportation, including a view of an electric railroad car full of passengers (page 57), a train engine and part of a coal car with a man shoveling coal (page 69), a rough drawing of a ship looking vaguely like the Merrimack (page 67), a whaling ship beside a whale (page 130), and a U.S. Navy ship (page 66). Daigneault also contributed drawings of horse drawn fire engines, which he labeled "Philbrick Fire Dep. 1904"/"Boston Fire Engine No. 4" (page 49), "Philbrick Fire Dep."/"Chemical No. 1" (page 53), and "Philbrick Fire Dep." (with a row of firefighter helmets and buckets, page 55). In addition to the fire engines, Daigneault made a drawing of fire company hats/helmets, titled "Styles Fire Dept U.S.A." and labeled by years 1811-1850; 1850-1860; 1860; and "First in America Penna"/"Hibernia Philla" (page 88).

Caricatures, full length portraits, busts, faces, limbs, feet, hands, and profiles of humans and anthropomorphic animals are found throughout the volume. Among the caricatures are an "American Schoolteacher" (page 64), "Jewish Junk dealer" (page 58), a cricket player (page 46), and military and police figures. Daigneault drew a number of women's legs in stockings, heeled shoes, and garters. He drew a buttocks in the shape of an upside-down heart with an eye in the middle (page 52) as well as a group of seven overlapping profiles of faces, marked "The Know-alls" (page 59).

The most prevalent imagery in the volume is Masonic symbolism, decorative and sigil-like illustrations, occult and mystical content, horoscope content, and related visuals. Squares and compasses, Eyes of Providence, crosses and cross pattée, five-eight pointed stars, a Masonic owl, ornate swords, hearts, and more. Many of these are doodled onto pages, but others are the subjects of drawings. A few of the latter include:

• Slightly curved sword with a loopguard and small tassel. Marked "NEVER DRAW me without Cause or Sheath me in Dishonor Sword owned By C. H. F. Daigneault New, Hampshire N H 1904" (page 48)
• An ornate sword with a loopguard and quillion over crossed dirk and hand-axe. The sword and hand-axe bear a symbol of a cross atop a sun cross atop a heart. Marked "C. H. F. D 1904 -- Feb --" (page 52)
• An owl decorated with Masonic symbols, "HOOT-HOOT, HOOT" (page 62)
• A page containing a variety of text and images pertinent to Freemasonry. "3. Points." The name "Peter. Denn" is underlined with a sword and followed by the three points/dots (top dot filled, lower dots not filled). List including "Malice & Revenge" and "Vibration." Other text includes "Moses -- [eye drawing] -- was (a (murderer --" and "Call off your dogs." Drawing of three steps/degrees and a "Holy Bible F.A.M. (Chart)" book atop a podium; sword on top of the book; cross bookmark; E-W arrow and skull and crossbones beside a candelabra with three candles. At the bottom of the page is the text "Apprentice" "Led To the Light" "IV.K.D." (page 100)
• A page containing a variety of text and images pertinent to Freemasonry. "4. Points." Drawing of a goat with square and compass, a triangle with an eye in the middle labeled "DONT LOSE ME CHARLEY." Arm with square and compass, holding a snake. Two hearts. "The Bluff and Poker Game." Marked "C H. F D 1904." "5.P." "What is the Sharpest Lance of a F.A.M." followed by a triangle made up of nine dots. At the bottom of page is a drawing of a Chi Rho cross. Above it the words "Phallic worship" and beside "S.P.O.R.", "I.H.S.", "K.M.", "Past Meridian", "P.G.M.", and "C.H.F.D." (page 101)

The volume contains two sections of numbered illustrations. One is a gallery of sideshow performers and oddities/curiosity museum objects and animals (pages 110-119) and the other is a gallery of mystical, occult, historical, and mythological religious practices/symbols, many of them violent, including torture devices (pages 134-139).

Numbered gallery of illustrations (1): Sideshow performers and oddities/curiosity museum objects and animals--many of which are noted "musee," "C. H. Daigneault museum," or "Bunker Hill museum."

• Unnamed "Simesse [Siamese] Twins" (men connected at the chest area, page 110)
• Millie Christine McCoy (Carolina Twins, page 111)
• "Sir Taemoto" shown reclining with very large feet (page 111)
• "Tivery Skelington / dean Barton / Born France" of a very thin man wearing a French military helmet and epaulettes and carrying a sword (page 112)
• "Elephant Boy" / "Born In England" (page 113)
• An animal that appears to be a bipedal anteater with a rat-like tail and sharp teeth beside a tree; a man running away in the background. "France / woods / Distroyed / Houses / People / Village." (page 113)
• "The Warf Twins 1620" (two seated figures connected at the shoulder or neck, page 114)
• Two-headed calf with the label "2-Headed Calf / Thomas Jefferson / C. H. Daigneault museum / Bunker Hill / museum / 1875" (page 114)
• Two mermaids facing each other, with the label "Mermaides / Ollalu)=olu= / at C. H. D. museum 1875" (page 115)
• Raccoon, with the label "Largest -- Racoon Ever / Caught / at Bunkehill museum / owned By C.H.D. / Proptier" (page 115)
• "A Fine Turtle -- From U.S.S. / old Kersarge" with a drawing of a turtle; on its shell is the text "at C.H.D / Museum / -(1859)- / 1875" (page 116)
• Cannonball broken in half with the year "1861" written on it; "-1875- / First. Second Shell Fired / Into Fort Sumpter / Presented To C H. F. D / Museum" (page 116)
• Long straight pipe, with the text "1875 musee / -Chinese pipes-" (page 116)
• "Musee / Fat Woman / <-580 Pounds- / Madme Waldon," a woman wearing a crown and holding a mirror, wearing a dress, with a heart tattoo on her arm (or heart on an armband) (page 117)
• A horse standing on its rear legs, "alive / Born without Fore legs." To the left is a small drawing of a walled tent "CHFD / W.F." on the roof; with text "Show Run / Union / Haymarket / Square / (C H F. D) / W. (Bill Friend)" (page 118)
• Drawing of a very tall thin man with a tall, pointed hat and carrying what looks like a sheathed sword. In a word bubble the man says, "See all In this Book -- PAY 5c For the Boyes BANK". Next to him is a standing sword swallower, with a sword mostly ingested (page 119)
• Not part of this numbered sequence of drawings, but related content: "Rooster / Born with / 5 Legs - / at / Roxton / Pond / Canada / East." "C H F D / $5.00" (page 128)

Numbered gallery of illustrations (2): Mystical, occult, historical, and mythological religious scenes and practices:

• Elaborate drawing of Moses standing in front an altar, around which are four winged human angels with trumpets. A six-pointed star marked "VENUS" shines down on the altar. The altar has a lit menorah on it, beside skull and crossbones. The symbols on the altar include a snake, a royal crown, crossed shepherd staffs, crescent moon and six-pointed stars, a manicule pointing at a sun and triangle. The Moses figure is wearing a garment covered in similar symbols and is reading a scroll with similar symbols on it. The Moses figure is standing on a snake. "Law / Giver / Moses / In / 7th veil / of The / Temple". The title of the drawing appears to be "No. 3. anchent mode worship / Seeing 4 Holy Angles-" "C H F. D 1904" (page 134)
• Kneeling man at an altar, holding up a sun toward a large sun shining down on him. A pot on the altar emits smoke. The title of the drawing appears to be "2d. Religious worship -- of world" or "worship of The Sun / The Dural Sign." Two rebuses are present on the page. (page 135)
• Drawing of two priest-like figures standing over a person laying on an altar. One carries a staff with a dragon, serpent, or chicken head and wings on it. The other carries a sword dripping with blood and the heart he has cut from the person laying on the altar. The altar has a serpent, six-pointed stars, crescent moons, and other symbols on it. "No 4 / Religion / Mexico / Virgin / Mexico / Temple" (page 136)
• Drawing of a wicker man and moon. "No. 5. / Religion / The Wicker / Man / Yew-Tree / Moon / In Line / Druids / in / England / Inocent / Virgins / Boyes / men / &c / Burned / In / Wicker / Man" (page 137)
• Drawing of a disemboweled man nailed upside-down on a board/rack. "No 6" "The Inquisition / The State Inquisition / & Religions." To the right is a drawing of a person being on a spit over a fire, being turned by an unseen figure. "No. 7. The Zoroaster order." Cross pattée. (page 138)
• "Mans Humanity." Drawing of two men in hats, one heating lead over a furnace and the other pouring "hot lead" onto the body of a tied victim. "No 8 Inquisition." A cross pattée. Below is a drawing of a person hung by their thumbs with a weight tied to their ankles "No. 9. Inquisition" "Thumbs Torture." Beside is an eye of Providence and a cross pattée with an arrow pointing to the rope/thumbs. To the right is a drawing of an iron maiden and a person about to be placed into it. The bottom of the iron maiden has a rotating blade, and a tunnel below has drawings of rectangles and triangles marked "chop up." (page 139)

Other selected content includes:

• A Punch or Rumpelstiltskin type figure with a tall, pointed hat and a devil on his nose, holding a baby in its arms (page 42)
• Drawing of a bird with a long and segmented neck, stork-like legs, and a raptor beak: "A HARTEPOCHNIA of MYTH AGE" (page 109). Another drawing of the same bird, standing by eggs that are being stalked by a rat, has a speech bubble reading "Say Rats" (page 92)
• Crescent moon and six-pointed star "(Kismet) means Fate." Beneath is a full length drawing of a man wearing a fez (which has a crescent moon and six-pointed star on it), what looks like a Hussar pelisse (with sword and six pointed star on it), sword and gun through waist belts, carrying a spear, with garter socks, a kilt-looking bottom and lettings bearing a flower (page 104)
• Horoscopes by "Prof. Daigneault" for members of the Philbrick family, with additional notes on clairvoyancy/mesmerism/hypnotism (pages 122-127)
• Recipe for pickled cucumbers [pickles] (page 127)

Lewis Walker letter books contain copies of letters written by a citizen of Catoctin Furnace, Maryland, who described the local effects of the War of 1812, as well as the dress and manners of visitors to the town.

The Lewis Walker letter books (58 pages) contain copies of letters written by a citizen of Catoctin Furnace, Maryland, who described the local effects of the War of 1812, as well as the dress and manners of visitors to the town. The collection is comprised of a letter book entitled "Private Letter Book commencing May 1, 1813;" a letter book of "Discriptions of Gentlemen & Ladies, who appeared in Stile at Catoctin Furnace, since the 5th of March;" and three loose items related to the Walker family.

The first letter book (17 items) contains letters written by Lewis Walker to friends and family. Walker discussed events and repercussions of the War of 1812, as well as his own efforts to avoid the war. Topics include: the workings of the town's iron forge (page 1), Walker's thoughts on joining Colonel Richard M. Johnson's horse troops and avoiding the draft (2, 4-6), the state of Baltimore before and during British occupation (pages 2, 4), descriptions of soldier's uniforms (6 page), the lack of available furnace workers because of the war (page 8), the "conflagration of Havre de Grace" (page 9), a description of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (page 13), a Catholic seminary in the area (page 14), the popularity among young men of joining the army (page 13), a ball attended by 60 couples (page 21), and many accounts of social interactions.

• April 23, 1813: Cover page
• May 1, 1813: Walker to Samuel Hackly
• May 10, 1813: Walker to Reverend John P. Hecht
• May 19, 1813: Walker to S.M. Potts
• May 20, 1813: Walker to his father Thomas Walker
• May 28, 1813: Walker to cousin Nancy Leonard
• July 20, 1813: Walker to Thomas Walker
• July 28, 1813: Walker to his mother Anna Walker
• August 1, 1813: Walker to cousin Ann Leonard
• August 22, 1813: Walker to George H. Leonard
• September 11, 1813: Walker to cousin Nancy Leonard
• January 14, 1814: Walker to his sister Sarah H. Walker
• January 17, 1814: Walker to cousin Nancy Leonard
• January 21, 1814: Walker to Thomas Rutter, Esquire
• Undated: Walker to Edward Burd Hubley
• Undated: fragment
• March 15, 1797: Thomas Erskine to General Washington

The second letter book (19 items) is comprised of letters Walker sent to a group of friends between March and July of 1815. The letters contain reports on the dress, appearance, and social gifts of the "Gentlemen & Ladies, who appeared in Stile at Catoctin Furnace," Maryland. In the letters, Walker commented on visitors' personalities, physical traits (height and size), facial features, hair, and manners of dress. He often provided specific details on elements of the subjects' clothing, as well as on their opinions on politics and interesting conversation topics. Descriptions are both positive and negative. The following quotation is a sample of one of Walker's entries:

"Miss M. G…..y. there is no pretention to beauty neither in respect to face or person here. Her face bears the aspect of a Lady who has seen his "Satanic Majesty" for near eight years, as in plain terms been in the old maiden register for that length of time. Her eyes are jet-itself—very handsome black hair finely put up and very "stylish" in front, crowned with a small red Bonnet with white plumes flying—her person is considerably shorter than the generality of her sex—appears to be hip-short. I had no opportunity of discovering the state of her mind, "as the methodists say." Therefore can not judge of its elegance, but have been informed that it is of the first order—Adieu my fair nymphs. So good night. Stay but not bright."

• March 6, 1815: Describing Captain Hillery
• March 7, 1815: Describing Mr. Sweadow of Baltimore
• March 8, 1815: Describing Mr. James Johnson
• March 8, 1815: Describing Captain B. Johnson, and Miss M.C..e of Baltimore
• March 10, 1815: Describing Miss. M. G….y
• March 14, 1815: Describing Miss A. R. G……
• March 16, 1815: Describing Mr. George Grundy
• March [16], 1815: Describing Mrs. N….I……
• March 27, 1815: Describing Mr. John Dillingham
• April 2, 1815: Describing Miss F…. I……
• April 18, 1815: Describing Mr. James Harwood of Lower Marlborough
• April 18, 1815: Describing Mr. Thomas T. Blackford (student at Physics)
• April 20, 1815: Describing Mr. Benjamin Blackford from Virginia
• April 22, 1815: Describing Mr. Joseph Johnson
• July 6, 1815: Describing Miss Z…. M…….
• Undated Sunday: Describing Miss A………e of Philadelphia
• Undated Sunday: Describing Miss J……a J…..n of Fredericktown
• Undated Sunday: Describing Miss M…..a Joh…. of Fredericktown
• Undated Tuesday the 5th: Describing Miss A……. of C.

• July 15, 1815: Walker to unknown - the letter is faded and only partially legible
• February 6, 1875: Copy of a March 4, 1822, letter to Sarah Walker from her mother Anna Walker, containing news on friends and family
• January 3, 1880: Brief notes on Uncle Hackly's reading of various letters