Collections

The Louis G. Monté collection is made up of 2 diaries about Americans traveling in Europe in the summer of 1899. Monté and another traveler wrote entries about sightseeing in England, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Both journals have pencil drawings of people encountered and each doubles as a scrapbook with photographs, tickets, programs, and other ephemera.

The Louis G. Monté collection is made up of 2 diaries about Americans traveling in Europe in the summer of 1899. Monté and another traveler wrote entries about sightseeing in several European countries, and both used their journals as scrapbooks.

Louis G. Monté wrote daily diary entries between July 5, 1899, and August 26, 1899 (Volume 1, pages 5-73). He described his journey from Charlestown, Massachusetts, to England on the steamer New England and arrived on July 14. He saw the sights in London, England; Paris, France; Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen), Cologne (Köln) and Düsseldorf, Germany; and Amsterdam and Haarlem, Netherlands. He often visited museums and commented on local architecture and customs. Monté's brief final entries pertain to his return journey from Antwerp, Belgium, to New York on the steamer Southwark. Monté also used his book as a scrapbook for photographs and ephemera (pages 1-4 and 1a-36a; not all pages are used), and he wrote notes about French, English, and German currency on pages 2-4. The book's endpapers and cover also have items pasted in, such as tickets, programs, advertisements, and other ephemera. Photographs primarily depict scenes and people in the Netherlands, and numerous drawings illustrate people he encountered during his European travels. Pages 21a-22a (Volume 1) contain an essay on English architecture.

The second diary (unattributed) covers the author's travels from August 3, 1899-August 16, 1899 (pages 1-33), with photographs, stamps, tickets, train schedules, and other ephemera interleaved with the journal entries (pages 34-55 and 1a-55a; not all pages are used). The author drew pictures of people and wrote notes. He visited the same locations as Monté and sketched a nearly identical image of a woman in Aix-La-Chappelle, Germany (Vol. 1, p. 19a; Vol. 2, p. 2). Most of the pasted-in ephemera items pertain to travels in the Netherlands.

Anonymous photographs of various locations around Ann Arbor, Mich., particularly the University of Michigan campus.

Photographs of football game action taken from the Ferry Field stands; a photograph of an Ann Arbor street following a winter storm in 1906; photos of University of Michigan buildings; and photo of students sitting at counter of Elmer Stofflet's restaurant on State Street.

Images of the interior of University Hall at the University of Michigan, the Frieze Memorial Organ, and an unidentified house, probably in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Two circular negatives, 1.1 inches in diameter (with modern prints). One photo shows the interior of University Hall at the University of Michigan, taken from floor level and showing the Frieze Memorial Organ, the other shows an unidentified house, probably in Ann Arbor.

This custom-made volume contains newspaper clippings that follow the investigation of and trials for the murder of Lillian "Lilla" Hoyle of Webster, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1887. The unresolved case involved abortion, accusations of incest, and speculation and sensationalism in press reporting. The elaborately made volume also contains a calligraphic title page and two portrait photographs, one of Lilla Hoyle and the other of her sister Alice Hoyle.

This custom-made volume contains newspaper clippings that follow the investigation of and trials for the murder of Lillian "Lilla" Hoyle of Webster, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1887. The unresolved case involved abortion, accusations of incest, and speculation and sensationalism in press reporting. The unknown compiler carefully mounted each clipping in hand-cut windows on heavier stock paper. They created a calligraphic title page, "Detailed account of the Murder of Lilla Hoyle, Webster Mass", with "Worcester Mass 1887" at the bottom of that page. It also contains two original portrait photographs, one of Lilla Hoyle and the other of her sister Alice Hoyle. Spine title: "THE CASE OF LILLA HOYLE".

The HM Sloop Penguin collection contains watercolor illustrations, photographs, a crew member's letter, and a journal, all related to the British cruiser that was sunk by the American Navy, just after the end of the War of 1812.

The HM Sloop Penguin collection consists of 4 watercolor illustrations, 2 photographs, 1 letter, and one journal.

The Watercolor illustrations series contains four scenic views, presumably of St. Helena or Tristan da Acunha, tall ships in a small harbor, two distinct land masses, and a small settlement with fortifications.

The letter, dated February 18, 1815, is from a HM Sloop Penguin crew-member, writing to his sister, Mrs. Samuel Trigge, in Chelsea, England. The letter recounts many of the Penguin's movements as they search for an American privateer that had recently captured an English ship. The letter describes the Penguin's upcoming trip, which they did not complete, from the Cape of Good Hope to St. Helena, then on to the Island of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and finally back to the Cape of Good Hope. The letter describes the author's employment prospects and the possibility of returning to England, as well as his observations of life at the Cape of Good Hope.

The photographs are reproductions of a silhouette of a military man, presumably James Dickinson, and of a fine pen and ink drawing of a ship in a storm.

The journal has a monogram on the spine reading "S B." The volume's 81 pages (148 blank pages) document the Penguin's voyages from August 17, 1814-March 22, 1815. The author dutifully noted wind and weather conditions and often included important events on the ship and ashore. The journal's daily entries vary from a few lines to an entire page, and ends on March 22, just one day before the Penguin's capture.

The Jerome, Arizona mining photographs consist of 56 photographs (including 33 real photograph postcards) related to mining operations, anti-labor vigilantism, and Arizona scenery.

Most of these images appear to have been taken by an anonymous photographer who referred to himself as "Bob" and who may have been associated with a Philadelphia-based contracting firm, Charles A. Sims & Co., that was hired by the United Verde Mine. Many of the photographs have handwritten captions and bear evidence of having previously been mounted in a scrapbook; many captions have been rendered partially illegible after being affected during the removal process. The captions directly refer to details within the photographs, particularly related to mining operations.

A total of 33 real photo postcards are present, including 14 locally produced images by The Fotoplace and Areldson Studio. Several real photo postcards bear correspondence, and "Bob" appears to have sent some of these images to a woman named "Kitty."

Items of particular interest include at least two photographs depicting J. E. O'Rourke (the superintendent of the United Verde Mine); multiple views of Jerome, Arizona, including street and bird’s-eye views; multiple views of mining facilities and encampments; three images of Native Americans (likely Yavapai); two views of the Montezuma Castle cliff dwellings; a view of stalactites taken from the inside of a cavern; and eight images documenting the expulsion of I.W.W. strikers in Jerome in July 1917 by local citizens who were organized into a vigilance committee. Also present are at least five images taken near present-day Tonto Basin, Arizona, north of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, which may be associated with another project on which the Charles A. Sims & Co. firm was contracted. While the dam itself does not appear in any of these images, the photographer wrote that the area depicted was to be inundated. Since the dam was constructed by the U.S. Reclamation Service between 1903 and 1911, these images are likely older than those taken in Jerome.

For a complete list of the collection’s contents, see the Detailed Box and Folder Listing section below.

This collection contains letters, legal documents, receipts, and printed images related to mayors of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1705-1976. The content pertains to Philadelphia commerce and politics, as well as to mayors' personal affairs.

This collection contains 52 individual letters, legal documents, receipts, and printed images related to 25 mayors of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The content pertains to Philadelphia commerce and politics, as well as to mayors' personal affairs.

• Four 18th-century documents, bearing the Philadelphia city seal and ordering the sheriff to assemble 24-person juries. Joseph Willcox (March 13, 1705), Nathan Stanbury (December 18, 1706), Richard Hill (June 17, 1715), and Thomas Lawrence (December 18, 1764)
• A letter from John Inskeep to the Common Council, discussing administrative issues and forwarding "a copy of a letter…from Thomas Howell at New York containing propositions to furnish the Corporation of this city with three engines of a peculiar kind which he imported from England for the Corporation of New York" (December 4, 1800)
• A partially printed order to apprehend Francis Barrett for being "an idle drunk or vagrant following no legal visible means for a support," signed by Robert Wharton (November 16, 1815)
• A letter to Joseph Watson from Benneville Keim, president of the Farmer's Bank of Reading, regarding counterfeiting issues (May 16, 1827)
• A letter from John M. Scott respecting his fire insurance policy and investments (July 11, 1827)
• A letter of recommendation for "William Magill, late proprietor and Editor of the 'Daily Keystone,' for a Situation in the Customs. He has been an efficient co. laborer in the Democratic ranks, battled faithfully and long to maintain the continued supremacy of the Party, and is in our opinion highly entitled to a position commensurate with his services and merits," signed by Richard Vaux and others (November 1846)
• Appointment of Addison B. Burk as Philadelphia's official delegate to the 1911 National Rivers and Harbors Congress, by John E. Reyburn (November 10, 1911)
• 11 partially printed receipts from the Department of Receiver of Taxes for "city and school taxes" paid by Margaret B. Stewart, George F. Caldwell, and Elsie M. Caldwell (1919-1929)
• Brief notes from 20th-century mayors responding to requests for autographs

The United States Signal Corps Photographic Collection contains approximately 1,630 photographs of the American Expeditionary Forces taken by the Signal Corps during WWI throughout the Western Front. The collection is divided into three volumes and one box, all loosely arranged by topic. General topics include destruction, battlefields and trenches, artillery, monuments, and postwar celebrations.

The United States Signal Corps photographic collection contains approximately 1,630 photos (many of which are duplicates) of the AEF taken by the Signal Corps during WWI throughout the Western Front. The collection is divided into three volumes and one box, all loosely arranged by topic. General topics include the AEF, warfare destruction, battlefields and trenches, artillery, monuments, and postwar celebrations.

Numerous photographs have handwritten and typewriter captions on the back, often stating location and subject matter. Also found on the back are different stamped inscriptions, including "Passed as Censored."

Many photos have an alpha-numeric code handwritten on verso that corresponds to the Catalogue of official A.E.F. Photographs. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1919, which can be found online through the Internet Archive.

Volume 1 contains approximately 270 photographs taken in France, Germany, Belgium, and the U.S. The bulk of these photos are of monuments in Paris, the Palace of Versailles, Rhineland-Palatinate, and unidentified rural areas depicting farmland and civilian life.

• Paris, France
• Washington, D.C.
• Château-Thierry, France
• Bacharach, Germany
• Vincennes, France
• Fontainebleau, France
• Dordogne, France
• Pierrefonds, France
• Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany
• Bendorf, Germany
• Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
• Andernach, Germany
• Altenahr, Germany
• Pont-à-Mousson, France
• Saint-Léger, Belgium
• Humes-Jorquenay, France
• Montsec, France
• Varennes-en-Argonne, France
• Joué-lès-Tours, France
• Soissons, France
• Brieulles-sur-Meuse, France
• Vaux-lès-Palameix, France

Volume 2 contains approximately 270 photographs taken in France, Germany, and Belgium. Much of these photos relate to the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, destruction (both urban and rural), casualties, battlefields and trenches, artillery, cemeteries, various AEF training schools, naval operations, and prisoners.

• La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, France
• Mayschoß, Germany
• Forest of Argonne, France
• Brieulles-sur-Bar, France
• Les Petites-Armoises, France
• Varennes-en-Argonne, France
• Exermont, France
• Chatel-Chéhéry, France
• Étraye, France
• Grandpré, France
• Cochem, Germany
• Pinon, France
• Saint-Remy-la-Calonne, France
• Montfaucon-d'Argonne, France
• Berzy-le-Sec, France
• Dannevoux, France
• Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, France
• Saint-Quentin, France
• Soissons, France
• Ypres, France
• Hooglede, France
• Mouzon, Ardennes, France
• Château-Thierry, France
• Verdun, France
• Metz, France
• Rémonville, France
• Juvigny, France
• Péronne, France
• Chaudun, France
• Chavignon, France
• Moirey-Flabas-Crépion, France
• Reims, France
• Cambrai, France
• Neuvilly, France
• Vaux-Champagne, France
• Haudiomont, France
• Paris, France
• Koblenz (Coblenz), Germany
• Oberwinter, Germany
• Mont-Saint-Michel, France
• Chamonix, France
• Nanteuil-lès-Meaux, France
• Lucy, France
• Thiaucourt-Regniéville, France
• Seicheprey, France
• Nonsard-Lamarche, France
• Colombey-les-Belles, France
• Épieds, France
• Boureuilles, France
• Beaumont, France
• Dormiers, France
• Bertricamp, France
• Bois de Hesse, France
• Gondrecourt-le-Château, France
• Langres, France
• Le Charmel, France
• Villers-Bretonneux, France
• Saint-Aignan, France
• Landreville (Ardennes), France
• Imécourt, France
• Nantillois, France
• Stenay, France
• Butgnéville, France
• Le Mort Homme, France
• Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France
• Gland, France
• Herbeville, France
• Vacherauville, France
• Baleycourt, France
• Marseilles, France
• Vaux-Andigny, France
• Saint-Juvin, France
• Brieulles-sur-Meuse, France
• Bohain-en-Vermandois, France
• Mézy-sur-Seine, France
• Badonviller, France
• Bois de Belleau, France
• Bazoches, France
• Châteauvillain, France
• Ploisy, France
• Suresnes, France

Volume 3 contains approximately 270 photographs taken in France, Germany, Italy, England, Ireland, Denmark, Switzerland, and the U.S. The most substantial topics are the Treaty of Versailles, postwar parades and celebrations, Interallied Games, U.S. strategic army maps, drawings of army corps and division insignias, and aircrafts. Notable figures include President Woodrow Wilson, General John J. Pershing, Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, President Raymond Poincaré, and Marshal Ferdinand Foch.

• Chaumont, France
• Langres, France
• Versailles, France
• Paris, France
• Le Havre, France
• Sainte-Menehould, France
• Gironde, France
• Château-Thierry, France
• New York City, United States
• Hoboken, United States
• Bendorf, Germany
• London, England
• Dublin, Ireland
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Montreux, Switzerland
• Florence, Italy
• Vinets, France
• Reims, France

Box 1 contains approximately 820 photographs taken in France, Germany, Belgium, Monaco, and the U.S. This box contains all of the aforementioned topics supplemented by French Riviera, Loire Valley, ruins of Reims, Château de Fontainebleau, Pyrenees, Alps, AEF, and personal photographs.

• Ypres, Belgium
• Albert, France
• Dun-sur-Meuse, France
• Reims, France
• Saint-Quentin, France
• Montsec, France
• Cantigny, France
• Château-Thierry, France
• Paris, France
• Koblenz (Coblenz), Germany
• Meaux, France
• Vincennes, France
• Versailles, France
• Fontainebleau, France
• Joinville-le-Pont, France
• Monte Carlo, Monaco
• Lourdes, France
• Menton, France
• Nimes, France
• Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
• Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
• Mont-Saint-Michel, France
• Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
• Azay-le-Rideau, France
• Loches, France
• Amboise, France
• Montrésor, France
• Le Lude, France
• Rigny-Ussé, France
• Saumur, France
• Chinon, France
• Langeais, France
• Blois, France
• Saint-Savin, France
• Luz-Saint-Sauveur, France

The Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington D.C. photograph album contains 44 photographs of Pennsylvania, Euclid (Ohio), George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, and Washington D.C. from 1898 to 1933.

The Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington D.C. photograph album contains 44 photographs of Pennsylvania, Euclid (Ohio), George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, and Washington D.C from 1898 to 1933. Some of the photographs have handwritten or typed notations on the back often identifying location and/or date. The first half of the album shows scenes of a "Decoration Day" Parade in 1918 and the Pennsylvania countryside. There are two images on page 17 of Euclid Beach (Ohio) crowded with beachgoers. The next series of images show various views of George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and its grounds. The last few pages of the album contain images of Washington D.C. Specific sites include the Thomas Jefferson Building (Library of Congress), United States Capitol, and Union Station. Three photographs were found housed behind mounted photographs and are now loose. These can be found on pages 17, 18, and 22.

The album is 13 x 19.5 cm with black cloth covers.

The Children at play photograph album contains 55 photographs of young children playing outside from 1916 to 1928.

The Children at play photograph album contains 55 photographs of young children playing outside from 1916 to 1928. Images show children with parents and dogs, at the beach, and playing with toys including wagons, tricycles, and a pedal car.

The album is 15.5 x 9.75 cm with brown cloth covers.