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

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Collection

Cummington (Mass.) Country Store and Tavern account book, 1817-1866

1 volume

The Cummington (Mass.) Country Store and Tavern account book contains financial records related to a general store in Cummington, Massachusetts, and to the personal finances a local resident. The store accounts record the purchase of household goods and foodstuffs, and many of the personal accounts reflect the costs of boarding draft animals and note the fees associated with the local school.

This 339-page account book holds approximately 300 pages of financial records related to a general store in Cummington, Massachusetts, and to the personal finances of a local resident. Pages 1-184 document the general store's financial affairs between 1817 and 1819, and reflect the prices of household supplies and foodstuffs. The accounts are organized chronologically and document individual purchases by date. Several members of the Bryant family, including William Cullen Bryant's brother Austin, purchased goods from the store. One entry reflects a $31.71 credit awarded to Almyra Packard for "Labour in the Factory" (p. 109). Pages 185-297, as well as several pages thereafter, consist of personal accounts kept between 1820 and 1866, many of which concern the costs of boarding horses and other draft animals. Several accounts mention cotton and gingham, and many regard the finances of the local school.

Collection

Daniel Morgan collection, 1764-1951 (majority within 1764-1832)

63 items

The Daniel Morgan collection is made up of financial records, legal documents, correspondence, and other items related to General Daniel Morgan and to Willoughby Morgan, his son.

The Daniel Morgan collection is made up of 63 financial records, legal documents, correspondence, and other items related to General Daniel Morgan and to Willoughby Morgan, his son. The majority of the collection consists of accounts, bonds, promissory notes, and other documents pertaining to Daniel Morgan's financial affairs. Accounts and invoices record Morgan's purchases of clothing, wagon-related equipment and services, and other items. Some of the later items do not concern Morgan directly but have his legal endorsement. Also included are two outgoing letters by Morgan, a 9-page legal document about a lawsuit against Morgan, and a deposition that Morgan gave in a different dispute. Other items are a bond regarding Morgan's marriage to Abigail Curry (March 30, 1773) and Morgan's political address to the citizens of Allegheny County about politics and the militia (January 17, 1795). Three of the documents pertain to enslaved and free African Americans (November 6, 1773; June 13, 1789; and March 28, 1799). Later items mostly pertain to the estate of Willoughby Morgan, Daniel Morgan's son. James Graham wrote two letters to unknown recipients in 1847 and 1856 about his efforts to write Daniel Morgan's biography, which he subsequently published.

Printed items include a map of the surrender of Yorktown (undated), a newspaper article from a Winchester, Virginia, paper about the possible disinterment of Daniel Morgan's remains (August 18, 1951), and printed portraits of Daniel Morgan with manuscript and facsimile autographs.

Collection

David Ballenger typescripts, 1858-1888 (majority within 1861-1865)

1 volume

This collection is comprised of typescripts of letters that David Ballenger sent to his wife Nancy and other family members while serving in the 26th Alabama Infantry Regiment, Company D, and the Hampton Legion during the Civil War. Ballenger discussed his participation in several major battles and Confederate soldiers' increasing discouragement as the war progressed.

This collection is comprised of typescripts of around 70 letters related to David Ballenger, who served in the 26th Alabama Infantry Regiment and Hampton's Legion during the Civil War. His first letter, written to a sister from Kingston, Georgia, on December 5, 1858, mentions the possibility of attending a 20-day grammar course.

The bulk of the typescripts are letters that Ballenger wrote to his wife Nancy and, less frequently, other family members while serving with the Confederate Army between December 1861 and January 1865. He spent most of the war in Virginia, though he also traveled to Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas, and described his participation in skirmishes and in major engagements such as the Battles of South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. He sometimes commented on the general progress of the war, including the increasing likelihood of a Union victory. Ballenger discussed his and other Confederate soldiers' deteriorating enthusiasm throughout the course of the war; in September 1864, he noted that he and others would quit fighting should George McClellan win the presidency and make concessions to the seceded states. In his letter of December 12, 1864, he worried that the war had become more about power than idealism and expressed his disdain for its deleterious effects on Southern morality, as evidenced by a preponderance of brothels.

Ballenger's letters often refer to his religious faith, and he often thanked God for seeing him safely through battles. He commented on the hardships soldiers suffered during the war, believing that they far outweighed any difficulties experienced by those at home (May 13, 1863), and reflected on the magnitude of the death and destruction that the war had caused. In his letter of June 12, 1864, he mentioned a visit to the site of the Battle of Malvern Hill, still strewn with bodies.

The collection includes a small number of typescripts of letters that David Ballenger received from other military personnel during the war. Postwar correspondence includes a letter from H. B. Rector to David Ballenger about Reconstruction in Georgia (February 24, 1868); letters of congratulation after Ballenger's election to an unspecified public office (September 1886); and letters from Ballenger to his daughter and two nieces about their education (1888). The final typescript consists of the text of an undated article in The North Greenville Courier about Reverend O. J. Peterson, the principal of North Greenville High School.

Collection

David P. Gerberich family account book and recipe book, 1840-1888

1 volume

This volume contains financial records pertaining to David P. Gerberich of Niles, Michigan, as well as other accounts and recipes. Daybook accounts pertain to sales of whiskey in Washington, Illinois, and of ales and foodstuffs in Howard, Michigan; later financial accounts relate to farm labor and personal expenses. The volume also includes culinary, medicinal, and household recipes.

This volume (around 320 pages) contains financial records pertaining to David P. Gerberich of Niles, Michigan, as well as other accounts and recipes. Daybook accounts pertain to sales of whiskey in Washington, Illinois, and of ales and foodstuffs in Howard, Michigan; later financial accounts relate to farm labor and personal expenses. The volume also includes culinary, medicinal, and household recipes.

The first section (pages 1-174) contains daybook records for sales of whiskey and other goods in Washington, [Illinois], from April 1, 1840-December 11, 1841. The merchant's customers included members of the Gerberich family. David P. Gerberich's daybook records sales of dry goods, especially wheat, as well as meats and other goods in "Kingsbury" and "Belmont" from August 6, 1842-September 6, 1845 (pages 178-181) and at Howard Township, [Michigan], from August 1868-February 27, 1872 (pages 187-238) and [March?] 8, 1873-July 27, 1873 (page 243). Page 182 contains a list of household expenses, pages 240-241 are comprised of estate records (November 3, 1873-December 10, 1873), and pages 244-293 contain accounts dated September 13, 1883-1888, which largely pertain to farm labor, livestock, blacksmithing, and personal expenses. Pages 178-238 and 183-186 of the daybook are missing.

Additional financial records and notes appear on pages 302 and 321-324. Pages 248-258 and 268-272 include recipes for food and household products such as cured meats, baked goods, and cleaning solutions.

Items laid into the volume include an 1888 receipt for Mrs. Gerberich's purchase of lumber from John L. Reddick in Niles, Michigan, dried leaves, and a blank fire insurance application for D. P. Gerberich of Niles, Michigan.

Collection

Debating Society minutes, [ca. 1884-1885]

1 volume

This volume contains the text of two debates held by a debating society during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The society compared the relative merits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and discussed whether men and women have equal mental capacities.

This manuscript book of a late 19th-century meeting of an unknown debating society contains the text of two debates. The first argument (76 pages) was to debate whether George Washington or Abraham Lincoln was "the greater man." Individual speakers, whose names have often been added in pencil, are identified as supporting either Washington or Lincoln. Those who advocated for Washington concentrated on his military service and his role in establishing the United States. One repeated argument in his favor, for example, was his refusal to accept a royal title after leading the Continental Army to victory over British forces. Those who favored Lincoln focused on his character, decisions made during the Civil War, and eventual martyrdom. The matter was taken to a vote following an argument that both presidents deserved to be lauded. The middle of this debate is marked by a brief foray into Constitutional issues, particularly the advisability of introducing amendments, though the argument soon returned to its original topic. An additional argument in favor of Washington, written on a separate piece of paper, is placed inside the book's front cover.

Five newspaper clippings are inserted into the volume:
  • "Abraham Lincoln: Lord of Himself, Leader of Others," laid into the front of the volume (undated)
  • "Dallas Academy and Washington's Birthday," containing the program for the Philomethean Society's celebration of George Washington's 152nd birthday, pasted into the volume (1884)
  • "Stand Points in the Life and Times of Washington," containing extracts from a speech delivered by Erastus Brooks on February 22, 1866, pinned into a page in the volume (undated)
  • "Washington's Birthday," commemorating the 153rd anniversary of George Washington's birth, pasted into the volume (1885)
  • Untitled article examining aspects of Abraham Lincoln's character, pasted into the volume (undated)

The second debate (50 pages) concerned a comparison of the "Mental Capacities of the Sexes," specifically whether the minds of women are equal to those men. After heated debate, centered on the more prominent historical roles of men and the impact of women in the domestic and maternal spheres, the group decided overwhelmingly ("Loud cries of All, All") that the genders did share equivalent mental capacities. This debate was briefly interrupted following a general outcry over contentious remarks made by a man named Spooner.

Collection

Declaration of Independence Anniversary Toasts manuscript, [1836?]

3 pages

This manuscript, titled "Toasts," includes 13 toasts along with actual or suggested musical accompaniment for each pronouncement. The speeches express strong support for the Democratic Party and regard such individuals as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Richard M. Johnson, James Madison, and Thomas Hart Benton. One toast decries the Bank of the United States.

This manuscript, titled "Toasts," includes 13 toasts along with actual or suggested musical accompaniment for each pronouncement. The speeches express strong support for the Democratic Party and regard such individuals as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Richard M. Johnson, James Madison, and Thomas Hart Benton. One toast decries the Bank of the United States. Musical accompaniment includes "The Rights of Man," "Hail Columbia," "Jackson's March," "Auld Lang Syne," "Roslin Castle," "Rogues March," "Yankee Doodle," "Hail to the Chief," the "Star Spangled Banner," and others.

The manuscript bears strikethroughs and revisions, suggesting that it is a working copy. Its reference to President Andrew Jackson and to Martin Van Buren ("worthy to succeed the illustrious Jackson") suggest a likely date of July 4, 1836.

Collection

Detailed account of the Murder of Lilla Hoyle scrapbook, 1887-1888

1 volume

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".

Collection

Diary of a railroad and steamer trip, 1857

1 volume

This diary of a railroad and steamer trip chronicles the author's travels from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the Midwest. The diary includes descriptions of scenery and cities in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa.

This diary of a railroad and steamer trip (88 pages) chronicles the author's travels from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the Midwest. The diary includes descriptions of scenery and cities in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa.

The volume opens on April 21, 1857, the author's 30th birthday, and begins with a cross-county railroad trip on the Central Railroad from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. Fom there, he traveled on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railroad to St. Louis, Missouri, where he arrived on April 25. In St. Louis, he noted the 55-minute time difference, went sightseeing, and met acquaintances from Delaware. His travels in the area included a trip to the Jefferson Barracks, which he recorded in detail (April 27, 1857), and several visits to nearby St. Charles, where he attended a Mormon church service (May 3, 1857). From May 6-12, he embarked on a boat trip to Leavenworth, Kansas, on the steamer Oceana, making frequent mentions of scenery in his diary. During his time in Kansas, he visited several local land offices, where he commented on inflated prices, and he discussed the recent history of the region, tainted by the violence of "Border Ruffians." From Kansas, he returned to St. Louis via Missouri River steamers and traveled up the Mississippi River to Quincy, Illinois, and Keokuk, Iowa. Throughout his journey, he recorded his incoming and outgoing correspondence, primarily to relatives in Delaware, and attended religious services of numerous Christian denominations. Additionally, he continued to meet friends and describe scenery and points of interest. He also occasionally made note of emigrants encountered along his travels, including a group of French socialist settlers in Nauvoo, Illinois (June 10, 1857) and other emigrants headed further west from Missouri and Kansas. The diary ends in Quincy, Illinois, on June 22, 1857, with the author setting out for Palmyra, Missouri, where he spent much of the last week of his travels.

Collection

District of Carrollton (La.) letters, 1864

5 items

This collection contains 5 official copies of letters exchanged by United States Army officers regarding African American regiments in the Carrollton District of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1864. The writers discussed topics including courts martial, troop transfers, commemorations of the Emancipation Proclamation, and soldiers' wives and families.

This collection contains 5 official copies of letters exchanged by United States Army officers regarding African American regiments in the Carrollton District of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1864. The writers discussed topics including courts martial, troop transfers, commemorations of the Emancipation Proclamation, and soldiers' wives and families.

The box and folder list for this finding aid includes information about the contents of the letters in the collection.

Collection

D. M. Osborne & Co. scrapbooks, 1873-1874

2 volumes

These two scrapbooks contain newspaper and magazine clippings of stories and poems pasted into 1873 and 1874 editions of German-language trade catalogs for D. M. Osborne & Co., manufacturers of farm equipment at Auburn, New York.

These two scrapbooks contain newspaper and magazine clippings of stories and poems pasted into 1873 and 1874 editions of German-language trade catalogs for D. M. Osborne & Co., manufacturers of farm equipment at Auburn, New York.

Clippings from the 1873 edition include "Sister Therese," a story about a prima donna and colonel in Paris, "A Miner's Love Story (from Temple Bar)," "A Fairy Gift," "The Story of a Valentine," and more. The volume features floral fabric lining around the cover's edges and spine.

The 1874 edition includes stories titled "The Wreck," by William H. Thomes, "The Doctor's Peril," "Alexander and the Africans," "A Short Fight," and more.

Collection

Drew Family Photograph Album, approximately 1895

27 photographs in 1 album.

The Drew family photograph album contains 27 photographs related to a New York family including images of children, family pets, family tombstones, a man posing with a horse and gig, group rowboats, and the Canadian steamboats Hamilton and Spartan.

The Drew family photograph album contains 27 photographs related to a New York family including images of children, family pets, family tombstones, a man posing with a horse and gig, group rowboats, and the Canadian steamboats Hamilton and Spartan.

The album (16 x 20 cm) is half-bound with black leather binding and black cloth boards. Lacking spine.

Collection

Dudley family photograph album, 1918-1937

1 volume

The Dudley family photograph album (15 x 21 cm) contains approximately 175 photographs of the Rhine Valley in occupied Germany at the end of World War I as well as photographs of U.S. Marine Robert W. Dudley's home and family in Medical Lake and Walla Walla, Washington, after the war and through the Great Depression.

The Dudley family photograph album (15 x 21 cm) contains approximately 175 photographs of the Rhine Valley in occupied Germany at the end of World War I as well as photographs of U.S. Marine Robert W. Dudley's home and family in Medical Lake and Walla Walla, Washington, after the war and through the Great Depression. Images related to the Allied occupation of Germany include candid and portrait photographs of American soldiers; images of Coblenz and street scenes in Neuweid and Rengsdorf; images of an aviation field near Andernach; a postcard from the Jewish Welfare Board with an illustration of the ocean liner S.S. George Washington,; and several photographs of the River Rhine itself, including an image of a pontoon bridge opening to let an excursion boat pass. Post-war images from Washington include views of horse-drawn plows, Medical Lake Firemen, a camping trip, and numerous children. A large number of images have manuscript captions.

The album has a black cloth cover tied with string and is housed in a light blue box.

Collection

Eastern shore photograph album, ca. 1900

1 volume

The Eastern shore photograph album (13 x 17 cm) contains 48 amateur photoprints showing scenes from Atlantic City, N.J. and what appears to be downtown Baltimore, Maryland.

The Eastern shore photograph album (13 x 17 cm) contains 48 amateur photoprints showing scenes from Atlantic City, N.J. and what appears to be downtown Baltimore, Maryland. There are numerous images featuring horses and carriages, including a photograph at a racetrack. There are several photographs of boats including an image of the New York Ocean Going Excursion Steamboat "Columbia." A number of images show bathers on the beach and boardwalks at Atlantic City, N.J., including two views of the Heinz Ocean Pier. Other interesting photographs include a self-portrait and three images of a dressed up skeleton, perhaps for Halloween.

The album is covered in plastic, has a black cloth binding and is housed in a light blue box.

Collection

Eighteenth-century commonplace book, 1732-[1762]

1 volume

This volume (234 pages) contains copied passages from histories, magazines, philosophical treatises, and other sources, dated from 1732 to the mid-1760s.

This volume (234 pages) contains copied passages from histories, magazines, philosophical treatises, and other sources from the mid-18th century.

The copied excerpts, written in a dense, consistent hand, are dated from 1732 to the mid-1760s, and most are attributed to their authors or other sources of origin, such as the Gentleman's Magazine of London, England. The creator if the commonplace book compiled information on subjects such as religion, history, philosophy, linguistics, medicine, and science, and often quoted specific articles, sermons, and treatises at length. The historical sections focus on English history, and the religious items occasionally incorporate words and lines in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Much of the religious material pertains to specific biblical stories. The book has a partial subject index, created by the compiler. John H. Treadwell later owned the volume, which holds his bookplate.

Collection

Eighteenth-century commonplace book, "Of & in North America", 1791-1795

67 pages

This commonplace book, marked Volume II, contains extracts of newspapers and books, largely from the Philadelphia area, but also including London and other locations. The subject matter is wide-ranging, from "Aphorisms on Man" by Johann Lavater to copies of an article on the unearthing of human remains at Hanover, Pennsylvania. A portion of the articles pertain to agriculture, including methods of preserving seeds, methods of keeping mice from eating grain, and notes on high-yielding crops.

This commonplace book, marked Volume II, contains extracts of newspapers and books, largely from the Philadelphia area, but also including London and other locations. The subject matter is wide-ranging, from "Aphorisms on Man" by Johann Lavater to copies of an article on the unearthing of human remains at Hanover, Pennsylvania. One respects a Springfield neighborhood cat that would return with captured quails and rabbits. A portion of the articles pertain to agriculture, including methods of preserving seeds, methods of keeping mice from eating grain, and notes on high-yielding crops.

Among the newspapers represented are the Pennsylvania Mercury, Philadelphia Gazette, Columbian Magazine, Federal Gazette, London General Advertiser, Dunlap's and Claypool's Daily Advertiser, and Universal Magazine.

The following list suggests the breadth of subjects that interested the compiler:

  • French Revolution (Pennsylvania Mercury, February 1, 1791)
  • Publius Lentulus's letter to Caesar describing Jesus Christ (apparently published in a newspaper, June 1, 1791)
  • Aphorisms on Man by Johann Lavater
  • A Thomas Paine letter in answer to Burke's attack on the French Revolution (Columbian Magazine, April 1791)
  • Available returns of the census (Federal Gazette, August 31, 1791)
  • An article on a London woman, age 117 ("a London paper")
  • An article on Forsyth's discovery of a process of regenerating trees (London General Advertiser, July 9, [1791?])
  • Relationship between the style and substance of a composition
  • "An etemporal [sic.] Sermon on Malt. preached at the request of two Scholars, by a lover of Ale, out of a hallow Tree"
  • "Out of W. Robertson's Charles V," American edition, volume II, page 352.
  • An article on a Philadelphia man, age 108 (Pennsylvania Gazette, December 26, 1792)
  • A review of William Coxe's Travels in Switzerland
  • "Cyder," a brief article on apple trees that produced extraordinary amounts of apples ("Boston," October 7, 1793)
  • Notes on the births and deaths of prominent French persons (Dunlap's and Claypool's Daily Advertiser, January 31, 1794)
  • An article on a Springfield neighborhood cat that would return with captured quails and rabbits (Dunlap's Paper, February 3, 1794)
  • An article on an enslaved mother who gave birth to a child with two heads--one white, one black (Philadelphia Gazette, March 12, 1794)
  • A description of the development of Cooperstown (Philadelphia Gazette, May 2, 1794)
  • On the incomprehensibility of 270,000,000 (London Morning Chronicle, 1794)
  • A method of preserving seeds (Universal Magazine, November 1793)
  • A method of preventing mice from eating grain
  • Values of states' exports (Philadelphia Gazette, June 9, 1794)
  • A poem on whiskey (Philadelphia Gazette, August 13, 1794)
  • Temperatures at New Milford, Connecticut (July 22)
  • Brief notes on a bean plant that produced 250 pods at Scituate (September 25, 1794)
  • An earthquake at Smyrna (Dunlap's Paper, October 23, 1794)
  • The unearthing of human remains at Hanover, Pennsylvania (General Advertiser, January 14, 1795)
  • On matrimony (Philadelphia Gazette, February 23, 1795)

Collection

Eighteenth-century cypher book, 1793

24 pages (1 volume)

This currently unidentified student's cypher book contains mathematical rules and examples largely in the service of commerce. Entries relate to the addition of money, addition of Troy weight, addition of dry measure, subtraction, a numeration table, a multiplication table, the Golden Rule (i.e. the rule of three), and similar concepts. Currency in this volume is almost exclusively British coinage, but at least one problem references conversion of British pounds into the (newly created) U.S. dollar. The covers of the volume are (apparently re-used) canvas, possibly sailcloth. The cypher book was owned by the Higgins family of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and it contains names of Higgins family members, but the author is yet undetermined.
Collection

Eighteenth-Century sermons, 1757, 1760-1761

8 items

These Eighteenth-Century sermons pertain to numerous topics such as sin, repentance, and salvation.

Seven eighteenth-century Christian sermons concern numerous religious topics. Five are dated February 6, 1757-August 28, 1757; and 2 are dated August 17, 1760, and April 26, 1761. Each sermon is based on a Bible verse, usually in the New Testament, and most pertain to sin, repentance, and salvation. The undated item of copied Bible verses also has notes about baptism and the life and miracles of Jesus Christ. See the Detailed Box and Folder Listing for more information.

Collection

Eighteenth-Century Wine-Growing collection, 1782-1783

12 items

This collection contains manuscripts related to a proposed wine-growing enterprise in North America in the late eighteenth century.

The Eighteenth-Century Wine-Growing collection contains a set of documents related to a proposed wine-growing enterprise in North America in the late 18th century. A majority of the documents are financial papers presenting calculations based on various aspects of the wine industry. A reference to land from "the 41st to the 35th degrees of northern latitude" suggests that the collection refers to land somewhere between Connecticut and North Carolina. The documents propose a number of possible plans that the business might follow, and provide a picture of the fledgling American wine industry. Calculations reflect the amount and nature of labor and supplies necessary to begin such a venture, and include in one assessment of the "purchase of 10 Stout Negroes," estimated to cost £40 each. In addition to the financial information and proposals, many of the documents contain prose descriptions of expected developments and project actions to be taken several years into the business. Of note is an undated three-page prospectus calling for the United States to begin producing more of its own goods, including wine: "The late happy revolution having placed the United States of North America in a line with the first known powers of the universe, the earliest attention ought to be given to every measure which may promote their utmost improvement in every branch of agriculture and Commerce."

Collection

Electric Railway Engineer Photograph Album, ca. 1882-1918

approximately 235 photographs and 1 booklet in 1 album

The Electric railway engineer photograph album consists of approximately 235 photographs and 1 booklet documenting the professional and personal life of an unidentified railway engineer specializing in electric rail line infrastructure.

The Electric railway engineer photograph album consists of approximately 235 photographs and 1 booklet documenting the professional and personal life of an unidentified railway engineer specializing in electric rail line infrastructure.

The album (25.5 x 30.5 cm) has dark green cloth covers with “Photographs” stamped on the front cover. All of the album pages are loose and fairly brittle, but the images are in generally good condition.

The first page contains sixteen signatures from participants in the 30th reunion of the Union College class of 1885. Subsequent photographs include several views of Union College campus, aspects of student life (including dorm room interiors and a group of portraits showing crossdressing men captioned “Minstrels"), and formal portraits of members of the Kappa Alpha Society in the mid-1880s, presumably including some of the attendees at the reunion whose signatures are represented.

The unidentified presumed compiler of the album can be seen in several photographs. He appears to have been an engineer specializing in infrastructure projects for electric-powered rail systems and was active in the early stages of when railroads in the United States were moving towards electrification. Many of the smaller circular photographs found throughout in the album were likely produced by a Kodak No. 2 camera, while larger format prints and cyanotypes are also present.

Contents are arranged chronologically starting with the compiler's student days before focusing on various professional assignments and elements of his personal life. During the ten years following his graduation from Union College the compiler apparently participated in several railroad development projects, mainly in what would become Washington State but also in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Idaho. Photographs from this period of his life include views of survey camps along the Columbia River and other regional waterways, interior and exterior views of the compiler’s home in Tacoma, portraits of his growing family, and snapshots of Klickitat people (including a group portrait of three women picking hops). By 1896 the compiler and his family appear to have moved back east, settling in New Rochelle, New York. Photographs from this period include documentation of projects on intercity lines on Staten Island and other nearby boroughs, a project in upstate New York, and numerous images of friends and family. The Albany and Hudson Railway and Power Company’s new electric train line to various towns between Hudson and Albany required establishing power sources along the route. As a small group of photographs in this album show, this necessitated constructing a dam at Stuyvesant Falls on the Kinderhook Creek which would provide electric power to the rail line and various local businesses. The final pages of the album document the construction of Hudson Park Dock in New Rochelle as well as leisure activities such as the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup auto races and a naval review in Oyster Bay.

A total of 18 loose photographs are included towards the back of the album. Images include a group portrait of Union College students from the 1880s, a studio portrait of a young woman and infant taken in the mid-1890s in Tacoma, and a double exposure of a woman standing next to an automobile in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1918. Also present is a printed pamphlet replete with numerous halftone reproduction images titled “Letter from Mayor Clarke to the Voters of New Rochelle with Pictures of Improvements Under His Administration” which highlights several civic infrastructure projects (including the Hudson Park Dock) undertaken during the tenure of mayor Henry Clarke.

Collection

Elias Durand biography: Some Recollections of an Old Corner, 1886

1 volume

This volume (22 pages) is a typewritten biography of Elias Durand, a French immigrant who became a notable pharmacist and botanist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the mid-19th century. The biography, written by a former apprentice, concentrates on Durand's final years in France and on his pharmaceutical career in the United States.

This volume (22 pages) is a typewritten biography of Elias Durand, a French immigrant who became a notable pharmacist and botanist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the mid-19th century. The biography, written by a former apprentice, concentrates on Durand's final years in France and on his pharmaceutical career in the United States.

Durand's final apprentice wrote this biography, entitled Some Recollections of an Old Corner, in 1886. Two images are pasted into the book's opening pages: an illustration of Durand's pharmacy and a photograph of Elias Durand. The biography begins with a brief history of Durand's studies in France, as well as a description of his service as an assistant pharmacist in Napoleon's Army. The bulk of the narrative concerns Durand's experiences in the United States, first in Boston and Baltimore and then as a pharmacy owner in Philadelphia.

The author traces Durand's first jobs in America, including descriptions of Durand's encounter with a group of Native Americans outside of Baltimore (pp. 7-8) and his establishment of his own business, which he operated between 1824 and 1852. The biography frequently discusses Durand's role in the professionalization of the American pharmaceutical industry and mentions many of his accomplishments, such as his invention of an apparatus for making "carbonic acid water" (p. 10), his use of French literature and research to further American pharmacy expertise (pp. 11-12), his soda water and fruit juice concoctions (pp. 13-14), and his work bottling mineral water (p. 18). The author credits Durand with the creation of several medicines and notes the pharmacist's association with prominent Philadelphia doctors including Charles Meigs and Samuel Jackson. The biography also briefly mentions Durand's later botanical career and his personal life.

Collection

Emile Tauzin commonplace book, 1852-[1865?]

1 volume

This commonplace book belonged to Emile M. Tauzin of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and at least one other author in the 1850s and 1860s. The volume contains French poetry and horoscopes, parlor games, and a letter draft about a Natchitoches resident's experiences during the Civil War.

This commonplace book (37 pages) belonged to Emile M. Tauzin of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and at least one other author in the 1850s and 1860s. The volume contains French poetry and horoscopes, parlor games, and a letter draft about a Natchitoches resident's experiences during the Civil War.

Four French poems (pages 1-2 and 34-36) include a tribute to the state of Louisiana, a poem dedicated to the author's father (dated September 6, 1854), and a poem about a small fowl. One poem, entitled "Tous les Braves," is attributed to Charles D. Paradis, who dedicated the poem to Tauzin. Horoscopes for men and women, also in French, appear on pages 19-29; the men's horoscopes are incomplete. One owner used the book to record several questions for a parlor game (pp. 3-18), each accompanied by 40 possible answers, both humorous and serious. The questions are supposed to foretell topics such as personality, marriage, future disposition, and the number of slaves the respondent would own.

A later owner used the volume for a draft letter to his or her aunts Mary and Josephine (pages 30-37). The letter begins on page 32, and is written over the French poetry on pages 34, 35, and 36. After expressing pleasure about hearing that the recipients also sympathized with the Confederacy, the author recounted his or her experiences during the Union Army's occupation of Natchitoches during the Civil War. According to the letter, federal troops raided stores for goods to distribute to former slaves, threatened to shell the town, and disinterred a child's body to search for valuables.

Collection

England and Scotland travel diary, 1799

1 volume

This volume contains diary entries about the author's travels in England and Scotland during the summer of 1799. The author commented on towns visited, road conditions, geographical features, architecture, industry, and other subjects.

This 78-page "Journal During a Tour to the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire and the Highlands of Scotland" concerns the author's travels with a companion around England and Scotland from June 24, 1799-September 14, 1799. They left from and eventually returned to London, visiting cities and towns in northern England and southern Scotland. The author commented on the towns, their residents, and local architecture, occasionally noting buildings of historical interest such as the Scone Palace in Scotland. A lengthy entry written around July 4-8, 1799, describes the area around Buxton and Castleton, England, where the travelers toured caverns and the Odin Mine. The diarist also discussed local industries, prominent geographical features, and road conditions.

The diary entries are followed by 5 pages of supplementary information. A 4-page table lists the names of towns visited, the names of inns utilized by the author, 1-3-word descriptions of the conditions at the inns, and the number of miles traveled between each location. A 1-page list of excursions taken from main stopping points along the route is also present.

Collection

English carte de visite album, ca. 1860-1880

1 volume

The English carte de visite album (14.5 x 20.5cm) is a 50 page leather album containing portrait photographs of individuals and couples as well as two Italian views. Many of the images in the album were taken by well-known photographers such as André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, Napoleon Sarony, and Félix Nadar.

The English carte de visite album (14.5 x 20.5cm) is a 50 page leather album containing portrait photographs of individuals and couples as well as two Italian views. Many of the images in the album were taken by well-known photographers such as André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri, Napoleon Sarony, and Félix Nadar. The photographer's logo of each photograph is visible on the opposite side of the page, and some of the photographs contain hand-written biographical notes on the back.

Individual portraits in the album include those of Dr. Thomas Hodgkins (1798-1866) and his wife Sarah Frances Hodgkins (1804-1875), as well as of Charles Ferdinand, Prince of Capua (1811-1862) and his wife Penelope Smyth, Countess of Mascali (1815-1882). Of note is a portrait of a man taken by Sarony that has on its verso the manuscript inscription "Timothy Harrison/ Richmond/ Indiana." There is a Timothy Harrison, orginally from England, who was buried in Earlham Cemetery in Richmond, Indiana in 1881 at the age of 48. This is presumed to be the man depicted in the portrait.

Collection

Episcopal bishops carte de visite album, ca. 1860-1870

1 volume

The Episcopal bishops carte de visite album contains 35 carte de visite photographs of American episcopal bishops and reverends. The cartes de visite date from ca. 1860 to 1870. Most images include handwritten inscriptions stating the name of the subject.

The Episcopal bishops carte de visite album contains 35 carte de visite photographs of episcopal bishops and reverends from throughout the United States during the 1800s. The carte de visites date from ca. 1860 to 1870. Most images include handwritten inscriptions stating the name of the subject.

The album is 12.5 x 16 with brown leather covers.

Collection

Etna Bittenbender case statements, 1880

3 items

This collection is made up of three items (8 pages) relating to the investigation into the death of 17-year-old Etna Bittenbender, who was raped and murdered in Sciota, Hamilton Township, Pennsylvania on October 31, 1880. The contents include statements by Samuel Harvey, Samuel A. Singer, and four members of the Marsh family who employed Etna as a housekeeper. They attested to their personal backgrounds and lives, their locations at the time of the murder, and what they witnessed.
Collection

European Grand Tour journal, 1818-1819

1 volume

The European Grand Tour journal recounts the experiences of two wealthy British travelers as they journeyed through France, Switzerland, and Italy throughout the second half of 1818.

The European Grand Tour journal (approximately 75 pages) recounts the experiences of two wealthy British travelers as they journeyed through France, Switzerland, and Italy throughout the second half of 1818. The author, a man named Moore, detailed the pair's itinerary and gave an extensive account of sightseeing, paying particular attention to the churches and cathedrals of France and to Italian art collections; his companion, Richard, often attended social functions and was introduced at court in Paris. Additionally, the writer frequently provided background information on the different locales he visited, and occasionally mentioned events from the recent Napoleonic wars, particularly during a visit to a French battlefield. In Switzerland, the travelers took an interest in local customs, including schooling and clothing -- in the August 22 letters, the diarist drew a sketch of a Swiss dress. After the travelers reached Italy, they focused more frequently on fine art, and the volume includes lists of the prominent art holdings in several palaces; it also notes visits to Da Vinci's The Last Supper in Milan and to the "Mona Elisa" in the "Nicoli Palace." The final entry was made on December 15, 1818, just after the author and his companion arrived in Rome.

The last section contains charts showing the value of German and French money for 1819, as well as several listings of German tariffs. Enclosures include a German hotel receipt addressed to "Grosvenor & Moore," other financial accounts, and several hotel advertisements. Several pages between late September and early October are blank, but enclosed notes cover that time period.

Collection

European Tour, Yosemite, and Minnesota photograph album, 1870s-1900s

1 volume

The European Tour, Yosemite, and Minnesota photograph album contains pictures of scenes in various European countries, reproductions of famous paintings, portraits of prominent Europeans, and comic strips. Many of the visual items are engravings and colored illustrations.

The European Tour, Yosemite, and Minnesota photograph album (27cm x 34cm) contains around 780 photographs, engravings, and illustrations of scenes, people, architecture and artwork from various European countries, Great Britain, and the United States. Newspaper clippings and comic strips appear at the end. Most of the photographs appear to be commercially produced prints of the type made for tourists, and many of the illustrations are in series related to a particular place. The images range in size from full page to smaller items pasted in as many as 11 or 12 to a page. Original covers are missing.

Countries represented in the photographs include present-day Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany, France, and Great Britain around the 1870s. Bird's-eye views, street scenes, landmarks such as religious buildings and ancient structures (particularly in Athens and Rome), famous paintings and sculptures, bas reliefs, and other works of art predominate. Of interest are a group of pictures showing traditional Neapolitan funeral costume, and a photograph of Mount Vesuvius erupting in 1872. Portraits of local ethnic "types" in traditional dress, political and religious leaders, and royalty are also present. The engravings and other illustrations, sometimes colored, often depict similar scenes and landmarks.

The final pages contain photographs taken in present-day Yosemite National Park and Minnesota, a newspaper clipping showing a "dynamiter in [a] Los Angeles police station," electrical equipment related to the New York City Subway, and a group portrait of firefighters in Watertown, New York. A group of newspaper clippings of the comic strip "Sambo and his Funny Noises" are pasted on top of European views. The comic strip, by William F. Marriner, ran from 1905-1914 and chronicled the misadventures of "Sambo," later "Samuel Johnson," a racist stereotype caricature of an African American boy.

Collection

European Travel journal, 1863-1865

1 volume

This journal recounts the author's travels in Europe between December 1863 and September 1865. He visited England, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, though he spent most of his time in Paris, France; Rome and Elba, Italy; and Heidelberg, Germany. The journal records the author's impressions of local people and customs, his efforts to learn various European languages, and the friends he met while abroad.

This journal recounts the author's travels in Europe between December 1863 and September 1865. His first entry, in December 1863, documents his recent transatlantic voyage from New York to Liverpool, including rough weather while on the Atlantic Ocean. He composed entries sporadically through September 1865, recording his impressions of cities and people he encountered while traveling. After spending a few days sightseeing in London, he left for Paris, where he remained until March 1864. While in Paris, he attempted to learn French, saw numerous famous buildings and other sights, attended balls, and befriended local students.

He stayed in Italy from March to April, during which time he climbed Mount Vesuvius, visited Pompeii, and became acquainted with a pastor, with whom he traveled to Elba for a visit of about a month. He remained in the country after leaving Elba and provided descriptions of prominent Italian cities he encountered on his way to Geneva, Switzerland, such as Leghorn and Florence. After his stay in Geneva, he left his journal and most of his possessions behind as he traveled throughout Switzerland and northern Italy with only a knapsack, an experience he wrote about after his arrival in Heidelberg, Germany, which he reached before August 14. Once in Heidelberg, he recorded his thoughts about the local culture, the influence of university students, and visits to a local castle. Though his entries became more sporadic after August 1864, the journal reflects his subsequent travels to Bavaria and throughout Germany, northern Italy, and Austria, with detailed descriptions of scenery and of his experiences. While in Germany, he occasionally commented on Gothic architecture, and one late entry relates his experiences on a recent deer hunting trip. The final entry was composed around mid-September 1865.

Collection

European vacation photograph album, ca. 1910

1 volume

The European vacation photograph album contains 74 photographs taken throughout Europe ca. 1910. A majority of the photos show various rooms and interior views of an apartment in Rome. Other specific locations include Oxford (England), Subiaco (Italy), Canterbury (England), Füssen (Germany), Weesen (Switzerland), and Glarus (Switzerland).

The European vacation photograph album contains 74 photographs taken throughout Europe ca. 1910. A majority of the photos show various rooms and interior views of an apartment in Rome. Other specific locations include Oxford (England), Subiaco (Italy), Canterbury (England), Fussen (Germany), Weesen (Switzerland), and Glarus (Switzerland).

The first 50 photos housed in the album consist primarily of interior views of the apartment. Handwritten notes provide general descriptions of the view (e.g. "looking from salon through little room where the books are into the salottino"). One specific piece of furniture mentioned is a credenza; which, according to the note, came from the British Embassy. Also included are images of a garden terrace (covered in snow), rooftop cityscape views of Rome, and three individuals (man, woman, and maid). The woman, likely the creator of the album, is referred to as Mable and the maid as Livie. In addition, there is one photo of the Holywell Ford House at Magdalen College, Oxford.

The remaining 24 photos are loose and housed in an envelope. These images show scenes of traveling and sightseeing throughout Europe. Specific sites include the House of Agnes in Canterbury, Sacro Speco in Subiaco, and downtown views of Weesen and Füssen. Of particular note is a photo of a pile of empty fiaschi. The handwritten notation on the back reads "This is our pile of empty wine flasks. I don't belong to the WCTU."

The album is 20.5 x 15 cm with black cloth covers.

Collection

Examination of Benjamin W. Greene scrapbook, 1866

1 volume

This scrapbook, titled "The Examination of Benjamin W. Greene," contains clippings of three short articles published in the Hartford Courant newspaper of testimony given at the trial of accused murderer Benjamin W. Greene in early 1866. Greene was charged with the murder of Eunice North Greene, his wife, on November 5, 1865, and the court sought to determine whether the homicide (and Benjamin's subsequent suicide attempt) was due to insanity.

This scrapbook, titled "The Examination of Benjamin W. Greene," contains clippings of three short articles published in the Hartford Courant newspaper of testimony given at the trial of accused murderer Benjamin W. Greene in early 1866. Greene was charged with the murder of Eunice North Greene, his wife, on November 5, 1865, and the court sought to determine whether the homicide (and Benjamin's subsequent suicide attempt) was due to insanity.

An investigation of the Greene household allowed witnesses to piece together the progression of events on November 5, 1865. As Eunice was reading, Benjamin approached her from behind and cut her neck with a razor. She was able to call for help after Benjamin fled and to name him as the perpetrator, but her wounds were too severe to overcome. After a brief search, two men found Benjamin inside of a locked room, lying next to the same razor used to kill Eunice. Despite having cut his own wrists and neck in a suicide attempt, he was able to be stabilized and survived.

The loss of Eunice and Benjamin's eldest daughter, Harriet North Day (1831-1864), was consistently cited as the reason for the sharp decline in Benjamin's mental and physical health. The family physician, Dr. Beresford, held Benjamin's "singular and peculiar delusions with regard to his domestic affairs" (p. 2) as evidence of his mental instability. Often centered around Eunice, or supposed financial burdens, the validity of those claims was challenged by what Dr. Beresford and other witnesses observed prior to the homicide (p. 7, 11, 12, 14).

Before the murder, Benjamin repeatedly denied help from his family and friends, blocking at least one attempt by physicians to inform Eunice (p. 4) of his mental state. His nephew, William D. Wyatt (1828-1884), tried several times to intervene and help his uncle—both at his own behest and at Eunice's—but ultimately failed. William did not deem it safe to be alone with Benjamin, and testified that during one visit, Eunice told him that her husband was "a crazy man" and "had been a deranged man for years" (p. 11).

The scrapbook does not include the final ruling of the court, but the following is a quotation from an article [not present] containing the verdict, published in the Hartford Courant on March 14, 1866:

"The finding that Mr. Greene was insane at the time he killed his wife, will undoubtedly render his will, which was made in July last, and which was referred to in the testimony offered during his examination, of no account. In this will he bequeathed all his property to Robert E. Day, his son-in-law, and Mr. Day's little daughter. His action, in this respect, would seem to show that he labored under the delusion claimed that his whole family, with the exception of Mrs. Day, was leagued against him. After her death he said he had lost his best friend, and from that time forward declined in health rapidly."

Collection

Excise Tax Income Book, 1700-1774

1 volume

This volume records annual excise duties collected by the British government between 1700 and 1774. The excise tax income book records the net excise income for every year during this period, as well as income for individual goods or products for every year starting with 1745.

This 18-page volume, entitled "Gross and Net Produce of Excise from 1700 to 1774," provides the annual amount of excise duties collected by the British government between 1700 and 1774. From 1700 to 1744, the book records the total annual gross and net income earned from excise taxes, as well as management costs accrued from salaries and other taxes. Between 1745 and 1774, the volume also documents the amount of excise paid on individual goods and services, including malt, candles, hops, "sope," paper, "callicoes &c.," wire, starch, hides, plate, coffee, tea, chocolate, "licences," glass, and coaches. After 1755, the "plate" category was sometimes broken down into "plate licences" and "plate duty." "Cyder" was included after 1765. This volume bears the bookplate of James Brindley.

Collection

Faber German-American Family Photograph Album, 1911-1919

approximately 305 photographs in 1 album.

The Faber German-American family photograph album contains approximately 305 photographs related to a German-American family based in northeastern Illinois.

The Faber German-American family photograph album contains approximately 305 photographs related to a German-American family based in northeastern Illinois. The album (26 x 18 cm) has black leather covers and is string-bound. Some photographs have faded captions. Images include views from summer trips to a cabin on White Lake; camping and picnicking at Silver Lake; paddling canoes bedecked with American flags; people dressed up to attend a Lutheran youth meeting in Jackson, Michigan; and a trip to Niagara Falls. The German-American family represented in the album was likely involved in the nursery business due to the fact several photographs show nurseries with plant stock, trees identified by their Latin names, and men working at the D. Hill Nursery in Dundee, Illinois. Other images of interest include photographs taken in Germany such as a group portrait of boys posing with their professor; a group portrait of German straw-sack stuffers in military uniforms; a real photo postcard of a group of men in uniform sent to "John Faber" of Woodstock, Illinois, from Germany in 1914; and another real photo postcard addressed to "Hans Faber" in Rosheim, Rheinland.

Collection

Fabric Weaver's journal and spec book, 1845-1855

1 volume

This volume contains 16 pages of notes from an unidentified textile weaver (who wove by hand), produced between 1845 and 1855. Entries contain information on the types of textiles woven, weaving techniques, weave pattern and color, number of biers in the weave, size of the textiles, and design elements associated with the textiles.

This volume contains 16 pages of notes from an unknown textile weaver who wove by hand, produced between 1845 and 1855. Entries contain information on the types of textiles woven, weaving techniques, weave pattern and color, number of biers in the weave, size of the textiles, and design elements associated with the textiles.

The weaver began notes from the first and last pages of the volume. The "back" section appears to document solely textiles woven from cotton. The dates provided for most of the entries are not in chronological order.

The woven articles named are as follows:
  • Diaper
  • Flannel
  • Woolen sheets
  • Horse blankets
  • Jacketing
  • Lining
  • Checked blankets
  • Towels / toweling
  • Cheesecloth
  • Fine wale
  • Fine crepe
  • Wale carpet
  • Pocket handkerchiefs
  • Fine linen
  • Cotton & wool pinners
  • Neck handkerchief
  • Blue cotton & wool shawls

On one page around the middle of the volume, the weaver left several notes unrelated to their work; one regarding a delivery of tea, one line simply containing the words "cosmic consciousness," and the last about a red painted egg box apparently being reserved for the same person that delivered the tea.

Collection

Fair American collection, 1801-1802

3 items

This collection is made up of 3 documents related to the Fair American, a vessel owned by Philadelphia merchant Stephen Dutilh. The ship was captured by a French privateer while sailing to Havana in January 1801.

This collection contains 3 documents related to the Fair American, a vessel owned by Philadelphia merchant Stephen Dutilh. The ship was captured by a French privateer while sailing to Havana in January 1801. See the Box and Folder list below for a detailed description of each item.

Collection

Family and Travel Photograph Album, 1890s?

approximately 120 photographs in 1 album

The Family and travel photograph album contains approximately 120 commercial and amateur photographs primarily showing a couple and their two young children.

The Family and travel photograph album contains approximately 120 commercial and amateur photographs primarily showing a couple and their two young children.

The album (18.5 x 28 cm) features photographs of the unidentified couple and an their children at home, visiting friends, and on trips to the shore. Also included are photographs of stately homes and several childrens' parties, with one group of children holding hoops and sticks. Commercial photographs include a view of Washington, D.C. from the Capitol dome; the U.S. Capitol building; the Statue of Liberty; the former Treasury building on Wall Street in New York City; the Brooklyn Bridge; Carpenters' Hall; the S.S. Teutonic; and a nearly completed Philadelphia City Hall.

Collection

Family Travel Photograph Album, 1896-1910

approximately 335 photographs in 1 album

The Family travel photograph album contains approximately 335 photographs depicting the travels of an unidentified family to various locations in California, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and British Columbia.

The The Family travel photograph album contains approximately 335 photographs depicting the travels of an unidentified family to various locations in California, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and British Columbia. The album (19 x 28 cm) is partially disbound and has green burlap covers. Images include family snapshots primarily taken in Oakland, California (89 photographs in total), and East Orange, New Jersey (73 photographs in total); views of sights in Richmond (Virginia), Victoria (British Columbia), including many home interiors and exteriors, nurses and infants, family groups, and children in cribs and posed with dolls; photographs of parks and scenic views of Oakland; views of the battleships Vermont and St. Louis off the coast of Old Point Comfort, Virginia; and a street and waterfront view of New York City. Other photographs of interest include a light-hearted image of five women with their faces bursting through sheets of newspaper; views from locations in Virginia (Roanoke, Richmond, East Radford, Norfolk, and Jamestown), New York (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Schenectady, and Staten Island), Washington (Seattle and Big Lake), and California (Berkeley and Santa Catalina); White Fleet admiral Robley D. Evans in a carriage; and four real photograph postcards showing night views of San Francisco illuminated to welcome the Great White Fleet, May 6-17, 1908. Most photographs include manuscript captions indicating location and date.

Collection

Famous Boxers manuscript, [ca. 1830s]

1 volume

This manuscript contains detailed descriptions of boxing matches, biographical information about prominent boxers, and related poetry, portraits, and illustrations, primarily concerning the sport's history in England during the early 1800s.

This 546-page manuscript contains information on boxing and boxers in the early 19th century. Approximately 512 pages include detailed descriptions of boxing matches and biographies of prominent boxers, with an additional 27 pages devoted to boxing- related poetry. A 7-page index of names, matches, illustrations, and poetry finalizes the volume.

The round-by-round descriptions of matches provide details about the combatants and their movements, locations of the fights, histories of the participants, physical states of the fighters after the bouts, and prizes awarded. The biographies vary in length and are occasionally accompanied by portrait illustrations of the men in everyday or formal attire. English and American boxers are represented, including some African Americans. Additional drawings depict boxing matches and trophies.

Collection

Fanny Sanford log book, 1820-1847 (majority within 1820-1821)

1 volume

This partially printed volume (44 pages) contains the log of the Fanny Sanford's voyage from New York to South America between June 27, 1820, and October 3, 1821. The voyage included stops at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; Pisco, Peru; and Guayaquil, Ecuador.

This partially printed volume (44 pages) contains the log of the Fanny Sanford's voyage from New York to South America between June 27, 1820, and October 3, 1821. The voyage included stops at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; Pisco, Peru; and Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The logbook, manufactured by William Hooker in New York in 1819, contains printed grids in which to record daily readings such as wind direction, latitude and longitude, and remarks. The entries for this voyage were kept only occasionally, and remarks most often concern the weather; one entry noted the confinement of two unruly passengers (July 5, 1820). The Fanny Sanford reached its initial destination of Rio de Janeiro around July 24, 1820, and departed for Montevideo about two months later. Following a stay in Montevideo, the ship sailed for Peru, in late December, and arrived in Pisco around February 1821. From there, the Fanny Sanford traveled to Guayaquil, Ecuador. The remainder of the log records the ship's movements along the western coast of South America and its eventual departure for a return trip to Montevideo.

The final pages contain notes kept by a later owner, including lists of loans made to Colonel William French in September and October 1841; other records are dated as late as 1847. The title page contains a printed illustration of a sailing ship, and the book contains 2 printed advertisements for maps and nautical publications. The title page was signed by Timothy Thompson.

Collection

Fellows family and Walter Hollister letters, 1845-1892 (majority within 1845-1857)

46 items

This collection contains correspondence related to the Fellows family of Richland, New York (30 items), as well as letters addressed to Walter Hollister of Mexico, New York, and other recipients (16 items). Charles A. Fellows wrote to his family in Richland after moving to the Midwest in the 1840s; Walter Hollister received letters from friends and family in New York and Iowa.

This collection contains correspondence related to the Fellows family of Richland, New York (30 items), as well as letters addressed to Walter Hollister of Mexico, New York, and other recipients (16 items). Charles A. Fellows wrote to his family in Richland after moving to the Midwest in the 1840s; Walter Hollister received letters from friends and family in New York and Iowa.

Charles A. Fellows wrote a series of letters to his parents, Amos and Lovina Fellows, and his brother, Ira G. Fellows, after moving to the Midwest around 1843. Fellows reported on life in Racine, Wisconsin, and Ottawa and Pontiac, Illinois. Fellows urged his parents to join him on the frontier, described local scenery, and occasionally commented on crop prices. He received letters from family members in New York, who reported on news from Richland, including epidemics, family health, and local deaths; Fellows's sister Louisa also provided updates from Pulaski, New York. During the late 1840s, Ira Fellows received letters from Albert West in Troy, New York, in which West reported on his social life and visits to the local museum. A letter to Amos Fellows dated August 27, 1849, pertains to Charles's death.

The second group of correspondence (14 items) contains letters that Walter Hollister of Mexico, New York, received from family and friends in New York, Illinois, and Iowa between 1856 and 1884. The collection also contains 2 letters Darius C. Broughton received from his wife, Bedee Broughton, in 1863, and a Christmas greeting Broughton received from his mother while serving with the 147th New York Infantry Regiment in 1892.

Collection

Finding Aid for Sewing Designs Sample Book, ca. 19th-century

1 volume

The Sewing designs sample book contains 47 hand-stitched design samples made of thread on paper.

The Sewing designs sample book contains 47 hand-stitched design samples made of thread on paper. Designs range from simple to complicated shapes and patterns to fruit, a circular shell, and Native American-inspired objects such as a bow and arrow, a moccasin, a snowshoe, and a canoe. Multiple colors of thread are utilized. The sample book (24 x 28.5 cm) is closed with a string tie.

Collection

Fiske carte-de-visite album, 1860s-1870s

1 volume

The Fiske carte-de-visite album contains formal studio portraits of various men and women, most of whom are unidentified. The photographs were taken in locations such as New York City; New Haven, Connecticut; and Litchfield, Connecticut.

The Fiske carte-de-visite album (13cm x 9cm) contains 9 cartes-de-visite and 3 tintypes, all of which are formal studio portraits of men, women, and a young boy. With the exceptions of a young boy named "Ralph," a woman identified as a daughter of [Sereno] Scranton, and Reverend Samuel A. Fisk, a Civil War officer pictured in his uniform, the subjects are anonymous. Some of the pictures were taken in locations such as New York City; New Haven, Connecticut; and Litchfield, Connecticut. The album, which may have belonged to Albert Mentandon of "Geneva," has a cloth cover with a floral pattern stamped in gold.

Collection

Flavius Vegetius Renatus, Epitoma rei militaris manuscript, circa 12th century

63 leaves (plus 2 blank)

This Flavius Vegtius Renatus Epitoma rei militaris manuscript was produced circa twelfth century on vellum.

Epitoma rei militaris. [Incipit] Flauij. vegetii. renati. viri illustris epitoma instituto rei militaris. de cōmentarijs catonis augusti. Traiani. adriani. et erumptorii [i.e. Frontini] Libri numero. iiii.

This Flavius Vegtius Renatus, Epitoma rei militaris manuscript was produced circa 12th century on vellum. It is 63 leaves (plus 2 blank), with small characters; the titles of books and chapters are in red, and some capitals are drawn in red or green. This copy was executed in Europe (likely Northern France or England). The first leaf contains the name "Sir Simeon Stuart Bart." (18th century). A fragment of a contemporary manuscript (1 leaf at the beginning and 1 at the end) was supplied for protection. The binding is 19th century brown morocco, blind tooled, with gilt edges, by W. Pratt.

The treatise is divided into four books, concerning army reform, the duties of soldiers and officers, military maxims, fortifications and sieges, and naval matters.

Collection

Florida vacations and silent movies photograph album, 1916-1920

1 volume

The Florida vacations and silent movies photograph album contains approximately 300 photographs of people vacationing in southern Florida and production sets of Fox Film Corporation silent movies, dating from 1916 to 1920.

The Florida vacations and silent movies photograph album contains approximately 300 photographs of people vacationing in southern Florida and production sets of Fox Film Corporation silent movies, dating from 1916 to 1920. Identifiable silent movies consist of The Jungle Trial (1919), A Woman There Was (1919), and A Fallen Idol (1919). The style of the album includes photographs creatively cut to various shapes and sizes. The majority include captions and names.

Named individuals include Theda Bara, Evelyn Nesbit, William Farnum, Lizzie Sexton, Dick Stanton, and Adolf Stahl. The album likely covers several trips to Florida and shows various groups of family and friends at the beach and traveling.

Specific locations shown are Miami, Jacksonville, Daytona, Palm Beach, and St. Augustine. Images show people visiting Coconut Grove, Arch Creek, Hotel Poinciana, Musa Isle, and Fort Marion (Castillo de San Marcos). Other images of interest include photographs of African American children who were likely movie extras, captioned “More nature;" Farnum standing next to two film cameras; porpoises on display; house boats; men drinking "in a dry state;" and Seminole Indians in traditional dress.

The album is 26 x 18.5 cm with brown cloth covers.

Collection

Franconia Notch and Washington, D.C. Photograph Album, approximately 1895

65 photographs in 1 album

The Franconia Notch and Washington, D.C. photograph album consists of 65 photographs primarily showing landscape scenes of Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, architectural views of Washington, D.C., and a camping trip to an unidentified location likely somewhere in the Northeast.

The Franconia Notch and Washington, D.C. photograph album consists of 65 photographs primarily showing landscape scenes of Franconia Notch, New Hampshire, architectural views of Washington, D.C., and a camping trip to an unidentified location likely somewhere in the Northeast. The album (18 x 27 cm) is half bound in brown leather with brown cloth boards. Washington, D.C.-related views include the White House with an interior ballroom, the Washington Monument, the Teasury Building, the U.S. Capitol, the Smithsonian Castle (with the Capitol in the background), and the Senate and House chambers. Camping-related images include photographs of a wooded lakeside area showing campers hiking, boating, painting, fishing, playing guitar, reading, and contemplating the scenery. In one view of a tent encampment in a grove of trees, a table is set for a meal, and a man stands beside a camera on a tripod. Several people from the camping trip are shown in various other settings: in a back garden, in front of a frame house with fencing, and in several Victorian-style interior rooms. Additional photographs show the Maplewood Hotel in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, and a boardwalk (possibly in Atlantic City, New Jersey).

Collection

Fredericksburg During the Civil War, [ca. 1898]

16 pages

"Fredericksburg During the Civil War" is a typed account of a Union soldier's experiences during the Battle of Fredericksburg, Second Battle of Fredericksburg, and Battle of Salem Church. The account includes detailed descriptions of each battle and of the "Mud March" of January 1863. The writer commented on his regiment's movements, casualties, the experience of coming under heavy fire, and other subjects.

Fredericksburg During the Civil War (16 pages) is a typed account of Union soldier's experiences during the Battle of Fredericksburg, Second Battle of Fredericksburg, and Battle of Salem Church. The account begins with a description of the area around Fredericksburg, Virginia, and brief remarks about its strategic importance. The bulk of the document consists of the author's reminiscences about his experiences between December 1862 and May 1863. While crossing the Rappahannock River toward Fredericksburg, he saw a large number of playing cards discarded by soldiers who did not want to seem morally compromised in the event of their death. He described the large number of casualties between Union and Confederate lines during the Battle of Fredericksburg and recalled a heroic Confederate sergeant who took water to the wounded despite the risk of being shot; both sides ceased to fire while he tended to the wounded. After retreating to winter quarters, the author and his tent-mate built a log hut and participated in General Ambrose Burnside's aborted "Mud March" in January 1863.

The narrative resumes in May 1863, when the author's regiment joined the "disastrous" Chancellorsville campaign under General Joseph Hooker. The VI Corps approached Fredericksburg on May 1, 1863, and then engaged Confederate forces. Though the author exchanged fire with Confederate soldiers, he was unsure whether he had been directly responsible for any deaths. He discussed the capture of the Washington Battery, noted the death of a college classmate during the battle, and wondered whether the victory had justified the large number of casualties. As the Union Army continued to move toward Chancellorsville, the author became involved in the Battle of Salem Church, which he recounted in the present tense, listing multiple marching orders and providing accounts of several specific soldiers. The essay ends with the author locating his disjointed regiment and retreating back toward a previous encampment at White Oak Church.

Collection

Fremont Mining and Trading Company diary, 1849-1851

1 volume

The Fremont Mining and Trading Company diary is a small bound notebook (54 pages) recounting the adventures of a member of the "Fremont Trading and Mining Company" formed in 1849 to search for California gold.

The Fremont Mining and Trading Company diary is a small bound notebook (54 pages) recounting the adventures of one of its members. The company was formed in 1849 by subscribers who wanted to search for gold in California. The author made almost daily entries during the ship’s six-month voyage to San Francisco, then wrote more sporadically during the period of the company’s successful search for gold in the Feather River north of Sacramento and the author's return as far as Panama in March 1851. In the back of the diary, the diarist registered the members, their ages, homes, and occupations. He also listed the daily logs of longitude, latitude, and miles traveled for their long trip, as well as names of the officers and crew, all but two of whom were also shareholders. The author failed to identify himself; John F. Jordan is written inside the cover of the book, but he is not listed as a member of the trading company.

The adventurer arose at 5 A.M. on March 27, 1849, three miles from Glastonbury, Connecticut (near Hartford), went overland to Hartford, and took a steamboat to New York City. He leveraged twelve shares in the Company as surety for a $400 note, payable in one year, accompanied by a paid-up life insurance policy for $1,000 to one Benjamin Cook. They sailed from New York on April 1l. Their route took them within sight of the Canary Islands, then on to their first landing in Rio de Janeiro. There, many of the company went ashore nightly to get drunk, much to the author’s disgust. He noted that the US Navy ship Brandywine was in the harbor, the Emperor and Empress of Argentina rode around in a carriage, and that he went upriver to buy 2,000 oranges for about $10 for the ship. On June 13, after the crew loaded 20 casks of water, the Selma took off to round the Horn, a stormy trip with ice-covered decks.

The second stop was at Valparaiso on August 8, where they encountered an English man-of-war, said to be carrying several hundred pounds of gold dust from California, consigned to a house in Boston. He attended a Protestant church to hear a sermon preached by David Trumble, son of John Trumble of Colchester, Connecticut. Finally on October 5, 178 days since leaving New York, they arrived in San Francisco. The author went ashore on Sunday and reported that the city had two Methodist churches, and one each of Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Baptist churches. The cooks and stewards promptly deserted ship and then sued for back wages, which, after a court hearing, were denied. Members of the company had to take over their duties, such such as cooking for 86 men. Such desertions were common when ships arrived in California.

Some stayed on ship and sought odd jobs in the city, while other members formed small parties and set off upriver to Sacramento. The author left ship on October 22, when he slept on land for the first time in more than six months. Eventually, they brought their ship up the river, in time for them to stay on it during a disastrous January flood. People were rescued from windows and roofs; 70 or 80 residents lodged on board their ship at $3 a night, $5 or $6 a day, and $30-40 a week. Members established a mining camp about 35 miles from Sacramento, which was quite successful financially, although many of them became sick and three died.

Claims were purchased by members of the company in both the Yuba and Feather Rivers and were thoroughly mined. Even the rivers that ran through the city of Sacramento yielded little gold. By February 1850, the members of the company were so dissatisfied that they broke up. The author sold his tools for $50, then joined members Smith and Ransom to borrow $200 for the purchase of a mule; they started off by themselves to a new claim. Through March and April they were able to recover from $300 to $1,000 a week. On March 30, the author returned to Sacramento and found their old company in disarray. He described several scenes of violence, and mentioned encounters with deer, grizzly bears, and beaver.

On June 8, he wrote that all their claims were worked out, but that they had recovered about $3,300 so far. In July he joined a new company of 14 men to build wing dams in order to divert river water, thereby opening up new sites for panning. As a result, by September they mined gold worth $665 per miner, including a 4-oz. piece that he had found. In October, the company disbanded for the winter, whereupon the author resumed digging on the banks by himself, recovering from $12 to $15 worth of gold a day.

He wanted to go back to Sacramento for the winter, but stayed away when he learned that the city was reporting 60 cases of cholera a day. He and Walter Griswold built a cabin near Centerville, intending to spend the winter there. They heard reports that one man had dug 40, 30, and 18 pounds of gold on three successive days. He also mentioned that Indians killed two men; they buried one of them alive, and roasted the other one.

In January 1851, the new company sold the claim and the cabin. The author went to Sacramento and then to San Francisco, where he boarded the Adrian, mastered by George Scott, and paid $75 for passage to Panama. The ship left on January 24, 1851. The diary ends without explanation, when the ship was near Panama on March 28, 1951.

Collection

Galveston, Texas photograph album, ca. 1908

1 volume

The Galveston, Texas photograph album contains 33 photographs, the majority of which depict Galveston, Texas ca. 1908.

The Galveston, Texas photograph album contains 33 photographs, the majority of which depict Galveston, Texas ca. 1908. Included are cyanotypes, albumen prints, and postcard photo prints. Photographs consist of a railroad crossing tower, railroad station, trestle bridge, freight and passenger steamers, downtown street views, family photographs, grandstands, earth embankments, buildings under construction, and Galveston's seawall and grade raising project. Amusement/water parks shown include Electric Park (Galveston, Texas), Chutes Park (Galveston, Texas), and Lake Cliff Park (Dallas, Texas).

The album is 19 x 14.5 cm with brown paper covers. A cyanotype of an unidentified building is pasted to the front cover.

Collection

Gem Tintype album, [1860-1880]

1 volume

This album contains gem tintype photographs of men and women of various ages, including young adults and children. One tintype shows a dog sitting on a chair.

This album (8.5cm x 8.5cm) contains 69 tinted gem tintype photographs of men and women of various ages, plus an image of a dog sitting on a chair. Each tintype is placed four to a page, in oval windows about 2.2cm high and 1.7cm across. A few of the people pictured wore accessories such as scarves and hats, and the men, who outnumber the women, appear with facial hair in numerous styles. The album's red leather cover has a raised geometric design on the front and back and previously included a metal clasp.

Collection

General Store account book, 1783-[1859]

1 volume

This account book contains financial records pertaining to the sale of food, alcohol, leather and skins, and general merchandise from around 1783 to 1859.

This account book contains financial records pertaining to the sale of food, alcohol, leather and skins, and general merchandise from around 1783 to 1859. The first page has a list of items purchased of George Walter Farrington "for Use of the Store" on May 1, 1783, including an iron stove, furniture, and measuring devices.

The general store sold a variety of goods, such as foodstuffs and alcohol, shot, powder, thread, and shoes. The earliest accounts reflect individual purchases, organized chronologically (March 12, 1783-May 12, 1785).

These accounts are followed by a separate series of entries pertaining to Richard Powell and Charles Willess, who sold animal hides and skins in 1799, and miscellaneous accounts between the bookkeeper and various individuals (1804-1805). One of the latter records concerns transactions with an African American man named Elius, who paid for clothes and meat by performing manual labor. The remainder of the volume contains financial transactions related to food, wood, and other materials (1825-late 1850s).

Collection

Genesee County Photograph Album, 1923

approximately 121 photographs in 1 album

The Genesee County photograph album contains approximately 121 photographs related to an unidentified family farm in Genesee County, Michigan, ca. 1923.

The Genesee County photograph album contains approximately 121 photographs related to an unidentified family farm in Genesee County, Michigan, ca. 1923. The album (21 x 15 cm) has a string-bound brown cover with "Photographs" stamped in gold on the front. Most of the photographs present in the album were taken on a rural farm. Photographs include individual portraits of various family members as well as images of family gatherings, farm animals, barns and other farm buildings (including pictures documenting building construction), children, camping, automobiles, and pets. Additionally, pg. 26 contains six photos of people dressed in Ku Klux Klan attire while pg. 29 includes a photograph of a World War I monument honoring several fallen alumni of the Lundhill Sunday School in Wombwell, England.