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

This visiting card specimen book contains 48 printer's sample cards pasted into the volume, including "hidden name" examples with movable die-cut flaps and other devices.

This visiting card specimen book contains 48 printer's sample cards pasted into the volume, including "hidden name" examples with movable die-cut flaps and other devices. Predominant visual themes are flowers, birds, hands, children, and cherubs. Others include a dog holding a guitar, a quill pen, a G.A.R card, and an "Imp Card" showing a devil holding a sign to read "I AM ___ WHO THE [DEVIL] ARE YOU."

A "Gold Escort" card has the text "I beg the blissful felicity of being honored with your gracious condescension to the extent of allowing your humble servant to escort you to your leafy bower this balmy eve. Say yes, fair lady!"

George H. Coomer wrote this manuscript about the "lively whaling scene" experienced by a sailor in California and the Santa Barbara Islands, possibly around the 1880s. The "scene" is purported to be a second-hand account told by Coomer's friend, and it may or may not be fiction. The volume also contains a vignette about the whaling vessel Minerva.

George H. Coomer wrote this manuscript about the "lively whaling scene" experienced by a sailor in California and the Santa Barbara Islands, possibly around the 1880s. The "scene" is purported to be a second-hand account told by Coomer's friend, and it may or may not be fiction. The volume also contains a vignette about the whaling vessel Minerva.

This album, belonging to Martha Louise "Mattie" Day, contains 26 self-portraits drawn by Mattie's "C. H. S." classmates, and includes profile drawings, names, and brief comments relating to a shared experience.

This album, belonging to Martha Louise "Mattie" Day, contains 26 self-portraits drawn by Mattie's "C. H. S." classmates, and includes profile drawings, names, and brief comments relating to a shared experience.

Mattie wrote, "You are requested to draw your picture, with appropriate remarks" on the front paste-down. The bulk of the drawings were done by her female classmates, and their writing often referenced memories involving Mattie. Some made self-deprecating remarks about their appearances. "A. H." wrote, "When this you see/don't forget the eve we played and I beat you all at dominoes." Adilia H. wrote, "The rose is red/the violet blue/sugar is sweet/and so are you Mattie. Ever your friend." Many include the note, "Class '78 C.H.S." One pink ribbon is laid into the volume.

This blank book contains penmanship exercises in German by Magdalene Minsing. Some of the letters have elements reminiscent of Pennsylvania Dutch fraktur style, some include colored ink, and striped design.

This blank book contains penmanship exercises in German by Magdalene Minsing. Some of the letters have elements reminiscent of Pennsylvania Dutch fraktur style, some include colored ink, and striped design. In addition to practice with individual letters, several phrases appear including "Pater und Mutter" [Father and Mother], "Bruder Friedrich" [Brother Friedrich], and "Was Gott thut das ist wohlgethan" [From what God ordains is always good].

This manuscript, titled "615 Books" is an inventory of the library of C. F. Lyman. Each entry includes the number of volumes and title of the work. The entries appear to be organized by subject. A broad list of subjects includes math, geology, travel, Napoleon, literature, history, art, religion, and chemistry.

The inventory was written in a printed blank book "Specimens of Penmanship, written by..." sold by S. G. Simpkins, 21 Tremont Row, Boston. The cover bears a printed image of two children, one on a swing set up inside a barn, and the phrase "Every thing must be done at the time" (emphasizing a lack of idleness in favor of personal development and the pursuit of success). The back cover bears a printed tables of coins, weights, measures, time, and more.

This 82 x 43 x 36 cm wooden document trunk, dating from around 1765, includes a hand-wrought iron lock, reinforcement bands, corner tips, and fancy handles. Its interior is grooved for the placement of three removable wooden panels, one of which is present. Contemporary manuscript lettering on the interior left side of the lid reads "Commissariat / on His Majs: Acct / from Mr Oswald" and on the right "Papers / for the Germn: Army / May 1766 / accounts – [A?] & B."

This 82 x 43 x 36 cm wooden document trunk, dating from around 1765, includes a hand-wrought iron lock, reinforcement bands, corner tips, and fancy handles. Its interior is grooved for the placement of three removable wooden panels, one of which is present. Contemporary manuscript lettering on the interior left side of the lid reads "Commissariat / on His Majs: Acct / from Mr Oswald" and on the right "Papers / for the Germn: Army / May 1766 / accounts – [A?] & B."

A January 9, 1861, note by Philadelphia lawyer Henry J. Williams indicates that the trunk was seized by the French as a prize during the American Revolution, and that his father Jonathan Williams brought it to the United States when returning from his service as acting U.S. Consul at Nantes. Mid-twentieth-century paper tags indicate that the trunk was one of three from the estate of Henry J. Williams' son-in-law Alexander Biddle, discovered after the death of Biddle's son Lynford Biddle in 1941, and sold by Parke-Bernet Galleries in 1943.

The Cuba collection contains around 91 individual manuscripts (mostly documents) related to the economic, racial, and political history of Cuba largely from the early to the late 19th century. The collection primarily focuses on the indentured servitude of Chinese workers, as well as Cuba's enslavement, trade, and manumission of largely African people. Another subset of the materials relates to 19th century insurrections and filibusters on the Island, including the López Expedition and Cuban resistance pertinent to the Ten Years' War.

The Cuba collection contains around 91 individual manuscripts (mostly documents) related to the economic, racial, and political history of Cuba largely from the early to the late 19th century. The collection primarily focuses on the indentured servitude of Chinese workers, as well as Cuba's enslavement, slave trading, and manumission of largely African people. Another subset of the materials relates to 19th century insurrections and filibusters on the Island, including the López Expedition and Cuban resistance pertinent to the Ten Years' War. The collection includes correspondence, documents, business records, citizenship certificates, death records, and contracts. The bulk of the materials were created in or relate to activities or people in Havana. Others relate to Santiago de Cuba.

Please see the box and folder listing below for details about each item in the collection.

This Caius Julius Solinus, Polyhistor manuscript was produced circa 15th century in Italy and is 86 leaves (plus 4 blank) in a seventeenth-century Italian vellum binding.

This Caius Julius Solinus, Polyhistor manuscript was produced circa 15th century in Italy and is 86 leaves (plus 4 blank) in a seventeenth-century Italian vellum binding. The chapters begin with ornamental capital letters, some colored in green or yellow. The text is a Latin manuscript of Caius Julius Solinus's Polyhistor, discussing natural history, religion, and social questions in the regions known to the Roman Empire circa the middle of the fourth century AD. This copy is a palimpsest, with the previous writing indicating a notarial register or account book from the early fourteenth century. One leaf bears the date 1308 (recto, leaf 53).

The bound volume includes a Di Casa Minutoli Telgrimi stamp and the following colophon: "C. Iulii Solini sive gramatici Polyhistor ab ipso editus et recognitus de situ orbis terrarum & de singulis mirabilibus quae in mundo habentur"

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.

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.