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Collection

Edmund Davis diary, 1865

1 volume

This pocket diary contains daily entries that Edmund Davis wrote while attending Edge Hill School in Princeton, New Jersey, in the spring of 1865. David noted daily occurrences at the institution, such as religious services and baseball games, and also recorded major political events, including the capture of Richmond, Virginia, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

This pocket diary contains 54 pages of daily entries that Edmund Davis wrote while attending Edge Hill School in Princeton, New Jersey, from March 6, 1865, to June 12, 1865. He noted daily events at the school, such as classes, sporting matches, illnesses, and religious services, and also reported local responses to recent news, including a "horn spree" celebrating the capture of Richmond, Virginia (April 3 and April 4) and the reaction to Lincoln's assassination. He correctly identified John Wilkes Booth as the assassin who leapt from the presidential box shouting "sic semper tyrannis," but incorrectly stated that Booth had been "torn to pieces by the mob" and that William Henry Seward had been stabbed to death (April 15). On April 19, Edge Hill was draped in black to mourn the president, and on April 28, the students were informed of Booth's capture.

Davis mentioned many aspects of school life, such as expulsions (March 20 and May 24), April Fool's tricks (April 1), and the prevalence of "the itch" in early May. On May 12, he mentioned his decision to wait an additional year before attending college. He and his classmates enjoyed sports, and Davis took note of rugby matches (April 25) and baseball games (May 13, May 23, June 3, June 5, and June 7); Davis participated in his first game on June 5. A picture of Edmund Davis is pasted onto the diary's first page. The volume also contains 3 newspaper clippings: a copy of "Auld Lang Syne," a remedy for bruises, and an article detailing the "Fates of the Apostles."

Collection

Friendship and Autograph Album collection, 1826-1944 (majority within 1826-1908)

48 volumes

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

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

Collection

Gordon-Kyle family papers, 1801-1861

257 items

The Gordon-Kyle family papers contain the letters of two prominent Franklin County Pennsylvania families. The bulk of the collection centers around Reverend Jeremiah Smith Gordon, his wife, Margaret Beatty Kyle Gordon, and her brother John Beatty Kyle.

The Gordon-Kyle family papers consist of 245 letters, 8 legal documents, and 4 receipts. The letters concern family life, Pennsylvania social life, church news, preaching and religious matters, education at Princeton and Mt Holyoke Female Seminary, and travel and relatives moving out of state.

The Jeremiah Smith Gordon Correspondence subseries contains approximately 140 letters sent to Gordon. He received letters from his father, Alexander; his siblings Martha J., Mattie, David, and Humphrey Fullerton; his cousins Maggie Waddell, Sade Waddell, and Marion Gordon; his aunt, Kiziah Gordon, and various friends and colleagues. These contain basic family updates regarding births, marriages, travel, education, sicknesses (mumps, chicken pox, cholera, scarlet fever, etc.), and deaths. The Maggie Waddell subseries contains 11 items addressed to Waddell, the cousin of Jeremiah Smith Gordon.

Occasionally, the family discusses anti-slavery issues. For example, Gordon's Father, Alexander, wrote "I still hope there is Christianity enough in our Country yet to save the ship of state from turning pirate or robber by reviving the slave trade" (October 24, 1856. Also of interest is an undated letter reporting on a meeting in Hagerstown where a slave was "dressed in a fine suit of uniform representing general Scott. Several of their men was so much disgusted they left their ranks and came out for Scott" (from A. Gordon, undated).

The early letters in the Kyle Correspondence subseries are addressed to Susan Kyle of Fannettsburg, Pennsylvania, from 1801-1820, and included one letter from her sister-in-law Anny Waugh, 4 letters from brother John Coulter, and one from friend John Hutchison. Also from this time are three business letters to John Kyle of Baltimore (1807-1811). The bulk of the subseries consists of letters to and from John B. Kyle and Margaret "Peggy" Beatty Kyle Gordon, including six letters from John Kyle to his mother and sister (1848-1852), five items from Glenn in Fannettsburg to "Peg" Margaret Beatty (1855-1857), and several undated letters to Margaret from an F. Boggs. The eight business papers (1856-1864) document loans, debts, and an estate inventory officiated by John B. Kyle.

The Unattributed Correspondence and Receipts series consists of 4 receipts and 5 letters to unknown recipients.

Collection

John S. Dunning autograph albums, 1856-1861

2 volumes

John S. Dunning kept these two autograph albums between 1856 and 1861, while a student at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and the Theological Seminary of the Northwest (now McCormick Theological Seminary) in Chicago, Illinois. Along with autographs, many contributors wrote poetry, quotations, personal notes, and reminiscences.

John S. Dunning kept these two autograph albums between 1856 and 1861, while a student at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and the Theological Seminary of the Northwest (now McCormick Theological Seminary). He collected signatures from his friends and classmates in Princeton, New Jersey, and Chicago, Illinois, between 1856 and 1861. Most signers wrote brief personal notes or brief poems reflecting on friendship and reminiscing about their time at college/seminary. They variously recorded their dormitory room numbers, hometowns, and Greek or Latin quotations. The first volume consists entirely of writings by young men and the second volume includes entries by both men and women.

Ned Holden accompanied his note with two sketches: one sketch is of two men at a "Jersey Pines Deer Hunt" and another of a well-dressed man smoking (Volume 1). J.H.G. Blythe, a native of New York, wrote an 11-page reflection about Dunning; J. Kings of Americus, Georgia, expressed his fervent support of Millard Fillmore; and Morris C. Sutphen apologized for his inability to compose a line, as a result of too many recent autograph requests.

Collection

John W. Christie Princeton University photograph albums, ca. 1904

3 volumes

The John W. Christie Princeton University photograph albums pertain to college life in the early 20th century. Events depicted include academic processions, costumed parades, bonfire preparations, and sporting events. The albums also contain numerous views of campus architecture and an image of the Liberty Bell on tour.

These three albums, compiled by Princeton University student John Watson Christie around 1904, contain 219 photographs of college buildings, events, and student life in the early 20th century. Volumes 1 and 2, each 15cm x 18cm, have green cloth covers with the word "Photographs" printed on the front in gold. Volume 3 (18cm x 28cm) has a deteriorating brown leather cover. Each album contains prints of various sizes, usually no larger than 8.5cm x 12cm, and the first two volumes include inscriptions by John W. Christie. A number of photos have come loose from the pages, and a few loose captions are laid into the first volume. An envelope that once housed a letter to Christie, postmarked in 1907, is laid into the second album.

Many of the photographs, including all but a few items in the third volume, are exterior shots of Princeton University buildings, grounds, and unidentified private or university residences. Interior views feature animal skeletons, religious ornamentation, and athletic banners and memorabilia. Most of the remaining items depict social events such as preparations for a bonfire, processions, and graduation ceremonies. Students are often shown in costumes, masks, or women's clothing, and the first two albums contain a few informal portraits of unidentified men and women. Also included are pictures taken during baseball and football games and during a parade that featured Native American costume. Christie also collected pictures of an ornate ship's bell that Princeton alumni presented to the United States Gunboat Princeton and of the Liberty Bell surrounded by a crowd. One photograph of a campus building in the third album is hand-colored.

Collection

Sally Perry letters, 1826-1862

25 items

This collection contains letters that Sally Perry received from family members, who commented on her bereavement and on their lives in New York and Massachusetts in the mid-19th century. The collection also contains letters written and received by Perry's son, Talmon Perry, who wrote about his experiences at Yale College and in Princeton, New Jersey.

This collection contains 25 letters to Sally Perry of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and her son Talmon. From 1826-1856, Sally Perry received 23 letters from her brother, sisters, son, and nieces. In the earliest letters, Perry's siblings expressed their condolences on the illness and death of her husband, Talmon Perry, in November 1826. Perry's correspondents provided news of family and friends in towns such as Somers, New York, and Andover, Massachusetts; many also discussed travel in New York and New England.

Talmon Perry, Jr., wrote to his mother about life at Yale College (October 6, 1842, and January 26, 1843) and in Princeton, New Jersey (December 7, 1848-March 7, 1849), commenting on subjects such as his adjustment to college life, a religious revival in Bridgeport, and a problem with his eyes. The final dated items, addressed to Talmon Perry and his wife in 1860 and 1862, pertain to finances and a lease.