Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1133

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

1 box (7 volumes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Collection of American Autograph Albums, 1873-1940, Ms. Coll. 1133, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1873-1940 (inclusive)

Creator:

Hawkins, Etta L., Littlefield, Charley, Sauer, Kate, Siwicki, Irene, Wheeler, Edith Maude, and Gibson, Edna

Form:

Manuscripts, American -- 20th century, Poetry, Manuscripts, American -- 19th century, Poems, and Autograph albums

Abstract:

A collection comprising seven American autograph albums spanning the years from 1873 to 1940.

This collection comprises seven American autograph albums spanning the years from 1873 to 1940. The albums are arranged chronologically. Volume 1, an oblong, burgundy leather album was kept by Charley Littlefield at Wells, Maine from 1873 to 1877. The signatures, short messages, and verses contained in the album are from family and friends at Maine and Great Falls, New Hampshire. Several autographs have the last name Littlefield. Volume 2 was kept from 1878 to 1882 by Etta L. Hawkins born in 1865, at Aurora, Illinois. Etta was thirteen at the time this small burgundy, oblong album was started. The first autograph dated February 19 1878, is signed by her father W. D. Hawkins. Signatures and short messages fill the pages in different colored inks and a few color die cuts of flowers and hearts decorate the pages. Volume 3 is an oblong album with a decorative leather cover with flowers and a humming bird was kept by Edith Maude Wheeler born at Little Falls, New York in 1873. Wheeler began the album 1883 at the age of ten. The last entry is dated 1887. The album has a printed title leaf "The golden floral album" and some leaves in the volume are decorated with color print floral designs. Many autographs and sentiments in the volume were written by family (including her sisters) and friends at Little Falls and Oneonta, New York. Volume 4 appears to have been kept by Minnionette Sidney Lillis Woods of Albany, New York during the years 1883 to 1896. The signatures Minnionette Lillis Tarbell and M. Sidney Tarbell Woods are also in the volume. The album is a dark burgundy leather with "Autographs" stamped in gold on the front cover. Most of the entries in the volume are signed by Woods and are excerpts of poems or short verses. Some messages were signed by friends or family to "Mr. and Mrs. Woods." One leaf bears the name and address of Captain Dionysius Stanislaus Lardner (1861-1932) in purple pencil. Volume 5 spans the years 1895 to 1922 and was kept by Kate Sauer at Newark, New Jersey. The oblong album is bound in brown velvety fabric and contains autographs and messages from Sauer's family, including her mother Emma, brother Theodore, and in 1922 her son Fred Vierling. Volume 6 is an oblong volume decorated with a framed image of stag's head and faux grain. This album was kept by Edna Gibson at Arlington, New Jersey spanning ten years from 1904 to 1914. The majority of the album contains autographs and messages from friends during 1912 to 1914. Volume 7 was kept by fifteen year-old Irene Siwicki (1925-) in 1940, her last year at Washington School middle school at Harrison, New Jersey. The album is covered in green cloth and has a tab closure. The first leaf of the album has a preprinted design in blue and red ink with the title "Schoolday memories." The five leaves following are preprinted with form-like format providing spaces for name, school history, and her parents autographs. Pasted on one leaf is a small portrait photograph of Irene Siwicki. The remainder of the volume contains autographs and messages by classmates and friends.

The albums are arranged chronologically.