Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1372

Repository:

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

Extent:

1 book (.025 linear foot)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Frederick William Todd scrapbook, 1840-1850, Ms. Coll. 1372, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1840-1850 (inclusive)

Creator:

Todd, Frederick William

Form:

Manuscripts, English -- 19th century, Political cartoons, Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence, and Scrapbooks

Abstract:

A scrapbook spanning the years from 1840-1850 kept by Frederick William Todd who was stationed in India with the East India Company Army.

Born in London, England to Fryer Todd and Mary Evans. Todd was an officer in the British East India Company Army. He joined in 1820 and served in the 14th Regiment Native Infantry. Todd was promoted to Captain in 1836 and retired as a major in 1846. He was stationed in Kolkata, Chennai, and French Rocks, now Pandavapura, India. In 1839 Todd married Jane Elizabeth Mate in Somerset. They had three children: Mary Elizabeth, Richard Bowney, and Thomas Frederick d'Arcy.

A scrapbook, lacking spine, with dis-bound gatherings in paper-hinged covers kept by Frederick William Todd. The volume spans the years from 1840 to 1850 while Todd was stationed in India with the East India Company Army. A majority of the scrapbook is comprised of illustrations, some satirical, cut out of British newspapers and journals, such as Punch, Pictorial times, Illustrated London news, and the Bombay gentlemen's gazette. Illustrations regarding the British royal family, politics, trials, and panoramic images are included in the volume. Five letters to Todd are in the volume dated from 1843 to 1845. The correspondence is from servants or laborers who petitioned Todd for payment, restitution, or explanation of events. Two of the letters are laid in the volume. In one instance a translator at a Hindu school named Serseevas Row pleads his case for compensation of his work. Additional memorabilia is pasted in the volume such as, cut out signatures, a receipt for cake and a beer at an bakery in India, an invitations to attend the burial of Sir W. H. Macnaghten, Lt. Colonel Powney's celebratory party, and Prankissen Mullick to celebrate his brother's wedding. There are a few handwritten menus, and a handwritten program for a play by Arthur Murphy performed at Midnapore Theatre. Many of the events occurred in Kolkata. Some cut out illustrations of women's fashions are pasted in the volume.