Autograph Book Collection, 1825-1884 (bulk 1848-1882): Finding Aid

Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/1z40ks81r

Autograph Book Collection, 1825-1884 (bulk 1848-1882): Finding Aid

AC040

Autographed inscription by Thomas W. (Woodrow) Wilson '1879 to Francis C. Garmany '1879. Click on the image to read the inscription in its entirety.

Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library
65 Olden Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA
Phone: 609-258-6345
Fax: 609-258-3385
mudd@princeton.edu
http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd

Published in 1997

Summary Information

Collector:: Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
Title and dates:: Autograph Book Collection, 1825-1884 (bulk 1848-1882)
Abstract:: This collection contains 218 autograph books from 191 members of classes between 1825 and 1884. The books were used to collect not only the autographs of classmates, but also good wishes, bits of favorite verse, letters of farewell, or reminiscences of shared events during undergraduate years.
Size:: 16.0 linear feet (39 boxes)
Call number:: AC040
Location:: Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
Princeton University Archives.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA
Language(s) of material:: English.
Storage note:: This collection is stored onsite at the Mudd Manuscript Library.

History of the Autograph Book Collection

Collectively, these autograph books provide a portrait of mid-19th century college life. Most of the books tend to be small, perhaps eight inches tall by five inches wide. Several are two volumes or more. An album may hold over 70 autographs and might include students as well as faculty, women friends, perhaps even the college boot black. In many of the books beautiful lettering and script was used as well as cartoons, portraits, and drawings. Many of the inscriptions, especially in the early years, were done in Latin and Greek.

Students circulated these autograph books amongst their classmates. Whereas a single book may be regarded as a souvenir, the 170 in this collection as a whole offer a range of opinions and ideas that were common on campus in the nineteenth century. A particular student's autograph as read in several books will bring out his temperament, character, and thoughts of the period.

Most of the books' entries concern college life, including the social side such as college pranks, stunts, hangouts, dormitory rooms, card games and chess matches. Also included are accounts of professors and various classes the students may have shared. In their autographs most students noted which literary society they belonged to–either Whig or Clio. A few students mention Greek-letter fraternities. In many, future professions were named and best wishes for a “pretty wife” or “a happy death.” The fire of 1855 in Nassau Hall is briefly mentioned in a couple of the books.

As early as 1851 and 1852 the possibility of civil war and sectionalism was evident in some students' minds as revealed in their autographs to classmates. With fully a third of the students from the South, the conflict was of more than just passing interest. The conflict increasingly is mentioned up until 1862 when most of the Southern men had left for the Confederacy. After this time most autographs were about the usual college incidents and friendships. Doubtless many of the Southern students' books were lost or destroyed during the war, but one student, Frederick Roberts of the Class of 1855, had his found in an abandoned house in North Carolina by Arthur Forbes. It was returned to him by Forbes's daughter in 1896 and found its way back to Princeton in 1930.

The autograph book tradition began to wane in the mid-1800s due to the creation of college yearbooks such as the Nassau Herald (started in 1864) and Bric-a-Brac (started in 1875). The increase in class size also probably accounts for the decrease in autograph books, though the practice of keeping scrapbooks became popular at this time. The earliest scrapbook in the University Archives dates to 1843, though the practice became widespread during the 1870s, a time when it may have been too difficult to collect all of one's classmates' autographs but easy to document one's own activities. (See Alexander Clark's article on autograph books in the Spring 1986 issue of the Princeton University Library Chronicle.)

Description

This collection contains 218 autograph books from 191 members of classes between 1825 and 1884.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by class year and then students' last name.

Two lists, one chronological by class, the other alphabetical by last name, are found in this finding aid.

Access and Use

Access

Collection is open for research use.

Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the University Archivist. Copyright is held by the Trustees of Princeton University.

Processing and Other Information

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Carl Esche in the Autumn of 1995. Finding aid written by Carl Esche in the Autumn of 1995.

Descriptive Rules Used

Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.

Encoding

Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Techbooks and Cristela García-Spitz on October 20, 2006.

Finding aid written in English.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Autograph Book Collection, Box and Folder Number; University Archives, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Subject Headings

These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.

Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:

Princeton University

Contents List

Hiester, Joseph M., 1825
Box 1
Younge, David Easton, 1843
Box 1
Banks, Robert L., 1848
Box 1
Marx, William S., 1848
Box 1
Pitney, Henry C., 1848
Box 1
Stratton, Charles P., 1848
Box 1
Clymer, George Edward, 1849
Box 1
Hollingsworth, Robert, 1849
Box 1
Holmes, George D., 1849
Box 2
Waddell, William B., 1849
Box 2
Bolling, Robert, 1850
Box 2
Montgomery, William B., 1850
Box 2
Murray, William H., 1851
Box 2
Quitman, Frederick H., 1851
Box 2
Magie, William J., 1852
Box 2
Williams, Joseph John, 1852
Box 2
Edwards, William S., 1853
Box 3
Falls, William K., 1853
Box 3
Gurnee, John D., 1853
Box 3
Levis, Franklin B., 1853
Box 3
Tyler, Robert B., 1853
Box 3
Alexander, Henry C., 1854
Box 4
Berrien, James Hunter, 1854
Box 4
Condit, Benjamin Smith, 1854
Box 4
Dod, Albert B., 1854
Box 4
Glatz, Abraham Hiestand, 1854
Box 4
Knapp, Sanford R., 1854
Box 4
[AR.2009.102] Mehaffey, George W., 1854
[non-grad]
Box 39
Nassau, Robert H., 1854
Box 5
Patrick, Thomas C., 1854
Box 5
[AR.2006.103] Thompson, Sidney, 1854
Box 37
Villalonga, Julius A., 1854
Box 5
Wadhams, Calvin, 1854
(2 volumes)
Box 5
Woodhull, Addison W., 1854
Box 6
Andrews, Robert H., 1855
Box 6
Brown, John Wilson, 1855
Box 6
Fisher, William A., 1855
Box 6
Gansevort, Henry S., 1855
Box 6
Harrison, Charles J., 1855
Box 7
Hedges, Charles E., 1855
Box 7
McMurran, John T., Jr., 1855
Box 7
Malloy, Randolf, 1855
Box 7
Moore, John Augustine, 1855
Box 7
Murray, Stirling, 1855
[honorary; Class of 1852 non-grad]
Box 8
Roberts, Frederick C., 1855
Box 8
Browning, Warfield T., 1856
Box 8
[AR.2005.094] Cayce, Ellis P., 1856
Box 37
Ford, George W., 1856
Box 8
Magie, David, 1856
Box 8
Mercer, George A., 1856
Box 9
Overton, Edward, 1856
Box 9
Sutphen, John C., 1856
Box 9
Tabb, Thomas, 1856
Box 9
Wood, William J., 1856
(2 volumes)
Box 9
Woodhull, Alfred A., 1856
Box 10
Berry, Thomas W., 1857
(2 volumes)
Box 10
Blauvelt, Isaac Alstyne, 1857
Box 34
DeWitt, Wallace, 1857
Box 10
Hall, Caldwell K., 1857
Box 10
Ketcham, Kneeland, 1857
Box 11
Minniece, Walter R., 1857
Box 11
Parker, John M., 1857
Box 11
Potts, Stacy G., Jr., 1857
(2 volumes)
Box 11
Depue, Abe, 1858
(2 volumes)
Box 12
Elliott, Robert H., 1858
Box 12
Hart, Charles E., 1858
Box 12
Hetrick, Andrew J., 1858
Box 12
Holt, Bolling H., 1858
Box 12
Hunt, William B., 1858
(2 volumes)
Box 13
Nixon, James H., 1858
Box 13
Perrine, Richard V.R., 1858
Box 13
Shields, William S., 1858
Box 14
Stratton, Morris H., 1858
Box 14
Stryker, William S., 1858
Box 14
Van Rensselaer, Cortlandt, Jr., 1858
Box 14
Walker, Charles W., 1858
Box 14
Wood, Frank G., 1858
Box 14
Brearley, Anderson L., 1859
(2 volumes)
Box 15
Foreman, William C., 1859
Box 15
Ketcham, George W., 1859
(3 volumes)
Box 15
[AR.2002.052] Lyon, Augustine Aurelius, 1859
Box 36
McKaig, Thomas J., 1859
Box 15
Magie, David, Jr., 1859
Box 16
Reese, James W., 1859
Box 16
Rodney, John H., 1859
Box 16
Van Syckel, Chester, 1859
(2 volumes)
Box 16
Woodbridge, Sylvester, III, 1859
Box 17
Alexander, James W., 1860
Box 17
Brown, Walter Scott, 1860
(2 volumes)
Box 17
Conover, Edwin D., 1860
(2 volumes)
Box 17
Condit, John S., 1860
Box 18
Cross, Eben J.D., 1860
Box 18
Dennis, Samuel King, 1860
Box 18
Hart, James M., 1860
Box 18
Magee, George J., 1860
Box 18
Neill, George Hale, 1860
Box 18
Armstrong, James S., 1861
Box 19
Combs, William S., 1861
(2 volumes)
Box 19
Emery, John R., 1861
Box 19
Lane, William B., 1861
(2 volumes)
Box 19
Lippincott, James D., 1861
Box 20
Ludlow, James M., 1861
Box 20
[AR.2003.023] McClure, Ewing Graham, 1861
Microfilm
Microfilm includes McClure's autograph book and a pamphlet of edited writings from the book by Jeanne Barkley.
Box 38
McGowan, Thomson, 1861
Box 20
Morrison, William J.P., 1861
Box 20
Purviance, Winfield, 1861
(2 volumes)
Box 20
Wilde, Edward S., 1861
Box 21
Butler, Walter, 1862
Box 21
Dod, Charles H., 1862
(2 volumes)
Box 21
[AR.2004.029] Foster, William E., 1862
Box 36
Haight, John T., 1862
Box 21
Munn, Joseph L., 1862
Box 21
Purnell, George W., 1862
(2 volumes)
Box 22
Richardson, Reuben Henry, 1862
Box 36
[AR.2006.091] Cross, Richard Kelson, 1863
Box 38
[AR.2003.049] Foster, Daniel R., 1863
Box 36
Hall, Henry Rodney, 1863
Box 34
Hunt, Gavin Drummond, Jr., 1863
Box 34
Littell, William H., 1863
(2 volumes)
Box 22
Nichols, Walter Smith, 1863
Box 22
Stryker, Samuel, 1863
Box 22
[AR.2008.109] Berghaus, Valentine H., 1864
Box 37
Boyd, Samuel M., 1864
(2 volumes)
Box 23
[AR.2004.109] Gardner, Samuel 1864
Box 35
[AR.2004.045] Jacobus, Samuel H. 1864
Box 35
Matson, Thomas H., 1864
Box 23
Webster, William S.C., 1864
(2 volumes)
Box 23
Baldwin, Silas, 1865
Box 23
Hewitt, John Dunbar, 1865
Box 23
Gibby, Alexander, 1865
Box 24
Richardson, Charles F., 1865
(2 volumes)
Box 24
Shelly, William F., 1865
Box 24
Wetherill, William Delany, 1865
Box 24
Fithian, Edward M., 1866
Box 34
Haines, Edward W., 1866
(2 volumes)
Box 24
Hall, John A., 1866
Box 25
Harris, William W., 1866
Box 25
Murray, Logan C., 1866
Box 25
[AR.2002.052] Owen, Henry James, 1866
Box 36
Crocheron, John J., 1867
Box 25
Stretch, Richard G., 1867
Box 25
Dorrance, Benjamin F., 1868
(2 volumes)
Box 25
Hood, Edward C., 1868
Box 26
Howell, William Frederick, 1868
Box 26
McKaig, Alpheus Beall, 1868
Box 26
Mellier, Kennedy R., 1869
Box 26
Toadvin, Edward S., 1869
Box 34
Alexander, Charles Beatty, 1870
Box 26
[AR.1998.071] Culbertson, Sam 1870
Box 35
Green, Elmer E., 1870
Box 26
Hooper, George H., 1870
Box 27
Imbrie, Charles F., 1870
(3 volumes)
Box 27
Joline, Adrian Hoffman, 1870
Box 27
Joline, John Forsyth, 1870
Box 28
[AR.2003.005] Kinkead, George B., Jr., 1870
(2 volumes) Box 35
Pennington, Elias M., 1870
Box 28
Peters, John E., 1870
Box 28
Scudder, Edmund Drake, 1870
Box 28
Higgins, Cecil C., 1871
(2 volumes)
Box 28
Joline, Charles V.D., 1871
Box 29
Mayers, Henry L., 1871
Box 29
Terbell, Edward D., 1871
Box 29
Van Cleve, Alex G., 1871
(2 volumes)
Box 29
Johnston, Tobias W., 1872
Box 35
Van Dyke, John M., 1872
Box 29
Bissell, Artemas, 1873
Box 29
[AR.2007.082] Condit, Issac Hiram, 1873
Box 38
[AR.2007.012] Crane, John Joseph, 1873
Box 37
Van Voorhis, Isaac S., 1873
Box 30
[AR.2007.101] Field, Richard Edgar, 1874
Box 37
Wilson, William T., 1874
Box 30
Eichelberger, Edward S., 1875
Box 30
Johnson, William C., 1875
Box 30
Rodgers, Robert C., 1875
Box 30
Davis, Henry Edgar, 1876
Box 30
Kaufman, William Talmage, 1876
Box 31
Schenck, Harris Rogers, 1876
Box 31
Butler, William M., 1877
Box 31
Flickinger, Jonas Rudy, 1877
Box 31
Johnson, Baker, 1877
Box 31
Libbey, William, Jr., 1877
Box 31
Canfield, William B., 1877
Box 36
Kerr, John Henry, 1878
Box 32
Garmany, Frances C., 1879
Box 32
Duffield, Henry G., 1881
Box 32
Bannister, James B., 1882
Box 32
Benton, Samuel Hart, 1882
Box 32
Hallock, Gerard B.F., 1882
Box 32
Mills, Alfred E., 1882
Box 33
Parker, Charles W., 1882
Box 33
[AR.2008.107] Dunning, Charles, 1883
Box 38
Thomas, Claude M., 1884
Box 33

Alphabetical Listing

The following is a list of the individual and class year followed by the corresponding box number.

Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/1z40ks81r

Download PDF