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- Title
- New drawing album
- Description
- Friendship album of Helen Frances Baxter containing circa 60 entries, predominantly contributed while she was a student at Hudson Female Academy during the early 1860s. Entries include original and transcribed poems, prose, and essays; miniature watercolor, pencil and ink sketches; and ruled designs in pencil to resemble mosaics of square calling cards. Most of the entries are signed or contain the initials of the contributor, some noted as completed in Texas. Several entries also include or are entirely composed of vignette paper photograph portraits, predominantly bust-length and depicting young women. Topics of the entries include remembrance, friendship, mortality, religion and allusions to the literary works Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" (p. [99]) (racialized allusion) and Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" and Clement Clarke Moore's "Night Before Christmas" (p. [161-165]). Sketches depict scenes of nature (trees, a waterfall), a cottage, stone ruins, and “crossticks” and are often inserted into four slots in the corresponding page. Mosaics sometimes include names and addresses and/or portrait photographs. Also contains 10 lithographs depicting a composition of a scroll bordered by a type of flower, including lily, tulip, convolvulus, and rose. Lithographs also include printed sentimental prose describing the depicted flower. A small piece of paper with pasted down dried leaves and a final page of bon mots, including “All things lovely have an end. So has this book of yours my friend” also comprise the album., Contributors include Alba K. Fellows (p. [25-26]), Mary Phipps (later Foster) (Hudson, NY) (p. [39]), Sarah Vanderzee (Coeymans, NY) ( p. [55, 141]), William H. Morrison (Hudson, NY) (p. [59)], Eva C. Platt (p. [95]), Angie Smalley (Carmel, NY) (p. [31, 166-167], and Emma V. Claflin (later Parmalee)(Philadelphia) (p. [152]). Hudson Female Academy, established by Reverend John B. Hague in 1851 and under his administration during the 1860s, was a four-year academy for young women in Hudson, NY. The course of study included Mathematics, English Grammar, "Philosophy of Nautral History," Latin, Physiology, Vocal Music, Composition, "Guizot's Civilization," Chemistry, Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, French, German, Drawing, and Painting., Lacquered papier mâché binding with painted imagery depicting a bouquet of flowers framed by filigree, and accented with inlaid mother of pearl., Title from title page: New Drawing Album. J. C. Riker, publisher., Contains presentation page on p. [2]: Hand-colored lithograph signed Lith. Of Sarony & Major, N. Y. and depicting an open scroll of paper bordered by flowers and with text “Presented to.” Imprint: Published by J. C. Riker, 129 Fulton St., N. York., Contains inscription in pencil on p. [9]: Receive me with a smile,/As to each friend [?],/Detain me but a little while,/Then send the wanderer home., Contains presentation page on p. [13]: Hand-colored lithograph signed Lith. Of Sarony & Major, N. Y. and depicting an open scroll of paper bordered by flowers and with text “Presented to” [Miss Helen Frances Baxter, 12th May 155 by J.H.P]. Imprint: Published by Riker, Thorne &Co, 129 Fulton St., New York., Contains gilt marbled end papers., Contains some color paper pages., Gift of Michael Zinman, 2014., List of contributors and transcription of album entries available at repository., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Possibly compiled by Helen Fisher Baxter (1843- 1920) of Fishkill, later Hughsonville, N.Y. She worked as a music teacher in 1880 and died in Wappingers, N.Y. in 1920.
- Creator
- Baxter, Helen Frances
- Date
- [1855-1875, bulk 1860-1861]
- Location
- Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department albums [P.2014.79]