Female Student's Album filled with 36 Handwritten Poems and Inscriptions from New York and Massachusetts- 1876-1882

[Women Education], NY and MA

Handwritten Journal

[Women Education] [Handwritten] Memory Album from female student with 36 handwritten entries from friends and admirers at school in New York and Massachusetts, 1876-1882. A memorabilia, recording many aspects of the first major movement of women's education in the United States brings depth to a movement that was groundbreaking in its time, but today is largely at risk of disappearing from the historical record. 8.5 x 7.25 in. Original black leather boards. Gilt detail to spine and front cover. Filled with 36 entries, nearly all of which appear to be young women who are friends and schoolmates, including locations such as Holyoke and Northampton, Massachusetts, and several from New York and entries from Philadelphia, Chicago, and Colorado. Original owner, Amy Vail, was a student at Newburgh Female Seminary in Orange County, NY and Miss Burnham’s School in Northampton, MA. Memory albums held autographs, sentiments, and reminiscences of friends and schoolmates, similar to yearbooks today.  Young women, particularly those finishing their time at a female academy and preparing to leave their school friends, tended to be the ones to create friendship albums. “Aimee, the French have as past of “to love” but at Snake Hill they proved more clever, For having a lovable girl in the present they Christened her “Amy” for ever.” “When around thee dying, Autumn leaves are lying, Oh! then remember ours, And at night when gazing, On the gay hearth blazing, Oh! still remember me.” One entry is signed “Your Loving Schoolmate,” by Kittie Kennedy, and she places her location “Newburgh GFS” at her closing, a female seminary in Orange County, NY.  Several other entries are also located at Newburgh.  At some point, Ms. Vail switched schools, as the earlier entries from 1876-79 tend to center around Newburgh, while later entries from Northampton around 1881 specify “Miss Burnham’s School.” Spine is worn. In very good condition.

Item #17042

Price: $380.00