The Manuscripts Division started the year by making four unique collections available for research:
San Marcos (Tex.) Corporation court docket and fee book, 1902-1908
This docket and fee book contains a record of court cases held in San Marcos, Texas, between 1902 and 1908. Each page of the partially printed volume contains space indicating the name of the case (“The State of Texas vs. [ ]”), names of the complainant and accused, charges, information about warrants and subpoenas, and a wide variety of different fees. Many of the cases related to gaming, public drunkenness/intoxication, fighting in public, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, unlawfully riding on trains, and other criminal infractions. In at least one case the defendant was accused of selling goods on a Sunday (pages 154-155). Multiple cases involved the “unlawful carrying of a pistol” or “carrying of a pistol” (see for example pages 48, 90, 100, etc.).
Henry W. Smith collection, 1861-1864
This collection consists of thirteen letters written by Henry W. Smith between 1861 and 1864 while he served with Company D of the 41st Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War, as well as a pencil drawing of soldiers at Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky, an embroidery sampler, and miscellaneous other items. He mainly wrote about camp life in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, providing details about food, clothing, drills, and more.
Smith’s pencil drawing of soldiers at Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky
Bertha Wait’s Identification Card as a civilian employee and travel documents.
Kingston (Ill. : Township) school record book, 1862-1879
This volume contains meeting minutes pertaining to the administration, accounting, and operation of the school in Kingstown/Kingston, De Kalb County, Illinois, in the 19th century. The residents of District No. 11 elected R.R. Denis as the first school director and chose the location of the schoolhouse. The board decided on funding for building repairs, payment of teachers, levies, elections, and other administrative matters.
Norman and Bertha Wait papers, 1916-1962 (bulk 1935-1947)
The Norman and Bertha Wait Papers include correspondence, documents, photographs, and more relating to Norman Wait’s childhood, 1935 tour of Europe with the Y.M.C.A., and Norman and Bertha Wait’s service with the United States Army’s Ordnance Department during World War II. Post-war materials relate to Norman Wait’s service with the Reserve Corps and Bertha Wait’s receipt of the Medal of Freedom.
The Graphics Division student interns have been hard at work processing collections! Check out these recent finding aids they created:
Trade Card Album, ca. 1885-1903
This trade card album is filled with advertising for household goods. The experience starts with the album itself, a classically Victorian album with a cover featuring a floral motif. Inside are the colorfully printed trade cards, calendar pages, and prints artfully arranged on the album pages.
Philadelphia Trade Cards Collection, ca. 1870-1885
The Philadelphia Trade Cards Collection is an excellent document of businesses in Philadelphia during the late 19th century. Composed of over 200 trade cards, all advertising manufacturing, goods, and services in Philadelphia, it offers a window into what living (and shopping) in Philadelphia at the time would have been like.
Jenny Lind Ephemera Collection, ca. 1850-1852
While being a small collection, it documents a major popular culture figure in United States history. Jinny Lind was a Swedish opera singer who rose to fame in 1850 during her musical tour of the United States. Under P.T. Barnum’s management, Ms. Lind performed in 93 different cities! The Jenny Lind Ephemera Collection documents the fandom that arose around her; it includes tickets and programs from her performances, newspaper clippings reporting on her tour, Jenny Lind merchandise, and examples of different companies using her likeness in their advertising.
Tickets and program for Jenny Lind performances.
Marjorie Howell Burnell Greeting Cards Collection, 1922-1936
This collection of greeting cards Marjorie received from birth into her early teens is a peek into a young girl’s life in the early 20th century. The charming collection includes holiday cards, birthday cards, get-well cards, and party invitations. Most are printed cards, but there are some homemade ones as well.
City Directory Advertisement Collection, ca. 1870-1939
A third LARGE ephemera collection finding aid joins the General Ephemera and Travel Ephemera Collections! The City Directory Advertisement Collection is housed in 42 boxes and comprises advertisements, maps, and other pages from United States city directories. Each of the approximately 9,200 sheets in the collection is annotated in hand with the city name and year of the directory it originally appeared in. A personal favorite is Box 41, where printer examples are arranged. On these advertising pages, printers would include examples of their best chromolithographed images – making Box 41 chock-full of stand out chromolithograph specimens.
Chromolithographed advertisements for Boston and Rochester printers, from city directories.