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Home » About » Blog » New Manuscript Finding Aids: Summer 2024

The Manuscripts Division invites you to explore these 25 new finding aids published in the summer of 2024. The collection continues to grow in exciting ways, and this round of new descriptions ranges from a visually rich archive of an inventor advertising and selling his wares to the case notes kept by a woman advocating for the care of children in Washington, D.C. Should anything prove relevant to your interests, don’t hesitate to plan a research visit or contact us to learn more.

Charles and Richard Alden scrapbooks, 1885-1893

This collection consists of two matching scrapbooks produced between 1885 and 1893 relating to the trick-cycling careers of The Alden Brothers, a two-man team and vaudeville act. Items include contracts, playbills, photographs, clippings, menus, printed cards and invitations, programs (including some printed on silk), business cards, membership certificates, broadsides, and other memorabilia.

Closeup of the floral details on the Alden scrapbook covers.

Sketches of household items drawn in 1881 by Rosa Boyer.

Rosa Boyer notebook, 1881-1887

Rosa Boyer, likely a student in Pennsylvania, kept this notebook between 1881 and 1887, in which she copied rhyming maxims and poems, wrote names of friends, produced various lists, and drew a number of pencil sketches.

Newsboys’ and Children’s Aid Society case book, 1886-1887

This volume contains notes Kate Brown Barlow kept between 1886 and 1887 relating to the cases handled by the Newsboys and Children’s Aid Society of Washington, D.C. Typically the notes record the child’s name, their race, family and financial circumstances, conditions at the place of residence, physical appearance and state of clothing, indications of hardship, and any details about job or housing placements.

Josephine Augustus journal, 1899-1904

Josephine Augustus kept this journal between 1899 and 1904, writing record and diary-like entries of her experiences running a boarding house and farm near Columbus, Ohio.

Pennsylvania Burial Removal permits, 1906-1909

This collection consists of a small bound volume of pre-printed burial removal permits filled out for Pennsylvania undertakers O. M. Bennett, J. L. Vann, W. S. Clarke & Son, H. S. Cosher, John Henderson, and J. G. Luther. The forms document the deceased’s name, age, date of death, cause of death, residence, place of burial, and the location where the body was to be removed.

Isaac S. Clough collection, 1856-1883

This collection is comprised largely of advertising broadsides and broadsheets relating to Isaac S. Clough’s work as an inventor and manufacturer, his work with a wholesale and retail store, and his work as a salesman and patentee between 1856-1883 in New York and Philadelphia. Among others, Clough’s inventions include fly, mosquito, cockroach, and mouse traps; illuminated lanterns; combination knife-fork-spoon style cutlery; firecracker guns; automaton jig dancers; cane seats; shoe blacking; boot jacks; and other “Housekeeping articles and Yankee notions.”

Mamie P. Schultz notebook, 1891

Mamie P. Schultz of Worcester, Pennsylvania, kept this notebook while a student at “Metz’s School” in Worcester, Pennsylvania, in 1891. It contains notes pertaining to American and English literature, providing biographical information about various poets and authors and details of their published works. The volume also contains a list of twenty-four English and American writers and a poem entitled “History” detailing the progression of American presidents.

Isaac S. Clough broadside advertisement regarding the sale of fireworks and decorations for 4th of July celebrations.

David Weston journal, 1863

This diary (around 29 pages) was maintained by 18-year-old David Weston in July and August of 1863 in Boston and Reading, Massachusetts. His entries reflect the labor he performed, such as making shoes, sawing and splitting wood, and agricultural tasks. He also added notes regarding the Boston Draft Riot, its aftermath, and other Massachusetts military events.

Almon Wheeler memorandum of travels, 1827

Almon Wheeler of Malone, New York, compiled this volume to detail his experiences while traveling through Vermont and Maine between June 14 and July 19, 1827. Religious and biblical references are interspersed throughout, and Wheeler wrote about his encounter with a Shaker village. He also commented on his personal health and ailments like mosquito bites and stomach pains, and his thoughts on July 4th and the death of President John Adams (1735-1826).

Manuscript map of Pennsylvania and surrounding states from Bernard N. Schlegel’s notebook.

Bernard N. Schlegel notebook, 1917-1918

Bernard N. Schlegel kept this notebook between 1917 and 1918, possibly while a student in Pennsylvania. It includes copies of poems or song lyrics, penmanship exercises, and colored manuscript maps of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and the state of Pennsylvania.

William Wheeler account book, 1805-1818

William Wheeler of Massachusetts kept this account book between 1805 and 1815 to record personal accounts and financial transactions relating to his lumber business. It contains references to exploring the areas of Partridge Island and Deposit, New York, to buy land, contracts for lumbering rights, and rafting lumber down the Delaware River to Philadelphia.

Frederick W. Whipple composition and lecture book, 1855-1862

Frederick W. Whipple maintained this notebook while studying at the Classical Institute of Warren, Rhode Island and Brown University. It contains Whipple’s essays, notes, practice letters, and other sections relating to his education between 1855 and 1862.

Rachel Ann White diary, 1834-1837

Rachel Ann White of Weymouth, Massachusetts, kept this diary between 1834 and 1837 while she was between the ages of 17 and 20. The diary begins with White’s trip to New York City in the summer of 1834. Entries after White’s return home in mid-August 1834 shorten and become more abbreviated, giving accounts of her family, social, and educational life.

Detailed sketch of a man in formal attire done by William H. Whiton.

William H. Whiton sketchbook, 1859-1860

Between 1859 and 1860, William H. Whiton of Tennessee drew pen-and-ink and pencil drawings in a blank autograph album. Topics in the sketchbook include satires of business operations and interpersonal relationships in business settings, love and romance, the hanging of John Brown, and more.

A. Willets daybook, 1872, 1875, 1956

This daybook consists of financial accounts for a general goods store, possibly in Rochester, New York, containing daily purchases by patrons and a section to detail cash transactions in 1872 and 1875. Goods represented in the volume include foodstuffs, alcohol and tobacco, clothing and accessories, postage, medicine, household items, and other goods (such as firecrackers sold on July 3 and 4, 1872).

John Williams account book, 1843

John Williams kept this account book in 1843 to record brief accounts of expenses related to the construction of houses, barns, or other construction projects, likely near Hartford, Connecticut.

Stephen Williams penmanship copybook, [1840s]

Stephen Williams kept this copybook in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, possibly in the 1840s. The volume includes penmanship practice, moral maxims, names of presidents and more.

Samuel Winship cash book, 1826-1827

Samuel Winship kept this cash book between 1826 and 1827, primarily to document accounts relating to slate quarries in Duchess County, New York. It also appears to feature some personal accounts or entries, such as a recipe for curing hams and a small list of foods towards the end of the volume.

Williamstown (Vt.) library inventory, [circa 1903]-1907

This manuscript contains a list of books purchased by a small library apparently located in Williamstown, Vermont, kept roughly between 1903-1907. The volume includes authors’ names, two pages of patrons’ names, and which books the patrons checked out.

Woman’s travel diary, 1865

This diary was kept by a woman traveling to Charlotte, New York, in 1865 via the Potomac River (Va.), aboard the ship Little Ada.

Samuel Winship’s recipe for cured ham.

Worden G. Wood’s sketch of the U.S.S. Yankee.

Worden G. Wood sketchbook, circa 1898

Worden G. Wood kept this sketchbook around 1898 while he was serving as a reserve in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Yankee during the Spanish American War.

Kate M. Young papers, 1860-1870

This collection consists of four items relating to the career of Kate M. Young, a teacher in Port Huron, Michigan, between 1860 and 1870. One item is a letter by H. Fish, superintendent of the district, informing Young that she’s been approved as a teacher in the Primary Department. The remaining three items are certificates, including Young’s certificate of promotion to the high school department dated June 28, 1866.

Emma Wilson, “Year Book for Texts of Sermons”, 1885-1886

Emma Wilson kept this “Year Book for Texts of Sermons” printed by the Presbyterian Board of Publication while she attended the Oxford Sabbath School in Chester County, Pennsylvania, between 1885 and 1886. It includes instructions on how the volume was to be used and short forms to record the date, who provided the sermon, the Biblical verse and text used, and signature lines for the scholar and teacher.

Woodruff diary, 1884

This pre-printed daily diary was maintained by B. Woodruff, a 26-year-old female school and music teacher. It consists of both personal entries and entries relating to the monetary aspect of her work teaching music to students in 1884 in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, areas.

William Youse orderly book, 1814

This orderly book was kept by Lieutenant William Youse of the Second Regiment, First Rifle Brigade of the United States Army while he was stationed at Camp Springfield and Camp Hampstead in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1814. Entries mostly consist of reports, general orders, and court martials.