1879+ autograph album that belonged to a Mina, presumably of the Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, area. The seller of this album indicated that the owner was Ermina Reno, though I haven't been able to substantiate that.
A clue to the album owner's identity: the page inscribed by Irene Clark, who described herself as Mina's niece. If you are able to establish Mina's identity on the clues provided in this post, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
Two pages near the end of the album were decorated with sketches of a bird motif and were signed by someone with the surname Reno, with a first name that could be Ermina, Emina or Emma. If you recognize this person, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
The album, which measures about 4" by 2-3/4" and is rather dilapidated, contains the sentiments of as many as 20 people. The exact figure is hard to determine, as some inscriptions are hard to decipher, some are unsigned and the two by Ermina Reno may have been done by someone other than the owner. It doesn't help that the inscriptions were made in pencil.
An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.
A few of the inscriptions:
R. H. Hill; inscribed on February 27, 1880
Right: Leona Deming; Leona C. (Rigg) Deming, wife of inscriber Osmer F. Deming
Osmer S. Deming on July 23, 1880. Osmer Sage Deming, husband of inscriber Leona C. (Rigg) Deming. The inscription to the left was apparently written by someone else, perhaps a child.
Chester Mills of Randolph, New York; inscribed on May 12, 1900 at age ten
A. H. Olmstead of ?, Pennsylvania; inscribed on July 29, 1879. Presumably Alfred H. Olmstead, husband of inscriber Clara Olmstead
Clara Olmstead [surname faded out]; inscribed on August 1, 1879. Presumably the Clara Olmstead of Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, who was married to inscriber Alfred H. Olmstead.
- Mina, album owner, presumably the Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, area
- Minnie Rose of Collinwood, Ohio; inscribed on April 18, 1879. Not sure if second name is a middle name or a surname.
- Unsigned; appears to be scribbled words
- Unsigned; appears to be scribbled words
- Unsigned; appears to be scribbled words
- Unsigned; appears to be scribbled words
- Can't read name of inscriber, who sketched a woman's face
- C. D. W. Baker; inscribed on February 27, 1880. Sketched a pointing hand. Possible Clinton D. Baker
- Irene Clark; "Your Niece"
- ? Davis of Spring, Pennsylvania, presumably Spring Creek, Pennsylvania. First and middle initials hard to decipher.
- A. G. Davis of Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, possibly Annie G. Davis.
- Leona Deming; Leona C. (Rigg) Deming, wife of inscriber Osmer F. Deming
- Osmer S. Deming on July 23, 1880. Osmer Sage Deming, husband of inscriber Leona C. (Rigg) Deming. Osmer inscribed facing pages, though the handwriting is different, as if someone much younger inscribed the left facing page.
- A. E. Eldred of Spring Creek, Pennsylvania; inscribed in June 1879
- Addie Gray; inscribed on August 26, 1879
- R. H. Hill; inscribed on February 27, 1880
- E. Iola Miller
- Chester Mills of Randolph, New York; inscribed on May 12, 1900 at age ten
- Esther Nichols; inscribed on July 20, 1879
- A. H. Olmstead of ?, Pennsylvania; inscribed on July 29, 1879. Presumably Alfred H. Olmstead, husband of inscriber Clara Olmstead
- Clara Olmstead [surname faded out]; inscribed on August 1, 1879. Possibly the Clara Olmstead of Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, who was married to Alfred H. Olmstead.
- Ermina Reno, or Emina Reno, or Emma Reno; sketched two pages with a bird motif
- Minnie Rose of Collinwood, Ohio; inscribed on April 18, 1879. Not sure if second name is a middle name or a surname.
- Allie Webb
- Marian Weist or Maria Weist. Not sure of surname
-->
No comments:
Post a Comment