Wednesday, February 14, 2018

1880s Autograph Album of Mamie Dorr of West Pittston, Pennsylvania


1880s autograph album that belonged to schoolgirl Mamie Dorr of West Pittston, Pennsylvania.


The album contains inscriptions from Pittston, West Pittston and other towns in Pennsylvania; Columbus, New York; and Ironton, Ohio.


The album measures approximately 6-1/4" by 3-3/4" and contains the sentiments of about 54 of Mamie's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

? [6]HHowellRRemmel
BBennettHoytRosenkrance
CClark [2]JJonesSSchooley
Cooper [2]LLanceScott
CowanMMasonSmith [4]
DDeweyMcGuireSmyth
DorrMcMillanSpurr
DowningMiles [4]Thomas [2]
DudleyPPerrinThompson
EEmoryPolenVan Tuyle
FFordhamPost [2]Williams
GGrangerPurdie [5]
Green

From brief online research - hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:

Mamie may have been the Mary H. Dorr who was born about 1871 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Charles E. Dorr and Louisa (Smith) Dorr of West Pittston, Pennsylvania.  This Mary died in 1954 and is buried in the West Pittston Cemetery at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, with her parents and other relatives.

Those who expressed kinship, or it was implied:
  • D. Miles; Mamie's uncle.  Presumably David T. Miles of Ironton, Ohio
  • Aunt Julia.  Presumably Julia (Smith) Miles, wife of inscriber David T. Miles.  Presumably Julia was related to Mamie's mother Louisa (Smith) Dorr, perhaps a sister.
  • Erastus Miles.  Presumably Erastus Miles of Ironton, Ohio, son of inscribers David T. Miles and Julia (Smith) Miles
  • Mattie Miles of Ironton, Ohio.  Interestingly, there was a Nathaniel Miles, who was the son of inscribers David T. Miles and Julia (Allen) Allen.  The Ms in Mattie and Miles appear identical, but it's possible the name is Nattie Miles.
  • Waity [?] H. Purdie of Columbus, New York; inscribed on October 11, 1882.  Called herself Mamie's cousin.  "Waity H. Purdie aged 78 years & 3 months".  She was Waity (Howard) Purdie, born July 28, 1804, and husband of Samuel Purdie, who also inscribed a page.
  • Elvira C. Purdie of Columbus, New York.  Elvira C. (Allen) Purdie, whose husband William Purdie inscribed the right facing page.  Elvira appeared to have suffered from tremors or perhaps a vision problem, or both.
  • William H. Purdie of Columbus, New York; inscribed on October 13, 1882.  His wife, Elvira C. (Allen) Purdie, inscribed the left facing page.
  • Samuel Purdie; inscribed at Columbus, New York, on October 13, 1882.  "Aged 78-12 days-6 months- Last".  Samuel was born June 12, 1804.  His wife, Waity (Howard) Purdie, also inscribed a page in the album.
  • Lucinda A. Purdie of Columbus, New York.  Lucinda Angell Purdie was the daughter of inscribers Samuel Purdie and Waity (Howard) Purdie.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, an alternative theory for the identify of Mamie Dorr or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Inscribers in the Album
  • H. L. P.; inscribed on November 17, 1882
  • M. J. R.; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on February 18, 1884
  • Matie; inscribed on September 3, 1882.  "Tomorrow is the much dreaded yet hoped for day.  the first of school".
  • Unsigned sketch of a house with the door marked, "Two Kinds of door's  1. door & 2.  Dore [presumably meant to be Dorr]"
  • Jennie; inscribed at Pittston, Pennsylvania, on February 26, 1883.  Jennie called herself album owner Mamie's seatmate.
  • Maggie; inscribed on November 1, 1884
  • Mary Bennett; inscribed at Pittston, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1883
  • Cornelia L. Clark of Columbus, New York; inscribed on October 13, 1882
  • Mary H. Clark of Columbus, New York
  • Hattie S. Cooper of Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on March 6, 1884
  • May P. Cooper of Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on March 6, 1884
  • Minnie Cowan of West Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on October 31, 1884
  • Henry Dewey of West Pittston, Pennsylvania
  • Mamie Dorr of West Pittston, Pennsylvania; album owner.  Her name, and that of Lizzie McMillan, appear on the last end paper.  Mamie was then 13.
  • Louis L. Downing of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on March 6, 1884
  • Anna Dudley; inscribed at Pittston, Pennsylvania, on March 1, 1883
  • Blanche Emory of Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on January 23, 1883
  • Belle Fordham; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on February 24, 1883.  Bird sketches
  • Abbott D. Granger; inscribed on July 16, 1881
  • Nellie M. Green; inscribed at Pittston, Pennsylvania, on October 20, 1883
  • Clara Howell; inscribed at Pittston, Pennsylvania, on January 24, 1885
  • Vibbie C. Hoyt, or Libbie C. Hoyt; inscribed on February 14, 1883
  • Emma Jones of Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on February 18, 1884
  • Mattie L. Lance of Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on October 31, 1884
  • Sallie A. Mason of West Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on October 31, 1883
  • Sallie L. McGuire of Milton, Pennsylvania; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on October 31, 1884
  • Lizzie McMillan; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on January 25, 1883.  The words "seat mates" straddle this and the right facing page inscribed by Jennie O. Thomas.  Lizzie's name and that of album owner Mamie Dorr appear on the back end paper.
  • D. Miles; Mamie's uncle.  Presumably David T. Miles of Ironton, Ohio
  • Aunt Julia.  Presumably Julia (Smith) Miles, wife of inscriber David T. Miles
  • Mattie Miles of Ironton, Ohio.  Interestingly, there was a Nathaniel Miles, who was the son of inscribers David T. Miles and Julia (Allen) Allen.  The Ms in Mattie and Miles appear identical, but it's possible the name is Nattie Miles.
  • Erastus Miles.  Presumably Erastus Miles of Ironton, Ohio, son of inscribers David T. Miles and Julia (Smith) Miles
  • Jessie A. Perrin of West Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on November 8, 1883 at W.P.G.S., presumably West Pittston Grammar School
  • Lydia B. Polen of Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on January 25, 1883
  • May Post; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on February 26, 1883
  • Sadie Post; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on March 2, 1883
  • Waity [?] H. Purdie of Columbus, New York; inscribed on October 11, 1882.  Called herself Mamie's cousin.  "Waity H. Purdie aged 78 years & 3 months".  She was Waity (Howard) Purdie, born July 28, 1804, and husband of Samuel Purdie, who also inscribed a page.
  • Elvira C. Purdie of Columbus, New York.  Elvira C. (Allen) Purdie, whose husband William Purdie inscribed the right facing page.  Elvira appeared to have suffered from tremors or perhaps a vision problem, or both.
  • William H. Purdie of Columbus, New York; inscribed on October 13, 1882.  His wife, Elvira C. (Allen) Purdie, inscribed the left facing page.
  • Samuel Purdie; inscribed at Columbus, New York, on October 13, 1882.  "Aged 78-12 days-6 months- Last".  Samuel was born June 12, 1804.  His wife, Waity (Howard) Purdie, also inscribed a page in the album.
  • Lucinda A. Purdie of Columbus, New York.  Lucinda Angell Purdie was the daughter of inscribers Samuel Purdie and Waity (Howard) Purdie.
  • Lily Remmel; inscribed on March 2, 1883
  • Lillian Rosenkrance of Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on January 22, 1885
  • Harry Schooley of West Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed on March 6, 1884
  • Gertie Scott; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1883
  • T. B. Smith of Lackawanna, Pennsylvania; inscribed on September 4, 1882
  • Grace Smith; inscribed on August 24, 1882
  • Mary N. Smith of Waverly, Pennsylvania; inscribed on July 18, 1882
  • Alice Smith of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 1885
  • Winnie Smyth of West Pittston, Pennsylvania; inscribed at New York Ave on February 2, 1885
  • Maud Spurr of South Edmeston, New York; inscribed on August 29, 1885
  • Jennie M. Thomas of Pittston, Pennsylvania
  • Jennie O. Thomas; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on January 25, 1883.  The words "seat mates" straddle this and the left facing page inscribed by Lizzie McMillan.  Jennie's age was given as 13 years, 6 months, 33 days
  • Laura Thompson; inscribed on October 27, 1883 at West Pittston, Pennsylvania
  • L. A. Van Tuyle
  • Ida M. Williams; inscribed at West Pittston, Pennsylvania, on January 26, 1883

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