Friday, March 22, 2013

1880s Autograph Album of Mary Elizabeth Kerr of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


1880s autograph album that belonged to Mary Elizabeth Kerr of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The page below was written by Mary to the future signers in her album.



The album is approximately 8-1/2" x 7", with puffy blue velour covers.  It contains 36 pages of sentiments written by Mary herself, her relatives, friends and schoolmates.

It also includes a scrap of paper with a sentiment.


Two schools are mentioned by signers: Moorhead School and Pittsburgh Central High School.

The album has many pages with preprinted designs scattered throughout the album.

From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections and additions welcome]

Mary Elizabeth Kerr was born about December 1875, the daughter of Irish immigrants James and Sarah Kerr of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Mary's father James signed a page in her album.



Mary had at least two siblings, brothers William and Robert, who each signed pages in her album.  They chose pages with the same preprinted design, whether by chance or purpose.





Two of Mary's cousins signed pages in her album.  Cousin Willie A. McCleary of New York signed a page on 25 December 1887.



Cousin Annie Shillito signed a page on 21 August 1897.



Mary's teacher E. Leavenworth Elliott signed a page at Pittsbugh Central High School on 17 April 1893, which might be the year of Mary's graduation.  From there, it appears that she went on to a teacher's school.



In the 1900 and 1910 Censuses of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mary was still at home with her parents and was working as a school teacher.

If you have corrections to the information above or more information on Mary Elizabeth Kerr and her family, please leave a comment or contact me directly.  Thanks!

Alphabetical list of signers: [Note: given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]


  • Hettie, signed on 24 March 1888
  • Nannie G. Agnew, signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 5 March 1889; Mary's schoolmate
  • Nannie G. Agnew, signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 5 March 1889; Mary's schoolmate
  • Blanche Bailey
  • Annie W. Bauersmith, signed on 25 June 1888
  • Helen F. Brooks, signed at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on 21 March 1888
  • Dora Burger, signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 16 October 1888
  • John H. Craig
  • Norman A. Craig
  • J. D. Craig
  • Mary L. Davison
  • I. B. Dodd, signed on 18 October 1888
  • E. Leavenworth Elliott, signed at Pittsburg Central High School on 17 April 1893; Mary's friend and teacher
  • Winnietta Gibbon
  • Louis Greenlund
  • R. George Hall
  • Janet F. Herron, signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 1 March 1889
  • Mary Elizabeth Kerr of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, album owner; she inscribed a page to the future signers in her album
  • James Kerr, inscribed on 18 February 1888, to his daughter Mary L. Kerr.  He may have called her Mary Lizzie or Libby
  • William Kerr, Mary's brother
  • Robert Kerr; Mary's brother
  • Ella M. Martin, signed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, signed on 27 February 1889
  • Willie A. McCleary, signed at New York, on 25 December 1887; Mary's cousin
  • Dan McDowett
  • D. I. McLean, signed at Moorhead School on 6 March 1888
  • Dora Neil, signed at Mount Jackson, Pennsylvania
  • Bertha A. Norris, signed on 6 March 1888
  • Bertha A. Norris, signed on 6 March 1888
  • Emma D. Norris, signed on 13 March 1888
  • Laura Pandtte, signed on 8 March 1889
  • Stella G. Parkhill, signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 8 March 1889
  • Mary Robb, signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on "6-25" [no year given]
  • Mary Robb, signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on "6-25" [no year given]
  • Alice E. Rodgers
  • Emma Turner, signed at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on 1 March 1889
  • Mary C. Wilson, signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 25 June 1891
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Thanks for stopping by!


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