1889-1890 autograph album that I believe belonged to Clara Elizabeth Coburn of Groton, Massachusetts, or "Clarissa", as she was also known.
Though her Massachusetts birth record shows the name Clara, most other records give her name as Clarissa, and that's the name she used when she signed a page in her album on September 12, 1890, at about the age of eight. Another signer dedicated her page to "Clarissa".
The album is approximately 9" x 6" and contains the sentiments of 23 of Clarissa's relatives, friends and schoolmates. An alphabetical list of the signers appears at the end of this post.
From online research, hopefully correct: [corrections and additions welcome!]
According to her Massachusetts birth record, Clarissa was born Clara Elizabeth Coburn on 22 August 1882 at Groton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Moses Burbank Coburn and Emma Harriet (Whiting) Coburn. Emma's mother was Clarissa (Childs) Whiting, and the name Clara may have gradually morphed into Clarissa in honor of her grandmother. Both Moses Burbank Coburn and Emma Harriet (Whiting) Coburn signed pages in Clarissa's album.
Clarissa's maternal grandfather, Lemuel Whiting of Groton, Massachusetts, signed a page on January 4, 1890. He gave his birth date: March 6, 1806.
Clarissa's brother Fred William Coburn of Groton, Massachusetts, signed a page. On 7 July 1908 at Groton, Massachusetts, Fred would marry Flora Belle Blood, daughter of Charles and Malvina (Gilson) Blood.
I don't believe Clarissa ever married. She lived with her parents until their deaths. The 1930 Census found her living alone at Groton, Massachusetts, and working as a bookkeeper at a grocery store. She also worked at the Groton library. She died in Groton, Massachusetts, in 1972.
If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly. Thanks!
Surnames in the album [Most appear multiple times.]
Bates
Clarke
Coburn
Collier
Coughlin
Greenwood
Harrington
Longley
Mann
Mason
Patch
Whiting
Signers in the album [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]
- Willard S.
- Rosa B. Bates of Hubbardston, Massachusetts, signed on "1890-8-4"
- Alice Clarke of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on October 23, 1890
- Clarissa E. Coburn of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on September 12, 1890. Presumably album owner Clarissa E. Coburn herself.
- Emma H. Coburn of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on January 3, 1890. Presumably Clarissa's mother, Emma Harriet (Whiting) Coburn.
- Fred W. Coburn of Groton, Massachusetts. Clarissa's older brother Fred William Coburn.
- M. B. Coburn of Groton, Massachusetts. Moses Burbank Coburn, Clarissa's father.
- Edmund D. Collier of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on January 6, 1889
- S. J. Coughlin of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on October 23, 1890; Clarissa's schoolmate
- C. E. Greenwood of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on February 20, 1890
- Mary E. Greenwood of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on February 26, 1890
- Emma I. Greenwood of Lexington, Massachusetts, signed on August 28, 1890
- Paul Greenwood of Lexington, Massachusetts, signed on August 28, 1890
- Cynthia L. Harrington of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on January 16, 1890. Middle initial might be S.
- Lillie C. Harrington of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on February 10, 1890
- Charles A. Harrington of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on February 10, 1890
- Frances L. Harrington of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on January 17, 1890
- Jennie Longley, signed at Groton, Massachusetts, on January 9, 1890
- Elnora L. Mann of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on January 4, 1890
- Eleanor Mason of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on October 23, 1890; Clarissa's schoolmate
- Ralph S. Patch of Brattleboro, Vermont, signed on December 17, 1880. He was a nephew to signer Sarah Jane (Patch) Whiting; Ralph's father was William Fitch Patch, Sarah Jane's older brother. He may have meant to write 1890, as all but one of the pages were signed in 1890 and the other in 1889
- Henry W. Whiting of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on January 3, 1890. He was Henry William Whiting, older brother of Clarissa's mother Emma Harriet (Whiting) Coburn and husband of Sarah Jane (Patch) Whiting, who also signed a page in the album.
- Sarah J. Whiting of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on January 3, 1890. She was Sarah Jane (Patch) Whiting, wife of Henry William Whiting, who was the older brother of Clarissa's mother Emma Harriet (Whiting) Coburn. Sarah's husband Henry William Whiting also signed a page in the album.
- Lemuel Whiting of Groton, Massachusetts, signed on January 4, 1890. He gave his birth date as March 6th 1806. He was Clarissa's maternal grandfather.
Groton, Massachusetts
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