1857 to 1863 autograph album kept by Mary F. Lawrence, "Fannie", who appears to have been a student at a school for young women, presumably at York, South Carolina.
The album was presented to Fannie M. Lawrence, or Mary Frances Lawrence, by her father, whose name was not given. He may have been Allen G. Lawrence of York, South Carolina.
Fannie may have attended the Yorkville Female Institute, also known as Yorkville Female College. Read more about the Yorkville Female Institute on this post from the blog Roots and Recall. At least three of the inscribers are mentioned here, though the name of one student, Fannie Douglass, is misspelled as Nannie. Fannie Douglass was the only inscriber to dedicate her page to "Mary", rather than "Fannie".
The album, which was published by J. B. Lippincott & Co. of Philadelphia, measures approximately 8" by 6-1/4" and contains four pages with color designs interspersed throughout and the sentiments of 38 of Fannie's relatives, friends and fellow students from South Carolina and North Carolina.
Surnames which appear multiple times:
- Cunningham
- Poag
- Stowe
An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post. Mary F. Lawrence, "Fannie", wrote her name on the title page; or perhaps her name was written by her father.
From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:
If I have the correct "Fannie", Mary F. Lawrence, presumably Mary Frances Lawrence or Mary Fannie Lawrence, or, as on the presentation page, Fannie M. Lawrence, was born about 1840, the daughter of Allen G. Lawrence and Martha (Peters) Lawrence. Allen G. Lawrence died in July 1860, during the time frame of this album.
I found a listing of interments in the Bethel Presbyterian Cemetery at York, South Carolina, that shows a Mary Frances Lawrence born 1829 and died 1855. This, however, doesn't match the York District, South Carolina, Census records of 1850 and 1860, which give her birth year as about 1838 and 1842 respectively, and have her still very much alive in August 1860. Perhaps the file has transcription errors.
Two cousins inscribed pages:
- Fannie B., who hailed from, or inscribed her page at, Clay Hill, South Carolina; inscribed in July 1863
- S. C. Lowry
If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
Hopefully a reader will leave a comment with the identity of Kate McE?, who inscribed her page, shown below, on January 23, 1857. Kate either hailed from Alison Creek, now Allison Creek, South Carolina, or she inscribed her page there.
Surnames in the Album
Inscribers in the Album
- Kate McE?; from or inscribed at Alison Creek, South Carolina, on January 23, 1857; now Allison Creek - see the image of her page, above.
- A friend
- W. B., Sr.; from or inscribed at Yorkville, South Carolina, on May 15, 1857
- Mary R.
- Unsigned sentiment
- Fannie B.; from or inscribed at Clay Hill, South Carolina, in July 1863. Fannie's cousin
- Unsigned; it's possible that the name was rubbed out
- Kate Adams; from or inscribed in Gaston County, North Carolina, on January 24, 1857
- Sallie Allison; from or inscribed at Yorkville, South Carolina, on January 23, 1857
- M. M. Bookman; from or inscribed in Fairfield District, South Carolina, in January 1857. Fannie's classmate.
- Anne Bull, from or inscribed at White Cane, Orangeburg District, South Carolina, on March 10, 1857
- M. L. Cunningham; from or inscribed at Liberty Hill, Kershaw District, South Carolina, on January 24, 1857
- S. Cunningham; from or inscribed at Liberty Hill, Kershaw District, South Carolina, on January 23, 1857
- Fannie Douglass; from or inscribed in the Chester District, South Carolina, on March 7, 1857; inscribed "To Dear Mary".
- Jennie Ferguson; from or inscribed in York District, South Carolina, on March 18, 1857. Inscribed to "Fane Dear". Possibly Jane Ferguson.
- Mattie E. I. Guy, or Mattie E. J. Guy; Fannie's roommate; from or inscribed at Chester District on January 23, 1857
- Cate Hall
- A. A. Hannah; from or inscribed in York District, South Carolina, on January 23, 1857. Possibly Agnes A. Hannah
- Bettie James; from or inscribed at Darlington, South Carolina, on March 5, 1857 [the last digit appears to be struckover a 6, so could possibly be 1856]
- Fannie M. Lawrence, album owner; presented to her by her father
- Sallie Logan; from or inscribed in York County, South Carolina, on January 25, 1857. Fannie's classmate
- S. C. Lowry; Fannie's cousin
- Loulu McFadden; "Devoted Friend and Classmate"; from or inscribed at Yorkville, South Carolina, on May 13, 1857
- Lizzie Moffett; from or inscribed at Hazelwood, South Carolina, on January 23, 1857
- S. M. Neely; from or inscribed in Chester County, South Carolina, on January 23, 1857
- Carrie Poag; from or inscribed in Chester District, South Carolina, on January 23, 1857
- Jane Poag; from or inscribed in York District, South Carolina, on May 7, 1857
- Lou J. Poag; from or inscribed at McConnellsville, York District, South Carolina, on May 5, 1857. Louisa J. Poag
- Jane Ratchford; from or inscribed at Yorkville, South Carolina, on March 10, 1857
- Mollie Rowell; from or inscribed at Landsford, Chester District, South Carolina, on March 18, 1857
- Lou Sadler; from or inscribed at Yorkville, South Carolina, on January 23, 1857. Perhaps Louisa Minor Sadler.
- Sallie Sandifer; from or inscribed at Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Sarah Sandifer
- ? Smith; from or inscribed at Yorkville, South Carolina, on May 15, 1858. Possibly C. C. Smith or Cynthia C. Smith
- Amanda Springs; from or inscribed at Charlotte, North Carolina
- N. Stinson
- Bettie Stowe; from or inscribed at Stowesville, North Carolina, on May 8, 1857
- Ferrie Stowe; from or inscribed at Stowesville, North Carolina, on May 8, 1857
- Mary Wallace; inscribed on March 10, 1857
- M. Watson; from or inscribed at Rockhill, South Carolina, on March 7, 1857
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