Thursday, June 28, 2018

1881-1886 Autograph Album of John Volan Johnson of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; Student at Scholfield's Commercial College at Providence, Rhode Island


Autograph album that was presented to John Volan Johnson of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, as a birthday gift on May 27, 1881, by Amelia and Nellie.  The autographs continue until 1886, during a portion of which time the owner was a student at Scholfield's Commercial College at Providence, Rhode Island.


The album has a handmade cover with the initials J. V. J. on the reverse.



The album itself measures approximately 7-1/2" by 4-3/4" and contains the sentiments of 20 of John Volan Johnson's relatives, friends, schoolmates and teacher(s).  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.


Surnames in the Album

Angell (2)          Providence, Rhode Island
Bailey                No residence mentioned
Johnson (6)        Wellfleet, Massachusetts - 5; Providence, Rhode Island - 1
Lewis                 Providence, Rhode Island
Mason                Riverdale, New York, but inscribed at Providence, Rhode Island, perhaps at Scholfield's
Richmond (2)     Providence, Rhode Island
Rippon                Arlington, Rhode Island
Ryan                   Providence, Rhode Island
Tucker                Providence, Rhode Island
Walker  (3)         Boston, Massachusetts - 1; Taunton, Massachusetts - 1; one gave no residence

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

I believe the album owner was John Volan Johnson, who perhaps went by the name "Volan", judging from the inscription of Amelia and Nellie.  Volan was the son of Dr. John Gore Johnson and Sally Rich (Walker) Johnson of Wellfleet, Massachusetts.    Among Volan's relatives who inscribed pages were:
  • J. G. Johnson, M.D. of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; presumably Volan's father John Gore Johnson; see image below.
  • Volney P. Johnson of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Volan's brother Volney Pliny Johnson
  • Gertrude A. Johnson; she was Gertrude Arethena (Budlong) Johnson, wife of Volan's brother Volney Pliny Johnson.
  • Verona S. Johnson; Volan's sister Verona Sophia Johnson
  • Volana A. Johnson, Volan's sister Volana Amora Johnson
  • Elton D. Walker of Taunton, Massachusetts; Volan's cousin
  • G. J. Walker of Boston University, presumably Granville J. Walker, Volan's cousin
  • Aunt Ruth; presumably Ruth Barrows (Cobb) Walker, mother of Elton D. Walker and Granville J. Walker and wife of Benjamin D. Walker, who was a brother to Sally Rich (Walker) Johnson, Volan's mother.

J. G. Johnson M.D. of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; inscribed on September 7, 1881; presumably Volan's father John Gore Johnson, M.D.

If you have corrections to the above information and/or further information on John Volan Johnson and his family, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Inscribers in the Album
  • Amelia; she and Nellie presented the album to John Volan Johnson at his birthday on May 27, 1881
  • Nellie; she and Amelia presented the album to John Volan Johnson at his birthday on May 27, 1881
  • Louise M. Angell of Providence, Rhode Island, inscribed on October 9, 1881
  • Marilla B. Angell of Providence, Rhode Island, inscribed on October 8, 1881
  • George H. Bailey; inscribed on October 2, 1882
  • Gertrude A. Johnson of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; inscribed on August 28, 1881.  Presumably Gertrude Arethena (Budlong) Johnson, wife of Volney Pliny Johnson, who was the brother of album owner John Volan Johnson.
  • J. G. Johnson, M.D., of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, inscribed on September 7, 1881.  Presumably John Gore Johnson, M.D., father of album owner John Volan Johnson
  • John Volan Johnson of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; student at Scholfield's Commercial College at Providence, Rhode Island; album owner
  • Verona S. Johnson of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; inscribed on July 24, 1883.  Verona Sophia Johnson, sister of album owner John Volan Johnson
  • Volana A. Johnson of Providence, Rhode Island, inscribed on August 13, 1882.  Presumably the sister of album owner John Volan Johnson.
  • Volney P. Johnson of Wellfleet, Massachusetts; inscribed on August 28, 1881.  Presumably Volney Pliny Johnson, brother of album owner John Volan Johnson.
  • Arthur F. Lewis of Providence, Rhode Island
  • Ada A. Mason of Riverdale, New York; inscribed at Providence, Rhode Island, on December 26, 1886
  • W. C. Richmond; inscribed at Providence, Rhode Island, on October 10, 1881
  • Mrs. W. C. Richmond of Providence, Rhode Island; inscribed on October 10, 1881
  • Londora F. Rippon of Arlington, Rhode Island; inscribed on February 19, 1883
  • J. Croil Ryan; inscribed at Providence, Rhode Island, on October 2, 1882.  Presumably John Croil Ryan (1849-1901)
  • ? ? Tucker, "Your Teacher", Scholfield's Commercial College.  Presumably Levi L. Tucker, writing teacher.
  • Elton D. Walker of Taunton, Massachusetts; inscribed on August 27, 1881; son of Benjamin D. Walker and inscriber Ruth Barrows (Cobb) Walker
  • G. J. Walker of Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts; inscribed on August 28, 1881.  Presumably Granville J. Walker, son of Benjamin D. Walker and inscriber Ruth Barrows (Cobb) Walker
  • Aunt Ruth. Presumably Ruth Barrows (Cobb) Walker, mother of inscribers Granville J. Walker and Elton D. Walker.  Ruth was the wife of Benjamin D. Walker, who was a brother of Sally Rich (Walker) Johnson, mother of album owner John Volan Johnson


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2 comments:

  1. We have a small painting by lf Johnson as gift to londora I ripping in

    ReplyDelete