1880s Autograph Album of Irene, "Renie"; Attended Villa Livonia Boarding School in Heidelberg, Germany; Several West Point Inscribers

1880s autograph album that belonged to an Irene, or "Renie", who was presumably from Pennsylvania or New York and who spent at least a term in Heidelberg, Germany at Villa Livonia,  a boarding school for young ladies operated by the Rosenplaenter family.

The album was given to Renie by Miss Fannie at Christmas in 1882.

The album measures approximately 8" by 5" and contains the sentiments of 37 of Renie's friends, schoolmates and instructors in the United States and in Heidelberg.

Many of the inscribers were Renie's fellow students at Villa Livonia, some of whom inscribed pages in German and French, including several members of the Rosenplaenter family, who ran the school.

Interestingly, the Rosenplaenters may have been Americans rather than German, as I had at first assumed. Inscriber Carlos B. Rosenplaenter may have been the Carlos B. McKeever (1863-1936), a mining engineer, whose passport application indicates that he was born in New York City on 7 December 1863, the son of Frederick Leonard Rosenplaenter, who was also born in the United States, and Caroline Bartlett (McKeever) Rosenplaenter (1842-1929), born in Baltimore, Maryland.

This Carlos had siblings whose names matched the names of other inscribers. Other records show that Carlos was not the only male sibling to change his surname to McKeever.

Of further interest, there was another inscriber in the album with the surname McKeever - Edith McKeever, who called herself Renie's schoolmate and may have been related to Caroline Bartlett (McKeever) Rosenplaenter.

At least three of the inscriptions from New York were penned by cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point. They were :

• Edward D. Anderson; inscribed at West Point, New York, on February 15, 1891; presumably at the U.S. Military Academy. Presumably Brig. General Edward D. Anderson (1868-1950), who graduated from West Point in 1891.  
• Joseph L. Donovan; inscribed at the United States Military Academy at West Point on February 22, 1891. Presumably Col. Joseph L. Donovan (1866-1947), whose FindaGrave memorial contains a photograph. 
• R. J. Fleming, inscribed on December 15, 1890 at West Point; Class of 1891. Presumably Col. Robert John Fleming (1868 Ireland -1949)., whose FindaGrave memorial contains a photograph. 

Presumably V. Vilioti or Milioti, who inscribed the left facing page, was the artist of the lovely sketch below.

Gertrud Marschall or, perhaps Gertrude Marshall, sketched the sweet scene below.

If you have a theory as to the identity of Irene, "Renie", or if you have information on any of the other people mentioned in the list below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Alphabetical List of Inscribers

?

• Irene or "Renie", album owner, who may have lived in Pennsylvania or New York
• Miss Fannie, who presented the album to "Renie" in 1882
• B. R.; inscribed in German 1884.  Perhaps a member of the Rosenplaenter family who operated Villa Livonia in Heidenberg
• V. ?; possibly V. Kilioti or V. Milioti; presumably the artist of the pencil sketch of a cottage and a stone arched bridge on the facing page
• Maria Kuttenen or Maria Ruttenen, or ?; inscribed at Heidelberg in February 1884
• Kaulletta; not sure of name; inscribed at Villa Livonia on September 21, 1883
• Erline Lovis or Caline Lovis or ?; inscribed in German at Heidelberg on 16 December 1883 at Villa Livonia
• Fanny R or Fanny Pe; possibly Fanny Rosenplaenger; inscribed in German. 
• Juliette; inscribed in French at Villa Livonia on 9 November 1883

A

• Edward D. Anderson; inscribed at West Point, New York, on February 15, 1891; presumably at the U.S. Military Academy. Presumably Brig. General Edward D. Anderson (1868-1950), who graduated from West Point in 1891.  
• Julia A. Berwind of Philadelphia; inscribed at Villa Livonia in January 1883. "To my dear little 'Renie'"
• Katherine Bowmonville or Bournoville or ?; inscribed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 3, 1889

C

• Eleanor V. Clark; inscribed at Villa Livonia on December 16, 1883
• Ethel R. Clark; inscribed on January 19, 1884 at Villa Livonia

D

• Mary A. Dodd; inscribed at Villa Livonia, on 1-7-83
• Joseph L. Donovan; inscribed at the United States Military Academy at West Point on February 22, 1891. Presumably Col. Joseph L. Donovan (1866-1947), whose FindaGrave memorial, linked to his name, contains a photograph. 

F

• R. J. Fleming, inscribed on December 15, 1890 at West Point; Class of 1891. Presumably Col. Robert John Fleming (1868 Ireland -1949), whose FindaGrave memorial, linked to his name, contains a photograph, linked. 

H

• Edith Hardie; inscribed on February 8 and February 9, 1883

J

• Martha Jaeger; inscribed in German at Heidelberg in 1883 at Villa Livonia

L

• Chip Lamerre; inscribed on August 8, 1888 at Richfield Springs, presumably in New York. Not sure of surname
• Chip Lawerre; inscribed on August 8, 1888 at Richfield Springs, presumably in New York. Not sure of surname
• Erline Lovis or Caline Lovis or ?; inscribed in German at Heidelberg on 16 December 1883 at Villa Livonia

M

• Sadie F. March; inscribed on January 31, 1888
• Gertrude Marschall or Gertrude Marshall; wonderful pencil sketch of children watching a boy blow a bubble
• Edith McKeever; inscribed on December 28, 1882; schoolmate

P

• Blanche Pieron; inscribed in French at Villa Livonia, on 28 September 1883
• Amy Pratt; inscribed at Villa Livonia on October 15, 1883; schoolfellow

R

• B. R.; inscribed in German 1884.  Perhaps a member of the Rosenplaenter family who operated Villa Livonia in Heidenberg
• Paula von Randow; inscribed in German at Villa Livonia; on 20 December 1883
• Carlos B. Rosenplaenter; inscribed at Villa Livonia in Heidelberg on 4 December 1883; perhaps Carlos Bernard Rosenplaenter, who changed his name to Carlos B. McKeever (1863-1936)
• F. Rosenplaenter; inscribed at Heidelberg on 12-12-83 - perhaps Frederick Leonard Rosenplaenter, who changed his name to Frederick Leonard McKeever (1871-1926). 
• Fanny ?; inscribed in German. Just an initial for surname - if an R, perhaps Fanny Rosenplaenter
• Howard Rosenplaenter; inscribed in German at Heildelberg on 27 December 1883. Perhaps Howard Rosenplaenter (1868-1898), who died in Indonesia.
• Olga Rosenplaenter; inscribed in German at Heildelberg in February 1884 - perhaps Dr. Olga Carolina (Rosenplaenter) Seiler-Vierling(1869-) 
• Ollie C. Rosenplaenter or Allie C. Rosenplaenter; perhaps another inscription by Olga Rosenplaenter; inscribed in German at Villa Livonia on 22 January 1884

S

• B. Schottler; inscribed in German at Heidelberg on 4 February 1883
• Amy R. Scott; inscribed on February 12, 1883
• Carrie Speiden; inscribed at Villa Livonia in Heidelberg, on 2.5.83
• M. Speiden; inscribed at Villa Livonia; on October 15, 1883; schoolmate

V

• Paula von Randow; inscribed in German at Villa Livonia; on 20 December 1883