19th Century Scrapbooks

November 24, 2015

In Special Collections and Archives there are many books, images, and archival material that date prior to the 1900s, including some scrapbooks that have beautiful images and newspaper clippings telling important stories from the past. Scrapbooks are a fascinating way to view history, functioning as a lens through which we can now see particular topics or popular culture in past eras. The Sam Hayes Scrapbook and the Temperance Scrapbook are two that have interesting stories to tell about late-19th century history.

The Sam Hayes Scrapbook consists of newspaper clippings, including local news stories. A few articles in particular discuss a murder that occurred when the book was being made, and the resulting police investigation. The scrapbook also documents local people in the community, including a little girl who survived being thrown off her horse. The scrapbook also includes poems and Opera House flyers of plays.

The Temperance Scrapbook has a different focus; it delves into politics and issues such as Women's Suffrage and alcoholism. It also includes interesting facts of the time, and some images taken from newspapers or magazines.

Image Gallery

Post tagged as: special collections, scrapbooks, united states