Autograph Albums 1900-1935: A Classified Collection

Description

A study of autograph albums, based on responses to appeals for information made by the collector in three Yorkshire newspapers. This yielded letters from over 170 people, and the loaning of more than fifty albums. From these, twenty-two albums were selected for detailed study. The study contains sections on the provenance of the albums selected, with also physical descriptions and photocopied examples of album covers and paper designs. The Introduction presents an outline of the material contained within the albums, with photocopied examples of texts and drawings. Further sections describe and discuss the source of the material found in the albums, consider whether autograph albums can be treated as folklore, the function fulfilled by the albums, the classification of the material, the historical context in which they were created and the main trends and the type of society they reflect. Photographic copies of examples of album covers, texts and illustrations are included in the first volume. The second unbound volume comprises all the entries copied from the twenty-two selected albums, classified and arranged under twenty-five subject headings. Drawings have been photocopied, or if this could not be done clearly, brief descriptions have been classified instead. Original spelling and punctuation has been reproduced, with dates and signatures copied. The exercise is not limited geographically, with entries from inhabitants throughout Britain, as well as overseas. Autographs, or simple signatures, make up a small proportion of the collected entries when compared with longer contributions. Entries are humorous, sententious or pious, brief or as lengthy as space allows, homely or learned, written or drawn. The subject coverage is broad, embracing such diverse subjects as marriage, Kaiser Wilhelm, the clergy and the use of make-up.

Metadata

Identifier njnw5m3d
IRN 410197
Class Mark LAVC/SRP/2/161
Level File
Type of Record Archives - ISAD(G)
Peristent Link http://prototype1.library.leeds.ac.uk/njnw5m3d
Collection(s) Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Category Archive
Parent Record Undergraduate Dissertations
Creator(s) O'Brien, Kathleen Celia
Date 1978
Size and Medium 2 volumes. 95 and 229 unbound typed leaves; 12 b/w photographs.

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