1887 · Ligonier, Pennsylvania
by Matlida J Peterson
Ligonier, Pennsylvania, 1887. Matilda J Peterson was born in 1866 in Ligonier, Pennsylvania and died in1958 (according to a note at the back of the album). This album was given to her by W. A. Peterson for Christmas in 1881. The album is partially filled with short notes, generally in verse and two different versions of an ink drawing of a bird on ferns. At the beginning of the album, Matilda or Tillie as she is called, addresses her friends:
"My album is a golden spot
Where all my friends may sow,
Where thorns and thistles flourish not,
But flowers alone may grow.
With smiles for sunshine, tears for showers,
I'll water, watch and guard these flowers."
Between 1882 and 1887. Tillie's friends wrote in this album, the majority of which were her classmates at Ligonier High School. Below are for examples:
"All going to Brother McKinley's church, and you to stay at home and get dinner."
"Remember a ‘Miss' is as good as mile,
when asked to be ‘Mrs', Consider a while."
"Love and ware are two great compeers,
War sheds blood and love sheds tears;
War has spears and love has darts,
Ware breaks heads and love breaks hearts."
"Our school days will soon be o'er,
The day is drawing nigh,
When we shall part as before,
Perhaps not to meet till on high.
But, may we meet in a school room,
That is grander far than this,
And be much happiness in that room,
For the hard lessons we learned in this."
The album itself is brown cloth over boards with stamped decorations. The front cover has two horses, gilded flowers (gold has mostly faded) and green painted basket weave in the top right corner. The back cover has a stamped bow made from ribbons and tassels. It appears as though Matilda hand colored in the titled page of the album, which simply states "Autographs" with a gold ink. Measures 7" x 4 1/4" Cover shows minor edge wear due to rubbing. There is damage to the horses on the cover, from what appears to be a ring stain from a cup. The gilding on the cover has faded as well. Spine is cracked in one place with a few loose pages and one detached as a result. (Inventory #: 27003120)
"My album is a golden spot
Where all my friends may sow,
Where thorns and thistles flourish not,
But flowers alone may grow.
With smiles for sunshine, tears for showers,
I'll water, watch and guard these flowers."
Between 1882 and 1887. Tillie's friends wrote in this album, the majority of which were her classmates at Ligonier High School. Below are for examples:
"All going to Brother McKinley's church, and you to stay at home and get dinner."
"Remember a ‘Miss' is as good as mile,
when asked to be ‘Mrs', Consider a while."
"Love and ware are two great compeers,
War sheds blood and love sheds tears;
War has spears and love has darts,
Ware breaks heads and love breaks hearts."
"Our school days will soon be o'er,
The day is drawing nigh,
When we shall part as before,
Perhaps not to meet till on high.
But, may we meet in a school room,
That is grander far than this,
And be much happiness in that room,
For the hard lessons we learned in this."
The album itself is brown cloth over boards with stamped decorations. The front cover has two horses, gilded flowers (gold has mostly faded) and green painted basket weave in the top right corner. The back cover has a stamped bow made from ribbons and tassels. It appears as though Matilda hand colored in the titled page of the album, which simply states "Autographs" with a gold ink. Measures 7" x 4 1/4" Cover shows minor edge wear due to rubbing. There is damage to the horses on the cover, from what appears to be a ring stain from a cup. The gilding on the cover has faded as well. Spine is cracked in one place with a few loose pages and one detached as a result. (Inventory #: 27003120)