Archive on Turn of the Century Education, Including Handwritten Student Notebook

Education Archive of 4 historical pieces documenting education from the mid-1800s to the turn of the century. Includes 2 course catalogs, 1 alumni reunion anniversary program, and 1 handwritten Chemistry lab notebook from the academic year 1904-1905 that is entirely filled with 220 handwritten pages of notes, observations, and drawings by student Frank Hanke. Hanke, a student at "R.T. Crane High School” in Chicago, IL, carefully documented 65 experiments from his science class, noting chemical equations and including three fold-out charts comparing “Metal alkalies,” “Metals of the Calcium Group,” and the “Iron Group.” "I carefully slid over the opening (truncated) of the receiver the glass slip just far enough to insert a burning splinter of wood. I thrust the plinter into the receiver and the flame immediately went out, and the gas did not burn." Includes 16 hand-drawn scientific illustrations documenting procedures, observations, and results. 4 large, full-page drawings of Bunsen Burner, Luminous and Non-Luminous Flames, and Davy's Safety Lamp. Comes with 13 loose sheets of additional notes in Hanke's hand. Original boards feature photo-illustrated image of school on front cover and student’s name handwritten in red and black ink.

Comes with catalogues for Phillips Academy in Andover, MA (1854) and the Theological Seminary in Bangor, ME (1895); these catalogues list the current students and faculty and give brief overview of the institutions’ histories and fields of study, including course descriptions, student events, and first-hand student descriptions of life at school. Also includes a booklet (1884) celebrating the Thirty-Fifth Anniversary of the 1849 graduating class of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME; this gives an overview of the students’ lives since graduating, including classmates who went on to serve as soldiers on opposing sides of the Civil War. Small tears and light stains and foxing to catalogue covers. Light toning and occasional foxing. All in very good to good condition. Collection provides a unique glimpse into the start of modern American education. R.T Crane High School Chemistry Notebook with handwritten student notes and drawings, 1904-1905. Catalogue of the Trustees, Instructors, and Students of Philips Academy, 1854. General Catalogue of the Theological Seminary, Bangor, Maine, 1895. Bowdoin College, The Thirty-Fifth Anniversary of the Class of 1849, 1884. (Inventory #: 15197)