The autograph albums in this collection are arranged in chronological order based on the earliest date found written in each album.
Accession No. RARE.2022.0067: Purchased, 2022 October
[identification of item], Autograph Albums, SPEC.RARE.0044, Rare Books & Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.
Processed by: Lindsay Resnick, 2022 November; Finding aid written by: Lindsay Resnick, 2022 November
In the 1500s, German and Dutch university students began signing each others' Bibles or other keepsake books. The books were exchanged among friends and called "friendship books." Books such as these evolved but remained popular for hundreds of years. German immigrants to the United States brought the tradition of "friendship books" to American culture in the late 18th century, where it spread among young people. Many youths not only signed the books but left their contact information, sentimental notes, and poems. The popularity of autograph books declined around the turn of the 20th century, when yearbooks, which served a similar purpose but included photographs, became widespread.
The Autograph Albums, dated 1869-1899, contains twelve autograph books used by youth in New England during the late 19th century to share contact information, notes, poems, drawings, and autographs with friends and relatives. The albums appear to have mostly been given as gifts to celebrate Christmas, birthdays, or graduations.