Purchase, 2011 August.
[identification of item], Autograph Book Belonging to an Unidentified Resident of Alford, England, SPEC.RARE.MMS.0335, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Mackenzie Sommers, 2019 April; Finding aid written by: Mackenzie Sommers, 2019 April.
Autograph books have existed for many years, but gained popularity in the 19th century in Dutch and Germanic countries. Fraternity societies and middle class families would collect signatures of classmates, friends, and relatives in blank books. Often times, the books also contain poems, drawings and illustrations, locks of loved ones' hair, and pressed flowers. Around 1815, German immigrants brought the custom to America, where it peaked in popularity around the time of the American Civil War, 1861-1865. The custom started to morph from collecting signatures in blank books to collecting signatures of classmates and teachers. As of 2019, the original form of autograph books has mostly disappeared from American culture, but still remains popular in schools with signing yearbooks.
Alford is a small town in Lincolnshire, England. The town population of Alford in 1881 was 2,894 which was around the time this autograph album was being created. Alford has a very active Christian background, being home to St. Winifred's which is a medieval Anglican parish church. Also in Alford is a Methodist church, an Independent Congregational Church, and the Alford Christian Fellowship.
The Autograph Book Belonging to an Unidentified Resident of Alford, England is a red album with gilded pages. The album contains signatures, poems, quotes, lists, and writings from various people. While most of the inscriptions are in English, there are a few inscriptions in unidentifiable languages. Most of the inscriptions are related to Christianity and religion including one that begins "Autographs of Preachers at the Alford District." There are also pages of the album that contain pasted in clippings and pictures related to religion as well as pages that have decorative cutouts in them. There are loose sheets of paper in the back of the album that contain more religious inscriptions. The creator of the autograph album is unknown. Since most of the inscriptions are noted as being written in Alford, England, it is likely that this autograph album is from there. The album dates from 1843 to 1895.