I have written several times about the Manchester High School graduates of the 1880s, including their photographs and genealogies. Recently an artifact of a different sort came into my hands–an autograph book with signatures, pithy sayings, and sketches inked on the pages between 1882-1888.
The only clue that I had to the owner, was the first two pages. The first page was the only one with an name AND address, Mamie F. Chandler, Manchester, N.H., 104 Orange Street. The 2nd page with the same name, with ’84, probably indicating her class year.
Inserted into a page for Sallie Chandler, was a baby photograph, with “Sallie May Chandler” inked on the back. And indeed there were other Chandler names inscribed in various spots in the autograph book. It took me several hours, basically tracing all the Chandler family of Manchester New Hampshire, before I was able to sort them out, and unequivocally know who “Mamie” was.
Mamie F. Chandler was Mary Frances Chandler, daughter of John M. & Lavina P. (Foss) Chandler, of the very rich and important banking Chandler family of Manchester New Hampshire. I will cover Mamie’s Chandler heritage in my next, and separate post. For now I hope you will content yourself with learning what an autograph book of the 1880s looked like, and contained.
In some cases, I have written about the people whose autographs are found here. For those, you will see a link to the article that will also have their photograph and biography. Please let me know if you are related to any of these people, by commenting below.
==== CONTENTS OF MAMIE F. CHANDLER’S AUTOGRAPH BOOK ======
Mamie F. Chandler, Manchester N.H., 104 Orange Street
— A U T O G R A P H S —
Mamie F. Chandler
’84
George B. Carr
One of the ’88 M.H.S. boys
Manchester, N.H.
March 20, 1888
“Oh for some Olives and Bullets, not Pb.”
T.D. Adams
Manchester, NH
Dec. 12, 1884
Let your life be like a snowflake,
which leaves a mark, but not a stain
A schoolmate of the M.H.S. ’88
Annie B. Goodwin
Manchester, N.H.
March 3rd 1886
Warner M. Allen
Manchester, N.H.
M.H.S. Class of 1888
[Photograph and biography]
In memory’s wood-box chop one
stick for me
Lillian J. Gray
Manchester, N.H.
M.H.S. Class of 88
March 3, 1886
[see her photograph and biography]
Nora S. Dearborn
M.H.S.
1884
Maude G. Fifield
Manchester, New Hamp.
Mar 23, 1888 M.H.S.
[see her photograph and biography]
I dip my pen in the ink
I grasp your album tight
But for my life I cannot think
A simple word to write
Sincerely your friend
Seddie Berry
Manchester, N.H.
Mar. 3, ’86
Sallie M. Chandler
Manchester, N.H.
Nov 17, 1882
[picture of a young Sallie May Chandler in next post]
A classmate in the M.H.S.
Mary A. Hawsly
Manchester, N.H.
March 3rd 1886
Ernest A. Royal
Manchester, N.H.
Class of ’88
[see his photograph and biography]
Mar. E. Currier
Manchester, N.H.
Dec. ’84
[in margin] Latin examination
Mabel A. Williams
Manchester,
N.H.
Nov. ’83
[in left margin] “Ride after School”
Remember your
school mate,
Allie W. Newell.
Manchester, Mar. ’83
Class of ’88
Harry E. Andrews
Manchester, N.H.
March 21st 88
June 1884
Penn T. Waters.
Manchester,
N.H.
Maurice F. Minot
Bedford, N.H.
Feb 28, 1883
Josie E. Drake
Manchester, N.H.
Class of ’89
Edith S. Dole
Manchester, N.H.
Nov. 17th 1882
Annie B. Chandler,
Manchester,
N.H.
1882.
Rocilla M. Tuson,
Manchester, N.H.
Dec., 1884
[photo at the Manchester Historic Association]
Miss. A.G. Flanders
Manchester,
N.H.
December 4, ’82
J.B. McGuinness
Manchester,
N.H.
March 22, 1888
[His photograph and biography]
James Edwin Orrill
Manchester,
N.H.
June 25, 1884
[left corner] Shoveling
[right corner] [illegible] snow good
What write in your album,
for critics to spy.–
For the learned to laugh at,–
No, not I.
Your classmate,
George W. Bartlett
March 23, ’88
Class of ’88
[left corner] M.H.S.
[photograph and biography]
May your joys be as deep
as the oceans,
Your sorrows as light as
the foam;
Is the wish of
Hattie S. Blake
Manchester, Eng.
Dec 11th 1882
[left column] stealing sleigh rides” [illegible]
[top] “England 1882”
[right corner] “bread Whacker”
Maud A. Briggs
Manchester, N.H.
Nov 23, 1882
[See an entire story about her, including photographs]
Blanche C. Sargent
Manchester, N.H.
Dec. 16, 1882
Abbie R. West
Manchester, N.H.
Feb 29, 1883
[left corner] How is P.F.W
Mary E. Bunton
Manchester, N.H.
Feb 6, 1883
Percy Gerould
Manchester, N.H.
Feb 20, 1883
Bertha Pearson
’83
Alice Chandler
Manchester.
N.H.
1882
[pen sketch of hat on left side, H.J.B. initials]
Harry J. Briggs
Manchester, N.H.
James S. Brown
Manchester
N.H.
Your Friend
Frank H. Burpee
Manchester, N.H.
Feb 16, 1883
One of your many friends,
Mabel L. How
Manchester,
N.H.
Feb. 26, 1883
[left side] “Saturday Assemblies”
Gilman McAllaster
Bedford, N.H.
Maude A. Sleeper
Manchester
High School
June 8, 1888
[Photograph at Manchester Historic Association]
Minnie M. Brown
Manchester, N.H.
Feb. 24th 1883
Genieve B. Knight
Manchester, N.H.
June 26
Nellie Drake
Manchester, N.H.
March 1883
D.A. Clifford
Manchester,
N.H.
Jan 17, 1883
A. Alberta Meare
Manchester, N.H.
June 8, 1888
[top] Class of ’88 M.H.S.
Carrie Story
Manchester,
N.H.
Jan. 7, 1883
Sadie G. Sawyer
Manchester
N.H.
March 23, 1888
[Photograph and biography]
Lillie M. Hazelton,
Manchester,
N.H.
Jan 18, 1883
Mattie Webster
Manchester, N.H.
’84
Your friend
Gertie F. How
Manchester,
N.H.
22, 1883
Myrtie M. Varnam
Manchester
N.H.
March 7, 1883
Charlie H. Bucklin
Manchester NH
[left side] pen sketch of bird/quail
Mabel V. Rundlett
Manchester,
N.H.
March 7, 1883
Maud P. Abbott.
Manchester, N.H.
June 8, ’88
Susie G. Fogg
Manchester,
N.H.
February 28, 1883
Your friend
Susie S. Hawley
Manchester
N.H.
1886
Clemie M. Knott
Manchester, N.H.
Feb. 28, 1883
Bertha M. Tower
Manchester
N.H.
June 26, 1884
Annie A. Webster
Manchester,
N.H.
Mamie E. Everett
Manchester,
N.H.
Mar 3, 1883
Votre Ami
Nellie D. Kimball
Manchester, N.H.
[left side] “The 4th of July”
[right corner] 1881 Bangle
Ethel B. Aldrich
Manchester
N.H.
June 12 ’88
[right side] Class of ’89
Remember me as your
friend and schoolmate
Nellie Eastman
Manchester, N.H.
Feb. 26, 1883
[left corner] Ante-room
[right corner] Music Session
Nat W. Colby
Manchester, N.H.
M.H.S. ’88
Lewis W. Crockett
Manchester
N.H.
Feb. 17, 1882
Addie M. McDonald
Manchester.
N.H.
June 26. 1884
Harry N. McLaran
Manchester
N.H.
Hattie A. Kennedy
Manchester,
N.H.
Nellie Haney
Manchester,
N.H.
[top] “Learning to Skate on Hanover Cornor”
[left side] “Sakting Rink of ’82”
Luilie S. Cheney
Manchester,
N.H.
Edward P. Sherburne
June 28, 1883
Mabel J. Brickett
Manchester, N.H.
March 4, 1886
[Photograph and Biography]
[end]
I love autograph books and reading their verses. The snowflake verse fits perfectly today! I’ve blogged on mine and my moms on my page. Wouldn’t it be cool to find an autograph book where one of your parents signed!
Jeanne, it would be AMAZING to find a book where my mom or gram signed it. I am not related it seems to anyone in this address book, but I hope someone is and that they let me know. That is WHY I post about them. MOST of those people have relatives out there somewhere in the world 🙂 Thank you for commenting.
Janice
Now there’s a valuable genealogy tool that has disappeared from usage. I have two autograph books from my teen years (I was just looking at them the other day, in fact), and my mother has one from her youth as well. But my daughters never had them, and I bet kids don’t today either. They will have what–Facebook comments and posts—to remember their childhood friendships?
Amy,
I worry about the paper trail that we are not leaving for our descendants, those lovely letters, diaries, autograph books. When I was in high school we signed our year books and I own several that belonged to other people. People “feel” that FaceBook will always be around, but history students realize that everything has a beginning and an ENDING. I am always grateful for your comments.
Janice
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