Collections

This collection contains a commonplace book created by Catherine "Kate" Weller of Surrey, England. The book, dated between 1833 and 1835, includes 154 pages with sixty-four handwritten entries, ten watercolors, six other drawings, and a few ephemera items. It also has what may be a self-portrait of the author. Weller's title page is dated March 10, 1833 and the first entry is dated September 20, 1835 under the heading "My Album". The book has typical entries of commonplace books of the time, such as passages from Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, and aphorisms like Thomas Jefferson's "Ten rules to live by." Weller provided much of the text; however, there is at least five other writers, including a man identified only as "THD" commenting on bachelorhood and love. Weller's drawings capture in full-color detail, with many scenes featuring birds, florals, butterflies, a cottage, and a woman.

This collection contains a commonplace, or precedents, book in two hands, arranged alphabetically by subject from abatement to warrant. Most precedents are British; however, New Jersey law of the 1790s is also cited. The volume begins with an inscription that indicates the volume was given by Charles Read to Joseph Read "of Mount Holly."

This collection contains two handwritten commonplace books compiled by two generations of lawyers in Bedale, Yorkshire, Charles and Thomas Frankland. Three of the functions of these volumes appear to be: to have available all information relevant to Frankland property (land, debtors, etc.); to have available a wide range of legal information, precedents, cases, forms of words, etc.; and to have available information about important clients and matters affecting the district (tithes, enclosure, etc.). The material includes:

Commonplace book, 1802, of an unidentified child.

This collection contains one notebook filled with poems and some loose newspaper clippings of printed verse. The inside front cover is signed, "Mrs. Clara D. Nelson's book." The book is full of poems copied down by Clara. Some of the poems included are "The golden side," by Mary Ann Kidder, "The old, old home," [Reverend Henry Brown], "Peace," by J.G. Whittier, and "Watching and waiting," by Marianne Farningham.

Commonplace book of an unknown person. Contains an index entitled "An Account of all ye Heads or [sitter] in this Commonplace book" with a 1719 date. Vellum cover. 244 pages.

This two volume commonplace book concerning property was written in several hands. One volume is signed, "Robert W. Mace, March, 1832." Sources include Edward B.Sugden's A Practical Treatise of the Law of Vendors and Purchasers of Estates and Walter Henry Burton's An Elementary Compendium on the Law of Real Property.

The family papers of Corie Lynn Dorset Rivers include over 140 separate letters and other manuscript documents handed down to Rivers by her mother, Corie Lynn Slater Dorset. This collection includes papers written by several generation of Williamsburg, Virginia residents, including Lucy Ludwell Paradise; James and Louisa Bellett Lee and family; and Virginia Lee and Parkes Slater and family.

This collection contains "The Star" 1924 yearbook for 'Grade 7B,' handwritten by Buckingham County teacher, Mary Elizabeth Glover. Each page has a student's name and quotes and comments about them. Many pages include a small photograph of the child named.

Sentiments and poems of friendship, most signed and some are dated; "Knoxville, [Il.]" "Jacksonville, [Il.]" "Abingdon College, Knox County Illinois" "Princeton, Ill."