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This collection contains the college scrapbook of Cora M. Aldridge, an African American student at Hartshorn Memorial College in Richmond, Virginia. Hartshorn Memorial College was a private college for African American women in Richmond, Virginia, active from 1883 until 1932, when it merged with Virginia Union University. The cover is titled "My Memories of School Days" in gilt. Alridge's name and her Vauxhall, New Jersey, address are written on the first endpage, as is the date of June 14, 1926. The content of the scrapbook chronicles Alridge's final year at Hartshorn. A photograph of Hartshorn, social and academic event programs, graduation cards, a flower, and newspaper clippings are tipped in and pasted throughout. The signatures of Cora's classmates, many with greetings and well wishes, are also present throughout the scrapbook. Cora describes her love for dancing, taking the streetcar, stealing food, going to shows in town, and other activities forbidden for students at the College. A tipped-in handwritten essay by Aldrige is titled "Do not simply be good – be good for something." There is a letter from 1956 relating to the 30th anniversary of the Class of 1926's graduation.

This collection contains the autograph album of Dolores Ann Smith, an African American student from Roanoke, Virginia. The album's cover is embossed with "My School-Day Autobiography" in gilt letters. Two black and white photographs of young African American children are at the front of the album, one pasted and the other tipped in. The names of Dolores's teachers up to the eighth grade are identified on the "My Teachers" listing and a list of classmates. Seven autographs with associated greetings dedicated to Dolores appear throughout the album from classmates and family. These autographs range in date from December 1944 to November 1948. One page near the end of the album is written as a diary entry by Dolores from 1945. The end page, contains the address and the date August 14, 1948.

High school memory scrapbook of Ella Schultz of Omaha, Nebraska and Los Angeles, California from 1920 to 1922. There are theater programs, football items, handwitten sentiments, napkins and other mementos and photogaphs assembled by Ella Schultz, in a suede binding titled, "The Girl Graduate Her Own Book." The album is from Commerce High School in Omaha and Los Angeles Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles. Her move from Omaha to Los Angeles is also documented in the album.

This collection contains a large, stamped friendship album dedicated to Ellie F. Keen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from her father. The album contains a color title page, twelve romantic themed color plates throughout the album, over fifty poems and personal notes, and a full-page watercolor of lovers embracing in the moonlit night. Most inscriptions are signed with a first name only or initials; although, there are some exceptions with the writer's full name. Predominately written between 1848 and 1849.

This collection contains an essay book belonging to Emily Somerset, who lived in England. Bound in contemporary morocco with Essays of Emily Somerset embossed in gilt to front cover and has decorative endpapers. Adhered to front pastedown is a contemporary gift plate reading: "E. Somerset from her cousin, C. Somerset, 1867". A later gift inscription in pencil to verso of front endpaper, "Annie Usher from her Uncle. November 28th 1923." The essay entries began in 1867 when Emily was eighteen. The manuscript contains twelve essays with decorative calligraphic head and tail pieces written over forty-five pages, with an additional three pages of recipes at the back of the book. Some essays, such as the opening title "On self culture," reflect popular trends in education regarding women's physical and mental health (including the importance of balancing classroom time with exercise). Others suggest Emily's more individual interests or perceptions of the world conveyed in essays like "Art and its effect upon us" (August 1867), while others reveal her deep interest in literature like her February 17, 1868 essay "On Books" which argues for the importance of books and the consumption of literature. Entries end in 1873, leaving the latter half of the book blank. Emily became a Wesleyan schoolmistress and married schoolteacher William James Middleton in 1879. She died in 1921. The question remains whether Emily Somerset and the later owner, Annie Usher were related in some way, as Emily's death in 1921 is quite close to Annie's receipt of the manuscript as a gift in 1923.

Estelle F. Tayloe three commonplace books, 1850-1854, 0.09 cubic feet.

This collection consists of a commonplace book featuring quotes and sayings from newspaper and magazine clippings from a variety of authors like Shakespeare, Goethe, Longfellow, Elliot, and Byron. Most are organized so the quotes from the same author are grouped on the same page. Also included are excerpts of poems handwritten into the album.

This collection contains a commonplace book written in by Frances Eleanor "Fannie" Poole and her classmates at the Frederick Female Seminary in Maryland. The book includes a frontispiece, engraved title page, and additional plates. Poole wrote "this side up," beneath her inscription, but the binding is upside down. Poole died at the age of nineteen in 1860, four years after the last dated entry in the book. The book has heavy foxing on the plates and pages were torn from the book.

A Victorian novelty album owned by a person named Grace from Massachusetts. The covers are pasted with colorful die cut-outs on a background of printed lace paper doilies. The album is in the shape of a triange with scalloped edges, in its original (cardboard) triangle-shaped box.

This collection contains the college scrapbook of Louise Boyer who attended the School of Education at the Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, in Hampton, Virginia. Hampton Institute, a historically Black college, was founded in 1868 as the Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School by the American Missionary Association for the education of the formerly enslaved. Also included is an earlier collection of one scrapbook titled "Scrapbook of Louise Boyer at Hampton Institute. This scrapbook has more information about Hampton Institute included with Boyer's own scrapbook pages. There are pressed flowers, progams for music events and track meets, autographs, greeting cards, poetry, photographs, and newspaper clippings. There is also a poem dedicated to the memory of Hampton administrator Albert Howe.