Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of twenty autograph albums and ephemera from the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and New York dating from 1843 through 1923, collected by Duncan Emrich, head of the Archive of Folk Song, 1945-1956. Emrich's collection is comprised of eight albums from the Habel, Steinmetz, Hale, and Wehls families, donated by Mrs. Orville B. Craig of Independence, Iowa, in 1955; three albums apparently donated by Neva Ruth Dye of Independence, Iowa, in 1956; plus seven albums, one set of loose pages from an album, and one greeting card, donated by various individuals.
The collection represents German-American and Anglo-American autograph album customs. Autograph albums are thought to have become a tradition among German students in the fifteenth century. The tradition came to the United States about 1820 and changed as it was adopted by American album-writers (McNeil, 1968).
These albums, the earliest from 1843, provide examples of variations of the tradition as it emerged. Several albums kept as a student pastime (college men and women and school boys and girls) are found in this collection. Another album custom of the time was for women of marriageable age to keep "friendship books" to collect signatures and verses from suitors and advice (often on marriage) from visitors, friends, and relatives (Randolph and McCord, 1948). Many women continued adding to their albums after marriage. Several albums in this collection provide examples of this version of the tradition. Sometimes the same album contains examples of both the student and the pre-marriage tradition. The verse used in American autograph albums of this period varied from serious to light-hearted and humorous texts (Stern, 1973). The albums may include verses of somber advice from their elders alongside light-hearted verses from friends. The inscriptions include simple signatures, poetry, sayings, personal messages, quotations, calligraphy, and drawings. The language of the inscriptions is predominantly in English, with few in German or Greek.
Little information accompanies these albums. Sometimes the name of the original owner can be determined from the album, but in some cases only the first name is evident. Entries are often dated, so the period the album was in use can usually be determined. Donors did not always provide information about the original owner or the history of the album.
The albums are grouped by the principal donors, then arranged chronologically by the date of the first inscription. Mrs. Craig's donation of eight albums is followed by Mrs. Nye's donation of three albums. These are followed by the individually donated albums, album pages, and the greeting card, all arranged chronologically.
Further research might be done on this collection. Examination of the Music Division files might lead to further correspondence related to the albums under donor's names. The radio script was not found among the Duncan Emrich papers held by the Archive.