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James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
880 Madison DriveTiffany Cole
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
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[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Floral Autograph Albums, 1850-1891, SC 0325, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
The floral autograph albums were purchased as a set February 10, 1969 by Forrest Palmer, Librarian, from J. S. Presgraves, 390 N. 5th St, Wytheville, Virginia (Bookworm & Silverfish).
The albums previously formed part of the Shenandoah Local History Collection (SC 5055), but were separated in October 2021 due to the materials in the collection having no shared provenance.
Sarah Ann Cornelia Maupin (1826-1904) married David Gwin McClung in 1852. She is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Franklin, West Virginia.
Mary Jane O'Brian (1834-1900) married Gustavus Gay circa 1866. She is buried in Woodbine Cemetery in Harrisonburg.
It is unclear if there is a connection between Sarah Maupin and Mary Jane O'Brian.
The Floral Autograph Albums, 1850-1891, comprise two albums presented separately to Sarah Ann Cornelia Maupin McClung and Mary Jane O'Brian Gay.
Floral albums were a type of autograph album, a bound volume with blank pages for written sentiments, autographs, and poems. The writings contained in an autograph album were frequently made by friends or family of the recipient of the album and were accumulated over time. In some examples, floral albums contained colored illustrations of flowers that were interleaved and bound with the blank pages.
The floral album dedicated to Mary Jane O'Brian has a detached front cover.
The albums were previously described as part of the Shenandoah Local History Collection (SC 5055): "Series IV consists of two floral albums. Such albums became popular in America during the nineteenth century and were designed so that friends and family members could inscribe blank pages with drawings, poems, prayers, or letters dedicated to the albums owner. The first album is dedicated to Miss Sarah Ann Cornelia Maupin spanning a period of time from 1850 through 1860. In 1852 she married David Gwin McClung and the dedications of each entry change from "To Miss Sarah A.C. Maupin" to "Miss Sarah A.C. McClung." The second album was dedicated to Miss Mary Jane O'Brian on Feb. 3, 1856 and runs through 1880. Her last name is sometimes spelled as "O'Bryan" and she is sometimes referred to as Mollie."
The floral autograph albums are housed individually in acid-free folders and arranged chronologically.