Sarah Belville early nineteenth-century friendship album
Summary
| Creator: | Belville, Sarah |
| Date(s): | 1828-1852 |
| Call Number: | MSS 0093, Item 0054 |
| Language: | Materials mostly in
|
| Abstract: | This friendship album belonged to Sarah Belville of Christiana, Delaware, and contains poems, tributes, and classical quotations from Belville's friends, who sometimes sign or initial, give their location, and date their contributions. |
| Physical Description: | 1 volume (approximately 113 pages) 22 cm |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Purchase, May 2015. |
| Processing Information: | Processed by A. Wellner, May 2015, and Jaime Margalotti, April 2018. Encoded by Rivi Feinsilber, April 2018. Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard |
Biographical and Historical Notes
Sarah Louisa Belville was born on November 1, 1804, in New Castle, Delaware. As a young woman, she resided in Christiana, Delaware.
In the late 1820s or early 1830s, Belville married Horace Pease, a miller, and moved to Dayton, Ohio. Her children, all of whom were born in Ohio, include Walter Belville Pease, Charles Edward Pease, Mary Josephine Stockstill, Harriet Buchanon Clegg, and Anna Elizabeth Phillips. Her son Francis Pease died in infancy in 1835.
Sarah Pease died on May 15, 1862, and was burried in the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum in Dayton, Ohio.
Sources
"Sarah Pease," U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Ancestry.com, accessed April 25, 2017.
"Horace Pease," U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Ancestry.com, accessed April 25, 2017.
"Francis Pease," U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Ancestry.com, accessed April 25, 2017.
1850 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com, accessed April 25, 2017.
Additional information derived from the collection.
Scope and Contents
The Sarah Belville early nineteenth-century friendship album is filled with poems, tributes, and classical quotations from Belville's friends, who sometimes sign or initial, give their location, and date their contributions. The contributors are largely located in Wilmington, Delaware, or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An entry from July 1829 is titled, "To Miss Belville on her leaving Wilmington." This may mark her marriage to Horace Pease or move to Dayton, Ohio.
The front page bears the title: "Sarah Belville of Christianna, Delaware." Underneath is the dedication, "This Book presented by a particular friend To Sarah Louisa B." Written in cursive or decorative calligraphic hands, the bulk of the text is in ink, with some seemingly later additions in pencil. Several of the entries have decorative titles, such as one titled “The Album,” that includes a small color illustration of a friendship album at the top.
The passages focus on themes of nature, solitude, religious imagery, love, and friendship. The later pencil additions include notes from Belville’s daughter “Hattie” and son “WM. Pease.” Entries begin in 1828 and continue into the 1830s. However, the last entry is dated May 20th, 1852, from Mary Josephine Pease, Belville’s daughter.
The volume has red leather cover boards with a framed gold motif on both sides and marbled endpapers. “SARAH BELVILLE” is stamped in gold on the cover. The page of the first entry is cut into a decorative pattern. A pressed flower can be found towards the front of the volume.
Using these materials
Shelving Summary
Item 0054: Shelved in SPEC MSS 0093 medium
Access Information
The collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
MSS 0093 Item 0054, Sarah Belville early nineteenth-century autograph album, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.
Related Materials in this Repository
This item forms part of MSS 0093 Commonplaces, Albums, Scrapbooks collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec
Container List
| Sarah Belville early nineteenth-century friendship album | Item 0054 |
Names & Subjects
Names
Subjects
- Calligraphy--United States--19th century--Specimens
- Female friendship--United States--History--19th century
- Scrapbooks--United States--History--19th century