1861–1864 Civil War-Era Autograph Album Cazenovia Seminary, New York With Drawings, Poem & Photographs / SOLD
1861–1864 Civil War-Era Autograph Album Cazenovia Seminary, New York With Drawings, Poem & Photographs - Inventory Number: AUT 135 / SOLD
A remarkable and well-preserved Civil War-period autograph album belonging to S.L. Hall of Cazenovia Seminary, New York, dated between 1861 and 1864. This historic volume offers a vivid glimpse into the academic and social life of a coeducational Methodist seminary during one of the most pivotal eras in American history.
The album is filled with numerous autographs, handwritten sentiments, town and city notations, and personal reflections from classmates and acquaintances, offering a broad geographic snapshot of the young scholars in attendance during the war years. Of special note is a finely hand-penned piece of original art and accompanying poem, executed with great care and skill—an expressive memento that enriches the book’s personal and historical value.
Several period photographs are also included, adding a visual dimension to the otherwise handwritten entries. These rare inclusions provide a human face to the names inscribed within and enhance the album’s depth as a record of mid-19th-century American youth during wartime.
Founded in 1824, Cazenovia Seminary was one of the earliest Methodist educational institutions in the country and among the first to accept both male and female students—making this autograph album a unique and early example of coeducational life in antebellum and wartime America.
Condition: Album is intact with wear appropriate to age. All pages remain legible with strong ink entries and securely bound signatures. Some fading and minor edge wear present.
A powerful and personal historical artifact, rich in social history, artistic merit, and Civil War-era context—ideal for collectors of early Americana, Civil War ephemera, or educational history.
Comes housed in 12 x 16 riker display case with black velvet and descriptive card.
Inventory Number: AUT 135 / SOLD