c1850s - 1880s ECLECTIC HANDWRITTEN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INFORMATION, GENEALOGICAL RECORDS, RECIPES, REMEDIES AND CURES, POEMS, PSALMS, SERMONS AND SONGS IN THIS MID 19TH C. TREASURE OF AMERICANA
On offer is the remarkable handwritten journal of Mr. E. C[hester ?]. Gray as shown on the free front endpaper's title: "E.C.Gray's Topic Book". Extraordinary Americana relic of the 1850s through the 1880s being one part what appears to be an abridged version of the renowned 'Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene' by Dr. Calvin Cutter which Mr. Gray kept as a medical reference comprising of approximately 26 pp of the text with 31 chapters. Mr. Gray, of the Northampton Massachusetts had an exceptionally fine almost calligraphic in its steadiness handwriting in this very densely written journal packed with his precise neat cursive. (Research suggests that Mr. Gray may have been a doctor and a reverend or deacon of his Church.) This section is followed by some 60 pp. of ink and pencil poems, songs, sermons including "The Arab's farewell to his Horse", "To the Wind", "Sonnet Written in a Churchyard", "A Thought on the Future", "The Californian's Song" by Brown; and many more. There is yet another section of recipes for baked goods, dye colors, remedies, cures and much more. A page or two relates to Church and fundraisings for Foreign Missions ["1854 Jan & Feb Foreign Missions contributions; Mrs Morton, Miss Almira, Miss Butterfield, Miss Cook, Miss Field, Miss West, Miss Pasco…"] Lastly is a genealogical section detailing the lives of the West and Gray families. Here are some snippets: Thomas West b. Ap. 22 1778; married Miss Auldah Parsons; Parsons West born Oct. 16, 1801 died Nov 27 1882; Parson West married Elisabeth Parker Willard died Ap 2nd 1883; Hannah Gray b. june 13, 1792 d. Sep. 10, 1865; Chester Gray b. Apr 28, 1795 d. Nov. 9 1882…" Another hand or two appears to have put in some late genealogical info. The journal has a cloth spine over marbled boards with some losses to the spine ends and some age toning to the paper, but overall G+.; Manuscript; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; GRAY, WEST, GENEALOGY, CIVIL WAR, CIVIL WAR ERA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, DIARY, JOURNAL, LOG, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, DIARIES, JOURNALS, LOGS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, AMERICANA, MASSACHUSETTS,
