1870s ORIGINAL FORT EDWARD SEMINARY SCRAPBOOK COMPILED BY A YOUNG TEENAGE STUDENT AND BIBLIOPHILE WHO WOULD GO ON TO RUN THE LIBRARY, TEACH AND LECTURE EXTENSIVELY
On offer is an absolutely fascinating scrapbook that belonged to Jahu DeWitt Miller. Dated 1876, it was put together when Miller was 19 and working as a lecturer and teacher at the Fort Edward Institute in upstate New York. The book measures 7 inches by 5 and 3/4 inches. The binding on the book is broken and the pages are loose. However, they are intact and contain a veritable goldmine of notes, jotting, etc. There are an estimated 100 pages and of these, and estimated 80% are complete. Miller began his studies at age 14 at the Fort Edward Institute - a collegiate or seminary as they were known in those days. After graduating, he began to teach there. He also acted as Librarian for the Seminary and was on record as a voracious reader. At the same time, he began to preach at various Methodist churches in the area. He was attracted to journalism and wrote extensively. He also began a book collection that grew to a very significant size. He lectured widely across the United States for many years. In 1901, he donated his extensive rare book collection to National Park Seminary located at the time on the edge of Washington DC. Over the years, NPS has changed hands several times until 1942 when it was expropriated by the US Army as a convalescent home for wounded soldiers. Today, it is part of the Walter Reed Medical Center complex. Miller died of a heart attack in Boise, ID in 1911. The scrapbook is chock full of notes, letter, cards and jottings. On many, the ink has faded. Notes are stuck in willy-nilly: "Artman looks as tho he were an old bummer See his nose", "... Miller - [ ] Butler has prepared an article which she intends to deliver this morning, the same going very strongly against you." On May 6th, 1873, he published a printed statement of defense challenging unnamed critics of statement and articles he has written. On Institute letterhead, he has received a letter addressed to himself requesting a loan of $300 from a MF Chichester. On Dec 6th, 1872, he received a letter from the Office of the College Courant: "Dear Doctor - I draw to you this line as a matter of friendship. Chatfield is just on the point of failure, and will probably make an assignment next week. Concerning that you have a claim against him, the sooner you get it into the lawyers hands the better. I send you the name of a good one EP Arvine, Church Street, opposite Post Office. The sheriff is dropping in every day making attachments which are being [ ] for. The future of the Courant is doubtful; but it will probably not die. Prof Barker of Yale talks of taking it in which case I shall probably retain my connection with it. Another though just occurred to me, that perhaps you could get the account of your bill more readily by ordering some of Chatfields publications, Sincerely Yours RW Keufshall. There are cards referring to The Senate Society , possibly one of the many debating societies extant that to which he belonged. And so the scrapbook goes. It is a veritable goldmine for a historian or researcher exploring the life and experiences of this noted American literary figure. For a social historian, it is a superb window into the life of someone who travelled extensively in the literary circles of his day.; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, 19TH CENTURY, 1870S, JAHU DEWITT MILLER, FORT EDWARD INSTITUTE, NATIONAL PARK SEMINARY, NATIONAL PARK SERVICES, UPSTATE NEW YORK, JOHN CASSEDY, VESTA CASSEDY, DR. JAMES AMENT, WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, LECTURERS, LIBRARIANS, BOOK COLLECTORS, JOURNALISTS, LITERARY FIGURES, SCRAPBOOKS, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNALS, PERSONAL HISTORY, SOCIAL HISTORY, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL
