Collection consists of an album amicorum maintained by Josephine Byerley (1835-1896) of South Bend, Indiana. An album amicorum is an early form of the poetry book, the autograph book, and the modern friendship book, and was used to compile artwork and writings from one’s friends, colleagues, and classmates.

This album amicorum maintained by Josephine Byerley is contained in a Souvenir Album with red cloth binding printed by J.C. Riker, New York. The entries in the album span 1852-1857, and consist of at least 45 pages of holograph poetry, remembrances, and original art from various contributors.

The earliest entries in the album, dated 1852 and 1853, are from Josephine’s time at St. Mary’s Academy, which at the time was located just north of South Bend in Bertrand, Michigan. The school was headed at the time by Mother Angela Gillespie (1824-1887), who­­ would found the Sisters of the Holy Cross in the United States in 1869. Most of the entries from 1854 and following are bylined Notre Dame. A late entry from 1857 by a visitor from Albany, New York, specifies South Bend.

The album includes several original artworks and poetic compositions from various contributors. Many of the written passages, even the personalized poems, are of a devotional nature, with titles such as “God is Good,” and “L’angelus de Mai,” but there are also examples of sentimental verse. In addition to entries in French and English, there are several contributions in German, including an acrostic improvising on Josephine Byerley’s name. There are several items laid in, including a French prayer card edged in lace, and a watercolor of a lake. Many contributors signed their offerings only with their initials. All contributors appear to be local, and include nuns, priests, and presumed classmates. As is typical with such albums, the pages are not in chronological order, as contributors appear to have opened the book at random to inscribe it rather than filling the pages in sequential order.

Scope and Contents note adapted from vendor description provided by Carpe Librum Books, Chestnut Hill, MA.