Late Nineteenth-century Autograph Album Compiled by Elizabeth Dole....

Description

Late Nineteenth-century Autograph Album Compiled by Elizabeth Dole. Comprising 140 signed pages, featuring signatures of U.S. presidents and vice presidents, Civil War generals, Supreme Court justices, politicians, authors, artists, reformers, and foreign dignitaries. The signatures were collected by Elizabeth "Lizzie" Dole, wife of William Palmer Dole, Commissioner of Indian Affairs under President Abraham Lincoln. Lizzie assembled the volume over several decades, circa 1861 to 1900, gathering autographs from the most central figures of Washington's political, intellectual, and social circles. Measures 5 x 7 1/2 inches, bound in original black leather; spine and upper cover stamped in gilt, rear cover stamped in blind, all edges gilt.

Among the most prominent contents are the signatures of seven Presidents of the United States, including Abraham Lincoln, "A. Lincoln"; Andrew Johnson, "Andrew Johnson / Dec 30 1867"; Ulysses S. Grant, "U. S. Grant / General, Washington, Ills, March 30th 1867"; James A. Garfield, "J. A. Garfield / Hiram Ohio"; Grover Cleveland, "Grover Cleveland / June 17, 1896"; and William McKinley, "William McKinley / May 9 1898." Lizzie was also able to collect the autograph of Jefferson Davis, signed on a clipped sheet and affixed to the page with a paperclip: "Jeffn Davis, Missi." She adds an annotation above his name: "Prest / Traitor to his country. 1861."

The album contains signatures of Vice Presidents Thomas A. Hendricks, Schuyler Colfax, and Henry Wilson, as well as an impressive roster of Civil War generals and naval officers, including Philip H. Sheridan, George G. Meade, Grenville M. Dodge, John M. Schofield, and John A. Dahlgren, among many others. Notably, Christopher "Kit" Carson signs his name twice in the album. Another interesting autograph is that of John Clem, the youngest noncommissioned officer in U.S. Army history, who signs: "Yours Respectfully / Jno. L. Clem / U. S. A. / 'Drummer Boy of Chickamauga' / 'Shiloh' Jany 1882."

There are also signatures from six associate justices of the Supreme Court, including David Davis, Nathan Clifford, Samuel F. Miller, Stephen J. Field, William Strong, and Joseph P. Bradley.

One of the most interesting additions to the album comes from King Kamehameha V, the fifth monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 - 1872. A strip of paper bearing his handwriting is pasted in with adhesive, reading: "Please remember me kindly." Below, an inscription from Charles C. Harris, Minister to Hawaii, reads: "The above is the hand writing of his majesty Kamehameha Vth King of the Hawaiian Island / Charles C. Harris / Minister Plenipotentiary / Washington D. C. Jany 30th 1868."

She also received an autograph from John Ross, Chief of the Cherokee nation, just six months before his death: "Jno Ross / Prin. Chief / Cherokee Nation / Washington D. C. / Janry 27th, 1866."

Beyond politics and the military, Lizzie assembled a rich cross-section of writers, artists, and reform voices, many of them women. Susan B. Anthony contributes a forceful inscription dated February 10, 1900: "Perfect equality of rights for women - civil & political - is the demand of, yours sincerely, Susan B. Anthony. Rochester, NY." Also present are signatures of Civil War nurse Clara Barton, "Clara Barton," and bestselling novelist E. D. E. N. Southworth, "E. D. E. N. Southworth." Romance writer Julia Magruder adds a personal note, "For Mrs. Dole / from her friend / Julia Magruder." Additional contributors include George Catlin, Thomas Nast, Lew Wallace, and John Pierpont.

With dozens more signatures from notable figures of the late nineteenth century, the album stands as a remarkably broad and personal record of American social life-a true treasure trove for any collector interested in the art, literature, or politics of the era.

Condition: Covers rubbed with scattered soiling. Joints cracked, spine and upper cover just holding. Over-opened at gutters in several instances; interior largely clean and sound. Some signatures clipped from larger documents and pasted in; occasional adhesive staining or soiling.

Provenance: Elizabeth Dole and by descent, to our consignor.

More Information: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Dole was the wife of William Palmer Dole, Lincoln's Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Born in Bedford, New Hampshire, Lizzie married William Dole in 1861 after the death of her first husband, Frank Allis. When William was appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs on March 12, 1861, the newly married couple moved to the nation's capital. With her husband now a member of the Lincoln administration, Lizzie found herself at the very center of Washington's political and social elite; a marked change from the small-town world she had left behind.

According to The History of Edgar County, Illinois (1879), William "was on the most intimate relations with the President so long as Mr. [Abraham] Lincoln lived." However, we can only speculate as to exactly when the two men were first acquainted. Born in 1811, he was two years younger than Lincoln, and in his youth traveled along the Mississippi River by flatboat selling produce. Lincoln similarly worked as a flatboat laborer during the same years. Dole moved to Paris, Illinois in 1854, and Lincoln spent time in Edgar County while riding the Eighth Judicial Circuit from 1847 to 1859. What is in the historical record is that Dole was an early member of the Republican Party, served as a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention, and was an ardent supporter of Lincoln's nomination for President.

Lots 47146 to 47164 were assembled by Lizzie during her years in Washington. They speak to the access she had as a member of Lincoln's inner social circle and capture significant moments of both triumph and anguish. In addition to the two printed passes to the East and North rooms for Lincoln's funeral, note the quickly handwritten pass jotted by Mary Todd Lincoln's cousin, John Blair Smith Todd allowing entrance to the White House a day earlier on April 18, 1865. None but the most intimate of friends would have been welcomed by Mary on such a grievous occasion. An autograph album she began in the 1860s includes signatures as late as an 1898 signing by William McKinley; and so diverse as to include two signatures by "Kit" Carson, six associate Supreme Court Justices, and King Kamehameha V of Hawaii. The countless letters and calling cards collected are the story of a rich life that crossed paths with one of America's most cherished presidents.

The items have been passed down through multiple generations and are now offered here for the first time.