Class album, 1891

File — Box: 1, Volume: 1

Identifier: Volume 1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

Before printed yearbooks with photographs of students became widespread, college students exchanged individual photographs taken at local photography studios and reproduced in quantity. The photographs—usually the 4-1/2"x6-1/4"size called cabinet photographs—were mounted on card stock printed with the photographer's name and address. Students filled albums (with spaces designed to fit the standard cabinet size photos) with card photographs of their friends, including photos of faculty and administrators to create a record of their college years.

This beautiful album, with its embossed cover and elaborately decorated pages, was produced by Edward Posen & Co. It contains cabinet card portraits of Livonia Kay and her schoolmates, friends, and Northwestern University professors and administrators. Many photographs have no identification; a piece of paper placed on the page lists the names of any identified subject. Two photos of Kay herself are found toward the middle of the album.

The album underwent conservation by the Northwestern University Library's Conservation Lab to repair its damaged cover.

Dates

1891

Creator

From the Collection: Kay, Livonia Ruth, 1867-1949 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on use of the materials in the department for research; all patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is stored at a remote campus location and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.