Eva Reynolds (1885-1933) Scrapbook

Eva Reynolds' scrapbook is creatively crafted. Rather than filling the blank pages of a commercially produced scrapbook, she used a book of printed photographs entitled An Art Souvenir: Northwestern University (published by A. L. Swift & Co., Chicago, 1897) as the base for her scrapbook. Photographs and other items representing her experiences and activities at Northwestern are pasted on to pictures printed in the book. For example, on a page picturing Pearson's Hall, Reynolds added photographs of herself and her dorm mates posing on the building's veranda.

To pages showing general views of the campus, Reynolds added photographs of herself and her friends in the same surroundings. Many pages and photographs are titled or captioned. Reflecting the popularity of photography among college students, the photographs range in size and format from tiny images (some trimmed) to larger oval, square or rectangular photographs; a few are cyanotypes.

On the first few pages of the book, Reynolds described her first experiences on campus, her educational background, and her course of studies, and listed her classmates by category: prettiest, most talented, most hopeless, and best dancer. Reynolds used the book's blank pages and wide margins to full advantage, adding pictures; handwritten notes and poems; dance cards; party menus; commencement, recital, and theatre programs; news clipping; and autographs. In some cases, the printed pictures in the book are completely covered by programs, pictures cut out of other publications, or original photographs of Reynolds' classmates.

The Eva Reynolds Scrapbook was treated by the Northwestern University Library Conservation Laboratory in spring of 2003. The spine was replaced and a box was built to protect the scrapbook.