This is a guest post by Addison Pickett, our intern for the summer and a member of the Mount St. Mary’s University Class of 2028!
Keeping autograph books was a common practice for students in the 19th century to remember their classmates and friends from their school years. Autograph books were eventually replaced by the autograph pages in yearbooks and are now a relic of their time.
While the go-to for 21st century students are writing things like ‘HAGS,’ ‘Stay Cool!,’ or their phone numbers, students of the 19th century often recited small poems with themes of friendship and remembrance alongside their signatures. The autograph books of Emma Moore and Mame from St. Joseph’s Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland are no exception. These autograph books date from 1885 and 1886, respectively, and hold signatures from as late as 1892. These books shed light on the thoughts and feelings of high school girls in the 1880s.
This poem was a very common recitation in autograph books of the 19th century, and even provides a space to write one’s name within the poem. There are many different variations of the poem, and these two entries showcase that. While Tiphine writes “rocks and hills,” Ella writes “mountains and hills,” perhaps feeling it was more apt for their home on St. Joseph’s Vale. At the end of the poem, as well, Tiphine writes “who wrote these lines to thee,” whereas Ella says “who traced these lines for thee.”
Another common “Forget-Me-Not” poem from the 19th century, this poem uses the imagery of dropping pearls into a casket as symbolism for remembering old friends. A variation of these lines are even featured in the 1881 book “New Choice Selections for Autograph Books: Comprising Original and Selected Friendly, Affectionate, Humorous and Dedicatory Verses, Suitable for inscription in Autograph Albums, on all occasions.”
While this poem holds no variation between Louisa and Marie’s entries, there is no record of the verse online. Perhaps lack of variation and availability online shows that this was a more unique or contained “Forget-Me-Not” poem. It is a simple poem that simply calls for remembrance of friendship.
This poem is titled ‘To The Virgins, Make Much of Time,’ and was written by Robert Herrick in 1648. Departing from themes of remembrance and friendship, Herrick’s poem is often described as a “Carpe Diem” poem about making the most of your life. Besides “Forget-Me-Not” poems, themes of living well were also very common in these two autograph books. Interestingly, Julia O’Keefe errs from the original poem when she writes “that same flower that blooms,” instead of “that same flower that smiles.” Julia likely misremembered the line or learned the poem from someone who misremembered.
These poems display the traditions and culture of 19th century schoolgirls, revealing their interests and desires as well as love for their friends. The 19th century can seem so foreign to the modern age, but small traditions like these autograph books show that humans are always united by their love and care for one another.
References:
https://queensu.scholaris.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/c710c6f7-b9d6-4d6d-9fd2-751b5f8a645a/content
https://ameshistory.org/content/autograph-book-verses
docarchivesblog.org 