Call Number:

Ms. Codex 2112

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

.1 linear feet (1 volume)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Hattie L. Sumner notes on the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, 1876 September, Ms. Codex 2112, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1876 September

Form:

Diaries, Notebooks, and Lists (document genres)

Abstract:

Hattie (Harriet) L. B. Sumner (1861-1959) traveled to Philadelphia from her home in Burlington, Vermont, to visit the Centennial International Exposition in September of 1876. She kept a journal of what she saw, written in list form. It is unclear how long she spent in Philadelphia.

Hattie (Harriet) L. B. Sumner was born February 9, 1861, to Charles A. (1826-1901) and Harriet L. Barker (1825-1868) Sumner in Burlington, Vermont. In September, 1876, she traveled to Philadelphia for the Centennial International Exposition which was held from May 10 to November 10, 1876. While touring the exhibition, she took notes about what she saw. The notebook begins on September 19, 1876, but no other date is recorded within the volume.

Hattie married Albert William Shaw (1861-1940) on May 7, 1882 and they moved to Massachusetts. They were the parents of four children and Hattie died in 1959.

This volume consists of lists of what Hattie Sumner saw during her September, 1876, trip to Philadelphia for the Centennial International Exhibition. She appears to have spent the bulk of her time in the Main Building (which included the art gallery), but also visited Agricultural Hall and Machinery Hall. Within the Main Building, she lists what she saw in the national pavilions (including Japan, Australia, China, Peru, Chile, Spain, Norway, Germany, Austria, Russia, Portugal, [Tunis], Denmark, France, Switzerland, Mexico, England, Ireland, India, Canada, Belgium, Bahamas, New Zealand, and Italy). Hattie's writing does not particularly express her feelings about what she saw, and only occasionally are adjectives used; but she does sometimes describe items as beautiful or lovely. Within the Art Gallery, she commented on art from England, Canada, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Spain, and the United States. As she visited the Agricultural Hall and Machinery Hall, her notes became less expansive and expressive. It is unclear if her notes reflect everything she saw or simply the objects that struck her as most important.

The text is written parallel to the spine as in a notepad with Hattie's signature, "Hattie L. Sumner, Burlington, Vermont, Sept. 19, 1876," along with a lithograph rose on p. i. There is writing only on the first 34 pages and the remainder of the volume (p. 35-112) is blank. Hattie begins her lists on p. 1 with the header, "Notes on the 'Centennial.'"