Call Number:

Ms. Codex 2153

Repository:

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

Extent:

.1 linear feet (1 volume)

Language Note:

The majority of the entries in this volume are English, however, there are two entries in French, two entries in Latin, and one entry in Greek.

Preferred Citation:

Margaret W. D. Campbell remembrance book, 1833-1843, Ms. Codex 2153, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1833-1844 (inclusive)

Creator:

Campbell, Margaret W. D.

Form:

Poetry, Commonplace books, Drawings (visual works), Songs, and Poems

Abstract:

This volume was given to Margaret W. D. Campbell in remembrance of T. C. in 1833. It is unclear what relationship Margaret had with T. or who gifted the volume. The volume consists of a decade's worth of contributions of poems, drawings, songs, and a dictionary of floral emblems by a number of people probably living in the Glasgow area of Scotland. Topics of contributions relate, primarily, to death and mourning, Scotland, music, and flowers.

There is no certain information about the life of Margaret W. D. Campbell or the person whom she grieved in 1833. She probably lived in Scotland, possibly in the Glasgow region, in the 1830s to 1840s. At least some of her acquaintances were quite educated, providing entries in French, Latin, and Greek; indicating that she may have been part of a fairly prosperous family.

Per the inscription (p. i), this volume was given to Margaret W. D. Campbell in remembrance of T. C. in 1833. It is unclear what relationship Margaret had with T. or who gifted the volume. The volume consists of a decade's worth of contributions of poems, drawings, songs, and a dictionary of floral emblems by a number of people probably living in the Glasgow area of Scotland. These people are identified, largely, only by initials or first or last names, including R.S. of Greenock; J.B. (possibly of Greenock); A.S.; S.F.; J.W. of Greenock; R.H. Hunter; P.C.C.; B.R.C.; E.C.J.; and Marabella. Only three names are complete: Mary Campbell Campbell (p. 82), Mary T. [Macquenie] (p. 152-153), and Emma Hamilton of Kames (p. 181). While the contributions date from 1833 to 1843, the contributions are not entered in chronological order. Geographic locations listed include Greenock, Gallanach, and Kames in Scotland as well as Frankfield House, which was probably a mansion in Glasgow.

Topics of contributions relate, primarily, to death and mourning, Scotland, music, and flowers. Almost all the entries are in English; with the exception of two entries in Latin: "Scientiae Voluptas" and "Horatii Beatus", both contributed by J.B. (p. 65); two entries in French: "Impromptu a deux femmes charmantes aux milieu d'une l'arterre," which was published in 1826 in the London Literary Gazette and Journal of Belles Lettres, and was contributed by J.W (p. 144) and "Politesse," contributed by J.B. (p. 35); and one untitled entry in Greek, contributed by J.B. (p. 241). Examples of titled entries include "Old Epitaph on a Wife" (p. 57), "Fong-Hi: A Legend of the Celestial Empire" (p. 85-87), "Lines suggested by seeing the Statue of a Dead Child" (pages 104-108), "Stanzas suggested by seeing a drawing of a night blooming Ceris" (p. 193), "Single Blessedness" (p. 195-196), "For Comfort in Death" (p. 237 ), and "The Parting" (p. 251). One entry is titled "Scotland" (p. 179) which is followed immediately by "To England" (p. 181). A song, "The Isle of the Brave and the Free," includes both musical notation and lyrics (p. 30-31).

There are six illustrations: "Fresh Water Sailors" (p. 9), a bouquet of flowers (p. 55), "I didn't Buy my Commission to Fight" (p. 75), a pencil sketch of a woman holding a basket (p. 118), a pencil sketch of the head of a man (p. 209), and a pencil sketch of a castle and a flower (p. 254).

This volume, with "Album" in gilt on the spine, is bound in full leather with gilt borders and spine decorations, an embossed Morocco label, and marbled end papers. There are multiple different weights and colors of paper within the volume, and there are numerous blank pages throughout the volume.