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The scrapbook of American author and journalist Henry Morford contains chiefly
autographs (281), letters written to Morford (135), and a few personal or
career-related documents (25). Numerous persons in journalism, literature, the
performing arts, and politics are represented, as well as a few who fought for
the
Union during the American Civil War. Morford’s scrapbook was formerly part of
the
Ransom Center’s Theater Arts Manuscripts Collection, but now forms a separate,
discrete collection. |
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The items document Morford’s wide circle of colleagues, friends, and acquaintances
as
he lived and worked in New Jersey and New York City for various newspapers (New Jersey Standard, New York
Atlas, etc.) and clerked for the New York Court of Common Pleas
(1861-1868). The scrapbook contains items by many other authors (poets, novelists,
humorists, and playwrights); journalists, editors, and publishers; theater actors
and other performers plus theater managers and agents; and attorneys, bureaucrats,
judges, and politicians. Several items concern the death of Elmer E. Ellsworth,
the
first Union officer to die in the Civil War. Only a few items represent members
of
the Morford family other than Henry. |
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Among the figures represented by three or more items in the scrapbook are: Arthur
O’Neil Alcock (soldier), J. C. Croly / “Jennie June” (author), Hiram Fuller
(editor), Charles G. Halpine / “Miles O'Reilly” (poet, editor), Laura Keene
(actress, manager), Eugene Fenwick Loveridge (editor, novelist), William A. Moore
(dramatist), R. H. Newell / “Orpheus C. Kerr” (humorist), Charles B. Parsons
(soldier), Edward Askew Sothern (actor), Mortimer Thomson / “Q. K. Philander
Doesticks” (journalist and humorist), Lester Wallack (actor), and Frank Wood
(editor, dramatist). See the following Alphabetical Index of Items for a complete
list of names present along with descriptions of items. |
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In addition to autographs and letters, the documents include addresses, an
appointment, convention documents, a draft notice (specimen), legal documents,
a
manuscript of a rhyme, several passes/tickets, a receipt, roll calls, a publisher’s
announcement, a school certificate, seals, and a soldier’s vote form and
envelope. |
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Three loose documents were found in the scrapbook and documented when it was rebound
in 2006: 1) a blank scrapbook leaf; 2) a printed and handwritten draft of a sale
description of the scrapbook along with a card with the signature of Mrs. Henry
Morford; and 3) an incomplete handwritten document listing toasts given at an
unidentified function, 2 pages on single leaf numbered as page 39, undated. |
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Research suggests that the third document may continue an incomplete entry in a minute book for The Society of Tammany, or Columbian Order records held by the New York Public Library. Page 38 in the digitized Committee of Amusement
minutes lists patriotic toasts numbered 1 through 4 given on 23 February 1795 for George Washington’s birthday. The single leaf numbered page 39 continues with toasts numbered 5 through 15, followed by a brief closing note on the verso. In addition to textual and water-damage similarities between the minutes and the single leaf, the source given for the Society records is Douglas Taylor, a member of the Society. The Morford Scrapbook contains an 1865 autograph of a Douglas Taylor, identified by Morford as the New York Commissioner of Jurors, suggesting a possible connection. |
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Note on Morford’s Labels |
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Morford labeled nearly all items in the scrapbook with names, identifications, and
dates |
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Morford’s identifications are usually given by occupation, but sometimes are only
a
title (Dr.; Hon.; Prof., Rev.); the title of a particular publication; the title
of
an office held; or an address or a place name. The terms used are not consistent,
but they convey some sense of the period and Morford’s style and vocabulary as
he
compiled his scrapbook. These are a few of the identifications he used, grouped
by
type: |
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Actor/actress, tragedian/tragedienne, comedian/comedienne, magician, minstrel,
pantomimist; Agent, dramatic agent; Artist; Attorney, lawyer; Author/authoress,
dramatist, litterateur/litterateuse, novelist, poet, poetaster, poetess, rhymer,
writer; Bohemian; Clerk; Composer, maestro; Editor/ed./editress, journalist,
magazinist, reporter; Judge; Manager/manageress; M.C. for Member of Congress,
Senator; Musician, pianist; Orator, elocutionist, lecturer; Secretary/sec./secy.;
Schoolmaster; Soldier, U.S. Vols. or more specific unit or rank, hero, escaped
prisoner; Translator. |
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Conservation and Handling Note |
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The scrapbook’s original Morocco leather binding was removed due to poor condition
and replaced with a new archival-quality binding in 2006. The pages and items
are in
good condition except for the breakage of some page corners, particularly at the
front of the scrapbook. Users should place the volume in a book cradle to protect
the spine and gently turn the pages, taking care to avoid handling any broken
top or
bottom corners. |
