The collection is open for research use.
This collection was purchased from Eclectibles by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 5 May 2022
MSS 16789, Mattie Davis friendship album, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.
This collection contains a friendship album belonging to Mattie Davis given to her by her father on Christmas Eve, 1861. The album entries date from 1861 to 1867 and the majority of entries are poetry or short verses with themes of morality and friendship. There is no identification of Davis location; however, most entries are from Taylorsville, Indiana, so it is likely she is from that area. In addition to Taylorsville, there are several entries from Dupont, Indiana and Wilmington, Ohio. Also of note are two drawings, both done by the same person, Konn B. Tayres. The first is of the American flag, and shield, done in red, white, and blue ink, with the last stanza of the poem, "The American Flag," by Joseph Rodman Drake underneath it. The other is a pencil drawing of a visiting card, featuring the same motif of the American flag and shield, along with the name "Konn B. Tayres, Main Street, Wilmington, OH." The album features five black and white engravings, including the title page and frontispiece, with a mix of portraits and landscapes.