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Cornelia P. Clark Notebook

 File
Identifier: SC MS 0269-MS

Scope and Contents

This manuscript is a single bound book measuring 20.5 x 16.5 x .75 cm. The board cover is wrapped in mottled brown and black paper with black leatherette spine and corners well-worn. On the center front cover is a black leatherette label edged and printed in gold Cornelia P. Clark. The spine has seven ranks of double gold horizontal lines. The front cover is very loosely attached to the spine as are the following flyleaves. The entire book was wrapped in brown wrapping paper. All the pages are unlined and unnumbered. The entries are made in black ink beautifully written with some texts in elaborate calligraphy. There are several handwritings displayed.

Dates

  • 1821-1822

Language of Materials

English

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Access Restrictions:Collection housed remotely. Users need to contact 24 hours in advance.

Use Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copyright Notice

Please inquire about copyright information.

Biographical / Historical

Cornelia P(arkhurst) Clark was born May 30, 1803 in Newark, New Jersey and died September 1836. Cornelia died unmarried. She appears to have been a well-educated young woman. Her father was Jotham Clark (1768-1814), whose parents were Jotham and Phebe Clark. Her mother was Esther Parkhurst Clark (1771-1809) whose parents were Caleb and Lydia Lyon Parkhurst. Both families were from Newark, New Jersey. Cornelia had an older sister, Julia (1799-1846), who married Alexander Miller Taylor (1800-1829) in 1821. Julia and Alexander Taylor had a son named Alexander Clark Taylor (1825-1911). Alexander Clark Taylor married Clara Ashmead Dalzell (1836-1926) and they produced Alexander Miller Taylor (1865-1958). This Alexander Miller Taylor married Minnie Florence Stuart (1865-1960). They had four children. One child was Louis Richmond Taylor, who apparently was the father of the donor of this manuscript, Mrs. Muriel (Taylor) Pense, the wife of Alan W. Pense, former Lehigh University Provost and professor emeritus in metallurgy. The examples of literature transcribed in this common place book indicate that Cornelia and her fellow entrants were well-versed in literature as the examples include “The Last Rose of Summer” by Thomas Moore, “The Ruins” by Sellick Osborn, “Far at Sea” by Jane Cross Simpson among just a few sentimental and thoughtful entries. The common place book was a type of scrapbook popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries wherein collectors of sentiments entered proverbs, quotations, ideas, poetry, speeches and morality adages. What the significance of the time frame of 1821-1822 is hard to determine except that possibly the sentiments expressed of love, departure, and changing times could be connected to the time around the courtship and marriage of Julia Clark to Alexander Miller Taylor (1800-1829) on September 29, 1821. Mr. Taylor was from Savannah, Georgia and in the firm of William Taylor & Son.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (1 Volume in box, 0.5 Linear Feet)

Abstract

This manuscript is fine example of a nineteenth century common place book belong to Cornelia Clark of Newark, New Jersey. The entries date 1821 and 1822. The volume illustrates early nineteenth century script and an insight to the literary interests of the creator who displayed a well-versed knowledge of English literature.

Arrangement

There is no particular order for the entries.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Mrs. Muriel Pense (wife of Alan W. Pense, professor emeritus and former Provost of Lehigh University), March 22, 2012.

Title
Cornelia P. Clark notebook SC MS 0269.MS
Status
In Progress
Author
Eleanor Nothelfer.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English.
Sponsor
Lehigh University Library and Technology Services.

Repository Details

Part of the Lehigh University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Lehigh University
Linderman Library
30 Library Drive
Bethlehem PA 18045 USA
610-758-4506
610-758-6091 (Fax)