Between the Covers

Hardcover. Oblong octavo measuring 8.5" x 6". String-tied black paper over flexible paper boards with "photographs" stamped in gilt on the front board. Contains 51 sepia-toned or black and white gelatin silver photographs measuring between 2.5" x 3.5" and 3.75" x 5" without captions. Very good album with tiny chips and tears with near fine photographs.

A photo album compiled by Hoosick, New York native Dorothy Church Howe around 1900 with her bookplate on the verso of the front board. Dorothy was the daughter of Zoe Fanny Rudd and Thomas F. Howe who owned the town's corner store and was postmaster of Hoosick beginning in 1908 until his death in 1930. The album shows portrait photographs of Dorothy and her family as well as photos of their family home and the store. The family was upper middle class and according to his obituary, "one of the town's most prominent residents." Throughout the photos people are dressed in fashionable clothes and posing in gardens and in horse drawn carriages. One photos shows a man riding a bicycle, another shows a girl climbing up a tree. The Howe's had four daughters including Dorothy and small children are seen throughout the album. One photo shows a pregnant Mrs. Howe in a high-collared dress posing with her young daughter in their yard. The store and town are also seen throughout the album as well as nearby Hoosick Falls. The town was considered a boomtown in the 19th century and was the perfect place for Thomas to start his store after leaving employment with the Railroad in 1895. Dorothy graduated from New York State College and was part of the Beta chapter of the Omicron Nu honor society. She taught mathematics at Mechanicville High School for 42 years and passed away in 1987.

An interesting collection of photographs of an American family at the turn of the century.

Item #406072