Between the Covers

Softcover. A photo album containing approximately 207 gelatin silver photographs, along with some scrapbook elements such as newspaper clippings and printed illustrations.

The creator of this album, Virginia Titus, was born in 1898 and grew up to become a history teacher at Redondo Union High School in Los Angeles, California. However, for the academic year of 1924-1925, she lived in Honolulu, and taught at the Iolani School. Her host during this trip was Bishop John Dominique LaMothe, the missionary bishop of what is now known as the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii. The album chronicles an eleven month stay in Hawaii, documenting events at the school, as well as activities and day trips taken outside of the classroom.

Newspaper reports show that Titus arrived in Hawaii on August 22, 1924 and left to return to California July 11, 1925. The first few pages feature newspaper clippings, one of which is from the July 11, 1925 issue of the *Honolulu Star Bulletin* which features an image of her preparing to board her ship home, posed with Bishop LaMothe and two other passengers; all but LaMothe adorned with leis for their departure. At the back of the album is a gelatin silver print of this same photo, under which Titus has written "Aloha Nui Oe," which we believe to be a mistaken combination of the phrases "aloha oe" (farewell to you) and "aloha nui loa" (with much love), regardless the sentiment shines through as the content of the album truly demonstrates Titus' love for the island.

Matson Navigation Co. labels from her trip bookend the album, this with some other given dates suggest that the album is arranged in chronological order. In the middle of the album, four pages are dedicated to photos from a Christmas Day trip to Kilauea "the most spectacular volcano on earth," showing their "Indian guide Alex," large volcanic rocks, and Halemaumau "home of everlasting fire." There are many photos of native Hawaiians, some appear to be friends or colleagues but many are students at the school. The students are shown posing for the camera, dressed up in costume acting out plays, and enjoying time together on campus. The boys' freshmen class is shown gathered in front of the school as well as the boys' public speaking club. The students pictured are primarily boys but one photo is captioned "priory girls" and shows eight young women (who all appear to be white) posed outside of the school.

Most of Titus' excursions around the island appear to be educational, one page is labeled "The ups and downs of industry" and shows pineapple fields with subsequent pages depicting sugar cane, rice, and cattle. One page is devoted to different types of trees found on the island, one is dedicated to "The famous Mormon Temple and environs" (known as the Laie Hawaii Temple), one photo shows the Iolani Palace all lit up at night, and one page shows different types of transportation found on the island such as a rail car from the Oahu Railway and a man rowing a canoe. Other trips were more leisurely, one page is captioned "A crabbing party (out of school hours)," one page shows Hawaiian surfers (two standing on their heads as they ride the waves), a picnic, a visit to Fort Street, horse riding with the Trail and Mountain Club, and lots of gorgeous views.

The album measures approximately 11½" x 7" and contains 77 pages. Sewn leather boards, the front board decoratively stamped in color. The photos are of various sizes with the largest being approximately 7" x 5" and the smallest 2½" x 1½", with most being on the smaller side. Some photos of individuals and animals were cut out of larger photos and pasted in scrapbook-style. Most of the pages have been neatly removed and laid in, one photo has a small piece of paper from the adjacent page stuck to it, but overall very good or better with the photos clean and bright.

A substantial collection of photographs neatly captioned and arranged taken in Hawaii throughout the academic year of 1924-1925 by a visiting teacher.

Item #615388