American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Archive of materials from the Kirker-Collings-Gibson family of Adams Co., Ohio, from just before statehood to the end of the 20th century. Two of the progenitors of this clan are James R. Gibson and his wife, Martha King Gibson. The lot contains three grants for land for service in the War of 1812 for James Gibson, dated 16 June 1856, 1 Oct. 1856, and 18 Dec. 1856. The Gibsons had at least three children, J. King Gibson, Mary King Gibson and Alice Gibson. Mary married C.E. (Charles Evans) Kirker and they had George Gibson Kirker and Alice Kirker Charles. Alice Gibson married Henry Collings. Their offspring included Henry Davis Collings, George Gibson Collings (1888-1890) and Mary King Collings. George Collings (brother?) (1800-1862) married Jane Collings. Their offspring included George E. Collings (1839-1882), who married Harriet A. Collings. Their son was Ralph Collings.

This archive appears to have been accumulated and come through Mary King Collings, who, it appears never married. She was able to do some traveling, however, and has postcards and photographs from many of the places visited. The lot consists of dozens of letters, newspaper clippings, poems, funeral cards, theater programs, genealogy notes, receipts, and more. There are photographs of all sizes scattered throughout the paper (we tried to collect most of them). 

Photo album, 8.5 x 10.5 in. Embossed leather over velvet, disk missing from front, clasp intact, slightly cocked. Contains 12 cabinet cards, most of the photographers were working in Manchester, Ohio, Jackson, OH, Georgetown, OH, Peoria, IL and Des Moines, IA. There are also two cdvs, although there is room for more.

Postcard album, 37 postcards: Montreal, Stockholm, Hongkong, Venice, Marksburg, Wien, Cambridge (UK), Oxford (UK), Warwick Castle, Acra, Algier, Cuba (Havanna), Brazil (Rio), The Old Manse (Concord, MA), Canadian Falls, Land Office, Marietta, OH, Old Cuyahoga  House, Kent, OH, Wooden bridge, Frankfort, OH, Washington, KY, Aberdeen, OH, Manchester, OH, image of flooded town (likely Manchester).

Photograph album: (obl. 7 x 11 in., black, string-tied spine) 192 photos, 5 x 7 in. to 2 x 3 in. 

Photo album, 5 x 6 in. Embossed leather containing 42 cdvs and tintypes.

Cdv album, 60 images, covers missing, pages darkened. Overall rough condition. Most of the photographers were in Oxford and Manchester, Ohio.

Photo album, obl. 7 x 11 in., string-tied spine. 192 photos from 2.5 x 4 to 5 x 7 in., most dated 1920. A second album, nearly identical but with more pages, has 382 photos, 1914-1926.

Group of at least 24 deeds, a cemetery deed, 8 stock certificates, and a manuscript copy of Mary King Collings’ will, 1929, and George Collings’ will.

Small oval photo of African American woman holding a toddler. 

6.5 x 8.5 in. photo of a class of youngsters in front of the school (ca 2nd or 3rd grade). Three African American girls in front row.

5 x 7 in. photo of a group of ice skaters on a pond.

7 x 11 in. photo of the “big bend” in the Ohio River.

6th plate ruby ambrotype and 6th plate tintype. Ambro is fine, tintype has emulsion flaking.

Hurley, E.T. Streets & Spires of Cincinnati: Prints from the Etchings of E.T. Hurley. Signed “With best wishes, / E.T. Hurley 1926” on first free endpage. 6 x 8 in. 23 views, not numbered.

Price,, Leland. The City Slicker and Nell. (Play) Minneapolis: Northwestern Press, n.d. 12mo, printed wraps, 29pp.

The 20th Century Song Book. 12mo, printed wraps, Chattanooga Medicine Co., 1904. 32pp.

Program for “The Unveiling of the Kirker Memorial / Erected by the State of Ohio to / Ex-Governor Thomas Kirker / Sept. 6, 1916.”

Marriage certificate for Henry Collings and Alice B. Gibson, with cdvs of each on front. Mary Kirker and Mary Collings signed as witnesses.

License/certificate, 10.25 x 12.25 in. certifying that Corliss D. Charles is a Registered Pharmacist and entitled to practice, State Board of Pharmacy, State of Colorado, April 15, 1895 to July 3, 1904. Framed and glazed.

Manuscript first person recounting of Civil War service including the Battles of Lookout Mountain and  Mission Ridge. George Collings, Co. D, 24th OVI, spring 1861. Plus two letters, Camp Chase, June 19, 1861 and July 1, 1861. Manuscript note resigning his office as judge in 10th judicial circuit, June 19, 1851, George Collings (likely Sr.).

“Handmade” notebook, 5.5 x 8.5 in. pages with 2 rings. Manuscript copies of magazine articles or notes on the articles. 36 pages at least partially filled out.

Journal with space for 5 years, that is, blanks on each page for a day. So Jan. 1 in this journal is filled in for 1914, 1916, 1917, 1918, and 1920. The journal keeper started out strong at the New Year, and by summer made no entries at all, then picked up a bit again at the end of the year.

19 certificates with coupons from the Internal Revenue Special Tax for Kirker & McIntire, Dealers in Manufactured Tobacco. 

And much more. Too many photos to be counted.

Thomas Kirker (1760-1837) was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. He came to the Northwest Territory after immigrating to America. He served as the second Governor of Ohio and died in Adams County, Ohio in 1837.

Also included is a numbered print (33/500) titled "Treasures of Time" by James D. Werline, 14 x 19 overall.