American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Autographs. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, & Co. 6 x 8-1/2 in., brown leather with gilt borders, lettering page edges. (scuffing, wear to spine, covers separated from leaves)

Autograph Book of the 39th Congress (1865-1867), most (that have dates) signed in Feb. 1866 (6, 8, 9). The earliest owner whose name is on the ffep is Mrs. William A. Darling and dated Feb. 1866. William Augustus Darling (1817-1895) was the Representative from New York’s 9th District in the 39th Congress. His wife at the time was Josephine B. Lee Darling (1835-1871, m. 1855). Darling had been married earlier to Eliza M. Lee (Josephine’s older sister) (1819-1853). They had four children, although one died in childhood. With Josephine, Darling would have six more children, three of whom would live to adulthood. One of his children by Eliza would also die a few years after his mother. 

It would appear that Mrs. Darling acquired this autograph book and shortly after at a large Congressional function started collecting autographs. She did have the senators from each state sign the same page. Sometime later, a number of autographs were clipped from the pages of this book. Since the senators were organized, one can speculate on whose signature(s) was/were on each clip. The House of Representatives randomly signed so there is no way of knowing which autographs were there. In the back of the book are a few signatures of people not members of Congress, mostly military men, such as: S.R. Curtis (Maj. Genl.); Q.A. Gillmore (Maj. Genl. Vols.) and G.K. Warren (Maj. Genl. Vols.); plus a couple of Rear Admirals (Davit and Shubnib).

Mrs. Darling was apparently known for her social events. Entertaining was a common skill of congressional wives. In all there are about 223 signatures: 213 members of Congress, 10 others. The Senators are as follows: full list available on request.

[cut] (possibly Edwin D. Morgan / New York City)
 Ira Harris / New York
 == (new leaf)
 Geo. H. Williams / Oregon
 J.W. (James) Nesmith / Oregon
 
 Alex. Ramsey / Minnesota
 D.S. Norton / Minnesota
 ==
 [cut] (possibly Thomas A. Hendricks)
 H.S. (Henry) Lane / Indiana

[cut]
 W.J. Willey / West Va.
 P.G. Van Winkle / West Va.
 ==
 [page with top half cut off, nothing on bottom on either side]
 ==
 [cut] (possibly William Sprague)
 H.B. Anthony / R.I.

[cut] (poss. Lot M. Morrill)
 W.P. (William) Fessenden / Maine
 ==
 John P. Stockton / New Jersey
 (second seat was held by William Wright until he died in Nov. 1866)

Solomon Foot / Vermont
 Luke P. Poland / Vermont 
 Geo. F. Edmunds / Vermont
 ==
 [cut] (possibly Samuel Kirkwood)
 James W. Grimes / Iowa

[cut] (possibly R. Gratz Brown)
 J.B. Henderson / Missouri
 ==
 [cut] (possibly John Sherman)
 B.F. (Benjamin) Wade / Ohio 

[cut]
 William Stewart / Nevada
 James W. Nye / Nevada
 ==
 John Conness / Cal.
 Rich Yates / Illinois
 Lyman Trumbull  Ill.
 ==
 S.C. (Samuel) Pomeroy / Kansas
 J.H. (James) Lane / Kansas
 
 Garrett Davis / Paris, KY
 James Guthrie  / Louisville, KY
 ==
 J.R. (James) Doolittle / Wisconsin
 Timy. O. Howe / Wis.

J.M. (Jacob) Howard / Mich.
 Z. (Zacharia) Chamberlain / Mich.
 ==

Edgar Cowan / Penna.
 [cut] (possibly Charles R. Buckalew)

Jno. A.J. Creswell  Maryland
 [cut] (poss. Beverly Johnson)
 ==
 [top part cut, nothing on either side at bottom]
 ==

Geo. Read Riddle / Del.
 Wilford Saulsbury / Delaware.