Friends, we've found another one!
Previously on this blog we've looked at an 1880s Autograph Album that belonged to my great-great grandfather, Frank; an 1890s Autograph Album belonging to a young woman named Millie from Minnesota; and a 1940s Autograph Album belonging to a girl in the Twin Cities area named Carol
Today's album was purchased at an antique store in Port Angeles, Washington, and was the album of a high school girl named Catharine Sloan.
Using clues from throughout the album, here's what we know about Catharine...
The signatures and scribbles are dated 1923 and 1924. If Catharine was in high school when this was completed, she was probably born between 1906 and 1909.
Numerous signees used the initials "G.H.S." with their signature, which I assumed was/is a high school. Others used the initials B.A.B. The Greek letters Σ Α π (sigma alpha pi) show up a few times, as do other Greek letter combos.
Catharine has a sister named Esther, who also signed the book.
She took French, Chemistry, and Physics.
One of the signees was kind enough to include her own address. Google tells me this address doesn't belong to a residence anymore, but it does point us toward a nearby school with the initials GHS: Philadelphia High School For Girls, aka Girls' High School.
Now we'll take a look at the pages within and see if we can find out who any of the signees are. It'll be difficult, since they're all women and many probably changed their names upon marriage. My Google skills only go so far, so if you want to play detective on any of these, be my guest.
Also, some of their handwriting is so wacky, I can't decipher it. If you think I've misread something/made a mistake, please leave a comment and let me know.
Nov. 2, 1923. Catharine Sloan Σ Α π
Dear Hobo!
My love is like a cabbage
For when it's cut in two
The leaves I'd give to anyone
But the heart I'd give to you
Heapsalove, Kuhny
Dec 11, 1923
G. G. K.
H. O. Σ.
S. P. Δ.
Ringers' Drug Store
Our hangout
Away back here and out of sight,
I'll write my name down,
Just for spite!
Heaps of Love,
Rudie
ABD
and if you forget to remember - woe unto you
R. Ritcher
Dear Catharine:
To Knit, to Spin, to Sew -
Was once a girl's employment
But now to flirt and catch a beau
Is what they call employment
Your Friend
Elenn V. Hunsberger
Dec 24, '24
Dec 13, 1923 A.D.
Dear Catherine,
In your chimney of love
Consider me a brick
Lovingly
Florence Schenker
G.H.S.
Mar. 28, 1924
Dear Catharine --
Can't think -- too dumb
Inspiration -- won't come
Poor ink -- poor pen --
Best wishes -- Amen.
Affectionately
Margot Scott
Dear Catharine,
Through the showers of life,
You may need an umbrella,
May it be upheld by a
handsome young fellow!
Lots of love,
Emily G. Souder
Dec. 13 - 1923
Dear Catharine,
Here's to the girl with eyes of gray
Ask for a kiss and she'll say "nay"
Here's to the girl with eyes of blue
Ask for a kiss and she'll say "take two."
But here's to the girl with eyes of brown
Ask for a kiss and she'll ne'er turn you down.
Lovingly,
Mildred E. Moldawer
December 12, 1923. G.H.S. Room 314
French - Miss Heller
Dear Catharine,
Life is but a game of cards
When you're in love it's [hearts]
When you're engaged it's [diamonds]
When you're married it's [clubs]
When you're dead it's [spades]
Your loving sister,
Esther
March 28, 1924
Dear Catharine,
Some advice --
"Don't love a little boy lots
Love a lot of little boys a little."
Your classmate (and admirer)
Violet MacLaughlin
Bullets are made of iron,
Canons are made of lead,
I love you muchly
But my hair is red!
Dec 22/1924
Dear Catherine,
"Men marry because they are tired and women because they are curious."
-Wilde
Don't be too inquisitive.
Alamida (Alameda?) Moser
Dear Catharine
Patience is a virtue
Possess it if you can
Seldom found in women
But never found in men.
Love,
Bobbie Ranford
B.A.B.
December 19, 1924
For Dear Catharine -
May your life be like with math
Joys added
Sorrows subtracted
Friends multiplied
Charity divided
Love from
Ruth B. Gay
Dec 14, 1923
Dear Catharine,
May you always be happy Catharine
And flowers your pathway strew
When some boy tells you he loves you
Tell him that's what he ought to do.
Lovingly,
Ruth Warner
A. B. Δ.
Dear Catherine,
Forget to the ??? Forget the stares
Forget to flirt or truely care
Forget your husband socks to mend
But don't forget your old time friend
Ru?? (Ruby?) Bau??? (Baummer?)
May 17, 1924
Dear Katherine
Just as the pansy petals fold
Closely about their hearts of gold
So in these pages may there be
Enfolded golden thoughts for thee
Your sorority sister,
Jane Hyde "Jackie"
Dec. 13, 1923
Dear Catharine,
If wisdom's ways you'd wisely seek,
Five things observe with care,
Of whom you speak, to whom you speak
and how and when and where.
Your friend,
Anne B. Wertsner
Dear Catharine,
I love you on the hill side
I love you on the level
If I get my arms around your neck
I'll squeeze you like the Devil
Yours 'til the butter-flyes
Virginia M. Smith
March 28, 1924
Katherine - ol classmate!
In future life
I see you shiver
Out joy-riding
In a flivver
Yours to the bitter end,
??
Dec 12 '23 Chem. 324.
May 14, 1924
To Catherine,
Uninspired and lacking originality,
I'll write the "Ol' Hictory"
and say Love, luck and happiness to you,
A sorority sister,
Edna R Bilgen (??)
Dear Catharine,
I like you awfully Catharine
-Honest on the level
and if it wasn't naughty
-I'd like you like the - devil
Heaps of love
Alice Root
Dear Cathrine,
Love many, trust few,
Always paddle your own canoe.
Your Σ Α π sister,
Vera
12/11/'23
Dec. 13, 1923
Dear Catherine,
In your soup of friendships
Consider me a noodle.
Lovingly,
Ruth Winslow
Since I first met you I've thought of you often,
Devotedly yours,
Hannah E Kaufman
March 28, 1924
Catharine:
Shakespear and I wish your life "As you like it."
Sincerely,
Rowayne Chapman
March 27 - '24
Dear Catherine,
Whenever a word is passed about a friend
Be the last to believe and the first to defend
Your classmate,
Rita S Simpson
Dec. 11, 1923
Dear Catherine,
When on this page you above to look
When on this page you frown
Think of the girl who spoiled your book by
Writing upside down
Yours in coop'erin hell'oo (??)
Elizabeth King
April 10, 1924
April 10, 1924
Dear Catherine,
"I love the luster of your eyes,
I love your smile, I love your sighs,
Dear little girl."
Katharine Forster
G.H.S.
Dear Katharine:
Remember your happy
school days forever!
Balloons of love with not a pin in sight.
Your friend,
Billie Bailey
March 25, 1924 Senior Dance
Dear K.
From me and the mouse.
Betty Sword
Dec. 17, 1923
Dear Catherine,
Remember me now
Remember me ever,
Remember the good times
We've had together
(Especially in Physics)
Love,
Florence Allen
March 28, 1924
Dec. 11, 1923
Dear Catherine:
As long as pussy has a tail,
My love for you will never fail.
Lots of love,
Evelyn Glenn
(Chemistry)
Dec. 14, 1923
Dear Catherine,
Smile and the world smiles with you,
Snore and you sleep alone.
Belle Wood
Dear Catherine
Love many
Trust few
Always paddle
Your own canoe
Love,
Caroline Moorhead
Social Science
Dec 24, 1924
Dear Catherine
Beefsteak when you're hungry
Water when you're dry
Greenbacks when you're busted
Heaven when you die.
Yours, Marian Hilser
Woe under her who performs "Algebra" in French class.
Estelle G. Cressman
Dear Catherine,
Cows like corn
Pigs like squash
I like you
I do - b'gosh!
Dot Campbell
March 28, 1924
Dearest Catherine,
In your chain of friendship,
Consider me a link
Love,
Clara B. Dempsey
Much love to our wing on the '23 Hockey Team
Dear Anita Katherine,
A girl who has a thousand friends,
Has not a friend to spare,
A man who has one enemy,
Will meet him everywhere.
With love,
Helen Will
Dec 11, 1923
Very Sinserely, Marie C Jann
March 28, 1924
(G. H. S.)
Dear Catharine,
I wish I were a bunny,
With a tail so soft and fluffy,
I'd sit upon your bureau
and be your powder puff.
Yours till the cow slips,
L Ziegler
12/16/23
Dear Catharine,
A pretty girl who gets a kiss
And goes and tells her mother
Does a very foolish thing
And don't deserve another.
With heaps of love,
Clara M Kinckiner
12/11/23 Lunch!!! G. H. S.
Dear Catharine:
Distance lends enchantment,
So t'is said by few
But I'd rather have a little less enchantment
And a little more of you
Helen Bierman
Σ Α π
We can't hate this person for writing backward because they did give us an address:
Here it is, flipped:
Miss Catherine Sloan
4822 N. 11th Street
Philadelphia, PA
The lightning bug is very dumb
It hasn't any mind
It travels all the way through life,
With its headlight on behind
Yours till Kelloggs crumbles,
J. Deal Gibb
Dec 11-23
Dear Catharine -
Tis not some Greek or French you see,
But the same old story
I love you in Chinese
Bunny Cleuweer?
Σ Α π
Dec. 11, 1923,
Dear Catherine: -
When you grow old and ugly,
As most young people do,
Remember you've a friend,
Who's old and ugly, too.
Adele Douglass Raively
Dear Catherine:
May you travel the road of many years
on pathways pleasant and wide
Where comfort, health and peace are found
And joy and true friends abide
"Lil" Lawton
Dec. 22, 1924
French class
For Get Me Not
Dec 11 1923
Dear Sloany:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Garlic is strong,
I'm garlic for you.
Love,
Eshel Deemer
Dear Catherine,
If wisdom's ways you wisely seek -
Three things observe with care,
Of whom you speak, and what you speak,
And how, and when, and where.
Lovingly,
Anita S.
Dec. 11, 1923
Dear Catherine
________________
________________
________________
Just a few original lines
Sincerely,
Esther Skirving
Français
Dear Catherine,
Remember the tea-kettle,
Though up to its neck in hot water
It still continues to sing!
Love,
Mary S Skirving
"No hay bien ni mal que ciera años dure."
E. Fox
So we come to the end of the album. Again, if you'd like to search for any of these folks and provide us with more biographical info, leave a comment below.
