Autograph Book: A journal of friends

The pages of an autograph book are a snapshot of a moment that vividly document a time and place. Often autograph books are created as an end of school year ritual revealing the owner's social circle.   Decades later the signatures reveal the shapes of the friends who signed the book. You can glimpse their personalities materializing from the mists of time, even if you never met them.   

Virginia Holstrom's autograph book was presented to her by her father, "for being a fine scholar: June 19, 1925". Her friends and family wrote in her book over a period of about five years.  The pages reveal the writer's hopes and dreams for what Virginia might become.  Their entries reflect the popular culture of American kids in 1925: what was funny, what was normal, what was considered edgy.

The entries also reveal the differences between boys and girls. Boys often write with a teasing, challenging tone:

"Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Onions are Sweet
And why aren't you?
Dick Powers" 

Some boys like Bob take a stoic stance. He just signs his name:
"Bob Sinai
May 1930"

Stanley personifies the boy's no nonesense style, while Mary Isabel imagines a future of love.

 The girls in Virginia's book generally write gentler, gushier entries... often wishing success that takes the shape of marriage and children. 

"Dear Virginia
I wish you luck, I wish you joy,
I wish you then a baby boy.
And when his hair begins to curl,
I wish you then a baby girl,
Barbara D"

Mildred cautions Virginia not to fall in love...
"Dear Virginia:
You may fall from a steeple
You may fall from above
But for heavens sake
Don't fall in love.

Yours till the tea spoons,
Mildred Palmer
May 28, 1928"

Mildred is not the only fan of the dumb pun. Virginia's book is riddled with them.

Beatrice Rackow writes:  
"Yours until the pillow slips and the bed spreads."

Ed says, 
"I hope all your hairpins get seasick on your permanent wave.
Ed Umphred
June 8, 28"

"When you are married and have twins,
Come to my wife for safety pins.
John Hughes
April 18, 1929"

"Dear Ginny,
When you are married,
and your husband gets cross,
Pick up your rolling pin,
and say, I'M tHE BOSS!"
a chum,
Milly
Libby
Lebby"

Virginia's circle included a young friend,  still refining his or her penmanship.

At the end of the book, a person might look for something like this.... (from a brother, wouldn't you know it.)
"By hook or by crook,
I am the last to write in this book.
Norman Holstrom"

But Norman didn't have the last word. Mary stole last place position with:
"Dear Virginia,
In your life I know you will have many a lover,
So to make room for them all, I will write on the cover,
Lovingly,
Mary Davis"

Beyond the collection of friends and family that are recorded in this book are the attitudes of the times.  It was the hairpin era. Virginia was a "fine scholar" according to her dad's inscription. Yet love, marriage, children are assumed as her future, again and again knitted into the rhymes and good wishes. Careers for Virginia are never mentioned in this book. 

Virginia did marry. She raised four kids and sheep. She kept a cow. She was a librarian, hypnotist, early practitioner of organic foods, a first grade teacher and an tireless community organizer, so esteemed she had a building named for her.  Virginia lived into her nineties and had a long and varied career well beyond what her autographers envisioned for her, There was one exception, Ms. Neylan, who may have been an adult judging from her handwriting. She noted Virginia's promise and wishes her a promising future.  

In perusing the pages of her autograph book I wonder what if it read differently?  What if the rhymes of her time had urged her to become a mathmatician, a biologist or great therapist would her life have taken another path?  We can only wonder.