Illinois Handwritten Memory Album from a Young Lady 1853-1862

[Girls Education] Memory Album with 24 handwritten entries from friends and classmates of a Young Woman in Hillsboro, IL from 1853-1862. A memorabilia, recording many aspects of the first major movement of women's education in the United States brings depth to a movement that was groundbreaking in its time, but today is largely at risk of disappearing from the historical record. 24 entries in various hands, dated 1853-1862. Memory albums held autographs, sentiments, and reminiscences of friends and schoolmates, similar to yearbooks today.  "To Hettie, Oh! do not say Farewell, We we are going to sever, Tis like sudden passing bell of Friendship gone forever. Oh, seek some other language than the mournful truth to tell, Say parting friends may meet again, but do not say farewell." Red cloth boards with a gilt motif of a girl scattering flowers in center.  7 3/4 x 6 in. Gilt edges. 130 pages. Album includes one frontispiece engraving and 5 color illustrations of flowering plants and birds. 2 hand-drawn pictures of flowers, and a hand-drawn pencil illustration of a young woman, cut out into a paperdoll. Most entries from Hillsboro, IL, but include other location such as St. Louis. Young women, particularly those finishing their time at a female academy and preparing to leave their school friends, tended to be the ones to create friendship albums. Boards faded. Good to very good condition.