Winifred Cummings Walker's Autograph Book

Winifred Cummings

Among a box of items contributed to the archives by Robert Barr of Sheboygan, WI is a 1890s autograph book which belonged to his grandmother, Winifred Cummings Walker (1873-1960), wife of beloved Saugatuck doctor Robert J. Walker. It includes 35 inscriptions by her friends from the late 1880s and early 90s (including the young May Frances (Heath) and members of the 1891-92 Saugatuck Union School Class). Young minds turned poetic as they looked forward to life's promise. Examples include:

"Always be truthful, and mind your Ma"

-Mae Martel, Douglas Union School, Dec. 16, 1890

"Passing through life's field of action,

Lest we part before its end,

Take within your modest volume,

This memento from a friend."

Lena Randall, Jan, 17, 1889

"Of all the glorious pictures,

That hang on memory's wall,

There is one of a band of school girls,

That seemeth the best of all."

-Florence Beebe, Douglas, 1/14/91

"The past is a dream,

The present a strife,

The future a mystery,

Such is life."

-Cora Hollister, South Haven, Mar. 31, 1892

"I wish you health,

I wish you wealth,

I wish you gold in store,

I wish you heaven after death,

What can I wish you more?"

-Nellie Seastrum, May 1, 1888

You can see the full autograph book (and links to biographical information on some of the students) at:

http://sdhistoricalsociety.org/SDHSWeb/MiscFiles/WCAutoBk/WinifredCummingsAutographBook.htm -submitted by Chris Yoder

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