Things Left in Books Collection
Anonymous readers left these lovely bits and pieces inside books as place markers or sentimental tokens, but we have no record of where these pieces of ephemera were found. Without the book as context, they lose meaning. It is our policy now to leave these traces of readership in place.
You can see these items in person as part of our current exhibition, The Living Book: New Perspectives on From and Function on display through January 5th, 2018.
My safe place, my refuge. Honestly, sometimes ink and paper is all I need
Illustration in Mary Gove Nichols’s Lectures to Ladies on Anatomy and Physiology (Boston, 1842).
Tomorrow is Women’s Equality Day!
As a Library Company volunteer, Lydia Shaw, a rising senior at Friends Select School, has undertaken the study of Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols (1810-1884) this summer. Although she died long before the certification of the 19th Amendment on August 26, 1920, Mary Gove Nichols is a stand-out example of a 19th-century woman who promoted equal rights for women.
According to Lydia:
Mary Gove Nichols’s Lectures to Ladies is a compilation of her lectures to women on their bodies and health. A health and marriage reformer, Mary wanted women to learn more about their own anatomy, so they would be able to have more control over their bodies. Mary herself was plagued with consumption her whole life. Her sister died of consumption at the age of twenty-one, which Mary argued was exacerbated by wearing a tight-laced corset and exposure to harsh weather. In her lectures, she warned women of corsets and highlighted the effects of popular fashion on the body.
But Mary also explored many, many other topics and movements. [Read more link here]
Aries: The eclipse can affect your growth and success in areas of romance, hobbies, and creativity. You will feel a call to action in one (or more) of these areas of your life, luckily, in a positive way. On the other hand, be cautious when entering any-long term commitments, it is likely these obligations will not go your way.
Taurus: The eclipse can be affecting your energy and other matter close to home. You might have a need to take action and make a change in your family dynamic or home life. If you have been feeling out of balance lately, things will finally be looking up for you.
Gemini: With the eclipse approaching you should focus on letting go on the past and resolving any relationship issues. The eclipse will be effecting your third house of communication and self expression which will allow you to form new relationships and partnerships.
Cancer: It’s time to start taking action and turning your ideas into plans to achieve the goals you’ve been working towards. The solar eclipse will bring you a positive support that will help you to improve your career life or school life.
Leo: Start preparing for a big change as the solar eclipse can give you a clean slate this year. The eclipse is the start of a new chapter in your life, where you can kick bad habits and turn over a new leaf. However, as your life is changing you will feel uneasy with the lack of control you have over it.
Virgo: While Mercury is in retrograde the solar eclipse will not start out well for Virgos. Now is the best time to slow down and seek out balance, take time to rest and look within yourself. Don’t worry, once Mercury in retrograde ends, the effects of the eclipse will become positive for the rest of the year.
Libra: The eclipse will be effecting Libras in an empowering and positive manner. It will bring a charge of energy to friendships and group associations. If you’ve been working on a project now is the time you will recognize the need to collaborate, or start something brand new.
Scorpio: For Scorpios, issues that have been resting below the surface will start to suffice in your life. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s a great time to go in a new direction or gain a new perspective on your goals and, like Leos, start a new chapter in your life.
Sagittarius: For Sagittarians, the solar eclipse will act as your “new years”. It will bring a desire to personally expand and grow and maintain balance in your life. Your energy will settle and you’ll be able to find a balance between responsibilities and pleasure. Try to resolve any relationships issues and if there’s a conversation you’ve been putting off, have it before August 21st.
Capricorn: Capricorns must let go of the past in order to uncover new support during the eclipse. The eclipse will be effecting your eighth house. You will feel a sense of renewal and energy with regards to your ability to master new skills. The eclipse will leave you determined to face the upcoming months.
Aquarius: The eclipse will affect your seventh house allowing you to discover new ways to connect with the people around you. You will be able to connect deeper with existing friendships and a sense of renewal of energy will impact your relationship skills. You might become aware of a need for somebody significant to rely on. Just make sure to be cautious of those who try to derail you out of jealously.
Pisces: The eclipse can be extremely draining on you, so slow down and focus on your health and personal happiness. A new set up in your job, or a new job altogether, may occur during the upcoming months. You will feel renewed and energized in regards to your daily activities, health, and routines. Stay aware of your personal health and of how your daily routines can keep you organized and less stressed. Now is a time to reflect upon yourself and find happiness.
Tachibana Sayume (1892-1970)
Subject:
A woman with a big spider tattooed on his body.
Title:
Kōya no Hijiri (The Saint of Mount Kōya)
Dear Dad-
I wanted to write this letter to you, because I needed to explain a few things. You are not my biological dad, which is no secret. You are the man who raised me. For 22 years of my life, you have been my dad and I have loved you.
You were there for me when the other girls at school picked on me. When they called me names and said horrible things about me. You helped me feel proud of who I am as a person and how to defend myself. You helped give me my passion for cooking, music and coffee. Some of my fondest memories of us is cooking breakfast together when I was six years old and drinking coffee with you in the mornings, sitting outside on the swing and talking about music. You made me feel smart, worth it and safe. You were the first adult I told about my biological dad’s abuse towards me. You believed me and you helped save me. But, all that was for the first 11 years or so of you being my dad. The next 11 years aren’t so pretty.
You changed after you got sick. I’ll never forget those first few weeks and no one knew what was going on. Oddly enough, it never crossed my mind that you might die from being sick, because after all, you were my dad and you would always be there. I was wrong though. You’re still alive but you left me.
I remember when Kayla came to live with us. I think that is when you really started treating me like a “second class citizen”. You honestly treated us both pretty badly but I have always been chopped liver compared to Kayla. She’s your REAL daughter after all. When I was going to move from Alaska to Minnesota to go to college, I remember you telling me I was a disappointment. I had a hard first year of college, I really screwed up. The freedom of being out of your choke hold really went to my head, but I was going to turn it around…and I did. I made the Dean’s list that next year in Minnesota…without you or your support. I’m not sure if I ever told you I made the Dean’s list. I’m not sure you would have cared, because after all I am a disappointment. I am a disappointment even though, I have graduated from high school. I am a disappointment because I am going to college. I am a disappointment because I am a single parent, trying to do the best I can to raise my son. I am a disappointment because I want a better life for me and mine. I have always been a disappointment because I have always wanted to be more than a “second class citizen” to you.
Apparently, the disappointment continues for me because I did not say Happy Birthday to you this year. Let me explain to you why, I said nothing. I remained silent not because of the things I spoke about above. I stayed silent because I asked you for one thing. One thing in I don’t know how many years. I asked for one thing and it was not for myself but for my brother, your son, your flesh and blood. The son that you have ignored for seven years. But, you wouldn’t do it. Mom had to call you and to get you to do it and I really really hope that you get it done because it would help him so much. You have never been a father to him so you can at least do this much.
I did not tell you Happy Birthday because I can no longer ignore how you treat my brother. I had hoped that over time things would get better and you would come around. You never did. This was the last straw.
To make things worse, you post on Facebook for everyone to see this ‘poor is me’ story about how your children won’t talk to you. I would talk to you Dad, but you never pick up the phone when I call or call me back. If I text you, I might get a reply…in a day or two. My mom made my brother send you birthday cards, Christmas cards and Father’s day cards for four years…when is the last time you sent him a card? Or called him? If that wasn’t bad enough, you post about how “all three of your children’s mothers treat you like a second class citizen”. I understand that you and my mom are divorced and that she is not perfect. However, she has in no way treated you like a “second class citizen”. I would know because you have always treated me like one.
The fact that you’ve made these grossly, outrageous accusations doesn’t even surprise me. What blows my mind is that you make these accusations on Facebook, were I can see it, two of your other children can see it and two of the three mothers can see it. To put the icing on the cake, you commented on a picture of mine today like nothing had even happened. I’m not mad about the accusations thrown at me. I’m used to it, but don’t you dare cast a shadow on my brother, who has done nothing wrong. You are the one in the wrong, sir. Furthermore, how dare you insult my mother that way. She is on your Facebook! BE AN ADULT FOR ONCE!
I honestly have no more words for you. I didn’t think your antics could push me anymore. Oh man, was I wrong.
I know you won’t see this and that’s ok. I might rewrite it to you and sent it in an actual letter just to get my point across and then erase you from my life….isn’t that sad? You’re the second dad I’ve had to erase…
Good bye Dad, and Happy Birthday-
Aimee
die-rosastrasse