Desk, Portable

Object number2015.13.1 a-m

Manufacturer A. W. Faber

Manufacturer Eagle Pencil Company

Manufacturer Mabie, Todd and Company

Datec. 1901

MediumWood/Metal/Fabric/Paper/Ink/Glass/Leather/Graphite/Velvet/Rubber/Lead/Brass

Credit LineGift of Suzanne Pace

DescriptionLap desk and accessories consisting of wood box, ink jar, box compartment cover, dip pen case, dip pen, eraser handle, eraser head, lead case with leads, pen or pencil nib, box plate, two box plate screws, and handwritten paper note.Dimensions(a) Height 3.875, Width 12, Depth 8.438;
(b) Height 1.5, Width 1.75, Depth 1.75;
(c) Height 0.5, Width 6.938, Depth 1.813;
(d) Height 0.625, Width 6.625, Depth 0.625;
(e) Width 0.188, Length 6;
(f) Width 0.313, Length 3.938;
(g) Width 0.5, Length 1.25, Depth 0.375;
(h) Width 0.25, Length 0.938;
(i) Width 0.25, Length 0.438;
(j) Width 0.25, Length 0.875, Depth 0.125;
(k) Width 0.125, Length 0.375;
(l) Width 0.125, Length 0.375;
(m) Height 2, Width 4.125 .
Inscriptions(a)
"E" appears to be etched into the lid in the back right corner.
Underside has red and off-white adhesive label at center with name handwritten in ink "Susan / Pascoe".
Interior fabric lining has name handwritten in ink at center of box interior "Sudie Collins".

(c)
Handwritten notes in graphite on top "Mrs", "Sudie Collins", and other illegible notes on top and underside.

(e)
"1" inscribed at base of nib neck.

(h)
"3" stamped into end of lid.

(m)
Handwritten in graphite on front "This writing desk is / for Besse Perritte[?] - / Laura Collins" and printed text on reverse in the top left corner "President".
Marks(d)
In gold on top of case "MABIE, TODD & CO. MAKERS".

(e)
Inscribed on back of nib "MABIE / TODD / & Co. / NY / -1-".

(g)
Inscribed on both sides of neck "EAGLE PENCIL CO'S. / CLASP ERASER / PAT. JULY 20, 1886".

(h)
Inscribed on side of base "A. W. FABER".
Historical NotesWriting desk and contents that belonged to Susanna "Sudie" Collins (b.1861-d. 1901). Most of the letters inside the desk were written to or by Sudie's sister, Laura Collins (b. 1864-d.?), many are condolences over Sudie's death. Sudie died on May 17th, 1901, at her cousin's home in Keokuk, Iowa, at 40 years old. Newspaper article indicates it was heart failure, but she had struggled with asthma for years so was most likely a result of her asthma. About a year before her death, Sudie, her sister Laura, and their mother Mary had left their home in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for both Sudie and their mother's health, but Mary died shortly after they arrived. They sent their mother's body back to Bridgeville for her burial but neither girl was able to make it back. Sudie finally made a recovery and they decided to return home to Bridgeville, but first stopped in Keokuk to visit some relatives and Sudie became suddenly ill. There is a letter from the doctor who attended Sudie in Keokuk, written to her sister Laura and assuring her that it was nothing she did to cause her sister's death, but that she had a weakened heart and it was inevitable. The Collin's family was one of the wealthiest landowners in the Chartiers Valley. John Collins, the father, had died 15 years earlier leaving a vast estate. The original land agreement is among the papers in the donated writing desk.

Previous owner Susanna Collins (1861 - 1901)

Related person Laura Collins (born 1864)

Related person Mary Collins

Related person John Collins

Related person Susan Pascoe

Related person Besse Perritte

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