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2021.1003.1, Ephemera
Album Book owned by Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens
2021.1003.1, Ephemera

Album Book owned by Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens

Dateca. 1855
Publisher John C. Ricker
Owned by Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens
OriginAmerica, New York, New York City (book)
MediumLeather, paper, gold gilt, watercolor, pencil and ink
DimensionsOverall: 7 3/4 × 6 1/8 × 5/8in. (19.7 × 15.6 × 1.6cm)
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2021.1003.1
DescriptionThis is a rectangular black leather bound album book consisting of 62 unnumbered pages of primarily white and some colored blank pages. There are four colored engravings of flower bunches and title page in gold: “MOSS ROSE/ ALBUM/ J. C. RIKER. PUBLISHER” with a floral scene with two angels. In gold leaf on the front cover is: “MOSS ROSE ALBUM.” The front and back covers and spine have elaborate gilt stamping in floral vines, ribbons, urn, fountain, and female dancing figure. The first page reads: "The Property/ of/ Miss Philena R. Lee/ West Nottingham Township/ Chester County PA/ Jan 6[?]th A D. 1855." Most of the pages are inscribed in ink or pencil to Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens. The dates of the inscriptions are 1855, 1856, 1857, 1859, 1861, and 1862. Place names include: Oxford; Crystal Spring Farm; Farmington, Cecil County; Buck Run, Cecil County; Chester County, PA; Great Valley; Jefferson County, VA; Lancaster County, PA; Little Britain; West Nottingham; Gilpin’s Falls, Cecil County; and Wilmington, Delaware. Philena is addressed as “friend,” “aunt,” “cousin,” “niece,” and the nickname of “Phil” in the inscriptions. Some of the inscriptions are similar to or identical to ones found on embroidered samplers.

Label TextCollecting small drawings, watercolors, mottos, and autographs in paper album books was a popular pastime for ladies in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. As in this album book, many often contained sentiments of friendship and remembrance. The first page reads: "The Property/ of/ Miss Philena R. Lee/ West Nottingham Township/ Chester County PA/ Jan 6[?]th A D. 1855." Most of the pages are inscribed in ink or pencil to Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens. The dates of the inscriptions are 1855, 1856, 1857, 1859, 1861, and 1862. Place names include: Oxford; Crystal Spring Farm; Farmington, Cecil County; Buck Run, Cecil County; Chester County, PA; Great Valley; Jefferson County, VA; Lancaster County, PA; Little Britain; West Nottingham; Gilpin’s Falls, Cecil County; and Wilmington, Delaware. Philena is addressed as “friend,” “aunt,” “cousin,” “niece,” and the nickname of “Phil” in the inscriptions.
InscribedSee description.
ProvenanceThe album book descended to Philena's oldest daughter, Emma P. Stephens Haines (b. 1856), and to Emma's grandson, Edwin Haines, Jr. It left the family sometime after 1995.

History of Owner:
Philena Rebecca Lee Stephens (born 1832) was the daughter of Jane and Samuel Lee. She grew up on her father's farm in West Nottingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1855, Philena married Joseph Lincoln Stephens (1828-1887) of Cecil County, Maryland. The couple lived on his father's farm, Willow Dale, outside of Rising Sun, Cecil County. In the span of ten years the couple had six children: Emma P. (b. 1856); Mary L. (b. 1857); Lydia W. (b. 1859); Jennie L. (b. 1860); Elizabeth R. (b. 1863); and John L. (b. 1866). By 1860, Joseph was running a profitable farm while Philena kept house for her father-in-law and produced butter for the Philadelphia market. After his father's death in 1862, Joseph inherited Willow Dale. Philena continued to keep house for Joseph, his unmarried sister, Ellen (Nellie) Stephens, his brother, and their six children. According to Philena's granddaughter, Philena also taught Sunday school at the local Mt. Hope Methodist Church, which was built on Stephens property. Philena died on February 2, 1897, is buried at Rosebank Cemetery, in Calvert, Maryland.