Treasure Trunk - Number One ~ Keefer, Sherwood, Wands, Campbell, Brainerd, Swift, DeGroff family items

When my mother died, I inherited two trunks of family "treasures".  The first one, on top, belonged to Katherine Keefer (1808-1881) my Great great grandmother who married Jonathan (Joshua) Sherwood.

This is a "horsehair trunk"  embellished with nail heads forming her initials, KK.  Katherine was born at Keefer's Corners near Albany, so I imagine this trunk came up the Erie Canal to Cicero, outside Syracuse, where she and her husband settled.  

 

 Over the years, it has been filled with momentos from her descendants.  It is fascinating to see what things were saved, many of them handmade, showing that we are descended from a long line of industrious and creative people.

We have linen hosiery made and worn by Katherine, a set of crocheted doilies made from string spun by Katherine, and a set of linen napkins that she wove.  My grandmother pinned notes to  those items whose history she knew.

As always, click on the image for an enlarged view.

This square doily with a cat image comes from the Sherwood family.  Can you smell the mothballs?

 

From Jane Swift Wands (1800-1868), Mother of William Henry Harrison Wands, comes this tiny box of impossibly small black beads, the threaded needle still attached. 

Katherine's daughter, Olive Sherwood Wands (1852-1943), sewed, crocheted, embroidered and tatted.  If you have ever tried tatting, you know it is excruciatingly tedious!  This piece was likely dyed with tea or coffee.

Olive made and cross-stitched this money bag for her husband William Henry Harrison Wands

A hand made wallet for storing sewing supplies.

Olive made this Carpenter's Apron in a classic ticking fabric for her son Harry Sherwood Wands (1891-1918), so he could be just like his daddy.  Note the hammer loop at the lower left.  Harry grew up to be a carpenter, building ships for the war effort in Chester PA before his death in 1918 from influenza..

String bag crocheted by Olive Wands.

Linen "necktie" embroidered by Olive Wands

There is a pair of these intricately embroidered peacock "Pillow shams".  Note that the reverse is as flawless as the right side.

Ever thrifty, Olive saved, updated and remade the clothes she had created.  These velvet scraps came from her wedding gown. 

 

 This long cord is a bit of a mystery.  I wonder if it might have been used in her wedding gown?

 I suspect that this burgundy color was a favorite of Olive's.  She reused the hand embroidered silk to make a stylish hat.

This "jewel" box is made from a cardboard box decorated with paper, lace and silk.  Likely made by Olive herself.

This scrap of dotted silk must have been from a favorite dress of Olive's

Cotton dress cut and hand sewn by Olive Wands after she was 90 years old.

Carefully sewn inside and out

 

Janice, Moon and Olive in Tully NY.  I believe the date is wrong, as Olive died in 1943 at the age of 91.

 

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 I believe that this is a photo of William Henry Harrison Wands at home in Collamer, NY.

In 1916 Olive 's brother, Wilbur passed away, and in 1918, she lost both her husband, and son to the Spanish Flu.  She saved a few condolence letters, and postcards from Harry in small box.

 

 

Olive's brother Wilbur Sherwood (1847-1916) was a member of the Masons.  Her son, Harry, was beloved by all.

Harry Sherwood Wands (1891-1918) dressed for a special occasion

Olive knit this stocking cap for Harry.  Moon wore it after his passing.

Harry wrote postcards faithfully.

As was not unusual at the time, Olive had saved a box of Harry's baby curls.  She also saved an assortment of Harry's personal items.  

Below certificates for Harry and Lavinia, (Moon)  upon their completion of the Fifth Grade

Harry wore the dotted blue silk tie as a child, the short knit tie, as an adult. 

Moon's husband, Herbert carried Harry's wallet until his death in 1977.

This was also a billfold of Harry's and a commendation pin for his service as a shipbuilder.

Harry's leather gloves

Condolence letter from Harry's coworkers

Lavinia Mary Wands (aka Vinnie, Moon, or Mazie) (1895-1973)

Vinnie's pencil box, with whistle, compass, crayon and ruler.

 

 

 Vinnie entertained herself making her own toys from toothpicks and paper, and drawing cartoons.

 Her sister Katherine gave her the toy tea set which my mother, Janice also played with.  Neighbors gave Janice the glass cups. 

 Vinnie loved making jumping jacks.  She submitted this project design to McCalls magazine in 1915 for a donkey version of the classic jumping jack.

Mazie

Wool plaid for a skirt.

Doilies designed and embroidered by Moon.  She loved animals and incorporated some into her many designs.

Feather stitch worked around the edge of a belt.

Linen beautifully embroidered by Moon for a hat.

 There has been some doubt about when and if Moon graduated High School.  I heard somewhere that she had not graduated and needed to get a diploma before entering Syracuse.  This diploma is dated 1915, which would have been when she was about to turn 20, which seems a bit late. The true story will likely remain a mystery.

 

 

 

Moon's powder box, now home to Felix the Cat, missing his body.  

I, too have always liked Felix!

Moon married Herbert Campbell (1893-1977) in October 16, 1820 in Tully, NY.  

Silk scarf worn by Herbert in high school

Herbert's College souvenirs 

Felted wool beanie, perhaps associated with Herbert's fraternity?

During WWI every home that had sent a son to the war, had a flag like this to place in the window 

Small bible given to Herbert to take to war.

Note the tiny crocheted bookmark

Tucked inside - a four-leaf clover, also small photos of his sister Hazel, and Lavinia Wands

Interesting the items that get saved.  This beautiful crafted silver collapsible cup is stored in a leather case.  The top of the case is stamped "The Home Insurance Company".  I looked them up, and they are one of the oldest insurance companies dating to before the Civil War.  I imagine it was a gift presented upon the signing of a new policy, very likely when Herbert and Moon bought their house.  I'll bet it has never actually been used.

Herbert's sister Hazel enters the picture at this point.

Hazel Irene Campbell (1897-1987)

Souvenir of the Pan American Exposition that was held in Buffalo in 1901.

I would guess that Hazel's father attended and brought this back as a gift. 

Square nails from the house where Hazel and Herbert grew up.

This is the goofiest thing ever!  It shows the crazy Campbell sense of humor.  Hazel was wallpapering the house where she lived with her mother and Herbert.  Apparently back in the day, one had to trim the edge of the rolls of the wallpaper before applying it.  Herbert suggested that she use the long thin strip of paper to write a letter to someone.  Hazel opted to write to Maize.  The following is the transcribed text:

 

 

Athens Pa. June 6, 1920.  Dear Mazie My little brother tells me that he informed you that I was papering so you will understand at once where I obtained this expensive writing paper.  In fact, he is responsible for the suggestion that I write a letter on it and as long as I knew that you were a patient soul and would have lots worse things to contend with before you are through with this life, I chose you as the one to whom to send my best wishes.  He tells me that you have a birthday coming soon, so you can look upon this as a little token of love from me until you get something better.  How goes everything with you be this time?  I have worked my head off the last week.  Papered three rooms and have two left.  I hope that when you come again you will have better looking walls to look at than you did before.  I finished Bub’s room and he came in and very blandly told me that he now had the best looking room in the house and I had to shatter his thoughts by telling him “no thanks to you” (Herbert).  He tells me he made a bargain with you concerning lawn mowing and dusting.  For goodness sake don’t depend on him to do dusting.  Perhaps he has held a dust cloth in his hands half a dozen times in his life but I doubt it.  (all in his bringing up, I suppose).  Mother says he don’t know as much as he did last summer.  He raves in his sleep about “camouflage” and a lot of stuff we can’t understand and came and whispered in my ear that you had the prettiest foot in the U.S.  Now these are bad symptoms.  I can understand ravings about “golden lock” and “baby eyes” but “pretty feet” I cannot fathom.  His ear is better but he is not out of danger.  I sometimes wonder if it isn’t striking in.  Oh dear!  These brothers are such a care!  I am wondering if he will ever be old and sensible enough to look out for himself.  Now if he had used sense that dreadful ear accident would never have happened.  He has a picture underneath the glass on his stand of a fellow & a girl, side by side, in a sitting room, very calmly holding hands (somewhat disguised) and he looks at it and murmurs “If that isn’t me.”   Now let’s talk about the weather.  My!  But it is cold.  He went out doors after a few minutes ago and came back with an icicle on the end of his nose so now he is holding his head over the tea kettle.  I hope his head will be better for it when the icicle is gone.  He planted muskmelons and this morning we had muskmelon Frappe for breakfast.  Honest Injun!  Well to spare you and your friends from any anxiety, I guess I will close.  He says he hopes you get this five minutes before you have to get to work.  Lovingly yours, Hazel

 

Herbert's and Hazel's grandparents were Andrew Brainerd and Jane DeGroff Brainerd. We have no pictures of them, but in the trunk are some items that belonged to them.

 

Spectacles that belonged to Andrew Brainerd (1811-1885)

Adjustable candle holder belonged to the Brainerd family.  The candle snuffer is from the Campbells.

This hymnal belonged to Andrew Brainerd.  It was discovered by historian, Katie Replogle at the Townada Universalist church.  It is a Methodist hymnal, and is inscribed with the name Andrew C. Brainerd, Litchfield, Pa.  The Brainerds belonged to the Universalist Church, but perhaps the hymns were the same for both churches.

Weaver's shuttle - top view The yarn would be wrapped around the spindle in the center and threaded through the hole at the back.

Bottom of the shuttle

Homespun blanket probably made by Jane Degroff Brainerd (1815-1885).  Maybe she used the above shuttle in its construction.

Herbert and Moon's first child was my mother, Janice Irene Campbell (1923-1995).

I suspect that this baby bonnet was for Janice.  Likely made by Olive

Saving a sample of the baby's hair seems to have been a family tradition.  Here some of my own hair, along with that of Janice's in the box, and cousin Cynthia Stanton's.

This long wool cape with embroidery was also for Janice.

Janice graduated from High School in 1939 at the age of 16.  She was an excellent student, but often bored by school, as evidenced by the notes tucked into this yearbook.  She liked to sketch her fellow students during class, and in study Hall wrote satirical letters to Leona Towner, her best friend. As her parents did, Janice attended Syracuse University.  Here is her  S.U. yearbook.

Also tucked into the High School yearbook, a newspaper article about one of her teachers, Mr. Dill, who was involved in a hit and run accident.

Janice was the Spelling Champion in her senior year, and also the Valedictorian.

 

Janice's brother was Harrison Sherwood Campbell (1925-2011) named in honor of his uncle Harry Wands.

A baby cap for Harrison, possibly made by his grandmother, Olive.

Harry served in the Navy WWII as a radio operator in the Pacific.  Here some of his insignia.

Neck adornment seems to have been very popular as a way of updating one's clothing, and we have many removable collars saved for posterity, makers unknown.

 

Here is Olive wearing a detachable collar.

Some very stiff embroidered white collars, removable for cleaning

A crocheted collar and other crocheted adornments

Some collars and other decorative elements.

There are several black shawls, veils and collars, which I imagine were worn during periods of mourning.  Saving them would be akin to saving the memory of those departed friends and relations.

A set of black collars

Three black veils

A black lace scarf

A black silk fringed shawl

And finally we have a group of pieces that were saved because they were remarkable, whether they were made by family members, I do not know.

This classic wool paisley shawl is an amazingly good condition.  I am tempted to wear it myself.

Lace cap with tiny ribbon flower accents

A child-sized lace bodice. So sweet!

A pair of very long silk gloves, in a tiny size and so well preserved.  Very elegant!

A lace trimmed apron

Close up of the details of the apron.  Olive seemed partial to aprons in her later photos, so perhaps this one was hers

Large fringed doily simply marked by Moon, as Unknown.

 

And last but not least is a beautiful dress of unknown origin.  It looks to me like a graduation gown.  Maybe for my grandmother, Mary Lavinia Wands Campbell, and made by her mother? 

This dress has a double front with ties that wrap around to the back.

I am not sure of the fabric.  I want to say cotton organdy, but it seems softer than organdy.  There is a very deep hem on the under skirt

The collar is made from netting with a stitched edge.  The buttonholes are hand worked.

The sleeve flounce is in the same netting as the collar with the same double stitched edge detail.

Yards of double ruffle on the over skirt

Inside back waist detail.

Inside bodice.  Note french seam finish throughout.  All hand sewn!  A masterpiece!