Celia Cathcart Holton - College Scrapbook

  

Two pages from Celia Sconce Cathcart Holton's college scrapbook. I think the years are about 1913-1916. There are about 30 pages/60 sides. We see young people mugging for the camera; camping with the women in long white dresses and the men dressed up with white shirts and ties; parties; attendance at conferences - all the things college students do. 

Looking at the women in the long white dresses I thought of this quote - “… parading with the other girls in white attire on clipped green lawns like flocks of egrets.” ("The Girls with No Names" by Serena Burdick) 

Celia wrote captions under almost every picture. Unfortunately the ink has faded in 100 years and it's very difficult to read. Unfortunately she doesn't identify many people. At one point Dad wrote on some of the pictures. I'm writing the captions in black ink that can be read when the pages are digitized. Years ago Dad removed about 15 pictures from the scrapbook, mounted them on other paper, and put a note in this scrapbook. He gave the scrapbook and note to me and suggested I throw the scrapbook away. I didn't. Recently I discovered Dad's "new" pages and put the photos back in place in the original scrapbook. 

I'll digitize the whole scrapbook so it can be looked at in its original order. Do I also digitize each photo individually or just some of them? Do I keep the scrapbook intact or take it apart and keep just some of the photos? It's already 100+ years old. How much longer will it last? 

With all the photo processing I've been doing, I'm recognizing connections, patterns, names, and some faces. I'm probably the last person around who recognizes some of the people and notations on these pages. 

"A.B.C. Dinner" - Celia and her friends organized the A.B.C. Club in Sidell, Illinois. They built a cabin at the reservoir outside Sidell. Celia's mother, Anna Sconce Cathcart gave the girls money so they could build a porch on the cabin/clubhouse. Ruth Holton-Hodson had Celia's collection of souvenir spoons. One of them had "ABC" inscribed on it. I haven't been able to determine if ABC stood for anything specific. 

By another picture "Wade & I.W.C.& U. of I."  That's Wade Holton. IWC stands for Illinois Woman's College in Jacksonville, Illinois. Celia attend there her freshman and sophomore years of college. She and some of her IWC friends transferred to Northwestern University to finish their college years. Some of them joined Alpha Phi sorority at Northwestern. U of I stands for University of Illinois - Caryl Holton and his cousin Frankie Holton Burke were students at U of I. 

"A picnic at the reservoir" - I can't determine exactly where this is other than outside Sidell. Based on what Dad said, the young people sometimes rode the train out to the reservoir. Did the steam trains replenish their water supply at this reservoir? 

"By the babbling brook (too low to babble much)"

Picture of Grandpa (Caryl Holton) - "Well, any time you're ready Celia" 

Picture of girls in nightgowns & long braids - "They say that us A.B.C.'s ain't got no hair/ Got hair all the time / Hair all the time" 

"Watching the birdie"

Emily Robertson Todd

 Emily Josephine Robertson Todd 1879-1964

The following is in a booklet prepared in 1952 for the retirement of Emily's husband, Joseph Clinton Todd. 

Dr. Todd and Emily J. Robertson were married June 2, 1903, in Marshall, Missouri, where both of them graduated from Missouri Valley College. The Todds are parents of two sons and a daughter with six grandchildren. Mrs. Todd, after her children were nearly grown, took her M.A in Sociology at Indiana University and did additional graduate work. Both Dr. and Mrs. Todd have served on the faculty of Butler University, he as lecturer in church history and she offering courses in Sociology and the family. Mrs. Todd has aided her husband and the School greatly by acting as hostess and counselor. She is also bookkeeper for the Treasurer and Manager of the Book Shop.

Read more here 

Weary?

 

“So many of us are feeling weary.  It is a weariness of both body and spirit that unfortunately does not disappear with a good night’s rest.  Many among us are greeting the dawn with weariness only to have it grow in depth and dimension as the day wears on. 

In this most unusual time of pandemic — and the weariness it is adding to our lives — we must remember that the Father and the Son are mindful of us. Likewise, we must each learn that the path to overcoming the weariness world is found in our being mindful of Them. 

 

The challenge of our day is to create places and spaces in our homes, in our hearts and in our relationships where we can regularly encounter a reenergizing rendezvous with the Divine.

 

We all can overcome weariness by being more mindful of the Savior and realizing how mindful He is of us. … The Savior has beckoned us all to walk with Him as we journey together along the covenant path, in the adventure of full discipleship. And if we are weary for any reason, He invites us to link and then lock arms with our sisters and brothers in the gospel, with leaders and advisors and teachers and ministers and friends.

 

As we walk together and are mindful of each other, and as each of us are mindful of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ — our weariness will be replaced by energy-producing peace, love and confidence.

 

We will see tender mercies occur in our lives, and together we will link arms with heaven to make miracles happen in answer to someone’s weary plea and humble prayer for help.” Boyd Matheson: Finding ‘the path to overcoming the weariness’

*******************

I like the phrase "reenergizing rendezvous with the Divine." Friends and I have discussed how it's more difficult to have these experiences, a spiritual shot in the arm, with all the restrictions of this pandemic world. In the past, I had these experiences when I visited with and served friends and family without worry about inside or outside, hugging or no hugging. When I went to church to worship, sing, and mingle - with hugs and smiles not hidden by masks. 

I like the idea of linking and locking arms with the divine and with each other - kind of hard to do these with guidelines about distancing. 

I wouldn't have called myself a big hugger, but I'm realizing how important touch is to me - the hugging, the actual linking of arms, being able to shared an unmasked smile with a stranger or loved one. 

At home alone, I'm highly motivated and able to do those things that keep me in touch with the heavens. But I'm finding that doing them without the additional experiences with friends and family leaves me feeling like a huge part of my spiritual life is missing. I gain strength from my worship and association with others. 

Weary? I have to work diligently at making that rendezvous with the Divine happen in my life so the weariness won't overtake me. 

 

Celia - College Junior - YWCA Presentation 1913

 

1913 - Celia Cathcart was a junior at Northwestern University when she led a presentation at the YWCA, Young Women's Christian Association, on juniors in college. She gave a talk on "The Development of Her Outlook." 

"From the freshman prospect of hills and valleys, beset with the many dangers of examinations and themes, she passed into the sophomore doubt of choosing between scholarship, popularity or politics. By the time she reached her junior year she has a better realization of what she wants to do. Finally she comes to appreciate the fact that, in whatever phase of life she enters, in order that she may attain its fullness, her life must be animated by the greatest of purposes - service for the Master."  

December 4, 1913 - The Daily Northwestern, Evanston, Illinois

(genealogy bank.com); Celia's image about 1918

 

 

I Don't Have a Clue

Joe's mother had this small cardboard box in her bedroom dresser. We found it after her death. Joe didn't recognize any of the names or items. Here's what we know - On top of box is written “To George From Mabel.” “4-10-37”is written on the bottom. Inside is a scrap of paper with “Lincoln Button” written on it. The folded piece of paper in bottom of box has scalloped edges and “THE OELKE..[rest is torn off]” is embossed in gold. 

There aren't any George or Mabels in the Todd or Neely lines, as far as I know. Lincoln Button - are these from someone named Lincoln or is one of these buttons proof of the Todd link to Mary Todd Lincoln (Joe's mother claimed a connection but didn't know specifics). 

THE OELKE.... There are Oelker people in Indian and Michigan. Is it Oelkers? Is there a family connection or was that a random napkin from a hotel or reception of some sort? 

Two of the buttons have letters on them - 

S.O. & CO. N.Y. along with a locomotive

ALRITE CINTI.O. along with a locomotive and tender

Searches yielded pictures of both buttons but not much information. 

CINTI.O. is probably Cincinnati, Ohio but I couldn't find anything about ALRITE.

S.O. & CO. N.Y. - Some sources said this was the Southern New York Railway. Others said Sweet Orr & Company of New York, a manufacturer of overalls.

Just a thought - I wonder if Betty found this box in her mother or father's possessions and was reluctant to throw it away. 

Light

That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. (Doctrine and Covenants 50: 24)