Fannie Louise Davis kept this autograph book from about 1881 to 1886, spanning her days as a young schoolgirl in Virginia City, Montana, and her college years at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. She and her circle of friends were among the first generation of pioneer children born and raised in Montana Territory. Contains autographs and sentiments from about thirty of her friends and classmates in and around Virginia City, many of who were born to the first settlers in the area. The album contains 50 pages filled with signatures and sentiments of friendship, all in ink and legibly.
Fannie Davis was born in Virginia City, Montana Territory, in 1867. She was the oldest of six children born to Nathaniel and Jeanette Davis, who moved to Montana from Colorado in 1862 to mine gold. Nathaniel moved his family to Virginia City afterwards where he opened the city's first mercantile establishment and became the Madison County clerk and recorder. Fannie left Virginia City in 1887 for Galesburg, Illinois, where she attended Knox College and studied music at the Knox Conservataory.
After returning to Montana, Fannie married William J. Ennis on September 29, 1892 in Virginia City. The couple had at least one child, Louise. Fannie twice served as president of Society of Montana Pioneers, reflecting her lifelong interest in the stories of Montana's pioneering families. She died on June 9, 1955.
Collection is open for research.
Purchased from Jordan Antiques & Antiquarian Books, 2022.