The Omnibus College

In 1922, professor William Marion Goldsmith of Fairmont College took four of his students on a road trip as part of an extended study program. The next year Goldsmith bought a bus and was approached by co-ed Martha Foster who wanted to join the program, and the omnibus college was born. In 1926, Fairmont College became The Municipal College of Wichita of Kansas and the omnibus program expanded to hundreds of students. By 1934 over 85% of the omnibus students were women. Traveling with teachers, drivers, support staff and chaperons, the women travelled over North America studying and earning college credits in their chosen field. Botany students collected plants along the road, geology students chipped rocks, journalism students wrote about their trips. This trip must have been for history students. The third photo in the collection is labeled "Pittsburg Landing." Pittsburg Landing, also known as the battle of Shiloh, took place in April of 1862. The picture of the ladies standing around the tables is labeled, "K. P. detail at Chattanooga." In front of the tent, "Louise S." Note the black cooks in the first picture.

Old Soldiers Home

Published by Underwood, & Underwood one of the largest publishers of stereoview cards in the United States. (Click on stereoview in the labels section for more information on the history of the stereoview.) The caption reads, "Old Soldiers at Dinner-dinning room capacity 2,000-Soldier's Home, Dayton, Ohio. Copyright 1902 by Underwood & Underwood." A quick glance at the image and it's clear that many of the men in this photo were veterans of the Civil War. After the war, the first fraternal organization to deal with veteran's rights, The Grand Army of the Republic was formed. It was through their efforts that many of the veteran's homes in the United States were built. The GAR was dissolved in 1956 when Albert Woolson, the last veteran of the Civil War died. 1956 was the year after the year I was born.

Pace Krider, Carte de Visite

Written on the back, in pencil, "Yours Truly Pace Krider 1875." Carte de visites were often given as calling cards, as the name implies. With the greeting and date, this gent, no doubt a veteran of the civil war, very likely left this CDV as a calling card. For more information on the history of the carte de visite, click on CDV or carte de visite in the label section. Stamped on the back, "FROM ROSHON & RICHIE'S GALLERY, SELLINGSGROVE, PA. The negative from which this Picture was printed will be preserved. Duplicate copies can be had at any time, at $1.00 per half dozen." One of these days, I'm going to find an intact archive of glass negatives shot to size for contact prints used to make carte de visites. There could be thousands all boxed up in some body's attic just waiting to be discovered.

The Fraziers

I've found a number old carte de visites in my boxes, and here are some more. Written in pencil on the back of these CDVs, "Margret Ellen Frazier," and "Uncle Phil Frazier." Stamped on the back of the Margret Ellen portrait, "LAWYER'S GALLERY 21 Fifth Street, Pittsburgh. Duplicates can be had of this for one year No. 8148 SPECIALTY: Pictures enlarged and colored in Oil." Got to be from the Civil War era. My guess is that the woman is holding a book, maybe a Bible.