Helen N. Butler scrapbook

This collection consists of a scrapbook by Helen N., "Nelli," Butler of Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama. The scrapbook consists of clippings of newspaper articles, obituaries, poetry, and marriage announcements. It also has invitations, visiting cards, letters, prints and engravings. A few of the items are dated from the mid-to late 1850s, but the majority are dated from the 1860s, 1870s and 1880s. There is also a folder of material that appears to have been removed from the scrapbook for some purpose, including two letters, one dated April 13, 1885 from J. C. DeLeon of the Mobile Interstate Drill and Encampment Headquarters and the other dated April 20, 1885 from R. N. Richbough, Captain of the Richland Volunteer Rifle Company of Columbia, South Carolina. DeLeon's letter tells her about the Richland Volunteer Rifle Company’s request for “the name of some lady of Mobile, to whom he may tender the trying position of "'Sponsor' to a company" during that company's competition in Mobile. He states "I desire to know if it would be pleasant to you to wear the grey and gold for them, on their day of drill." Nellie’s reply (which is in the scrapbook) is that she will "wear with pleasure the Grey and the Gold" for the company. Richbough's letter is the formal invitation of sponsorship. On the same page of the scrapbook as Nellie's letter are pasted 20 calling cards of members of the Richland Volunteer Rifle Company.