Skip to main content

Octavia Harby Moses autograph album

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 1115

Collection Overview

This collection consists of an autograph album presented to Octavia Harby by Aaron Moïse Jr. in 1836, which contains handwritten poems and verses, most of which were written shortly after the book was given to Octavia. Several pages are signed by Penina Moïse, but the majority of authors are identified only by a first name or initial. Entries often offer advice or well wishes for Octavia in her future, or ask that she remember the author. Includes several entries dedicated to her 15th birthday in 1838.

Dates

  • Creation: 1836-1838

Creator

Language of Material

Materials in English

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Biographical Note

Octavia Harby Moses (1823-1904) was born to Isaac and Rachel Mordecai Harby. In 1827, her mother passed away, followed by her father in 1828. Octavia and her siblings were raised by Isaac's sister Caroline De Litchfield Harby. Octavia married Andrew Jackson Moses in 1839 and the couple settled in Sumter, South Carolina, in 1842. Over the next 27 years, she gave birth to 17 children, 14 of whom lived to maturity. Five of Octavia's children served in the Confederate army during the Civil War; her eldest, Joshua Lazarus Moses, was killed at the Battle of Blakely in 1865. She was actively involved in supporting the war effort and, in the late 1860s, as the first president of the Ladies Monumental Association, she successfully raised funds to build a monument honoring the Confederate dead. In 1915, 11 years after Octavia's death, her children published a book of her poetry titled A Mother's Poems: A Collection of Verses.

Extent

0.25 linear feet (1 flat box)

Abstract

Collection consists of an autograph album presented to Octavia Harby Moses by Aaron Moïse Jr. in 1836, containing poems composed or copied by her friends and relations, including two specifically written on the occasion of her 15th birthday. Several pages are signed by Penina Moïse, but the majority of authors are identified only by a first name or initial.

Collection Arrangement

Collection described at the item level.

Acquisitions Information

Materials donated in 2006 by Philip Moïse in memory of Cecile Rosenberg Moïse.

Related Material

Related materials in Special Collections include the Harby family papers (Mss 1116).

Processing Information

Processed by Amy Lazarus, March 2015.

Title
Inventory of the Octavia Harby Moses Autograph Album, 1836-1838
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by: Amy Lazarus; machine-readable finding aid created by: Amy Lazarus
Date
2015
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)