Details

Title

Carrie Stavert autograph book, signed by L.M. Montgomery.

Author

Montgomery, L.M. (Lucy Maud), 1874-1942.
Stavert, Carrie

Collection

L.M. Montgomery Institute. Ryrie-Campbell Collection.

Donor

Donated by Donna Jane Campbell.

Call Number(s)

930 SI Autograph Book

Abstract

Autograph book, kept by Carrie Stavert of Wilmot Valley, Prince Edward Island. Listings of teachers presented in the Appendices of the Journals of the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly show a Carrie Stavert teaching at Lower Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, from January to June, 1897; L.M. Montgomery taught in Lower Bedeque from the Fall of 1897 through to late March of 1898, so it is likely the two women knew each other as teachers. No other connection between the two women is known at this time. L.M. Montgomery placed her inscription in Stavert's book on March 16, 1898, just two weeks before she returned to Cavendish to spend the next dozen years caring for her Grandmother Macneill, following the death of her Grandfather Macneill on March 5th; her entry in Stavert's book gives no indication of these major life changes, however, offering simply a short verse -- "Our lives are albums written through, etc." -- popular in autograph albums of the era and commonly ascribed to American poet John Greenleaf Whittier, and signing herself "Yours sincerely, L.M. Montgomery". Montgomery's signature appears less than half-way through the album -- on the 22nd of 56 unnumbered pages -- but near the end of the chronological span of entries (1891-1898).