Two scrapbooks and some loose pictures which may have been compiled by Mary Emily Oliver of Baltimore. The images were taken form various sources, but most especially from periodicals of the time: Godey's Lady's Book, Harpers Weekly, Peterson's Magazine, Illustrated London News, and others. Some images were from a book entitled History of the World Ancient and Modern, printed by Johnson, Fry & Co. of New York in 1869. The images vary widely, from a depiction of the assassination of Julius Caesar, to romantic genre scenes, such as a faithful dog guarding a sleeping baby. On a two page spread are found 3 depictions of brides, and on the following page may be found a picture of a funeral. Some pictures were created to illustrate stories or poems being published in at the same time, and occasionally the poems are included. Several views of the Civil War are included, but there are more related to the Franco-Prussian War. As well, there are a few scattered views of other wars, such as the Caffre War in South Africa. Several views of the Centennial Exposition are found, as is a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge under construction. Also included in the books are scenes of exotic lands, such as Borneo, India, and Canton, China, and wild animals, such as elk and lions. A few of the images are humorous, including a series about African Americans out rabbit hunting. Some images are in color, but most are black and white. Most of the images are of Europe, especially England, but there are a number from the United States. A few newspaper articles are included. The loose images are of the same sort as those in the albums.
