Gertrude Plaisted photo albums

This collection is comprised of photo albums primarily featuring the European travels of Gertrude Plaisted and her mother, Mabel Plaisted, in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Photos of architecture, especially churches and cathedrals, are some of the most prevalent in the collection. Many images depict city life and local inhabitants, while others capture the grandeur of the physical scenery. Additionally, a number of photos are art reproductions of Italian sculptures and paintings. Photos of note include those featuring a young Gertrude Plaisted posing or exploring, as well as select pictures that highlight the living conditions of local inhabitants. While many of the collection’s pictures appear to have been taken by Gertrude’s mother, Mabel, these should be distinguished from the professional photographs of art and cities also found in the albums. Many of the photos are accompanied by handwritten labels and descriptions. While the majority of the albums are undated, the materials that do have date labels are noted in the finding aid. A few loose photographs were found tucked into the photo albums, and these materials have been moved to separate folders and labeled with the album from which they came. The collection also includes an informal autobiography written by Gertrude about her life and experiences. This document features a timeline of Gertrude’s major life events.