Friends Historical Library album collection

The use of the term "Albums" to describe this collection refers to the fact that the material contained usually is not original, but rather copied or collected, often for its spiritual or moral message. “Album” is used as the broad term to include volumes also described as commonplace, piece, "sentiment," autograph, or copy books.

A definition of "commonplace book" describes it as "a book of literary passages, cogent questions, occasional thoughts, or other memorabilia." The terms "piece book" and "copy book" also refer to this genre which was particularly popular in the Quaker community in the 19th century. Many of the albums contain copies of speeches and letters of noted Friends in addition to contemporary poetry and other quotations.

Closely related formats, "scrapbook" and "clipping book," are distinguished from the albums because they contain material which was originally printed or written elsewhere and then attached to the pages of the book. "Lesson books" and "exercise books" include material that was copied in the classroom or prepared as a school assignment, and "autograph books" contain signatures and often "sentiments" of friends and acquaintances.