Contents
Collection Overview
Biographical Note
Scope and Contents of the Collection
Organization of the Collection
Search Terms
SERIES I. PORTIA PRATT DAHL'S PAPERS
SERIES II. SETH F. PRATT'S COMMONPLACE BOOK AND PAPERS
SERIES III. PETER DAHL'S SKETCHBOOK AND RELATED MATERIALS
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Portia Pratt Dahl Papers, 1864-1955
Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Melvin Carlson, Jr..
2006
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Creator:
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Dahl, Portia Pratt, d. 1970 |
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Title:
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Portia Pratt Dahl Papers |
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Dates:
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1864-1955 |
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Abstract:
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Bookbinder. Papers include documents related to Dahl's work as a bookbinder from her student days in Paris, France and her workshop in Boston, Mass. Seth F. Pratt's commonplace book also includes documents and papers related to him. In addition, there is an artist's sketchbook of Peter Dahl (1857-1929) and related papers.
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Extent:
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2 boxes (.75 linear ft.) |
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Language:
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English; French |
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Identification:
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MS 175 |
Helen Portia Pratt Dahl was a graduate of Smith College Class of 1914. After graduation she traveled often between the United States and Europe and in 1926 was in China. She studied bookbinding in Paris in the late 1920s and eventually established a bookbinding studio in Boston, Mass., where she designed and bound many rare editions of English and French texts. In 1932 she married Dr. Ernst O. Dahl, M.D., a Danish physician. Together with him they traveled often to Europe, spent summers on Cape Cod and extended periods of time in California. Dr. Dahl died in 1949. Portia Pratt Dahl died on Jan. 20, 1970 without heirs and left the bulk of her estate to Smith College.
Ms. Dahl's father, Seth F. Pratt, attended Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois, and at one time was a cashier at the Roseville Union Bank, Roseville, Illinois.
Nothing is known about Peter Dahl (1857-1929) except that he was born in Jutland and died in Copenhagen, Denmark. He likely was a relative of Dr. Ernst O. Dahl.
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The Portia Pratt Dahl papers consist of .75 linear feet and include documents related to Ms. Dahl's work as a bookbinder from her student days in Paris, France and her workshop in Boston, Mass. The papers also include a commonplace book, documents and photographs of her father, Seth F. Pratt. In addition, there is an artist's sketchbook of Peter Dahl (1857-1929), possibly a relative of her husband's, Dr. Ernst O. Dahl.
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The following terms represent persons, organizations, and topics documented in this collection. To find additional materials use these headings to search this web site, the Five College Library Catalog, or other library catalogs and databases.
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This collection is organized into three series:
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SERIES I. PORTIA PRATT DAHL'S PAPERS
Box
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Folder
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| 1 |
1 |
Diary. Scattered entries in English and French related to Dahl's bookbinding studies in Paris. The diary is a leather bound volume,
1927. (21 cm.)
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2 |
Bills of sale related to bookbinding tools and purchase of books, as well as other miscellaneous materials,
1914-1955.
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3 |
Leather samples for bookbinding.
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4 |
Drawings by Dahl for bookbinding,
n.d.
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5 |
List of books bound,
n.d.
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6 |
Trade card for French bookbinder H. Noulhac with cloth sample,
n.d.,
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7 |
Photograph of E. Maylander, Dahl's binding instructor in Paris, France,
n.d.
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8 |
Sketch for residence, Boylston Street and Fisher Avenue, Brookline, Mass. by Angel & Swift, Architects, Providence,
n.d.
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SERIES II. SETH F. PRATT'S COMMONPLACE BOOK AND PAPERS
Box
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Folder
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| 1 |
9 |
Commonplace book kept by Seth F. Pratt, 1873-1896. It bears the inscription Monmouth College, Monmouth, Ill.,
May 8th, 1873.
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10 |
Holograph materials copied by Pratt on separate sheets of paper,
n.d.
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11 |
Clippings from printed sources (poetry and prose) kept by Pratt,
1896, n.d.
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12 |
Ms. related to financial matters of the Roseville Library Association, Roseville, Illinois, late
1890s.
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13 |
Confederate States of America five dollar bill, Richmond,
Feb. 17th, 1864.
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14 |
Miscellaneous items, including a business card for the Roseville Union Bank, Roseville, Ill., with Seth F. Pratt listed as cashier, items
n.d. 3
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15 |
Correspondence (carbon copies) of business correspondence,
1901-1902.
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16 |
Photograph of Seth F. Pratt, J. G. Lansing and J. H. Mason, Monmouth, Illinois.
May 1873,
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17 |
Daguerreotype of Seth F. Pratt,
n.d.
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18 |
Miscellaneous photographs with no identification,
1893, n.d.
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19 |
Photograph of Seth F. Pratt(Monmouth, Ill., Root & Son),
June 1875
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20 |
Another copy of photograph in folder 16 of Pratt, Lansing and Mason.
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21 |
Photograph that includes Seth F. Pratt with male classmates,
1870s.
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22 |
Photograph of H. Portia Pratt, Roseville, Ill., in childhood.
n.d.,
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23 |
Pages from printed sources (high school yearbooks?) that include photographs of Portia Pratt, late
1900s.
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24 |
Miscellaneous photographs, unidentified,
1898-1899.
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25 |
Commercial photographs from the Southwest and California consisting largely of the California Mission churches and of American natives,
1900, n.d.
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SERIES III. PETER DAHL'S SKETCHBOOK AND RELATED MATERIALS
Box
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Folder
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| 2 |
26 |
Peter Dahl's sketchbook,
1893-1928.
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27 |
Letters,Kobenhavn and , Smedegade.
1884 May 24, 1884 Apr 15
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28 |
A 1950 Christmas greeting to Portia Dahl from "Sven and Hulda"; postcard addressed to Dr. Ernst O. Dahl dtd .
1940
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29 |
Commercial colored prints (2), Bockel Studio,
n.d.
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30 |
Photographs of an unknown young man,
n.d.
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31 |
Photograph of two unknown women,
n.d.
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