Pioneer of Forensic Science Albert S. Osborn Family Scrapbooks

This archive of the Osborn family consists of four scrapbook albums from 1899 to 1907, each filled with autographs of people they knew and photographs of their summer activities on the shore of Lake Ontario in Rochester, New York. Albert S. Osborn's wife Elizabeth Dunbar Osborn likely assembled the albums, which include photographs of their children, visitors, scenery on and around Lake Ontario, and a variety of activities such as sailing, picnics, and table tennis.

ALBERT S. OSBORN, Archive of four family scrapbook albums, 1899-1907, Rochester, New York, and Lake Ontario. Each album is approximately 8" x 5". Edge wear to albums; interior pages and black-and-white photographs in very good condition for age.

Contents and Excerpts
- Autograph and Photograph Scrapbook 1, 1899-1900. 56 photographs
"June 27 1899. / First swimming party: Louise A. Root / Beth D. Osborn / Hattie Osborn, Millie T. Kittridge."
"August 20th Memo. Mr Osborn away again but I've punished him by leaving Prof Sumner's speech against Expansion. Now will you be good!"

- Autograph and Photograph Scrapbook 2, 1901-1903, 63 photographs
"June 14, 1902. Flag Day. Flag in the rain. / Wedding anniversary with the bridegroom away."
Includes photograph of Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, built in 1822.
"July 5th 1902. The Hot Weathers who listened to the patter of the rain upon the canvas."
"Aug. 9, 1902 / I'll just write my name and go and have a game of Ping Pong. / Louise L. Tiernan"
"Sept. 15...Fine bonfire on the Beach this eve...Grand Ping Pong Tournament in the evening between Summerville and The Orchard."

- Autograph and Photograph Scrapbook 3, 1903-1904, 37 photographs
"August 6th, 1904. Flag Pole Raising and unfurling of Roosevelt colors. Three Cheers for Us and Our Side."

- Autograph and Photograph Scrapbook 4, 1905-1907, 94 photographs
"1906 / Annual 4th of July picnic...Pole Raising—Old Glory flung to the breeze."
"Last day of the yacht race."

Albert S. Osborn (1858-1946) was born in Michigan but grew up in upstate New York. He graduated from the University of Rochester in 1881 and worked as a teacher and school administrator. In June 1888, he married Elizabeth Dunbar (1862-1948), and they had at least three children—Dorothy (1891-1980), Paul G. (1894-1917), and Albert D. (1896-1972). He graduated from Albany Law School in 1889 and in 1895 became a special agent with the U.S. Treasury Department, where he was in charge of examining instances of forgery and other financial crimes. In 1901, he became a document examiner for the New York State Library, where he examined documents used as evidence in court cases. He also practiced law in Rochester, New York, until he retired in 1923. Osborn is considered the father of questioned document examination in North America. He first published Questioned Documents in 1910 and heavily revised a second edition published in 1929, both of which became standards in the field of questioned documents. He wrote several other books on questioned documents and served as an expert witness in several high-profile trials. In 1913, he began inviting other document examiners to informal gatherings in his home. By 1920, he moved to Montclair, New Jersey, and worked in New York City. In 1942, he founded the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners (ASQDE) and served as its first president until his death.

All net proceeds from the sale benefit non-profit Westport Book Sale Ventures, which raises funds for the Westport CT Public Library while providing employment and job training for adults with disabilities.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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