Social Media 1880s Style

I recently found a small collection of my great-grandmother's social media. Circa 1887. Her daughter kept the calling cards and autograph album tucked away in one of later boxes I've been examining. 

Late 19th c. calling cards and autograph album

The autograph book is from the years 1887-1888, when Flora McAdams (1867-1945) was finishing her schooling and getting married. The calling cards appear to be from the 1880s. 

The cards belonged to Flora's family and friends. I've identified all but one of people who visited her. Moving clockwise from the top left, the cards belonged to Maggie S. Bayless, Elmer E. McAdams, Ed McAdams, Della S. Hicks, Annie M. Williams, J. B. Mulkey, and Lizzie H. Range. 

Maggie Bayless (Sarah Margaret, 1868-1947) was Flora's first cousin, school mate, and life long friend. Their mother's were sisters. Elmer (1869-1925) and Ed McAdams (1874-1930) were Flora's younger brothers. Della Hicks (1868-1915) was a neighbor in the county west of Leesburg, Washington, Tennessee. I haven't identified Annie M. Williams. She may be a cousin of Flora's husband, R.J. Williams, but not one I've previously identified. J.B. Mulkey (James B., 1856-1883) was her mother's first cousin. Lizzie Range (1867-1899) was likely a classmate. She and her family lived across the county near the church Flora's Mulkey ancestors founded. I believe it was the church she attended with her family. 

The album was given to her by one of her teachers as a graduation present in December 1887. Most of the entries are from the holiday season that year and from the time of her marriage in March. Many of them were written in pencil and a challenge to read, but I had no trouble reading the first entry.  Dated January 14th, it reads "Miss Flora how can you love and thrive and be without a mate to comfort thee? Written by your friend R.J. Williams". They married in March. I suspect she kept the first page for him, for an entry dated in December is on a later page. 

Flora McAdams Autograph Album, R. J. Williams page dated Jan. 14, 1888.
 

Flora McAdams Autograph Album, R. J. Williams page, undated. 

Later in the album another message from R.J appears. This one is undated. I suspect it is nearer to their wedding. It reads "Every joy that Heaven can send, wealth and every kind of Treasure; health and love to thee my Friend and happiness without measure. Yours, R.J. Williams."

Sources: 

Flora McAdams Williams Papers.  c. 1883. Privately held by Susan Popp Clark . 2000

1880 U.S. census, Washington, Tennessee, pop. sch., District 17, ED 035, p. 563B, dwell. 262, fam. Samuel McAdams. 

1880 U.S. census, Washington, Tennessee, pop. sch., District 4, ED 030, p. 467D, dwell. 34, fam. 8, Margaret Bayless. 

1880 U.S. census, Washington, Tennessee, pop. sch., District 17, ED 035, p. 561A, dwell. 216, fam. 221, Delia Hicks. 

1880 U.S. census, Washington, Tennessee, pop. sch., District 4, ED 030, p. 484B, dwell. 342, fam. James B. Mulkey.

1870 U.S. census, Carter, Tennessee, pop. sch., District 5, p. 32B, dwell. 10, fam. James C. Range, Lizzie H. Range.