The art of calligraphy transforms a legal document into a work of art. The preeminent 19th c. New York teacher and calligrapher 1/ Isaac F. Bragg of New York, known later as one of the "ancient teachers" 2/, has transformed the marriage certificate of Valentine Everit and Beulah E. Kirby dated February 15, 1838 as witnessed by the meeting of the New York Society of Friends from a routine record into a work of rare, fine art. This finely drawn Isaac F. Bragg marriage certificate, with several colors of gold and black inks on vellum, bears also his name in gold lettering within a black and gold framed banner at the top of the document. Within the body of the hand drawn, decorative gold-inked marriage certificate are vows of the engaged parties, the hand signed signatures of both the bride and groom, and signatures of all of the ninety-three (93) witnesses. The marriage certificate is transcribed in full below. 3/
The marriage ceremony itself comes alive as we read. Gold ink of distinctly different colors, applied with fine and medium lines, and as solid fields illuminates the composition. Calligraphy and decorated letters in printed and cursive fonts of many sizes further animate this declaration of marriage. The corners of the large certificate are embellished with two different kinds of rondels. Two distinctive, full floral arrangements each within its own large, elegant container anchor the lower half of the composition. Delicate leaves in a feather like arc support the decorative frame of the top half of the certificate.
The certificate records that this wedding took place after Valentine Everit and Beulah E. Kirby declared "their intentions of marriage with each other before two Monthly Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends, held in Rose Street, in the City & County of New York..." a historic location, and with the consent of parents and "nothing appearing to obstruct their proposal of marriage..." it was allowed by the Meeting. Valentine Everit and Beulah E. Kirby were then married at the public Meeting in Brooklyn, King's County, New York before ninety-three (93) witnesses who each signed their names to the marriage certificate, dated February 15, 1838. The official Certificate is recorded 4/ in the Society of Friends records Book B, Page 38 & 39.
The Valentine Everit and Beulah Kirby Society of Friends marriage certificate is a rare example of Bragg's scarce work 5/ and an equally rare example of an 1830's Society of Friends manuscript, calligraphy marriage certificate with references to New York historic landmarks, members of the New York Society of Friends 6/ and 19th c. wedding practices of unusually mutual and personal vows. Artist and calligrapher Isaac F.Bragg himself lived a long, colorful life and in his prime lends a flourish and gift to generations of this family, and viewers today.
Notes
1. The gauntlet thrown down: N.Y.Evening Post, Feb. 1-2, 1825 publishes a reply by Mr. Gad Ely, Penman to Isaac F. Bragg "I have received a challenge from you for a trial of skill in penmanship --I also received a verbal one some time ago, from a boy, your nephew. Were I to pass both by silently as I have done scores of others, I might be praised for forbearance by some but I should probably be censured for pusillanimity by more. It has always seemed a little strange to me, that Penmen, above all other mortals, should be so excessively irritable, so fond of seeking adventures, of challenging and tilting. You say that neither envy nor jealousy has prompted you to throw the gauntlet. I don't know why either of these motives should I hold no enviable rank in society or distinction that I know of - the dignity and splendour that await the arduous and anxious toils of a schoolmaster, continued through a long serving of years, are not very dazzling objects of envy....I am induced to believe from my past experience, nothing very satisfactory will result from pitched battle...." This letter continues in detail about theories of art, suggesting that each artist has his own views, for example, Bragg might consider it acceptable drawing a mammoth's head on a greyhound's body, or a horse's tail growing out of a man's back. He continues: "I have no objection that the world should stare at the rapid evolutions of your pen from Dan to Batsheba" and Ely concludes this might create astonishment among the ignorant viewers but"...it is infinitely easier than to create a tasteful, well arranged and accurately executed piece of penmanship...." and suggests Bragg take a look at work in Ely's publisher's office.
2. New York Herald, October 22, 1876: "Isaac F. Bragg, one of the "ancient teachers" in the city of New York, died at North Manchester, Conn., on the 19th inst. in the ninety-first year of his age. The life of the deceased, in connection with the education in this city, is full of interest to many prominent residents here. He was really an old man when, more than thirty years ago, he was a "veteran principal" of the Male High School, in Crosby street, from which so many of New York's noted business men graduated. He was known and highly respected as the "veteran teacher" in that day, for the reason that he had been previously the principal of the Mechanics" Society School, which was, perhaps, the most famous city school fully half a century ago. He is to be buried from St. Matthew's church, Brooklyn, to-day, when many of his former scholars, now veterans themselves, are to be present."
3. Research was conducted by James E. Hazard, a researcher recommended by Swarthmore College for searching its library records of the Society of Friends.
4. On the verso of the vellum certificate in manuscript is the name HELEN EVERIT [Shelley] VAUGHAN (b. 1897 Brooklyn,N.Y.-d. 1968, Vermont). Her mother was Beulah E. Shelley.
5. The New York Historical Society owns an American manuscript and calligraphy work that includes Isaac F. Bragg's calligraphy, among work of others: New York Common Council, Tribute from the City of New York to the illustrious friend of freedom, 1824-25. New York Common Council, Tribute from the City of New York to the illustrious friend of freedom, 1824-1825 | NYHS Digital Collections The Scottish Rite Museum, in Lexington, Massachusetts owns a finely decorated 1845 member certificate, drawn in gold and black ink by Is. F. Bragg who writes his address as 78 Crosby Street, New York on the certificate. The photograph suggests the certificate was drawn on vellum.Certificate for an Active Member of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, 1845 · Signed and Sealed: Masonic Certificates · digitalVGW
6. For additional research sources, please see: Records of the Society of Friends (Quakers), New York Yearly Meeting | New York Genealogical & Biographical Society and GuideToRecords-body.ind - GuideToRecordsRSOF_1997.pdf
Transcriptions of Marriage Certificate: Text and 93 Witness Signatures
The transcription of the body of the marriage certificate is taken directly from the work of art itself. The transcription of the ninety-three (93) names of the individual members of the Society of Friends who attended the marriage and signed their names as witnesses, and three not present is based on professional research of original records obtained in the James E. Hazard Index to The Records of New York Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and other records in the Library of Swarthmore College.
Text of the Marriage Certificate:
"Whereas Valentine Everit Son of Thomas and Sussanah Everit, (the latter deceased) of the City of Brooklyn, King's County, State of New York and Beulah E. Kirby daughter of Edmund and Ruby Kirby (the latter deceased) of the Township of Harrison, Westchester Co., State of New York, Having Declared Their Intentions of Marriage With Each Other, Before two monthly meetings of the Religious Society of Friends held in Rose Street, in the City and County of New York, they having consent of parents and nothing appearing to obstruct their proposal of Marriage was allowed by the meeting, These are to certify that for the accomplishment of Their said Intentions this fifteenth day of the second month in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, Then the said Valentine Everit and Beulah E. Kirby appeared at a public meeting of said Society held at Brooklyn, King's County, State of New York, and the said Valentine Everity taking the said Beulah E. Kirby by the hand did on this solemn occasion declare that he took her to be his Wife promising through Divine Assistance to be unto her a faithful and affectionate husband until separated by death, or words to that effect, and the said Beula E. Kirby did in like manner declare that she took the said Valentine Everit to be her Husband, promising through Divine Assistance to be unto him a faithful and affectionate Wife until separated by death or words to that import. They the said Valentine Everit and Beulah E. Kirby She according to the custom of Marriage assuming the name of her Husband as a further confirmation thereof did then there to these presents set their hands. Signed: Valentine Everit and Beulah E. Everit."
Names of Witnesses: [as written in three columns on the marriage certificate]
Thomas Everit Louisa S. Arnold Elizabeth Brewster
Catharine E. Hicks Sarah H. Loines Henry S. Underhill
Gilbert E. Hicks J.R. Kirby J. Willets
Robert T. Hicks H.A. Ganett Wm A. Cromwell
Samuel Mott Esther Maria Kumbell William Healy
Abby A. Chew Caroline E. Kumbell
N H Hoople Susan Everit Lydia Hyde
Israel Corse Junr Sarah C. Everit Maria P. Rerger [?]
James Brooks Thomas J. Everit Henry Everit
S.S. Arnold Anna L. Ross Sarah Ann Everit
Maria L. Olcott John S. Roberts Mary L. Kirby
Sarah Jane Underhill Reuben Leggett W.L. Kirby
Sarah Taylor George Brooks Isaac Coles
Joseph W. Allen [?] William P. Miner Jon Trotter
Catharine Seymour John C. Kenshaw Rachel S. Willets
Eliza B. Seymour Wm Wyllop Pratt Jonathan Thorne
Mrs. Eliza Kumbel Rainey Corse Stephen D. Knapp
Phebe Everit Ann R. Seaman Oliver H.Taylor
Lucius Hyde Eliza Rarton [?] John Jagger
Mary Everit John D. Wright Mary Ann Van Alstyne
Ann Everit Mary R Wright Nicholas Canoll [?]
Richard Everit Wm W. Seymour Edwin R Treman
Mary C. Everit H.F. Fish Mary Treman
Sarah Mott H.T. Lee William A. Doolittle
Harriet S. Allen Eliza Berger Helen S. Doolittle
Samuel Thompson Ann Carte J.C. Skidmore
Lucy Thompson Amelia Everit Mary B. Hyde
William Kumbel Sarah Loines
Austin Melvin Deborah Kirby not present:
Joshua W. Brown Wm M Haydock Gideon Ley
Wm. H. Loines Jainet A. Hopiens D. Embery
Jacob S. Willets Junr Willet T. Kirby Thos Bowks
Leonard Frost Morgan S. Smith
C. M. Olcott