Josephine Gresset copybook

This item is a 43-leaf copybook containing poems in French written in a calligraphic hand. The first leaf contains the name Josephine Gresset and the inscription “ma bien aimee / ma cherie”. The date is partially illegible, but appears to be “181[?]”. Each page contains a poem within a hand-drawn ink border. The poems are unattributed; however, some are found in Chansons nationales et populaires de France accompagnees de notes historiques et litteraires, Volume 1 by Theophile Marion Dumersan and Noel Segur (Paris, Garnier frères, 1866). The calligraphic nature of the penmanship indicates these poems may have been handwriting exercises. Although no biographical information for Josephine Gresset is contained within the copybook, based on evidence that the donor’s family was from the 7th Ward in New Orleans and the copybook contains poems in French, it is likely that this copybook was the property of a young girl from an early 19th century Creole family from the 7th Ward area.