Teresa Vielé scrapbooks

Teresa Griffin Vielé‚ lived in New York City in the 1870s. She was married to General Egbert L. Vielé‚ with whom she had five children: Kathlyn, Herman, Teresa, Egbert and Emily. Around the year 1870, Teresa and Egbert Vielé‚ sued each other for divorce. The Teresa Vielé collection consists of two volumes of scrapbooks, each approximately 130 pages in length, and spans the dates June 1870 to October 1871. As these dates correspond to those of her divorce suit against General Vielé, much in the collection centers on this event. Such material includes letters, newspaper clippings, and telegrams from attorneys and detectives. The scrapbooks also contain calling cards from prominent members of New York society; invitations to balls, charities, or weddings; programs for concerts and church services; and announcements for lectures or events. The Vielé scrapbooks provide insight into the social conventions of 19th century upper-middle class women, such as writing letters and calling on friends or involving oneself in charities. The material also documents public reaction to divorce and issues of child custody, notably in a case where the woman sought separation as well as the husband.