Name/Title
Calling CardEntry/Object ID
2014.1.1Description
Small, rectangular tan card with the name "Mr. Joseph R. Wilson" written in black ink on one side.Use
Calling cards were an important part of 19th-centrury etiquette for both men and women. The cards were exchanged during social events, including formal visits to a residence or business.Context
Presbyterian theologian Joseph Ruggles Wilson (1822–1903) was the father of several children with his wife, Janet "Jessie" Woodrow Wilson (1830–1888), including President Woodrow Wilson (1822–1903). The family moved around the southeastern United States as Joseph served as a pastor in several states, including Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and as an educator in Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. From 1870 to 1874, he served as a professor at Columbia Theological Seminary (now known as the Robert Mills House). The Wilsons lived in Augusta for thirteen years before moving to Columbia. It is uncertain when, and therefore where, this calling card was used by Joseph.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionMaterial/Technique
Ink
