Name/Title
Wedding BookletEntry/Object ID
2025.16.02Secondary Title
Best WishesDescription
Booklet celebrating the wedding of Celia Elizabeth Colbert (1893-1984) of South Windham, CT, and Carl George Johnson (1891-1925) of South Windham, CT, in 1920. After Carl died in 1925, Celia became Postmaster in South Windham; the post office was on Babcock Hill Road, where Celia also owned a general store. Before marrying, Celia lived at home with her parents, Timothy Colbert (born in Ireland) and Elizabeth Jennings Colbert (born in Nova Scotia), along with five siblings (Arthur, 26; Mary, 22; Lillie, 16; Dorothy, 14; and Harry, 11). Timothy Colbert was a machinist who worked in a machine shop (probably the one in South Windham), while Elizabeth was a housewife. In 1920, Arthur was also a machinist working in a machine shop, Celia was an inspector at a thread mill (almost certainly the American Thread Company in Willimantic), Mary was also an inspector at the thread mill, Tillie was a sales clerk at a five-and-dime (probably in Willimantic), and Dorothy and Harry were not employed. Inspectors at ATCO were considered skilled workers and were paid fairly well -- they operated the testing machines that measured the textile strength of manufactured thread, a task that required good math skills.
The booklet was locally printed by the J. C. Lincoln Co. of Willimantic, CT. The cover features a stock illustration of a young couple. The cover is cream colored, thin, embossed cardboard. The pages are cream colored heavy stock paper. A braided, tasseled string binds the spine on the left side. Page 1 is printed: it consists of good wishes from to printer to the couple. Interior pages feature (1) a list (presumably in Celia's handwriting) of the two attendants (Mary E. Colbert, Celia's mother, and Robert E. Johnson); (2) a list of guests (again in what is probably Celia's handwriting); (3) an extensive list of wedding gifts; (4) a list of upcoming wedding anniversaries (most of which, alas, the couple would not get to celebrate); (5) a "marriage record": the wedding took place at 4:00 p.m. on June 2, 1920, in the parsonage in Windham Center, CT -- it was a double ring ceremony officiated by Rev. Arthur W. Clifford and witnessed by Mary E. Colbert and Robert E. Johnson -- weather was fair [NOTE: the wedding was not held in the South Windham Congregational Church, but rather in the Windham Center "parsonage" (Congregational? Episcopalian?) about three miles away]; (6) a description of the couple's honeymoon (see below); (7) a page provided for a description of the couple's home (left blank); and (8) a list of first callers: Mary Colbert, Percy Scribner, Aunt Mary, Mollie Cotter, Isabel Moran, and Ed Parent. On the inside back cover is a description of the couple's second anniversary in Celia's handwriting: "Second Anniversary celebrated at our home with members of family present. Those present being -- Aunt Mary Colbert, Mr. & Mrs. L. Colbert, Miss Dorothy Colbert, Miss Lillie Colbert; Mr. Arthur Colbert, Mr. Henry Colbert, Mr. & Mrs. H. B. Scribner, Mr. Ralph Scribner, Mr. & Mrs. P. L. Scribner, Mr. Joseph Scribner, Master Jack Scribner. Received a pair of silver individual salt and pepper shakers, a linen towel, and two nice pictures. Had a very pleasant evening."
Description of "Our Honeymoon": "June 2, 1920. Went to Hartford, stayed at Hotel Garde. Left next day for Springfield. Stayed at Worthy Hotel there. Left there for No. Adams, stopping two hours in Pittsfield. Stayed at the Berkshire Hotel in No. Adams one night and the rest of the time at Mrs. Saxton's, 26 Chestnut St. Look [sic.] a trip to the Greylock Mt., walking four and one half miles up the mountain. Also went to Williamstown, and had lunch at the Forget-me-not Tea Room. Came home by train to Millers Falls, and then from there to Willimantic with Art and Sophie. Had a very pleasant trip and enjoyed it very much."Context
The purpose of the booklet was to memorialize the wedding of Celia and Carl.Collection
Colbert-Johnson CollectionLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Sub-Class
Wedding ObjectsNomenclature Class
Ceremonial ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Height
8-1/2 inWidth
5-1/2 inBook Details
Author
Johnson, Celia Elizabeth (Colbert)Printer
J. C. Lincoln Co.Place Printed
Neighborhood
Willimantic, CTCity
Windham, CTContinent
North AmericaRegion
NortheastDate Printed
1920Location
Location
Box
Document Box 1Room
Dunham Hall Library Reading Room* Untyped Location
Main Museum BuildingCategory
StorageDate
January 31, 2025Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodDate Examined
Jan 31, 2025Examined By
Eves, J.Provenance
Provenance Detail
Donated by Eric Johnson, Celia and Carl's descendantCopyright
Type of License
NoneCopyright Date
1920Created By
historian@millmuseum.orgCreate Date
January 31, 2025Updated By
historian@millmuseum.orgUpdate Date
January 31, 2025
