Oblong Quarto (ca. 17.5 x 25.5 cm or 6 ¾ x 10 in). 55 brown stiff paper leaves (one blank). 36 gelatin silver photographs, two larger images ca. 23.5 x 16 cm (9 ¼ x 6 ½ in) and 13.5 x 8.5 cm (5 ¼ x 3 ¼ in), seven images ca. 10.5 x 8 cm (4 x 3 in), and 26 images ca. 8 x 5 cm (3 x 2 in) or smaller. With 22 newspaper clippings (one loosely inserted) and 37 pieces of ephemera. All photographs, 18 clippings, and 36 pieces of ephemera with period ink captions on mounts, one on image (some captions relate to up to five items). Period brown full sheep album with binder’s paper label on bottom left corner of inner rear cover. Covers slightly rubbed, spine rubbed with losses on extremities; one mount detached and loosely inserted; a few photos with mild silvering, but overall a very good album with interesting ephemera.

A lively collection of original and studio gelatin silver photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera compiled by Ruth Evelyn Brunning (née Smith) to document her engagement and wedding celebrations, and honeymoon trip. Brunning lived in Los Angeles, California, and married John “Jack” R. Brunning (1886-1960), an accountant, in 1913.

Over 20 photographs and several pieces of ephemera are from their honeymoon trip, visiting cities in California, including San Francisco and San Diego. There are photos of the Carnival Cabrillo in San Diego (September 24 – 27, 1913), commemorating the discovery of California by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Spanish explorer, and snapshots outside the US Grant Hotel in San Diego.

Of note are several photos taken near the US-Mexico border: a refugee camp in San Diego, hosting those driven out of Mexico most likely due to the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920); the USS Pittsburgh (1901), at the time anchored in San Diego and earlier in 1913 aided escaping Mexican refugees; and Brunning “standing on a fort recently captured by the Mexican Outlaws” in Tia Juana (Tijuana).

There is also a real photo postcard of Mr. and Mrs. Wong Sun Yue of San Francisco. Mrs. Wong Sun Yue Clemens (née Ella May Clemmons, 1861-1935) was infamous across the US for having married a Chinese immigrant as a white woman at a time when such a thing was illegal in California and being the sister of actress Viola Katherine Clemmons (1874-1930), most well known for her highly publicized divorce from financier Howard Gould (1871-1959) in 1909. Wong Sun Yue Clemens sold several postcards from her and her husband’s curio and tea shop in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Another item of note is an eight-page menu from the Tuey Far Low Chop Suey Café in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. The menu is printed on high quality wove paper and has the items listed in Chinese and English, with English descriptions of the ingredients and prices. The menu has well-preserved original wrappers with text in Chinese and English.

Other photographs from the Brunnings’ honeymoon include photos of the Brunnings lounging on the deck of the SS Governor (1907) and a group portrait of a sightseeing tour at the Cliff House in San Francisco. Several photos are from the day their engagement was announced, showing the table they sat at and the doll bride centerpiece. The final photo in the album is a studio portrait of Brunning in her wedding dress.

The newspaper clippings are of events related to their engagement and marriage.

Ephemera in the album also includes two stubs from a steamer boarding pass; two ticket stubs from a Pacific Sightseeing Co. tour in San Francisco; a flag from the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park; menus from the SS Governor and SS President; two print photo postcards showing St. Francis Hotel and US Grant Hotel; an illustrated postcard showing the mouth of Sunny Jim Cave in La Jolla, California; eight postcards (four illustrated, four showing verso) congratulating the newlywed couple; their wedding invitation; place markers from the engagement announcement and bridal shower; the bill from their stay at Hotel Alexandria; their first rent receipt; two letters addressed to Ruth Smith from her future aunt and sister in-law and one addressed to Mrs. Jack Brunning from her mother; three cablegrams received during their wedding reception; and four soap wrappers from Hotel Alexandria (Los Angeles), Hotel St. Francis (San Francisco), US Grant Hotel (San Diego); and the SS President (Pacific Coast Steamship Co.).

Overall, an interesting collection of memorabilia (original and studio photographs, newspaper clippings, and ephemera) of a California couple’s engagement, wedding, and honeymoon, with original snapshots photos related to the events of the Mexican Revolution and an early menu of a Los Angeles Chinese restaurant.