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University of Michigan William L. Clements Library

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Charles H. F. Daigneault and Ren W. Philbrick drawing book, 1901-1905 (bulk 1904)

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Summary

Creator:
Daigneault, Charles H. F. and Philbrick, Ren Willie, 1888-1953
Abstract:
Charles H. F. Daigneault, a teenager in Hudson, New Hampshire, filled this pre-printed account ledger with pencil, pen, and ink drawings between 1904 and 1905 (mostly dated February 1904). The volume had been used sparsely by Ren W. Philbrick as early as 1901; between 1903 and 1905, Ren and possibly other Philbricks contributed a small number of drawings. Daigneault's illustrations feature the Philbricks' "Deer Field Farm," the Hudson schoolhouse, vehicles and transportation, caricatures and anthropomorphic animals, decorative patterns, clothing (uniforms, stockings, garters, shoes, hats, etc.), people and faces, Masonic symbolism and imagery, astrological and horoscope content, mystical and occult symbolism, sideshow performers, museum objects and oddities, American Civil War scenes, historical and mythological torture devices, the use of torture by religious groups, and much else.
Extent:
1 volume
Language:
English
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Cheney J. Schopieray, April 2024

Background

Scope and Content:

Charles H. F. Daigneault, a teenager in Hudson, New Hampshire, filled this pre-printed account ledger with pencil, pen, and ink drawings between 1904 and 1905 (mostly dated February 1904). The volume had been used sparsely by Ren W. Philbrick as early as 1901; between 1903 and 1905, Ren and possibly other Philbricks contributed a small number of drawings.

Daigneault's drawings feature the Philbricks' "Deer Field Farm," the Hudson schoolhouse, vehicles and transportation, caricatures and anthropomorphic animals, decorative patterns, clothing (uniforms, stockings, garters, shoes, hats, etc.), people and faces, Masonic symbolism and imagery, astrological and horoscope content, mystical and occult symbolism, sideshow performers, museum objects and oddities, American Civil War scenes, historical and mythological torture devices, the use of torture by religious groups, and much else.

Charles Dagneault drew pictures of vehicles and transportation, including a view of an electric railroad car full of passengers (page 57), a train engine and part of a coal car with a man shoveling coal (page 69), a rough drawing of a ship looking vaguely like the Merrimack (page 67), a whaling ship beside a whale (page 130), and a U.S. Navy ship (page 66). Daigneault also contributed drawings of horse drawn fire engines, which he labeled "Philbrick Fire Dep. 1904"/"Boston Fire Engine No. 4" (page 49), "Philbrick Fire Dep."/"Chemical No. 1" (page 53), and "Philbrick Fire Dep." (with a row of firefighter helmets and buckets, page 55). In addition to the fire engines, Daigneault made a drawing of fire company hats/helmets, titled "Styles Fire Dept U.S.A." and labeled by years 1811-1850; 1850-1860; 1860; and "First in America Penna"/"Hibernia Philla" (page 88).

Caricatures, full length portraits, busts, faces, limbs, feet, hands, and profiles of humans and anthropomorphic animals are found throughout the volume. Among the caricatures are an "American Schoolteacher" (page 64), "Jewish Junk dealer" (page 58), a cricket player (page 46), and military and police figures. Daigneault drew a number of women's legs in stockings, heeled shoes, and garters. He drew a buttocks in the shape of an upside-down heart with an eye in the middle (page 52) as well as a group of seven overlapping profiles of faces, marked "The Know-alls" (page 59).

The most prevalent imagery in the volume is Masonic symbolism, decorative and sigil-like illustrations, occult and mystical content, horoscope content, and related visuals. Squares and compasses, Eyes of Providence, crosses and cross pattée, five-eight pointed stars, a Masonic owl, ornate swords, hearts, and more. Many of these are doodled onto pages, but others are the subjects of drawings. A few of the latter include:

  • Slightly curved sword with a loopguard and small tassel. Marked "NEVER DRAW me without Cause or Sheath me in Dishonor Sword owned By C. H. F. Daigneault New, Hampshire N H 1904" (page 48)
  • An ornate sword with a loopguard and quillion over crossed dirk and hand-axe. The sword and hand-axe bear a symbol of a cross atop a sun cross atop a heart. Marked "C. H. F. D 1904 -- Feb --" (page 52)
  • An owl decorated with Masonic symbols, "HOOT-HOOT, HOOT" (page 62)
  • A page containing a variety of text and images pertinent to Freemasonry. "3. Points." The name "Peter. Denn" is underlined with a sword and followed by the three points/dots (top dot filled, lower dots not filled). List including "Malice & Revenge" and "Vibration." Other text includes "Moses -- [eye drawing] -- was (a (murderer --" and "Call off your dogs." Drawing of three steps/degrees and a "Holy Bible F.A.M. (Chart)" book atop a podium; sword on top of the book; cross bookmark; E-W arrow and skull and crossbones beside a candelabra with three candles. At the bottom of the page is the text "Apprentice" "Led To the Light" "IV.K.D." (page 100)
  • A page containing a variety of text and images pertinent to Freemasonry. "4. Points." Drawing of a goat with square and compass, a triangle with an eye in the middle labeled "DONT LOSE ME CHARLEY." Arm with square and compass, holding a snake. Two hearts. "The Bluff and Poker Game." Marked "C H. F D 1904." "5.P." "What is the Sharpest Lance of a F.A.M." followed by a triangle made up of nine dots. At the bottom of page is a drawing of a Chi Rho cross. Above it the words "Phallic worship" and beside "S.P.O.R.", "I.H.S.", "K.M.", "Past Meridian", "P.G.M.", and "C.H.F.D." (page 101)

The volume contains two sections of numbered illustrations. One is a gallery of sideshow performers and oddities/curiosity museum objects and animals (pages 110-119) and the other is a gallery of mystical, occult, historical, and mythological religious practices/symbols, many of them violent, including torture devices (pages 134-139).

Numbered gallery of illustrations (1): Sideshow performers and oddities/curiosity museum objects and animals--many of which are noted "musee," "C. H. Daigneault museum," or "Bunker Hill museum."

  • Unnamed "Simesse [Siamese] Twins" (men connected at the chest area, page 110)
  • Millie Christine McCoy (Carolina Twins, page 111)
  • "Sir Taemoto" shown reclining with very large feet (page 111)
  • "Tivery Skelington / dean Barton / Born France" of a very thin man wearing a French military helmet and epaulettes and carrying a sword (page 112)
  • "Elephant Boy" / "Born In England" (page 113)
  • An animal that appears to be a bipedal anteater with a rat-like tail and sharp teeth beside a tree; a man running away in the background. "France / woods / Distroyed / Houses / People / Village." (page 113)
  • "The Warf Twins 1620" (two seated figures connected at the shoulder or neck, page 114)
  • Two-headed calf with the label "2-Headed Calf / Thomas Jefferson / C. H. Daigneault museum / Bunker Hill / museum / 1875" (page 114)
  • Two mermaids facing each other, with the label "Mermaides / Ollalu)=olu= / at C. H. D. museum 1875" (page 115)
  • Raccoon, with the label "Largest -- Racoon Ever / Caught / at Bunkehill museum / owned By C.H.D. / Proptier" (page 115)
  • "A Fine Turtle -- From U.S.S. / old Kersarge" with a drawing of a turtle; on its shell is the text "at C.H.D / Museum / -(1859)- / 1875" (page 116)
  • Cannonball broken in half with the year "1861" written on it; "-1875- / First. Second Shell Fired / Into Fort Sumpter / Presented To C H. F. D / Museum" (page 116)
  • Long straight pipe, with the text "1875 musee / -Chinese pipes-" (page 116)
  • "Musee / Fat Woman / <-580 Pounds- / Madme Waldon," a woman wearing a crown and holding a mirror, wearing a dress, with a heart tattoo on her arm (or heart on an armband) (page 117)
  • A horse standing on its rear legs, "alive / Born without Fore legs." To the left is a small drawing of a walled tent "CHFD / W.F." on the roof; with text "Show Run / Union / Haymarket / Square / (C H F. D) / W. (Bill Friend)" (page 118)
  • Drawing of a very tall thin man with a tall, pointed hat and carrying what looks like a sheathed sword. In a word bubble the man says, "See all In this Book -- PAY 5c For the Boyes BANK". Next to him is a standing sword swallower, with a sword mostly ingested (page 119)
  • Not part of this numbered sequence of drawings, but related content: "Rooster / Born with / 5 Legs - / at / Roxton / Pond / Canada / East." "C H F D / $5.00" (page 128)

Numbered gallery of illustrations (2): Mystical, occult, historical, and mythological religious scenes and practices:

  • Elaborate drawing of Moses standing in front an altar, around which are four winged human angels with trumpets. A six-pointed star marked "VENUS" shines down on the altar. The altar has a lit menorah on it, beside skull and crossbones. The symbols on the altar include a snake, a royal crown, crossed shepherd staffs, crescent moon and six-pointed stars, a manicule pointing at a sun and triangle. The Moses figure is wearing a garment covered in similar symbols and is reading a scroll with similar symbols on it. The Moses figure is standing on a snake. "Law / Giver / Moses / In / 7th veil / of The / Temple". The title of the drawing appears to be "No. 3. anchent mode worship / Seeing 4 Holy Angles-" "C H F. D 1904" (page 134)
  • Kneeling man at an altar, holding up a sun toward a large sun shining down on him. A pot on the altar emits smoke. The title of the drawing appears to be "2d. Religious worship -- of world" or "worship of The Sun / The Dural Sign." Two rebuses are present on the page. (page 135)
  • Drawing of two priest-like figures standing over a person laying on an altar. One carries a staff with a dragon, serpent, or chicken head and wings on it. The other carries a sword dripping with blood and the heart he has cut from the person laying on the altar. The altar has a serpent, six-pointed stars, crescent moons, and other symbols on it. "No 4 / Religion / Mexico / Virgin / Mexico / Temple" (page 136)
  • Drawing of a wicker man and moon. "No. 5. / Religion / The Wicker / Man / Yew-Tree / Moon / In Line / Druids / in / England / Inocent / Virgins / Boyes / men / &c / Burned / In / Wicker / Man" (page 137)
  • Drawing of a disemboweled man nailed upside-down on a board/rack. "No 6" "The Inquisition / The State Inquisition / & Religions." To the right is a drawing of a person being on a spit over a fire, being turned by an unseen figure. "No. 7. The Zoroaster order." Cross pattée. (page 138)
  • "Mans Humanity." Drawing of two men in hats, one heating lead over a furnace and the other pouring "hot lead" onto the body of a tied victim. "No 8 Inquisition." A cross pattée. Below is a drawing of a person hung by their thumbs with a weight tied to their ankles "No. 9. Inquisition" "Thumbs Torture." Beside is an eye of Providence and a cross pattée with an arrow pointing to the rope/thumbs. To the right is a drawing of an iron maiden and a person about to be placed into it. The bottom of the iron maiden has a rotating blade, and a tunnel below has drawings of rectangles and triangles marked "chop up." (page 139)

Other selected content includes:

  • A Punch or Rumpelstiltskin type figure with a tall, pointed hat and a devil on his nose, holding a baby in its arms (page 42)
  • Drawing of a bird with a long and segmented neck, stork-like legs, and a raptor beak: "A HARTEPOCHNIA of MYTH AGE" (page 109). Another drawing of the same bird, standing by eggs that are being stalked by a rat, has a speech bubble reading "Say Rats" (page 92)
  • Crescent moon and six-pointed star "(Kismet) means Fate." Beneath is a full length drawing of a man wearing a fez (which has a crescent moon and six-pointed star on it), what looks like a Hussar pelisse (with sword and six pointed star on it), sword and gun through waist belts, carrying a spear, with garter socks, a kilt-looking bottom and lettings bearing a flower (page 104)
  • Horoscopes by "Prof. Daigneault" for members of the Philbrick family, with additional notes on clairvoyancy/mesmerism/hypnotism (pages 122-127)
  • Recipe for pickled cucumbers [pickles] (page 127)

Biographical / Historical:

The Charles H. F. Daigneault whose name or initials are applied to the bulk of the drawings remains obscure. The most likely possibility seems to be the Charles Daigneault who was born to Québécois parents Jean Baptiste Daignealt (1866-1895) and Delia Levesque Daigneault (1866-1904) in April 1888, in Lewiston, Maine. When Charles was 15 years old, his widowed mother died. Perhaps coincidentally, the artist who filled much of the drawing book contributed his first illustration (titled "Deer-Field Farm. O.D. Philbrick and Sons . . . Hudson, N.H. . . . Feb 13 1904") about two and a half weeks after Delia Daigneault's death in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

This likely Charles Daigneault entered the 52nd Volunteer Company of the Coast Artillery Guard in 1907, and served as a printer at Fort Rodman, New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts. He married Ethel King of New Bedford on May 10, 1910, shortly before receiving his discharge in 1910.

Charles Daigneault moved back to Maine and settled in Auburn. On November 4, 1915, Charles re-married, to Delia Berube, and the couple had at least two children Patricia Anderson (1916-1940) and Georgette C. Lee (1918-1998). He spent the last several decades of his life in Auburn, working as a shoemaker and later in a shoe factory. Charles Daigneault died on May 16, 1952. His tombstone reads "Charles J. Daigneault," perhaps indicating that he was not the artist who created this volume.

Other possible Charles Daigneaults include Charles N. Daigneault (b. ca. 1885), a teamster who lived in Fairfield and St. Albans, Vermont; Charles T. Daigneault (b. 1878) of Fall River, Massachusetts; or another yet unidentified Charles Daigneault.

Ren Willie Philbrick was born on January 3, 1888, to parents Orrin/Orin David Philbrick (1851-1930) and Roannah E. Hayward Philbrick (1854-1902) in Sutton, Vermont. By the time he was 10, Ren W. Philbrick attended school in Bedford, Massachusetts, where his father was constable. Ren had at least three brothers, including an older brother Fred R. Philbrick and younger brothers Aaron C. and George H. Philbrick.

Ren W. Philbrick's father acquired a farm on Lowell Road, Hudson, New Hampshire and in the early 1900s he worked there with his brother. On February 5, 1910, Ren married Melissa C. Bailey (1890-1976), who went by "Millie," in New Boston, New Hampshire. When Ren W. Philbrick registered for the draft in 1917, they lived in Billerica, Massachusetts, where he worked as a mechanic for the Boston and Maine Railroad. In 1919, Ren and Millie are listed as living with two other railroad workers in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Philbricks moved back to New Hampshire and ultimately settled in Weare. There, Ren performed police duty, ran for local office, put in labor and materials for park construction, and worked as a stone mason. When registering for the draft in 1942, Ren Philbrick described himself as self-employed.

Ren Willie Philbrick died on June 23, 1953, and is buried in New Boston Cemetery, New Boston, New Hampshire.

Acquisition Information:
2022. M-8128 .
Arrangement:

The collection is a single bound volume.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown

PREFERRED CITATION:

Charles H. F. Daigneault and Ren W. Philbrick Drawing Book, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan