Josephine Simmons Manchester
1873 – 1957
Josephine Taylor Simmons (1873 – 1957) of Little Compton, the daughter of Frank and Harriet Simmons, married Lysander Manchester of Acoaxet, the son of Forbes and Rhoda Manchester, in 1895. Josephine moved into her in-laws’ farmhouse across the street from the Acoaxet Chapel and kept a photo album in the early 1890s showing aspects of her everyday life in the years just prior to her marriage. Josephine dated the album 1891-1893. The labels must have been added after 1895 as they use her married name. Many women at the time had studio portraits taken of themselves, but very few had access to a family camera to capture their candid moments.
Many thanks to her grandson, Richard Manchester for sharing this album with us.
Josephine Simmons with her brother Valentine and sister Minnie 
Adamsville Landing 
Her husband’s cousins Abraham and Deborah Manchester. 
Alice Pitman’s Vocal Students 
Josephine’s future husband Lysander Manchester and her friend Ethel Drowne 
Mollie Aldrich 
Josephine in the Manchester farmyard 
Josephine with cat 
Manchester farm 
Group on the Manchester farmhouse steps 
Josephine and a carriage 
Girl with dog 
Young woman with bicycle 
Female cyclists at the Manchester farm 
Crabbing 
Josephine and friend crabbing 
Josephine studying a crab 
Ferry Board to Martha’s Vineyard 
Enjoying marshmallows, on a trip to Martha’s Vineyard. 
On holiday in Martha’s Vineyard 
On the beach in Martha’s Vineyard
Marjory O’Toole, LCHS Executive Director
March 2020