Collection Timeline

1895 to 2023

1895
Eight of the original members of the Pleiades Club. Jennie P. Gault, Florence R. Chrisman, Martha Fox, Kate R. Henderson, Sara C. Ostrander, C. W. McCurdy, Ellen R. Aldrich and Millicent C. Bonebright.

1899
A fourteen page booklet, measuring about five inches by 12 inches, printed for the Pleiades to report their annual accomplishments for 1899.

1922
Newspaper article titled "Moscow Women Are Active in Civic Progress: Pleiades Club Organized in 1894 -- Historical Society Makes Record" which was clipped from the Spokesman-Review. Handwritten notes on the clipping include a date.

1931
Book created to track membership of Pleiades group, first developed in 1931 but inscribed to include information about the founding members and maintained by current membership.

1955
A handwritten account from Gertrude Axtell, a member of Pleiades in the mid-20th century, of the group's first 60 years.

1967
Typewritten communication from Tiffany & Co. responding to a request for information from Mrs. H.L. Axtell, in regards to Silver and Gold Book.
A handwritten note address to Tiffany and Co. Jewelers requesting after any information the firm might have about the production of the Silver and Gold Book, signed by Gertrude Axtell
Newspaper article titled "75th Anniversary is Celebrated," clipped without citation information. It profiles the Pleiades group.

1968
Typewritten communication from The Gorham Company. responding to a request for information from Mrs. H.L. Axtell, in regards to Silver and Gold Book.
Typewritten communication from The Gorham Company. responding to a request for information from Mrs. Kyle E. Laughlin, in regards to Silver and Gold Book.

2023
Close up detail of one long edge of object, featuring an etched scene of a miner with pack mules. Underside of lock and velvet interior of box also pictured.
Front cover or top lid of object. Engraving of original Administration Building in silver. Encircled by shafts of wheat. Engraving at top reads "Esto Perpetua" or "Let it be perpetual." Engraving at bottom reads "Idaho the Gem of the Mountains." Four corners feature golden reliefs of four important industries in early Idaho history, mining, hunting, timber, and agriculture. Ten rubies and one opal are set along the edges.
Jewelry box is sitting on bottom edge as if it is a book. Edge is styled as a book spine, featuring a silver relief of pine cones, the Idaho state seal (the only state seal designed by a woman), and the dates 1863 (the year Idaho Territory was created) and 1893 (the year of the exposition). Front cover features etching of original Administration Building, gold reliefs of wheat shafts and representations of industries that were important to early Idaho's development.
Close up detail of one long edge of object, featuring an etched scene of a miner with pack mules. Jewelry box lid is closed and side view of front design is visible.
Close up detail of jewelry box cover corner featuring golden relief of logs and an ax.
Close up detail of jewelry box cover corner featuring golden relief of a mining pick and shovel, along with a latern.
Top lid of jewelry box photographed from an angle to see long edge of box and clasp.
Close up detail of jewelry box cover featuring golden relief of scroll that is etched with the words "Esto Perpetua" (Let it be perpetual) which is the state motto of Idaho.
Close up detail of jewelry box cover featuring golden relief of scroll that is etched with the words "Idaho the Gem of the Mountains"
Close up detail of one short edge of object which appears as the bottom edge of the book. Featuring an etched scene of a train pulling both freight and passenger cars.
Close up detail of one long edge of object which appears as the spine of the book. Featuring a golden relief rendering of the state seal of Idaho. The state seal was designed by Emma Edwards Green, the only women to design a state seal in America. The seal includes imagery meant to evoke the foundational characteristics of Idaho.
Close up detail of jewelry box cover corner featuring golden relief of mining pick, shovel, and latern. Cover is open and object is standing up as if it were a book, making the stylized spine also visible. Silver relief of pine cones pictured.
Close up detail of jewelry box cover corner featuring golden relief of bundles of grain.
Close up detail of one long edge of object, featuring an etched scene of a miner with pack mules. Jewelry box clasp is closed, engraved with text that reads "DESIGNED BY THE WOMEN OF MOSCOW FOR THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION '93"
Close up detail of jewelry box cover featuring golden relief of scroll that is etched with the words "Idaho the Gem of the Mountains"
Close up detail of jewelry box cover corner featuring golden relief of game birds in tall grass.
Close up detail of jewelry box cover corner featuring golden relief of logs and an ax. Cover is open and object is standing up as if it were a book, making the stylized spine also visible. Silver etching of the dates 1863 and 1893 pictured.
Close up detail of jewelry box cover featuring opal reportedly mined very near to Moscow, Idaho. Opal is set in golden flower design, golden relief of wheat shafts surround the stone.
Jewelry box is open to reveal green velvet interior. Long edge golden relief of scene of miner with pack mule train is visible, as is the underside of the box clasp.
Close up detail of one short edge of object which appears as the top edge of the book. Featuring an etched scene of a covered wagon and emigrant family.
Group photograph of the 2023 Pleiades Club members. Front: Cathy Willmes, Terry Peterson, Peggy Conrad, Mary Reed. Back: Andrea Fountain, Nancy Sasser, Nancy Lyle, Helen Boisen, Prudy Heimsch, Denise Thomson, Harriet Hughes. Not pictured: Kathy Barnard-LaPointe, Barbara Meldrum, Nancy Ruth Peterson.