The work is attributed to E. E. Fewkes, apparently a brilliant and diversified man who, among other accomplishments, was involved in X-ray technology around 1915, attended Harvard Medical School for a while, and about whom we hope to discover more in the Fewkes or Darling albums in the collection.
The collection came to the Library in roughly the following manner:
Mr Fewkes was related to Mr. Darling, one-time postmaster of Ipswich, through marriage. Upon Mr. Fewkes's death, the collection came to Ipswich to Mr. Darling, whose contributions to some of the work may be noted. Upon his death, his house was purchased by a Mr. William Cruikshank, who then sold the collection to a special group of people who got together and raised money for a suitable testimonial for John Conley on the occasion of his retirement from his store. The collection was then placed in the Public Library.
To the best of our knowledge, the work relies on verified sources, rather than word of mouth. There can be no guarantee about authenticity, but we would appreciate comment or opinion from users of the work if conflicts and/or confirmations are verified.