Facebook and Linkedln may be considered the communication tool that has brought people closer together.
Whether it’s for social or professional benefits, social media has changed our lives.
personal connections may have had its beginning around 1560 in Europe with alba amicorum, Latin for "friend books."
The pages have verses in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
University students from Netherlands, Germany, and France in the 16th century would gone on academic grand tours around Europe to ‘network.’ Men would have their books signed by the influential people they met like philosophers, artists, scholars, and scientists. Their new contacts would write a brief summary of their meetings and endorsement.
European nobility began socializing and networking as early as 1560.
The leather bound books were beautifully decorated.
The alba amicorum - "friends book" in Latin.
Artists were hired to paint beautiful sceneries and family crests on the books.
Men would carry their books so that the scholars, scientists, and artists they met would sign and comment about their meetings.
This was the ancient way to declare your relationship status.
Michael van der Meer (1590-1653).
Noblemen and university students from France, Germany, and Netherlands travelled across the most prestigious universities in Europe.
An illustration of the King of England.
Drawings of beautiful women were commissioned for the books.
Women did not travel with the freedom men did. They were sent to convents but that did not stop them from starting their own friendship books.
Like Facebook, the more people wrote on your book, the more popular you were.
Jacoba Cornelia Bolten (1787-1859).
Petronella Moens.
Frans van Jongema.
An event page from Margaretha Haghen's book. The vintage event page.
The amicorums were filled with gossip, jokes, and advice.
Lyrics of favorite songs or Bible passages were commonly written.
Newlyweds would write entries together.
Some things never change.
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