Diaries

The Diaries collection provides access to more than thirty fully transcribed and searchable diaries from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century. The collection includes diaries documenting student life at UVM in different eras, the 1918-1919 flu epidemic, the civil war, life in Italy in the early 1860’s, courtship and marriage, social life, religious life, employment opportunities for women, travel, life at a summer cottage, and more.

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Showing 41 - 48 of 48 Records

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48 Diaries. 19 Burlington (Vt. : Town). 17 Ambassadors' spouses -- Italy -- Turin -- Diaries. 17 Ambassadors' spouses. 17 Diplomatic and consular service, American -- Italy. 17 Diplomatic and consular service, American. 17 Italy -- Turin. 17 Italy. 17 Manners and customs. 17 Marsh, Caroline Crane, 1816-1901. 17 Savoy, House of. 17 Turin (Italy) -- History -- Sources. 17 Turin (Italy) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century. 16 Craftsbury (Vt. : Town). 16 Marsh, George P. (George Perkins), 1801-1882. 16 Simpson Mary Jean 1888-1977. 16 University of Vermont 9 Catholicism. 6 Garibaldi, Giuseppe, 1807-1882. 4 Women -- Diaries. 3 Italy -- Pegli. 3 Lamson, Genieve, 1887-1966. 3 Randolph (Vt. : Town). 3 Students -- Diaries. 3 Students -- Vermont -- Burlington. 3 University of Vermont -- Students. 2 Estcourt, Caroline Bucknal, Lady, 1809-1886. 2 Italy -- Como (Province). 2 Italy -- Florence. 2 Rattazzi, Urbano, 1808-1873. 2 Ricasoli, Bettino, 1809-1880. 2 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives. 2 United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Prisoners and prisons. 2 Way, Chester Murray, 1897-1973. 1 Africa. 1 Arms, Willard. 1 Aspromonte, Battle of, Italy, 1862. 1 Atlantic Ocean. 1 Blackwell, Anna, active 1875-1876. 1 Blinn Charles Henry 1843-1926. 1 Blinn, Charles Henry, 1843-1926. 1 Browning, Elizabeth Barrett, 1806-1861. 1 Calais (Vt. : Town). 1 Cavour, Camillo Benso, conte di, 1810-1861 1 Cavour, Camillo Benso, conte di, 1810-1861. 1 Courtship. 1 Dorset (Vt. : Town). 1 Fairlee (Vt. : Town). 1 Families of military personnel. 1 Farnham Roswell 1827-1903. 1 Farnham, Mary Elizabeth Johnson, 1828-1913. 1 Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903. 1 Fisher, Henry Osman, 1872-1954. 1 Fishing. 1 Garibaldi, Giuseppe 1807-1882. 1 Goodenough, Eli, 1821-1860. 1 Goodenough, Mandana White, 1826-1924. 1 Hardwick (Vt. : Town). 1 Hiking. 1 Hudson, James, Sir, 1810-1885. 1 Kasson, John A. 1 Kelley, Mary Susan Davis, 1866-1917. 1 Kent, Cephas, Jr., 1754-1813. 1 Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834. 1 Maria Pia, Queen, consort of Luís I, King of Portugal, 1847-1911. 1 Marriage. 1 Marsh George P., (George Perkins), 1801-1882. 1 Medical education. 1 Merino sheep. 1 Military camps -- Virginia. 1 Novello, Clara, 1818-1908. 1 Pomeroy, John, 1764-1844. 1 Powers, Hiram, 1805-1873. 1 Root, Erastus, 1789-1829. 1 Soldiers -- Vermont -- Diaries. 1 South America. 1 Stillman, William James, 1828-1901. 1 Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896. 1 Switzerland. 1 Trent Affair, 1861. 1 United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Personal narratives. 1 University of Vermont College of Medicine. 1 Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy 1820-1878. 1 Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy, 1820-1878. 1 Westmore (Vt. : Town). 1 Wheeler, David Hilton, 1829-1902. 1 Wilderness, Battle of the, Va., 1864.

48 text
Miniature of Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1942
Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1942
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    • Creator: Simpson, Mary Jean, 1888-1977.
    • Date Created: 1942
    • Description: This diary most prominently features the death of Mary Jean’s mother in late February, a hugely significant figure in her life. Much of the diary discusses the loneliness that comes with the death of a parent, especially around the holiday seasons. Topics in this diary include family death, grief and faith, UVM student affairs, University requirements during World War II, and Women’s Groups. Throughout the year Mary Jean busies herself with women’s groups and student life at UVM, dealing with a student theft incident at Allen Hall, going to Delta Kappa Gamma and YWCA events, and attending meetings on Student Aid. In the absence of her mother, Mary Jean writes about spending time with her cousin Jean and Aunt Kate and expresses misery at the distance created between her and her brother, John. Peppered throughout emotional passages are mention of going to plays and concerts, attending dinners, and in one instance a Faculty Senate meeting with the War Council on student physical education requirements. Topics in this diary include family death, grief and faith, UVM student affairs, University requirements during World War II, and Women’s Groups.
    • Parent Collections: Diaries
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    Miniature of Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1944
    Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1944
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      • Creator: Simpson, Mary Jean, 1888-1977.
      • Date Created: 1944
      • Description: This diary begins with Mary Jean getting a cast on her ankle and missing out on work and student meetings in the beginning of the year. Throughout the spring she deals with women’s issues on campus, including a past student being tried by the Washington Army Board for Insubordination and a rejection by students of the Home Economics courses. Discussion of regular lectures on conduct to her female students occur in this diary. Mary Jean also details assisting her students in getting interviews for medical school and nursing positions. Throughout the year she also mentions going to YWCA events, Phi Beta Kappa and Delta Gamma Kappa meetings, and occasional events with UVM’s President Millis. In September she included an article written about a lecture she gave to students on poor morals, underage drinking, and student promiscuity. The end of Mary Jean’s year includes descriptions of the holidays, mentions of distance created by her brother John, and worry about the grave war news. Topics in this diary include medical care and education, Vermont food, church life in Vermont, women’s issues and morals in the mid-20th century, women’s groups, and World War II.
      • Parent Collections: Diaries
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      Miniature of Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1945
      Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1945
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        • Creator: Simpson, Mary Jean, 1888-1977.
        • Date Created: 1945
        • Description: This short diary most directly was used for schedule keeping by Mary Jean, with various women’s club meetings, Pan-Hellenic dinners, and concerts being penciled in. The summer months contain some detail on visiting friends, going to church, dinner parties, and typical yard and house chores. In May Mary Jean mentions celebrating Victory in Europe Day, and in August she describes the thrilling and sobering experience of listening to President Truman announce Japan’s surrender. This diary ends shortly after Mary Jean experiences injury from a car accident. Topics in this diary include the end of World War II, Women’s groups, social and religious life in Vermont, and Automobile accidents.
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        Miniature of Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1946
        Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1946
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          • Creator: Simpson, Mary Jean, 1888-1977.
          • Date Created: 1946
          • Description: In this diary Mary Jean deals with some health issues including a broken ankle and a thyroid illness. She describes being very busy at work, attending meetings such as the Executive Board of the Ladies of the Faculty. She also regularly participates in church and women’s group events. This included traveling to Connecticut for a YWCA and taking part in a search group to find a chairman for the Pulpit Committee at her church. As usual, Mary Jean ends her year with a description of packing gifts and spending Christmas with friends and family. Topics in this diary include Women’s Groups, Church Organizations, injury, illness, and healthcare in the 20th century, and faculty life at UVM.
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          Miniature of Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1950
          Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1950
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            • Creator: Simpson, Mary Jean, 1888-1977.
            • Date Created: 1950
            • Description: This diary features Mary Jean’s church and social life most prominently, with only some mention of her work on the Mortar Board society and Kake Walk affairs. Regular church attendance and the wedding of Ruth Schoppes are described throughout the diary. Mary Jean also writes a longer entry about her 62nd birthday, enjoying the festivity of it but reflecting on her age. Topics in this diary include UVM honors society programs, Kake Walk, Vermont Church life, discussion of aging, and Vermont weather patterns.
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            Miniature of Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1956
            Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1956
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              • Creator: Simpson, Mary Jean, 1888-1977.
              • Date Created: 1956
              • Description: In this diary, Mary Jean details her first full year in retirement. Her life remains as busy as ever as Mary Jean stays heavily involved in various church and women’s groups. Involvement in the American Association of United Women, the Women’s Missionary Society, and the United Council of Church Women appear most prevalent in this diary. Mary Jean also describes being busy attending meetings for the Burlington Council on World Affairs, the Vermont Women’s Republican Club, and Delta Kappa Gamma. Her diary is also filled with descriptions of housework, cooking meals, and spending time with family and friends. Most notably is the time spent with her cousin Agnes and working in the library with her cousin Jean after church on Sundays. This diary also features a trip taken by Mary Jean to Washington for a WMS event and to visit old friends from her time as a Senate Bill Clerk. Topics in this diary include locomotive and automobile transportation, life in retirement, Women’s Organizations, Church Organizations, Vermont Food culture, and Post-War American politics.
              • Parent Collections: Diaries
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              Miniature of Mary Susan Davis Kelley Diary, 1883-1893
              Mary Susan Davis Kelley Diary, 1883-1893
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                • Creator: Kelley, Mary Susan Davis, 1866-1917.
                • Date Created: 1883-1893
                • Description: Mary Susan Davis was born on January 10, 1866 to Benjamin Webster and Susan Adelaide (Young) Davis in Fairlee, Vt. Davis grew up in a large household consisting of her parents, her three siblings (John, James, and Rosalene), and her uncle, David Young, who suffered from epilepsy and erratic behavior due to a traumatic brain injury. After she graduated from secondary school in 1884, Davis helped her mother at home and with taking care of the boarders who occasionally resided in their home; she also taught in local schools and occasionally performed housework and childcare for hire in other households in the community. Prior to her first marriage, Davis moved to Orange, Massachusetts, where she was eventually employed by shoe manufacturer Jay B. Reynolds as a skiver. Davis was married three times over the course of her life: her first marriage was to Fred Mason on October 25, 1888, her second to Fred Sheldon Pickett in 1897 (following her divorce from Mason in January of that year), and her third to Harry Kelley on April 16, 1906. Davis suffered from chronic health issues, especially heart and reproductive ailments, throughout her life and had at least one miscarriage as a result. Davis died in Fairlee on March 30, 1917. Topics in this diary include women’s health and other subjects relating to health and medicine; the experiences of working women circa 1890, turn-of-the-century courtship and marriages, and the local social and cultural history of Fairlee, Vermont.
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                Miniature of Roswell Farnham Diary, 1848-1849
                Roswell Farnham Diary, 1848-1849
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                  • Creator: Farnham, Roswell, 1827-1903.
                  • Date Created: 1848-1849
                  • Description: Roswell Farnham was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 23, 1827, the son of Roswell and Nancy Bixby Farnham. Farnham's family moved to Bradford, Vermont in 1840, and he received his education at Bradford Academy and the University of Vermont, from which he graduated in 1849. Married to Mary Elizabeth Johnson on December 25, 1849, Farnham taught school before gaining admittance to the Orange County bar in 1857. When the Civil War broke out, he entered the First Vermont Regiment with the Bradford Guards militia as a Second Lieutenant. Farnham served with distinction in both the First Vermont and the Twelfth Vermont, and left the Army in July of 1863 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following the war, Farnham became general counsel for the Vermont Copper Company and continued to work as both lawyer and administrator of the VCC for the rest of his life. In addition, he held a number of local and state political offices culminating in his defeat of Democrat Edward J. Phelps for the governorship of Vermont in 1880. After completing a single popular term as governor, Farnham returned to his law practice. In 1889 he also became president of the newly-formed New England Company, a group of Northern investors interested in developing the coal and iron deposits of northwestern Georgia. The New England Company was never a success, and Farnham spent much of the last decade of the nineteenth century trying to save it and the VCC from bankruptcy. Badly injured in a fall in November 1898, Farnham recovered sufficiently to resume some of his work but never regained full health. Roswell Farnham died at his home in Bradford on January 5, 1903, at the age of seventy-five. Three of Farnham’s four children lived to adulthood: Charles Cyrus Farnham (1864–1937), Florence Mary Osgood (1866–1958), and William M. Farnham (1869–1927). His first child, Roswell Phelps Farnham Jr., died in infancy in 1861. Farnham was predeceased by a half-brother, Cyrus C. Farnham, in 1863. Topics in this diary include the curriculum, faculty, and student experience at UVM in the late 1840s; Burlington and neighboring towns in the late 1840s, UVM’s Lambda Iota fraternity, Zachary Taylor and the Whig Party, and teaching in Vermont and Canada in the mid-nineteenth century. Near the end of the diary are several essays written by Farnham during his senior year at UVM. Topics in these essays include religion, natural history, and King Lear.
                  • Parent Collections: Diaries
                  Part of: Diaries