Showing 21 - 30 of 31 Records
Charles H. Blinn Civil War Diary, 1861-1862
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- Creator: Blinn, Charles Henry, 1843-1926.
- Date Created: 1861-1862
- Description: Charles Henry Blinn was born in Burlington, Vt. on January 27, 1843 to Chauncey and Edatha/Editha (Harrington) Blinn. He was educated in Vermont and was preparing to enter the University of Vermont when he entered the army. In September 21, 1861, Blinn enlisted in the 1st Vt. Cavalry. He was attached to Sheridan’s Cavalry Corps, and participated in a number of battles, including Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Wilderness, Winchester, and Cedar Creek. His regiment captured forty-two cannon at Cedar Creek, the largest number taken by any regiment during the war. Blinn was wounded and taken prisoner at Middletown, Va. on May 24, 1862, in a cavalry charge led by General Banks, and was held at Lynchburg and Belle Island, Va. from May 25 to September 17. After three years and four months of service, he was honorably discharged at Burlington in November 18, 1864. After the war, Blinn was chief clerk for two years at the Welden House in St. Albans, Vt. He moved to California in 1868, and for six years was employed with the Wells-Fargo Express Co. In 1875, he became an editorial writer of the “Alta California.” In 1878, he was appointed chief permit clerk in the San Francisco Custom House, a position he held until his death on May 11, 1926. On December 15, 1870, Blinn married Nellie Holbrook of Salem, NH. Nellie (d. 1909) was a suffragist and public speaker, and took the stump for Hayes, Garfield, Blaine, and Harrison. The couple had one son, Holbrook (1872-1928), who pursued a career in acting and performed on Broadway as well as in silent films. In October 8, 1910, Blinn married Vivian Bailey (d. 1944), a grammar school teacher, with whom he had one daughter, Eleanor. Topics in Blinn’s diaries include the experiences of Union soldiers in camp, on the battlefield, and as prisoners of war in Confederate prisons; the experiences of Southerners in Union-occupied towns, illness and medical practices in the military, and the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Genieve Lamson Diary, 1909
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- Creator: Lamson, Genieve, 1887-1966.
- Date Created: 1909
- Description: Genieve Amelia Lamson was born in Randolph, Vt. to Whitcomb Elisha and Hannah Amelia (Philbrick) Lamson on April 29, 1887. Lamson graduated from Randolph High School in 1905. After graduation, she taught for four terms in Vermont district schools and for five years (until 1915) in high schools in Roselle Park, NJ and Springfield, Mass. Lamson completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Chicago, receiving her B.S. degree in 1920 and an M.S. in geography in 1922. She accepted a professorship at Vassar College in 1922 and taught in the geography department until her retirement in 1952. Lamson traveled extensively during her 20s. In 1909, she visited family and friends in the Pacific Northwest and went on several sightseeing excursions in California, Oregon, and Washington. She and her sister Gail traveled through Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy in 1912, and the pair took a trip to Bermuda in 1915. Lamson was an active suffragist and was appointed by the Vermont Suffragist Association to chair the suffragist convention in Orange County in 1919. Lamson remained an active member of her community throughout her life, donating her time and money to a number of social and professional organizations. She was also a historian and choir member of Bethany Congregational Church, a sponsor of Vermont Symphony Orchestra concerts in Randolph, a member of the Randolph Woman’s Club, and a member of the Randolph Garden Club. Lamson died on September 22, 1966. Topics in Lamson’s diaries include teaching (as well as the process for becoming a certified teacher in Vermont circa 1910), major cities of the West Coast, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle; turn-of-the-century fashion and home clothes-making, the sinking of the Titanic, turn-of-the-century slang, and the local history of Randolph, Vt.
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Charles H. Blinn Civil War Diary, 1862-1864
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- Creator: Blinn, Charles Henry, 1843-1926.
- Date Created: 1862-1864
- Description: Charles Henry Blinn was born in Burlington, Vt. on January 27, 1843 to Chauncey and Edatha/Editha (Harrington) Blinn. He was educated in Vermont and was preparing to enter the University of Vermont when he entered the army. In September 21, 1861, Blinn enlisted in the 1st Vt. Cavalry. He was attached to Sheridan’s Cavalry Corps, and participated in a number of battles, including Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Wilderness, Winchester, and Cedar Creek. His regiment captured forty-two cannon at Cedar Creek, the largest number taken by any regiment during the war. Blinn was wounded and taken prisoner at Middletown, Va. on May 24, 1862, in a cavalry charge led by General Banks, and was held at Lynchburg and Belle Island, Va. from May 25 to September 17. After three years and four months of service, he was honorably discharged at Burlington in November 18, 1864. After the war, Blinn was chief clerk for two years at the Welden House in St. Albans, Vt. He moved to California in 1868, and for six years was employed with the Wells-Fargo Express Co. In 1875, he became an editorial writer of the “Alta California.” In 1878, he was appointed chief permit clerk in the San Francisco Custom House, a position he held until his death on May 11, 1926. On December 15, 1870, Blinn married Nellie Holbrook of Salem, NH. Nellie (d. 1909) was a suffragist and public speaker, and took the stump for Hayes, Garfield, Blaine, and Harrison. The couple had one son, Holbrook (1872-1928), who pursued a career in acting and performed on Broadway as well as in silent films. In October 8, 1910, Blinn married Vivian Bailey (d. 1944), a grammar school teacher, with whom he had one daughter, Eleanor. Topics in Blinn’s diaries include the experiences of Union soldiers in camp, on the battlefield, and as prisoners of war in Confederate prisons; the experiences of Southerners in Union-occupied towns, illness and medical practices in the military, and the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1928
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- Creator: SimpsonMaryJean, 1888-1977.
- Date Created: 1928
- Description: The common topics of daily life include church events and sermons; entertainment activities like attending plays, movies, VT town fairs, dinner parties, and learning to golf; and spending time with family and friends. Topics of wider interest include American politics specifically, the Great Vermont Flood of 1927 and Charles Lindbergh’s Goodwill Tour; women's groups’ meetings, and automobile and train travel. Topics in this diary include early 20th century health and treatment systems; social life in Washington DC including movies, theater, and operas; American politics; and women’s groups meetings.
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1945
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- Creator: SimpsonMaryJean, 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.
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Erastus Root Diary, 1815-1818
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- Creator: Root, Erastus, 1789-1829.
- Date Created: 1815-1818
- Description: Erastus Root was born on January 9, 1789 to Timothy and Patience (Gleason) Barber Root in Guilford, Vt. After two years of study under the tutelage of Rev. Jason Chamberlain, Root enrolled at Williams College in 1809, before transferring to the University of Vermont in 1811 to continue studying with Chamberlain, who had been elected UVM’s Professor of Learned Languages in the interim. Root graduated from UVM with a bachelor’s degree in 1814 and spent the next three years studying medicine: he began his studies with Dr. Willard Arms of Brattleboro for a year and a half, then returned to UVM in the fall of 1815 to attend their medical lectures and continue his studies with Dr. John Pomeroy, and finally completed his studies at Dartmouth College, receiving his medical license in 1817. Root eventually moved to Boston, where he married Lucinda Jacobs on February 1, 1821. The couple had one daughter before Lucinda’s death in 1822 and Root’s death in New York on February 24, 1829. Topics in Root’s diary include UVM’s medical program in early nineteenth century, John Pomeroy, early nineteenth-century medical practices, teaching in Vermont in early nineteenth century, and modes of travel in the early nineteenth century.
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Cephas Kent, Jr. Diary, Undated
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- Creator: Kent, Cephas, Jr., 1754-1813.
- Date Created: undated
- Description: Cephas Kent Jr. was born on April 2, 1754 in Suffield, CT (Colony) to Cephas and Hannah (Spencer) Kent. In 1773, Kent moved with his family to what later became Dorset, Vt., where his father, a deacon as well as a tavern owner, took an active role in the American and Vermont independence movements. Kent enlisted in the Continental Army during the summer of 1775 and served as an aide-de-camp on General Montgomery’s staff. His primary responsibilities included cooking and caring for the officers’ baggage, but he also participated in several skirmishes, taking up arms at decisive moments during the Siege of Fort St. Jean. On January 30, 1779, Kent married Lydia Sheldon and the couple had several children. Kent died in Dorset on January 9, 1813. The first part of Kent’s diary details his religious experiences between the ages of 12 and 21, while the remainder describes his participation in the Continental Army’s campaign into Canada in 1775, especially the Siege of Fort St. Jean (“St. Johns”).
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1938
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- Creator: SimpsonMaryJean, 1888-1977.
- Date Created: 1938
- Description: This diary discusses Mary Jean’s time as Dean of Women at UVM and getting involved in student and faculty life on campus. She goes to meetings and events at Southwick Hall, attends alumni events, and meets President Bailey. It also focuses on the health of her mother and Mary Jean’s friendship with Elspeth, her mother’s caretaker. Illness takes a center stage in this diary, as Mary Jean, her mother, Elspeth, and her brother John all deal with various sicknesses throughout the year. In the winter, Mary Jean details her experience with serums and intravenous iron supplements to combat illness. Lively descriptions of visits with family and friends and visits to church are emphasized during the various holidays throughout the year. Topics in this diary include transportation and automobile innovations, faculty and student life at UVM, health and medicine in the mid-20th century, weather patterns, and Vermont social life.
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1933
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- Creator: SimpsonMaryJean, 1888-1977.
- Date Created: 1933
- Description: This diary records the end of Mary Jean’s time as Bill Clerk of the Senate including mentions of debates over prohibition, filibusters, and night sessions. The impactful deaths of President Calvin Coolidge and Senator Porter H. Dale (in office) are also recorded in this diary. In the later summer, after the close of Congress, she describes a significant amount of travel around Vermont to make speeches to various women’s groups. A December 13th entry notes Mary Jean’s appointment as Women’s Director under the Civil Works Authority (C.W.A.), a New Deal job creation program. The common topics of daily life including local Craftsbury news; church events; fun and entertainment activities like attending plays, movies, and speeches; housework and chores; the weather; preparing food; and spending time with family and friends are present. Topics of wider interest include American politics, women's groups’ meetings, illnesses and treatments, automobile travel, and financial records.
- Parent Collections: Diaries
Mary Jean Simpson Diary, 1926
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- Creator: SimpsonMaryJean, 1888-1977.
- Date Created: 1926
- Description: Mary Jean accepts a job as a Bill Clerk for the United States Senate, and she and her mother make the move from Vermont to Washington D.C. in this Diary. Mentions of Senatorial legislation, visits from ambassadors, and national events such as the impeachment of federal judge George English are peppered throughout descriptions of her new job. Much of her diary includes descriptions of dinner parties with coworkers, politicians, family, and friends; visits to the movies, operas, theater, and live music; and shopping for new clothes, especially hats. Mary Jean and her mother also return to Vermont for several months; transit by train and automobile play a large role in her life in 1926. Topics include: 1920s US Senate legislation, Media: Movies, theater, opera, and music in the 20s, early 20th century transportation: trains and automobiles, Women’s fashion in the 1920s, Women’s Club Organizations, Political social life in early 20th century, Vermont and Northeastern Coastal geography, Presbyterian church life.
- Parent Collections: Diaries