Content Description

Four diaries written by Flora Inez Smith. Smith worked as a school teacher in Decatur County, Indiana. The diaries contain mentions of the weather, her job, daily life, and social activities. Early entries focus heavily on farm work that her brothers and father did during the day.

Content warning for derogatory language directed at Black individuals.

Scope and Contents Diary of Fred Beers, a county farm agent from Martin, South Dakota. Includes information about the weather, meetings which he attends, and his daily duties as a farm agent. The volume is entitled "DeLaval Diary for county agents, extension workers, vocational teachers, and cow testers." At the end of the volume there are weights and measures, how to measure the volume of a hay stack, how to mix concrete, how to mix lye, the benefits of skim milk for humans and farm animals, common diseases...

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Diary, 1794-1795, of Andrew Robinson Giddinge, a farmer from Beach Hill, Massachusetts. Concerns his planting of crops, including tobacco; his extensive lumber operations; his raising, purchase, and sale of cattle and sheep; his construction of his own house; and his attention to local religious observances. There is also information about sermons to which he listened, court sessions he attended, and places to which he travels.

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Letter to niece Lena about family and health, talking about raising chickens and the price of feed, an illness that results in cramps and severe pain every 16-18 day, asking for genealogical information to write a family tree, and various sewing and crocheting projects.

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Journal of John S. Barret, plantation owner in Alabama.  Barret writes extensively about his farm, weather conditions, crop harvests and livestock.  Some entries record hunting opportunities and their results.  One page lists all of the slaves born to his plantation since 1802 and the woman they were born to.  Another entry records the sadness of the untimely death of his friend, William Aylett.

Scope and Contents Letters written to Vinda Elizabeth Kibler, also called Kitty or Elizabeth, between 1917-1924, while she was at Bridgewater College in Rockingham County (1917-1922), the State Teacher's College in Harrisonburg (1923), and at her teaching post in Front Royal, Virginia (1923-1924). Most letters are from her mother and father on their small farm in Woodville, Rappahannock County, Virginia. Also included are a number of letters from other relatives, businesses, and a pen pal in France....

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Diary, 1878 of Ida Martin, a school-aged girl who talks about her life on a farm. She mentions helping her father 'salting the cattle,' riding on horseback, going to the creamery, going to school, and taking music lessons. Also mentions a friend of hers who died of influenza.

Scope and Contents Papers, 1879-1915, of the Olney family of Newaygo County, Michigan. Includes letters to Bert Olney at various addresses in Indiana and Michgan, which relate school incidents and discuss political matters, such as James Garfield's presidency. There are also letters between Bert and Alice Olney and their sons, Albert J. Olney and Clinton Olney. Albert J. and Clinton Olney were both studying agriculture at (what is now) Michigan State University. The letters from their parents discuss family...