This is the 1775-1776 journal of Captain William Humphrey, detailing the secret expedition to Quebec under the command of Colonel Benedict Arnold. The journal also captures the ensuing Battle of Quebec during which Captain Humphrey was taken prisoner. He continues his journal as a prisoner of war until he and […]
North America
1878 Diary of a 15-Year-Old Girl in Gorham, ME
This is the 1878 daily diary of Alice A. Shurtleff, a 15-year-old girl living in Gorham, Maine. Table of Contents Background Selected Images The Diary Comments Background According to a note at the beginning of the diary, 15-year-old Alice A. Shurtleff of Gorham, Maine received this 1878 diary as a […]
Diary of a Union POW after the Battle of Sabine Pass II
This is the diary of Stephen H. Wright, a soldier in the New York 75th Infantry during the American Civil War (1861-1865) who was captured during the Second Battle of Sabine Pass on September 8, 1863. This battle was part of a failed attempt by the Union Army to invade […]
1863 Diary of a 17-Year-Old Teacher in Upstate New York
This is the 1863 diary of Hulda Comstock, a 17-year-old teacher in Albion, NY. Table of Contents Background Selected Images The Diary Comments Background Hulda Comstock was born in 1846. In this 1863 diary, she lists her location as both Albion, NY and Carlton, NY. Hulda kept this daily diary […]
1874 Diary of a Young School Teacher in Liberty, NY
This is the 1874 diary of Flora Emaretta Parsons, who turns 20 on July 18 during the diary year. At the beginning of the diary, she is finishing her last year of schooling. In May 1874, she begins working as a school teacher and boarding near the school, sharing with […]
Diary of an 1852 Voyage from India to Boston
This is the 1852 diary of Minerva Sears who was born in 1819 and was in her early thirties at the time of writing. Minerva is accompanying her husband, Captain Joshua Sears, on a voyage from Boston to the Isle de France, then to Calcutta, and back to Boston. They […]
Diary of an 1829 Visit to Coastal Maine
Background This is a journal written by Edgar J. Doolittle in the summer of 1829 as he visits a small island off the coast of Maine, explores Thomaston on the mainland nearby, and visits Boston on his way back home to Wallingford, CT. Though only 19 years old, he is […]
Diary of a 1908 Wagon Journey to Yellowstone & Life in Rural Wyoming
These are the summer 1907 and summer 1908 diaries of Charles S. Hoff, who is out of his comfort zone in Boulder, Wyoming. He moved to Boulder from California earlier in 1907 after the death of his wife, and he asks himself at one point why he stays. We don’t […]
1892-1893 Diary of an Indiana Preacher, Farmer, and Civil Veteran
This is the 1892-1893 diary of Elder Fredrick Komp. He was a German immigrant, American Civil War veteran, ordained elder in the Church of God, farmer, and family man. He was an active prohibitionist and helped start the local movement. This diary provides a look at his day-to-day life as […]