Jeffrey T. Wilson Diaries, 1913, 1928 (Ms2011-015)
Dates
- 1913, 1928
Creator
- Wilson, Jeffrey Thomas, 1843-1929 (Person)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from Jeffrey T. Wilson Diaries must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Biographical Note
Jeffrey Thomas Wilson was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1843. There is uncertainty about the ownership of his mother at the time of his birth and conflicting accounts, but Wilson appears to have been owned by the Charles A. Grice family, who he lived with beginning in 1853. Prior to then, he was living with his mother and stepfather (Moses Taylor?). According to his obituary, he learned to read and write in secret. Based on his diary, he was the body servant of A[lexander]. P. Grice, likely the son of his owner, who served with Company A, Cohoon's Battalion, Virginia Infantry, at least during a part of 1862. In 1866, after being freed, Wilson enlisted and went to Europe with the U.S. Navy. When he returned home, he lived in the house he inherited from his mother. Wilson worked at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, as a laborer, and as a bailiff for the Federal Court at Norfolk. In his later years, from 1924 until his death in 1929, he wrote a column called "Colored Notes" for The Portsmouth Star. The column included social news, Wilson's political views, and issues of race relations--all themes that occur throughout his diaries. Wilson was active in the Emmanuel AME Church in Portsmouth, where he taught Sunday school. In June of 1929, Wilson was hit by a car. He died at his son's home, two months later, on August 25, 1929.
Prior to 1871, Wilson married his first wife, Imogene (also recorded as Emma J.) (1854-1882). They had at least seven children before her death: Joseph (b. 1871), Emily O. (1873-1881) (recorded as Emma on the census and once in Wilson's diary as Mary Emily Orphelia), Jeffrey Thomas, Jr. (b. abt. 1875), Mary Jane (b. 1876), Allen (b. abt. 1877), Margaret (b. abt. 1879), and Frank (b. 1881). His second wife was likely Laura Frances, as included on a list of "Colored Births, City of Portsmouth, 1857-1896. They had at least one child: Laura Frances (b. 1893). Information about Wilson's third wife was not found. Wilson's fourth wife was Blanche Blake, a woman many years his junior. They had at least four children: Wendell (b. 1912), Blanche (b. abt. 1915), Mary (b. abt. 1918), and Clyde Lorraine. Wilson was 75 when the youngest of his children was born. When he died at age 86, he had outlived four wives. At least six of his children were still alive.
Other Resources:
The African-American Historical Society of Portsmouth, Virginia, has a brief article on Wilson's "Colored Notes" column available online.
Jeffrey T. Wilson was the subject of a research project by a Norfolk State University student in 2004. Research from the project, including a transcript of Wilson's obituary, can be viewed online.
Language of Materials
English
Acquisition Information
The Jeffrey T. Wilson Diaries were purchased by Special Collections in February 2011.
Abstract
The collection consists of two diaries (1913, 1928) written by Jeffrey T. Wilson (1843-1929). Wilson was a former slave who spent most of his life in and around Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia. He worked as a bailiff in the Norfolk courts after leaving the U. S. Navy and wrote a column, "Colored Notes," for The Portsmouth Star from 1924 until his death in 1929. He outlived four wives and had at least twelve children. Wilson's diaries include entries on a range of topics from local news and politics, race issues in the South, and much of his personal history. The 1913 diary contains extra pages on which Wilson recorded events from that date in the past (i.e. "Fifty one years ago today...").
Abstract
The collection consists of two diaries written by Jeffery T. Wilson, one from 1913 and one from 1928. Diary entries cover a range of topics from the daily life and health of Wilson and his family, to his opinions on race, race relations, politics (especially in and around Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia), segregation and the Jim Crow South, and religion (many entries begin with biblical quotations).
Entries for the 1913 diary were kept in a Wanamaker's Diary (produced by the department store chain) actually designed for 1911. As a result, Wilson has hand-corrected the days of the week throughout to reflect 1913. The diary includes advertisements, as well as a history of the Wanamaker stores. A map of the store locations in New York City was removed from the diary during preservation, but is included in the collection as a separate item.
In addition to the entries recorded (two to a page), throughout the year, Wilson attached additional pages to continue writing. Many of these consists of reminiscences of his life in previous years on topics from the Civil War, his service in the U. S. Navy, segregation and race issues in Portsmouth and Norfolk, and local news. He also writes of daily events: his family's health, church events, the weather, and his frequent concerns about money. Several entries from the 1913 diary are quoted below:
Forty seven years ago the colored folks of Norfolk and Portsmouth celebrated the passage of the "Civil Rights Bill" by Congress and we all gathered in the city of Norfolk. had a big parade of civic societies, and discharge colored soldiers speaking out on the suburbs. The poor whites "sicked on" doubtless, by the upper class, interfied with us. tried to break us up. a riot ensued and several whites were killed. I was unhurt. Who killed the parties was never known. but several colored men left the city for fear of arrest. and have never returned. (April 2, 1913)
Fifty one years ago I was a body servant for A. P. Grice, who was an officer in Cohoon's Battalion C.S.A. encamped on "Dunn's Hill," near Petersburg. I had just been released from the Richmond City Jail. Where I had been confined two months. held as a witness in a murder case and that kept me out of the U. S. Army. Where probably I would have been killed or wounded. (May 13, 1913)
Wife bought a bed for Wendell. and he went to sleep in it. It seems as if I am to be the daddy of babes all my life from present indications. Well, if the Lord says so his Will be done not mine-- (July 28, 1913)
[Wilson and his wife, Blanche, would go on to have three more children, the last born when Wilson was 75 years old.]
Thirty eight years ago my brother and me met for the last time and as far as I know he is yet alive. Robt I mean, he is 72 years old. (October 1, 1913)
A womans life is of very little value in Norfolk even if she is white and a wife. (October 14, 1913)
Jeffrey Wilson's second diary was kept in a Regal Date book for 1928. His entries are somewhat shorter, though each still begins with a biblical quotations. He still appears to have worked at least part time as a bailiff in Norfolk, as he frequently writes "Court" or "at court." Most of the content, however is focused on local and national news, his role at the AME Emmanuel Church and attending services, and his own family. He notes almost daily that his "gals," likely his two youngest daughters Blanche and Mary, are well.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Jeffrey T. Wilson Diaries was completed in February 2012, following the return of the 1913 diary from a conservator.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu