Pastor's Diary
Scope and Content
The Pastor's Diary documents the life of a Methodist circuit pastor, salesman, and farmer from Washington, Ohio, from 1878 to 1881. The collection includes one handwritten, leather-bound diary. Salient topics cover the weather, milling of corn, raising livestock, church activities, local festivals, funerals, marriages, yellow fever outbreaks, local and national elections, and a hanging. The author also mentions twice attending a sermon at a camp meeting for people of color. Mentioned geographic locations are Cincinnati, Groveport, Rees Station, Yankeetown, Lockburn, Lancaster, Darbyville, and Circleville, among others.
Dates
- 1878 - 1881
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
Although no information exists on the author's identity, much biographical data can be gleaned from diary entries. The author lived in Washington, Ohio, was married to a woman named Alice, and had more than one daughter. As a Methodist pastor of the Groveport Circuit and as a salesman, the author often traveled to Groveport, Cincinnati, Columbus, Circleville, Logan, and Yankeetown. The author also practiced a degree of farming and husbandry. After getting involved in a buggy-selling scheme, the author filed for bankruptcy, but later attempted financial gain by selling padlocks. The author was often self-professedly gloomy.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
The collection includes the diary documenting the life of a Methodist circuit pastor, salesman, and farmer from Washington, Ohio, from 1878 to 1881, including comments on religious practices, death and disease, farming, business, and elections.
Source of Acquisition
The Pastor's Diary was purchased by Special Collections in 1994.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Pastor's Diary by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing and description of the Pastor's Diary occurred in August 2008.
- Title
- Pastor's Diary, 1878-1881
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Emily Cook, Student Assistant
- Date
- 2008 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
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