![[logo]](https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/logos/wm.jpg)
Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Finding Aid Authors: Ute Schechter.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Diary (Middlesex County, Ma.), Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase.
Processing Information:
Accessioned and minimally processed in November 2009 by Ute Schechter, Warrren E. Burger Archivist.
Scope and Contents
Diary of an unidentified young man of Middlesex County, Ma., who was a landscaper and a fireman. The following description was provided by the seller:
"He writes of hearing the fire alarms go off, rushing to the fires and the details of putting it out ....he writes of town meetings he attends and of the discussions at those meetings, landscaping projects he works on, listening to football games, talking to his father about going to college, descriptions of people in the town,
the Lindbergh flight, his mom being taught to drive a car by his nephew (who doesn't want her to drive), taking many trips to Wakefield, local news, etc."
For excerpts from the diary, also provided by the seller, please see folder link below.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Diaries
- Massachusetts--Social life and customs
- Young men--Conduct of life
- Young men--United States--Diaries
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Massachusetts--Social life and customs
Container List
The following excerpts were provided by the seller: "Fat. and I served supper, washed up dishes. Changed clothes, over to prayer meeting, 7 there in all. Good meeting, to be held at homes in the future. Home, read a while. Fat. and I to bed 10 p.m. Talked for over an hour. I told Fat. that I was thinking of going to college, talked our problems over, decided would be better to wait till we got business running okay ..... Moxham told us that Billy Phillips has died. Very much of a shock and very sorry, everyone will greatly miss him for a long time. One of the most popular, respected and liked men in town, of very great value in town affairs, problem to find anyone to try and fill his place satisfactorily .... Read of the Boulder Dam project passed by the government, something almost beyond human comprehension ..... Lindberg and Miss Marrow have slight mishap at Mexico City, plane overturns on landing becausee of missing wheel in landing gear. Unhurt except for wrenched shoulder of Lindberg ..... Fat. not feeling good at all, stayed home. Over to Dr. Wallace 2:15, gave him short treatment, told him to go to bed, take nothing but castor oil and malted milk. Looks bad, regular spell. Will probably stay home from Boston from now on, was going to leave on the 15th .... Learned that Mr. and Mrs Chadwick's baby boy died suddenly this a.m. Everyone very sorry and sympathetic as the Chadwicks had great plans made for baby .... 6:30 a.m. Fire alarm came in Box 34 so got into clothes, ran over to fire house. Minot there, got Kit started, second alarm right off. Beat it, Charley Pratt and his father, Phip, Pete, Minot and I. Made good time, cold riding. Big house with fire up chimney out in attic. Not very hot at first but still increasing. Put chemical and one hydrant line of water on the fire. I got drenched using chemical line. Lynn arrived with crew of men, pumps, etc (he goes on with many more details) ...... " "Some of the names he mentions in the diary are: Oscar Phillips ~ Billy Russells ~ Luther Hastings ~ Charly Sweetser ~ Bob Caldwell ~ Aussie Pratt ~ Billy Russell ~ Horace Pratt ~ Mr. Chadwick ~ Mrs. Leavitt ~ Carl Olson ~ Harry Higgins ~ Emily Chadbourne ~ Rodney King ~ Garfield Morgan ~ Wes Robinson ~ Miss Peckers". "Some of the places he mentions in the diary are: So Lynfield / Lynnfield ~ Reading ~ Boston ~ North Shore ~ Middleton ~ W, Peabody ~ Brookline ~ Chelsea ~ Wakefield ~ Monument Beach ~ Stoneham ~ Reading ~ Devereaux Beach"