{"id":7168,"date":"2014-05-19T15:41:29","date_gmt":"2014-05-19T15:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=7168"},"modified":"2014-05-19T15:41:29","modified_gmt":"2014-05-19T15:41:29","slug":"how-to-research-old-diaries-personal-journals-for-genealogy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/how-to-research-old-diaries-personal-journals-for-genealogy.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Research Old Diaries & Personal Journals for Genealogy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this guest blog post, Mary gives examples of how your ancestors\u2019 diaries and journals\u2014some available online in various collections\u2014are invaluable to your family history research.<\/em><\/p>\n

As family historians, we turn to newspapers to corroborate vital records\u2014but often neglect to venture further with our research by exploring charming, firsthand accounts from our ancestors\u2019 diaries and journals. Not only do these personal writings add to the fabric of our research, they enrich genealogical studies by adding unique perspectives into specific time periods, activities and historical events.<\/p>\n

Some entries from diaries and journals, as well as complete autobiographies and memoirs, can be found in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Book Archives<\/a>, and others appear as feature pages in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"screenshot<\/a>
Screenshot: GenealogyBank\u2019s search page for its Historical Book Archives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I think you\u2019ll enjoy reading some old-time intimate diaries.<\/p>\n

The excerpts I\u2019ve chosen from diaries found online present a variety of stories. Two are from brides, one is about shipwreck and imprisonment, another is about young school boys who get in trouble writing diaries, and the last is a description of the First Battle of the Marne during World War I.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n
Enter Last Name
\n <\/td>\n		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n <\/p>\n<\/form>\n

Bridal Diaries (1886 and 1921)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This 1886 article from an Illinois newspaper presents \u201cA Leaf from a Bride\u2019s Diary.\u201d In her witty and entertaining diary entries, this bride recounts the story of her elopement, her impression of the justice of the peace, and her hilariously failed attempt at baking her first pie.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Hyde Park Herald (Chicago, Illinois), 5 June 1886, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She writes of her elopement with George:<\/p>\n

We did not have dear papa\u2019s consent, nor much of anything else.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She was not much impressed with the justice of the peace who married them, remarking:<\/p>\n

He looked to me like a man who would snort around the cemetery and tear up the greensward when his wife died in the early spring, and friends would have to chain him to a tree somewhere till his grief had spent itself, and then in the early fall he would lower the top of his old concertina plug hat, and marry a red-eyed widow with a baritone voice and two sons in the penitentiary.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The young bride resolved to make the best of things:<\/p>\n

To-day I am a wife with my joyous girlhood, my happy home and the justice of the peace behind me. Life is now real, life is earnest, for we have no girl [servant]. We will not keep a girl at first, George says, for if we did she would have to board at home, as we have only one room, and it is not a very good room either. We take our meals at a restaurant, and the bill of fare is very good.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her first attempt at baking a pie ended in disaster. She \u201cput in quite a lot of soda or baking powder,\u201d put the pie in the oven, and started sewing while she waited for it to bake. Suddenly:<\/p>\n

While thus engaged the oven door was blown off the hinges and the air was filled with subtle odor of some kind which I could not describe. We pulled the pie off the ceiling.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"cartoon<\/a>
Hyde Park Herald (Chicago, Illinois), 5 June 1886, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While perusing this next perfunctory diary, take note that some brides are more interested in the \u201chaul\u201d of their shower and wedding gifts than the feelings of friends and family, and that wedding planning has always had its challenges!<\/p>\n

\"extracts<\/a>
Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), 13 November 1921, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Tale of a Shipwreck and Imprisonment (1795)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Diary of Donald Campbell<\/em> (1751-1804) was first published in 1795 and, due to its popularity, republished several times. Follow Campbell\u2019s fascinating story of a journey to India, where he was shipwrecked and imprisoned. Luckily, Campbell was released and wrote his story for us to enjoy centuries later.<\/p>\n

\"extract<\/a>
Historical book: \u201cA Narrative of the Extraordinary Adventures, and Sufferings by Shipwreck & Imprisonment, of Donald Campbell, Esq. of Barbreck. With the Singular Humors of His Tartar Guide, Hassan Artaz.\u201d 1801 edition, page 260.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For more information on Campbell, see: http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Donald_Campbell_(traveller)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n
Enter Last Name
\n <\/td>\n		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n <\/p>\n<\/form>\n

School Boys Get in Trouble at School over Diaries (1880)<\/strong><\/p>\n

After receiving a diary from his Uncle Joe, Robert Cummings documented how his days passed. After a friend was caught writing in his diary at school, the frustrated teacher threw it into the fire\u2014making this activity all the more desirous to these young diarists.<\/p>\n

In his first entry, Robert certainly sounds committed to keeping a diary:<\/p>\n

January 1. This is New Year\u2019s Day. Uncle Joe gave me this diary to-day. I am going to write in it every night just before going to bed. Every boy and girl ought to keep a diary so when he gets a man he can see what he did so when he was a boy. This is New Year\u2019s Day, and there ain\u2019t no school to-day, and I have played with Billy all day. Billy is my goat. I got up and ate breakfast, then I harnessed Billy and saw Uncle Joe and he gave me this diary. He says it is the best thing a boy can do to keep a diary, but he says it is the hardest thing a boy can do. I don\u2019t see where the hard comes in.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"extract<\/a>
Portland Daily Press (Portland, Maine), 20 March 1880, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An Account of WWI\u2019s First Battle of the Marne (5-12 September 1914)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the author of this diary was only described as an unnamed \u201ccitizen of Crepy-en-Valois,\u201d this gripping account from the French newspaper Petit Parisien<\/em> was reprinted in papers across the world.<\/p>\n

\"Diary<\/a>
Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho), 18 September 1914, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For more information on the First Battle of the Marne, see: http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/First_Battle_of_the_Marne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As you can see from these examples, diaries and journals provide an extraordinary glimpse into our ancestors\u2019 lives, giving us details of their everyday experiences and, occasionally, insight into important events they participated in or witnessed firsthand. Dig in and find everything from great-great grandma\u2019s first pie to war stories from the battlefield and beyond. \u00a0Be sure to include these genealogical treasures in your family history research. True personal stories direct from your ancestors add more interest and meaning to your family tree.<\/p>\n

Here are some online sources to locate diaries for genealogy research:<\/p>\n