Newberry Library - Diary and travel journal of an unidentified woman from the Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois area : manuscript

Diary and travel journal of an unidentified woman from the Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois area : manuscript

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Open book Sarah B. Withers diary, 1880-1881

Title Diary and travel journal of an unidentified woman from the Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois area : manuscript

Date 1880-1881

Place Illinois--McLean County, Europe

Language English

Subjects Women

Summary Diary documenting the home life of a woman residing in McLean County, Illinois, near Bloomington and a trip she took to Europe from June to October 1880. The diarist was apparently a widow; lived with a woman named Martha; and makes frequent references to "dear Jessa", who was possibly her daughter. Entries describe the diarist's regular activities of making rounds to collect rents from several properties; taking French lessons; reading and commenting on novels; taking the train to Normal, Illinois; and walking "downtown" (probably Bloomington). The diarist documents in detail her 4-month trip to Europe via the vessel City of Montreal, embarking from New York City on 17 June 1880 and arriving in England. She stayed in Rottemdam for several weeks with Jessa and her family and continued on to Antwerp and Brussels in Belgium; Cologne, Mainz, and Heidelberg in Germany; Basel, Bern, Interlaken, and Lucerne in Switzerland; Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Pisa, and Genoa in Italy; Geneva; and Bruyères and Paris in France. The diarist returned to the United States via the vessel S.S. City of Chester on 1 October 1880 and arrived home in Illinois later that month.

Extent 1 volume (193 pages) ; 24 x 19 cm

Format Manuscripts, Diaries

User-Contributed Transcription January 1st 1880
Dark gloomy day sleet & snow. occasionally the sun comes out, Making the ice covered things Look beautiful
I had toothache all Last night & it it still aches
cleaned up then got ready & went to Dr Wakefields to dinner. Met some very pleasant Lad & had a most delightful visit they have a Lovely home & it is beautifully kept everything in perfect order, the dinner was very fine. Mr & Mrs Coe Mr & Mrs Lewis Mr & Mrs Perry Mr & Mrs Thompson Dr Major & wife Dr. Conkling & wife Mrs Bent & myself were the guests, I came home at 5 oc spent the evening reading Greens History of the reformation, M came at 9 oc & she went to bed

2nd
Still Dark & gloomy. tooth still aches. this has been a dark gloomy day, but I had a Letter from Jessa that always cheers me to hear from her, & have read most of the day. Wrote some had one call, am very much interested in Greens History of England & English people, what a comfort to me to be able to read and write, Henry is such a faithful kind creature

3rd
Still rainy & dark just awful My rose is in bloom but it is not very pretty I sewed some & read most of the day. Nancy Smith was here, Mr Dinsmore & Mr Rucker, I wrote to Mr Converse to day, went down town & collected rents
the streets are just awful, but Lots of people out, they dont stop for mud in this climate this week has passed
so rapidly, Can hardly realize that is it gone, time goes so rapidly with me, We read the Times, the Print is so small I nearly pick my eyes out, not much of interest in it
Am feeling Lonely & sad about going to Europe
I want to go & dont want, so hard to make up my mind
so much to keep me here, how to Leave home

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Midwest Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Midwest MS 284

BibID 999684828805867

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 3562px × 4619px 47.11 MB

Filename 999684828805867_midwest_ms_0284_000005.tif

Unique Identifier NL12X6DV

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