M. Benjamin Katz Fine Books/ Manuscripts


Adelia M. Whitecomb 1857 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY BY A WISCONSIN GIRL BOARDING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE AND THEN THE TRIP BACK TO ELK GROVE Otego, Otsego County, New York NY  1857

32mo - over 4" - 5" tall On offer is a very full handwritten diary of a young girl named Adelia M. Whitecomb. Adelia hails originally from Wisconsin but is boarding in what appears to be a religious enclave or convent of some sort in central New York state, specifically she states "5 miles from Otego and 5 miles from Gilbertsville". Besides naming each and every person she comes in contact with through visits and social events, Adelia gives us a unique perspective of a humble, innocent girl who works very hard, travels to school and chores very far but never complains and is of even temper. We estimate she is 16 or 17 years old. One of the features of this diary is her return to Wisconsin in September along with 8 children. We are uncertain if the children were her siblings also boarding out or there was a group of children from other Wisconsin families. Assuredly a closer reading will provide a great deal of historical, genealogical and societal for both the Wisconsin portion and the New York portion. Here is a small sampling of names: Elder Jo. Cook, George Browne, Jacob Couse, Lucious Eamon, Cornelius Judson, King Hathaway, Carlton Lowes, Mr. Thorpe, teacher, Legrand Brown, Editha Hodge, Uncle Lovett Perks, Sister Burdick, Angeline Hathaway. VG save for the odd page that Adelia seems to have removed. Good

$C845

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