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.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Pastor's Diary, Ms2008-056, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Pastor's Diary was purchased by Special Collections in 1994.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the Pastor's Diary occurred in August 2008.

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. "

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Diseases
• Folk, historical, and patent medicine
• Religion

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/ ).