Special Collections Research Center
spcoll@wm.eduFinding 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:
M G. Brubaker Diary, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase.
Processing Information:
Accessioned and processed in May 2009 by Ute Schechter.
Biographical Information:
At the time the diary was written, Milton G. Brubaker was a Mennonite school teacher in East Petersburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Mary D. Huber in 1902. He was the son of David N. Brubaker and Lizzie Gottschall and grandson of David Brubaker.
More detailed information about his education and career can be found in the back of the diary. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
Diary of Milton G. Brubaker (b. 1875) for the year 1902. At the time the diary was written, 1902, Brubaker was a Mennonite school teacher in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Brubaker begins every daily entry with a verse ("Time is the mighty leveler of all things" or "To do is better than to dream of air castles") and finishes each entry with the word "Now!"
He writes about school, social activities, occurrences in the community, his courtship with Mary D. Huber and subsequent wedding. He also reflects on his education and role as a teacher. Several recipes are scattered throughout the diary and three news clippings with poems can be found in the back pocket of the volume.
The last few pages contain biographical information.
For excerpts from the diary, provided by the seller, see item link below.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Courtship--1900-1910
- Diaries
- Mennonites--Pennsylvania--Lancaster County--History
- Mennonites--Social life and customs
- Mennonites--United States--Diaries
- Mennonites--United States--Education
- Mennonites--United States--Social life and customs
- Pennsylvania--Social life and customs--Sources
- Poems
- Recipes
- Teachers--Diaries
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Pennsylvania--Social life and customs--Sources
Container List
The following description was provided by the seller: "...... I hereby resolve to do all the good I can, in as many ways as I can, to all the people I can, and whenever I can and not make any fuss about it - Taught school today. Mr. H. W. Metzler photographed the interior of our school room .... Read that Marconi signaled across the Atlantic Ocean by wireless telegraphy, Dec. 14, 1901 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guglielmo_Marconi ..... Gave Graphophone entertainment in the Reformed Church at Manheim. Rev. Welsh gave an illustrated lecture. Views of Italian cities and over own country .... This was an excellent day at school. The order was perfect. Sixteen of the pupils are keeping diaries this year - Was teased about Miss H.- Love is a tickling sensation of the heart and you can't get there to scratch it .... Received contract from International Publishing Company but did not sign and return it .... When I was yet a pupil, Prof. M. J. Brecht told M. H. Brubaker I would never make a teacher, and being under his supervision he complimented me for having the best school in the county. Circumstances is no obstacle to an iron will .... I fetched my sleigh from Petersburg this eve, and hitched Clyde in it for the first time .... Mrs. Em. Minicks funeral was held this forenoon at Lutheran Church, Petersburg. I was at Mr. Minicks in the morning to view the corpse .... He who can not think is a fool. He who will not think is a bigot. And he who dare not think is a slave .... While at Atlantic City (1900) a gypsy fortune teller told me I would or could be successful in any undertaking .... Cousin Starry Gottschall was married 7:00 p.m. to Miss Mary All at the home of the brides parents. They were serenaded. Mary and I attended the wedding .... In the afternoon went to Lanc. on the trolley and bought Mary a present in the form of a writing desk .... Mary and I went to town on the trolley for our marriage license. Mary's sister and three children came along home on the trolley .... Woman, true and pure is man's greatest boon. If true she turns brightest hopes and prospects into darkest hell. Today decided my future, weal or woe. I got married today at 11:30 a.m. - Over 100 guests present. Received many useful and valuable presents. Left at 4:00 p.m. for a trip to Ohio amid a terrific rice storm .... Married life is o.k., for further information, apply twenty five years hence .... This afternoon we visited West Lawn Cemetery and saw the vault containing Mr. McKinley's casket. Many dried floral designs still surround the vault. This evening we visited Mr. Vogler's and heard their graphophone .... Visited the asylum at Massillon and saw a number of inmates and also the different buildings. About sixteen buildings connected with the institution .... Helped the carpenters to lay the foundation for the Fruitville station ...... Saw Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show parade .... Pop saw a wildcat on Lands hill and there is now great excitement on account of this .... The wild cat is still at large ......" "Some of the names he mentions in the diary are: H. W. Metzler, Alphens Becker, Grace Bear, Henry Gottschalls, Bertha Brubaker, Em Minick, Jerome Hess, Rev. Hiram Kauffman, Lizzie Witmer, Andrew Hershey, Irwin Hess, Miss Stehman, Jacob Brubaker, Herman Graybill, Anna Baker, Wallace Greider, Elias Boyer, Philip Rudy, Jacob Keller, Daniel Good, Ezra Brubaker, Ella Charles, Jacob Hertzler, and others."