Special Collections Research Center
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Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access
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Preferred Citation
Benjamin F. Walker Diaries, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased 06/14/2011.
Processing Information
Minimally processed. Needs folder listing.
Scope and Contents
Diaries of Benjamin Franklin Walker of Bristol County, Massachusetts from 1870 - 1873 and 1875 - 1904. Includes Walker's income from all sources, including farm and shop labor, household work, as well as his expenses, such as food, clothing, musical instruments, concert tickets, and home furnishings. There are also daily entries, which include information about the weather, personal contact with a wide range of aquaintances, work done on the property, social events attended, music lessons both taken and taught, his wife, Lavira Williams, and his sons, Ernest and Clinton Walker. Collection also includes a diary by his son, Ernest Walker, for 1894 and a diary by his other son, Clinton Walker, for 1896.
Related Material
See also Mss. MsV Ad199-208 Benjamin F. Walker Account Books
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Diaries -- Male authors
- Journals (accounts)
- Massacgusetts -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
- Massachusetts -- History -- 19th century
- Music -- 19th century
- Music -- Instruction and study -- United States
- Young men -- Conduct of life
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Walker, Benjamin F. (Walker, Benjamin Franklin), fl. 1870-1904
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Massacgusetts -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
- Massachusetts -- History -- 19th century
Container List
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
Diary1870English.Scope and Contents
Weather, timber, courting Lavira F. Williams. Ben's birthday June 9th? Making cider. Sunday school. Traveling to Westville, N. Rehoboth, Dighton, and Providence.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
Diary1871English.Scope and Contents
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Diary1872English.Scope and Contents
Weather, timber. Mentions "my wife" on Nov. 29.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Diary1873English.Scope and Contents
Weather, transporting people. Warren Burt got shot through his hand. Reported fire at the hotel on May 7th. Purchasing furniture in Boston. Moving to Attleboro. Plays violin in a band. Going to "Negro meetings."
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Diary1875English.Scope and Contents
Weather. Notes "1842 Elvira" on May 4th. Working in shop.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Diary1876English.Scope and Contents
Weather. December 5th, mentions Brooklyn theatre fire and over lives lost.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Diary1877English.Scope and Contents
Weather.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Diary1878English.Scope and Contents
Weather. January 30th, Vira gives birth to boy, 8 lbs. Ernest/Ernie.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Diary1879English.Scope and Contents
Weather, planting, trading.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Diary1880English.Scope and Contents
Weather. June 25th, Vira gives birth to boy, 9 lbs.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
Diaries1881 and 1882English.Scope and Contents
Weather; neuralgia.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Diary1883English.Scope and Contents
On June 4th, says 37 years. Working on the house. Going to Providence for work.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Diary1884English.Scope and Contents
Mentions Vira is 42 years old on her birthday.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Diaries1885 and 1886English.Scope and Contents
Many days are empty for both years.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Diary1887English.Scope and Contents
Work.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Diary1888English.Scope and Contents
Notes on work and farming. In memorandum, listing of deaths in the Burt family: 1867, 1883, two in 1888, and 1892.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 1
Diaries1889 and 1890English.Scope and Contents
Work and life.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 2
Diaries1891 and 1892English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 3
Diaries1893 and 1894English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Diary, Ernest Walker1894English.Scope and Contents
Ernest Walker Diary.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 4
Diary1895English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
Diary1896English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 5
Diary, Clinton Walker1896English.Scope and Contents
Clinton Walker Diary
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 6
Diaries1897 and 1898English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 7
Diaries1899 and 1900English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 8
Diaries1901 and 1902English.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 Folder: 9
Diaries1903-1904English.