Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers.

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.

Preferred Citation

Lydia H. Hart Diary, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information

The materials were acquired by Special Collections Research Center on 10/29/2009.

Processing Information

Accessioning and minimally processed in October 2009 by Ute Schechter.

Biographical Note

Lived in Walden, Orange County, N.Y. The wife of Reverend William H. Hart, Rector of St. Andrews. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: <a href="http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Lydia H. Hart">http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Lydia H. Hart</a>.

Scope and Contents

Diary, 1823-1831, 1875 and loose papers, 1813, 1831 (transcription) and undated of Lydia H. Hart Walden, Orange County, New York. The Diary was started by Lydia H. Hart, the wife of the Reverend William H. Hart of St. Andrews Church in Walden. She recorded events and thoughts, and many entries refer to religion. She also included lists of things received and given away as well as writings of interests copied from friends or published. It is possible that parts of the diary might have been used by other family members.  One entry is a a 1875 transcript of a 1829 entry "form another book." and since Lydia H. Hart died in 1831, it must have been entered by someone else. The name Maria W. Hart, is written in one of the inner covers but the first few pages on that end of the volume have been cut out as have some of the pages withing. Some entries were made in Walden, others in Richmond, Va. and some are headed N.Y. In the 1831 letter Rev. William H. Hart reports his wife's illness and passing to a friend; judging from some of the comments in the letter it seems to have been transcribed at a later time.

Arrangement of Materials

This collection is not yet fully arranged and described. Researchers may wish to consult with a staff member for further information in advance of using the collection.

Index Terms

Genre/Form of Material:

• Diaries

Geographic Name:

• New York (State)--Social life and customs--19th century.

Topical Term:

• Women--Diaries.
• Women--Religious aspects.

Additional Information