SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
& Hilton M. Briggs Library Special Collections

 
 


Susan A. Jones diary transcription
 

Administrative Information | Search Terms | Background Note | Scope and Contents Note | Arrangement | PDF of Finding Aid
 

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Title:     Susan A. Jones diary transcription

Dates:     1863-1870

Creator:     Susan A. Jones as transcribed by Virginia Vander Wal

Physical Description:     0.21 linear feet—1 container

Collection number:     MA 44

Language:     Collection material in English.

Repository:     South Dakota State University Archives, Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

Abstract:     Collection is composed of a photocopy of transcriptions of dairies kept by Susan A. Jones while she resided in Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance: Gina Vander Wal donated this material on 8 January 2007 of Volga, South Dakota

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to research without restriction.

Copyright Status: Copyright 2008 by South Dakota State University and SDSU Archives. Please credit the SDSU Archives if you copy or reproduce material from this finding aid.

It is the responsibility of anyone reproducing material to determine the copyright holders and obtain permission from them if necessary. Archives staff will provide available copyright information on request. Please note that most collections, especially those received before 1997, may not have complete information on file. (Revised 15 SEP 2003)

Preferred Citation: [Identification of item]. Susan A. Jones diary transcription, MA 44, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S. D.

Processing Information: This collection was processed by Crystal J. Gamradt on 14 February 2008.

The processor wrote the pagination in the bottom right-hand corner of each page in order to maintain original order.  This material was received in a bound folder. Material was removed from this folder for preservation purposes.

 

SELECTED SEARCH TERMS

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the subject guide. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

Names:

  • Jones, Susan A.

  • Jones, Susan A.—Diaries.

Subjects:

  • American diaries.

  • Civil War, U.S., 1861-1865—Diaries.

 

BACKGROUND NOTE

Susan A. (Sedgwick) Jones was born on January 11, 1844 at No. Adams, Massachusetts. She married Henry R. Jones on May 3, 1865. They moved from Massachusetts to Clintonville, Wisconsin in 1866. They had six children: Clara, Lillie, Jessie, Stella, Bert and another boy. Henry died in 1897.

Susan and her daughter, Jessie, came to South Dakota and homesteaded in Hughes County in 1905.  While her daughter was proving her claim, she taught school in Wisconsin and South Dakota. Susan resided on the claim but went back to Wisconsin in the winter.

Susan died on June 23, 1925 at Clintonville, Wisconsin.

 

SCOPE and CONTENTS NOTE

Transcription of the Susan A. Jones diaries was performed by Virginia Vander Wal, great-granddaughter of Susan, in March 2006.  The diaries appear to have been written while Susan resided in Massachusetts and Wisconsin. The entries provide insight into her daily activities from 1863-1870.  Topics include various social activities, mention of the weather, work activities, and important events, such as funerals, first communion, engagement to be married, etc.

The 1863 transcription was from a very small diary that was written before Susan married Henry. There are several entries concerning the Civil War in this diary.

Some of the original diaries were written on loose pages and were very old and fragile. Others were written in 3 x 4 inch diary books with three days to one side of each page. The writing on these pages was very small and faded, especially those entries written in pencil, making is difficult to read.

Blanks in the text indicate words that could not be read due to illegible handwriting or damaged areas on the paper.  Words typed in brackets,  { }, are words which a guess was made at some of the letters. The spelling of words in the original diary was maintained.

Virginia Vander Wal includes an account of the transcribing of the diaries as well as some genealogical background of Susan A. Jones.  Virginia’s personal notations are indicated in bold-faced font in the transcription.  Also included is a photocopied photograph of Susan A. Jones and discharge papers for Henry R. Jones.

The diaries are not complete in that some years may not have entries for each day or month.

 

ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS

This collection is composed of transcriptions of diaries kept by Susan A. Jones.

Box 1.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

Diary transcription [photocopy]

1863-1870

 

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Updated 15 February 2008 by cjg

Email questions or comments to: arcrefs@sdstate.edu

Copyright 2007 by South Dakota State University and SDSU Archives.
Please credit the SDSU Archives if you copy or reproduce material from this page.