1878 THROUGH 1889 ARCHIVE OF 5 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARIES DETAILING THE LIFE AND TIMES AND POLITICS OF A CIRCUIT RIDING UNIVERSALIST PREACHER

On offer is a super, original archive of five [5] handwritten manuscript diaries authored by Reverend Isaac J. Mead of Augusta, Maine. He was the son of Albert Manley Read who died in 1861 fighting in the Civil War. Research finds that Mead is listed in the Universalist Register of 1895 as editor of THE GOSPEL BANNER. His handwritten diaries are for 1878 [he is 37 years old], 1882, 1887, 1888 and 1889 when he is 48. Mead is an enthusiastic, prolific writer rarely failing to write a diary entry, rarely failing to detail his visits, his works, his travels and to set these writings apart Isaac Mead proves to be a rather political churchman who rarely fails to press the Universalist Church's approach. His daily entries include the weather, his work on the Banner, Universalist meetings, conferences, Sunday services, his preaching, funeral duties etc. He makes many 'insider' remarks on Church doings and of other Church communities' doings. Historians and collectors of Maine and the neighboring states will have a treasure trove of information on religious matters of the day plus Mead also details: politics of the day; the Blaine and Harrison presidential contest, local news like the Dexter Bank case [Stain-Cromwell were defendants], stabbing on the mail train, soldier jumps, fight leads to death, collision of ocean steamers, muster week-encamped on Leonard Farm, Glencarin finished race faster etc. Took trip to New York City-Coleman House, Coney Island ["great playground of this city"], Fleetwood Park, Eden Museum [wax], Madison Square - 2 plays. Mr. Fairburn got him his Remington rifle -"a very pretty gun". Mead mentions many hundreds of names of his colleagues, visitors, family et al. Many entries about gun club, target practice etc. Reverend Mead does not provide holographic ownership markings but this archive of diaries came from a larger archive of his estate ephemera. Some nibbling to the books but overall G+.; 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall; MAINE, ME, RELIGION, UNIVERSALISM, CHRISTIANITY, EVANGELISM, EVANGELICAL, CIRCUIT RIDER, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, DIARY, JOURNAL, LOG, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, DIARIES, JOURNALS, LOGS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, AMERICANA,; Signed by Autograph