1896 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A HARD WORKING ENTREPRENEURIAL LE ROY NEW YORK MAN

On offer is an interesting little diary from 1896 that details the efforts of a young man to start his own business. The volume measures 4 inches by 2 1/2 inches and contains 92 diary pages, several memoranda pages and a number of information pages. It is in good condition and all pages are intact. The diary is about 60% complete and the handwriting is legible. The author is Clarence H Williams and he lives in LeRoy, NY, about half way between Buffalo and Rochester. There is little biographical information but context suggests that he is a young man who is now living on his own. Right from the outset, we learn that he is trying to establish a viable small printing business: "I sent 26 boxes of goods away today" [Jan 7], "I went down and run 1,000 books tonight... I earned about $1.30 today. So today aint bad" [Jan 11]. However, he doesn't rely only on his small business. He purchases chickens to run a poultry business [Jan 11] and engages in other activities such as cutting wood with his father. He bought a Simplex Typewriter to help in his printing business, noting: "... I have got 814 words of my (advertising) piece written" [Jan 19]. It is slow going and despite some thoughts of quitting, he persists. In April, he notes: "I drew a check for $3.10 from the firm."[May 1]. The diary is blank between May 29 and Aug 10. During that time, it seems he was working to build a circular saw and he notes on Aug 11: "... My circular saw works tip top... " [Aug 11]. Keeping in line with his continual searching out information for new ideas and businesses, he refers to another 'how to' book he has received: "... I bought a book called Picture Making in the Studio last Monday and I just received it today." [Aug 15]. He comments about looking for work but when he gets an offer, its not a lot: "Mr. Hooker wants me to do his chores this winter but I don't know about it. There is only 50 ¢ a week in it." [Oct 10]. The year ends much as it started - with Williams struggling along with his small printing business, some chickens and work that he finds around the area. For a historian looking at life in turn-of-the-century rural America, this little diary is an excellent resource. Not only does it detail Williams daily efforts but if mentions a number of other local and regional business as well as many individuals - each of whom can be followed up on to build an even more detailed picture of life in rural up-state New York.; Manuscript; 48mo - over 3" - 4" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, 19TH CENTURY, 1890S, CH WILLIAMS; CLARENCE H. WILLIAMS, LEROY NEW YORK; LIFE IN RURAL AMERICA; UPSTATE NEW YORK IN 1890S; LATE 19TH CENTURY, HISTORY OF GENESEE COUNTY, SMALL BUSINESSES, BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, GILDED AGE, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNALS, PERSONAL HISTORY, SOCIAL HISTORY, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL