1881 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY AN OLD COLONY MASSACHUSETTS MATRIARCH

On offer is a detailed diary of a woman living in Massachusetts in 1881. This slim leather book has 137 pages and is about 90% complete. Measuring 6 1/2 inches by 3 inches, it is in good condition. The handwriting is legible. Lucinda Harding seems to have lived in a part of Massachusetts that has been referred to as the Old Colony. The term "Old Colony" refers to that area of southeastern Massachusetts that was once contained within the Plymouth Colony. There are references in her entries to communities in that region. Her husband's name is George. The diary is a daily reference to the many tasks that she undertakes to maintain and manage her family: "Snow but not cold. Nelson staid here he went down to the shop got his things gone to Cohasset. I hope he will get a job around here soon I am tired I have mended all day I got two quarts of oil" [Jan 6]; "Cold and windy I went to my cousins got a bird the boys come upstairs to sleep tonight I made little Willie a pin cushion this evening Hannah Ranell here today Mr. Campbell dead" [Apr 5]. She notes wider events, such as the assassination of US president James Garfield: "Pleasant day President shot ... Nelson starts today to go to his work" [July 2]. She makes reference to the comet designated C/1881 K1 which also became known as the Great Comet of 1881. This was a very brilliant comet and would have traced an easily-visible fiery trail across the skies: "Pleasant the comit was seen Thursday Friday" [June 24]; "Pleasant girls gone to Providence ... Nelson got a barrel of flour" [Oct 6]; "Pleasant day snow most gone Geo is better I mended Ernest coat Georgia got the Pleurisa in his side I put mustard paste on him ..." [Nov 24]. This diary gives a researcher or historian a very good look at the day-to-day efforts a woman would have to put forth to maintain her family. It is an excellent resource for a regional historian or social historian looking at the life and role of women in late 19th century New England.; Manuscript; 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF; LATE 19TH CENTURY; 1880s; GILDED AGE; UNITED STATES; NEW ENGLAND; LUCINDA HARDING, GEORGE HARDING; MASSACHUSETTS, OLD COLONY, PLYMOUTH COLONY; JAMES GARFIELD, C/1881 K1, THE GREAT COMET OF 1881; RURAL AMERICA IN THE 19TH CENTURY; FARM LIFE IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY; WOMEN'S LIFE ON FARMS; WOMEN'S STUDIES; SOCIAL LIFE OF WOMEN IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY; 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