Identifier

MA 44

Dates

1863-1870, 2006

Extent

0.21 linear feet (1 Half-document case, Letter)

Abstract

The Susan A. Jones Diaries document the early life of Susan A. (Sedgwick) Jones (1844-1925), whose writings provide insight into daily life in Massachusetts and Wisconsin during the mid-19th century. Born in North Adams, Massachusetts, Jones married Henry R. Jones in 1865 and later lived in Clintonville, Wisconsin, where the couple raised six children. After Henry’s death in 1897, Jones and her daughter Jessie relocated to South Dakota in 1905 to homestead in Hughes County, while Jones continued to teach school in both Wisconsin and South Dakota. Her diaries reflect the experiences of a young woman during a period of social change, including references to the Civil War and community life in the years prior to and following her marriage.

The collection consists of transcriptions of Jones’s diaries covering the years 1863 to 1870, completed in 2006 by her great-granddaughter, Virginia Vander Wal. The entries record daily activities, social gatherings, weather observations, religious events, work and family milestones. The transcription preserves original spelling and includes notes identifying illegible or uncertain text. Vander Wal also contributed genealogical information, commentary on the transcription process, and personal annotations. Supplementary materials include a photocopy of a portrait of Susan A. Jones and Henry R. Jones’s military discharge papers. Together, these materials provide documentation of 19th-century family life and personal experiences in Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

SDSU Archives and Special Collections

This document is a descriptive inventory of the collection in the SDSU Archives and Special Collections. It contains:

  • An overview of the collection, including information about the person or organization and a brief description of the materials and subjects found within.
  • A detailed inventory listing, organized by boxes and folders.
  • Information on how to access the materials, including any restrictions or special conditions.

In most cases, the materials in the collections have not been digitized and are not available online. If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at:

Language

English

Publisher

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Rights

In Copyright: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copy-right Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permis-sions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.

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