A Guide to
Women's Diaries
in the Manuscript Collection of the
Rhode Island Historical Society Library
Edited by
Rick Stattler
Originally compiled for a University of Rhode Island seminar in women's history with Dr. Sharon Strom, April 1997. Greatly expanded with the help of Rhode Island Historical Society staff and volunteers, June 2004.
Since the publication of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's award-winning A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812, there has been increased recognition of the value of women's diaries as an important building block of our nation's history. This guide represents an effort to simplify the work of all researchers who are interested in using this wonderful resource for writing Rhode Island history. Diary research can be frustrating because of the time required to evaluate the source. Who was the author? Where was she writing from? What was her place in society? How old was she? What did she have to say? Now, it should be possible to answer these questions in moments. This guide will certainly not replace the use of the originals, but it will allow researchers to select the diaries best suited to their needs.
For researchers looking for a particular sort of woman (age, location, class, ethnicity, time period), the numerous lists in the front of this guide may be of use. For researchers looking for a specific sort of content, it might be best to browse through the records for individual diaries. All of the diaries have at least been skimmed for various categories of content and particularly interesting or representative passages have been transcribed. The guide is organized alphabetically by author. For organizational purposes, the woman’s name at her death was used.
The original diary guide had 79 entries, all by Rick Stattler in 1997. The following persons compiled a total of 61 additional entries, mostly between 2001 and 2004: Robin Alario, Michael Cardin, Karen Eberhart, Andrew Kerr, Greg McGurin, Lori Salotto and Rick Stattler. The style and format varies depending on the cataloger and the editing process was not as careful as it should have been. However, we hope that this guide will still be of value for researching the history of the women of Rhode Island.
Page Author Dates of Diaries
30 Aldrich, Abby Pearce (Chapman) (Greene) From 1910 to 1911
34 Aldrich, Harriet (Alexander) From 1902 to 1970
37 Aldrich, Lucy Truman From 1885 to 1919
34 Alexander, Harriet See: Aldrich, Harriet (Alexander)
39 Allen, Eliza H. (Arnold) From 1837 to 1841
42 Allen, Elizabeth G. (Lawrence) From 1936 to 1938
44 Armington, Edith Amelia From 1911 to 1929
50 Armington, Theodora G. (Bowen) From 1886 to 1900
39 Arnold, Eliza Harriet See: Allen, Eliza H. (Arnold)
53 Babbitt, Sophia C. (Harris) From 1871 to 1892
414 Babcock, Valena W. See: Watkins, Valena W. (Babcock)
56 Bacon, Ellen From 1846 to 1855
59 Baker, Betsey (Metcalf) From 1798 to 1804
62 Barker, Mary H. (Riley) From 1935 to 1935
64 Barstow, Emeline M. (Eames) From 1836 to 1839
340 Barstow, Grace E. See: Murphy, Grace E. (Barstow)
67 Barstow, Grace M. (Palmer) From 1873 to 1907
69 Battey, Miriam G. (Macomber) From 1932 to 1932
73 Bayles, Julia (Rider) From 1869 to 1870
76 Bengston, Madeline From 1931 to 1944
286 Bennett, Harriet Frances "Hattie" See: Jencks, Harriet F. (Bennett)
100 Binney, Avis See: Brown, Avis (Binney)
79 Blaine, Rowena (MacLellan) From 1905 to 1965
83 Blaine, Signe Adina (Hallborg) From 1897 to 1912
87 Blake, Mary Saunders (Johnson) (Mosher) From 1863 to 1863
310 Bowen, Julia See: Martin, Julia (Bowen)
50 Bowen, Theodora Greene See: Armington, Theodora G. (Bowen)
90 Bray, Gertrude C. From 1918 to 1919
92 Brayton, Celia G. (Clarke) From 1829 to 1829
411 Brayton, Lydia F. See: Walker, Lydia F. (Brayton)
357 Bridgham, Eliza Williams See: Patten, Eliza W. (Bridgham)
95 Brockelman, Flora M. (McGimsey) From 1938 to 1938
98 Brougham, Augusta P. (Webster) From 1944 to 1948
191 Brown, Abby See: Francis, Abby (Brown)
194 Brown, Ann Carter See: Francis, Ann C. (Brown)
100 Brown, Avis (Binney) From 1793 to 1804
103 Brown, Isabel B. See: Brunschwig, Isabel B. (Brown)
263 Brown, Sarah See: Herreshoff, Sarah (Brown)
281 Brownell, Henrietta See: Jenckes, Henrietta (Brownell)
103 Brunschwig, Isabel B. (Brown) From 1922 to 1927
105 Bullock, Sarah Bartlett From 1864 to 1921
109 Burge, Marie Louise From 1886 to 1907
111 Burgess, Marion M. (Walling) From 1882 to 1899
114 Butterworth, Eleonora T. (Thornlimb) From 1930 to 1930
377 Calder, Mary E. See: Robertson, Mary E. (Calder)
154 Carpenter, Lucy Daniels See: Cushman, Lucy D. (Carpenter)
117 Carrington, Candace C. (Dorr) From 1862 to 1886
160 Carstein, Mary Remington (Congdon) See: Dearstyne, Mary R. (Congdon)
283 Carter, Rebecca See: Jenckes, Rebecca (Carter)
119 Chace, Anna H. From 1904 to 1921
121 Chace, Elizabeth M. From 1904 to 1921
123 Chace, Jane C. (Moon) From 1904 to 1911
210 Chace, Sarah Anna See: Greene, Sarah A. (Chace)
125 Chafee, Mary D. (Sharpe) From 1889 to 1889
30 Chapman, Abby Pearce See: Aldrich, Abby Pearce (Chapman)
128 Chapman, Zerviah (Sanger) From 1775 to 1783
131 Chesebrough, Caroline L. (Herreshoff) From 1853 to 1855
391 Clarke, Abby Morton See: Stimson, Abby M. (Clarke)
92 Clarke, Celia Greene See: Brayton, Celia G. (Clarke)
216 Clarke, Helen See: Grimes, Helen (Clarke)
133 Clarke, Ida M. From 1869 to 1879
136 Collins, Caroline Updike (Eddy) From 1904 to 1904
366 Collins, Elizabeth "Betsy" See: Purinton, Elizabeth "Betsy" (Collins)
375 Colt, Ethel See: Ritchie, Ethel (Colt)
138 Comstock, Alice (Greene) From 1897 to 1897
141 Congdon, Cynthia A. (Sprague) From 1841 to 1854
160 Congdon, Mary Remington See: Dearstyne, Mary R. (Congdon)
146 Cook, Lucia G. (Moses) From 1898 to 1920
439 Cook, Maria Louisa See: Wing, Maria Louisa (Cook)
149 Cook, Sarah Crawford From 1809 to 1817
152 Cornelius, Laura Gertrude (Smith) From 1926 to 1926
154 Cushman, Lucy D. (Carpenter) From 1883 to 1883
157 Dauchy, Maria (Lefferts) From 1836 to 1836
372 Dawley, Mary Matilda See: Reynolds, Mary M. (Dawley)
160 Dearstyne, Mary R. (Congdon) (Carstein) From 1854 to 1916
164 DeCoppet, Beatrice From 1916 to 1928
167 DeCoppet, Gertrude From 1920 to 1924
169 DeCoppet, Laura (Fawcett) From 1874 to 1921
406 DeWolf, Katherine Kilton (Herreshoff) See: Tubbs, Katherine K. (Herreshoff)
171 DeWolf, Mary J. (Merchant) From 1910 to 1946
174 Diman, Louise From 1880 to 1954
117 Dorr, Candace C. See: Carrington, Candace C. (Dorr)
177 Duncan, Susanna (Lear) From 1788 to 1788
64 Eames, Emeline M. See: Barstow, Emeline M. (Eames)
181 Eaton, Sarah B. (Mason) (Ruggles) From 1830 to 1856
136 Eddy, Caroline (Updike) See: Collins, Caroline Updike (Eddy)
169 Fawcett, Laura See: DeCoppet, Laura (Fawcett)
185 Fearney, Hester From 1873 to 1874
187 Fitts, Helen L. From 1904 to 1904
189 Flaxman, Esther (Saslaw) From 1968 to 1968
191 Francis, Abby (Brown) From 1792 to 1820
194 Francis, Ann C. (Brown) From 1823 to 1828
448 Francis, Anne Brown See: Woods, Anne Brown (Francis)
196 Gammell, Elizabeth A. (Ives) From 1851 to 1852
198 Gibbs, Ann DeWolf (Lovett) From 1852 to 1853
347 Gladding, Sarah Cary See: Ormsbee, Sarah C. (Gladding)
201 Goff, Almira W. (Thornton) From 1903 to 1903
442 Goff, Elizabeth Lee See: Wood, Elizabeth L. (Goff)
203 Grant, Abby Florence (Pirce) From 1896? to 1911
205 Green, Edith (Jackson) From 1910 to 1911
30 Greene, Abby Pearce (Chapman) See: Aldrich, Abby Pearce (Chapman)
138 Greene, Alice See: Comstock, Alice (Greene)
208 Greene, Mary L. From 1836 to 1836
210 Greene, Sarah A. (Chace) From 1843 to 1854
213 Griffin, Abbie (Hoxsie) From 1879 to 1879
216 Grimes, Helen (Clarke) From 1920 to 1945
221 Grinnell, Elizabeth Frances From 1904 to 1904
83 Hallborg, Signe Adina See: Blaine, Signe Adina (Hallborg)
224 Harbach, Agnes Sophia From 1948 to 1948
227 Harris, Alice Frances From 1886 to 1887
230 Harris, Sarah G. From 1861 to 1865
235 Harris, Sarah H. (Hawes) From 1867 to 1890
53 Harris, Sophia C. See: Babbitt, Sophia C. (Harris)
235 Hawes, Sarah H. See: Harris, Sarah H.
241 Hazard, Caroline From 1897 to 1917
243 Hazard, Caroline (Newbold) From 1827 to 1827
245 Hazard, Margaret Anna (Rood) From 1860 to 1860
248 Hazard, Mary P. (Peace) From 1787 to 1788
251 Henley, Frances Evelyn From 1922 to 1954
255 Herreshoff, Agnes From 1821 to 1848
258 Herreshoff, Anna Francis From 1817 to 1884
131 Herreshoff, Caroline Louisa See: Chesebrough, Caroline L. (Herreshoff)
406 Herreshoff, Katherine Kilton See: Tubbs, Katherine K. (Herreshoff)
260 Herreshoff, Sally Brown From 1888 to 1888
263 Herreshoff, Sarah (Brown) From 1796 to 1796
266 Herreshoff, Sarah L. (Kilton) From 1881 to 1885
321 Himes, Rosabelle ("Belle") See: Matteson, Rosabelle (Himes)
213 Hoxsie, Abbie See: Griffin, Abbie (Hoxsie)
269 Hunt, Alice Winsor From 1905 to 1906
271 Ingall, Marjorie From 1977 to 1979
196 Ives, Elizabeth Amory See: Gammell, Elizabeth A. (Ives)
272 Ives, Harriet Bowen From 1858 to 1860
205 Jackson, Edith See: Green, Edith (Jackson)
274 Jacobs, Anne From 1864 to 1865
278 Janvier, Emma (Newbold) From 1828 to 1828
327 Jaques, Grace E. See: McNamara, Grace E. (Jaques)
281 Jenckes, Henrietta (Brownell) From 1883 to 1883
283 Jenckes, Rebecca (Carter) From 1794 to 1794
286 Jencks, Harriet F. (Bennett) From 1872 to 1872
87 Johnson, Mary Saunders See: Blake, Mary Saunders (Johnson)
266 Kilton, Sarah Lucas "Sadie" See: Herreshoff, Sarah L. (Kilton)
290 Knowlton, Marion From 1937 to 1938
294 Kroener, Edna L. From 1908 to 1921
298 LaFarge, Florence Bayard (Lockwood) From 1901 to 1938
303 Latham, Mehitable (Pearce) From 1831 to 1833
42 Lawrence, Elizabeth Grinnell See: Allen, Elizabeth G. (Lawrence)
177 Lear, Susanna See: Duncan, Susanna (Lear)
157 Lefferts, Maria See: Dauchy, Maria (Lefferts)
305 Lewis, Harriette S. (Watson) From 1886 to 1950
421 Lippitt, Jeanie See: Weeden, Jeanie (Lippitt)
380 Locher, Lila See: Roland, Lila (Locher) (McVay)
298 Lockwood, Florence Bayard See: LaFarge, Florence Bayard (Lockwood)
198 Lovett, Ann DeWolf See: Gibbs, Ann DeWolf (Lovett)
79 MacLellan, Rowena See: Blaine, Rowena (MacLellan)
69 Macomber, Miriam G. See: Battey, Miriam G. (Macomber)
315 Madison, Celia Maria See: Mathewson, Celia M. (Madison)
308 Madison, Louise From 1931 to 1932
445 Marshall, Almira See: Woods, Almira (Marshall)
310 Martin, Julia (Bowen) From 1799 to 1799
181 Mason, Sarah Brown See: Eaton, Sarah B. (Mason) (Ruggles)
315 Mathewson, Celia M. (Madison) From 1907 to 1907
317 Matteson, Ella J. From 1905 to 1913
321 Matteson, Rosabelle (Himes) From 1890 to 1918
95 McGimsey, Flora M. See: Brockelman, Flora M. (McGimsey)
327 McNamara, Grace E. (Jaques) From 1924 to 1924
393 McVay, Lila See: Swan, Lila (McVay)
380 McVay, Lila (Locher) See: Roland, Lila (Locher) (McVay)
171 Merchant, Mary J. See: DeWolf, Mary J. (Merchant)
332 Merriman, Helen Abbe (Pearce) From 1893 to 1893
382 Messinger, Shirley Canfield See: Round, Shirley C. (Messinger)
59 Metcalf, Betsey See: Baker, Betsey (Metcalf)
123 Moon, Jane C. See: Chace, Jane C. (Moon)
335 Moore, Louise K. (Winsor) From 1992 to 1992
337 Moran, Madeleine F. From 1948 to 1983
146 Moses, Lucia Gray See: Cook, Lucia G. (Moses)
87 Mosher, Mary Saunders (Johnson) See: Blake, Mary Saunders (Johnson)
398 Mowry, Jeanette See: Tiffany, Jeanette (Mowry)
340 Murphy, Grace E. (Barstow) From 1907 to 1907
243 Newbold, Caroline See: Hazard, Caroline (Newbold)
278 Newbold, Emma See: Janvier, Emma (Newbold)
342 Newton, Bessie Cahoone From 1929 to 1931
428 Nicholson, Elizabeth See: White, Elizabeth (Nicholson)
345 Nightingale, Abby From 1811 to 1812
347 Ormsbee, Sarah C. (Gladding) From 1843 to 1855
350 Paine, Bessie Rose From 1906 to 1940
353 Paine, Emily Hester From 1903 to 1974
67 Palmer, Grace Mason See: Barstow, Grace M. (Palmer)
357 Patten, Eliza W. (Bridgham) From 1818 to 1818
248 Peace, Mary P. See: Hazard, Mary P. (Peace)
395 Pearce, Adelyn Betsey See: Thurber, Adelyn B. (Pearce)
332 Pearce, Helen Abbe See: Merriman, Helen Abbe (Pearce)
303 Pearce, Mehitable See: Latham, Mehitable (Pearce)
435 Phelon, Alice Greene See: Wilcox, Alice G. (Phelon) (Poland)
203 Pirce, Abby Florence See: Grant, Abby Florence (Pirce)
435 Poland, Alice Greene (Phelon) See: Wilcox, Alice G. (Phelon) (Poland)
361 Potter, Mary Elizabeth From 1864 to 1865
363 Powers, Sarah From 1873 to 1873
435 Prew, Alice Greene (Phelon) (Poland) See: Wilcox, Alice G. (Phelon) (Poland)
366 Purinton, Elizabeth "Betsy" (Collins) From 1819 to 1824
372 Reynolds, Mary M. (Dawley) From 1856 to 1864
403 Richmond, Lusanna See: Tillinghast, Lusanna (Richmond)
73 Rider, Julia A. See: Bayles, Julia (Rider)
62 Riley, Mary Henchliffe See: Barker, Mary H. (Riley)
375 Ritchie, Ethel (Colt) From 1931 to 1931
377 Robertson, Mary E. (Calder) From 1874 to 1874
380 Roland, Lila (Locher) (McVay) From 1960 to 1963
245 Rood, Margaret Anna See: Hazard, Margaret Anna (Rood)
382 Round, Shirley C. (Messinger) From 1935 to 1944
181 Ruggles, Sarah Brown (Mason) See: Eaton, Sarah B. (Mason) (Ruggles)
128 Sanger, Zerviah See: Chapman, Zerviah (Sanger)
189 Saslaw, Esther See: Flaxman, Esther (Saslaw)
125 Sharpe, Mary Dexter See: Chafee, Mary D. (Sharpe)
388 Slade, Mary From 1840 to 1840
152 Smith, Laura Gertrude See: Cornelius, Laura Gertrude (Smith)
141 Sprague, Cynthia Anthony See: Congdon, Cynthia A. (Sprague)
417 Stewart, Cora Baxter See: Watson, Cora B. (Stewart)
391 Stimson, Abby M. (Clarke) From 1850 to 1867
451 Sutcliffe, Evelyn Estella See: Wosko, Evelyn E. (Sutcliffe)
393 Swan, Lila (McVay) From 1960 to 1960
424 Sweet, Julia See: Weir, Julia (Sweet)
114 Thornlimb, Eleonora T. See: Butterworth, Eleonora T. (Thornlimb)
201 Thornton, Almira Wheaton See: Goff, Almira W. (Thornton)
395 Thurber, Adelyn B. (Pearce) From 1937 to 1937
398 Tiffany, Jeanette (Mowry) From 1907 to 1907
403 Tillinghast, Lusanna (Richmond) From 1816 to 1819
406 Tubbs, Katherine K. (Herreshoff) (deWolf) From 1887 to 1887
409 Updike, Aritis From 1830 to 1830
411 Walker, Lydia F. (Brayton) From 1877 to 1899
111 Walling, Marion Melissa See: Burgess, Marion M. (Walling)
414 Watkins, Valena W. (Babcock) From 1915 to 1915
417 Watson, Cora B. (Stewart) From 1894 to 1932
305 Watson, Harriette Sprague See: Lewis, Harriette S. (Watson)
98 Webster, Augusta P. See: Brougham, Augusta P. (Webster)
421 Weeden, Jeanie (Lippitt) From 1882 to 1882
424 Weir, Julia (Sweet) From 1837 to 1839
428 White, Elizabeth (Nicholson) From 1928 to 1928
430 Whiting, Nellie (Woolhouse) From 1986 to 1991
435 Wilcox, Alice G. (Phelon) (Poland) (Prew) From 1896 to 1896
439 Wing, Maria Louisa (Cook) From 1881 to 1892
335 Winsor, Louise King See: Moore, Louise K. (Winsor)
442 Wood, Elizabeth L. (Goff) From 1884 to 1934
445 Woods, Almira (Marshall) From 1830 to 1833
448 Woods, Anne Brown (Francis) From 1848 to 1852
430 Woolhouse, Nellie See: Whiting, Nellie (Woolhouse)
451 Wosko, Evelyn E. (Sutcliffe) From 1915 to 1916
Diary dates Author
1775-1783 Chapman, Zerviah (Sanger) (1718-1812)
1787-1788 Hazard, Mary P. (Peace) (1775-1852)
1788-1788 Duncan, Susanna (Lear) (b.1770)
1792-1820 Francis, Abby (Brown) (1766-1821)
1793-1804 Brown, Avis (Binney) (1748-1807)
1794-1794 Jenckes, Rebecca (Carter) (1778-1837)
1796-1796 Herreshoff, Sarah (Brown) (1773-1846)
1798-1804 Baker, Betsey (Metcalf) (1786-1867)
1799-1799 Martin, Julia (Bowen) (1779-1805)
1809-1817 Cook, Sarah Crawford (1796-1882)
1811-1812 Nightingale, Abby (1768-1853)
1816-1819 Tillinghast, Lusanna (Richmond) (1800-1862)
1817-1884 Herreshoff, Anna Francis (1802-1887)
1818-1818 Patten, Eliza W. (Bridgham) (1799-1882)
1819-1824 Purinton, Elizabeth "Betsy" (Collins) (1769-1839)
1821-1848 Herreshoff, Agnes (1807-1849)
1823-1828 Francis, Ann C. (Brown) (1795-1828)
1827-1827 Hazard, Caroline (Newbold) (1807-1866)
1828-1828 Janvier, Emma (Newbold) (1811-1889)
1829-1829 Brayton, Celia G. (Clarke) (1808-1880)
1830-1830 Updike, Aritis (1819-1875)
1830-1833 Woods, Almira (Marshall) (1804-1863)
1830-1856 Eaton, Sarah B. (Mason) (Ruggles) (1804-1864)
1831-1833 Latham, Mehitable (Pearce) (1770-1843)
1836-1836 Greene, Mary L. (1821-1836)
1836-1836 Dauchy, Maria (Lefferts) (1797-1881)
1836-1839 Barstow, Emeline M. (Eames) (1813-1900)
1837-1839 Weir, Julia (Sweet) (1820-1900)
1837-1841 Allen, Eliza H. (Arnold) (1796-1873)
1840-1840 Slade, Mary (1822-1850)
1841-1854 Congdon, Cynthia A. (Sprague) (1820-1880)
1843-1854 Greene, Sarah A. (Chace) (1818-1904)
1843-1855 Ormsbee, Sarah C. (Gladding) (1800-1873)
1846-1855<