This collection consists of transcriptions of the diaries of Susan A. Jones, completed in March 2006 by her great-granddaughter, Virginia Vander Wal. The diaries, written between 1863 and 1870 while Jones resided in Massachusetts and Wisconsin, document her daily life, including social events, weather observations, work, and notable occasions such as funerals, religious milestones, and her engagement.
The 1863 diary, written prior to her marriage to Henry R. Jones, contains several references to the Civil War. The original materials vary in format, with some entries on fragile loose pages and others in small bound diaries with compact, often faded handwriting. Transcription challenges are noted in the text, including illegible sections marked with blanks and uncertain words placed in brackets. The original spelling has been preserved.
Virginia Vander Wal also contributed genealogical background, an account of the transcription process, and personal notes marked in boldface. Supplementary materials include a photocopy of Susan A. Jones’s portrait and Henry R. Jones’s military discharge papers. The diaries are incomplete, with gaps in daily or monthly entries across some years.
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