Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Papers
Title
Susan A. Jones Diary Transcription
Date(s)
- 1863-1870, 2006 (Accumulation)
Extent
0.21 linear feet (1 small document case)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Susan A. (Sedgwick) Jones was born on January 11, 1844 at No. Adams, Massachusetts. She married Henry R. Jones on May 3, 1865. They moved from Massachusetts to Clintonville, Wisconsin in 1866. They had six children: Clara, Lillie, Jessie, Stella, Bert and another boy. Henry died in 1897.
Susan and her daughter, Jessie, came to South Dakota and homesteaded in Hughes County in 1905. While her daughter was proving her claim, she taught school in Wisconsin and South Dakota. Susan resided on the claim but went back to Wisconsin in the winter.
Susan died on June 23, 1925 at Clintonville, Wisconsin.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Transcription of the Susan A. Jones diaries was performed by Virginia Vander Wal, great-granddaughter of Susan, in March 2006. The diaries appear to have been written while Susan resided in Massachusetts and Wisconsin. The entries provide insight into her daily activities from 1863-1870. Topics include various social activities, mention of the weather, work activities, and important events, such as funerals, first communion, engagement to be married, etc.
The 1863 transcription was from a very small diary that was written before Susan married Henry. There are several entries concerning the Civil War in this diary.
Some of the original diaries were written on loose pages and were very old and fragile. Others were written in 3 x 4 inch diary books with three days to one side of each page. The writing on these pages was very small and faded, especially those entries written in pencil, making is difficult to read.
Blanks in the text indicate words that could not be read due to illegible handwriting or damaged areas on the paper. Words typed in brackets, { }, are words which a guess was made at some of the letters. The spelling of words in the original diary was maintained.
Virginia Vander Wal includes an account of the transcribing of the diaries as well as some genealogical background of Susan A. Jones. Virginia's personal notations are indicated in bold-faced font in the transcription. Also included is a photocopied photograph of Susan A. Jones and discharge papers for Henry R. Jones.
The diaries are not complete in that some years may not have entries for each day or month.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Open. Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only. Researchers conducting extensive research are asked to make an advance appointment to access archival material. Please call or e-mail prior to visiting the collection and indicate as much detail as possible about a particular topic and intended use.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
South Dakota State University supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted as a result of their fragile condition or by contractual agreements with donors.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
ID
ID
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Jones, Susan A. 1844-1925 (Subject)