Susan Ann Pearsall Diary

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0116

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Susie A. Pearsall Diary was apparently copied into the book from notes or a rough draft that had been maintained by Miss Pearsall. The writing and ink are fairly consistent throughout. The entries in the diary stop in July 1874; however one entry, dated December 4, 1875, was inserted on page 42, probably after her marriage.

The diary deals with the life of a young girl (16 years old in 1869) living in rural Duplin County, NC. Everyday life on a farm takes center stage in the diary - church, school, housework, sickness, births and deaths, gardening and farming, weather and social occasions. Several extraordinary events are mentioned - the eclipse of the sun in August 1869, the census of 1870, and the floods in Virginia in 1870. Perhaps the most exciting even described in the diary is the purchase of a cook stove for the family. Learning to cook on the stove father than in the fireplace was a challenging but welcomed experience.

The diary was transcribed with as little editing and remarks as possible. Miss Pearsall expressed herself very well; and while there are misspelled words, in most cases, the correct word is easily determined. Punctuation and capitalization of words is erratic; but it has been transcribed as written because it does not disturb the meaning.

Dates

1869-1875, 2003

Creator

Pearsall, Susan Ann (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The diary deals with the life of a young girl (16 years old in 1869) living in rural Duplin County, NC.

The collection consists of a diary, transcript of the diary, photographs, supporting documentation for the diary, and Footnotes (3 issues, 2003).

Method of Acquisition

Gift of Mary Jean Pyatt in May, 1994 and August, 2006.

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