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Collection

Alice L. Gardner diary, 1886

1 volume

This partially printed, annual daily diary was kept by 12-13 year old Alice L. Gardner of Warren, Rhode Island, over the course of 1886. Her brief entries reflect on social matters, local news, church activities, games, school, dance, theater, and musical lessons.

Alice L. Gardner noted her family's travels to Providence, Boston, and other nearby locales, for social visits, shopping, and other matters. She remarked on her and her family's attendance of theatre and musical performances. While at times she only notes going to "the Opera," she occasionally names the performances. Some of the shows she mentioned include The Mikado (January 2), Francesca da Rimini (January 16), Victor, the Blue-Stocking (May 8), The Old Homestead (October 9), The Merry Wives of Windsor (October 27), and The Jilt (December 18).

Alice Gardner's entries relating to her schooling pertain to exercises, exams, absences of teachers and classmates, and more. At times she names the texts assigned to her for school work or pieces she was to learn for musical lessons. She noted playing piano, taking up banjo lessons, dancing, and singing. She also frequently mentioned playing games with family friends, including whist, backgammon, casino, among others.

The diary also includes brief mentions of notable events, such as the marriage of Grover Cleveland (June 2) and the Charleston earthquake (September 22). At least two entries reflect racial attitudes. Her entry for October 22nd described a party which included racial and ethnic costumes. Alice also noted when Le Bing, a Chinese man, opened a laundry (November 9).

The section for "Cash Accounts" at the back of the diary includes several entries, principally for October to December for purchases of candy, food, and ribbon. Several addresses are also included at the back of the volume, as well as one entry in the section to record letters received and answered.

Four disbound notebook pages are housed in the pocket at the back of the volume. They include a musical notation, mathematical notes, a tongue-twister about snuff, a list of birthdays, quotations and proverbs, and drawings. Drawings represent a six-pointed star, a small pig and donkey, clocks and wall hangings, and a "Newport Girl," "Crescent Park Girl," and "Boston Girl" wearing different styles of dress.

A clipping of hair bound in a pink ribbon and a sample of grass are laid in the volume.

Collection

John Abraham Van den Broek papers, 1905-1955

0.5 linear feet (in 2 boxes)

Professor of mechanical engineering at University of Michigan. Correspondence concerning University and departmental business, World War II research projects, the American Society of Civil Engineering, and research projects of the Hamilton Watch Company and Hayes Wheel Company.

The collection consists of correspondence and other professional materials, most relating to his research and other responsibilities at the University of Michigan. Of note are his Reports on automobile wheel tests for Hayes Wheel Company, 1923-1926, and a report on high strength aluminum alloys written during World War II.

Collection

Nelson Selkirk letters, 1842-1843

3 items

This collection is made up of 3 letters that Nelson Selkirk of Conneaut, Ohio, wrote to his brother-in-law, Asahel Clark of Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1842 and 1843. Selkirk discussed his intention to sell clocks in northeast Ohio and commented on local commerce.

This collection is made up of 3 letters (2 pages each) that Nelson Selkirk of Conneaut, Ohio, wrote to his brother-in-law, Asahel Clark of Waterbury, Connecticut, from December 7, 1842-June 5, 1843. Selkirk primarily wrote about his intention to sell clocks to residents of northeast Ohio and his prospects for success. He requested that clocks be sent to him via Albany, New York, and by way of the Erie Transportation Company when navigation became possible in the spring. He was confident that local demand for clocks would be high and he mentioned his hesitation to hire a salesman because of low supplies. Selkirk's final letter reflects his difficulty making sales, which he blamed partially on the availability of "thirty hour" brass timepieces and his desire to try to meet a perceived demand for alarm clocks. He also reported prices for flour and pork, commented on a storm on Lake Erie, and reflected on his mother's death.