Jeffrey T. Wilson Diary

Jeffrey T. Wilson Diary

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Diaries; Freedmen--United States

The 1913 diary of formerly enslaved person Jeffrey T. Wilson. Entries were kept in a Wanamaker's Diary (produced by the department store chain) actually designed for 1911. As a result, Wilson has hand-corrected the days of the week throughout to reflect 1913. In addition to the entries recorded (two to a page), throughout the year, Wilson attached additional pages to continue writing. Many of these consist of reminiscences of his life in previous years on topics from the Civil War, his service in the United States Navy, segregation and race issues in Portsmouth and Norfolk, and local news. He also writes of daily events including his family's health, church events, the weather, and his frequent concerns about money. The diary begins with advertisements and history of the Wanamaker stores. Entries by Wilson begin on page 69.

Wilson, Jeffrey T. (1843-1929)

Jeffrey T. Wilson Diaries, Ms2011-015, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

2019

Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Permission to publish material from the Jeffrey T. Wilson Diary must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/Appalachia/Ms2011-015

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https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/Appalachia/Ms2011-015

Portsmouth, Norfolk, 1913