Transcriptions of Eunice Pearson diary (February 1877-July 1878), [circa 1980-1990]

This collection consists of a single ledger book that documents multiple aspects of the life of the Pearson family of Miami County, Ohio, over the course of forty years. The first two-thirds of the book contain a ledger kept by the family from 1838 to 1877, including accounts kept with various people, and general records of income, expenditures, and payments owed. Purchases include household goods, food, clothing, fabric, personal items, and books. Itemized entries include details such as which family member an item was purchased for, notes about work done for or by others, and notes regarding cash. Some entries contain brief, diary-like commentary. These accounts appear to have been kept by multiple members of the Pearson family over the course of the decades.

A second segment of the book contains a diary kept by Eunice Pearson from 1877 to 1878. Eunice’s diary details her housework (including sewing, baking, and washing), visits, trips to town, gardening, health, and more. Though the entries are brief, their regularity and attention to detail offers a window into aspects of women’s daily life. The final few pages of the book include scattered account entries from both the 1870s and the 1840s. Assorted memos, for example about farming tasks and the arrangement of an orchard, are scattered throughout the book.