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This collection is composed of material collected and created by the Williamsburg Documentary Project. The Williamsburg Documentary Project conducts oral history interviews and builds physical and digital archives, as well as other activities, through which it interprets the past of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Diary, 1794-1795, of Andrew Robinson Giddinge, a farmer from Beach Hill, Massachusetts. Concerns his planting of crops, including tobacco; his extensive lumber operations; his raising, purchase, and sale of cattle and sheep; his construction of his own house; and his attention to local religious observances. There is also information about sermons to which he listened, court sessions he attended, and places to which he travels.

Four diaries written by Flora Inez Smith. Smith worked as a school teacher in Decatur County, Indiana. The diaries contain mentions of the weather, her job, daily life, and social activities. Early entries focus heavily on farm work that her brothers and father did during the day.

Diary of Fred Beers, a county farm agent from Martin, South Dakota. Includes information about the weather, meetings which he attends, and his daily duties as a farm agent. The volume is entitled "DeLaval Diary for county agents, extension workers, vocational teachers, and cow testers." At the end of the volume there are weights and measures, how to measure the volume of a hay stack, how to mix concrete, how to mix lye, the benefits of skim milk for humans and farm animals, common diseases of cattle, and other farm related information.

Diary, 1878 of Ida Martin, a school-aged girl who talks about her life on a farm. She mentions helping her father 'salting the cattle,' riding on horseback, going to the creamery, going to school, and taking music lessons. Also mentions a friend of hers who died of influenza.

Journal of John S. Barret, plantation owner in Alabama. Barret writes extensively about his farm, weather conditions, crop harvests and livestock. Some entries record his hunting activites. One page lists all of the children born to an enslaved woman on his plantation since 1802. Another entry records the sadness of the untimely death of his friend, William Aylett.

Collection of diaries, ledgers, letters, and photographs from Ezra Monroe Minnick and his father William Arehart.

Papers, 1879-1915, of the Olney family of Newaygo County, Michigan. Includes letters to Bert Olney at various addresses in Indiana and Michgan, which relate school incidents and discuss political matters, such as James Garfield's presidency. There are also letters between Bert and Alice Olney and their sons, Albert J. Olney and Clinton Olney. Albert J. and Clinton Olney were both studying agriculture at (what is now) Michigan State University. The letters from their parents discuss family life and work, town events, their sons' academic studies, and book reccomendations, among other topics. Also included is an eight page manuscript of an oration on Frances Willard, the founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. There are also letters from Oral Seipp, a student at Albion College in Michigan, to the two brothers, which discuss college life, fraternities, hazing, student prayer meetings, schoolwork, and other activities. Finally, there are letters addressed to Albert J. Olney and Clinton Olney's sister, Marion Olney, while she is at a hospital recovering from an appendectomy.

Letter to niece Lena about family and health, talking about raising chickens and the price of feed, an illness that results in cramps and severe pain every 16-18 day, asking for genealogical information to write a family tree, and various sewing and crocheting projects.