George I. Walker diaries
Overview
This collection consists of 7 small Pierce's Memorandum and Account Books filled in by teenager George I. Walker with a daily accounting of his life from late September 1885 to late December 1886. In March 1886 Walker's family moved from the Yorktown, Iowa area to Ness County, Kansas. Topics in Walker's diary include the weather, what family and friends were doing, and what Walker did on a daily basis. His typical activities included farm work, attending writing school, visiting with family and friends and going to town, killing jackrabbits, and other activities.
Dates
- Creation: September 29, 1885 - December 27, 1886
Creator
- Walker, George I., 1870?-1950 (Author, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biography of George I. Walker
George I. Walker was born around 1870 or 1871 in Iowa to parents Andrew J. and Martha E. Walker. George's siblings included Lucy (who married Henry Williams, perhaps known by the nickname Hank), Dora, and Mary. The family lived in Page County, Iowa until March 1886 when they moved to Ness County, Kansas. In 1909 George married [Lydia] A. Zickefoose. Together the couple had six children: John, Howard, Iva, Lyle, Lura, and Marguerite. George I. Walker died March 21, 1950 in Coffey County, Kansas.
Extent
1 folder
Language of Materials
English
Scope and Contents
There are 7 diaries total in the collection. Dates:
- September 29, 1885-December 5-1885
- January 30, 188[6]-March 5, 188[6]: Walker appears to discuss the family selling and packing up items in preparation for their move to Kansas.
- March 6, 1886-April 3, 1886: Walker's family takes the train to Kansas.
- April 4, 1886-May 5, 1886
- May 6, 1886-June 8, 1886
- June 9, 1886-July 19, 1886: Walker writes several diary entries over printed text at the back of the booklet, perhaps indicating he ran out of paper.
- September 15, 1886-December 27, 1886: Walker did not use all of the blank pages in this booklet.
Physical Location
RH MS P939
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, Carmen D. Valentino: American Historical Manuscripts, 2015.
Source
- Carmen D. Valentino. American Historical Manuscripts (Bookseller, Organization)
Geographic
- Title
- Guide to the George Walker Collection
- Subtitle
- George I. Walker diaries
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/7679180939
- Preferred citation
-
George I. Walker diaries, RH MS P939, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository