Thomas family diaries
Scope and Contents
The Thomas family diaries span over 60 years, initially written by an unknown Thomas relative, before later being taken over by Charles Y Thomas. The almost daily entries record the life of a Maryland Friends family highly involved in their faith community. While the Thomas' were primarily Friends, they also frequently attended Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, and Presbyterian events for special sermons and guest speakers. For much of the duration of the diaries, Charles Y Thomas and his family lived in 'Fairland', a farm near Darlington, MD. As such, many of the earlier entries include the practical realities of running and maintaining a farm. In the later years as the family lives part of the year in Baltimore and part of the year at Fairland, social events and broader news become more prevalent. Because the collection spans 6 decades, the diaries also act as markers for modernization on the farm (mechanization) and in daily life (plumbing, lighting, telegraph, telephone).
Dates
- Creation: 1860-1925
Creator
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Standard Federal Copyright Law Applies (U.S. Title 17)
Biographical / Historical
The Thomas diaries begin in 1869, written by an unknown Thomas family relation in Philadelphia, PA. In August 1869, the family moves to "Fairland", a farm outside of Darlington, Maryland. The Fairland property where most diary entries are written from was passed down along Charles Y. Thomas' family line, originally the property of his grandmother's parents, Richard and Eliza (Rutland) Snowden. The entries can begin to be identified as Charles Y. Thomas in 1881, and all following diaries are identified by Chas. Y Thomas. Charles Y Thomas was born in ~1851 in Maryland, and married Rebecca Edge Thomas in 1877 at Deer Creek Monthly Meeting. They had four children- Richard H. Thomas, Elisabeth S. Thomas, Joseph E. Thomas, and C. Edgar Thomas. Later in their lives, Charles and Rebecca Thomas moved more permanently to Baltimore, first living at 1405 Royal Avenue, and later at 1333 Bolton Street. Charles Y. Thomas died in 1925 in Baltimore, Maryland, and Rebecca E. Thomas died in 1926 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Extent
0.84 linear ft. (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Thomas family were Philadelphia and later Maryland Quakers who lived and worked primarily on a farm called "Fairland" in Harford County, MD. The collection consists of diaries, daguerreotypes, and one financial ledger.
Arrangement
The diaries are organized by date.
Acquisition
Purchase from George Krzyminski, July 2019.
Processing Information
Processed by Ella Culton, September 2022.
Subject
Genre / Form
Topical
- Title
- Thomas Family Diaries, 1860-1925
- Author
- Ella Culton
- Date
- September, 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Find It at the Library
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