Here is the end of another year, the end of 1849. How rapidly the time has flown since this day one year!
What changes have taken place, in some instances for the better, in others for worse. Even as regards my humble self there has been somewhat of a change, but only as relates to my situation, in all other respects, there is no change with the single exception of being a year older. No richer nor poorer, nor no nearer being married.
Went to the Walnut St. Theatre this evening. Murdock performed.
From the Line-a-Day Diary of Nathan Beekley, Iron Clerk
In 1849, a young man named Nathan Beekley, perhaps 22, moved to Philadelphia to begin a new career keeping the books of an iron manufactory. At the same time, he began keeping a book of his own: a line-a-day diary in which he recorded the cultural events, street entertainments, and courting rituals that filled his days and nights.
The original diary (shown above) is located in the manuscripts collection of the American Antiquarian Society. The transcription will be posted daily and can be searched by keyword, subject, or date.Subjects
- Art (9)
- Birthday (1)
- Boarding houses (11)
- California (4)
- Churches (50)
- Courts (1)
- Current Events (9)
- Daguerreotype (3)
- Dancing (1)
- Diseases (12)
- Entertainment (69)
- Exhibitions (13)
- Family (16)
- Food (1)
- Friends (45)
- Games (10)
- Girls (58)
- Gold Rush (3)
- Holidays (8)
- Housing (2)
- Hunting (3)
- Illness (5)
- Lectures (18)
- Money (3)
- Music (29)
- Norristown (52)
- Parades (4)
- Reading and libraries (13)
- Ships (6)
- Shopping (8)
- Sleighing and skating (3)
- Socializing (122)
- Streets of Philadelphia (23)
- Technology and Science (6)
- Theatre (50)
- Weather and science (90)
- Wife (1)
- Work (16)