Guide to the Ruth Newey Smith Dairies and Journals 1878-1915 Control # S-23
Description: The collection consists exclusively of thirteen bound volumes, maintained by Mrs. Smith, twelve of which are diaries or Journals, and one of which is a commonplace book. The diaries are for the years 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1885, 1887, 1888, 1891, 1896, 1900, 1904, and 1915. All volumes are quite full. Place names found in them are Patchogue for the most part with an occasional South Oyster Bay, Rockville Centre, or New York City (Manhattan). The name "Smithport" heading so many entries is not a geographical location but rather the name of the hotel in Patchogue which Mrs. Smith ran. In many, many cases, however, Mrs. Smith gave no indication of where she was writing from. No one subject predominates, but it would appear that by and large general family matters are discussed, as well as happenings in and around the communities from which she was writing, the weather, and other topics. A few loose items have been inserted into some of the volumes. We have removed most of these and placed them in a folder.
Smith, Ruth Newey
Add new comment