Diary of unidentified lady

Scope and Content

Personal diary for the year 1853 kept in 'Henry Penny's Improved Patent Metallic Pocket-book Diary'. Entries give details of the daily activities of the writer and others in the same household. Tensions and disputes between members of the household are also documented , although entries are often substantially abbreviated, making it difficult to build up an accurate picture of relationships and events. It is possible that the entries have been compiled by more than one hand, as the handwriting varies over the course of the
year.

Administrative / Biographical History

It is difficult to ascertain very much about the identity of the writer, who appears to live, for at least the first part of the year, at a place called 'Park House' which seems to be situated between Margate and Ramsgate in Kent. Social status would appear to be fairly high, as social engagements with the local gentry feature in several entries. The gender of the writer is not obvious, although the activities engaged in are more consistent with those of a woman. The writer appears to live with several other people, including children, who are possibly family members, although again this cannot be verified.

Access Information

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

Acquisition Information

Purchased in November 2001.

Other Finding Aids

Please see full catalogue for more information.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

The volume has lost both its bindings and the last leaf containing entries for 30-31 December.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Director of Special Collections (email: special-collections@contacts.bham.ac.uk). Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material