Diary of a boy at boarding school

The diary covers one year of a student's experiences at boarding school in Lincolnshire during the mid-nineteenth century. The volume cover is entitled 'Life at School' and signed R. A. Smith in a number of places. A keen student, the author's diary provides a notable insight into the school curriculum, methods of education and the privations of boarding school of the period. Details of given of the subject matter of individual lessons including history, Bible studies, geography, arithmetic and planning, surveying and drawing. In addition, the diarist reports on less usual matters including the visit of the hairdresser, the existence of an archery club and his piano practice. There are also references to his attendance at the local Wesleyan Chapel. The student also regularly includes details about his health and the state of the weather.

It is not possible to identify the author or the boarding school referred to in this diary. If the author is R. A. Smith internal evidence suggests that his first name is Richard. Some parts of the diary have been used to practise handwriting, or as a note book, and an entry for 23 May includes the word 'Richard' written in a different pen underneath the entry for that day. The author mentions a sister who dies in the summer of 1865 and a brother, Tom, who attends the same boarding school.

One can assume the boarding school is in Lincolnshire as internal evidence refers to Sleaford, Spalding and a number of other, smaller, settlements in the county

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

Purchased August 1998

Please see full catalogue for more information.

Papers arranged and described by Mark Eccleston, August 2009.

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