The 63 diaries (Acc.3831) of Charles Willam Early form an unbroken life of this prominent Witney businessman who was, between 1910 and 1943, Chairman of his family firm- Charles Early & Co.
Diaries and diaries of businessmen are relatively uncommon in the Oxfordshire Archives, and these are of added significance as they augment the already extensive archives of the Early Blanket
Company of Witney (Acc.3253) deposited in April 1991 and catalogued soon afterwards (B1). The diaries are permanent deposits.
Charles William is described in 'The Blanket Makers' (A.Plummer, R.E.Early, RKP,1969 pp 111-120) as a Methodist and disciplinarian who, by 1883 (soon after the diaries begin) was involved in the
management of the family business. By then, in 1875, he had married Mattie (Martha); they had two daughters. He never left the company, and died aged 93.
For each diary-day the format is familiar; a few words about the weather, then some words about where he has been and who he has met. There may be some comment, occasionally at length. At the end of the pocket-sized blue books, date-emblazoned upon the cover, there are private accounts. With remarkably few exceptions, given the span of time, there is an entry each day- a few lines, and then the next day, for 63 years. These are private notes with a cumulative impact.
Charles William Early is credited with creating stability within the Company during his decades as Chairman. And so, in his life as a diarist, it is the stability and longevity that are remarkable- creating a private record, reflecting his concerns and routine, shared with us, albeit unintentionally.