All Items 4

Orra White Hitchcock diary, 1854

Hitchcock, Orra White, 1796-1863

A daily diary bound in green covers kept by Orra White Hitchcock in which she wrote about day-to-day events from January through October, 1854. She writes about her family (referring to her husband Edward as "Mr. H"), especially her children, and her friends. She also comments on the weather, occasionally writes about Amherst College and events she attended, and includes biblical verses and passages in some of her entries.

Orra White Hitchcock diary, 1854
Orra White Hitchcock diary of trip to Richmond, Virginia, 1847

Hitchcock, Orra White, 1796-1863

A diary kept by Orra White Hitchcock in which she writes about a trip to Richmond, Virginia. She records her thoughts about the places she goes and stays, day-to-day events, the weather, the people she visits with, and letters to and from her family at home. Within the diary are several pencil sketches, including sketches of furniture, flowers, a horse-drawn carriage, trees, buildings, and instruments. The diary also includes recipes for pickled damsons, ice cream, coffee cream, tomatoes, rice flummery, peach marmalade, and apple pudding.

Orra White Hitchcock diary of trip to Richmond, Virginia, 1847
Orra White Hitchcock diary, 1850 July to October

Hitchcock, Orra White, 1796-1863

A diary belonging to Orra White Hitchcock in which she recorded the details of a trip to Europe with her husband Edward Hitchcock. This is the second of two diaries used and during the period covered by this volume the Hitchcocks travel from Scotland to the continent then through Germany, Switzerland, and France, and return home to Massachusetts. In the opening entry Orra remarks that she has already filled one notebook. Orra records their points of interest, accommodations and meals in addition to the weather and scenery. This diary picks up while the Hitchcocks are still in Scotland and documents their attendance at the annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science where Edward made several presentations. In Frankfurt they attended the Third International Peace Congress, referred to by Orra only as "the convention." Entries recorded in Switzerland described the beauty of their natural surroundings while those written in Paris focused largely on the tourist attractions they visited as well as the shopping excursions made by Orra. Additional laid in slips of paper contain more entries, an excerpt from Sir Walter Scott's poem "The Lady of the Lake," and two small landscape illustrations by Orra, one with the caption "Seat of Earl Cowper."

Orra White Hitchcock diary, 1850 July to October
Orra White Hitchcock diary, 1850 May to July

Hitchcock, Orra White, 1796-1863

A diary belonging to Orra White Hitchcock in which she recorded the details of a trip to Europe with her husband Edward Hitchcock. This is the first of two diaries used and during the period covered by this volume the Hitchcocks traveled through England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The first page contains a "list of ship acquaintances" and the entries open with a detailed description of the departure and arrangements on the steamer ship, as well as descriptions of the conditions at sea. Orra continues her diary upon arrival in England and details the sights, sounds, dining arrangements, weather and places of interest. Entries describe the Hitchcocks' visits to notable geologists including Dr. Gideon Mantell, Sir Charles Lyell and Reverend Adam Sedgwick as well as the paleontologist Sir Richard Owen. They visited geological collections and agricultural schools in addition to more typical tourist attractions. Orra comments repeatedly on the poverty they encountered throughout Great Britain as well as the class structure in evidence. A few illustrations are included and several pages have markings on them that seem to have been left by samples of plant life collected and placed in the diary.

Orra White Hitchcock diary, 1850 May to July