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Early Michigan Diaries and Autobiographies

Below is a selection of circulating materials in the Library. To generate a more comprehensive list, use our online ANSWER catalog.

The following first-person accounts tell us about a wide range of experiences, from pioneer to schoolmaster, schooner captain to soldier, railroad employee to surveyor. All but one are nineteenth century accounts. Together they offer a rich picture of life in early Michigan.

General

Baraga, Frederic. The diary of Bishop Frederic Baraga: first bishop of Marquette. 1990.
MICH. BX4705.B18 A3 1990
Croghan, George. George Croghan's journal of his trip to Detroit in 1767... 1939.
MICH. F483.C76 1939
Doty, William A. Excerpts from the diaries of William A. Doty of Raisin Township, Lenawee County, Michigan. 1867-1894. 1949.
MICH. F574.R35 D67 1949
Douglass, David Bates. American voyageur; the journal of David Bates Douglass. 1969.
MICH. F484.3.D67 1969 Douglass was a member of the 1820 Lewis Cass expedition.
English, Albert D. Records of Albert D. and Annetta English. 196? 5 reels.
MFM. CS 71.E572 1960 Diaries, journals and other materials from the Manchester and Tecumseh couple.
Estep, Charles. Diary of Charles Estep. n.d.
MICH. F566.E87 A3z Pioneer life in Sebewa Township, Ionia County beginning in 1883.
Gerish, Jacob. Journal of Jacob Gerish, Jan. 1, 1837-Sept. 12, 1850. 196?
MFM. F574.N485 G4 1960a Pioneer life as related by a New Buffalo blacksmith.
Hobart, Henry. Copper country journal: the diary of schoolmaster Henry Hobart, 1863-1864. 1991.
MICH. F572.K4 H6 1991
Kirkland, Caroline Matilda Stansbury. A new home - who'll follow? 1965.
MICH. F566.K5z 1965 First published in 1839, these loosely fictionalized sketches attest to the observation skills of this pioneer author.
Kristiansen, Soren. Diary of Captain Soren Kristiansen, Lake Michigan schooner captain, 1891-1893 -- Iron Mountain. 1981
MICH. CT275.K745 A3
Mann, William Arthur. Wm. Mann's diary. n.d. 1 reel.
MFM. HF5391.B6z Most of the entries in the 1894-1901 diary detail the author's career as a carpenter foreman for the Michigan Central Railroad.
Martinson, Martin H. Hendrik's diary. 1969.
MICH. CT275.M4596 A3 1969. Lumbering in Alpena.
Perry, Oliver Hazard. Hunting expeditions of Oliver Hazard Perry of Cleveland, verbatim from his diaries... 1980.
MICH. F566.P472z. Recounts expeditions in northern Michigan and in Monroe, Lenawee, Sanilac, Tuscola and Hillsdale counties in the 1830s and 1840s.
Power, Nathan. Nathan Powers <sic%gt; book of record. 1965.
MICH.. F566.P88 A3 1965 Set in Farmington in the mid 19th century.
Rogers, Samuel Reed. Diaries of Samuel Reed Rogers of Raisin Township, Lenawee County. n.d.
MICH. F566.R65z
Schlatter, William. The diary of William Schlatter, June 1851 thru December 1852. 1969.
MICH. F566.S34 A3 1969 Surveyor in Michigan's Copper Country.
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe. Narrative journal of travels through the northwestern regions of the United States, extending from Detroit through the great chain of American lakes to the sources of the Mississippi River, in the year 1820. 1953.
MICH. F484.3.S37 1953
Stewart, Daniel J. Diary of an American farmer, 1868-1885. Wyoming County, New York and Branch County, Michigan. n.d.
MICH. S521.5.A2 S75
Stockwell, Madelon Louisa. A Michigan childhood. 1988.
MICH. F574.A525 S7 1988 Life of an Albion girl, aged 10-14 (1856-1860).
Wallace, Mary Austin. Mary Austin Wallace: her diary, 1862; a Michigan soldier's wife runs their farm. 1963.
MICH. DOC. CIW 2M39
Whitehead, Lewis Young. Diary of Lewis Young Whitehead, father of the Menominee Range, 1833-1908. 1976.
MICH. F572.N8 W47z
Young, Ed. Diary and daybook of Rev. E.D. Young, Isabella Mission 1861-1862; Centerville, Michigan, 1859. 1859, 1861-62.
MICH. BR1725.Y68 A3z

Civil War

Bailey, George W. The Civil War diary and biography of George W. Bailey...1990.
MICH. E514.B3 1990
Benson, Charles E. The Civil War diaries of Charles E. Benson: corporal, Company I, Seventh Regiment Michigan Infantry Volunteers. 1991.
MICH. E 514.5 7th B46 1991
Coe, Hamlin Alexander. Mine eyes have seen the glory: combat diaries of Union Sergeant Hamlin Alexander Coe. 1975.
MICH. E601.C67
The diary of John B. Kay: Company G. Sixth Michigan Cavalry, Libby, Belle Isle, Andersonville. n.d.
MICH. E611.D53
Ely, Ralph. The diary of Captain Ralph Ely of the Eighth Michigan Infantry: with the wandering regiment. 1965.
MICH. E514.5 8th .E46 1965
Foster, George Palmer. George Palmer Foster's book: a Civil War diary, three letters dated December 24, 1862, December 31, 1862, February 17, 1863. 1986.
GENE. E601.F68 1986
Gillaspie, Ira Myron Bailey. The diary of Ira Gillaspie of the Eleventh Michigan Infantry. 1965.
MICH. E601.G544 1965
Henderson, Zoraida. Diary of Zoraida Henderson: and diary of a Portland soldier. 1938.
MICH. F566.H3 A3z
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