South Dakota, 1889

File — Box: 4, Volume: 7

Identifier: II

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Douglass attended the South Dakota Agricultural College in Brookings, began a herbarium at the college, and returned to teaching school. This diary contains a great deal of shorthand.

8 March--"Do not know how I shall like the school but think I will learn something. I must learn to appreciate these privileges while I have them. Have longed and pined and almost languished to be in school and be getting an education."
11 July--"He [professor at the college] had wanted to get up a college herbarium but had not time himself. He said he would see the Prest. ... he decided to let me work 4 hours a day."
9 September--"Began shorthand today. I intend to use it as fast as I learn it."
31 December--"It has been years since I have had a strong faith in a future life beyond the grave . . . . I think the best we can do is to make the world a little better, a little nobler, for our being in it .... I have broken away from the former ties to some extent .... I so dreaded to give pain to my mother, father, sisters and friends but ... I felt I must if I would be honest. I wrote to the church to which I belonged to have my name taken from the church book. I know not what they did but I did my duty in the matter."

Dates

1889

Language of Materials

From the Collection: Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.