Elizabeth Musser journal, 1850

Summary

Creator:

Musser, Elizabeth

Abstract:

Elizabeth Musser of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, kept a diary about her daily activities throughout the year 1850. She attended religious meetings, visited and received family members and neighbors, and performed household chores.

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Clements Staff, July 2006, and Meg Hixon, January 2013

Background

Scope and Content:

Elizabeth Musser of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, kept a 106-page diary about her daily life throughout the year 1850. Musser's brief entries pertain to her social life and home life, and most end with her signature or calligraphic flourishes. She baked, churned butter, sewed frocks and pillowcases, purchased goods, and performed other tasks. On one occasion, she mentioned selling butter that was to be shipped via railroad (November 25). The diary records Musser's occasional trips to Lancaster; her attendance at religious meetings, funerals, burials, and a baptism (April 20); and her regular visits to and from family members and acquaintances. One camp meeting Musser attended was hosted by African Americans (August 17). Many of her acquaintances were members of the Musser family, Lapp family, Houser family, McKillips family, Buckwalter family, Delinger family, Meyers family, or Dunlap family.

Biographical / Historical:

Elizabeth Musser lived with her mother near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1850. Her uncle was Christian Denlinger.

Acquisition Information:

1980. M-1898 .

Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

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Subjects:

Housekeeping.
Women farmers.

Formats:

Diaries.

Places:

Lancaster County (Pa.)
Pennsylvania--Social life and customs.