Guide to the Chauncey Smith Nichols Diaries,
1860-1865.

Collection Number: 6015

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
M.L.
Date completed:
Feb. 1979
EAD encoding:
Andrea Hektor, June 2004

© 2004 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Chauncey Smith Nichols diaries, 1860-1865.
Collection Number:
6015
Creator:
Chauncey Smith. Nichols
Quantity:
1 reel microfilm.
Forms of Material:
Microfilm
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Contains three diaries of Chauncey Smith Nichols which report on social events, school attendance, family news and everyday activities (1860,1864, 1865). The 1864 volume includes financial records. Also included is a resolution to establish and a constitution for the Methodist Female Missionary Society on the Hector circuit (April 9, 1845).
Language:
Collection material in English

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Contains three diaries of Chauncey Smith Nichols which report on social events, school attendance, family news and everyday activities (1860,1864, 1865). The 1864 volume includes financial records. Also included is a resolution to establish and a constitution for the Methodist Female Missionary Society on the Hector circuit (April 9, 1845).
SUBJECTS

Names:
Nichols, Chauncey Smith.
Female Methodist Missionary Society (Hector, N.Y.)

Places:
Hector (N.Y.)--Social life and customs.
Schuyler County (N.Y.)--Social life and customs.

Form and Genre Terms:
Diaries.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
Chauncey Smith Nichols diaries, #6015. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
Sheet establishing the Methodist Female Missionary Society, on the Hector Circuit, dated April 9, 1845 .
Item 1
This sheet includes both the resolution to establish the Society and its Constitution. Included in the constitution was the official structure, con-sisting of a President, a Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and fourteen "Managers," being two representatives from each of the classes in the Hector Circuit 2-Lake Road, Hector Chapel, Block Schoolhouse, Burdett., Reynoldsville, "Davis class," and Sutton Schoolhouse. The sheet ends with the names of the officials selected at the time of the Society's establishment.
C.S. Nichols Diary, 1860 - entries January 1-May 27, 1860 ; unpaginated.
Item 2
Biography: Chauncey Smith Nichols was born February 13, 1847, the son of Robert T. and Harriet Smith Nichols, and grandson of pioneer settler Chauncey W. Smith of Hector, N.Y. C.S. Nichols' parents were married in New Jersey on February 29, 1844 and moved to North Barton, N.Y. to live. They had one other child, Helen Adell Nichols, born on December 19, 1849.
Contents: The 1860 diary is commercially made, and entries in the diary refer almost exclusively to Nichols' school attendance and domestic chores. Some entries refer to local events. All entries stop after May 27, 1860, the re-mainder of the diary being filled with recipes, various lists of domestic items and unidentified figures.
C.S. Nichols Diary 1865 (target reads "1864") January 1 - December 31, 1865 ; unpaginated.
Item 3
Contents: The 1865 diary is commercially made, and entries in this volume are more detailed than in Item #2. Nichols was apparently not attending school at this time, but noted in the diary are domestic chores, local events, activities, and work with friends and discussions in the Post Office.
C.S. Nichols Diary 1864 (target reads "1865") January 1-December 31, 1864 ; unpaginated.
Item 4
Contents: The 1864 diary is also commercially made. The entries in this volume are similar to those in Item #3, with the addition of notes on school attendance. In the back of this volume, Nichols used the printed charts for cash accounts (the chart for December is missing) and bills payable/receivable for the months February to July and December.