Diary Kept by Brainard H. Warner, Mainly Documenting His Time as a Government Clerk and Prominent Real Estate Developer in Reconstruction Era Washington D.C.

Edité par Washington DC and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1876

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Notebook binding of marbled boards with red morocco spine measuring 13 x 8.25", containing 43 pages of handwritten diary entries, as well as 14 pages of miscellaneous notes, and five pages of pasted in newspaper clippings. A large format diary kept by Brainard H. Warner (1847 to 1916), documenting his time as a young man working in various government posts in Reconstruction era Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, and later as an important Washington real estate developer. Warner moved to Washington in 1863, when he was only 16 years old, working as a hospital clerk for three months, before taking a job as a clerk in the War Department. In 1866, he took a job clerking in the office of the controller of the Treasury, while also working as private secretary to Senator Charles R. Buckalew of Pennsylvania. In 1867, Warner moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he worked as deputy collector of internal revenue, while also studying law with Thaddeus Stevens. A year later, he moved back to Washington, where he worked in real estate with Joshua Whitney & Co. Warner went on to become a prominent Washington DC developer and author of "Warner's Popular Guide Book for Washington." According to a history of one of his developments, he came as "'an unknown country boy who came to work as a government clerk and who found undreamed of riches in real estate.' A collection of letters, sent back to his father, were reprinted in the 1930s by the Columbia Historical Society of Washington DC, and the report notes "he was only sixteen when he arrived in the nation's capital but letters to his father back in Pennsylvania show a keen power of observation and maturity." The diary itself, meanwhile, contains 34 pages written while in Washington DC, and 9 pages written while in Pennsylvania. The journal begins late in 1866, when Warner was clerking in the War Department. It paints a picture of an ambitious, introspective man, who records his daily doings while also writing about death, politics, religion, the keeping of a diary, memory, and more: "The Lord of Chesterfield.says that it is highly improving to note down our ideas day after day.We are apt to give a diary too little time for such a purpose. It is made to hear our most miserable scrawling and receive the exhaust steam of minds when tired out." (November 5, 1866) "The news does not indicate riot in Balto. I heard a young man in the office say 'I would like to see a fight in Balto.' I wish I had those cursed radicals under my feet would I not crush them. This shows the spirit of the conservatives, prejudice is a basis for all their aims and passion mistakes the place of reason." (November 6, 1866) "The election comes upon Tuesday next and if the rebels can be kept this once that is all we want. In the eve went to Lyceum. Had quite an interesting discussion on the question Resolved that genius does more to make great men than circumstance." (November 3, 1866) "Slackness of energy or rather want of energy I see shown out more and more around me. It is the deadliest weapon ever drawn against success and its wounds are in general fatal. It is born in some and in others it arises from disappointments. Chilled hopes and slighted prospects often stagnate the water of the river of this earthly life." (October 30, 1866) As far as his daily doings, Warner writes about going to the office, his colleagues, attending concerts and recitations, participating in a local lyceum, attending church, going to read at the YMCA, socializing with friends, teaching boys' Sunday School, writing speeches for Senator Buckalew, and more. An ambitious man, he attends Columbia College of Law and the Bryant and Stratton Business College, and urges his patron, Senator Buckalew, to secure him a position in the Treasury Department: "Went to Buckalew's.Helped the old man write a speech on Nebraska bill. He is sharper and looks out for No. 1. He says he will go to see the Sect'y of the Trees'y about my app't tomorrow. I rather urge t.

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Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Diary Kept by Brainard H. Warner, Mainly Documenting His Time as a Government Clerk and Prominent Real Estate Developer in Reconstruction Era Washington D.C.
• Éditeur: Washington DC and Lancaster, Pennsylvania
• Date de parution: 1876
• Reliure: Couverture souple
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • Manuscripts & Archives