Frederick Stanton Perkins diaries
Culture:
Ho-Chunk includes: Winnebago, Hoocąk
Language: English
Date: 1889, 1890, 1894, and 1900
Contributor: Perkins, Frederick Stanton
Subject: Wisconsin--History | Museum objects | Archaeology
Type: Text
Genre: Diaries
Extent: 4 notebooks
Description: This small collection contains four manuscript diaries created by Frederick Stanton Perkins (1832-1899), who lived in Burlington, Wisconsin. Perkins’ diaries are dated 1889, 1890, 1894, and 1899-1900 and contain hand-written notes about many things, such as the addresses of friends and family, the weather, farming, family life, and financial accounts. However, thebulk of his entries relate to his massive collection of ancient objects and chronicle meetings with fellow collectors and potential buyers, such as the Smithsonian Institution. A telling note from January 1, 1889 reads, "I have to sell 22,000 flint and stone implements (relics)... also 3 of shell, 3 of lead, 388 of copper (including 79 beads). All found in Wisconsin." Inventories like these shed light on the content of his collection, pre-dispersal, as well as references to the artifacts he was painting.
Collection: Frederick Stanton Perkins diaries Mss.SMs.Coll.179