Jacob E. Yoder's Diaries, entries for December 28, 1868-January 2, 1869
Dublin Core
Title
Jacob E. Yoder's Diaries, entries for December 28, 1868-January 2, 1869
Subject
African Americans, education, race relations
Description
Jacob Eschbach Yoder (1838-1905), a Pennsylvania native, came to Lynchburg in 1866 to help educate freedpeople. He left after a few months, but returned in 1868 and continued to teach and serve as an administrator for the African American schools in Lynchburg until his death. Despite his idealistic intentions, he confided to his diary his deep ambivalence aobut his job, the abilities of his colleagues, and the prospects for African American education. Yoder kept a diary between 1866 and 1870, some of which has been published as The Fire of Liberty in Their Hearts, ed., Samuel L. Horst (1996). These entries are from a volume that remains unpublished.
Creator
Jacob Yoder
Source
Jacob E. Yoder. Diaries, 1861-1870. Accession 27680, 51148. Personal papers collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
Date
December 28, 1868-January 2, 1869
Rights
CC BY-SA
Relation
Out of the Box blog entry on Jacob Yoder.
Format
JPG
Type
Text
Identifier
14_1165_032, Yoder diary_1868-1869_transcription_14_1165_032.pdf
Coverage
Lynchburg, Virginia
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Thusday Dec. 31st 1868.
Such dissatisfaction in the family on account of distribution of Christmas gifts. Distributed gifts to the children. Bureau has closed up today.
New Year 1869:
Varner and Forrest I met down st. Came up with them and fooled time away. At twelve went went to the Court House where the Colored People assembled for the purpose of celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Speeches were made by Messrs. Kelsoe, John Garland, Scott, Rev. White, Rev. Martin Warwick, Squire Tollaiferro and the rest. The meeting was conducted in the most mannerly manner. Speeches were good as party political speeches. But the tone of them was not destined to make a more amicable feeling between the two races. On the whole the speakers appealed to the prejudices of the people.
Came home at five and united both dinner and supper. After supper a species of gross injustice was practiced on me. One of the ladies was invited to a party at Gen Wilcox’s. She asked me to gallant her there and fetch her from there at Eleven at night.
This I did.
Then I should have written to the association but I did not.
Saturday Jan 2nd 1868.
Morton Roberts and Mr. Wm. Smith called this Morning. Distributed the last Christmas presents. Read the Peoples Magazine. Did little work of any kind. Varner left this eve.
Such dissatisfaction in the family on account of distribution of Christmas gifts. Distributed gifts to the children. Bureau has closed up today.
New Year 1869:
Varner and Forrest I met down st. Came up with them and fooled time away. At twelve went went to the Court House where the Colored People assembled for the purpose of celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Speeches were made by Messrs. Kelsoe, John Garland, Scott, Rev. White, Rev. Martin Warwick, Squire Tollaiferro and the rest. The meeting was conducted in the most mannerly manner. Speeches were good as party political speeches. But the tone of them was not destined to make a more amicable feeling between the two races. On the whole the speakers appealed to the prejudices of the people.
Came home at five and united both dinner and supper. After supper a species of gross injustice was practiced on me. One of the ladies was invited to a party at Gen Wilcox’s. She asked me to gallant her there and fetch her from there at Eleven at night.
This I did.
Then I should have written to the association but I did not.
Saturday Jan 2nd 1868.
Morton Roberts and Mr. Wm. Smith called this Morning. Distributed the last Christmas presents. Read the Peoples Magazine. Did little work of any kind. Varner left this eve.
Original Format
paper
Citation
Jacob Yoder, “Jacob E. Yoder's Diaries, entries for December 28, 1868-January 2, 1869,” Remaking Virginia: Transformation Through Emancipation, accessed November 20, 2024, https://virginiamemory.com/online-exhibitions/items/show/222.