Albert G. Peyton diary
Scope and Contents
This diary is a chronicle of Albert Peyton’s day to day activities between January and December 1872. At first he talks about the odd jobs he does while living in Missouri, such as selling livestock, transporting corn, and hauling logs at the mill. He also talks about what he does in his spare time. In April 1872, Peyton heads west to Eureka, Nevada where he worked chopping wood and loading coal. He keeps a fairly detailed record of his finances, particularly in the “cash account” section at the end of the diary.
Dates
- 1872
Language of Materials
Material in English
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the Albert G. Peyton diary must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
Albert G. Peyton lived near Albany, Missouri, where, in early 1872, he spoke often of “doing nothing.” Perhaps that is why on April 10, 1872 he departed for Omaha, Nebraska, where he bought a $50 ticket to Palisade, Nevada via the first transcontinental railroad. He arrived in Eureka, Nevada on April 26 and secured a job chopping wood and loading coal that same day.
Extent
1 box (.25 feet)
Abstract
This diary documents the experience of Albert G. Peyton from his time working odd jobs in Missouri, to his trip on the first transcontinental railroad to Eureka, Nevada, where he worked chopping wood and loading coal.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was purchased from Michael Vinson in 2014 with funds from the Milton R. Merrill Library Collection Endowment.
Processing Information
Processed in January of 2016
- Albany (Gentry County, Mo.)--History--19th century--Sources.
- Coal mines and mining--Nevada--History--19th century--Sources.
- Day laborers--United States--19th century--Diaries.
- Diaries
- Eureka (Nev.)--History--19th century--Sources.
- Migration, Internal--United States--19th century--Sources.
- Mines and Mineral Resources
- Railroad travel--United States--History--19th century--Sources.
- Railroads
- Title
- Guide to the Albert G. Peyton Diary 1872
- Author
- Finding aid/Register created by Joanna Dobrowolska and Clint Pumphrey
- Date
- ©2016
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid encoded in English.
Revision Statements
- 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu