Marie (Mary) Ester Brandt

Description:	Marie (Mary) Ester Brandt began keeping a diary on November 29, 1849. She began her first entry with the statement Cronicle [sp] of events, for future refference[sp]. She made daily entries until February 13, 1869. Although different dates are given for her birth, the inscription on her headstone in the Hanover Cemetery lists her birth as May 14, 1823 and her death February 28, 1915. During the time of the diaries she lived in and around Hanover, Indiana. Her parents were born in Switzerland and emigrated to this country in 1818. Her father died in 1829 and her mother appears to have supported a large family of eight children by running a boarding house. Marie never married and lived with her unmarried sister Cecilia and for many years her unmarried brother Henry. The diaries recount daily domestic activities of washing, cleaning, gardening, canning, tending animals and caring for the ill, as well as social activities such as visiting friends, attending lectures, taking painting classes and trips into Madison. The Sunday entries always had attendance at chapel, preaching and Sabbath School where she was a teacher. Interposed with these enries are observations about national events--election of President Lincoln, Civil War battles, etc. Her diary gives the reader a detailed picture of ordinary life during this time.
Origin:	Circa 1910
Created By:	Marie (Mary) Ester Brandt
Publisher:	Digital Image 2011 Indiana Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.
Source:	http://images.indianahistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/dc008/id/669
Collection:	Civil War Materials
Copyright:	This image may be printed or downloaded by individuals, schools or libraries for study, research or classroom teaching without permission. For other uses contact: mailto:visualcollections@indianahistory.org
Geography:	Indiana--Madison County
Subjects:	Brandt, Marie Ester, 1823-1915 Jefferson County (Ind.) Clothing & dress Hairstyles Hanover (Ind.) United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Women

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