MC 22
1 box (.33 cu.ft.)
About Leon A. Colby (1870-1945):
Leon A. Colby was born on December 18, 1870 in Whitefield, New Hampshire, the son of Charles and Hattie Colby. He worked as a farm hand on his parents’ farm and later inherited the farm when they died. In his youth, Leon attended the local school and enjoyed blacksmithing. For some time, he worked in the wood mill at Zealand (Carroll), New Hampshire and in 1905 he began to work at the Riverton Electric Company in Lancaster, New Hampshire, boarding in the town during the week and returning home on weekends. On October 18, 1902 he married Grace Howard. The couple continued to live on the family farm and eventually had seven children: Viola, Charles Henry, Richard, Leona, Wilma, Asa and Joseph. Leon Colby died from coronary thrombosis on April 10, 1945.
About the Colby diary collection:
The collection consists of sixteen diaries from the years 1887, 1889-1893, 1897-1900, 1902, 1905-1907 and 1909. Leon A. Colby began keeping a diary at age 16. His diaries contain daily accounts of the weather and of his work. In recounting work at his farm and at the Riverton Electric Company, he can be very descriptive. Occasionally, he will comment on social activities, new technology, and family matters. The diaries over time document Leon’s coming of age and growing maturity. The diaries also double as account books of varying consistency and as address books. The collection also includes two letters and three newspaper clippings found in the diary for 1891.
Folder Listing:
I. Diaries
| e.1 | January- December, 1887. Contains one diary. Records school activities, chores, weather, farm life, and social life. |
| e.2 | January-December, 1889. Contains one diary. School activities, chores, weather, farm life and social life. Visits Barnum and Bailey Circus and builds a bicycle. |
| e.3 | January-December, 1890. Contains one diary. School activities, chores, weather, farm life and social life. Recalls Mr. Barnet taking the census. |
| e.4 | January-December, 1891. Contains one diary. Work at the Zealand wood mill, farm work, weather, family, social life and medical ailments. Visits Barre, Vermont. |
| e.5 | January-December, 1892. Contains one diary. Work at the Zealand wood mill, farm work, weather, family, and social life. Tells of a passenger train accident and the death of his friend Mary Walker. |
| e.6 | January-December, 1893. Contains one diary. Records work as a night watchman for two local mills, farm work, weather, family and social life. Visits Boston, Massachusetts. Contains detailed account records. |
| e.7 | January-December, 1897. Contains one diary. Records work for Clark Colby in a bobbin mill, farm work, weather, family and social life. Contains detailed account records. |
| e.8 | January-December, 1898. Contains one diary. Records farm work, weather, family and social life. Notes a skirmish at Matanzas, Cuba during the Spanish-American War and the loss of the steamer Portland. Contains blacksmithing metal formulas and gunpowder formula as well as detailed account records. |
| e.9 | January-December, 1899. Contains one diary. Records farm work, weather, family and social life. Notes the death of his friend and neighbor, Mr. Stillings; takes up photography as a hobby, and takes a trip to Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Contains detailed account records. |
| e.10 | January-December, 1900. Contains one diary. Records work at the bobbin mill, farm work, weather, family and social life. Begins to court Grace Howard and visits Boston, Massachusetts. Contains detailed account records. |
| e.11 | January-December, 1902. Contains one diary. Records farm work, weather, family and social life. Marries Grace Howard. Detailed account records with price of diary. |
| e.12 | January-December, 1904. Contains one diary. Records farm work, weather, family and social life. Mentions his daughter Viola. Contains detailed account records. |
| e.13 | January-December, 1905. Contains one diary. Records work at the Riverton Electric Company, farm work, weather, family and social life. Contains detailed account records. |
| e.14 | January-December, 1906. Contains one diary. Records work at the Riverton Electric Company, farm work, weather, family and social life. Tells of a fire at the Maine Central Water Tank House and his actions in the rescue efforts. Mentions that Viola, his daughter, is walking. Contains detailed account records. |
| e.15 | January-December, 1907. Contains one diary. Records work at the Riverton Electric Company, farm work, weather, family and social life. First mentions his son Henry (Charles). Contains detailed account records. |
| e.16 | January-December, 1909. Contains one diary. Records farm work, weather, family and social life. Leon first mentions his son, Richard. Contains detailed account records. |
II. Letters
| e.17 | November 27, 1892. From Miss Flossie Howland to Leon A. Colby confirming his visit the following Wednesday to North Woodstock, New Hampshire. |
| e.18 | April 4, 1899. From Warren W. Bennett to Leon A. Colby detailing his work in Providence, Rhode Island. |
III. Newspaper Clippings
| e.19 | Unknown Dates: Developing Formula. Gives details on how to make developing formula. Foot Salve Illustration. Illustrated instructions for foot salve. Cherub Illustration. Picture of cherubs and the lower half of three people dancing. |