Box 1

The Harry A. Joslyn Collection (1860-1905) provides excellent documentation for the study of rural life in DeKalb County, Illinois during the second half of the nineteenth century. The bulk of the collection consists of a series of 39 diaries (1865-1905) written by Harry A. Joslyn of Cortland and Sycamore. Diaries for 1890 and 1891 are missing. Daily entries vary in length but generally include information on family life work activities, politics,... weather, and social life. Two additional diaries were written by Harry A. Joslyn’ s sons, James and William. There are two folders of financial records, estate documents, bills, receipts, and business cards. One volume contains tax collector’s records for the years 1860-1862. More detailed biographical and genealogical information is available in Box 1, folder 1.