Page from the June 1875 diary of Minnie Boyd Allen
Keeping a diary in the nineteenth century was not uncommon for those living in the United States. By the middle part of the century, blank books for keeping a diary became more widely available to Americans, both young and old, who lived near towns and cities. To keep a diary, a writer needed either a blank book or a book printed with the days of the week, a quill or metal pen, and ink. Many diarists kept a records of their daily lives in these books, commenting on everything from the weather to church and school attendance to the activities they took part in with friends and family.