Elizabeth "Lizzie" Boynton Stalker Jeffers (1853-1888) was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, to Mary and John Stalker. She married Charles Jeffers (1853-1944) in 1875, and they had three children together, Leroy (1878-1926), Joy (1886-1887), and Julien (May-Dec. 1888).
This diary was kept by 9-year-old Stalker from 1863 to 1864. The first entry, on June 28, 1863, states: "with pleasures I begin to write in my little pink book a presant [sic] from cousin Ella." The entries mention the weather, ailments, playing with baby dolls, picking wild strawberries, and going to school. Stalker refers to the war several times, once on June 30, 1863 ("How dreadful this war is when will it come to a close and there are so many that favour the south even of little girls in my school and they try to make me hate the poor slaves"), and again on July 18, July 26, 1863 and April 4, July 31, 1864. She also mentions sending letters and "comfort bags" to soldiers.