Henry A. Haigh: The Diaries.
It was not until some years later, after I had gone through the school at Dearborn, and there was family talk of my being sent to the Agricultural College at Lansing, where my three brothers had attended, and my brother Richard had just graduated, that any ideas about keeping a record of events entered into my mind.
But early in 1871, when it had been decided that I should enter College at the opening term, my father gave me a little memorandum book, not a regular diary, but a very nice well-bound book, in which to keep my accounts.
That book became my first attempt at keeping a regular diary. But it was very carelessly kept, only occasional entries being made and many extraneous and irrelevant items being inserted.
The expense account for 1871 is fairly complete, but no regular record of current events at College or elsewhere, no connected story of my progress was attempted or at least nothing was completed.
I am therefore writing here, in this portion of an unused Diary or Year Book of 1931, (sixty years later) such entries of 1871 as seem worth preserving.
Extracts from Diary for 1871
Jan. 10 Armistice granted by the Prussians to the French for 15 days.
Jan. 15 Snow storm and cold weather
Feb. 20 Left Dearborn with Frank Gulley by M.C.R.R. [Michigan
Railroad] for Lansing , via Jackson , to enter State Agricultural College
Feb. 21 Registered, paid College Fees, and was assigned to Room 21 in Old Boarding Hall, now called “Saints Rest” with Frank Gulley and George Long, 3 in the Room. We bought some furniture, got the little stove going, filled bed tick with straw from the barn, and turned in. George Long on the lounge and Frank Gulley and I in the bed.
Other entries, very brief, show hasty progress in getting settled. The following books were bought in February or March:
Algebra $1.75
Bookkeeping 1.50
History 2.10
Notebook .70
Webers History 2.10
Mar. 9 Sanford Howard, Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture and of the College died in Lansing
Apr. 30 Dr .Sweeny of Dearborn
May 15 Richard Haigh Jr. and Cora Fish were this day married at Lexington , Kentucky
Casual and Careless Entries in the Diary for 1871: Many of the entries in the Diary for 1871 are so inconsequential, so very incomplete and carelessly made, or so foolish, as to be of little or no value as a record of events.
For instance, on May 29, when the College grounds were most beautiful and everyone was happy, some of our co-eds, (the first of all came that year,) were out under the shade trees having tea or a picnic lunch and I must have been invited, or perhaps I just invaded, for I knew them very well and liked them very much.
Instead of making a decent record of this interesting incident, I simply fell to making cartoon pictures of these sweet girls, one of which horrid sketches I am attaching to page opposite, as a record of my flippant attitude of mind at the time.
Of course it was not at all unnatural to treat the matter jocularly. We did not realize that the half dozen young ladies who came to the College in 1871, partly to try it out, were unconsciously preparing the plan, opening the opportunity and, in a way “setting the pace” for the Woman’s Department at M. A. C. which has since proved so beneficial and so important.
I do not know whether the Michigan College
I think it only just and fair to say that the success of this great movement was due in part to its successful start at the Michigan College, and that its very successful start here was due, in no small part, to the fine character and superior qualities of the attractive young women who came to this College in 1871.
Lecture by Mr. Talmonson
An illustration of the reckless and indifferent way in which the Diary of 1871 was kept is shown by the entry regarding a lecture by a Mr.Talmonson on the “Industrial Arts.”
I started to write down an abstract of this lecture, which I presume was a good one, but after writing 3 or 4 pages in pencil (now quite illegible) I evidently lost interest, and fell to making a picture of the gentleman, which I am pasting on the opposite page.
In the Diary of 1871 appears a picture of a young lady dressed in a street costume of the most extreme style of the time. The enormous “Bustle” and “Grecian Bend” of the figure are typical of those gay days.
I cannot recall the occasion for this cartoon nor whom it was intended to represent. I had a propensity for depicting or caricaturing the oddities of the extremes in fashion, & it may have been just a “take off” on the times.
But the sketch is labeled Miss M. J. of D__. The letters would correspond with the initials of Miss Mollie Jones. She was one of the co-eds, but lived in Lansing
See picture on previous page.
The Adventures of Mr.
Solomon Slinkins
In the great Agricultural College of Michigan in the year A.D. 1871.
Attached to the so-called Diary of 1871 was a separate little pamphlet bearing the above title. It consisted of a series of pen and ink or pencil sketches illustrating important events at the College in that eventful year.
It was the source of much amusement to the students, for I put more work on it than I did on the Diary itself.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, it disappeared, possibly burned in the fire at Dearborn
It depicted the progress of “Sol” as he experienced the passing events. He was made the victim or the goat of all the calamities, including many that never happened.
Failure to gain admission
Conditioned in all studies
Received only 1 cent an hour for his work
Given job in Cow Barn
Kicked by two cows
Charged with Hanging the Fox.
Admitted writing the poems about it in Lansing Journal
Was reprimanded
Invaded the Peninsular Orchard
Apples he stole were stolen from him
Reprimanded again
Inveigled for moonlight stroll along river by Tommy Rogers dressed up as a girl. Ambushed by bunch of students disguised as constables and thrown into the Red Cedar River.
Reprimanded again.
Dismissed from College and Expelled for Misdemeanors.
Writing for Papers
The Diary for 1871 shows that I made a little money by sending items about the College to the Lansing Republican. I later sent items to the Detroit Tribune, Post & Free Press.
I think that either Will or Robert Kedzie had suggested to Mr. W.S. George, editor of the Republican that I do this.
The Diary shows an % for 1871, as follows:
May 1 Report of Fairchild Lecture 41 lines
May 18 Report about a Fire 11 lines
May 20 Report about College 13 lines
May 30 Report Natural History Society 9 lines
June 5 Report Exhibition 50 lines
June 8 Report Dr. Kedzie’s Party 47 lines
Carried over 171 lines
1871 Detroit
Brought over 171 lines
June 8 Item about Felker 10 lines
June 19 Item about Baseball 8 lines
July 19 Report Horte cultural meet 21 lines
Aug. 7 Report Flag Raising 20 lines
Aug. 30 Report Nat. History Soc. 19 lines
Sept. Report College
263 lines
Rate 2 cents a line 2 Amount Received $ 5.26 Pd
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