Jefferson, John F. (1833-1910) Papers, 1849-1925

Held by The Filson Historical Society 

Creator:  Jefferson, John F., 1833-1910 

Title:  Papers, 1849-1925 

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department. 

Size of Collection:  1.66 cubic feet 

Location Number:  Mss. A J45 

Scope and Content Note 

The bulk of the collection consists of diaries (50 v.) kept for fifty years, 1857-1906. Jefferson’s diaries contain a day-by-day account of a wide variety of happenings: church attendance, family and social news, and national and international events, including many comments on politics and current events, such as Lincoln’s election and inauguration and the assassination of presidents Lincoln and Garfield. The writer mentions prices of food, coal, etc., stock quotations, the establishment and cessation of newspapers in Louisville, population statistics for Louisville, weather conditions, duels and murders, deaths from disease, admission of states into the Union, accounts of battles of the Civil War, and many other matters. Parts of three diaries (1878-1879) give a detailed account of a six month trip through Europe, that included Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, Italy, Holland and Switzerland. Each diary has been transcribed; please contact the Filson (gro.l1711694530aciro1711694530tsihn1711694530oslif1711694530@hcra1711694530eser1711694530) for more information.

The papers also include Jefferson’s account book for Brook St. Methodist Evangelical Church and Brook St. Sabbath School, 1857-1864; his “Memorandum of all the names of persons I am acquainted with in the U. States,” 1850; inventory book, 1884-1888; chicken book, 1849; and H. T. Jefferson’s Journal No. 3, 1857 June-Sept., and expense account, 1861-1871. 

Folder List 

Box 1 

1 Diary, 1857. 

2 Diary, 1858. 

3 Diary, 1859. 

4 Diary, 1860. 

5 Diary, 1861. 

6 Diary, 1862. 

7 Diary, 1863. 

8 Diary, 1864. 

9 Diary, 1866. 

 

Box 2 

10 Diary, 1867. 

11 Diary, 1868. 

12 Diary, 1869. 

13 Diary, 1870. 

14 Diary, 1871. 

15 Diary, 1872. 

16 Diary, 1873. 

17 Diary, 1875. 

18 Diary, 1876. 

 

Box 3 

19 Diary, 1877. 

20 Diary, 1878. 

21 Diary, 1879 Jan. 1-May 1. 

22 Diary, 1879 May 1-Dec. 31. 

23 Diary, 1880. 

24 Diary, 1881. 

25 Diary, 1882. 

26 Diary, 1883. 

27 Diary, 1884. 

28 Diary, 1885. 

29 Diary, 1886. 

30 Diary, 1887. 

31 Diary, 1888. 

 

Box 4 

32 Diary, 1889. 

33 Diary, 1890. 

34 Diary, 1891. 

35 Diary, 1892. 

36 Diary, 1893. 

37 Diary, 1894. 

38 Diary, 1895. 

39 Diary, 1898. 

40 Diary, 1900. 

41 Diary, 1902. 

42 Diary, 1903. 

43 Diary, 1905. 

44 Diary, 1906. 

 

Box 5 

45 Account book for Brook St. Methodist Evangelical Church and Brook St. Sabbath School 1857-1860. 

46 Inventory book, 1884-1888. 

47 Account book, 1849. 

48 Journal #3, 1857 June-Sept. 

49 Expense account book, 1861-1871. 

50 Memorandum of all the names of persons I am acquainted with in the U. States; 1850. 

51 Miscellaneous papers, 1851-1915. 

52 Newspaper clippings, 1899-1925.