Annotated almanac, 1743 Digital
Scope and Contents
Almanac containing calendar pages with sporadic annotations of unidentified measurements and interleaved pages with short handwritten entries about Winthrop's daily activities, and astronomical and meteorological observations. The entries include personal notes about travel, the weather, occasional alcohol consumption, and deaths in the community including a Latin note of the death of Winthrop's father (October 2) . There is an entry listing burials and baptisms in Boston, and a note that "Fever & fluxes prevail this month & prove very mortal" (September).
Scientific observations include notes of:
- freezing conditions (January 13 and 30, February 4)
- the "R. A." of a bright star (October 25 but recorded on the first interleaved page)
- earthquake felt in New London (March 22)
- planetary observations for the year (June-July)
- a shooting star (August 7)
- an astronomical chart (on the verso of the last page)
The title page is no longer extant.
Dates
- Creation: 1743
Researcher Access
The Papers of John and Hannah Winthrop are open for research.
Extent
.3 cubic feet (30 volumes)Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the estate of Misses Harris of Cambridge.
General note
Almanac publication information: Ames, Nathaniel, 1708-1764. Astronomical diary, or, An almanack for the year of our Lord Christ, 1743.
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
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