Alexander Ward Diaries, 1874 - 1875

The Alexander Ward Papers comprise fifteen autograph diaries of Alexander Ward from 1870 to 1889. The diaries begin while Ward is eighteen and trace his development from a wealthy youth working part-time in a factory to a wealthy land owner doing local magistracy work. The diaries offer us an interesting perspective on the day to day life of a country squire during his early years before his marriage in 1895. The entries are written in a "matter-of-fact" style, often with little commentary. A typical entry is as follows:

"Office at usual time, same time. Wimpole St. at 1:30. Dorchester Terr. at 2:45. went for a ride with Lidney and Adela to Hammersmith Bridge and then through Richmond Park. Heard of Uncle Sandy's death." (3/21/1874)

There are a number of subjects which appear throughout the collection. An example is his trips to Scotland and Ireland, which tend to occur at least once a year. Ward also made three trips to the Continent to France, Germany, and Switzerland, mostly to help his rheumatism by attending the Baths in each place. Another recurring subject is that of Gatwick, the family estate, where Ward often performed maintenance and where much of his hunting and horsemanship took place. Ward often refers to Aunt Fannie, who apparently suffered from a mental disorder and was hospitalized during most of the time the diaries were kept. He frequently mentions taking her for walks and out to dine, often with his sister Janet. Grenada is mentioned several times in the early years of the Collection, and because Ward was later made judge over the island some time after 1895, all such references are showing in the finding aid. A final subject which may be found interesting is the amount of train travel recorded by Ward, who may well have taken at least one tran a day five or six days a week, and often taking several trains a day. His records are often very detailed, telling what time he caught a train and often when it arrived.