Collection of materials from Amy and Fitch Stacy, including two friendship autograph albums, one journal, one pocket diary, and other documents from the family. The bulk of the materials date from the 1860s.

The earliest two albums come from Amy Stacy’s time at the North Granville Female Seminary School (ca. 1858-1861), and contain autographs of friends, bible verses, quotes from literature and recent novels, and pencil drawings by Amy. It is unclear whether Amy simply attended this school, or also taught there after graduation. Amy’s journal dates from 1865 to 1869 and records the initial difficult transition of leaving her home and moving to Stacyville, Iowa. She also writes of the birth of her first son, expressing relief that the child is a boy. The journal has few entries, but also includes religious quotes, lists of her correspondence, descriptions of travels back to New York, and notes about “books to be bought.” Notes kept in the journal include an itinerary for her 1892 trip aboard the S.S. Topeka from Washington to Alaska (diary of this trip is located at the Washington State Historical Society), a note to her children, and other miscellaneous notes.

Fitch’s pocket diary from 1864 was used to document many different areas of his life, including jobs, travel, and accounting information. The entry for March 16th includes a note about an agreement with his cousin to build a house in Stacyville. The page for July 20th lists the members of the Iowa Calvary and Infantry who served in the Civil War. It is unclear where or how Fitch and Amy met, but by the fall of 1864, some of the entries, mostly quotes, are written in her hand. The loose notes kept in the diary are primarily from Amy which document an affectionate marriage. Some are reminders of chores or supplies for Fitch to get, and others are short questions for him to answer. The notes were likely delivered to Fitch by their children.