Jump to Navigation

Harriet Parkerson diaries and papers

Creator: Parkerson, Harriet Arms, 1855-1940

Date: [ca. 1835-ca. 1960]

Level of Description: Coll./Record Group

Material Type: Manuscripts

Call Number: Diaries, 1891-1900: MICROFILM MS 1189
Remainder of collection: Ms. Coll. 466

Unit ID: 40466

Biographical sketch: Adopted daughter of Isaac & Ellen Goodnow; of Manhattan, Neosho Falls, Kan.

Space Required/Quantity: 3 cubic feet (4 boxes)

Title (Main title): Harriet Parkerson diaries and papers

Titles (Other):

  • Diaries and papers
  • Papers

Biography

Biog. Sketch (Full): Harriet Parkerson was born in 1855. Her mother died when Harriet was two years old, and the infant was legally adopted by her aunt and uncle, Isaac and Ellen Gooodnow. They were some of the earliest settlers in Manhattan, Kansas. She lived with the Goodnows near Manhattan and in Neosho Falls, Kansas, during the remainder of their lives, although she retained her original surname. After the deaths of her sister Etta and her husband Alvin, Harriet adopted their son Louis and changed his surname from Reynolds to Parkerson.

Scope and Content

Scope and content: The Harriet Parkerson Papers consist of both diaries and correspondence. The diaries, dated 1891-1900, document her early life in the Goodnow home, describing her daily activities as well as those of Isaac and Ellen Goodnow. They also discuss her activities in the Grange (Patrons of Husbandry); the missionary societies of the Methodist Church in Manhattan, Kansas; her uncle's work at the Kansas State Agricultural College, the present Kansas State University, in Manhattan; and the activities of her nephew Louis Reynolds Parkerson. The correspondence dates through the 1940s and is mostly between Harriet and Louis, as well as correspondence with other friends and doctors. The earliest dated correspondence was created by Issac and Ellen Goodnow. Included are genealogical research and notes concerning the Goodnow family and other branches. Also included are an 1845 sermon and eulogy for Harriet Goodnow upon her death at nearly fourteen years of age and three compositions for class by Louis Parkerson in 1899: "A Trip to the Moon," "Debate," and "Diary of a Schoolboy."

Portions of Collection Separately Described:


Locators:

Locator Contents
007-03-04-03  1891-1900: diaries (MICROFILM: MS 1189) 
013-06-03-05  c. 1900-1935 
108-10-06-01  1835C-1953C 
121-09-02-04   
121-17-02-04  [ca. 1911]–1960 

Microfilm:

  • MS 1189: Harriet Parkerson diaries 1891-1900

Related Records or Collections

Associated materials: Additional papers, 1887-2007, at the Morse Department of Special Collections, Kansas State University (Manhattan); https://findingaids.lib.k-state.edu/harriet-parkerson-papers

Related materials: Isaac Tichenor Goodnow, ms. collection 357.

Index Terms

Subjects

    Kansas State Agricultural College
    Kansas -- Genealogy
    Goodnow, Ellen Denison -- Correspondence
    Goodnow, Isaac T. (Isaac Tichenor), 1814-1894 -- Correspondence
    Parkerson, Harriet Arms, 1855-1940 -- Correspondence
    Parkerson, Harriet Arms, 1855-1940 -- Diaries
    Parkerson, Louis Reynolds, 1884- -- Correspondence

Creators and Contributors


Additional Information for Researchers

Add'l physical form: Diaries, 1891-1900: Microfilm. Topeka [Kan.] : Kansas State Historical Society, 1985. Roll MS 1189.