Delia (Hammond) Locke was the matriarch of the family. Born in 1832, she married Dr. Dean Jewett Locke and moved to California in 1855. That same year Delia began keeping a daily diary. The diary provides a remarkable documentation of life in rural northern California in the 19th century. The daily happenings of Delia's life and the Lockeford community are recorded, including the activities of church and temperance organizations as well as the Mokelumne River Ladies' Sewing Circle. Nearly every entry begins with temperature recordings taken at sunrise (written as "T.S.R"), 2 PM, and Sunset (written as "S.S.").
Delia Locke Diaries Women Diarist California Locke-Hammond Family Papers Lockeford CA Dean Jewett Locke Rural life Rural California 19th Century Church Temperance organizations Mokelumne River Ladies' Sewing Circle Temperature recordings Journal
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