Diaries written in the 19th century by a member of one of historic Albany’s most famous families have been digitized for posterity by two Siena students.
CURCA summer scholars ConnorClark ’26 and Sarah Pegarella ’26 worked with the education team at Historic Cherry Hill to digitize the diaries of Harriet Maria Van Rensselaer Elmendorf “Hattie” Gould. A former resident of Historic Cherry Hill from the 1850s through the 1880s, Gould’s four diaries have now been published online on New York Heritage. The collection was written between 1879 and 1884, and although the actual “hard copies” are in good shape, preserving them digitally has added benefits for historians and history buffs alike.
The students’ work was underwritten by Siena College’s McCormick Center for the Study of the American Revolution, and is one of several such digital history projects that Siena students have worked on under the direction of Professor Jennifer Dorsey, Department of History. According to Dorsey, “These community-based preservation projects have value for both our students and our community partners. Our students learn the fundamentals of digital history, and our community partners have the opportunity to share some of their most treasured artifacts with the world.”
“It’s important to digitize historical materials because they can be studied all around the world, without ever having to leave your home,” explained Clark. “Digitization is a method of preservation, because the materials cannot be damaged or destroyed like a physical object.”
Gould’s diaries, which are only a small part of an extensive collection of artifacts at Cherry Hill, were digitized in July using a book scanner in the Grems-Doolittle Library at the Schenectady County Historical Society. Clark and Pegarella said their project was a great opportunity to learn more about the history of local landmarks and the state of New York.
“It’s important to digitize historical materials so they are preserved for future generations to study and learn from,” said Pegarella. “When these materials are published digitally it expands the audience that is able to view them, and simplifies the process of obtaining access to the historical documents.”
Hattie Gould included quotidian entries about the weather and her general well-being in her handwritten entries, but what makes her records stand out from others of the time period is that she also writes about the activities of various members of the Cherry Hill household.
“Her writing provides context for both women and families living in New York State during the Gilded Age,” said Dorsey.
This is a time period that has gained new interest in popular culture as a result of the popularity of the HBO series “The Gilded Age,” which has filmed scenes in the historic district of nearby Troy, New York.
Historic Cherry Hill was built in 1787 for Philip and Maria Van Rensselaer. It has since been lived in by extended family, enslaved people, descendants, and servants. Hattie Gould (1844-1921) was a part of the fourth generation to live at Cherry Hill.
“What I hope people take away from this project is the idea that even a small thing such as writing in a diary could be a way to study the past,” said Clark. “Even the smallest of actions can have the biggest of impacts. I had a fantastic time meeting new people and getting to learn from them and work together with experienced and well learned professionals.”
Pegarella said she hopes people reading Gould's diaries are inspired to keep their own journals.
“I hope they discover how Hattie's daily life was filled with simple moments such as playing games and spending time with family, alongside the bigger life moments she writes about,” she said. “Not only does Hattie write about her own feelings, she also shares information about numerous people within the Cherry Hill household and the surrounding community.”