A collection of untitled writings : 1858-1859 (originally written for use in an unidentified school's newspaper)

Call Number

• H 977.417 C6975 (CEN)

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Publication Information

[Kalamazoo, Michigan : Brent L. Coates], [2025]

Physical Description

1 volume (unpaged) ; 28 cm

Summary

"The following writings are a part of the Milham Collection in KPL's Local History Department. Within that collection there are many letters and booklets written by descendants of the family's Pomeroy branch. One of the booklets holds a collection of writings that were first thought to be authored by Norton Pomeroy, who came from Lockport, New York and settled in Pavilion Township in 1845. While reading through the essays, letters, poems, riddles, and 'compositions,' it was learned that the author was a student, who was part of a group that produced a school newspaper, THE OFFERING, 'the first ever published in' their district. Unfortunately, there is no mention of which school this was for. However, in a letter of thanks it is stated that 'Norton' provided some much-needed materials to the school, and there was no other Norton in the area, except Norton Pomeroy; it may well have been an early one room log schoolhouse in Section 21 of Pavilion Township near where Pomeroy lived. It is known from surviving letters Pomeroy received from relatives, that he was a teacher and did teach in the area into the 1850s. The school may have been one with which he had a working relationship. Thanks to a historical composition that discussed the end of one year and the hopes for better in the new, it is known that the writings date to 1858-1859. From other pieces that mention other national events, that date is readily confirmed. Sadly, the booklet has long since lost its cover and possibly the name of the student author. These writings reflect upon a diverse set of topics, both local and national. Using various literary forms, the author described the land within Pavilion, but also near Kalamazoo. Names of some families long settled in Pavilion are mentioned in riddles that use a play on words and phrases of the period. Poetry was used to describe the death of a classmate and the fate of a man who is too fussy when choosing a girl. It is the same among the writings that deal with national events. An essay was written to describe all that made the 1850s a decade of struggle; a poem was written to make a statement about each state and territory in the United States and clearly describes the social conflict involved regarding expansion and the issue of slavery. Yet all the writings reflect the hopes and dreams of a youth who appears to be about to begin life beyond the schoolhouse. While doing the transcription of each piece, I chose not to make any spelling or grammatical corrections. In most cases, there is no difficulty making out a word that would interfere with understanding its context. Where the author's spelling is incorrect, [sic] follows. When a word was or letters were illegible, but obvious, I placed these inside brackets to show this was my choice, e.g., beco[me]. If I was not able to read something, I left the gap with a question mark inside brackets, e.g., [ ? ]. And where words or sentences were ripped out or, in the case of the last essay, the page is missing, I put in a bracket with a longer gap, e.g., [ ]. Any words that the author crossed out in the original text, I have left out of the transcription. The page titled THE COMPOSITION AND ORDER OF THE WRITINGS was created by me as a guide for the reader to preview the diversity of text that the student wrote"--from introduction by Brent L. Coates.

Notes

Spiral-bound.

Includes table of contents.

Transcription of the original 1859 document. If the reader wishes to view the original, please ask for assistance at the Local History Desk (Kalamazoo Public Library).

Contents

• THE COMPOSITION AND ORDER OF THE WRITINGS (as they appeared in the booklet): 1) Essay that describes a view of Kalamazoo from west of town from a hill between Mountain Home Cemetery and Kalamazoo College
• 2) A paragraph describing items that have gone missing from the school and need to be replaced (see #6)
• 3) A scary story
• 4) Paragraph on what defines a home
• 5) Essay describing the elements of a good neighborhood
• 6) Letter thanking "Norton" for providing the school with its needed items (see #2)
• 7) Poem, telling of the death of a schoolmate (possibly Thomas C. Collins, d. 2-19-1859)
• 8) Essay describing what defines an education
• 9) Play-on-words and riddles (some refer to current students and teachers)
• 10) Letter detailing the fictional work of the Sisters of Charity with bachelors 11) Poem telling of one man being too choosey when looking for a woman to wed
• 12) Essay detailing a student's plans for life when he finishes school
• 13) Essay describing the economic struggles of the 1850s and the hopes for a change in the new year, 1859
• 14) Poem that gives a brief description of each state and territory in the Union in 1859
• 15) Essay and poem about the pleasures of a life in the country
• 16) Essay and poem about the pleasures of spring
• 17) Essay giving a description of the elements that would define a proper schoolhouse and its geographical location in Pavilion
• 18) An end of term essay that hopes the students enjoyed the newspaper and do not fault its "humble efforts" to please.