Personal Writing

The most interesting artifact to me are the books of poetry. I have included a few of what I have interpreted to be poems here, including the first (assumed author Jonathan writes 40 numbered poems, and there are a few others that are not numbered). I've transcribed the first poem as follows: "Go, little book, may you be read, when skies are pleasant over head, Beneath some spreading tree, and when the world is white with snow, and embers comfortably glow, may you be company." In a sense, then, this book of poems was written to be read eventually by an audience, and Jonathan wanted his words to comfort them. As I read these in 2017, I feel connected to Jonathan. 

The "Date Book" is owned by Arthur Hostage (1848), but is a 1902 date book, so it could be either the son or the elder Jonathan's book. The Date Book also contains a cut out emblem with the name "John Hostage Chester."

Inside of the book, all kinds of things are documented: the children's height and weight, dinner dates with neighbors, records of phone calls, doctor's remedies (e.g. "Dr Sullivan suggests mustard leaves for Arthur's arms"), memories (e.g. "Mems: I joined Whole Star office Staff Novemeber 1887), a running "cash account," descriptions of weather and daily tasks, etc. 

A smaller book with gridded paper is titled "1912" and has appointments marked by dates (e.g. 1/10 Frank, Tonsilitis, Dr. Fisher).

The role of the date book is interesting. For the year 1902, everything is documented in one small Date book. Losing this date book would be similar to losing one's cellphone, as memories, phone calls, conversations, personal finances, medical information, etc. are all accounted for in this single book. It is interesting to think about a blank book having so much importance compared to a cellphone that is valuable for both its content and the technology that powers it. In the 1800s, the value of the book lied in what one put into it, and it is clear that writing has a central role in the life of Jonathan Hostage. I do not recount my daily experiences in a book, or keep track of anything (medical visits, financial transactions, physical growth) the way that Jonathan is able to keep track of his family's daily life occurences. The technologies that hold any offline daily writing will crash before our ancestors can access them, which means that in the future, it is likely our digital dossiers that will shape our legacy. It is worth thinking about how these dossiers might be interpreted by future societies.