Calvin Coolidge’s daily journal from March of 1890

Unlike many future presidents, Coolidge did not keep a diary. But he did keep a sparse journal for 1890. That year was his last at Ludlow’s Black River Academy, which his sister also attended. Coolidge writes very consistently and succinctly at the beginning of the year with such entries as on Wednesday, January 1: “Up at 4,55 went to school. Skating after 4,15 drove in by rain” and the entry for Saturday, January 25: “Up at 9 went down to P-ville at noon.” P-ville is Proctorsville, where he and Abbie occasionally stayed with their Aunt and Uncle Pollard.

The tragedy of Abbie’s sudden passing that March is captured in this little book. He notes on Friday, February 28 that Abbie “was taken sick this morning.” The illness is today presumed to be appendicitis. On Saturday, Coolidge notes that “Abbie had Dr. Boyden today.” By Sunday, Coolidge “went back to school. Abbie is no better.” The following Wednesday, Coolidge “went home with Dr. Bryant who met [two doctors] they could not help Abbie any.”

Coolidge writes on Thursday, March 6 that “Abbie died this morning at 1245 she would have been 15 the 15th of next Apr.” On Sunday, March 9, he writes, “Abbie’s funeral at 12 about 30 students and teachers brought a wreath marked B.R.A.” In his Autobiography, Coolidge writes of his sister, “The memory of the charm of her presence and her dignified devotion to right will always abide in me.”