J.B. Willis Papers, 1874-1877

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J.B. Willis Papers, 1874-1877

J.B. Willis Papers, 1874-1877

http://www2.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/w/Willis,J.B.html

J.B. Willis (b. 1851), a native of Delaware, was a Methodistminister and teacher at New Orleans University, an African-American school in NewOrleans, La., and at a normal school in Huntsville, Ala. J.B. Willis's diary, 1874-1877,describes his daily activities while he was teaching at New Orleans University,an African-American school in New Orleans, La., and at a normal school inHuntsville, Ala., and also his activities and observations during trips to Texas andMexico. Willis's diary records his observations of New Orleans weather, social life,and public events, including parades, Mardi Gras, sessions of the Louisiana statelegislature, and religious revivals. Willis described the evangelism in New Orleansof Maggie Newton Van Cott (b. 1830), the first woman licensed to preach by theMethodist Episcopal Church in the United States. The diary also describes travelingby wagon, flatboat, steamer, and railroad to Texas in 1874, and people, animals, andlandscape along the way. In Huntsville, Ala., Willis recorded his observations ofthe natural world as well as people, church services, and revivals during the yearhe administered a new normal school and taught a theological class. In Mexico, inDecember 1876, Willis described Tampico, Tuxpan, Vera Cruz, and Mexico City. InMexico City, he reported on social occasions, tours, and day trips, including visitsto Chapultepec, the Baths of Montezuma, the Guiterraz marble factory, the lavafields near Pedregal, gardens, churches, private mansions, museums, and the unfinishedpublic library. a very ancient pyramid of adobebricks,

1 volume (205 p.)

eng,

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection