The last entry in Ruth Henshaw Bascom's diary for 1828 notes that she had kept a journal since 1789. There are two volumes for 1805, and the following years are missing: 1795, 1798, 1811, 1815, 1822, 1838, and 1844. This collection begins with the first diary in 1789 and continues through 1846. The earliest volumes tend to be the least complete--there are gaps in the coverage and many of the leaves are torn and fragile. For most years, however, there is an entry for each day in which Bascom recorded the weather and her activities. Her time was occupied, as a young girl, by classes and special programs at Leicester Academy, social activities, housework, and family occasions. After her marriage to the Rev. Bascom, she spent much of her time helping her husband fulfill his ministerial responsibilities. She carefully recorded his sermon topics, funerals, and marriage ceremonies. Until she began doing pastel portraits and silhouettes in the latter part of her life, most of her energy was devoted to visiting, watching the sick, serving on local library and temperance societies, and doing household tasks. In 1801 Bascom made what appears to be the first entry concerning the profiles for which she is famous. The frequency of these entries increases in the 1820s and 1830s. There are only a few notations of receiving money for her sketches, but there are occasional records of what she spent for art supplies, e.g., the construction of frames for her profiles. Most of the sketches were done for neighbors and relatives, probably as presents for them or their families. Some of the profiles were of deceased children and babies, sketched as remembrances for the parents, and others were done for strangers who had heard of Bascom's ability. In 1816 Bascom began recording the vital statistics for the town in which she lived and, at the same time, she started to keep personal accounts. These records gradually expanded to include births, deaths, marriages, lists of their visitors (how long they stayed and how many meals they consumed), lists of letters received and sent, and expenses. Both Bascoms traveled a great deal, and Ruth Bascom made detailed entries about the trips. Most of them were by stagecoach and she recorded the route, number of passengers and their destinations, stops, road conditions, etc. In 1801-1802 she traveled to Virginia. Later in her life, she made frequent and extended visits to Leicester, Boston, and parts of Maine. Two of the volumes were kept by Ruth Bascom's sister, Catherine Henshaw (1784-1806). The only diary for 1804 was written by Catherine (from February 13-December 6), but there are two diaries for 1805, one by each girl. Catherine's is incomplete after May. There is little reflection in the diaries, one notable exception being the entry at the end of the 1810 journal. There is often some very general reflection about the passing of time and Christian duty at the beginning and end of each year. The diaries are most valuable for their wealth of detail about the daily course of events. Unusual events, such as general elections, are frequently noted, and natural disasters are given their due. But the emphasis, over the course of 57 years, is on local events, sickness and death, visiting, her art work, and the weather. The folder contains the following photocopies: Ruth Henshaw Bascom's will, 24 November 1846; her estate inventory, 10 May 1848; and a checklist of portraits painted by Bascom (organized in alphabetical order by subject), and a bibliography, both prepared by Mary Eileen Egan for her thesis, Ruth Henshaw Bascom, New England Portraitist (Senior Honors Thesis, College of the Holy Cross, 1980).
