Frank H. Blair diaries

The Frank H. Blair diaries were recently processed in the Archives and Special Collections.

There are many different types of diaries. Some give an account of day-to-day life. Blair’s diaries are mainly about his thoughts, with occasional descriptions of his activities.

Diaries in the Archives and Special Collections by Thomas Hunter, Austin Horace and an unnamed Civil War soldier from the Union Army are available for viewing on the Digital Library of South Dakota.

When reading a diary for historical research, it is useful to ask yourself the following questions:

1. What was the diary’s context?

2. What was the writer’s intent? Was it promotional? If so, what was the goal?

3. Was it written while the events were occurring or later?

4. Are there phrases borrowed from other literature of the time? Clichés may indicate that the writer was repeating common knowledge rather than writing personal observations and emotions.

The photograph of the Class of 1891 is from the Volante, volume V, number 1, September 1891, page 30. Copy of photograph is from the Digital Library of South Dakota, accessed 9/23/2025. Please contact us if you know which person in this picture is Frank H. Blair.