A Guide to the Edwin B. Hancock Diary, 1872-1873

Biographical Note

Edwin B. Hancock (1856-1916) was a sixteen-year old Austin schoolboy when he began his diary in November 1872. His lawyer father, John Hancock, migrated to Austin, Texas in 1847 to join his brother, a merchant. He held a number of offices, including serving in the U. S. House of Representatives. Edwin was an only child, who followed his father's path to a career as a lawyer and engaged in social and civic activities. While his parents were in Washington, D.C., Edwin stayed in Austin with the family of his closest friend, James Raymond. They both attended the S. G. Sneed Private School, one of six private schools in the town.

Source:

Graff, Harvey J. “Conflicting paths: growing up in American”. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1995.

Scope and Contents

The Edwin B. Hancock Diary, 1872-1873, includes clippings and daily accounts of Edwin B. Hancock’s activities as a schoolboy at the S. G. Sneed Private School in Austin, TX. The materials relate to Hancock's pastimes and comments on political and commercial activities of Austin, as well as growing up in the middle class in Austin, Texas, capital city and frontier town.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Hancock (Edwin B.) Diary, 1872-1873, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.

Detailed Description of the Diary