Henry Wight Diman Papers (Mss. Gr. 161)

Series 1. Agendas and Journals
Covering the period 1850 to 1884, the early volumes in this series contain nuggets of information on life and politics in Bristol, Rhode Island, and the nation. Those entries composed during his civil war service on the gunboat Kineo describe shipboard life and war time service in the Union navy, and incidents during Admiral David Farragut’s campaign against New Orleans and on the Mississippi. Those originating after his 1861 consular appointment to Portugal describe both Diman’s consular responsibilities and social activities. As noted in the scope and content note, gaps appear in 1865-66, 1868, 1870-71, 1875-76, and 1879, and 1881. Some volumes contain illustrations, many drawn on the occasion of Diman’s birthdays.

The journals and agendas are arranged chronologically.

Series 2. Subject File
The Subject File series consists of records from the settlement of Henry’s estate, personal letters, and official correspondence, receipts, newspaper clippings, and obituaries, written in both English and Portuguese. Also included are notes from grammar school classes in Spanish, French and English history. (Further correspondence, receipts, and Diman's commissions as justice of the peace and public notary are part of the Diman Family Papers at the Rhode Island Historical Society.)

Henry’s older brother, J. Lewis Diman (1831-1881) is represented in the Subject Series. J. Lewis was a graduate of Brown University , a respected clergyman, author, and long time professor of History and Political Economy at his alma mater. The subject series contains a journal composed by J. Lewis while studying the German states in 1854-1855. Related materials include obituaries written at the time of J. Lewis’s death and clippings of a speech delivered by him in observance of the centenary of the capture of British general Richard Prescott at Portsmouth, Rhode Island during the American Revolution. The executor of Henry's estate, John DeWolf, is also represented in the Subject Series.

Among other noteworthy items is a journal from the Marble Club, a group of boyhood friends, Henry among them, who used the club as a means of maintaining their friendship even when separated by thousands of miles. The subject series also contains two transit letters designating Diman as consul in Oporto and Lisbon, Portugal signed by Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant respectively, and a collection of posters and handbills proclaiming various theatrical and athletic events.

Folders in the series are arranged alphabetically by subject.