Cox, James, 1846-1925 : Diaries

Day to day record of the life of an itinerant labourer. Most days are recorded, in a pencilled hand on tiny pieces of paper. Entries typically begin with a summary of the weather before recounting his work and movements for the day. Occasionally there is brief comment on social and political events.

Navigate to child records to see the digitised copies of each diary

Publication - Miles Fairburn `Nearly out of heart and hope. The puzzle of a colonial labourer's diary' (AUP, 1995) discusses Cox's life and diary keeping in depth. See also Fairburn's entry on Cox in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.

Collection file has copies of correspondence with donor, research notes etc

Source of title - Supplied title

James Cox arrived from England in 1880. From 1889-1890 he worked in flax mills in Manawatu; In 1890-1891 he spent some months in Christchurch before returning to flax mill work near Levin and Foxton; For much of 1892 and 1893 he could not find work and was reduced to a swagman existence around Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay. Later he based himself in Carterton and did a variety of casual labouring jobs. Old age and ill health made employment diffcult during the later 1910s, but his life improved when he was accepted into the Carter Home of indigent men in Carterton. He lived there from 1918 until three months before his death when he moved to the Buchanan Home, Greytown.

Quantity: 35 volume(s). 0.50 Linear Metres.

Physical Description: Holographs (grey case folders in grey box)

Alternative form available: Photocopies available at MS-Papers-4296