We often have to tell researchers that President Wilson did not keep a diary. That is one of the reasons why the diaries of his doctor are so valuable. There is one intriguing period, though, when young Tommy Wilson did attempt to keep a journal when he was working to teach himself shorthand while a student at Princeton. Many of these were collected and transcribed for the Woodrow Wilson Papers by Arthur S. Link

Wilson started this diary in 1876 at the end of his first year at Princeton. Mostly it records his reactions to what he was reading and the day-to-day activities of a student, finishing up his courses and heading off for a lazy summer at home.

[June 14th, Wednesday] At noon went down to University baseball ground, expecting to see a game between our fellows and the Lafayette boys, but no game came off—for what reason I do not know.

At 12.30 went to the Treasurer’s office to draw for room in the new dormitory—Witherspoon Hall. I had very good luck indeed, and drew 5th choice. I chose No. 7 West Entry, which will I think be a very fine room indeed.

On July 4th of that summer, the nineteen-year-old Wilson wrote:

The one-hundredth anniversary of American independence. One hundred years ago America conquered England in an unequal struggle and this year she glories over it. How much happier she would be now if she had England’s form of government instead of the miserable delusion of a republic. A republic too founded upon the notion of abstract liberty! I venture to say that this country will never celebrate another centennial as a republic.

After two months, he was ready to return to Princeton, but along the way, there was the Centennial Exhibition to visit in Philadelphia.

Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia Advertising Card, Free Library of Philadelphia

[September] 5th Tuesday. Reached Portsmouth about 7½ o’clock in the evening and went on board the Baltimore boat which was crowded to overflowing. All the state rooms were engaged and I had to sleep on the floor with numerous others. Slept very little and spent a very uncomfortable night.

After the long trip by coach, boat, and train, Wilson finally met up with his father, who had travelled to the North earlier in the summer, so that they could tour through the exhibit together.

[September] 6th Wednesday. Reached Baltimore about 7½ o’clock in the morning and went around to the depot and started for Philadelphia about 9 o’clock in crowded train of 13 cars. Reached Philadelphia about one and found father at the Girard House where he was waiting for firemen’s procession to pass.

Centennial Depot, Pennsylvania R.R. Co., University of Maryland, Digital Collections

The centennial was essentially a world’s fair, with displays by many nations of the progress they had made in the last century. It was the biggest event of the year, with nearly ten million people attending that summer.

[September] 7th Thursday. Spent the day at Centennial grounds. Went through the main buildings Machinery Hall, the Art Building and had a short survey of the Government Building. The exhibition of the articles in all departments is extensive and most tasteful and elegant. What an immense amount of brainwork one sees in such a place as Machinery Hall! The machinery in this building is as it were the cause of all the exhibits in other buildings. Here is to be found the machinery by which all the other articles were made. In the Art Building, we found some beautiful sculpture and painting though most of it was a rather second rate in my judgment. By far the best display of arts in this building was that of England. Returned to town about 4½

Corliss Machine in Machinery Hall, Free Library of Philadelphia

[September] 8th Friday. Went out to the Centennial grounds at about 8½ o’clock and stayed there until one o’clock, when we bade the exhibition goodbye. Visited Agricultural Hall and revisited the Government Building examining the lighthouses etc. One of the things which interested me most of all was a machine for making stamped envelopes which is certainly very wonderful. After leaving the grounds we went to an exhibition of the “The Siege of Paris” just outside the ground and found it very interesting indeed.

The two men bought a few more clothes the next day before boarding the train for Princeton. There is a bit more diary to discuss, but that will have to wait for another blog post!