Series 1. Diaries, 1867-1923

This series contains 22 diaries authored by Theodore Gardiner documenting his life as a student at Alfred University, as an emerging and active member of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church and the Eastern Association, and as President of Salem College. Most diary entries date from circa 1870-1910. The diaries also include information about his family, and his time spent living in Westerly, Rhode Island (RI), Greenmanville, Connecticut (CT), and Shiloh, New Jersey (NJ). There are various items (receipts, notes) inserted into the diaries.

Subjects include: Alfred University (Box 1, Folder 1); Temperance -- United States (1885 September 14, 1885 November 14, 1890 July 10); Prohibition -- United States (1885 November 03, 1902 November 10); Salem College (Salem, W. Va.) (Box 1, Folders 6-7); Seventh-Day Baptists -- West Virginia (Box 1, Folder 6-7); Seventh-Day Baptist Conferences (1885 May 05, 1889 February 02, 1906 August 22, 1907 June 13); and West Virginia University (1897 October 12). Principle family members mentioned in the diaries include: Gardiner, Emily I. (Place) (1848-1888) [first wife]; Gardiner, Hannah G. (Barnes) (1852-1902) [second wife]; Gardiner, Alice Clawson (1861-1919) [third wife]; Gardiner, Effie Gertrude (1871-1957) [daughter]; and Gardiner, Emily Theodora (1877-1905) [daughter].

Principle contemporaries mentioned in the diaries include: Huffman, John Livingston (1837-1897) [One of the founders of Salem College and fellow Seventh-Day Baptist]; Stillman, Horace (1840-1911) [Friend and fellow Seventh-Day Baptist]; and Randolph, Lester C. (1864-1918) [Evangelist and Seventh-Day Baptist].