American Diary Project

This just in! A large contribution to our archive means we have lots of digitizing to do. If you're near Cleveland and want to help, reach out!

Diaries are the doorways into our ancestors’ everyday lives.

These first-hand written accounts are truly vital documents to aid in linking and expanding family ancestries and our historical knowledge as a nation.

Read more in our latest blog post from Karissa Boyer.

Genealogy and ancestry research: Go deeper with diaries Diaries are the doorways into our ancestors’ everyday lives. These first-hand written accounts are truly vital documents to aid in linking and expanding family ancestries and our historical knowledge as a nation.

Today is the last day of our founder's birthday fundraiser. Please donate if you can, we're getting close to goal and every bit helps!

$40 for 40 - birthday fundraiser Celebrate our founder turning 40 by donating $40 or more to the American Diary Project

Absolutely floored by the generosity of our supporters! Thank you 🖤

Also, shout out to our cat, Marcus, for inspecting the archival boxes. 🐈‍⬛️

Spotted these beautiful handmade books and an American Diary Project sign at the Cummington Massachusetts Renaissance Fair thanks to volunteer Sandra. 🖤

When the power's out, but you gotta get that daily journal entry in.

Thanks to our exceptionally talented volunteer, Sandra, we now have a beautiful handmade guest book for you to sign when you come visit our diary archive. 😍

Reach out to schedule your visit today.

Anyone want to guess what this is?

P.s. Our $40 for 40 birthday fundraiser is at 40% to goal... so many 40s! Help us get to 100% by donating today. LINK IN BIO

🥳 Celebrate our founder, Kate, turning 40 by donating $40 (or more!) to her favorite charity--> us!

Givebutter.com/40bday

From Kate: "I can't imagine a better 40th birthday present than donations covering the project's rent for the rest of the year. If nearly 40 people gave $40 each, we'd reach our goal and secure our office and collection space in Cleveland for 2024."

"Today we study the day before yesterday, in order that yesterday may not paralyze today, and that today may not cloud our vision of tomorrow."
William Maitland

Quote found in the most recent diary to land in our collection.

Our diary archive had its first out of town visitors today, all the way from Michigan! Thanks for stopping by and contributing 3 diaries to the collection.

Archive visits are available by appointment, so reach out today to schedule yours!

There are many benefits to journaling, making it a worthwhile habit to build. Here Makenzie Grevelding explores 4 benefits of journaling from her fresh perspective.

https://americandiaryproject.com/2024/07/13/4-benefits-of-journaling-from-someone-who-recently-developed-the-habit/

Longtime journalers, what other benefits come to mind for you?

4 benefits of journaling from someone who recently developed the habit There are many benefits to journaling, making it a worthwhile habit to build. Here Makenzie Grevelding explores 4 benefits of journaling from her fresh perspective.

What's your favorite pen for journaling? Let us know in the comments.

Will it be you? 🖤

Our Board Treasurer paid us a visit today at our new office. Happy to have your support and guidance, Mike.

Interested in joining our board of directors? Reach out.

Check out this wonderful article from Writer's Digest by Nancy Schnog. We're honored and grateful to have been mentioned. 🖤

Keep, Burn, Curate, or Donate: What to Do With Your Old Journals Freelance writer Nancy Schnog discusses the importance of keeping journals and what to do with them after they've served their original purpose.

Collab alert! Kate from is proud to be guest posting on this week.

Learn how to make sure your journals last (almost) forever, and what to do with your journals after you pass.

Hint: we know a place that would love them. 😉

Check it out:
https://writeyourwellness.com/how-to-make-sure-your-journals-last-almost-forever/

And we're off with the collab🏃🏻‍♀️

This week, Allie is guest posting and she's *literally* keeping things interesting.

Learn how you can make your journal interesting for future archivists, historians, and the like. After all, who hasn't dreamed of their journal being the voice of a generation a hundred years from now?

When you finish reading those tips, head over to Allie's blog for lots of journal prompts that will absolutely add interest to your journal, not just for historians but your grandkids too!

From hot gossip to sentimental life advice, you'll find everything you need to write a diary that draws people in.

https://americandiaryproject.com/2024/06/10/how-to-make-your-journal-interesting-to-archivists

How to make your journal interesting to archivists The American Diary Project is collaborating with Allie Schultz from Write Your Wellness to talk about how you can make your journal useful and appealing to historians and archivists.

We love diaries and history, but cats are a close second. We were happy to support Lucky Paws animal rescue in Cleveland, Ohio tonight by donating this journal-themed pet bed, handmade from a vintage travel suitcase. As you can tell, it was a big hit.

Big thank you for the recent monthly recurring donation (yes, that's an option) from a generous supporter! 😇

We make it easy to support our work. Check it out on our website today.

https://americandiaryproject.com/support-our-work/

Care to venture a guess as to what's behind door 201?

BIG NEWS COMING SOON

Spotted in Cleveland, Ohio. If you'd like to help spread the word about the project, become a volunteer today.

https://americandiaryproject.com/about-us/volunteer/

Did you know the American Diary Project is a 501c3 nonprofit, and we have earned the silver transparency seal from GuideStar and Candid?

This is part of our commitment to the long-term success and viability of the project. You can help by donating today.

https://americandiaryproject.com/support-our-work/

Learn more on our website and please consider donating.

is a must-see stop between Savannah and Atlanta. Lovely selection of journals and a great place for a pint.

Next time you're in Columbus, Ohio, be sure to stop by The Book Loft. It's a book and journal lovers' dream.

Feeling the luck of the Irish today after finding a four-leaf clover in this tiny diary from 1915. Happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘️

Journal prompt: What are 3 life lessons you have learned so far?

From the "Who are you?" deck.

Our volunteer Elissa has penned a beautiful blog post about what it was like learning more about her great grandmother by reading her letters. Check it out.

https://americandiaryproject.com/2024/03/09/how-i-met-my-great-grandmother-long-after-she-was-gone/

How I met my great grandmother long after she was gone Elissa shares how she discovered much more about her great grandmother than she ever expected thanks to her preserved letters.

Thank you to everyone who donated toward our operations laptop fundraiser! We're up and running and have you to thank. 🖤