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University Archives Johan Xavier Papers File
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Diary 1901

This diary was kept while Xavier was teaching at Ladies Lutheran Seminary. It mentions that Xavier only works 22 hours a week, information about the health of his students, his visit home during the summer, his reading list including “Tarry Thou Til I Come,” and that although smallpox was reported in Iowa, none of his family members were affected. Bills, accounts, and address appear at the back of the diary.

Diary 1902

This diary was kept during Xavier’s time at the Ladies’ Lutheran Seminary and Pacific Lutheran Academy. In it Xavier pasted programs from plays, socials, obituaries, and other items in Norwegian. On February 14 he receives a letter to teach at PLA (payment $600) which he accepts on April 10th and resigns from LLS. During his annual trip home in the summer he reads and collects insects while his sister, Anna, is in the hospital. After a three-day train ride from Iowa to Parkland, Washington he meets President Harstad, Reverend Larsen, and Professor Hong. After his arrival he buys a “mackintosh” horse does some carpentry on his door, and takes a trip (by train) to Seattle. He begins teaching the following classes: Latin 1, Beginning Greek 1, Beginning Arithmetic 2, Caesar 3, General History 2, and Bible History 20. He continues to play tennis. An account book, letters, and addresses appear at the back of the diary.

Diary 1903

This diary, kept during Xavier’s early days at PLA, mentions his thoughts on President Harstad as a slow and uninteresting preacher (although he never mentioned it), begins preaching himself on January 11th, frequent meals with friends, experiments with photography, buys a house (possibly even a farm), returns to Iowa in the summer, returns to Parkland with his sister Anna, paints his house, buys chickens, and does house repairs. He mentions he is not in favor of co-education. His ordination is not mentioned in this diary. Lists of letters, bills, and addresses appear at the back of the diary.

Diary 1911

This diary, kept during Xavier’s time at PLA, mentions that he works mostly in the library, spends time off with Signe and (therefore) misses many of his normal events, he cuts hay and does house repairs over the summer. Addresses, a list of bills, and accounts appear at the end of the diary.

Diary 1912

This diary, kept during Xavier’s time at PLA, skips fewer days than previous diaries and mentions that is was elected treasurer at either PLA or his church, visits the dentist, and is married to Signe Skattebol on December, 27th with the note, “The day at last. S. and I took it joyfully.” A list of bills, accounts, and addresses appears at the back of the diary along with the following: a card for “Love Kisses and Up-to-Date Hugs” given by the pupils of Oak Knoll, 2 coupons from NY Portrait and Framing Company, Andrew’s Jewelers Advertisement, coupon for Physical Cultures Reader’s Subscription, an empty superior stamp wallet, part of an envelope, and letters/postcards from his father from 1898 in another language (separated in a bag).

Diary 1915

In this diary, kept during Xavier’s time at PLA, some day’s entries are made up almost entirely by numbers without explanation. However, it mentions that he watches PLA basketball with great interest, forgot Signe’s birthday “again,” dedicates Good Hope Lutheran Chapel south of Spanaway, possibly purchased a boat and Signe spends a good amount of time boating, and he is on the board of something (unspecified). Accounts appear at the back of the diary.

Diary 1904

This diary, kept during Xavier’s early days at PLA, includes many programs for PLA concerts, mentions various home repairs (including building a washstand), and preaching during non-PLA hours. He possibly is running the PLA library at this time because he mentions creating a PLA card catalogue. He further mentions late nights, planning a garden, Anna is doing well in Washington, and makes the first mention of his future wife, Miss Signe Skattebol, on May 15. On August 19th a suspected prostitute propositions Xavier in Parkland, but he tosses his head and walks away. He is still in choir and the vice director of something (unspecified). Memorandum, addresses, accounts, and blotting paper appear at the back of the diary.

Diary 1906

This diary, kept during Xavier’s time at PLA, includes programs from Luther College concert band and chorus tour and “She stoops to Conquer” at PLA. He continues to tach English, History, Greek, Latin, Bible, Zoology, and other subjects. It is further mentioned that he takes field trips with his Zoology class, he buys a cow, paints his house, has the idea to decorate the outside of Old Main on August 13th for a celebration, and is the president of the PLA Missionary Society. He continues this journal until Feb. 13th of the next year. A list of letters and accounts appears at the back of the diary.

Diary 1908

This diary, kept during Xavier’s time at Oak Knoll, skips a great deal but mentions that he gives 3 to 5 acres to his congregation for a cemetery but no longer preaches. He does not like having to spank his pupils, but does so on March 24th for the first time noting it hurt them both. He mentions there are rowdy boys in school that don’t obey him, he moves back into his house, continues home repairs, and his sisters, Amanda and Ellen, make short visits. He writes to other colleges to get opinions on PLA, but possibly doesn’t make mention where he is after the summer. Cash accounts and addresses appear at the back of the diary.

Diary 1913

This diary, kept during Xavier’s time at PLA, skips the whole month of February and he writes little on the whole but mentions that Sign gets appendicitis, goes to the hospital and undergoes a 21-minute operation. She recovers well. In the back of the diary appear a list of accounts and bills, and only one address with the following in the back pocket: 2 tickets for Tacoma Lecture Course- both tickets have the lectures from Strickland Gillian, The Stroller’s Male Quartette, and Dr. Harvey W. Willey marked off.

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