Diary, 1876.

Each diary also includes Sanford's accounts of personal expenses. The two earlier diaries are written in small notebooks; the last diary is written in a printed diary by an unknown publisher containing various printed time and measurement tables, phases of the moon, postal rates, etc. In addition to the diaries there are three manuscript letters to Sanford: H. L. Barnes, Haven, Iowa, February 27, 1872, to "Absent Nephew," Nashua New Hampshire, regarding family and farming matters; W. Laughlin, Fort Buford, Dakota Territory, July 20, 1874, to "Friend Sanford," Co. D, 6th Infantry with Northern Boundary Survey, regarding Sanford's mail; and Jacob Pipher, Fort Peck, Montana Territory, April 6, 1878, to "Friend Sanford," Hudson, New Hampshire, discussing news of Sanford's former army acquaintances. Accompanied by volume 3, no. 4 of the journal North Dakota History, which contains an article by Ben Innes with a transcript of the diaries dating from September 26, 1874 to May 23, 1875.

Three holograph diaries dated September 26-December 8, 1874; December 9, 1874-May 23, 1875; and March 25, 1876-March 1877, of Wilmot P. Sanford, a private in Company D, 6th United States Infantry stationed on the Dakota-Montana frontier. The diaries describe Sanford's daily life including army chores, inspections, illnesses, discharges, his frequent visits to the library and his becoming assistant librarian on April 19, 1875, and letter writing. The entries in the diary of 1876-77 note Sanford's co-ownership of a photographic studio at Fort Buford, Dakota Territory, and contain his comments regarding Indian trouble as well as news of General Custer and the Battle of the Little Big Horn, and General George Crook and the Battle of the Rosebud.