Here, at last! A fully searchable tool for researching one of Connecticut's more significant documents of daily Colonial life. The software is compatible with a broad range of Windows computers (See System Requirements) and is easy to install and use (See Program Features).
Overview
Minimum Computer System Requirements for CD-ROM
Ordering Information
Software Developer Information
Copyright Information
This software is a joint effort of Neild B. Oldham dba The Oldham Publishing Service and , a freelance multimedia software developer. The goal of this program is to provide a handy reference to one of New London Countys most noteworthy early historic documents of everyday Colonial life. Because of the approachable format of this program, we believe that it would be a boon both to scholars and casual readers alike.
The pages of the Diary in this program are free of revisionist interpretation, allowing the reader direct access to the authors writings. The Diary is a dense document. Like reading Shakespeare, the more one reads it, the more sense it makes. It takes time to get accustomed to how the author thinks and expresses himself, but one will find striking gravity, humor, and continuity with contemporary experiences. Note that when it published the diary in 1901, the New London County Historical Society spelled the author's name with an "a." In the diary, the author spelled it both ways. The accepted spelling of the family name is without: Hempsted.
A note about the Diarys format in this program:
For convenience, Diary entries are by month and year as we understand the calendar, today. But prior to 1752, Britain and the American Colonies used the Julian Calendar. The New Year began on March 25, rather than on January 1. On September 14, 1752, Joshua Hempstead noted the official change to the Gregorian or New Style Calendar thus:
Thursd 14 fair & Such a Day as wee never had before (by act of Parlament to bring old Stile into New Stile. 11 Days is taken out of this month in this pla... & then the time to go on as heretofore.
To make the Diary more readable, each daily entry is in its own paragraph, and the date appears in boldface (See Program Interface).
This program is a reference tool, and as such it is designed to supplement but not supplant the printed versions. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
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Minimum Computer System Requirements for CD-ROM
Software Developer Information
Robert Bush has over four years of specific experience in developing Windows software, and several years of computer experience. He holds a Master's degree in Economics and a Bachelor's degree in Economics/ Electrical Engineering minor, from the University of Rhode Island.
For Technical questions about the software, E-Mail
Software Developed by , using Asymetrix® Multimedia ToolBook® 4.1. © 1999 Robert Bush.
Electronic source text of Joshua Hempstead's Diary © 1999 dba The Oldham Publishing Service, Inc. .
Portions © 1 Asymetrix Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, and are used herein for editorial purposes, with no intent to infringe. All information in this brochure is subject to change without prior notice.