Entrance open during construction/paving on Buckland and Hayes avenues: Paving and milling will take place in the next few days on Hayes and Buckland avenues, but our entrance remains OPEN. There could be delays for visitors getting into the site. - More Details »
By keeping a diary in which to record my thoughts,
desires, and resolves, I expect to promote stability of character.
Rutherford B. Hayes - June 11, 1841
Rutherford B. Hayes kept a diary from age twelve to his death at age 70 in 1893. He was one of only three presidents to keep a diary while in office. The edited diaries and letters were published in 1922 as a set of five volumes, The Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes, Nineteenth President of the United States, edited by Charles Richard Williams (Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, 1922).
These 3000 pages of text have been digitized and are now available online for students, scholars, and anyone interested in Hayes and the social and political history of his time period. Researchers can search by volume and keyword or browse through the 5 volumes page by page. This digitized publication is only a small part of the materials available on President Hayes. Please contact the Hayes Presidential Library for further information. Additional versions of the Diary and Letters can be viewed here.
April 22.- We have got through with the South Carolina and Louisiana [problems]. At any rate, the troops are ordered away, and I now hope for peace, and what is equally important, security and prosperity for the colored people. The result of my plans is to get from those States by their governors, legislatures, press, and people pledges that the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments shall be faithfully observed; that the colored people shall have equal rights to labor, education, and the privileges of citizenship. I am confident this is a good work. Time will tell. Now for civil service reform. Legislation must be prepared and executive rules and maxims. We must limit and narrow the area of patronage. We must diminish the evils of office-seeking. We must stop interference of federal officers with elections. We must be relieved of congressional dictation as to appointments.
Entrance open during construction/paving on Buckland and Hayes avenues: Paving and milling will take place in the next few days on Hayes and Buckland avenues, but our entrance remains OPEN. There could be delays for visitors getting into the site. -