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[Journal of Student and Later Teacher with Numerous References to Alexander Twilight.]

Brownington, Vermont, ca. 1828–1834. 12mo journal, in oversized tan paper covers (9.5” x 9”). 131 pp. of manuscript; several missing leaves, which do not appear to have been part of the journal; 1 leaf missing bottom ; final leaf largely detached; 5 blank pp. Some entries not in chronological order.

An intriguing journal of a student and later teacher documenting his time boarding and studying with the celebrated educator, minister, and politician Alexander Twilight—the first African-American to earn a bachelor’s degree in the U.S., among other distinctions. This document serves to cast further light on this pathbreaking figure at the outset of his lifelong career of public service.

Born on a farm in Corinth, Vermont to a white mother and a mixed-race father, Rev. Alexander L. Twilight (1795–1857) was indentured on a farm near his parents’ property from the ages of 8 to 21. In spite of these shackles, Twilight entered Middlebury College in 1821 and graduated in 1823—thus becoming the first black American to earn a college or university degree in the U.S.—following which he taught at a school in Peru, New York (1824–1828). Here he studied for the Congregational ministry and in 1826 married Mercy Ladd Merrill. In 1829 Rev. Twilight was hired as headmaster of the Orleans County Grammar School (Brownington Academy), where he would pursue a career in both education and ministry. Twilight taught at Brownington from 1829 to 1847. Serving students from grades nine through the first two years of college, the school offered classes in Greek, Latin, trigonometry, physics, chemistry, etc. In 1836, Twilight became the first African-American to be elected as a state legislator (Vermont) in the House of Representatives—thereby becoming the sole black American elected to a state legislature prior to the Civil War.

The present journal was kept by an unidentified student who boarded and studied with Twilight at Brownington Academy, and also received counseling from him. The journal-keeper notes in the opening entry on 14 Nov. 1828 that he is sixteen years old and is currently boarding with Twilight. (Twilight himself enrolled at Brownington in 1815 at the age of twenty. From 1815–1821, he finished the institution’s secondary school courses in addition to the first two years of a college-level curriculum.) Of primary interest are the writer’s interactions with Twilight and his account of the schoolmaster’s activities—Twilight being mentioned quite frequently throughout the journal.

The following passages—dated 8 June 1829 and 11 June ‘29—offer a taste of the author’s interactions with Twilight:

Mr. Twilight came in, he asked me if I thought of changing medical study into the Gospel. I told him I thought some about it. He told me the necessity of immediate decision, if that was my wish preparations would be made for my preceding in that study, at noon he told me that if I wished help, I could have it. He told me of their belief and wished to have me join a society where I should feel the most at home.

Mr. Twilight read to me the articles of faith in his church. I expressed my desire to him of preaching to the heathen. He told me the field was open for me.

Here Twilight’s encouragement for him to pursue a religious career-path relates more broadly to Twilight’s additional role as Acting Pastor at the Brownington Congregational Church, which he held from Nov. 1829 to 1834. During this time, he “led the church in conducting a revival which resulted in membership increasing to as many as a hundred who covenanted to be in fellowship” (Old Stone House Museum). This was a period when Twilight started exercising his dual-strengths as both religious and educational leader.

The author’s intimate interactions with Twilight and accounts of his activity are various and frequent: receiving “appointments” in Browington given to him by Twilight (likely of a religious nature); attending Twilight’s sermons and preachings; buying books for and from Twilight (usually Bibles); receiving payment from Twilight for work he conducts for him (e.g., weighing hay, planting potatoes); buying commodities for Twilight (candles, paper, etc.); paying Twilight; borrowing money from him; hoeing potatoes for Twilight (“it being very hot I did not do much more than half a day’s work”); receiving tutoring from him (“one conversation on Chemistry”), and so on. When the diary-keeper begins teaching, Twilight visits his class to lecture. Also noted are various preachings and “academy sermons” Twilight delivers; Bible classes Twilight joins in on; as well as the schoolmaster’s frequent travels around the Northeast (Derby, Conn., Lyndon, Vermont, etc.) to preach and educate. By 3 March 1834, the writer has commenced boarding with one Oliver Mason.

Aside from the Twilight content, the journal primarily chronicles the writer’s inner religious struggles. Evidencing what Friedrich Nietzsche calls the ‘bad conscience’ endemic to Christianity, this young man was evidently of the God-fearing variety. He spills much ink on his uncertain “eternal welfare”; his “wanderings from the Lord”; man’s “sinful nature”; “the wrath of God”; his potential “excommunication from the Methodist church,” and so on. In one (unfortunately) revealing entry, he notes how his sufferings have at times driven him to contemplate suicide: “The cross appears so large that I feel insufficient for the work, and even have had temptation to commit suicide but thanks be to God that he enabled me to overcome those temptations.” At Brownington he reads Virgil; studies Latin and grammar; attends school meetings and theological class; ponders becoming a missionary; writes on his health and diet; records his religious practices, and so forth.

In response to growing enrollment needs at Brownington, Twilight designed, raised funds for, and built in 1836 the first granite public building in Vermont— “Athenian Hall”—which housed additional classrooms and a dormitory. After experiencing conflicts with Brownington school administrators, in 1847 Twilight moved to Quebec for five years, teaching in Shipton (1848–50) and Hatley (1850–52), but later returned to serve once more as schoolmaster at Brownington Academy where he taught again from 1852–55. He died in Brownington in 1857. His historic Athenian Hall presently serves as the Orleans County Historical Society and Museum. Addressing the period when Twilight headed Brownington Academy, Peggy Day Gibson, Director of the Old Stone House Museum notes: “This was a really happening, intellectual vibrant neighborhood, all built during the 1820s and 1830s… [Brownington] was a center of progressive education in New England. This was the main road, the stage route, between Boston and Montreal, and this is what was happening.”

Some representative passages:

8 March 1828 “Went to Brownington Academy. Six weeks until vacation. Studying Latin. Boarding with A.L. Twilight 1.25 per week.”

7 May ‘28 “In the afternoon attended church had a sermon by A.L. Twilight, who preached in the former part of the day. I had an ardent desire to get that religion which others appeared to enjoy. Time in secret prayer to God that he might pardon my sins.”

[15 May ‘28] “Attended meeting at the academy sermon by the Rev. A.L. Twilight joined the Bible class at noon. It was the first time that I ever was in one.”

26 May ‘28 “Planted potatoes for Mr. A.L. Twilight worked very hard. Also Friday little past noon.”

2 June ‘28 “Thursday Mr. Twilight returned from Derby whether he had gone yesterday ten or twelve. New converts on Wednesday, sinners crying for mercy.”

5 June ‘28 “In my class, one absent, at four o’clock went to the east school house and led the class there Mr. A.L. Twilight came to preach a lecture, there being so few in on account of another meeting and rain, changed to a conference.”

11 June ‘28 “Heard some talk about going to Lyndon to the four day meeting, they are very urgent to have Mr. Twilight. Mr. T[wilight] told me he had appointed me with Mr. Durkin Distributers of the tracks in the east part of the town.”

19 June ‘28 “Bible class met at nine o’clock 1st class, Sunday school met at noon, PM, Mr. Twilight’s discourse was to show the convents the importance separating themselves from the world and uniting with the church of Christ.”

25 June ‘28 “[Mary R. Smith’s sister] came in. I introduced religion. She was very thoughtless. I warned & entreated her. Showed her in feeble[?] way the suffering of her savior. She appeared affected but wished not to let me know it. I asked her some questions but she gave no answer. I left her to reflect.”

6 July ‘28 “Mr. Hibbard came from Sansted after Mr. Twilight to attend the four day meeting there on Saturday. He [Twilight] would not go without the consent of the whole school. Mr. H. laid the consent of all but J. Parsons, he contended not to go until Saturday P.M.”

7 June 1831 “Paid A.L. Twilight $4,40 previous to this for books which were delivered this day, Gould’s Virgil, $2,75; Pocket Bible $1,75; one sabbath school Guide of S. Gilbert No. 2 $6; bought salts of Carlikie Stuart $3; sold salts to Elmore I. $1.”

27 July ‘31 “A.L. Twilight allowed on settlement for two days work $1,34.”

23 Nov. ‘31 “Here I am forming a character for eternity, O how important it is, that I should make…so depraved a being as I am, so prone to wander from my God is it possible that I can be saved, the influence which my life may have in the world, and that it may not end when I leave the shores of time; but may be the means of saving some precious soul; or be a stumbling block for some one to stumble over into misery.”

24 Aug. ‘31 “This night I heard words which was truly heart rending to me, as I am poor and intend to get an education and spend my life in the service of the Lord, I have not wherewith to clothe myself as others do that have property, therefore I have worn my poorer suit of clothes everyday, far from suspecting that I appeared disgusting to any one when my sister Elisa informed me that Brother John said I appeared ridiculous this was a dagger which staggered my soul.”

3 March 1834 “I have wandered from Lord and almost destitute of a restitution to maintain religious yet I am resolved to set out anew and see if I cannot live better, O Lord strengthen my determination and help me to live to the glory of thy name.”

A journal reflecting the beginning of Alexander Twilight’s lifelong career in public service, working here at the intersection between religion and education.

REFERENCES: Orleans County Historical Society. Alexander Twilight at oldstonehousemuseum.org; Pollak, Sally. 1823 School to Move by Oxen to Original Site at burlingtonfreepress.com; Winter, Kari J. Alexander Twilight (1795–1857) at blackpast.org

CONDITION: Good, very few losses to the text.

Item #5423

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