Rev. John Andrew Miller’s diary documents his personal and professional life as a pastor in the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South from October 1856 to August 1859. Many entries contain information about Miller’s congregations (their size, attendance rate, and spiritual condition), traveling to visit specific members of his churches, preparing sermons, interacting with other Methodist ministers, corresponding with family and friends in Mississippi, and noting the weather.

The majority of the diary (approximately 100 pages dated October 1856 to February 1857) was written while Miller served as pastor of the New Orleans Circuit. The circuit consisted of a church at Laurel Street (New Orleans, La.) as well as congregations in the nearby communities of Carrollton, Gretna, and Algiers. Miller writes about performing baptisms, tending to the sick and dying, and visiting the office of the New Orleans Christian Advocate newspaper edited by Holland Nimmons McTyeire. During his time in New Orleans, Miller regularly interacted with John Christian Keener (presiding elder of the New Orleans District), Linus Parker (pastor of Carondelet Street Methodist Episcopal Church South in New Orleans), J. B. Walker (pastor at Felicity Methodist Episcopal Church South in New Orleans), and J. A. Ivy (pastor at Moreau Street Methodist Episcopal Church South in New Orleans). Of note are the following entries: observations and critical remarks about All Saints’ Day and Roman Catholics (November 1, 1856), community excitement about Election Day for the United States President (November 4, 1856), attending the dedication service of the German Methodist Episcopal Church South in Carrollton (November 16, 1856), preparing for the quarterly conference of the New Orleans Circuit (December 11, 1856), attending a fair in Algiers (December 22, 1856), having Christmas dinner with Methodist ministers and disapproving of wine being served (December 27, 1856), conducting a New Year’s Eve watchnight service at Laurel Street Methodist Episcopal Church South (December 31, 1856), selling books for the Conference Tract Society (January 2, 1857), attending a temperance lecture series by William Ross (January 12-14, 1857), preparing for examinations at annual conference (throughout January 1857), and attending annual conference in Waterproof, Louisiana (February 1857).

The next portion of the diary (approximately 35 pages) covers Miller’s time serving the Mound Bayou and Bayou Vidal Circuit (Tensas Parish, Louisiana) from March 1857 to January 1858. References to specific churches on this circuit include Ebenezer Chapel on Bayou Vidal (March 29, 1857) and Jordan Chapel (October 18, 1857). Of note are the following entries: hosting quarterly conference meetings with B. F. White the pastor of Waterproof Methodist Episcopal Church South (March 24, 1857), disapproving of the new melodeon at Ebenezer Chapel (March 29, 1857), preaching to slaves (April 4 and 22, 1857), writing articles about temperance for the Memphis Advocate newspaper (April 17, 1857), having a crippled horse that limits traveling (May 18, 1857), and preparing for annual conference (January 17, 1858).

The diary’s next section (5 pages) covers Miller’s time serving the Richmond and Madison Circuit and Colored Mission (Madison Parish, Louisiana) from February to December 1858. Miller was to share this appointment with John H. Waters, but he died in February, so Miller served the appointment alone. Of note are the following entries: living at the parsonage at Milliken’s Bend (March 16, 1858), preaching at Willow Bayou (March 16, 1858), and the Mississippi River flood during the summer (August 13, 1858).

The diary’s last section (7 pages) corresponds to Miller’s appointment at Pattersonville (later renamed Patterson, Louisiana) beginning in January 1859. Miller mentions falling in love and marrying Rosa Mills in the final two entries (June 30 and August 4, 1859).