Kate Brock's diary provides insight into the daily life of a one-room rural school teacher from Delaware County, New York, during the years 1902-1906. Through her diary she gives a candid narrative of her life as teacher and a member of a rural community. From the 3 1/2 years of almost daily entries, it is possible to identify a number of topics and concerns--certification, attending teacher institutes, employment, boarding, discipline, district demands/rewards, student behavior, and her ability to positively influence her students. Excerpts from the diary not only give details but also the emotions of the diarist. These lived experiences of Kate Brock--as preserved in her diary--offer facets of her life used in the development of her portrait, which is achieved by using a blend of portraiture and historical narrative. As a result, her portrait exposes the ordinary life of one rural school teacher at the turn of the 20th century. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]