Devotees of the art of the diarist will find nirvana with Ellen Wilson. Each of the four diaries in this archive was received as a gift from intimate and far-flung family so-well known is Ellen's passion for writing in her diary. It is her sister, best friend and confessor and recorder of all events important to Ellen's world - local and international. She is a huge fan of Charles Lindbergh and some months it seems that his travels, exploits and tragedies are foremost in Ellen's daily entries. At one point she exclaims she had never been interested in South or Central America until she began f... View More...
On offer is an amazing vintage book of letters from 1925 to 1926. One of only a handful still in circulation, "Letters from a Globetrotter" is a travelogue in the form of a series of subscription letters written by Elmer D. Raymond, founder and president of the Round-the-World Society. Included in the book are approximately 150 pages describing Raymond's voyages, photo plates, a fold-out map of the world, and approximately 140 real stamps, all with postmarks dated 1925 and 1926. The return address of the letters is the Round-The-World Society in New York, NY. There are more than 45 letters con... View More...
On offer is a wonderfully preserved book of vintage stamped letters from 1925 and 1926. One of only a handful still in circulation, "Letters from a Globetrotter" is a travelogue in the form of a series of subscription letters written by Elmer D. Raymond, founder and president of the Round-the-World Society. This particular collections title page has "Volume Two" printed on it. Included in the book are close to 30 typewritten, mimeographed letters, over 65 real stamps with postmarks and cancels, and three black and white photo plates. There is also a fold-out map of the world, and a black sketc... View More...
On offer is an interesting, original 1932 - 1936 five year manuscript diary handwritten by Elmina Smith a young woman originally from Mauch Chunk Pennsylvania written while she attended Hood College in Frederick Maryland. Identified by the ephemera tucked in Elmina is an inconsistent writer, writing sporadically through the years but we note approximately 450 entries over the 5 years. 1933 and 1934 appears to be the most written years. Miss Smith [b. May 14th, 1913] with the help of a number of ephemeral pieces tucked in provides an intimate look at a young student's life at college: personal ... View More...
On offer is a super, original, well-filled Depression-era 5 year diary handwritten by Elvie Moskan, a young teenage girl in New Orleans, Louisiana. The diary dates from 1929 through 1933, and Elvie was about sixteen years old and living with her parents and four siblings when the diary begins. Elvie had an active social life, receiving calls from young men and going out on dates. She was often absent from school and was suspended frequently before eventually graduating. Here are some snippets: "Mama was sick. Played cook today. Absolutely ruined supper. Gas [her brother] knocked down 2 negro m... View More...
On offer is a very well-written diary of a New Jersey woman, written at the beginning of WWI This diary measures 6 inches by 3 inches and contains 365 pages. It is approximately 85% complete. The covers are in good condition with some light wear marks. The spine and binding are also in good condition as are the pages. The handwriting is legible. The author of this diary is Emily Caroline Smith. She lived in Boonton, NJ. She was born in April, 1876 and lived her entire life in Morris County, NJ. She passed away in 1956 at the age of 80. Smith is 37 when she writes this diary. The diary covers 1... View More...
On offer is a fascinating, enigmatic, original 1912 Los Angeles California manuscript diary handwritten by Miss Emma Gerz. A secretary we believe who employs shorthand throughout the 95% filled diary which makes for very intriguing reading. While she is rather open in regular cursive one can only imagine some of her perhaps more intimate entries and more cutting comments [she is sometimes catty]. We also learn she went on picnics, the different plays she's in, taking lessons, a fellow she likes named Billy, a man asking her to go to the beach sometime, and her telling him off, life with her pa... View More...
On offer is a diary that provides a fascinating look into the life of a 41 year old woman who works in service to an English family immediately following WWI The notebook is in very good condition and the entries are quite legible. It measures 8 in by 6 1/2 in and contains 141 pages. It is 100% complete. It covers the time period Jan 1st, 1919 until Oct 24th, 1921. Two to three entries are made each week. Church life plays a very important role and virtually every entry contains quotes from scripture or references to going to church services quite regularly. There is little reference to her da... View More...
On offer is a very good pre Depression era European travel diary handwritten by Emma June Hibb of Manatee Florida, not too far from Sarasota. Mrs. Hibb is a keen observer and dedicated diarist traveling with a large group of Floridians from September 6, 1927 through October 11th when they return to New York. A quirky writer going from catty commentary - her girlfriend is miffed that they are traveling with so many of the people she can't stand from back in Florida to her observation that some men aboard ship sure do change their attitude when they discover a woman is married and her husband is... View More...
On offer is an interesting 1918 - 1919 manuscript diary handwritten by Ensign Donald B King USNRF from Williamsport Pennsylvania aboard the USS Melville to London England. Dated December 20 1918 with the last entry July 4th 1919 writes a succinct 19 pages which includes 3-4 pages of addresses. The diary has a later May 23rd 1920 letter to his Father. Here are some snippets: "Left Charing Cross Station London at 11 AM had lunch on train with Captain Thomas Yale also James and Dole, boarded channel steamer and left Folkstone at 2:15 Bologne France…Walked about town and Dole and I gave rooms ... View More...
On offer is a notebook journal of a young man who would go on to become a note antiquarian and archaeologist. This journal is a small 2-ring, flip-top style binder containing 134 pages. It measures 7.5 inches by 4.75 inches and is about 95% complete. It is in good condition and the handwriting is legible. Accompanying the journal is a lovely black and white photograph taken of the author when he was an infant. Eric Hyde Lord Sexton was born in 1902 in New York City in 1902. He came from a wealthy family. He studied at Princeton University initially and then earned an MA from Harvard. Travellin... View More...
"Ernest Cook is my name/America is my nation/Jobstown, NJ is dwelling place/And God is my Salvation/When I am dead and in my grave/And all my bones have rotten/This little book will tell my name/When I am long forgotten." So begins the diary on offer; a fascinating manuscript diary handwritten by a sensitive young soldier named Ernest Cook (March 3, 1895 - March, 1972), who bravely fought on the front lines for America near the end of World War I. This 5 year diary, a Christmas gift from his lady friend Alice D. Shinn (as per inscription), Makes for an interesting comparison between hi... View More...
On offer is the simply sensational original 1910 manuscript diary and superb relic of early 20th century railroad Americana based out of Tunnelton West Virginia. Uniquely this diary is written by Railroad Engineer Errett M. Graham [b. June 8, 1877 - d. 1974] and his wife 'Lena'. From a Women's and or Gender Studies perspective this diary is impressive: Lena, a native of Irvington Indiana, is an equal and impressive partner in many ways: Errett writes of his specific railroad work, the politics, the concerns on a technical and political level and when his wife writes we get more of the same she... View More...
On offer is a wonderful look life in a small town in the U. S. South through the eyes of a young working woman. The diary was written in 1939 by Essie Lee Nash. Nash lives in Hemp, North Carolina (now renamed Robbins) and works in one of the mills in town. Our informal research has not turned up any additional biographical information about her. In her diary, she recounts in detail her daily routines and the many people she interacts with. One key consideration is her social life, especially with young men. One such entry reads: "Dear Diary. I just made a mistake but I'll let this be the '... View More...
On offer is an absolutely fascinating collection of letters written in the immediate post-war years in New Your City. The collection contains 142 pages. The letters are of varying sizes. Most are handwritten and the writing is legible. Several are typed. The letters are in good condition. The letters are mostly written by a young Jewish girl named Estelle Mandelbaum who lives in the Bronx. The letters were written between 1947 and 1950. Context indicates that she is a young woman and the letters span high school completion and studies at Brooklyn College. Most of the letters are written by Est... View More...
On offer is the 1919 diary of Esther A. Walling of Meadville, Pennsylvania. She is a very proud and (at that time) female Railroad Clerk at the Erie Railroad Office. Her brother with whom she lives is Frank. He is also a railroad clerk and a person she loves very much. She goes to church on Sundays, and is often on trips to Cleveland, Youngstown, and Jamestown for fun weekends of shopping and entertainment with her girlfriends or brother. There are just a few entries until late February, in which Esther takes a trip to Cleveland with her girlfriends. "Saturday, February 22, We went shoppi... View More...
On offer is a sensational, original 1904 manuscript diary handwritten by Wellesley College student Ethel A. Morse. This personal diary will be of particular interest to researchers, historians and collectors of women and gender studies or Lesbian and Gay studies [LBGT]. Wellesley College also figures very prominently in the narrative too. [Ethel is an upper class girl as we learn from references to her family and her home in Brookline - the library, servants etc. We also find her brother was a Lieutenant who serves in the Philippines.] Ethel struggles in epic fashion within her heart and the c... View More...
On offer is an original diary handwritten by Miss Ethel Dyson during over 39 pages her trips to Italy, April 4, 1913 - April 25, 1913 and her trip to Belgium, The Rhine and Switzerland, August 9, 1913 - August 30, 1913 with her mother and father [Edwin]. [There are 2 Thomas Cook and Son itineraries covering the 2 different trips.] Miss Dyson is a rather charming diarist but can be pointed as she notes - 'It took a long while passing thro the Customs House where the officials are very excitable and stupid'. She also states there is a Lady Spencer in the party although the passenger list only re... View More...
A detailed 1928 diary handwritten by 62-year-old Ethel LeBer in rural Vermont during the early years of the Great Depression. LeBer was born in November 1865 and lived her life in northern Vermont, near the city of Bristol. She passed away in 1929 at the age of 63. She was married to William LeBer and they had one child, a daughter who died when she was 16. Together, Ethel and her husband operated a small farm. She was 62 when she kept this diary. The diary describes the daily life that she and her husband lived, detailing the many tasks necessary to keep their farm operation going. It is tota... View More...
On offer is an excellent 5 year diary simply chock full of the details and minutae of a young girl growing up in the 1930's in mid-western America. The diary is a leather-bound volume measuring 5 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches. It contains 365 pages plus memoranda pages and covers the years 1934 through 1938. It is essentially 100% complete. The cover is in good condition and the pages are all intact. The handwriting is legible. Etta May Hale was born in 1920 and this diary records her teenage years from the time she is 13 until she is 17/18. She grew up in the Great Depression and Nebraska was ha... View More...
