1929 Teen Girl’s Handwritten Account of an Epic Family Road Trip from Texas through the Northern States, Washington, DC and Ontario, Canada

On offer is a detailed description of an extensive road trip taken only months before the start of the Great Depression. The journal covers the period March 11, 1929  through June 1, 1929.

Although not mentioned by name, from context, the author of this journal is a young woman, likely a teenager. She is traveling with her parents as they make a very long, cross-country driving trip.

Beginning west of Shamrock, Texas, the family drives north to visit relatives in New York state, Michigan and other places in the northern states. They also make a visit to Washington, DC  to take in as many sights as possible.

Her trip begins somewhat inauspiciously and picks up steam as it continues. Our unknown author provides more details as she seems to become more engaged in her travel experience. Some excerpts follow, to give the flavour of the diary: 

“Ran out of gasoline 3 miles east of Shamrock. Went into Okla at 10:10. Ate dinner at Elk City” [Mar 11].

“We arrived at the Ballinger’s. They are very nice people. We ate dinner and then we went riding. They took us out in the hills and dales, which is a park or the suburbs of Dayton. We saw the Cash Register manufacturing building. It is a model for a business... “ [Mar 15].

“... We went on and saw the beautiful homes of some of the following: Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, Mr. Hoover before he became President, Mr. Dawes and several of the senators’ home....We went in and saw the Senate in session. They were a sleepy-looking bunch…”

Her family’s travels took them west, along the shoreline of lakes Ontario and Erie to visit relatives in Michigan. Along the way, they crossed into Canada to visit Niagara Falls.

For a social historian, this travel log is a fascinating look at a broad portion of America as seen through the eyes of a young girl traveling with her family. In a few short months, that world would suffer a crushing economic blow that would impact her life and those of many Americans for years to come.

The journal is a small, top-bound notebook that measures approximately 5.75 inches by 3. 5 inches. It contains 120 pages and is 100% complete. The hard cover is lightly ‘pebbled’ and is in good condition with wear marks mostly at the corners. The pages are in good condition and the binding is intact. The handwriting is legible.