1910-1924 Diaries of the Wife of a Lanman & Kemp Druggist Living an Upper Class Life in NYC as a Manhattan Kemp

On offer are two diaries of a highly affluent American woman who was involved in the operations of Lanman & Kemp, the high profile Manhattan drug company. 

The diaries were kept by Margaret Shepherd Hutton Kemp (1863-1944). Margaret married George William Kemp (1860-1912) in 1889. They had one daughter, Margaret (Peggy) (1890-1940). The Kemps were Irish immigrants to New York and quickly became a highly affluent family. They were the Kemps of the Lanman & Kemp drug dynasty, which is currently best known for selling “Florida Water”. 

The Kemps became partners at Lanman & Kemp when, after immigrating from Ireland to New York with their widowed mother, Margaret Travers Kemp (1793-1889). One of the younger Kemp boys, George Kemp (1826-1893), was invited to partner with David Trumbull Lanman (1802-1866), who had already been running the wholesale drug company under a different name. After George’s death, the Kemp family continued running Lanman & Kemp for years.

Margaret Shepherd Hutton Kemp’s first husband was George William Kemp (GWK). GWK was the nephew of the elder George Kemp and the youngest son of George’s brother, William Kemp (1823-1881). After GWK died in 1912, Margaret Shepherd Hutton Kemp married the much younger Edward Charles Mears Kemp (1877-1968) in 1915. Edward Charles Mears Kemp was the cousin of the late GWK. Edward’s mother was Emma Kemp (1845-1915) and his grandfather was James Kemp (1811-1886), another brother of both George and William Kemp. 

Importantly, our diarist Margaret was involved in the family business running Lanman & Kemp, as indicated by legal records in which she is a defendant on behalf of the company. 

The diaries themselves are both 5-year diaries that cover the years 1910-1914 and 1920-1924. The first was begun when Margaret was 47 years old. She writes almost every single day and her life is luxurious, to say the least. For example, In April of 1911, she writes daily of her extended trip to Europe visiting places in Spain such as Madrid and the Alhambra Palace, France and England with her husband and daughter. She travels by ship to Europe again in the spring of 1913. The rest of the time the focus is on her daily life in NYC. While each entry is only a couple of lines, she is very honest with her diary and one comes to know her. Some excerpts:

“...In afternoon, Peggy, Bidy and I walked to Bloomingdales and back…I went to late concert” [Apr 18, 1910].

"Wednesday Fine out for last time in little car. Went to Dr. Cragins. Peggy went to Biddy at Passaic" [June 15, 1910].

“…Damp. Report that Titanic had sunk Monday at 2:20 AM…” [Apr 16, 1912].

“Friday. Fine. Cold. Went to Miss Richard’s, Met KOR. Home with George all aft. He very weak. Dr. Thomas here. Peggy at Ritz dance” [Dec 20, 1912]. 

“Heavy rain. Geo died at ten minutes of one. Saw lots of people” [Dec 24, 1912].

“Monday. Heavy rain all day. Fixing George’s room. Depressed…” [Dec 30, 1912].

“Friday. Fine cooler. Started for Trossachs at 9:30 in carriage. Sailed down Loch Katrine and back. Had tea at Callandar. Motored to Bridge of Allan” [July 4, 1913]. 

“Tuesday. Fine cold. Down shopping lunched with Jim and Peggy. Ed here in aft” [Dec 22, 1914]. 

By the time Margaret begins her second diary in 1920, she is married to Edward Charles Mears Kemp. Peggy is still unmarried (she marries later, in 1928, at age 37). She references her affluent lifestyle including shopping at Harrods in London [June 1, 1921], ordering evening coat and day coat [Aug 30, 1921] and Tea at the Ritz [Oct 16, 1924] Excerpts from the second diary follow:

“Fine. Warmer. Peggy and Ed playing golf. I walked out but missed them. Sey took me for a drive. Ed rode. Merrie’s at night” [Oct 15, 1921]. 

“Monday. Rain. Ed went to meet Mrs. Ward. I down at League Lecture. Home in aft. Opera at night, first night” [Nov 14, 1921].

“Wednesday. Showers. Went to Harrods alone. Ed had church in room. Had fire. Peg out with Isabelle Baggallays at Eunice and Heath” [Sept 19, 1923]. 

“Dine out with Peggy in morning. Home reading. Van Braam here at sea. Heard chimes. May fired” [Dec 31, 1924]. 

This diary is a fantastic look inside a highly successful Manhattan family, giving readers a sense of the lifestyle enjoyed by a Kemp wife in middle age, and painting a stark contrast to the lifestyle of those of lesser means in New York at the time. 

Both diaries have substantial notes including names and addresses of those in Margaret’s life as well as financial documentation. The diaries both measure 5.75 x 4.5 inches. Both of their spines are coming loose but they are otherwise in good condition. Both are 90% complete. Overall Good.