1933-1937 Diary Following a Pennsylvania Girl from Pre-Teen to High School Senior

On offer is a fascinating 5 year diary of Emily Mary Kehoe (1920-2013), who writes from age 12 through 17. Born in Manhattan, Emily is in her final year of middle school and becomes a teenager on August 2, 1933. She keeps the diary until age 17, when she is a senior in high school. In Fall of 1933, Emily begins at Tredyffrin Easttown High School in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. 

Following graduation, Emily would go on to attend Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. In 1952, she married Raymond Emanuel Fahnestock (1923-1975). Raymond served in WWII in the 43rd and 63rd Bomb Squads. It does not appear that they had any children, though data was somewhat lacking in researching this couple. 

Although born in Manhattan, Emily was raised and settled in Pennsylvania. Emily keeps her diary during the depths of the Great Depression, though the world is viewed through the eyes of a child, blissfully focused on the coming-of-age events that define a young woman’s life. 

She begins with optimism and hope, listing the resolutions she has made for herself in 1933:

“I resolve to: Be more helpful to Mother and Dad/Avoid quarrelling with Honey & Ted/Keep my room, closet and dresser neat/Take disappointments quietly/ Keep the friends I have and make more/Keep up in all schoolwork”(frontspiece).

Her diary records the expected events of a young lady's life. She talks about school and friends. Emily keeps her diary religiously in 1933 and 1934. Her entries become very spotty after that, with few entries in the final three years. Her last entry in the diary is on Sept 24, 1937. Some excerpts give the flavour of Emily’s entries: 

“Wed. Cloudy. Cold. School. We won in gym 12-6. Did errands. Put time in on machine. Homework. Bed. In assembly name was called for being on honor roll. Signed book” [Jan 25, 1933].

“Raining. Went to Camp Tweedale Oxford, PA. To stay for 10 days. Lunch. Played. Supper. Campfire and bed…” [Aug 21, 1933].

“Clear. Warm. Went to town (Mother and I). Eyes improving. Shopped. Lunch. Shopped. Home. Supper. Played ball” [Apr 3, 1934].

“…went to High School. Had fun. Going to like HS. lunch - played- helped - PML - Supper - Read - Bed. Taking academic courses with Latin and Music. PTOM” [Sept 5, 1934].

“Cloudy – clear. School. Radar Game. We won 7-0 !!! Home Supper Victory Dance. Tired but happy. Mother & Dad went to New York til Sunday” [Oct 9, 1936]

“Ted going to Valley Forge Military Academy!!!!” [Nov 2, 1936]. 

“Clear. I like Jim (James Lovall). Cold. S.S. and Church…Home - Lessons = Went to Miss Brinton’s (Sunday School teacher) home in Phila - Dinner…” [March 7, 1937]. 

She makes little reference to the turbulent outside events that affecting so many other Americans. In this, her diary offers an interesting view of life in those difficult times. For a social historian, this offers a contrast to the journals that describe events from a wider perspective on just how difficult it was living in these time. It is an especially valuable piece as it shows life from the perspective of a child. 

The diary measures 5x3.75 inches, has 365 pages and is approximately 55% complete. The front cover is missing, as is the clasp on the locking strap. The spine and binding are barely intact and worn to the point that the back cover may separate in shipping. The pages are all intact and the handwriting is legible. Overall Poor.