1936-1940 Pennsylvania Diary Highlighting the Immense Burden and Resilience of Middle Aged Womanhood and the Power of Community

On offer is the Five Year "A Line A Day" diary of Mrs. Elizabeth Strobel Calaway (1889-1983) from Girard, Pennsylvania. Calaway was a teacher and she wrote religiously and extensively from 1936-1940, when she was aged 47 through 51. 

Elizabeth was married to George Arthur Calaway [sometimes Caloway], who worked as a contractor. They had one child, Alice Calaway (1916-2010). Elizabeth’s diary demonstrates the unbelievable (and sometimes unbearable) burden on a middle class working woman in 1930s America. Each morning she was up and off to work at her job as a teacher, walking in all weather. When not at work she was supporting her adult daughter, Alice, who still lived at home, and her husband, whose health was always tenuous. She was also volunteering for the Church, sewing and crocheting, attending events at the IOOF (International Order of Odd Fellows), playing games with friends (the game ‘500’ was a particular favorite). She was tending to the garden, canning veggies and attending lectures, theater productions and concerts. She also never missed a school party with her beloved pupils. Somehow, in her ‘spare time’, she managed to cultivate a massive social circle, almost too many friends to name, though she name drops constantly - a treat for any genealogy buff. Her best friends seemed to have been the Graftons and the Stancliffes. 

Elizabeth writes simply but tells us everything that happens in her days, for example: “First ride we had in our new Coupe. A very large crowd to hear “Landon”. He was a splendid speaker…George came to Chautaugua. Alice and I came home” [Aug 24, 1936]. 

Life became increasingly complicated for Elizabeth in December of 1936, when her journaling becomes a hybrid of her daily activities and a log of George’s health status. At first her notes were simply little additions to descriptions of her rich days: “George sick” and “called Dr. for George”. In January, 1937, her entries became more focused on George. One day George seemed better, the next day he could not even move. On January 5, 1937, she moved their marital bed downstairs to accommodate George. Soon, the Calaway’s community began pitching in, helping to care for George. Elizabeth’s diary for the rest of 1937 oscillates between commenting on her robust work life and social life, and commenting on George’s condition.. Exactly one year before George’s eventual death, Elizabeth’s diary entry reads:  “Much cooler. George felt sick all day. I sewed. Fixed a quilt for Miss Monahan. Picked my tomatoes” [Aug 23, 1937]. Her Memoranda for 1937: “George sick all year long. Sometimes better than worse. It has been a hard year”.  

George eventually died on Aug 23, 1938 at age 51. Clippings of his newspaper death announcement and obituary are tucked into Elizabeth’s diary. The day of George’s death, Elizabeth wrote:

“Very cool morning and night. George still breathing. We staid [sic] alone last night. At 8:20 he passed away. Alice hadn’t finished her breakfast. We went to Erie. Bev Davison took us. Picked out casket. A very hard day”. 

With her usual energy, Elizabeth carried on. She did not have time to wallow in grief, though she did note visiting the cemetery on occasion. By 1940, her daughter Alice seems to be working in nearby Erie and Elizabeth visited regularly, bringing her home on weekends. Elizabeth and Alice also take a short vacation to New York City to attend the World’s Fair. Some excerpts to give the flavor of the diary in 1939 and 1940:

“Very warm day. Singed and washed turkey.  Worked quite hard until nearly two o’clock. Went to a lecture in evening very good” [July 21, 1939]. 

“Warmer. Quite a bit of snow but driving good. Let school out early. Went over home. Ate with Ma. We killed a rooster and picked it. Alice was home and had her supper. Miss Monahan staid [sic] here” [Nov 22, 1939]. 

“Very warm day. Got up early and started for New York City. Alice drove most of the way. Visit Picadilly Hotel. Cleaned up and went to see the Statue of Liberty. Didn’t get to bed until late” [June 12, 1940].

“Rather warm all day. Took Subway to the Fair. Took in many sights and walked until we were very tired. Sit on the Balcony of Pa. building to see Colors of water and Fireworks. Got home at hotel rather late” [June 13, 1940]. 

“Very hot sun. The girls went to Church. We got up a little early. Done up work. Got chicken dinner. Made ice cream. Went for a ride. Looked at new houses.” [June 16, 1940].

This diary would be an absolutely crucial addition to the collection of a women’s studies scholar as Elizabeth Calaway so completely explores every aspect of the middle age woman’s experience in the years leading up to World War II, though she does not discuss the war. This diary also contains a plethora of first and last names of friends and colleagues living in Pennsylvania at the time, a gem of a diary for a genealogist. 

The diary is leather bound and measures 4” x 5.5”. It is 100% complete (though she does not use the Memoranda or Special Notes sections, with one exception). The cover, spine and pages are all intact with only a small amount of age toning to the pages. The diary clasp is also attached. Overall VG.