1907-1908 Diary of a Young Ohio Woman About to Marry Her First Husband
12207On offer is an interesting diary kept by a young mid-western American woman during the last years of WWI, in the months leading up to her first marriage.
The author of this diary was Lois Vereen Leslie (1889-1986) of Ohio. She was married to William Andrew Scott (1889-1952) in 1908. They had a child named Charlotte Loraine Scott in 1910. Lois subsequently moved to California and married Roy Henry Nelson (1888-1976) in 1938. They remained married to him until his death. She passed away in California. Leslie kept this diary from October 1907 until June 1908, when she was 18 turning 19. She makes a note at the end of the diary, “I was married July 29, 1908”.
Her entries are often only 3 or 4 lines. They recount daily events in her life including plenty of talk about Bill, who she would marry very soon. The following will give a sense of her diary:
“Etta and I went driving in the A.M. Hazel & Lillian came down in afternoon and we went uptown in eve. Bill came home with us” [Oct 2].
“Baked chocolate pie in A.M. Ida and [ ] came in afternoon and we went skating. I received letter from Laura Hitchcock in afternoon. [ ] and I were at [ ]’s store with Clara and Eva” [Jan 23].
“Bill’s sister Jean and his Aunt Daisie came over in afternoon. Papa and wife came in evening from Chicago in No 8 to Van Wert, then to Convoy in 9:42 car. I stayed all night with Dora Leslie” [May 9].
For a social historian, this little diary gives a glimpse into the life of a very ordinary American woman on the verge of becoming a wife and mother, in the early years of the 20th century. For a Women’s Studies program, it offers a look at the roles and expectations of women at that time and place.
This small diary measures approximately 5x2.5 inches and contains 148 pages. It is about 55% complete. The book is not a diary per se but rather a small pocket notebook containing pages printed with a light grid on each page. The pages are not dated. The covers are intact and have separated from the book itself.. There is evidence of wear – the front cover has had some of the surface of the cover worn off and there are wear marks along the spine, and at the corners. The pages are sewn and are in good condition. The handwriting is reasonably legible although the first few pages are very faint.
Please don't hesitate to contact us for more information or to request photos. (Kindly include the SKU, listed on this page above the price, in your e-mail so we can more easily answer your questions.)
