1986 Detailed Diary of a Visit to Cold War USSR (Soviet Union) Kept by an Observant Louisiana Educator

On offer is an interesting travel journal of an American couple who travelled to the Soviet Union during the Cold War,,  a time of intense circumstances between the USA led by Ronald Reagan and the Soviet Union, led by Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Soviet Union.

The author of the journal is Peggy Jean (Andrews) Pugh (1929-2003) [SEE BIO NOTES FOLLOWING LISTING]. In February 1986, she and her husband joined a tour group to take a trip to the Soviet Union. This was a time of intense negotiations between the USA and USSR. The Soviet government had changed and the Geneva Summit of Nov 1985 had successfully concluded. Rhetoric was toned down (no more talk of an ‘evil empire’). The U.S and NATO had proposed a joint reduction in conventional force levels in Europe. It was into this geopolitical environment that the Pugh’s decided to visit the Soviet Union.

The first eight pages of the journal include Peggy’s detailed explanation of their journey to the USSR. which occurred on February 23-24, 1986. Her group flew from Houston, Texas to Leningrad (St. Petersburg) via New York and Shannon, Ireland. Once in the USSR, Peggy immediately begins to describe life in the Soviet Union  by way of explaining her hotel accommodations:

“...We had been counseled about facial and toilet tissue. The one lacking and the other interesting, so we came prepared…overly so. The Cosmos was also built for the 1980 Olympics houses 3,500 guests. Internal shops - Barioshka sell every souvenir from full length mink to hand crafted baubles. There are only foreigners in the shops. Apparently Russians are discouraged (see later note) from shopping there. No one else is…some of the hotel’s restaurants serve only foreign guests”. 

Peggy lists highlights of her trip as including a Moscow city tour, Pioneer Palace, Bolshoi Theater, and Moscow Metro. Once in the USSR, with their group, they toured the city before going on to Leningrad. Unfortunately, the tour was not without its issues:

“...Tanya informs us, much to our great dismay, that the Communist Party is having its congress - a once each five years occasion. The entire Red Square Kremlin area off limits to the city’s million every day foreign and USSR guests. Moscow has a population of 8.5 million. We had looked forward to forward to that tour…”. 

The tour began in earnest on Feb 25th. Peggy describes what her group eats, the weather and what she sees and learns in her travels. For example, on her first day touring, she states:

“...The weather is bright and beautiful, very cold…We learned a lot about the Communist Party - the Soviets - the congress, history and architecture…went to lunch Cabbage soup, salad, big entree and ice cream for dessert…we were back on Nicoloi’s bus headed for a Freindship Palace and a “Round Table” discussion with 3 Russians…and an incredibly smooth moderator who could look one straight in the eye and claim that Gorky Park was not allowed in teh Soviet Union because it would make Russians hate Americans…Russians - even young ones - really do talk about the Revolution…”. 

On February 26, Peggy’s group tours Moscow where she learns about the educational system in the USSR. On the 27th she visits the Moscow Metro and the New Maiden Convent. On Feb 28 and March 1st  the group was in Leningrad. The diary ends abruptly midway through her March 1, 1986 entry. 

Peggy is a great diarist, describing the people she sees and meets, the vibes in the areas where she visits and comparisons between life in the USSR and the USA at the time. This diary provides excellent insight into life and tourism in the Soviet Union at the time. 

BIO NOTES: Peggy Jean Andrews  was born in Louisiana in 1929. After graduating from Amite High School and Northwestern State College, she married Henry Quinton Pugh (1921-2012) and they settled in Lake Charles, Louisiana where she began a long and successful career in education. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Education from McNeese State College and was promoted from teacher to school administrator. Henry worked for the Port of Lake Charles authority, eventually becoming Assistant Port Director. 

The diary measures 7 1/4" x 6 1/4". It is in very good condition with no rips, tears or bends. The hardcover, spine and pages are in tact and attached. Peggy has written on 35 pages, legibly in ink. VG.