1938-1965 Three Diaries of a Mystery Long Island, New York Woman Following 27 Years of Her Life

On offer is a superb collection of three diaries kept by the same woman over a span of 27 years.

How remarkable to get a glimpse into the life of a woman living through the massive changes of the world between 1938 and 1965. These three journals were kept by the same woman who lived in a small village on Long Island, NY. Although there is much detail about her daily life in each volume, she remains unidentified. There are hints that she might have been married and that she had children but she makes no direct references to specific family members. Our informal research has not found any additional biographical information about her. Nonetheless, over the course of three diaries she gives us a sense of her life, her role as a woman and her experience in the context of the culture within which she lived.

The first journal covers August 6-December 31, 1938. From context, we know that she lived in the small village of Village Spring on Long Island NY. Her entries are chatty and she comments a great deal on things happening in her immediate life, the war effort, and happenings in her community. Some excerpts follow:

“Saw the Aquitania and the Normandie at Sandy Hook ... I took Bill and what a day he had. We went to New York & took the Central R.R. boat at Cedar St. Down the bay to Sandy Hook. Bill was in like 7th Heaven with delight on the boat, saluted the sailors to their amusement. We were back by 5PM. Bill went to sleep on the subway. Much warmer tonight and a lovely rain came” [Aug 31, 1938].

“Oh what a day of whistling wind lashing rain. Tales of injury, flocks of wrecks a tropical hurricane lashed Long Island, NY area. NJ, Conn badly hit…service not running as the power house…was flooded shutting off the power”  [Sept 21, 1938].

“Still cool. How awful to read of the inhumane treatment of Jews and Catholics in Germany. It seems as if we are living at the time of the Spanish Inquisition” [Nov 16, 1938]. 

“Was cold 18 above went out to VSO Saw Bill in school Staid an hour in Miss Hotchkiss room. Saw the Brockhams Went up later to dinner with John & Bill & Betty Carolyn was not there. Came back tonight as tomorrow will be busy as John comes home soon” [Dec 15, 1938].

We catch up with our author eight years later in 1946. This journal is actually a ledger book that she has used as a diary. She keeps the diary from Jan-Dec but does not write every day. Some excerpts follow:

“John is writing feeling better then when he was at school and college he writes about falling for a French girl” [Jan 14, 1946]. 

“We had lobster dinner for Mrs. Barber it’s her birthday. Jack Mets Killer was found in BK yesterday. Boy did the police beat him up. Jack’s funeral today in Valley Stream” [Feb 7, 1946]. 

“Another nice day. I took in a huge bunch of Iris and Rose Begonias and Corn flowers. Edna Passe came” [May 28, 1946].

“Went to Wash Mkt cheese we used to get for 20 cents a lb is now 85 cents peanut butter is 39 cents a lb and Creamery butter is 1.00 if you can get it” [Oct 10, 1946].

The final diary covers 1964-1965. Again we get insight into our author’s daily life, the lives of those in her community, and some commentary on global events. Excerpts follow: 

“Once more worked and weeded and tied up the tomatoes again – they put out such long branches. The Negro uprising in NY & Brooklyn is aweful” [July 15, 1964] (This is a reference to the Harlem Riots of July, 1964). 

“90-deg Went to Village Shopped. Met Carolyn – then went & paid Village Tax & to bank to pay tel bill” [September 29, 1964].

“Very cold down to 20 its the first freeze since last April. Memorial for J.F. Kennedy its the 1st anniversary” [Nov 22, 1964].

“Did a lot of baking. Bill Gunderson gave me some apples and I made jelly” [Feb 27, 1965].

“24 years today since Pearl Harbor and here we are in the awful Viet Kong War” [Dec 7, 1965].

For a social historian, this is an excellent long-term view of a woman’s life. Through her eyes, one can see the steady changes that are unfolding as life in America changes. 

The diaries measure 8.5 x 5.5, 12 x 7.5 and 9.75 x 7.5 inches respectively. They range from 30% to 90% complete. The first journal is comprised of 1/2 size, 3-hole punched loose leaf paper bound together with a cord. There are no covers. The pages are in good condition. The second diary is a ledger book repurposed as a diary and the third book is a repurposed university notebook. All are in fair to good condition.