1948 Journal of Written Lectures on Literature, Covering Famous Massachusetts Authors and Analysis of Children’s Literature

On offer is an interesting journal kept by a very well-read woman in mid-century Massachusetts.

The journal belonged to Elizabeth Hazen Beard (nee Sherborne or Sherburne) (1909-1993). She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts to parents Mary Alicia Hazen and WIlliam Frances Sherborne (Sherburne), where she lived her entire life. She attended Milford High School and then Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She married  Sidney Beard, a tool maker, and together they had two sons, David and William. 

This journal has multiple components, though its main focus is on Beard’s literary interests. Though census data indicates that Beard did not have a career outside of the home, it seems she was part of a literary society or other academic club. In this journal she writes what seems to be a lengthy lecture about contemporary children’s literature, where she discusses the benefits of reading for children as well as several children’s books and authors. 

Some of the children’s books she discusses are Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClaskey, a book of animal stories by George Duplaix, The Little History of the United States by Mable Pyne, Airplane Ready by Sanford Tuasey, Little Boat Boy by Jean Bothwell.

Later in the journal, she writes another lengthy lecture where she focuses on the Massachusetts literary scene including its authors Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, places famous local authors wrote their masterpieces, local landmarks that are important in literature and more. 

Her final lecture that she recorded in this journal is titled “Reading I have Enjoyed”. Here she writes extensively on the book Early American Decoration by Esther Brazer. 

Beard is well-written, bright, thoughtful and deeply passionate about literature. Her written lectures read like elaborate book reports with added elements of history and philosophy. 

Another interesting feature of the journal are two essays dealing with geopolitics - completely unrelated to Beard’s work on literature. These two essays are written in a hand that is not Beard’s (and the author is unknown). The first essay is titled “Changing Ideas of Empire (England” and the second is untitled but is about the West’s relationship with Russia and the Cold War. One of the essays is written within the pages of the journal and the second is tipped in. Both are written by an intelligent and knowledgeable author, and are written as speeches, just as Beard’s entries are. These were written much later than Beard’s work, as they reference a deep conflict between ‘West” and Russia, focused on Russia fomenting Muslim discontent in Iran. There is no hint as to who is the author of these two sections.

Some brief excerpts follow:

“Reading is one of life’s recreations. Thoughtful parents, teachers and friends should help to instill the love of books with as sure a place and as great patience as are employed in cultivating good manners, honesty, unselfishness, and other fundamental habits of life…”. 

“Mass is rich with places of literary interest and abounds with scenes reminiscent of our best loved authors. If certain of your pet authors receive little or no mention in this paper, I hope you will forgive these sins of omission, as time permits me to mention only a few of the many. Reading I Have Enjoyed The book I have chosen for my subject is one that I am constantly reading and referring to as an enthusiast of handwork and decoration…”.

For anyone with an interest in 20th century literature and literary endeavours, this is a must-own manuscript. It would also be of interest to a gender studies program, as Beard is recorded in the history books as a “Housewife”, yet this journal presents her as a bright and brilliant mind with much going on outside of her domestic life. 

The journal measures about 9x7 inches and contains 84 pages. It is about 90% complete. The book is hardcover and the covers are in good condition. There is some wear on the corners. The binding is in good condition and the pages are glued and sewn, though loosening. The lined pages are in good condition. The handwriting is quite legible. Overall Good.