1940 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY A CHARMING YOUNG WOMAN FROM CLEVELAND OHIO

On offer is an original 1940 manuscript diary handwritten by Anne Segan of Cleveland Ohio. The writer offers readers an intimate look into the life and times of an American 'girl-next-door' at the very crossroads of history. Anna raises the level of this diary from a simple retelling of the mundane details of doings in one's life but she also writes about her feelings and experiences creating a mural of what life was like for a young woman at the beginning of the Second World War period. At the beginning of the year she took her bookkeeping test, which she passed, and the next day she got her first job at Western Auto on Davenport Avenue, earning $20 a month. She records the things that she does each day, including going to parties, going to movies with friends and going on dates. Her father drives her into town each day, and deposits her checks at the bank for her. Here are some snippets: "Went to town with Mammie. Met Johnny Holley in town. Went up to Cleve. Voc. Bureau and took Bkkg. test. Made it in 9 mins very good. Call from there to go to work tomorrow. Well, here I am at Western Auto on Davenport Ave. Making $20 a week. Only temporary. Sure miss the kids. Work again. Guy employees are not very friendly. Pop drives me down every morning. Sure is swell. Evening up to Grocky's for a while. Payday. Pop will take it to the bank for me. Took walk up to Ruth's but she wasn't home. Sent to American Con Co for interview by UE and F. Stopped at Spencie and saw kids. Lou asked me to go to Foster's sometime. Wished Don a Happy Birthday. Call in evening that I got job. Yippee. Went to work. Seems to be a nice place. $70 a month. Evening up to see Grocky's. Went to town. Got a dress, girdle, stockings and Misc. Might had a lovely battle with family (Mike started as usual) Wanted to go to Foster's. Went anyhow, saw Lou. With Mamie. No use telling truth, they don't believe you anyhow. 20 years old today (Jan 26, 1940). Worked with Eleanor until 12. Evening to Foster's. Lou not much to say. Had wonderful dancers. Confetti dance. Never had such a good time before. Must go again. Played "Stardust" without my requesting it. Work went swell today. Met kids from Sigma Delta Chi at Mills Rest. Had supper, went bowling, meeting at Louise's. Went to Foster's. Of all people! I saw Peggy and Wally there! Gee, it was good to see them. Played Pat's composition. It was good. Had our party at Lappy's; Paul, Rose, Norman, Mamie Pat, Lou and I. We had a swell time. All 8 of us in Paul's Ford. Yippee. Golly is Pat afraid .... (Anna uses shorthand several times in the diary when she is writing sensitive information). Home at 1:15 am. Half day off today. Legal holiday. Over to Lappy's tonight. Confusius jokes popular right now. Glenn Miller favourite band. Love "Little Brown Jug". Myrt and I got along just grand. Mac is due back after two weeks vacation. Jack and I sure do get along. Slam! Slam! Be we love it." Overall VG.; Manuscript; 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall; Cleveland, Ohio, Pre World War II, Post Depression, Post Suffrage, Women's Studies, Gender Studies, Homefront, .Hand Written, Personal, Americana, Memoir, Handwritten, autograph, autographs, signed, letters, document, documents, manuscript, manuscripts, writers, writer, author, Holograph, personal, Ephemera, antiquité, contrat, vélin, document, manuscrit, papier Antike, Brief, Pergament, Dokument, Manuskript, Papier oggetto d'antiquariato, atto, velina, documento, manoscritto, carta antigüedad, hecho, vitela, documento, manuscrito,