1920 - 1927 ORIGINAL GROUP OF EIGHT [8] DIARIES HANDWRITTEN BY A RISING AND FOR THE MOST PART KEEN MEMBER OF THE MIDDLE CLASS ENJOYING LIFE AS BEST HE CAN

On offer is a super group of eight [8] very full original manuscript diaries whose dates cover the post World War I 'Roaring Twenties' era of 1920 through 1927 handwritten by Christian Henry Aitken [b. August 23rd, 1884 to Archibald and Caroline Aitken] a Scottish man married in 1914 to Eleanor W. Goettelman. From casual reading we learn they had a baby girl in 1921; they lived in West Philadelphia where Christian works as a bank clerk and then the U.S. Postal Service. He vacations in Atlantic City and other places along the Eastern Atlantic shore, plays a lot of poker, enough to detail the money made and spent, and he loves making wine. Three wine recipes are in the back of the 1922 book. He calls some "Pool Vacations" likely what we today would call a 'stay-cation' at the local pool. They attend a lot of "A. of M." perhaps the "Academy of Music"? Here are some snippets: "Put in a miserable night at the office down stairs the best part of the hour. Came home had the same trouble all day. One of the worst days I ever experienced…..Atlantic City. Came home and about 10 A.M. we made up to go to the show where we put in the entire day. Came up on 11:30 P.M. train but we put in a good day at that……M. D. and I went to Hog Island and saw the ships launched. Got on brig Indian and certainly had a great view. Got home 9 P.M. Tioga brunch out for our 6th anniversary…..Came home and read some. In the P.M. I took a stroll around the old boating g'ds. Saw the old Katie Voigt working on the river. Grass growing in the river…..Got up early and started for Cape May but just missed the train so instead we went to Trenton via boat. Then took trolley as far as Princeton all through the g'ds and then home again…..Came home after a strenuous night in the room, all by myself, as no one else showed up for work. In the P.M. took Mike to the A. of M. and he ushered 1st time, collected 8 B. up to date…..Came home and did some scheme work. Keep in awhile then retired. 6 P.M. and off to the A. of M. Bal Masque, main ward room with Reds and Mike. 10 bucks in tips. Broke up around 5 A.M. Home to bed…..Came home and put in a big day, a day of anxiety. Ella having a bad day but every thing came along O.K. 11:10 little girl was born….got the pictures of baby and T. D. and I went to the dock for some grapes. Then came home. Took baby and bought 5 gal keg. Then pulped my grapes…" The 3 x 5 inch books are overall G.; Manuscript; 48mo - over 3" - 4" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, CHRISTIAN HENRY AITKEN, WEST PHILADELPHIA, ELEANOR W. GOETTELMAN, MEN'S STUDIES, GENDER STUDIES, POKER, SCOTSMEN, PENNSYLVANIA, AMERICANA,HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, AUTOGRAPHED, AUTHORS, AMERICANA, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, 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, PAPEL,