1911 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT DIARY OF 5 YEAR OLD LUCY BARNFIELD AS TOLD BY HER GRANDMOTHER: AMERICANA TREASURE

On offer is one of the most charming diaries we have come upon. Handwritten by Marrietta Anderson, this diary records, retells and relates the adventures - and misadventures - of 5 year old Lucy E. Barnfield, of Belmont, New York. Lucy is the granddaughter of Ms. Anderson. Grandma Anderson (Marietta) wrote this diary to give to Lucy's other grandmother, Grandma Barnfield. What we get is a moment in time capturing the 1911 high-spirited hi-jinks cast Lucy as a 'Pippi Longstocking' of Upstate New York and of course the entire essence of the family, their events and their milestones. Humorous and entertaining Grandma Anderson does a wonderful job. Here are some snippets: Lucy wants a Nanny Goat instead of a Baby Brother: L. has been teasing all winter for a baby brother or sister but she has about decided she just as soon have a nanny goat. Lucy and Grandma See the First Airplane over Belmont: New York...Cal Rogers and the First Airplane to Fly across the U.S….Lucy & I (with everybody else) saw the first aeroplane to pass over Bel (Belmont, New York). Rodgers in his coast to coast race for $50,000. A lovely day & a beautiful sight. Probably L. will live to see a great many (airplanes) out this way. He went over the town about 11 a.m. The church bell rang, so everybody could go out & see it….Everyone Loves Lucy at the Picture Show: L. and I went to the morning picture show. A real pretty girl was in the picture & Lucy in her loud voice said 'She looks just like my mother.' Every one laughed. Lucy Sneaks Out to the Store to Buy Bananas: L. did her first shopping on her own account. Went to one of the stores & bought 3 bananas & said I would come & pay for them. I explained to her how she must not do that without first telling me. Lucy Cuts Off her Hair While Grandma Naps: I took a nap & during that time L. got into all sorts of mischief - cut her hair - dressed up in Papas coat & hat etc. Includes a 2-Page List of Lucy's Christmas Gifts: Toys, Dolls, etc. Grandma Anderson describes: Lucy recuperates from an operation. Doctor prescribes cold liver oil for her until she is 10 years old. Lucy goes visiting and falls off her hosts' porch railing into the snow, scareing everyone. apron sale and chicken supper at the church, attending Tourist Club meetings. Grandma reads a book to Lucy titled Grandpa's Little Girls by Alice Turner Curtis. Lucy want the "bear to see his shadown" to signal the first day of Spring. Attending a concert at the concert hall to hear the Budapest Hungarian Orchestra. Attending a party with cousins in Wellsville, New York. Picnicing in the woods. Gathering hickory nuts. Lucy sews balls of carpet rags. Attending a concert of the English Opera Singers at the Town Hall. etc. etc. Also included is detailed information about life in the town of Belmont in 1911 including: Local school closes 2 rooms because of a scarlet-fever scare in town, and the death of a child. Fire in town burns a store. Whooping cough in town. Watching the first airplane fly over Belmont, etc. Other people mentioned in this diary include: Paul Hardy, Robert Hardy, Bishop Walker, Mrs. Paul, William Hyde, Dr. Barry, Doris Sorton, Jane Hall, Mrs. Ellis, Mr. Merriman, Jane Hall, Mrs. Ely, Francis Ely, Mr. Katis, Mrs. Vanderhoof, Grandma Norton, Mr. and Mrs. Willet, Bessie Browning returns from Honolulu, Hawaii, etc. Also included are references to Akron, New York; Fort Thomas, New York; Buffalo, New York; Silver Creek, New York; Cleveland, New York; Wellsville, New York; Williamsville, New York; etc. According to the 1910 Federal Census, during this time Lucy was living with her grandparents, Mr and Mrs. James H. Anderson. Lucy and her grandparents were living in Belmont, New York, in Allegany County. Today Belmont is a village within the town of Amity, New York. It is in New York's Genesee River Valley. (Later, In the 1920 Federal Census, a 13-year-old Lucy E. Barnfield appears in West Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan. She is listed as the daughter of William Barnfield and Mary Barnfield, and was born in New York. This appears to be the same Lucy of this diary.) ; Manuscript; 64mo - up to 3" tall; HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, AMERICANA, ARCHIVE, NEW YORK, DIARY, DIARIES, NEW YORK, WESTERN NEW YORK, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, PRE SUFFRAGE, WOMEN'S STUDIES, FEMINISM, GENEALOGY